Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                              Present:        Stanley Wysocki

December 16, 2010                                               Curtis Plante

                                                                          David Lindsay

                                                                           Don Lowe, Town Administrator

                                                                          Linda L. Day, Town Secretary

The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

Mr. Dinjian, Chairman of the Advisory Committee was present.

POLE HEARING

Present:  Iris Price, representative of Massachusetts Electric Company and Paul Schneider, representative of Verizon New England, Inc.

The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the petition of Verizon New England, Inc. and Massachusetts Electric Company to place a new JO Midspan Pole No. 7-50 on the westerly sideline of Frye Road, approximately 113 feet southwest of the existing Pole No. 7.

The proposed placement of the new pole will allow for an upgrade in service in the area along Frye Road.   Mr. Plante expressed concern that the proposed pole location required two power line street crossings.  The company representatives present stated that the proposed location would eliminate the location of the pole being placed directly in front of a home.

Ms. Day stated that Mr. Caisse, Tree Warden could not attend the hearing this evening but approved the proposed pole location.

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the petition.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)

MOBIL STATION, 460 MAIN STREET

The Board of Selectmen received a letter from the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission stating that they were offering the KENO To Go game to the Mobil Station at 460 Main Street.  The letter indicated that if the Board objected to the Mobil Station selling KENO To Go, they must respond to the Lottery Commission within twenty one days of receipt of the letter.

With KENO To Go there is no monitor for the participant to watch the game. The participant submits a slip to the cashier who processes it and hands back a ticket.  The participant leaves the place of business and can check their ticket(s) on line or at another location. Visually, it is the same as playing Powerball, etc.

Mr. Samuel Sakul, owner of the Mobil Station stated that he did not request KENO To Go from the Lottery Commission, but if it were approved he would consider the option.

 

Mr. Lindsay was opposed to all extensions of legal gambling because he feels it attributes to addiction and amounts to a regressive tax.

On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the KENO To Go with the understanding that regular KENO would not be allowed at the Mobil Station.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – no)

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

FY12 Budget Update:  Mr. Lowe stated that in mid November departments submitted level funded budgets and were prepared to submit a 3% budget reduction, if necessary.   On Friday, December 10, 2010 all departments were asked to submit their 3% reduction, and Mr. Lowe noted that everyone has responded very well to this message.   The 3% reduction request is a reaction to the school department stating that they will be requesting a budget which is more than what the town can handle and the additional costs for the operation and maintenance of the new library and public safety building.  Preliminary numbers show approximately $83,000 in spending for the two new buildings.

The 3% reductions include $32,000 for the new cruiser, $47,000 for recommendations from the Public Ways Safety Committee, $22,000 from Parks and Recreation, $42,000 in road improvements and $9,000 for detail officers.  The school district requested $35,000 for the painting of the 1922 section of Emerson school, which remains in the budget until there is a discussion on whether it should be left in budget, submitted as an article or removed completely.   Mr. Lindsay suggested the funds for the painting project could be borrowed, while Mr. Plante was opposed to borrowing for what he considered general maintenance.  

Mr. Lindsay expressed concern that the Nashoba increase was more likely than not and suggested that Mr. Lowe give some thought to the best way to reduce town employee working hours.

Mr. Lindsay provided a budget analysis that showed a deficit in the amount of $299,903.  Mr. Dinjian stated that we are reacting to a number we have not received from the school district as yet.  If the School adheres to our recommendation the deficit would be approximately $100,000 and in his opinion workable.  A 3-4% increase in the school assessment would mean at least a $400,000 budget deficit for Bolton.  

Mr. Lindsay expressed his disappointment that Superintendent Michael Wood moved the all day schools budget review from January to February which gives us less time to explore reductions in that budget.

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to send a letter to the Bolton School Committee representatives urging them to schedule the budget review meeting as early in January as possible, rather than waiting until February.  (Wysocki –yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)

Mr. Lindsay provided the Board of Selectmen with a copy of a memo dated December 7, 2010 to Superintendent Wood from Assistant Superintendent King regarding preliminary FY12 budget considerations.  

APPOINTMENT

On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Mr. Erik Neyland to the Capital Planning Committee.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay –yes)

LICENSES

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Common Victualer licenses for Classic Pizza III, Great Brooks Farm, Country Cupboard, Bolton Spring Farm, Bolton House of Pizza, Colonial Candies, Bolton Orchards, The International Golf Course and the Roadhouse Restaurant, and the Antique license for Odd & Olde Antiques, contingent on receiving all the required paperwork.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to sign the liquor licenses for the International Golf Course, Pennacook, Inc. dba Firewater & Wine Package Store, Nashoba Valley Winery, Bolton Roadhouse Restaurant and Bolton Country Cupboard.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)  

EAGLE – COURT OF HONOR

The Board of Selectmen executed a letter congratulating Anders Anderson on the achievement of earning his Eagle and wishing him the best for his Court of Honor.  Mr. Anderson designed, obtained donations and built the shed located at the landfill for the Bolton Police Department to store their firearms training targets.

MINUTES

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the minutes of December 2, 2010.  (Wysocki – yes, Lindsay – yes)

DISCLOSURE OF APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Mr. Lindsay stated that there have been indications that CVS Corporation is interested in the possibility of locating a pharmacy in Bolton.  In order to avoid any conflict of interest regarding any opinions Mr. Lindsay might express, or any decisions he might be required to render, Mr. Lindsay disclosed that he sold 160 shares of CVS stock on December 10, 2010 and currently owns no stock in CVS Corporation.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay - yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39B, Section 23B (3) at 7:55 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to contract negotiations with non-union personnel.  The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.  

Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day