Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Board of Selectmen Present: Kenneth F. Troup
March 11, 2010 Stanley Wysocki
Curtis Plante
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
The Friends of Bolton Seniors voted not to go forward with a citizens’ petition for the part-time social worker, therefore the scheduled appointment was removed from the agenda.
REGIONAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY
Ms. O’Toole met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the proposal to join the regional household hazardous waste facility located in Devens, MA that will be operated by the North Central Regional Solid Waste Cooperative. This article was approved at the Annual Town Meeting in May of 2009 but failed at the ballot box. There are seven confirmed members of this cooperative including Devens, Groton, Lancaster, Littleton, Boxborough, Lunenburg and Townsend. Other towns in the process of deciding on whether to join the cooperative include Harvard, Pepperell, Shirley, Westford and Bolton. The cooperative requires that nine towns join before they can move forward with the program. There will be 20 household hazardous waste days per year. There is a one-time cost of $10,000 and a yearly operating fee of $2,000. If more than nine towns join the operating fee could decrease. Users will be asked to pre-register and there will be a user fee ranging from $40 to $60 per carload. Ms. O’Toole stated that there is a huge savings for Bolton because one Bolton hazardous waste day held every two years costs approximately $18,000.
Participating towns will sign a memorandum of understanding. Mass Development will secure the insurance coverage. Ms. O’Toole will provide the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator with a copy of the memorandum of understanding for their review and comment from Town Counsel if they determine it is necessary.
An article asking voters to approve the costs to join the facility will be placed on the annual town meeting.
PMC KIDS RIDE
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request for the PMC Kids Ride on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes) Chief Alfano and the School Administration have approved this event.
TOWN WIDE YARD SALE
Present: Barbara Parente, Jane Moosbruker, Teresa Sauer, and John Balco, subcommittee of the Bolton Local
The subcommittee proposed a town-wide yard sale to be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010 (rain date will be May 23, 2010) from 9 to 3 p.m. as an ultimate recycling event and to promote community spirit and participation. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen approved this event. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
FENCE BYLAW
Present: Public Ways Safety Committee members Peter Ross, Mary Ciummo and Tom Kittler
The Public Ways Safety Committee proposed a new zoning bylaw to prevent and/or correct obstacles that threaten the public safety of the Town roads. The bylaw is aimed at keeping safe sight lines open at intersections and other locations in which obstacles impede the line of sight. The Public Ways Safety Committee met with the Planning Board and Public Ways have incorporated some of the Planning Board’s recommendations.
Mr. Troup expressed his concern with the way the bylaw was written and asked if the bylaw was intended to mean that clear-cutting would be done at all intersections. Mr. Ross stated that the original discussions were about fences but then realized that brush was the main obstacle to safe view at a lot of the intersections. Mr. Ross stated that the idea is to provide a window through the restricted area so that drivers can see at an intersection.
An example is the brush at the intersection of Golden Run Road and Sugar Road which is a heavily traveled secondary road. The Public Ways Safety Committee worked with the homeowner to cut back the brush. Mr. Plante expressed concerned that the scenic road bylaw and this proposed bylaw would be in conflict with each other.
Mr. Lowe stated that Town Counsel had some concerns about the bylaws as written and referred to a similar bylaw in Reading where it was defeated once residents realized properties owners would be responsible for costs associated with compliance.
A public hearing is scheduled for March 24, 2010 at which time the Committee will decide whether the bylaw is ready to be placed on the annual town meeting warrant.
The Committee will work with Mr. Lowe to change the title of the article and give some thought to its relationship with the scenic road bylaw.
PARKS AND RECREATION REVOLVING ACCOUNT
Present: Karen Regan, Joyce Sidopoulous and Tom Wildman
The Parks and Recreation have proposed an article to establish a revolving fund that will be kept separate and apart from all other monies. The revolving account will enable the Parks and Recreation Commission to reinvest revenue gained through various property rentals and programs back into the related properties or programs. Concerns were expressed with the oversight of the revolving account on an on-going basis. Mr. Lindsay noted that this will have a slight negative impact on free cash. The Parks and Recreation Commission will work with Mr. Lowe on the language to be included to detail the oversight of the revolving account.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Update on Municipal Space Needs Committee: The Board of Selectmen will make the appointments to the Municipal Space Needs Committee on March 25, 2010.
Forbush Mill Road washout: Forbush Mill Road was washed out on Monday, March 8, 2010 as a result of the beaver dam. Mr. Lowe will work with the Mr. Brown and the Conservation Commission to see how this issue can be remedied.
Common Cause Recognition: Mr. Lowe reported that the Town of Bolton has been recognized by Common Cause and won another e-Government Award from the Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government for the quality of the content on our town webpage.
LION’S CLUB – FRUIT SALES AT THE TRANSFER STATION
On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen approved the request of the Lion’s Club to sell fruit at the transfer station. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
BEETLE BUG III
The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a site visit of Beetle Bug III at 492 South Bolton Road for Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.
EXPENSE FOR MONITORING WELLS FOR OIL LEAK AT PUBLIC SAFETY
Mr. Lowe reported that he has received an estimate from the Maguire Group Inc. for the on-going expense for the additional environmental services at the Public Safety facility as a result of the oil leak that needs to be captured in the budget. Mr. Lowe will review the estimate received and confirm the anticipated cost at the Advisory Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
UPDATE ON FY11 BUDGET
An oversight in the DPW wage line in the amount of $20,800 has been discovered and the budget will be revised to reflect this amount.
REVIEW OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Annual Town Meeting warrant and made minor revisions.
OVERSPENDING ON SNOW AND ICE
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen authorized Mr. Brown to overspend the snow and ice account by $50,000. (Troup –yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante - yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39B, Section 23B (3) at 10:00 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day