Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Board of Selectmen Present: Curtis Plante
September 4, 2008 Kenneth F. Troup
Stanley Wysocki
Michelle Ciccolo, InterimTown Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
TRAIL LICENSE
Present: Matt Bosselait, Rosemary Bosselait and Carol Gumbart, Conservation Commission Administrator
Matthew Bosselait met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Bolton and his parents David and Rosemary Bosselait. This memorandum will allow Mr. Bosselait to cut a trail across the Bosselait property for his Eagle Scout project. The trail will be for public use and will connect the trail off Corn Road to the trails in the Northwoods Development and complete the Bolton Loop Trail. The Conservation Commission has approved this project and the Edens have verbally approved the project as well.
The Board of Selectmen and the Bosselait’s agreed to change the wording of the following paragraph by deleting the word “require” and replacing it with the word “request” so that it reads as follows:
“The Property owner reserves the right to request a relocation of the trail or any part of the trail to a different portion of the Property if the need arises. In determining the route of said trail or relocation, the Property owner will work cooperatively with the Town to determine the most appropriate location.”
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to sign the Memorandum of Understanding, dated September 4, 2008. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes)
ESCROW AGREEMENT FOR LANDSCAPING AT CELL TOWER SITE, 41 MAIN STREET
Present: Carol Gumbart, Conservation Commission Administrator
The Conservation Commission requested the Board of Selectmen execute the escrow agreement for the above mentioned property. A small amount of landscaping work at the cell tower compound at 41 Main Street is needed to comply with an expired Order of Conditions. On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this agreement. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
TOM O’BRIEN, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR NASHOBA REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (NRHS)
Present: Tom O’Brien, Director of Athletics for NRHS
Mr. O’Brien presented a revised sign proposal that reduced the sign from 4’x4’ to 24”x36”. The sign will be mounted on one post instead of two posts with one sign being located on Route 117 near Bolton Orchards and one sign being located on Route 117 near Future Electronics. Mr. O’Brien will contact the Police Chief and DPW Director when placing the posts to be sure they are in agreement with the location of the placement of the signs. On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the sign request. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes)
TOWN FLAG
Ms. Mauro and Ms. Demmer, residents of Bolton visited the Hall of Flags at the State House to find that Bolton was not represented. They met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission to form a Committee to create a town flag for the Hall of Flags.
Representative Patricia Walrath offered to pay for the flag. They will contact various groups in town such as the 4-H and Boy Scouts to help with the project. Their goal is to unveil the flag on Flag Day on June 14, 2009. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to recognize a Committee to establish a Bolton Flag with Ms. Mauro and Ms. Demmer co-chairing the Committee. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes) The Selectmen suggested that Linda Day, Town Secretary be contacted to help with the advertising and posting of information to the website.
DEERPATH BLOCK PARTY
Ms. Demmer requested permission to block off the entrance of Deer Path Road for a block party being planned by the Fox Run Road and Deer Path residents on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The road will be blocked off with a few red cones in order for adults and children to be safe and can very easily be moved in case of an emergency. Ms. Demmer stated that all the neighbors were in agreement. Chief Alfano also stated that people should avoid bringing alcoholic beverages onto the roadway itself, as this is considered public drinking under law and could involve potential liability. On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes) The Selectmen cautioned against loud music after 10:00 p.m. and Ms. Demmer agreed to provide the Police Department with a point of contact just in case of any complaints received.
DAN TEAGUE, BOLTON CELEBRATES
Mr. Teague met with the Board of Selectmen to follow up on the first couple of music series events approved by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Teague stated that attendance has been low and he is not aware of any noise or parking complaints. Attendance at the first event was approximately 25 people and approximately 50 people at the second event.
Mr. Plante stated that a letter was received from a local farmer who made a suggestion about collaborating with the local farmers in the area and suggested this be considered for next year. Mr. Teague stated that they have been in discussions with another farmer for next year although this year is locked in.
Mr. Pelletier of the Nashoba Valley Winery stated that from a farmer’s standpoint he gets nervous when there are a lot of activities during their primary months of September and October when they are trying to get people to their orchards to pick fruit.
With all the town has done in the past to preserve farms he is concerned with how much impact they will be allowed to have in the future. It is his opinion that consideration should be given as to the time of year they plan these events.
Mr. Plante stated that the music series events offer opportunity for people who do not pick apples to go listen to music for 3 hours on a Sunday. As much as he supports the agricultural community he does not feel the agricultural community should monopolize other events. The townspeople spoke in support of Bolton Celebrates at town meeting. Mr. Pelletier stated that for every person they draw there is possibility it will have negative impact on the farms.
Mr. Held, representing the Agricultural Commission was also present at the meeting to support Mr. Pelletier and the farming and agriculture. He asked the Board of Selectmen to involve the Agricultural Commission in these types of programs so that they can work toward a win-win situation for both the program and the agricultural community.
The Board was reluctant to revoke the permit already approved based on someone’s complaint. Mr. Teague is amicable to make changes going forward.
LONGEVITY
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve an additional $100 for the following employees who have accumulated over 20 years of service. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Linda Day, July 1, 2008 – 20 years of service
Donna Hathaway, August 30, 2008 – 21 years of service
Michael Slepetz, April 15, 2008 – 23 years of service
BUILDING INSPECTOR
With the passing of long time building inspector Frank Krysa, the position of Inspector of Buildings was advertised. Six candidates were interviewed by Town Planner Jennifer Atwood Burner, Health and Permitting Assistant Lisa O’Leary and Conservation Commission Administrator Carol Gumbart. Chris Rogers and Doug Storey were invited to participate and sat in on the first three interviews. A seventh candidate decided not to interview.
The Interviewing Committee recommended that Mr. Michael Sauvageau be appointed as Inspector of Buildings for the Town of Bolton. Mr. Sauvageau was previously hired by the town to conduct inspections at the Regency. He is also the building inspector and zoning enforcement officer for the Town of Lunenburg for the past six years. Prior to that he was project manager for a construction company for 2 years and was the chief project manager of a company in Leominster for 18 years. He was also a member of the Board of Selectmen for 11 years in Lunenburg, along with serving on the Conservation Commission and the Capital Planning Committee. .He graduated from Fitchburg State College with a bachelors of Science in Geography. He has received approval of the Chief Administrator of Lunenburg to adjust his hours in Lunenburg to accommodate Bolton’s office hours.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Michael Sauvageau, Inspector of Buildings. (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Mr. Sauvageau will start on Monday, September 8, 2008. Ms. Day, Town Secretary will be Mr. Sauvageau’s contact person on a regular basis with any correspondence also being copied to Ms. Ciccolo, Interim Town Administrator.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH
Ms. Ciccolo reported that the Town Administrator Search is on target. Advertisements have been placed, with 28 resumes being received to date. The deadline to receive resumes is September 15, 2008. She has been communicating with the Committee and a meeting will be scheduled soon to begin the process.
TRI-TOWN MEETING
The September 3, 2008 Tri-Town meeting has been rescheduled to October 1, 2008 in Lancaster.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING SCHEDULE
Selectmen’s meeting schedule is as follows:
September 18, 2008
October 2 and 16, 2008 (October 30 will not be scheduled but will be held as an option if necessary)
November 6 and 20th, 2008
December 4 and 18, 2008
LIBRARY SURPLUS ITEMS
Ms. Day reported that the Advisory Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 to address disposition of the surplus items provided by the Library Trustees. The Library Trustees have proposed a yard sale to be held on the lawn of the library with leftover items being donated to WHEAT. The Board of Selectmen will be posted to attend the Advisory Committee meeting.
DEAD MAPLE TREE ON GREEN ROAD
The Board of Selectmen received a letter from Arnold Langberg of 156 Green Road regarding a maple tree near his home that continuously has branches falling off of it. This letter will be forwarded to Mr. Caisse, Tree Warden.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into executive session under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39, 23B(2) at 8:15 p.m. to hear a complaint brought against an individual. The board will not reconvene into open session. (Roll Call: Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki - yes)
Respectfully submitted: Linda L. Day