Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Board of Selectmen Present: Lawrence Delaney
August 15, 2013 Mark Sprague
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
POLE HEARING – MAIN STREET
Acting Chairman Delaney opened the continuation of the hearing from July 11th, 2013. The Selectmen received notification from Verizon New England, Inc. to withdraw the petition to place one new JO Stub Pole No. 3S on Main Street because Verizon has reached an agreement with the Bings for the placement of the pole on their property. With the withdrawal of the petition, no further action by the Board was necessary. On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the hearing was closed. (Delaney - yes, Sprague - yes)
TRANSFER OF LIQUOR LICENSE – ROADHOUSE TO FOTINI’S RESTAURANT
The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing on the application of Bolton Roadhouse, Inc. d/b/a Bolton Roadhouse Bar & Grill requesting a transfer for the annual, all alcoholic beverages, restaurant license to Anastasios Kessaris, d/b/a Fotini’s Restaurant & Bar at 544 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, Ma 01740. The premises to be licensed is 3,900 square feet of space including four entrances, five exits, occupancy for 132 and seating capacity of 126.
After 42 years in the business, Mr. White, the current owner of the Bolton Roadhouse restaurant stated that it was time retire. He stated that there has never been an incident in the 9 years that he has owned the restaurant.
Mr. Kessaris told the Board that he has been in the restaurant business all his life. He currently holds a liquor license at Linguine’s Italian Eatery in Marlborough, MA and the Olde Hitching Post Restaurant in Hanson, MA and has never had a liquor license suspended.
Mr. Kessaris plans to manage the Marlborough and Bolton restaurants and his daughter will manage the Hanson restaurant.
No one spoke in opposition of the request to transfer the liquor license.
On a motion made Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request to transfer the liquor license from the Bolton Roadhouse to Anastasios Kessaris, d/b/a Fotini Restaurant. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
13TH ANNUAL POSITIVE SPIN FOR ALS BIKE RIDE
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request of Mr. Farricker, ALS Committee Chairman to hold the 13th Positive Spin for ALS bike ride on September 20, 2013. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
REQUEST FOR SIGNS FOR THE TY-RODS CLUB
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request of Mr. Maurer to place temporary signs along Route 117 advertising the Ty-Rods Annual Old Timers Reunion to be held at the fairgrounds in Lancaster on September 8, 2013. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
UPDATE ON MOBILITY COMMITTEE
Mary Ciummo, member of the Mobility Committee, appointed by the Board of Selectmen, provided an update on their progress in producing a mobility plan to expand the system of walkways and to improve bicycle routes.
The Committee held a public forum, reached out to neighboring towns of Lincoln, Sudbury and Stow to discuss their walkway plans and conducted a survey that generated 302 responses.
The survey results showed that 89% favored walkways in town with 87% preferring them along major roads; 78% preferred secondary roads and wanted them to connect to destinations (Library, Post Office, Bolton Orchards, Nashoba Regional High School) and 60% were willing to grant an easement for meandering walkways.
The top safety concerns were heavy traffic, speed and lack of sidewalks.
There was discussion about making changes to the Subdivision Rules and Regulations to require sidewalks on all new roads and permitting the Planning Board to condition waiver of that requirement on the payment to the town for construction of walkways in other areas of town.
NORTHWOODS – CONDITIONS OF ROADWAYS
Chuck Black, Developer and residents of Northwoods Subdivision
Mr. Black met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the status of the roads in the Northwoods development (Drumlin Hill Road, Ledgewood Circle and Fieldstone Way). Although it is the Town’s policy that a roadway goes through a winter season before it is accepted as a town road, Mr. Black is requesting that the Selectmen accept the roads at the Special Town Meeting in October.
A site visit attended by Mr. Black, the developer, Town Officials, Hamwey Engineering, Mr. Hamwey confirmed that the roads were incomplete and Mr. Hamwey issued a list of approximately 20 open ended items.
Mr. Black is working towards completing the roads but expressed uncertainty as to whether the work could be completed in time for Special Town Meeting. Mr. Black mentioned the possibility of submitting a citizen’s petition for the Special Town Meeting to ask that the Town vote to plow the three roads this winter.
Residents of the Northwoods Development present at tonight’s meeting were supportive of Mr. Black’s efforts to complete the roads and the town accepting the roads.
Mr. Lowe stated that the plowing and maintenance of the roads has not been budgeted and therefore an appropriation would need to be included in the article. Mr. Lowe also noted that a hold harmless agreement would be important to protect the town from any liability in case of any damage.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Electricity Rate: Mr. Lowe reported that the electric rate of 7.01 cents per kilowatt that he locked into two years ago will expire in November, 2013 and asked the Board’s permission to negotiate a new contract when the price is right.
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize Mr. Lowe to enter into a new contract as requested. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Emerson Well: Mr. Cleary, NRSD Facilities Manager has confirmed that the Emerson well project is complete and is scheduled to be inspected by the Department of Environmental Protection in the next week.
Paving Update: The paving of Route 117 originally scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Monday could be completed on Saturday weather permitting. Mr. Lowe congratulated the Department of Public Works and the Police Department for a job well done during the paving project.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
Special Town Meeting: The Board of Selectmen reviewed the timeline for the preparation of the Special Town Meeting on October 16, 2013.
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to call a Special Town Meeting on October 16, 2013 with citizen’s petitions being due on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Public Ways Safety Committee: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to reduce the membership of the Public Ways Safety Committee from 7 to 5 members. (Delaney – yes, Sprague –yes)
Appointment: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Joel Bates to the Cable Committee. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Gift to the Ambulance Fund: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the gift of $5,000 donated to the Ambulance Fund.
(Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes) The Selectmen expressed their appreciation for the generous donation.
Longevity: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve an additional $100 to Warren Nelson, Lieutenant and Harold Brown, DPW Director who have accumulated over 20 years of service to the Town of Bolton. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Cable Committee Contract: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the client fee agreement with Peter J. Epstein, Esq., who will provide legal services to the Town in connection with the renewal of the cable television license for the Town of Bolton. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes) Mr. Troup will monitor the level of those services closely.
Surplus Equipment: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute two agreements that would allow the Fire Department to participate in a program with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry that distributes excess equipment for use by Fire Departments. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Senior Cookout: Ms Abdalian invited the Board of Selectmen to the Senior Cookout on Tuesday, August 20 at 12 noon in the Davis Hall at the First Parish Church.
Minutes: On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the minutes of July 11 and 16, 2013. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen adjourned at 8:40 p.m. (Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day