Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Board of Selectmen Present: David Lindsay
May 9, 2013 Stanley Wysocki
Lawrence Delaney
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mr. Mark Sprague
MINUTES
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the regular session and executive session minutes of April 25, 2013. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
POLE HEARING – MAIN STREET
Present: Mark Caisse, Tree Warden, Roland Ochsenbein and Stephen Bing, Abutters
The Board of Selectmen opened the public hearing continued from April 25, 2013 on the petition of Verizon New England, Inc. and Massachusetts Electric Company (NGRID) to place one (1) new stub Pole No. 3S on the southerly sideline of Main Street which is approximately 48 feet south of the existing Pole No. 3. The easement option between the abutters, Verizon New England, Inc. and Massachusetts Electric Company is still being researched and therefore, on a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to continue the hearing to May 30, 2013. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
Ms. Remington, resident of Bolton showed the Board of Selectmen plastic cable wraps that she found on the ground in the area of a pole located at 442 Main Street. Mr. Lowe will contact Verizon New England, Inc. and Massachusetts Electric Company to ask that they pick up the debris when working in the area.
SIGN REQUEST – COME, STAY, PLAY, 68 OLD HARVARD ROAD
Ms. Kimberly Folsom met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval for two signs advertising the “Come, Stay, Play” business at 68 Old Harvard Road: one sign to be attached to the fence facing the driveway, and one sign to be attached to a pole located in her front yard.
According to the sign bylaw, Bolton Code § 250-18(E) home occupations in residential zones may have one sign by permit, of an area no greater than two square feet.
Ms. Folsom was amenable to eliminating the sign on the fence and placing a single back-to-back sign on the pole to face both Old Harvard Road and Flanagan Road.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve of a sign being mounted back-to-back on the pole. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki –yes, Delaney – yes)
SIGN REQUEST - BOLTON HOUSE OF PIZZA, 626 MAIN STREET
Ms. Mary Riad met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval for a roadside flag sign advertising the Bolton House of Pizza located at 626 Main Street.
The Board of Selectmen was opposed to additional signs on the property.
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to deny the request of Ms. Riad for the proposed flag sign with the recommendation that the existing sign be repaired and updated to reflect the current tenants of the property. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
The Board of Selectmen informed Ms. Riad that she should meet with the Selectmen to review the proposed plans for the existing sign.
COUNTRY DOGS
Ms. Newsham met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval for a temporary roadside sign (chalk board style) in front of Country Dogs at 626 Main Street.
The Board of Selectmen was opposed to additional signs on the property. They informed Ms. Newsham that they also denied the flag sign requested by Ms. Riad, the landlord for 626 Main Street and recommended that she make improvements to the existing sign on the property. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to deny the request of Ms. Newsham for the proposed sign for the Country Dogs. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
SLATER’S, 356 MAIN STREET
Mr. Slater requested approval for a one-day beer and wine license for a fundraiser to be held on May 17, 2013 from 7:00 to 11:30 p.m. and a music concert to be held on May 25, 2013 from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 p.m. at 356 Main Street. The events will be held in a tent located on the premises and patrons will not be allowed outside of the tent with alcoholic beverages. Port-a-potties will also be available.
On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the one-day beer and wine license for May 18, 2013 contingent on any property tax issues being resolved and the Town Hall receiving the appropriate paperwork including a diagram of the premises. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the one-day beer and wine license for May 25, 2013 contingent on any property tax issues being resolved and the Town Hall receiving the appropriate paperwork including a diagram of the premises. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on the 275th Celebration: The Town has received permission to use the Office Park at 580 Main Street to stage the 275th Celebration parade being held on June 23, 2013. Senator Flanagan, Representative Hogan and Congresswoman Tsongas will participate in the parade.
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen approved the Historical Society’s request to place signs along the route for the Revolutionary Quest, a game in search of Bolton Patriots, a self-guided tour that focuses on some of the many citizens who called Bolton home during the American Revolution. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki –yes, Delaney – yes)
Minuteman: Mr. Lowe reported that the member communities are still working on the formula for apportioning costs for the renovations.
TOWN TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
Mr. Lowe reported that beginning in 2006, Town Meeting approved $3,000 for a shade tree program within the Bolton Center National Register Historic District and that Town Meeting had since extended the program. Mr. Lowe expressed his concern that the current scope seems to be headed in direction of planting trees on private property rather than town property. Although Mr. Lowe was supportive of the program and DPW doing the work on town land; he asked the Board of Selectmen to make a decision on whether the Department of Public Works should be doing work on private property.
Ms. Remington, Historical Commission Chairman stated that 20 trees have been planted since 2006 and even if planted on private property the trees grow over the public ways and are enjoyed by everyone.
Mark Caisse, Tree Warden stated that the program is a great benefit to the town and should be continued. He recommended that they continue to plant the trees in the town right of way away and more specific guidelines be proposed in an article to be addressed at the next town meeting.
Mr. Lindsay said he favored allowing trees to be planted on private land, but requiring that such work be done by a private contractor, not the DPW. Messrs. Wysocki and Delaney preferred that trees be planted only on town-owned land with the work being performed by the DPW. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve of the tree replacement program with the placement of trees only within the town right of way and that DPW should assist in determining the bounds of the right of way, where necessary. (Lindsay – opposed, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
Dispatch Contract: On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the agreement between the Town of Bolton and the Bolton Dispatchers Union, Local 286A, Massachusetts Coalition of Police, IUPA, AFL-CIO for July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)
Transfer of Funds for remaining FY13: The budget for FY13 for the wastewater treatment plant expenses has been exhausted. The Town is responsible for paying 15% of the expenses, which varies from month to month based on the usage and maintenance of the plant. The Board of Selectmen approved an end of year transfer per MGL Chapter 44, Section 33B in the amount of $1,850 from the Town Administrator (123) account, line item 5201 to Sewer (440).
Mr. Lowe informed the Board of Selectmen that there is the possibility he will need to request a transfer from the Advisory Committee reserve fund for the Legal budget for FY13.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21A (3) at 8:25 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day