Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                             

January 10, 2013                                               

Present:        David Lindsay

 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.

MINUTES

On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the minutes of December 13, 2012.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney –yes, Wysocki –yes)

APPOINTMENT OF FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER

After review of 10 employment applications and resumes, followed by interviews of 6 applicants and a successful completion of a background check, Chief Alfano recommended that Kerri Bomil be appointed as a full-time police officer to fill the position vacated by Yvette Washington.  Ms. Bomil comes to Bolton with an outstanding background, previously working for the UMass Lowell Campus Police Department.  

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the recommendation of Chief Alfano to appoint Kerri  Bomil (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)  Officer Bomil was welcomed to Bolton.

PARAGON, 41 MAIN STREET – SIGN REQUEST

Mr. David Yered, President, Asset Management met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval for three permanent signs to be placed over the entrance of the Paragon building.  The proposed size of the signs is larger than previously approved by the Board of Selectmen and does not meet the size requirements of the sign bylaw.  Therefore a variance is also required.  Mr. Yered stated that the proposed signs will not be visible from Route 117. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to grant a variance to the sign bylaw (Bolton Code § 250-18) and approve the signs as requested.  (Lindsay – yes, Wyoscki – yes, Delaney – yes)

BICYCLES BATTLING CANCER CHARITY RIDE FUNDRAISER

Mr. Ladd, Planning and Logistics Specialists, requested approval for a “Bicycles Battling Cancer” charity ride on Sunday, June 9, 2013 with approximately 300 cyclists traveling through Bolton on Harvard Road, Route 117, Wattaquadock Hill Road and Berlin Road between 1:00 and 3:00  p.m.  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event contingent on Chief Alfano’s approval.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

CONSERVATION TRUST, 719 MAIN STREET – SIGN REQUEST

Mr. Roemer, Director of the Conservation Trust met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval to place a sign on the former Smith Garage at 719 Main Street to indicate the property is owned by the Bolton Conservation Trust and that a renewal project is underway.  The sign will be carved-wood, approximately 24” by 80” with colors consistent with the Bolton Center trail sign located behind the garage and will remain in place until the project is complete.  On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the sign request.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

BARE HILL TRIATHLON

Ms. Reedich, member of the Harvard Lions Club requested approval for a triathlon on Sunday, June 30, 2013 with cyclists traveling through Bolton on Harvard, Green and Bare Hill Roads between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event contingent on Chief Alfano’s approval.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

NEW FIRE APPARATUS

Fire Chief Mentzer met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the article submitted for the 2013 Annual Town Meeting requesting $585,000 for the purchase and equipping of a new fire truck.   

Although Engine 5 is a tanker whose primary purpose is to shuttle water to a fire, Chief Mentzer is requesting Engine 5 be replaced with a pumper truck with all-wheel drive capabilities.

The main reasons for replacing Engine 5 is to address the age of the fleet, which ranges from 5 to 31 years old and to make access easier to homes on long, steep and curvy driveways.   Chief Mentzer stated that the National Fire Protection Association standards state that all fire apparatus should be replaced after 25 years of service and that front line apparatus be moved to a secondary role after 15 years.  Currently Engine 4 is used to respond during severe weather conditions but is limited on the amount of firefighting equipment and firefighters that can be carried to the scene.

The Fire Department applied for a FEMA grant in the amount of $513,500 and will not know if they are a recipient until July of 2013.  

 

Chief Mentzer did acknowledge that replacing Engine 5 would reduce the amount of water brought to a fire but stated that other towns have their own tankers and would be available for mutual aid.  

Engine 5 could be auctioned or declared surplus.  Mr. Wysocki suggested the town consider keeping the engine, given its low prospective salvage value, but then the question was raised as to where the engine could be stored. Mr. Delaney asked about the possibility of   purchasing “used” apparatus.  Chief Mentzer stated that most Fire Departments keep their fire apparatus until they are in poor condition, but agreed to do some research on used apparatus.

TOWN RECORDS STORAGE AND VAULT

Ms. Powell, Town Clerk recommended that the Board of Selectmen appoint a Town Vault Study Committee to research and propose a solution for the storage of all Bolton’s historical records and protect them from any potential harm.  The goal of the Committee would be to recommend a solution as to where to build a vault, provide a cost estimate and guide the building project for records storage to completion.   

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 66, Section 11, mandates that municipalities provide vaults that meet the standards issued by the Supervisor of Public Records for the storage of public records.  

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint a three member Town Vault Study Committee.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)  Ms. Powell will advertise seeking volunteers to serve on the committee.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

Update on Sipowicz order:  Mr. Lowe explained that the fencing as ordered by the Board of Selectmen in their letter issued on June 5, 2012 was inspected by Building Inspector Mike Sauvageau, Animal Control Officer Susan Latham and Animal Inspector Phyllis Tower.  It is now the recommendation of Ms. Latham and Ms. Tower that the wire at the bottom of the fence be tied to the fence every six inches.  Mr. Sipowicz expressed his frustration stating that from his perspective he has done everything ordered by the Board of Selectmen.  Mr. Lowe asked the Board of Selectmen to make a determination on whether the additional work as suggested needed to be done.  On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize Mr. Lowe to send a letter to Mr. & Mrs. Sipowicz informing them that the fencing installed per the Board of Selectmen’s order is acceptable, but that the Board would revisit the requirements of the fencing if there were another incident involving the dog. (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

Minuteman High School, Sign Request:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request of Minuteman High School to post signs at the on and off ramps of Route 117/495 around January 23, 2013 advertising their open house to be held on January 30, 2013 with the understanding that the signs will be taken down immediately following the open house.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

Syncarpha Escrow Account Term Sheet:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the Syncarpha Escrow Agreement Term Sheet with the suggestion that the language regarding investment criteria provided by Mr. Lindsay be added to the final Syncarpha Escrow Agreement.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

Senior Housing Lease, 600 Main Street:   A diagram of the leased premises and an explanation for the new language in the lease prohibiting campaigning was received as requested by the Board of Selectmen.   On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the lease between the Bolton Senior Housing Corporation and the Town of Bolton.   (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)  

Update on the FY14 budget process:  Mr. Lowe reported that all budgets and draft articles have been distributed to the Advisory Committee and Board of Selectmen.  The Board of Selectmen agreed to include an article proposed by Town Accountant Julie Costello to address “other post employment benefits" (OPEB).  Bill Clearly, NRSD Facilities Manager has distributed a list of capital projects for the Nashoba Regional High School and Florence Sawyer and Emerson Schools.  Mr. Cleary is scheduled to meet with the Advisory Committee on February 26, 2013.  

SELECTMEN BUSNESS

Capital Planning Committee appointment:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint David Yesue to the Capital Planning Committee.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes)

Economic Development Committee:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to reduce the membership of the Economic Development Committee from eleven to nine members as requested by the Economic Development Committee.  This will help the Committee meet the quorum requirements.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes

Policy regarding attendance at board/committee meetings:  Mr. Lowe will draft a policy regarding attendance of members at committee and board meetings.

Eagle Scout:  The Board of Selectmen executed a letter to be sent to Christopher Cole congratulating him on his achievement of earning his Eagle and thanking him for his efforts in clearing the Vaughn Hill conservation trail.  

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 8:30 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.  

Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day