Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                              Present:    David Lindsay

November 29, 2012                                               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.  Mr. Wysocki was unable to attend the meeting.

POLE HEARING - HUDSON LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT

Present:  James Kennedy, Representative for Hudson Light and Power and Mark Caisse, Tree Warden

The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the petition of the Hudson Light and Power Department to place one pole 20 feet from the center of Delaney Street, on the northerly side of Route 117, just before the town line of Stow, MA.  The placement of this pole is to connect the solar field being constructed by Syncarpha to Hudson Light and Power.  

Hudson Light and Power was denied the request for an easement to locate the pole on ETL property.  National Grid did not have any issues with the proposed location of the pole.

Mr. Caisse stated that the prospective location of the pole is in the same vicinity of where snow is piled during snow removal on Route 117 by the Town of Bolton and hoped that there was another alternative.  Given the discussion during the hearing, Mr. Caisse stated that he understood the situation and realized that there was no other alternative.

Mr. Kennedy agreed to move the pole as far back as possible without jeopardizing the power company's requirements and to consider installing a larger and stronger pole to support the snow being pushed up against it.

On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney – yes)

2013 TAX RATE

Present:    Jeff Nichols, Susan Mason, Charlotte Johnson, Board of Assessors, and David Manzello, Principal Assessor

Mr. Manzello and the Board of Assessors met with the Board of Selectmen to request their signatures on the LA-5 documentation needed for submittal to the Department of Revenue to set the FY13 tax rate.  Mr. Lindsay recommended that the excess capacity calculated at $205,679.54 be increased by $100,000 based on the fact that the town was very likely to collect at least $100,000 more in excise taxes than had been estimated.  This would reduce the tax rate from $20.96 to $20.84 which would be a savings of approximately $50.00 per household.  Mr. Lindsay was not willing to sign the document without this revision.  Mr. Nichols pointed out that delaying the signature on the documentation could mean that the tax rate wouldn’t be approved by the Department of Revenue in time to mail actual tax bills out by December 31, 2012.   

Mr. Delaney stated that the LA-5 form only required the Selectmen to attest that that Tax Classification hearing was held November 1, 2012 and that the Board of Assessors had informed the Board of Selectmen of the excess capacity of $205,679.54. As both those statements were correct he intended to sign the form. Mr. Delaney noted that the Board of Selectmen did not have the authority to change the amount of the excess capacity and that the tax rate is set through the combined efforts of the Board of Assessors, the Town Clerk and the Town Accountant. Mr. Delaney also pointed out that the estimated excise tax figure that Mr. Lindsay was seeking to revise was the number that was used when the budget was set in the spring and said it was “gaming the system” to seek to change that number late in the process for savings of 14 cents per day. Mr. Delaney suggested that the LA-5 form required individual signatures, rather than a vote of the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Manzello concurred. Mr. Delaney then signed the LA-5 form.

Because two signatures are required on the documentation and Mr. Wysocki was not present, Mr. Lowe, Town Administrator will contact Selectman Wysocki, to explain the situation and see if he would sign the documentation. If the LA-5 documentation is not signed by Mr. Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen will meet on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.   

HURRICANE SANDY

Present: Police Chief Alfano, Fire Chief Mentzer, Ambulance Director Margy Diaz

The public safety personnel agreed that Bolton's response to Hurricane Sandy went quite well and that Sandy was much less devastating to the town than the storm of October, 2011.  The Department of Public Works (DPW) was able to concentrate on downed trees versus downed trees and plowing snow.  The Fire Department had two calls, while the Ambulance did not have any calls but were on standby.  Communication has improved between the public safety departments and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agencies.  Mr. Moses, Emergency Management Co-Director could not be present due to a conflict, but did send his comments stating that the unified command structure worked well and that he will continue to improve on the distribution of information.

 

Although National Grid provided the town with a liaison to address problems and the liaison visited the EOC on a regular basis, they need to improve on posting more accurate information to their website regarding power restoration, etc.

Police Chief Alfano recommended that the Town consider a propane generator to keep the  public safety communications tower on West Berlin Road up and running during a storm event and that funds be put in the DPW budget to purchase more traffic control devices (cones, road closed signs, etc.) There were no real issues to work on although each time we go through an event such as this the process gets better.

BOLTON ACCESS TELEVISION

Present:  Ken Troup, President and Burt Shnitzler, Treasurer

Request for funds for Bolton Access Television Expenses:  On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to release $15,800 from the Comcast fund to Bolton Access Television for their operating expenses for the months of December, January and February, as requested by Mr. Shnitzler, Treasurer.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney – yes)

Request for funds to complete the Houghton Building renovations:   On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Delaney, the Board of Selectmen voted to release $10,000 from the Comcast fund for the purpose of completing the final phase of the construction project at the Houghton Building, as requested by Mr. Shnitzler, Treasurer.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney – yes)

FY14 Budget:  Mr. Shnitzler stated that as part of the FY14 budget review they have determined that they will have a deficit of approximately $2,800 to $3,000 because of expenses that will be incurred as a result of requirements in the lease related to the umbrella policy and the American Society of Composers, Authorities and Publishers (ASCAP) license.  The Board of Selectmen agreed to review the lease to see if this requirement could be eliminated and agreed to pay for the ASCAP license out of the town budget.

Cable License Renewal:  Mr. Troup reported that the Cable license contract expires on April 14, 2014 and recommended that the Board of Selectmen appoint a Committee to negotiate a new contract with Comcast.  Ms. Day will check on the status of the current Cable Committee and advertise for volunteers to serve on the Committee in January.  

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

FY14 budget process:  Mr. Lowe reported that the budget process thus far is going very well.  Almost all departments, board and committees have submitted their budgets.  The Planning Board has requesting a place holder for 4 articles.  Mr. Lindsay recommended that funds be added to the FY14 budget for Bolton’s 275^th Anniversary Celebration.  Mr. Lowe reported he is in the process of getting quotes to paint the Houghton Building.

Update on Sipowicz Order:  Mike Sauvageau, Building Inspector and Susan Latham, Animal Control Officer inspected the fencing installed at the Sipowicz residence for their dog Alley as ordered by the Board of Selectmen.   The height of the fence was fine.  Although there was a bar across the bottom of the fence Ms. Latham recommended the bar be closer to the ground to prevent the dog from digging out.  Ms. Sipowicz agreed to contact the fence installer for suggestions and will report back to Ms. Latham.  Ms. Sipowicz understood that the fenced in area should not be used until the work is completed and approved by the Town.

Lease Agreement between the Town of Bolton and the Bolton Senior Housing Corporation:  The Board of Selectmen reviewed the lease between the Town of Bolton and the Bolton Senior Housing Corporation.  The Board noted a new paragraph in the lease regarding the prohibition of any political functions and that the leased premises was defined in the lease by reference to an exhibit, which was not attached.   The Board asked Mr. Lowe to contact Mr. Teixeria, Bolton Senior Housing, Inc. regarding the lease and deferred executing the lease agreement.  

Audit Services Contract:  On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the contract between the Town of Bolton and George V. McKenna for the years ended June 30, 2012, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney – yes)

On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen adjourned at 9:00 p.m.  (Lindsay – yes, Delaney – yes)

Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day