Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                              Present:        Stanley Wysocki

April 14, 2011                                          Curtis Plante

                                                                David Lindsay

                                                Linda L. Day, Town Secretary

                                                Donald Lowe, Town Administrator

The Board of Selectmen met at 6:30 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay ) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39B, Section 23B (3) at 6:30 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and contract negotiations.  The Board announced it would reconvene to open session.

OPEN SESSION

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes Lindsay –yes) to enter into open session at 7:10 p.m. and will reconvene to executive session at the end of the meeting.

Mr. Dinjian, Chairman of the Advisory Committee was present.

REVIEW OF ATM

The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Annual Town Meeting warrant with Moderator Jim Anker, Town Counsel Gary Brackett and Ellen Doucette and Town Clerk Pamela Powell in preparation for town meeting.

Mr. Anker outlined the procedure that will take place regarding the Nashoba Regional School District budget and the proposal by Mr. Lindsay to reduce Bolton’s share by $188,000.  

If the town meeting votes to amend the budget as proposed by Mr. Lindsay, the town meeting has effectively disapproved the Bolton assessment.  If the motion fails then the budget would remain the same and we would move forward with town meeting.  Mr. Anker stated that if we reduce any one line by any amount it must be reflected somewhere in the budget.  

After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that Mr. Lindsay’s motion should include transferring the $188,000 from the Nashoba Regional School District (NRSD) budget to the Advisory Committee Reserve fund.

 

Mr. Lindsay recommended a secret ballot for the vote on the NRSD budget.  Mr. Anker is not in favor of a secret ballot but if seven people objected to a voice vote he would have go to a secret ballot.  A motion made by Mr. Lindsay for the Board of Selectmen to recommend a secret ballot vote on the amendment to disapprove the school budget was not seconded.   Mr. Lowe stated that in the town in which he lives the Moderator announced that all people were required to be seated and anyone who remained standing during a vote will not be counted.

Mr. Anker explained that a motion to make an amendment to an article would be followed by a presentation by the proponent of the amendment, and anyone wanting to make a comment may be called on to do so after the amendment and initial presentation has been given.   

ONE PRECINCT

Ms. Powell, Town Clerk informed the Board of Selectmen that according to the U.S. Census Bureau Bolton’s population is less than 6,200 and therefore is eligible to remain one precinct with the vote of the Board of Selectmen.  On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Town of Bolton as one precinct as requested by Ms. Powell and the Secretary of State.  (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)

Mr. Powell complimented the Historical Commission on a job well done in preparing the official Town Bounds of Bolton, Massachusetts, which is required by the State.

DISBAND THE LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

Present:  Bob Zak and Roland Ochsenbein

At the request of the Library Trustees, on a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to disband the Library Construction Committee.    (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)

Mr. Zak thanked the Library Construction Committee for their time, expertise and passion for the project.  

The Library Trustees will continue to pursue any remaining issues related to the heating and cooling system.

Mr. Lowe confirmed it is an appropriate time for the Library Construction Committee to disband.  

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN

The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Affordable Housing Plan.  There were a couple of minor revisions to the plan.  Mr. Lindsay was opposed to the section of the plan that referred to higher density zoning.

Mr. Plante questioned whether the plan should include the most recent 2010 Census Data that is now available.   Mr. Lowe will contact Mr. Storey to discuss the option of including the recent census data and if this could be done without it being a significant time burden on whoever it was that would be updating this information.  The Board deferred their approval.

HIRING OF A PATROLMAN

Present:  Chief Alfano

The Board of Selectmen continued to discuss the Police Department budget and how to use the $30,000 restored by the Advisory Committee to provide coverage for the officer who has been out injured on duty (IOD).  The options include using the funds toward overtime wages to pay for the coverage using the existing officers for 6 months (1040 hours) which would cost approximately $29,468 or hire an entry level patrol officer for 12 months (2080 hours) which would cost approximately $39,739.  With the second option an additional $9,739 would be needed to complete the funded for the officer for the year.

Health coverage for a single plan would be $6,056.00 and a family plan would be $15,516.00 cost to the town in addition to the $39,739.   

 

At the request of Mr. Plante, the Board of Selectmen agreed to have Mr. Lowe contact the Town’s Labor Counsel Mirrick O’Connell to provide a legal interpretation of the contract related to the overtime and filling of open shifts before making a decision.  Mr. Lowe will arrange for a conference call that Mr. Plante will also participate in.  

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Mr. Lowe reported that he has had several conversations with DOT representatives as a follow up to the Town’s request for assistance in reviewing the traffic lights at the intersection of Route 117, Sugar Road and I-495 for a modification to the timing of the lights.  DOT’s response continues to be that they are in the early stages of creating a project plan to alleviate the congestion.  Mr. Lowe will continue to work on this issue and wanted the residents to know that the Selectmen have listened to the concerns and are trying to address them.  

BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS

Appointments:  On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Ryan Prucnal to the Energy Committee.  Term expiration is June 30, 2013. (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes)  

On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Margot Brody to the Cultural Council.  Term expiration is April 15, 2017.    (Wysocki – yes, Plante –yes, Lindsay – yes)  

Senior Proclamation:  On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to proclaim the month of May as Senior Appreciation Month.   (Wysocki – yes, Plante –yes, Lindsay – yes)  

Activities scheduled for the seniors include the delivery of May baskets, a model airplane demonstration at Bolton Flats, two special Tuesday Connections events, a Garden Club program, wine tasting and a raffle.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Lindsay - yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39B, Section 23B (3) at 9:20 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining and contract negotiations with non-union personnel and Section 23(6).  The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.  

Minutes respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day