Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                 Present: Curtis Plante

December 1, 2011                   David Lindsay

                                                Stanley Wysocki

                                                Don Lowe, Town Administrator

                                                Linda L. Day, Town Secretary

The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

Advisory Committee members Randy Dinjian and Bob Czekanski were present.

PUBLIC HEARING

Present:  David Cheevers, representative for Condyne, and John Mentzer, Deputy Fire Chief

The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing to consider the application of Bolton/CIF II, LLC, c/o Condyne, 580 Main Street for a license to store 2,240 gallons of propane in above ground storage tanks at 580 Main Street.  

Mr. Cheevers stated that their new tenant Advanced Marketing Solutions has installed a small generator for their company which requires the installation of two 120 gallon propane tanks.  The installation of the two 120 gallon tanks puts the facility over the 2,000 gallon limit for propane tanks on the property and therefore requires a license from the Board of Selectmen to exceed this limit.  

Mr. Mentzer conducted a site visit of the property and approved of the request.

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request with the understanding that the tanks should be enclosed within a secured chain link fence to prevent tampering. (Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)

BICYCLES BATTLING CANCER CHARITY FUNDRAISER

Present:  Aaron Ladd, Planning and Logistics Specialist

Mr. Ladd met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission for the Bicycles Battling Cancer charity fundraiser to travel through Bolton on June 10, 2012.  Bolton will be located near the end of the 35, 65 and 100 mile loops.  Bicyclists will travel through town between 11 a.m. - 12 noon and 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Mr. Ladd met with Chief Alfano who has approved the ride.  Paid detail officers will be available for the period of time when the bicyclists will be coming through town. Volunteer flaggers will be at intersections.  

Mr. Plante was concerned that this could be in conflict with the toll booth on Main Street which is held each year around this time.  Mr. Ladd was willing to reroute the bicyclists if we were to have two events on the same day.

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Bicycles Battling Cancer charity fundraising ride for June 10, 2012.  (Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

Update on the testing related to the oil spill at the Public Safety Building:  Mr. Lowe reported all test results have come back negative for four straight quarters and that Steven Passafaro, the LSP has signed off on the project.  The appropriate paperwork has been forward to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and unless DEP has any additional issues this project should be closed out.  The project was completed within budget.

Update on the clean-up efforts of the brush and hangers:  There is approximately $10,050 left for the cleanup with some of this money allocated to pay for the police details.  The brush has been removed from approximately 80% of the roads. The hangers have been removed from approximately 30% of the roads.  The remaining funds will be used for the hangers.  In the first 72 hours, approximately $27,150 was spent and it is anticipated that FEMA will reimburse at 75% which is estimated to be approximately $20,362.  The work done by the DPW has been done without overtime.  

Update on the FY13 budget:  All budgets have been submitted for the FY13 budget, and Ms. Day will prepare the budget binders for the Board of Selectmen.  Articles submitted included articles from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Minuteman, Planning Board, Department of Public Works, Selectmen and the Town Clerk.   Capital requests included requests from the Fire Department, Council on Aging, Police Department, Department of Public Works and the NRSD.  

Classification Tax Allocation – LA5:  Mr. Nichols, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, informed the Board of Selectmen that the document signed at the Tax Classification hearing held on November 10, 2011 needed to be revised and requested that the Board sign the revised document.  Mr. Nichols explained that the original document provided information that calculated the LA-5 excess capacity as $5,967.74 with an excess levy capacity of $368,021.  The revised document provided information that calculated the LA-5 excess capacity at $222,941.99.  This revision is based on the reduction of the overlay account as a result of settling the on-going valuation wireless appeal.   This also results in the tax rate changing from $19.98 to $19.78.  

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the levy capacity and the impact on revenue generated this year and next year.  

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to allow the Board of Assessors to calculate the LA-5 excess capacity and excess levy capacity at $222,941.99 versus the LA-5 excess capacity of $5,967.74 and excess levy capacity of $368,021 that was originally requested at the meeting of November 10, 2011.  (Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)

Health Care Meeting:  Mr. Lowe reported that the Fallon dental coverage that exists under the town’s plan will end as of May 31, 2012.  Ms. Madden is working with the Towns of Boxborough and Harvard to find a dental plan that can be offered to the employees.   

The Minuteman Nashoba Health Group Board voted to go with a proposal of deductibles and co-payments for town health insurance plans at a reduced rate.  The Board also voted to utilize part of the existing fund balance to reduce the rate by a further 2%.  The Board meets next week to finalize the plans and rates.   The estimated saving for Bolton is approximately $50,000, which is about 11% of the current cost.  Bolton's Insurance Advisory Committee will be meeting soon to discuss this proposal.  

SELECTMEN’S BUSINESS

Appointment of the Fire Chief:  Mr. Plante recused himself from the discussion and turned the meeting over to Mr. Lindsay to chair.

The interview process has been completed with Chairman Plante recusing himself from the entire process leaving Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Wysocki to make the decision.  Mr. Wysocki had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Mentzer this morning along with Mr. Lowe.

On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Mr. John Mentzer, Fire Chief.  (Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)  There will be a pinning ceremony planned for January.  

Mr. Plante returned to chair the meeting.

Liquor Licenses:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to renew the liquor licenses for The International Golf Course – all alcohol; Firewater and Wine – all alcohol; Nashoba Valley Winery – wine and malt; Country Cupboard – all alcohol; Bolton Road House – all alcohol, and Twin Springs – wine and malt.  (Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)

Deficit Spending:       The Board of Selectmen executed a letter to be forwarded to the Division of Local Services to inform them that the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to allow the DPW to deficit spend up to $50K for brush and limb removal due to the widespread impact to the town from the October 30, 2011 snowstorm.  Mr. Lindsay made the point that the Town might not have to deficit spend if it was sufficiently under budget in some other spending categories.  Mr. Lowe acknowledged that Mr. Lindsay's scenario was a possibility, but that it was important to execute the letter in case a there was not sufficient leaway in the budget, and the deficit spending proved necessary.

Building permit fees:  On a motion made by Lindsay and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request from Building Inspector Michael Sauvageau to implement a minimum fee of $50.00 for building permits.  (Plante – yes, Lindsay – yes, Wysocki – yes)

Football:  The Board of Selectmen congratulated the Nashoba Regional High School football team for their undefeated season and wished them luck in the Superbowl scheduled for Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. at Fitchburg State College.

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Lindsay, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 8:15 p.m.