Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Board of Selectmen Present: Kenneth F. Troup
May 14, 2009 Stanley Wysocki
Curtis Plante
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
Ms. Day called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and asked for nominations for Chairman. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, Mr. Troup was nominated and elected as Chairman. (Wysocki- yes, Plante –yes, Troup – yes). Mr. Troup then called for nominations for Clerk. On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Troup, Mr. Wysocki was elected the Clerk for the Board of Selectmen. (Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes, Troup – yes)
APPOINTMENT
Pressent: Donna Madden, Treasurer
At the election on May 11, 2009 the town approved the ballot question to change the position of the Tax Collector from elected to appointed. Mr. Lowe recommended that Ms. Madden be appointed as the new Treasurer/Tax Collector.
In anticipation of an affirmative vote, Mr. Troup and Mr. Lowe met with Ms. Child and Ms. Madden to discuss the transition plan. Ms. Child will be kept on board for the remainder of the fiscal year and is available and willing to help with coverage as needed during the summer months. There will be no reduction in hours or services. Ms. Child was thanked for her service to the town.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Ms. Madden as the Treasurer/Tax Collector. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
Ms. Madden stated that she has already started working with Ms. Child on the transition plan. Ms. Child has been training Ninotchka Rogers, Assistant Treasurer/Tax Collector. Minor changes will be made to ensure the security of the office. Ms. Madden stated that the services will be maintained and she has some exciting plans for the office including offering online payments of tax bills on September 1, 2009.
Ms. Madden stated that demand fees will increase from $5.00 to $10.00 starting July 1, 2009 as voted at town meeting. She will meet with the Board of Selectmen to request an increase in municipal liens in the near future.
POST ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Present: David Lindsay, Advisory Committee Chairman and James Anker, Town Moderator
Mr. Anker stated that overall the town meeting went very well. Although the warrant was brief discussion was expanded on a little bit. One improvement to be made is to have any new motions for any of the proposed articles available to be viewed on the overhead screen by the voters at town meeting.
The Selectmen recommended that Town Counsel be invited to the Selectmen’s meeting prior to town meeting to review the warrant articles.
It was also recommended that a public hearing be held on any bylaw revisions to allow for an open dialogue with the public.
Mr. Troup expressed his disappointment with the disapproval of the regional hazardous waste facility at the ballot election. Mr. Plante stated that he was approached by Energy Committee member Laura Kischitz who was also disappointed in the disapproval of the article. Ms. Kischitz and Ms. O’Toole, DPW Administrative Assistant will continue to work on this effort. Mr. Plante invited them to meet with the Board of Selectmen.
One concern at town meeting was the lack of information. Mr. Lindsay suggested talking with some of the voters that voted against the article to determine what their concerns were so they could be addressed.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Class II licenses: The Board of Selectmen received a letter from Town Counsel that provided further clarification about the issuance of Class II licenses. A meeting will be scheduled for the Town Planner, Planning Board members and Building Inspector to meet with the Board of Selectmen to discuss this matter further. The Law Committee will also be invited to this meeting. At this meeting the Selectmen will also discuss ways to increase the exposure of the Law Committee.
BRUCE SLATER, GREAT BROOKS FARM
Mr. Slater met with the Board of Selectmen to request a one day beer and wine license for a music event to be held at Great Brook Farm on May 31, 2009. At a previous meeting the Board of Selectmen voted to defer the granting of this license until Mr. Slater reported back to the Board of Selectmen with an update on where he was in the process for the limited business special permit. Mr. Slater stated that he attended a Planning Board meeting that lacked a quorum but will be submitting his limited business special permit application to the Planning Board in a couple of weeks. Mr. Slater stated that the parking plan has been finalized. On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the beer and wine license for May 31, 2009 with the understanding that no more licenses will be granted until the limited business special permit process has been completed. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Community sign: Mr. Lowe reported that a question was raised about “for profit” businesses utilizing the community message sign located in front of the Police Station when the intent was specifically for Town boards, committees and departments, and non-profit organizations. The Board was favorable to Mr. Lowe’s recommendation to revise the second paragraph of the policy to clarify the intent. The document will be revised with the following language for the Selectmen’s approval at their next meeting.
Statement of Policy: It is the policy of the Board of Selectmen that the community message sign shall be made available to all town boards, committees, departments, and other Bolton-based non-profit organizations for the posting of brief, community-oriented messages with the use regulated in an orderly and fair manner. The first priority will be given to those groups who do not have access to another message sign or an approved banner to display their information. The use of the sign shall be regulated by the following procedures and its use is on a self-policing basis.
Mr. Plante also recommended that the policy related to reserving the sign and the keeper of the letters for the sign be revised once the police station at the Houghton Building moves to the public safety center on Wattaquadock Hill Road. Ms. Day, Town Secretary agreed to take over this responsibility.
FYFESHIRE DAM REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Review Committee received six (6) bid proposals for the Fyfeshire dam repair. The Committee interviewed four firms and unanimously agreed to recommend that the contract be awarded to Fuss and O’Neill. Mr. Lowe explained that the price proposal was then opened and Fuss and O’Neill was contacted for clarification on the proposal. The price proposal included the phase II inspection and stability analysis which exceeded the $50,000 approved at town meeting.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen authorized Mr. Lowe to contact Fuss and O’Neill to negotiate a contract to eliminate the stability analysis which would bring the contract in at under the approved $50,000. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes) It was noted that Fuss and O’Neill is one o
DPW CHIPPER
On motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Plante, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize the DPW to trade in the old chipper toward to purchase of a new chipper. (Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes, Plante – yes)
DECISION OF BELL ATLANTIC MOBILE, DBA VERIZON WIRELESS, FORBUSH MILL ROAD
It was reported that the decision of the Board of Selectmen to approve the site for the Verizon Wireless contingent on obtaining approval from the Board of Appeals on the four variances is being appealed by Bernhard and Carol Jensen of 131 Forbush Mill Road. The Jensen’s stated that the proposed distance of 632 feet is unacceptable when the required distance is 1,000 feet.
UNSUNG HEROINE RONA BALCO
The Board of Selectmen recognized and congratulated Rona Balco on receiving the 2009 Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts award. Ms. Balco was honored at a ceremony on May 13, 2009 at the State House.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT
Mr. Troup reported that the town will be receiving a grant in the amount of $2,500 to offset funds incurred by the town to maintain, review and update the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs) on an on-going basis. The grant requires a 100% match contribution of in-kind contribution. These details are being worked out and the grant will be released by June 30, 2009.
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
Mr. Plante reported that he has received a recommendation from the State Ethics Commission that a statement be prepared by our town counsel that will allow Mr. Plante to sign the bills/payroll warrant but recuse him from signing the portion of the bills/payroll warrant related to the Public Safety Center project. This would also allow Mr. Plante to sign a bills/payroll warrant at a time when one of the other selectmen may be out of town. Mr. Lowe will contact town counsel for recommended language.
SELECTMEN’S SCHEDULE
The Selectmen set their schedule as follows: June 4 & 25, July 2 & July 16, August 6 & 20, September 3 & 17, October 1 & 22, November 5 & 19, December 3 & 17, 2009.
TRI-TOWN MEETING
Bolton will host the next Tri-Town meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bolton Town Hall.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Plante and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Plante – yes, Troup – yes, Wysocki – yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39B, Section 23B (3) at 8:30 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.
Respectfully submitted, Linda L. Day