Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                      Present:    Mark Sprague

December 3, 2015                                         Stanley Wysocki

Town Hall                                                       Thomas J. Frain

                                                                       Don Lowe, Town Administrator

                                                                      Linda L. Day, Town Secretary

Chairman Sprague called the Board of Selectmen’s meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

POLE HEARINGS

The Board of Selectmen opened the public hearings on the petition of Verizon New England Inc. and Massachusetts Electric Company (NGRID) to install one (1) jointly owned pole on Hudson Road; one (1) jointly owned pole on Green Road; and one (1) jointly owned pole on Sampson Road.  Mr. Thomas Blicharz attended the meeting to represent Verizon New England, Inc. along with Mr. Mark Caisse, Bolton’s Tree Warden.  Mr. Caisse stated that although the plans showed the pole locations it didn’t show any surrounding poles and the locations were not staked.

 

Based on the lack of information, on a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to continue the three pole hearings until December 17 at 7:00 p.m.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes, Frain – yes)

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

Update on Minuteman:  Mr. Sprague and Mr. Lowe attended a meeting in Weston with members of the Board of Selectmen from all 16 towns to finalize the Minuteman Regional Agreement and discuss what needed to be done to ensure the agreement was passed by all 16 towns.  Also discussed was the host community pilot to cover the public safety aspects.  The Board of Selectmen anticipate calling a Special Town Meeting in early February to address the revised Minuteman Regional Agreement.  The article to seek approval to withdraw from the district will be on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in May.

SIGN REQUEST, 1092-1094 MAIN STREET

Mr. Brandon Ducharme, Ducharme and Dillis, representing Nashoba Park Association requested approval to replace the existing sign at 1092-1094 Main Street.  The proposed sign will remain the same size and will be externally lit.   It will include two new tenants (ReMax Traditions and Ross Mortgage) and be moved to the center of the island in front of the Post Office.   The sign will not obstruct the line of site for drivers.  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the sign at 1092-1094 Main Street as proposed.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes, Frain – yes)

SITE PLAN REVIEW – HOUDE REALTY TRUST, 470 MAIN STREET

Attorney Paul Gianetti and Brandon Ducharme, from Ducharme and Dillis presented the site plan for 470 Main Street which is next door to the Country Cupboard.

The proposal is to demolish the existing dwelling at 470 Main Street and construct a one and half story building (2,500 sq. ft.) with hopes of accommodating a restaurant and retail space on the first floor and storage space on the second floor.   The building is being moved forward to allow for additional parking in the back.  The original plans were revised based on input from the Planning Board.  The applicant has filed a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission and requested a variance to the front and side yard setbacks from the Board of Appeals.  

The existing curb cut will be used to access both properties and the driveway at 470 Main Street will be abandoned.  The properties will share a public water supply and be served by one septic system.  No substantial impact on the traffic pattern of Route 117 is anticipated.  A suggestion was made to ask the owners to consider putting a speed bump in the parking area. Mr. Ducharme stated that they would like to avoid building a sidewalk to nowhere but agreed to incorporate the sidewalk when the adjacent parcels were developed.  This condition will be part of the Planning Board’s approval which will be recorded.

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the site plan for 470 Main Street.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)

SELECTMEN BUSINESS

Approval of Liquor Licenses:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the liquor license for International Golf Club, club license - all alcohol; Daigneault’s Liquor, package store – all alcohol; Country Cupboard, package store – all alcohol; Fotini’s Restaurant and Bar, restaurant – all alcohol; Nashoba Valley Winery, restaurant – wine and malt regular and Twin Springs Holdings, Inc., general on premise – wine and malt.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain - yes)  

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the liquor license for Great Brook Farms, Inc., general on premise - wine and malt. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes)  Mr. Frain recused himself to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest and left the meeting room during this discussion.

SIGN REQUEST – LAUREL LEARNING, 27 FORBUSH MILL ROAD

The Board of Selectmen revisited the request of Ms. Audra Guimond for the placement of a permanent sign at 27 Forbush Mill Road for her tutoring business.  The proposed sign would hang from an existing bracket on a tree in front of the property.  Building Inspector Michael Sauvageau confirmed that the Board of Selectmen had the authority to grant waivers according to the Code of the Town of Bolton, Section 250-18 Sign Regulations if enforcement resulted in a substantial hardship and if no harm to the public good is evident. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request for the permanent sign as proposed. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)

Bonfire –Town Common:  Fire Chief John Mentzer requested permission from the Board of Selectmen to issue a ceremonial bonfire permit according to the Fire Prevention Regulations (527 CMR 10.23(1) for the Town Common bonfire.  The event is scheduled for December 12, 2015. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize the Fire Department to issue the permit as requested.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes, Frain – yes)

FY17 BUDGET DISCUSSION WITH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Advisory Committee (Brad Cote, Connie Benjamin, Joe Myerson and Ted Kirchner) met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the FY17 budget process.  Free cash as of July 1, 2015 was certified at $604,657.  Mr. Cote, Chairman of the Advisory Committee stated that less free cash coming in indicates that we are not overly taxing simply to use the additional money in the following year.  The Advisory Committee will begin meeting with all departments in January 2016 to review their budgets.  As always, the total budget depends on what is submitted by the Nashoba Regional School Committee and what comes in for capital expenditures.   If we can utilize free cash and avoid bringing on additional debt we would see existing debt relief in 2020.  Everyone agreed to keep the line of communication open throughout the budget season.  

DISCUSS POLICE CHIEF SEARCH PROCESS WITH CONSULTANT MARK MORSE

Mr. Mark Morse of MMA Consulting met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the options for proceeding with the police chief search.  

Mr. Morse understands the current situation is that the department has a long time Lieutenant acting as Police Chief and the best way to evaluate someone to see if they can do the job is to put them in the position for a period of time to see how they do.  The person could also go through a structured interview process using a panel not known to the candidate or a comprehensive search could be done by advertising the position to seek out candidates that meet the qualifications.  If a Search Committee, which usually consists of 5 to 7 members, is appointed by the Board of Selectmen they should understand the needs of the town and seek public input.  The interviews can be conducted in executive session and once the recommendation is made to the Board of Selectmen it becomes public. It would cost approximately $14,000 to $16,500, not including the advertising, to hire a consultant to conduct the search.  

Mr. Thomas McGilvray, 295 Main Street, retired from the Massachusetts State Police supported Mr. Morse’s option to evaluate Mr. Nelson as he continues in the Acting Police Chief role.   He spoke very highly of Mr. Nelson and encouraged the town to show the same commitment to Mr. Nelson as he has shown the town for 23 years.  

Mr. David Taylor, 126 Old Bay Road, has 25 years in the U.S. Marshall Services seconded the Mr. McGilvray’s comments, stating that Mr. Nelson is very well respected by the department and very well-liked by the townspeople.  He didn’t see any reason to bring anyone in from the inside when there isn’t anything that needs to be corrected.

The Board of Selectmen will discuss how they will proceed with the police chief search at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on December 17, 2015.

CITIZENS INPUT ON POLICE DEPARTMENT CONCERNS

The Board of Selectmen held a public meeting to give the citizens of Bolton the opportunity to give input or discuss any concerns that they have with the Police Department.  Overall, residents would like to see a friendly police department and more traffic control not only on Main Street but the entire town.

Other suggestions included the Police Department having some form of social media.  Mr. Nelson stated the Police Department is working on a facebook page to get information out to the public.  With the recent turnover in the Police Department a suggestion was made for the Police Department to consider having an open house at the Public Safety Building for everyone to meet the officers.   

It was also noted that a resident of Main Street stated that the jake brake signs posted have made a tremendous difference.  

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 9:30 p.m.  (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)