Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley M. Wysocki
November 17, 2005 Kenneth F. Troup
Panny Gerken
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
WARRANT
#6-10a $2,516,657.02
#6-10 $ 71,945.20
TAX CLASSIFICATION HEARING
Present: Board of Assessor members Jeff Nichols, Steve Bonina, Charlotte Johnson, and Assessor Harold Scheid
A public hearing was held with the Board of Assessors and Principal Assessor Harald Scheid to determine the property tax classification for the coming year. The Assessors recommended a single tax rate. On a motion made by Gerken and seconded Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to maintain a single rate. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
APPLEART
Holly and Curt Plante met with the Board of Selectmen to ask for suggested locations in town to display the Apple they sponsored for the AppleArt fundraiser conducted by the Clinton Hospital Foundation and the Wachusett Chamber of Commerce. The Plante’s went to the auction held at the International Golf Course on November 12th and decided to come home with their own apple so they could bring it back to town. The Plante’s chose to donate the proceeds from their apple to the WHEAT Community Service. Although the apples were clear coated to stand the weather the Plante’s preferred to see the apple remain inside. The Selectmen thought it might be nice to have the apple move from location to location within town. The Selectmen deferred discussion to the next meeting at which time they will decide if they will become custodians of the apple.
LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE (LEPC)
Present: Sgt. Bagdonas, Lorraine Kenney, administrative assistant of the Police Department and Donald Baum, representative of the Fire Department met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the Local Emergency Plan.
The Board of Selectmen was provided with a packet of information regarding MEMA and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) plan.
Sgt. Bagdonas stated the LEPC is doing the best they can to update the Local Emergency Plan for the town of Bolton and they are looking for the support of the Board of Selectmen. The Town will need to complete the plan under the guidelines of the NIMS to receive funds and must be certified to be eligible for any grants. The work to be done includes updating the book which will include talking with the Schools to see if they have a plan in place. The Board of Selectmen expressed their support of the project and Mr. Troup stated that he would be happy to help the Committee. Mr. Senie who was also present for the meeting stated that there are trained radio operators in town and he will check with them to see if they would be interested in taking part in this plan. The Selectmen suggested that this plan be discussed at an upcoming Tri-town meeting. The LEPC will meet again with Selectmen in January to discuss the status of the plan. Ms. Kenney stated that they are considering a survey on local preparedness that could be sent out with the census.
TRAIL EASEMENT – BLATCHFORDS, POWDER HILL ROAD
Conservation Commission member Scott Duhaime and Attorney Mark Curley, representing the Blatchfords. On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the conservation trail easement granted by the Blatchfords of Powder Hill Road. The trail easement is across a portion of Lot 13 on Powder Hill Road.
WHITE, MAIN STREET
Mary White of 608 Main Street met with the Board of Selectmen to ask their opinion as to whether she could install a kitchen in the attached home office. Ms. White indicated that the home office conformed to all the bylaw requirements for an accessory apartment accept for the lack of a kitchen. She stated her house is on the market and wanted to be sure to offer correct information to buyers. The Board informed Mrs. White that they felt an in-law apartment would be ok, as
she already has a bathroom and only needs a kitchen. The Board requested that Mrs. White meet with town planner Nat Tipton as the final authority.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Present: Advisory Committee members David Lindsay, Scott Powell, Wendy Rogers, Burt Shnitzler;
Wayne Wetzel, Dan Senie
1. Consider scheduling Election after the town meeting votes on articles requiring an election (so we don’t have to call Election if articles are defeated at town meeting)
2. Presentations:
- Deadline for presentations should be set and adhered to for ALL presentations;
- Last minute presentations should not be allowed;
- Presentations should be reviewed by outside parties before the town meeting;
3. Check In / Start of Town Meeting
- Improve check-in procedures (i.e. more checkers) so town meeting can start on time;
- Last person in line at start time of meeting should be given a place holder and meeting should start once that person has been checked in;
- Wait until all have been checked in before town meeting is started.
4. Warrant
- Strategy for the order of articles (i.e. by fiscal impact)
- Consider order of articles to keep people from leaving and jeopardizing other articles
5. Town Meeting
- Moderator should be stricter about adhering to his stated time limits for presentation;
- Set ground rules including no applause at all;
- Presentations should be held to the allotted time;
- Repetitive point of view should be controlled;
- Residents should be limited to 2 questions per article when recognized by the moderator.
6. Other
- Detail Officer should be on duty (required by State Law/School ?)
- Photographer should not be allowed to take pictures during a hand count vote
- Board of Selectmen should publish an educational column in the local newspaper regarding the articles on the warrant
-
APPOINTMENTS
Board of Appeals: The Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Kay Stoner to the Board of Appeals, term expiration June 30, 2008 to complete Pat Sullivan’s term.
Fire Safety Hearing Officer: On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Board of Selectmen Chairman Stan Wysocki as the municipal hearing officer for fire code violations. Mr. Wysocki will be responsible for hearing any appeals to the Fire Department issued for the state fire safety code.
Treatment Plant: A site walk has been scheduled for November 22 at 9:00 a.m. The Historical Commission will participate in the walk.
Police Chief Search Update: Approximately 70 resumes have been received so far; the deadline is November 28, 2005.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Defibrillator: On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept a gift of a defibrillator for the public library from the Art Garofalo gift fund. However, they would like to have all the library staff trained on its usage prior to installation.
Cell Tower: Town Administrator Jodi Ross informed the Board of Selectmen that the wireless carrier on the town owned land at Route 117 and I-495 would like to replace existing antennas with antennas that are 5 inches longer. The Board agreed that a special permit hearing was not required. They approved the request for installation of antennas not to exceed the 5 inches. Request for soccer champion signs: The Town has received a request from Supt. Wood to place signs along Route 117 in town announcing the Nashoba Girls Soccer Team Champions. The Board of Selectmen requested additional information regarding the signs.
MEETING WITH SENIORS AT SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX
Town Administrator Jodi Ross reported that a meeting was held with the seniors at the senior housing complex. Panny Gerken and Linda Day also attended the meeting. Issues including security and parking were discussed and will be addressed.
Electricity Energy Rates: Mr. Troup reported that at a recent Tri-Town meeting discussion took place regarding the purchase of electricity energy rates. The Board of Selectmen requested that Ms. Ross discuss this with Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco of Lancaster and Mr. King, Assistant Superintendent of the NRSD.
SIGN REQUEST
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen reviewed and approved the request of Bob and Alice Roemer for authorization to place a sign over the door of the reconstructed Moses Wilder Blacksmith Shop on their property at 185 Main Street.
SUNSET RIDGE
Board of Appeals Chairman Gerard Ahearn informed the Board of Selectmen that the Board of Appeals has settled with the developers of the Sunset Ridge 40B project on Wattaquadock Hill Road.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into executive session under 23B (3) at 9:28 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. The Board will not reconvene to open session. (Roll Call: Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes).
Meeting adjourned.