Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley Wysocki
March 16, 2006 Kenneth F. Troup
Panny Gerken
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. Minutes of January 26, 2006 and February 2, 2006 were read and approved.
WARRANT
#06-18 $83,395.18
#06-18a $140,676.01
PUBLIC HEARING
The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on a joint application with the Town of Lancaster to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development seeking housing rehabilitation funds for low and moderate income town residents under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)/Community Development Funds (CDF) program. Projects using CDF funds would be administered by the Town of Lancaster’s Department of Community Development and Planning. As Bolton is a community under 5,000 residents, the Town has opted to direct funds towards qualifying projects in the entire town as is authorized.
Present for the meeting was Nat Tipton, Town Planner and Bruce Hamblin, Lancaster Town Planner.
Mr. Tipton stated that he was approached by the Town of Lancaster to see if Bolton would be interested in participating in the program. Stow has been asked to participate, and Sterling and Harvard have dropped out of the program. The funds would be divided equally among the towns and can be used for a wide range of rehabilitation from replacement of roofs to upgrading of septic systems, etc. The application is due on March 29, 2006 and as part of the application this public hearing was required. Mr. Tipton has drafted a community development plan to be distributed to the Planning Board, Affordable Housing, and Board of Selectmen for their comments.
The draft plan states Bolton has a need for certain individuals to possibly use these funds. Council on Aging might be one entity to help with administering the funds and the Bolton Affordable Housing Partnership could also help out. From the town’s perspective, if we find people interested in applying for these funds, we may be able to count the unit towards affordable housing inventory. The program allows for a 15 year loan and the homeowner would have to agree to a deed restriction that would require a certain amount of the loan to be paid back if the home is sold before the 15 years is up. Mr. Hamblin has gone through this process in the Town of Lancaster and they have applied for rehabilitation of 8 units. Mr. Hamblin stated that there is no real downside for the Town to participate as it helps to keep people in their homes. Mr. Hamblin stated that improvements may trigger increase in valuations and higher taxes but the majority of the projects would be considered maintenance and not affect taxes.
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to support this program.
BUDGET DISCUSSION REVIEW
Present: Advisory Committee members Scott Powell, David Lindsay, Richard Fly, Town Accountant Julie Costello and Town Treasurer Joanne Jenkins
The Finance Team was complimented for their work in preparing the FY07 budget.
The Selectmen reviewed the projected tax levy limit, projected revenue and expenditures and local receipts spreadsheets. They also reviewed the preliminary budget figures for FY07 estimated at approximately $16 million.
Town Administrator Jodi Ross stated that the snow and ice deficit spending is at $25,000 now. She stated it has been a mild winter but that Mr. Brown, DPW Director has been cognizant of his budget.
Mr. Troup referred to the borrowings outside 2-1/2 shown on the projected revenue and expenditures spreadsheet and stated that it looks like a huge increase in the budget. Ms. Ross stated that the spreadsheets are the same spreadsheets used in previous years but the Town Accountant has prepared new spreadsheets that they would like to present to the Advisory Committee and Board of Selectmen for next year’s budget process. Ms. Ross stated that Town Accountant Julie Costello is running the new spreadsheets along side the present spreadsheets. The Board of Selectmen agreed that it would make more sense to delete the $6,000,000 shown in the borrowings outside 2-1/2 column from the existing spreadsheet.
Ms. Gerken asked the Advisory Committee’s opinion of transferring additional funds to the stabilization fund. She would like to see $100,000 transferred into the fund. Advisory Committee members Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Powell were not favorable to this suggestion. The Treasurer felt that putting additional money in the stabilization fund was good but she was not convinced we needed to transfer $100,000 into that fund. Ms. Ross stated that the stabilization fund could be used when new growth goes down and expenses rise, or to offset a capital purchase.
After a lengthy discussion, on a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to add an article to the annual town meeting warrant to transfer the sum of $75,000 from free cash to the Town’s stabilization fund. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
The Board of Selectmen reviewed the proposed FY07 budget. The following budget information was noted:
$12,000 was budgeted for the Post Secondary Voc Ed for a student presently in her sophomore year.
Information regarding the Ambulance wages will be received in time to set a budget line item at the next Selectmen meeting.
DPW budget includes a new full time person; Town Administrator budget includes an additional 5 hours for the Board of Health and Planning Board Administrator; Town Treasurer includes an additional 4 hours and the Town Clerk’s budget also includes an additional 5 hours.
Snow and Sand was increased by $20,000.
Many budgets represent an increase for energy costs.
The Town Nurse has increased her budget to be able to offer flu shots not only to seniors but residents also.
The Board of Selectmen agreed to place an article on the warrant to transfer the sum of $10,000 (Ten thousand dollars) that was appropriated under Article 5 of the May 2005 Annual Town Meeting to be used by the School Space Needs Committee to evaluate space opportunities for school population growth.
A suggestion was made to have the Worcester County Retirement Committee into a Tri-Town Meeting for a discussion of the status the Worcester County Retirement Program.
ARTICLE REVIEW
The Board of Selectmen reviewed the articles for the Annual Town Meeting and made the following recommendations:
Article 1: Unpaid Bills for Fiscal Year 2005
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 2: Accept Annual Reports
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 6: Purchase and Installation of a Vehicle Exhaust Emissions System at Fire Station
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 8: Continuation of Clean-up of Gasoline Contamination
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 9: Tree Replacement Program
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 11: Purchase of Mentzer Property
Mr. Troup reported that the Conservation Trust is doing the engineering to carve out a single building lot to pay for the cost of the rest of the land.
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to pull this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 11: Amendment to the Administrative Bylaws, Section 1.18 Wetlands Bylaw
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 12: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.5.4 Water Resource Protection District
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 13: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.3.2 (g) Types of Districts and Permitted Uses
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 14: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.3.4 Schedules of Types and Uses
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 15: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.3.5.5 (g) (2) Backland Zoning
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 16: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.3.6.5(a) Size of Restricted Areas, Farmland and Open Space Planned Residential Development
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 17: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.5.7.3 Applicability and Special Permit, Wireless Communication Bylaw
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Moderator James Anker will look into a consent calendar for articles 11 – 17.
Article 18: Acceptance of Retiree Health Insurance Statute
The discussion focused on the pros and cons of adopting the statute and if adopted the best way to make the retirees whole by compensating them for any increased expenses. After much discussion the consensus was to pull the article to allow time to work on the language to be sure it is correct and submit the article for a fall town meeting. Advisory Committee member David Lindsay stated that this is the third time it has been pulled from a town meeting warrant. He stated that the wording is never going to be exactly right and amendments to the article can be made on town meeting floor.
Mr. Troup suggested that an article be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant to establish and appoint an Insurance Committee who would be charged with a study of the provisions for exempting chapter 32, Section 18 and report back to the next town meeting. Jim Anker did not think it was a good idea to have such an article.
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to pull the article for the annual town meeting warrant for May 1, 2006 and appoint an Insurance Committee to report back to the Board of Selectmen with recommendation on the retiree health insurance by September 1, 2006. They also agreed to include a write up in the warrant explaining the Medicare cover for retirees. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes).
Article 18: Enter into Lease with Nashoba Regional School District
On a motion made by Gerken and seconded by Troup, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 19: Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Sale of Real Estate – Moen Land
On a motion made by Troup and seconded by Gerken, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Wysocki – yes, Troup – yes, Gerken – yes)
Article 22: Authorize Town Election
The Mentzer and retiree health insurance ballot questions were deleted from the ballot questions.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The Town of Bolton received a Municipal Waste Reduction Grant in the amount of $1,612. The Town will be receiving 50 “Don’t Trash Grass” brochures, 30 home composting bins, 50 home composting brochures, 100 junk mail kits and 30 kitchen scrap buckets. The compost bins and kitchen scrap buckets will be sold to Bolton residents. Proceeds will go towards purchasing additional compost bins/buckets to keep the program going.
Annual Reports are printed and available.
The Board of Selectmen received a letter dated March 6, 2006 from Mr. and Mrs. Duane Henry with a formal request to remove 47.02 acres of land from the Chapter 61 Forestry classification. Ms. Ross will contact Henry’s to clarify their intentions.
Accidents: Ms. Ross informed the Board of Selectmen that public safety personnel vehicles got stuck in the mud on the Bowers Springs property when responding to a call to rescue two ladies that had fallen through the ice. The Town will file an insurance claim and get estimates for the repairs.
The Town will also file a claim with the insurance company for the replacement of the historical marker that was destroyed in an accident that took place at the corner of Route 117 and Wattaquadock Hill Road.
Bolton Flag at State House: In response to a letter received from Neil Kilpeck, Superintendent of the Bureau of State Office Buildings requesting a flag, the Board of Selectmen agreed to ask the schools if they would be interested in a contest to design a Bolton Flag.
Sewage Treatment Plant: Mr. Troup reported that he would be meeting with the Advisory Committee on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. to provide them with an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project.
SELECTMEN BUSINESS
On a motion made by Mr. Troup but not seconded, to give a $900 bonus to Ms. Ross for work she has done, the amount being unspent since none of the Selectmen took their salaries this year. Ms. Ross stated that she was satisfied with her contract, but certainly appreciated the offer. She thanked the Board of Selectmen for keeping her on for another three years.
Meeting adjourned.