Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley Wysocki
July 9, 2015 Mark Sprague
Town Hall Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
Chairman Sprague called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
TOWN-WIDE YARD SALE – SEPTEMBER 19, 2015
Ms. Mary Boyd met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission to hold the town-wide yard sale on Saturday, September 19 from 9 to 3 p.m. The rain date will be September 20, 2015. Applications are available at the Town Hall, Library, Bolton Orchards and on the Bolton Local website for a $5 fee. Maps are available at Bolton Orchards and Slaters. Police Chief Alfano has approved the event.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes)
RUN FOR THEM APPLES 5K – SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
Ms. Julie Boucher-Coppenrath met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission to hold the “Run for Them Apples” 5K road race on September 20, 2015. The ride will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will start and finish at Schartner Farm, 279 West Berlin Road. The ride will travel through Bolton on Sawyer and West Berlin Roads. Police Chief Alfano has approved this event. On a motion made Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes)
UPDATE ON PERSONS PARK
Ms. Martha Remington met with the Board of Selectmen to provide an update on the status of Person’s Park.
Ms. Remington provided a copy of the 501(c) 3 application to the Board of Selectmen for their review and signature. She would like to seek volunteers and donations for the repairs of the building when the 501(c) 3 application has been filed and completed.
Ms. Remington proposed that the 1st floor be open to the public and the 2nd floor would be off limits. DPW Director Harold Brown informed the Selectmen that the roof and floors are sagging and there is concern that the building is getting to a point of no return. An immediate concern of Ms. Remington’s is to have the chimney repaired.
The Board of Selectmen requested a proposed plan for the repairs. Ms. Remington indicated that without power in the building it is hard to determine the repairs that need to be done. The Selectmen are reluctant to turn on the power until they can be sure of any liability issues with people being in the building.
Town Administrator Don Lowe will coordinate a site visit with Building Inspector Mike Savaugeau and an architect to determine the condition and what it would take to bring it up to code to use for meetings and activities.
NEW CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATOR
Mr. Lowe introduced Michele Grenier, who was hired to fill the position vacated by Carol Gumbart, as Conservation Administrator. Ms. Grenier is a professional wetlands scientist who has worked in both the public and private sector and has a bachelor and master degrees in biology from Cornell University.
ANIMAL CONTAINMENT – 401 MAIN STREET
Police Chief Alfano and Animal Control Officer Susan Latham were both present for this meeting.
Mr. Benjamin Schlosser met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the on-going issue regarding the escape of his animals at 401 Main Street and provided the Board with a copy of his proposed plan. Ms. Latham provided the Board of Selectmen with copies of the complaints dating back to April 11, 2013 regarding loose animals (chickens/goats) in the roadway. Ms. Latham expressed her concern with the public safety and the safety of the animals. Police Chief Alfano stated that while responding to an emergency call he came close to hitting a herd of goats as they started to cross the road.
Mr. Schlosser stated that he has had a change in staffing and is currently running the farm with his cousin. He outlined the improvements being taken to resolve the issue which included increasing the voltage on the first line fence and installing a secondary fence at the bottom of the drive to keep the animals out of the road if they do get out; the check on the animals have been increased to twice a day and he has decided to remove the goats from the property. The sheep and cows will be the only animals left on the property. He is raising meat chickens that will be contained at all times.
Ms. Latham stated that the fencing used on Long Hill Road is electrified and if the fencing was checked throughout the day and the animals had water there shouldn’t be any issues.
Mr. Schlosser stated he would like to resolve the problem and is committed to creating a safe, positive and rewarding relation with the town and community.
Police Chief Alfano recommended that Mr. Schlosser provide the Police Department with his contact information.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Minuteman:Mr. Lowe reported that the School Committee is considering going straight to a district wide vote,according to Chapter 71, Section 16, on the proposed building project to meet the June 30, 2016 deadline for receiving funds from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). If we lose out on the MSBA funds, we will lose approximately $50 million to fund the project. There will be a couple of meetings in the July-August time with all 16 managers present to collectively work on sorting out the agreement to collectively work out something based on what they believe each town’s Board of Selectmen would like.
REQUEST FOR OPEN HOUSE FLAG: Ms. Deb Kotlarz, Realtor met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission to display open house flags for the duration of any given open house related to the sale of real estate. Ms. Kotlarz will be sure not to obstruct the line of site for drivers. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen approved the request. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes)
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
Appointment: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Jeff Larence to the Conservation Commission. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes) The term expiration is June 30, 2017.
Bolton Access Television Expenses: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to release $26,479.68 from the Comcast fund to Bolton Access Television for their operating expenses. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes)
Lease between the Conservation Trust and the Town of Bolton: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the lease between the Conservation Trust and the Town of Bolton. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes) The Selectmen also agreed to leave the rent at $500 per year and will revisit this in the beginning of 2016.
End of Year Budget Transfers:On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the end of year transfer in the amount of $10,000 to be transferred from Account 299 Communications, line item overtime 5140. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS
Ms. Lorraine Romasco, School Committee Chairman was present for this meeting.
Mr. Robert Cohen and Mr. Neal Darcy were interviewed for the School Committee seat vacated by Nancy Federspiel who resigned. According to the bylaw the Selectmen must appoint an interim member to serve until the special election, which has been scheduled for November 2, 2015.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Romasco, Mr. Darcy was appointed to fill the vacated School Committee position until the November 2, 2015 election. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes, Romasco – yes)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Sprague and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted 2-0 by roll call (Sprague – yes, Wysocki - yes) to enter into executive session at 9:13 p.m., pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3), to discuss strategy with respect to collective for the Police and Dispatch Unions, as the Chair finds that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position. The Board announced it will not reconvene to open session. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day