Board of Selectmen Minutes

Board of Selectmen                                        Present:           Jonathan Keep

December 7, 2017                                                                   Stanley Wysocki                    

Town Hall                                                                               Robert Czekanski

                                                                                                Don Lowe, Town Administrator

                                                                                                Linda L. Day, Town Secretary

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

POST SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DISCUSSION

Mr. Douglas Storey, Moderator was pleased that the Special Town Meeting went well, although a little long.  Over 350 residents attended the meeting.  Procedurally, Mr. Storey regretted allowing the amendments prior to doing the presentation for Camp Virginia.  Consensus was that the microphone situation needed to be addressed prior to the next Town Meeting.  The microphones are wireless and owned by the school. Testing of the microphones prior to the meeting goes well, but then during the meeting there are problems, which some speculate are related to interference with cell phones at the meetings.    Mr. Lowe suggested consulting with Bolton Access Television about getting better microphones.  Mr. Czekanski was very pleased at how the residents expressed themselves as being part of the community and how respectful they were of everyone’s point of view.

Mr. Troup questioned why the Board of Selectmen approved applying for the grant if it was their opinion that this wasn’t a good time to make such a purchase.  He stated it would have played out differently and saved a huge amount of effort.  In defense of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Lowe stated that the Board that voted to go forward with the grant is a different composition than the Board that went to Town Meeting.  Mr. Wysocki stated that the article wasn’t being sponsored by them or another Board or Committee and the Board of Selectmen therefore allowed the process to continue in whatever manner it was to continue.

APPOINTMENT

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board voted to appoint associate member Peter Driscoll, as a full member on the Planning Board to fill the open slot vacated by David Yesue.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes, Neyland – yes, Sprague – yes, Gorr – yes)

SHAKESPEARE PERFORMANCE, MAY 18, 2018, TOWN COMMON

Mr. Peter Murphy, Theatre Director at The Imago School in Maynard requested permission to hold a production “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare at the Rob Held Amphitheatre on the Town Common on Friday, May 18th, 2018 (rain date May 19th).  The production will be performed by the 7th and 8th graders from The Imago School which is a private school followed by a casual potluck provided by the families.   The production will be free and open to the general public. 

Mr. Czekanski stated that in terms of the use and scheduling of this type of activity he thought it should be the responsibility of the Parks and Recreation Commission. 

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event contingent on approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission. (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

SIGN REQUEST, 626 MAIN STREET

Ms. Hye So requested approval for the placement of a sign on the building at 626 Main Street for her dry cleaning and tailoring business.  She also requested approval for the placement of a sign on the sign directory by the roadside in front of 626 Main Street.  The business will open in January, 2018.   On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the signs. (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

COUNTRY CUPBOARD, 476 MAIN STREET

Liquor License:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request to change the Manager on the liquor license for Country Cupboard.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

Site Plan Review:  Michelle Tuck of Tuck and Tuck Architects of Bolton presented a site plan for review and approval by the Board of Selectmen.  Also present were Country Cupboard owners Jane and Timothy Houde.  The site plan includes a 600 square foot addition to accommodate Dunkin Donuts within the Country Cupboard.  Interior renovations will include new floors, ceilings and display racks.  Exterior renovations will include residing the building, adding gable dormers to allow for more natural lighting, relocating signage, muttons on the windows, ADA compliant ramp. The signs for the Country Cupboard, Subway and Dunkin Donuts will be displayed on the dormers.  A 20 X 16 foot shed will be added to the back of the building to be used for dry storage.   On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the site plan and façade for the Country Cupboard at 476 Main Street.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Appointment:  Following the Board of Selectmen’s approval to hire a Reserve Officer as a full- time entry level Patrol Officer and sponsor the officer at the Police Academy, an internal employment opportunity notice was distributed to all Bolton Reserve Officers.  Two candidates came forward expressing interest in the position and following interviews, Police Chief Nelson recommended that Mr. Jeffrey B. White be appointed to the position.  Officer White is currently employed with the Fitchburg State University Police Department as well as being a Bolton Reserve Officer and is working towards his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Officer White as the full-time entry level Police Officer.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize Mr. Lowe, Town Administrator to execute the contract for the Municipal Police Training Academy.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

Update on Minuteman:  Mr. Lowe reported that the cranes will be delivered on December 14, 2017 to assemble the steel which will take 3 to 4 months.  Final sub-bids are due on December 18, 2017, with the entire job being bid out the first week of January, 2018.  Bids for the dry wall came in higher than expected while the bid for the metal panels came in lower so the net cost came out a little ahead.   Experts are excited about the quality of bids and optimistic about the cost.

Mr. Lowe reported that discussions with Watertown are progressing and looking possible that they will be joining the Minuteman District.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS

Renewal of Liquor Licenses:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the renewal liquor licenses for Bolton Country Cupboard, Inc., Daigneault’s Liquor, Inc., Fotini’s Restaurant & Bar, Great Brook Farms, Inc., Nashoba Valley Spirits, Ltd., The International Golf Course, and Twin Springs Golf Course.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

Appointments:  Ona motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Jem Mix to the Town Roads Strategic Planning Committee.   (Keep - yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

Acceptance of Deed for the Town Common:  On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the deed for the Town Common and authorize Chairman Keep to execute the acceptance document.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

Next Board of Selectmen Meeting:  The Board of Selectmen will meet on Thursday, December 21, 2017. The only agenda item will be to review, approve and execute the Common Victualer licenses for the Town of Bolton. 

BONAZZOLI LAND DONATION

Ms. Rebecca Longvall, Conservation Commission Agent met with the Board of Selectmen regarding the proposed land donation of 29.06 acres from Deborah Bonazzoli located adjacent to Century Mill Estates open space and the Conservation Commission’s recommendation that the Board of Selectmen accept the gift donation. The property buffers the Danforth Brook on Hudson Road.  It is restricted for wildlife and no trails would be on the property.  On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the donation contingent on a clean title search to be completed by December 31, 2017.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)  In the event the title search is not clean, Ms. Bonazzoli will take the land back without penalty or implication to the town.  The Board of Selectmen thanked Ms. Bonazzoli for her generous donation.

Memorandum of Agreement #1 between the Town of Bolton and the Teamsters Union, Local No. 170) (Call Firefighters Unit) for FY2017 – FY2019:  On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the above- mentioned memorandum of Agreement #1.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes)

Bolton Access Television:  Mr. Troup provided the Board of Selectmen with a copy of Bolton Access Television’s annual report as well as their mission statement.  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to release $29,817.31 from the Comcast fund to Bolton Access Television for their operating expenses, as requested by Mr. Troup  (Keep – yes, Wysocki –yes, Czekanski - yes)

Bills/Payroll Warrants:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve bills/payroll warrant W18-11 and W18-11A.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki –yes, Czekanski - yes)

 EXECUTIVE SESSION

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski - yes) to enter into executive session at 8:25 p.m., pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, 21(a) 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the Fire Union, as the Chair finds that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the Board’s bargaining position, and executive session pursuant to MGL c. 30A, §21(a)3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the Police Union, as the Chair finds that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the Board’s bargaining position.  The Board announced it will not reconvene to open session.  (Keep – yes, Wysocki – yes, Czekanski - yes)

Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day