Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley Wysocki
January 9, 2014 Lawrence Delaney
Mark Sprague
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
The Board of Selectmen met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
UPDATE ON CABLE LICENSE RENEWAL
Mr. Kenneth Troup, Chairman of the Cable Committee provided the Board with a copy of the proposed renewal contract and ascertainment document to be submitted to Comcast for review. Highlights of the contract include a 4.5% franchise fee, $12,000 per year for equipment for 10 years, HD capability on one of three channels and digital transmission which would include the purchase of a piece of equipment by Comcast or Bolton Access Television.
Some of the wish list items will be incorporated into the contract and others such as the senior discount will be addressed via a side letter.
Formal negotiations are scheduled for January 27, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute a letter of support to be submitted to Comcast with the proposed renewal contract and Cable Television Ascertainment Requirements document. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR EPA GRANT REQUEST
Michael Zelenkov and Richard Heaton, members of the Conservation Trust, met with the Board of Selectmen to request their support for the Trust’s grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency to remediate the Smith property and willingness to include a citizen’s petition as an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant in 2015.
Mr. Lowe was thanked for his efforts in helping the Trust with the grant application.
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the letter of support of the EPA grant application, dated January 9, 2014. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
The Trust proposed meeting with the Board of Selectmen on a quarterly basis, with the first meeting being held following the notification of the funds being awarded.
REQUEST TO OVERSPEND THE SNOW AND ICE
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request of Mr. Brown, DPW Director, to overspend the snow and ice account by $100,000. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
The Advisory Committee approved this same request at their meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Minuteman: Mr. Lowe reported that he will be attending the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 to continue discussions regarding the latest comments from the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regarding the Minuteman Career and Technical High School Regional Agreement. One of the major concerns that the DESE ruled on is that a community can’t opt out without a majority of all towns approving
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Department of Transportation: Mr. Lowe reported that he sent a letter to the Department of Transportation thanking them for the work done at the Route 495 intersection and requested additional signage informing drivers that with the additional lane no merge was required when heading west on Rt. 117 from the Rt. 495 North off ramp.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
Emergency Management Structure: With the resignation of the Emergency Management Co-Directors, Mr. Lowe recommended that the Police Chief and Fire Chief be appointment as Emergency Management Co-Directors. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept Mr. Lowe’s recommendation. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Potential Recall Bylaw: On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen directed Mr. Lowe to pursue the idea of researching bylaw language to give the residents of Bolton the capability to recall elected officials. (Wysocki - yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague - yes) to enter into executive session under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21A (3) at 7:50 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining on the basis that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Town of Bolton. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day