Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting date:
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley Wysocki
March 6, 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.
BARE HILL TRIATHLON
Ms. Sue Reedich, Race Director requested approval for cyclists participating in the Bare Hill Triathlon to travel through Bolton on Harvard, Green and Bare Hill Roads between 8:15 and 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2014. Neighbors along the route will be notified of the event. Police Chief Alfano has approved the event. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague - yes)
5TH ANNUAL KEN HARROD MEMORIAL BIKE RACE/RIDE
Mr. Robert Curran, a member of the Harvard Firefighters Association Committee requested approval for cyclists participating in the Ken Harrod Memorial Bike Race/Ride to travel through Bolton on Harvard, Green and Bare Hill Roads between 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. on May 31, 2014. Police Chief Alfano has approved the event. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
DUG OUTS AT MEMORIAL FIELD
Mr. Doug Storey, President of the Bolton Youth Baseball requested approval to build two dugouts over the existing fenced in benches at Memorial Field. Approval has been received from the Conservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen approved the proposal to build the dug outs at Memorial field. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
Mr. Storey also requested permission to hold the Bolton Youth Baseball’s opening day parade and festivities on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the event. (Wysocki – yes, Delaney – yes, Sprague – yes)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Minuteman: Mr. Lowe has been invited to attend an informational meeting on Friday, March 7, 2014 with legislatures and managers at the Minuteman High School. Discussion will include the revised regional agreement.
Update on grant application for regional dispatch implementation: Mr. Lowe reported that he toured the Devens regional dispatch center with the Executive Director and is very impressed with the facility. Mr. Lowe contacted three grant consultants from Massachusetts. He has met with one who is a former state police officer and has done several grants in the past. The consultant has offered to prepare a draft budget and narrative which is part of the criteria of the grant application. Mr. Lowe made it clear to the consultant that the town would like to look at studying the implementation of bringing on Berlin as well as looking at the Devens regional dispatch facility.
Update on the Devens Regional Hazardous Waste Facility: Mr. Lowe, Chairman of the Devens Regional Hazardous Waste Program, stated that the budget is solid. Bolton’s usage of the facility has dropped. Ms. O’Toole, Administrative Assistant for the DPW will place an ad in the local newspaper and on the website informing residents of the program.
Perkins School: Mr. Lowe is pleased to have been appointed to serve on the Perkins School Board of Trustees. The meetings are quarterly and held on Friday mornings.
Review of the Annual Town Meeting warrant: The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Minor revisions were made. The Conservation Commission will be reviewing the Fyfeshire article at their meeting on March 18th and it is anticipated that this article will be removed from the warrant.
DISCUSSION REGARDING OPTIONS FOR RETAINING OR TRADING IN CURRENT AMBULANCE
Ms. Margy Diaz, Ambulance Director met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the options for retaining or trading in the current ambulance. The Board was provided with a list of points to consider regarding retaining the existing ambulance. Ms. Diaz stated this was an opportunity to expand by having two ambulances in town and not relying on mutual aid when the ambulance is out of town for transporting or repairs.
The trade in value is $30,000 to $50,000. The operating costs for the second ambulance were not entirely clear. Ms. Diaz will continue to determine the costs associated with keeping the second ambulance and meet with the Board of Selectmen on March 20, 2014 to continue the discussion.
Mr. Lowe stated that the decision will also impact how the old fire station is maintained in the future.
Minutes: On a motion made by Delaney and seconded by Sprague, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the regular session minutes of December 19, 2013, January 9 and 23, 2014 and executive session minutes of December 19, 2013 and January 9, 2014. (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 21(a) 3 at 8:00 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the Police and Dispatch Unions on the basis that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Town of Bolton, and under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)2 to discuss strategy with respect to contract negotiations with non-union personnel. The Board announced it would not reconvene to open session.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day