Board of Selectmen Minutes May 24, 2018
Board of Selectmen Present: Jonathan Keep
May 24, 2018 Robert Czekanski
Town Hall Stanley Wysocki
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda Day, Town Secretary
REORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
Ms. Day called the Board of Selectmen’s meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and asked for nominations for Chairman.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, Mr. Keep was nominated and appointed Chairman for the Board of Selectmen. (Wysocki – yes, Czekanski – yes, Keep – yes)
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Keep, Mr. Wysocki was nominated and appointed Clerk for the Board of Selectmen. (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Mr. Robert Czekanski was congratulated on his re-election to the Board of Selectmen.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARKS/RECREATION COMMISSION FOR TOWN PARKS AND FIELDS
Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Laura Roberts, Linda Herbison and Lauren Cilley were present for the meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Commission expressed concern that they weren’t being consulted regarding decisions made by the Board of Selectmen related to the Town Common. Ms. Roberts stated that the Town Common should be treated like the other town parks which is the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Commission and they have a policy in place to address any requests that they receive.
The Board of Selectmen explained that the recent decisions they have made related to the Town Common included the agreement between the Town and the Conservation Trust which was in progress prior to the town taking ownership of the Common and the acceptance of a gift for three musical instruments on the Town Common which is the sole authority of the Board of Selectmen to accept such a gift.
The Board of Selectmen agreed that scheduling of events/and review of improvements is the responsibility of the Parks and Recreation Commission but that when there is a gift to the town the Parks and Recreation Commission will review the proposal and make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen suggested that the Parks and Recreation Commission meet with the Conservation Trust to understand their master plan, noting that the Conservation Trust received a grant for a pavilion. This would be an excellent opportunity for the Parks and Recreation Commission to review the plan.
DISCUSS FUTURE STRUCTURE OF FIRE CHIEF POSITION
Fire Chief Mentzer was present for this discussion. The Board of Selectmen reviewed the draft copy of the interim fire chief’s job description.
The plan is to advertise for an interim fire chief position and conduct interviews at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Thursday, June 21, 2018. Mr. Lowe hopes a permanent fire chief would be on board no later than January 1, 2019 and the budget would accommodate an earlier start date if it worked out that way.
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to divide the budgeted $5,500 yearly stipend by 6 to establish the monthly compensation for the interim fire chief even if it goes beyond the six months. (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Mr. Czekanski would like to see the interim fire chief as someone who comes in to manage the fire department and help the Board of Selectmen to identify characteristics that this particular fire department needs in terms of permanent fire chief and therefore suggested that the interim Fire Chief not be eligible for the permanent Fire Chief position.
The Interview Committee for the interim Fire Chief will include the three Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator Don Lowe, Fire Chief Mentzer and the possibility of an area Fire Chief. Before the Board of Selectmen make a final decision on the members of the Interview Committee for the interim and permanent fire chief, Mr. Lowe will reach out to an area Fire Chief to see if they would be interested in serving on the Interview Committee.
The Board of Selectmen will start working on the process for hiring the permanent fire chief at their next meeting.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the interim fire chief job description. (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Housing Choice Community Designation: Mr. Lowe reported that Bolton was one of 67 communities that received designation of a Housing Choice Community. Mr. Lowe represented the town at a ceremony at the State House to receive the citation from the Lieutenant Governor. The Town will pursue a grant for the engineering of Route 117 in the July/August timeframe.
ADA Transition Plan: Mr. Lowe stated that the town pursued the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan under the community compact. We chose three different categories which included becoming ADA compliant in some areas where we are lacking. The consultant drafted the ADA transition plan which is available on the website and at the library. Comments are being received through June 5, 2018 and the consultant will meet with the Board of Selectmen on June 7, 2018 to review the plan.
Mr. Lowe stated that the ADA transition plan doesn’t obligate the Town to do all the work immediately and doesn’t create a liability issue because of the known non-compliant issues. Mr. Lowe looks at the plan as a road map for applying for grant funds to make areas more accessible.
Community Compact IT Grant: Mr. Lowe stated that we were awarded a grant in the amount of $22,600 for our permitting software. We are currently on a legacy system that is in maintenance mode and doesn’t meet our needs as well as it could. We will work with the company to get an agreement in place by June 30, 2018 with the plan to transition us to a new platform during the summer.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
42 Sunset Ridge: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to decline to exercise its right of first refusal to purchase the property at 42 Sunset Ridge. (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Public Service Announcement: Mr. Lowe asked anyone that has used the bulletin board at the Houghton Building to advertise an event and have not yet returned the letters to do so as soon as possible. There are a lot of letters missing and it has made it difficult for the next person to advertise their event.
Bolton Access Television Funds: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to release $27,630.24 from the Comcast fund to Bolton Access Television for their operating expenses, as requested by Ms. Sauer. (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
The Board of Selectmen took the opportunity to thank Bolton Access Television for the new microphones that made for a much smoother town meeting. Ms. Sauer stated that during the meeting Bolton Access Television controls the microphones by turning off the microphones that aren’t being use and will get better with the timing so that there aren’t any delays. Nashoba Regional High School graduation is coming up and DVD’s of the graduation will be sold with funds going toward a scholarship.
Selectmen’s Meeting Schedule: The Board of Selectmen discussed their upcoming meeting dates as June 7 & 21, July 12, August 23, September 13 & 27, October 11 & 25, November 15, December 6 & 20, 2018. On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the meetings as discussed (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 by roll call (Wysocki – yes, Keep – yes, Czekanski - yes) to enter into executive session at 8:20 p.m. 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, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day