Board of Selectmen Minutes September 27, 2018

Board of Selectmen                                        Present:           Jonathan Keep

September 27, 2018                                                                Robert Czekanski       

Town Hall                                                                               Stanley Wysocki

                                                                                                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.

UPDATE FROM SENATOR TRAN – EARMARKS

Senator Tran got into an unexpected vehicle emergency which consequently prevented him to appear at the selectmen’s meeting.  Senator Tran will be rescheduled to meet with the Board of Selectmen. 

RESERVE OFFICER APPOINTMENTS

Police Chief Nelson recommended that the Board of Selectmen appoint Benjamin Lavine and Bryan Dufresne to the position of Reserve Police Officer. 

Mr. Lavine was unable to attend tonight’s meeting because he was deployed with his part-time employer because of the recent hurricane. He attended the police academy in 1990 and retired from the Boxborough Police Department in 2014 where he was a full-time Police Officer for 24 years.

Mr. Dufresne is a full-time EMT with EasCare Ambulance Service and works with the Boylston Fire Department.  He completed the Reserve Intermittent Police Academy in 2015 and has a bachelor’s’ degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.  Mr. Dufresne told the Board of Selectmen the he likes working in small towns and sees himself as a full-time officer in a small community such as Bolton.

On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Benjamin Lavine, contingent on successfully passing the psychological examination and Bryan Dufresne as Reserve Police Officers for the Town of Bolton.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)

HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN CHARTER/COMMITTEE

Erik Neyland reviewed the Housing Production Plan Committee Charter drafted by the Planning Board and proposed that the Planning Board appoint a seven-member Committee to update the Housing Production Plan. 

On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the Housing Production Plan Committee Charter with the language “and assisting with future updates to Bolton’s Master Plan” being struck from the charter and that the Board of Selectmen adopt the charter as revised.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)

An ad will be placed in the Bolton Independent and on the Town of Bolton website seeking residents to serve on the Housing Production Plan Committee. 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEWLY DESIGNATED BOLTON PAN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT AND APPROVAL OF SIGN LOCATIONS

Ms. Remington informed the Board of Selectmen of the newly designated Bolton Pan National Register Historic District and requested approval for the placement of the five signs for said District. 

Mr. Wysocki expressed his disappointment with the signs being installed prior to receiving approval from the Board of Selectmen and asked that Ms. Remington follow the process in the future.   Ms. Remington apologized. 

On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the signs.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes)

FLAG POLE AND HALYARD – PERSONS PARK

At the request of the Friends of Persons Park, on a motion made by Wysocki and seconded to Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request for permission to paint the flag pole and replace the halyard and flag at Person’s Park, with the Board of Selectmen accepting as a gift when received.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski –yes, Wysocki –yes)

76 BOLTON WOODS WAY

Erik Neyland, Planning Board and Erica Uriarte, Town Planner met with the Affordable Housing Trust members which includes Kevin O’Brien, Jacob Steinmann and the three Selectmen to consider purchasing 76 Bolton Woods Way. 

The Board of Selectmen previously declined to exercise their right of first refusal.  The affordable unit is currently under resale and the buyer had until today to get financing which he didn’t secure.  The Department of Housing and Community Development will allow the current owner to sell the home as a market rate unit and if sold, Bolton will lose the affordable housing unit from the subsidized housing inventory.

Ms. Griffin-Wright, real estate agent stated that the house was appraised at $370,000 and the owner would be due the affordable housing price of $229,000 plus 10% although Ms. Griffin-Wright didn’t understand the reason for the 10%. 

There is approximately $279,535.45 in the Trust Fund.

Mr. Czekanski didn’t think one unit would make a difference in the overall position of the affordable housing units in town and the town was not prepared to take on managing the sale of a house and maintenance of the house until it is sold.   Mr. Wysocki echoed Mr. Czekanski’s concerns and didn’t think all the money in the Trust Fund should be depleted while Mr. Keep stated that he would rather actively use the money for affordable housing versus banking it. 

On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Affordable Housing Partnership voted not to make an offer on the purchase of the unit at 76 Bolton Woods Way.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes, O’Brien – yes, Steinmann – yes)

Mr. O’Brien will talk to the Department of Housing and Community Development about the restrictions on the deed riders and the possibility of updating them.

TOWN ADMINSITRATOR REPORT

Update on Minuteman:  Mr. Lowe reported that they expect the building to be weather tight by late-November.  The project has been impacted by the National Grid strike and they are looking at alternative heating sources which could be a $200,000 hit to the budget.  Overall, the project is progressing well. 

Town Hall Portico:   Mr. Lowe reported that the language in the contract has been worked out, the contractor has the contract to sign and Mr. Lowe hopes to receive the contract any day.

American Flag at Town Hall:  Mr. Lowe reported that the American Flag donated by Grace Publicover is now flying at the town hall and the town is appreciative of the gift.

Coffee with the Town Administrator:  Mr. Lowe reported that at his last “Coffee with the Town Administrator” he met with six people.  The common theme was traffic specifically regarding Route 117 and traffic overall.  Mr. Lowe informed them of the various grants that have been applied for including the MassWorks Grant for $975,000.  He also shared Senator Tran’s efforts to earmark funds for Route 117.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS

Public Announcements:  Mr. Czekanski reminded everyone that the DPW accepts used motor oil to heat the garage and residents should call ahead to arrange for a drop-off of the motor oil.

Transfer Station:  Mr. Lowe reported that a lot of good ideas came out of the meeting with DPW Director Joe Lynch and Police Chief Warren Nelson to discuss options for dealing with the compliance at the transfer station.  DPW Director Joseph Lynch will meet with the Board of Selectmen in the near future to discuss options.

Discussion regarding moving the Board of Selectmen meetings to the Public Safety Building: 

Mr. Czekanski stated that last November when the Board of Selectmen discussed moving their meetings from the Houghton Building to the Town Hall he suggested that the Selectmen investigate other venues to have the meetings and with it being late September and about to start a budget cycle he thinks it is a good time to revisit it.  

The Public Safety Building has a larger meeting room, is well lit and ventilated, has more parking than the Houghton Building and the parking lot at the public safety building is contiguous to the public library parking lot for overflow parking. 

He realizes the meeting room in the public safety building is scheduled for some event almost every night and suggested determining if the events can be located in other spaces.   There isn’t any direct feed from the Public Safety Building to Bolton Access Television but he feels these are manageable issues that could be overcome.

Mr. Wysocki stated that the Selectmen’s meetings have been held at the town hall for many years and when there is potential for large attendance at the meeting, the meeting has been moved.  Mr. Wysocki was not sure what the problem was that Mr. Czekanski was trying to solve.  Mr. Wysocki continued to say that the number one issue is that moving the Selectmen’s meetings impedes the town hall staff.

On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen directed Mr. Lowe to investigate moving the Board of Selectmen’s meetings to the Public Safety Building.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki –yes)

Bills/Payroll Warrants:  On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Czekanski, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the bills and payroll warrant W19-07 and W19-07A.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes) 

Minutes:  On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the regular session and executive session minutes of July 12, 2018.  (Keep – yes, Czekanski – yes, Wysocki – yes) 

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 8:05 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