March 5, 2012
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Connor with Mr. Goodnow & Mr. Soter in attendance.
Mrs. Davies and Mr. Featherston were absent.
Mrs. Mathieu – Audit Presentation
Mrs. Mathieu stated Fiscal 2011 presented the Town with fiscal challenges and reported the town weathered them fairly well. She went on to state the town will certainly be faced with many more challenges in the future and we must maintain and preserve our financial health in order to meet these challenges. Mrs. Mathieu noted that Fiscal 2013 will present very difficult financial challenges and reiterated the need to stay on a conservative course.
Mr. Brown from R.E. Brown & Company stated the town has once again performed a commendable job managing limited resources during the past year. There were no significant findings and no material weakness in the internal audit controls. The financial control systems the town has in place continue to be excellent. Mr. Brown commended the Town’s financial team for an excellent year.
Public Hearing – application of Oh-Yumm Bakery, Inc. for a Common Victualler License, 1 Mechanic St.
Mr. Connor read the public hearing notice.
Peter and Sharon Washburn stated they will be opening a bakery at 1 Mechanic Street with the hours being 5 AM – 10 PM seven days a week. They will be selling cupcakes, cakes, pies, cookies and fresh breads.
Mr. Connor asked if there was anyone present in favor or opposition to this application. No one responded.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to close the public hearing. On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the application of Oh-Yumm Bakery, Inc. for a Common Victualler License, 1 Mechanic St.
On a Soter/Goodnow motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve residential water abatements in the amount of $1,254.52; residential sewer abatements in the amount of $1368.15; municipal water abatements in the amount of $5683.60 and municipal sewer abatements in the amount of $84.12.
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On a Soter/Goodnow motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Common Victualler License renewal for Rosewood Restaurant, 445 Hartford Ave.
On a Soter/Goodnow motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the appointments of the 2012 Poll Workers as listed in the February 7th Town Clerk’s letter (attached).
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the request of the VFW to extend their Sunday alcohol hours to begin serving at 10 AM.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Common Victualler and Seasonal All Alcohol License for New England Country Club and to also approve their request to extend their Sunday alcohol hours to begin serving at 10 AM.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to accept the February 6th and February 13th minutes as submitted.
Mr. DiMartino – Water/Sewer Rate Hearing
Mr. Connor read the public hearing notice.
Mr. DiMartino appeared before the Board for the annual rate review public hearing. As he explained previously, there is little the town can do relative to sewer rates. The Town is contractually obligated to CRPCD and WWWTP based on agreements the town negotiated when the sewer system was constructed. Mr. DiMartino informed the Board the rate increase for sewer would be $7.70 per 1,000 gallons of water used and this would cover the proposed increases from the two treatment operators.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the sewer rate increase of $7.70 per 1,000 gallons of water used, effective July 1st.
Mr. DiMartino explained there was a great deal of flexibility with regard to water rates. Mr. Connor stated he had reviewed the proposed rate increase with Mr. DiMartino and appreciates the need to begin looking at the many capital projects the town will be required to undertake in the coming years. Mr. Soter stated the town can no longer put capital projects off for other boards to consider. The time has come to begin prioritizing and funding the many capital projects which will be necessary in the near future. Mr. DiMartino stated the engineering firm of Wright-Pierce had been selected by a review committee to begin developing a comprehensive water improvement plan as mandated by the DEP. This plan has been mandated in part due to the ecoli identifications this past summer. While these “hits” did not pose a public safety emergency, the Town is required to make modification to the system to address this issue along with the high rates of iron and manganese. Potential
solutions include the costly redevelopment of the Hartford Ave. filtration plant as well as the possible extension of the water main from well #12 to the filtration plant. Many other possible solutions will be evaluated and discussed; however, all solutions will come at a cost. Mr. Soter expressed his
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preference to freeze the rates and establish a capital fee within the annual bill which would be used to fund future projects. Mr. DiMartino suggested a capital fee of $26 would generate the same revenue benefit as the previously discussed 13% rate increase. Mr. Connor suggested the Board consider waiving any fee increase for seniors and individuals who qualify for lifeline in the same manner as is done for solid waste. Mr. Goodnow stated he would support a capital investment fee that would exempt seniors and individuals qualifying for lifeline.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to close the public hearing. On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve a capital investment fee of $26 per year, effective July 1st, waiving any fee increase for seniors and individuals who qualify for lifeline.
On a Soter/Goodnow motion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the increase in water service related fees as outlined in the attached schedule, effective immediately.
On a Goodnow/Soter motion, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jacqueline A. Bokoski
Administrative Assistant
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