Advisory Committee Present: David Lindsay
March 30, 2010 Burt Shnitzler
Randy Dinjian
Bob Czekanski
Connie Benjamin
Linda Day, Town Secretary
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
ARTICLE 9: FUNDS FOR COMPLETION OF THE MASTER PLAN
Mr. Storey, Chairman of the Planning Board met with the Advisory Committee to discuss the proposed article to transfer funds to continue the efforts in the Master Plan to hire a consultant to assist in the creation of design guidelines and possible zoning changes. The article included language referring to creating a “village overlay district” and the Planning Board revised the article language to include “mixed use development.”
After further discussion the Advisory Committee suggested and Mr. Storey agreed to revise the title of the article and eliminate the wording in the article “that would allow mixed use development” so that the article reads as follows:
Article 9: Transfer of Funds for Master Plan Enhancement
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $7,067.84 (Seven thousand sixty-seven dollars and eighty-four cents) to continue the efforts identified in the Master Plan that will include the hiring of a consultant to assist in the creation of design guidelines and possible zoning changes, and that to meet such appropriation, the sum of $7,067.84 be transferred from the unexpended funds allocated for funding the hiring of a consultant to create a Master Plan as approved by Article 4 of the November 15, 2004 Special Town Meeting; or do or act relating thereto.
The summary was also revised and will read as follows:
This article seeks town meeting approval to expend the balance of the previously approved project authorized at the Special Town Meeting on November 15, 2004. The balance of the unexpended funds in Article 4 is $7,067.84. The Master Plan has been completed and a portion of the remaining funds are needed to investigate design guidelines and zoning changes.
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee approved this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Dinjian – yes, Czekanski –yes, Benjamin – yes)
ARTICLE 17: TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER
Present: Susan Mason, Chairman of the Public Safety Center and Don Lowe, Town Administrator
The Advisory Committee reviewed the article submitted for an additional $35,000 for unforeseen costs to complete the Bolton Public Safety Center. Ms. Mason requested that the title be revised to read “Additional $35,000 to Offset Unforeseen Costs for the Public Safety Building”.
Ms. Mason stated that there was approximately $145,000 associated with the rock removal on site. The $35,000 will cover items that are important for the function of the public safety center including a diesel oil fuel tank, radio antennas, sprinklers, gear dryer, appliances, sign for the public safety center, etc.
Ms. Mason provided an update on the public safety project budget that showed a balance of $3,578.00 after obligations. With the approval of the article for $52,416 to cover costs associated with the oil tank clean and the potential to receive grant money there will be an additional $89,000 available.
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Dinjian, to approve this article failed. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Lindsay – no, Benjamin – no, Shnitzler – no)
A motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Benjamin, to disapprove this article failed. (Benjamin – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Lindsay – no, Czekanski – no, Dinjian – no)
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article if anticipated grant funds were not received. (Lindsay – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Shnitzler – no)
TRANSFER REQUEST
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to approve the transfer request in the amount of $7,500 for partial payment of services performed by Maguire Group, Inc. for the oil leak at the public safety center. This expenditure is for unanticipated ongoing reporting and monitoring. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
There are additional funds that will be needed later on in the fiscal year.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
The Advisory Committee was informed that the Board of Selectmen voted to pay 15% of the total operational costs (maintenance and electricity) for the wastewater treatment plant. Based on the estimated $46,000 operation costs this would be approximately $6,900 on an annual basis. The Board of Selectmen agreed to revisit this on an annual basis.
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to reduce the 440 Sewer Budget, line item 5200 Purchase of Service from $7,500 to $6,900. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
MINUTES
Minutes of March 9 and March 16, 2010 were read and approved with minor revisions.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The Committee reviewed the Advisory Committee statement for the Annual Town Meeting warrant. On a motion made by Benjamin and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to appoint Mr. Shnitzler, Mr. Czekanski and Mr. Lindsay to make any required revisions to the Advisory Committee statement between now and the time the annual town meeting warrant goes to press. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
OVERALL BUDGET REVIEW
Mr. Lindsay presented an overview of the town’s fiscal year budget. There is $18,200 of unallocated Free Cash above the $500,000 minimum target.
Mr. Lindsay provided options that included suspending the cost of living adjustment (cola), reducing the stabilization fund by $20,000, reviewing budget to see if there is anything to take out or living with a $480,000 free cash target versus the proposed $500,000.
Mr. Shnitzler suggested that funds be released from existing articles. Ms. Day will contact the following departments to see if the funds can be released for these articles: Assessors for GIS, $4,462.01; School for School Space Needs, $10,000; Highway for School Zone Flasher, $305 and Gas Spill, $21,858.65; and Board of Health for replacement monitoring wells, $5,557.06.
Shnitzler, Dinjian and Benjamin suggested that free cash to be reduced to $480,000; Czekanski suggested that the stabilization fund be reduced and Mr. Lindsay suggested that the cola be removed. The process of asking departments to release balances in articles will be incorporated into the budget process.
ARTICLE RECOMMENDATIONS
Article 2: Fiscal Year 2010 Transfer for the Reorganization of the Town Bylaws
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 15: Release of interest – Old County Road Layout
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 16: Funding of Oil Tank Cleanup
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 20: Well for Emerson School
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 21: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.5.7.6 Wireless Communications
A motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Lindsay, to approve this article failed. (Lindsay – yes, Dinjian – yes, Shnitzler – no, Czekanski – no, Benjamin – no)
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to disapprove this article. (Lindsay – no, Dinjian – no, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 23: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.5.5.2, (j) Activity Regulations – Used Cars
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to disapprove this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 24: Amendment to Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.3.4 Schedule of Uses – Used Cars
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Dinjan, the Advisory Committee voted to disapprove this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 25: Amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, Section 2.5.5.6 Site Plan approval Process
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
Article 26: Feasibility Study for Improvements to the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes)
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee voted to adjourn at 10:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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