Board of Selectmen Present: Mark Sprague
February 11, 2016 Stanley Wysocki
Town Hall Thomas J. Frain
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
Chairman Sprague called the Board of Selectmen’s meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
POLE HEARING – HUBBARD LANE
The Board of Selectmen opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the petition of National Grid to excavate the public street and run and maintain underground electric conduits on Hubbard Lane, beginning at a point approximately 410 feet northwest of the centerline of the intersection of Butternut Lane. This hearing was continued from the Board of Selectmen’s meeting of January 28, 2016 to allow Mr. Mark Caisse, Tree Warden to meet on site with Ms. Iris Price, representative of National Grid to discuss the impact of the trees. Mr. Kenneth Dobie, representative from National Grid attended this evenings meeting. National Grid has revised the plan and the group of maple trees in the town easement will not be impacted.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the petition as revised. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki –yes, Frain – yes)
ROUTE 110/117 TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Department of Public Works Director Harold Brown and Administrative Assistant Leslie Caisse met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the replacement of the traffic lights at the intersection of Main Street and Still River Road.
Mr. Lowe stated that at the Annual Town Meeting in May of 2015 the town approved funds in the amount of $270,000 ($20,000 for the engineering and $250,000 for the hardware) based on estimates received from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the replacement of the traffic lights. Mr. Brown met with four (4) firms. The lowest bid for engineering was $54,000 which is much higher than anticipated because it was never taken into consideration that the DOT would be doing a lot of the work in-house. Other expenses not considered included repaving the intersection which is estimated at $60,000 and a 10% contingency which brings the total to $395,000 opposed to the $270,000.
It is very difficult to repair the current lights because the equipment is so old. Engineers indicated that there was not enough property to construct a roundabout at the intersection.
At the recommendation of Mr. Lowe, the Board of Selectmen agreed to put an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant to borrow $395,000 to replace the lights noting that if a solution is found in the meantime the article could be passed. Mr. Brown will analyze the current lights and look for parts or a newer unit to keep the existing lights up and running.
The Selectmen will be provided with a copy of all 4 proposals and the backup information.
STAFFING OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING LOBBY
Police Chief Nelson met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the options for staffing the public safety building lobby.
Town Administrator Don Lowe and Acting Police Chief Nelson have reconsidered the staffing for the Public Safety Building lobby once the dispatchers have moved to the Devens Regional Dispatch Center. The original recommendation was to hire two non-benefitted clerks at 19 hours a week each or hiring another police officer in an administrative role. Realizing the difficult budget year, Mr. Lowe and Acting Chief Nelson concur with not staffing the lobby for the first year and arranging for a phone in the lobby for walk-ins to reach dispatch in Devens. Based on the situation the Devens dispatch can transfer the caller to Administrator Assistant Lorraine Kenney at the Public Safety building, call an Officer in off the road or if it is an emergency such as domestic violence can direct the individual to a
secure locked area at the public safety building until help arrives. The residents will be educated on the staffing of the lobby on social media and signs in the lobby.
The changeover to Devens is anticipated to happen before June 30, 2016.
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to not provide staffing in the Public Safety Building lobby, to keep records of the lobby activity and to revisit the situation a year from now. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)
Acting Chief Nelson will revise the budget to reflect this vote.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Minuteman: The Special Town Meeting scheduled for February 8, 2016 to vote on the Amendments to the Regional School District Agreement for the Minuteman Regional Vocational School District was postponed due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Monday, February 22, 2016. At present eight towns have held their town meeting to approve the Minuteman Regional Agreement and of the eight, Carlisle and Sudbury voted to withdraw from the district.
Update on the Route 117 Committee Report: The final report prepared by the Route 117 Prioritization Committee has been forwarded to Mr. Barry Lorion, at the Department of Transportation. Mr. Lorion and state staff will be reviewing and responding to the report in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant: The 1st draft of the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2016 has been forward to Town Counsel for review. The warrant includes approximately 30 articles and possibly an additional article from the Board of Health seeking funds to contract with Vector Disease Control International for the annual costs associated with implementing a Mosquito Monitoring and Surveillance Program. The Board of Health has planned a public meeting for February 23, 2016 on this article related to the Mosquito Monitoring and Surveillance Program.
Town Meeting could easily go two nights based on the number of articles.
CodeRED Announcement: The CodeRED system was used on Monday, February 8, 2016 to notify residents of the postponement of the Special Town Meeting due to inclement weather. Chairman Sprague advised residents that they have the option of revising the contact information or opting out for receiving such information by going to the CodeRED link on the Town of Bolton website.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
Presidential Primary – March 1, 2016: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to execute the warrant for the Presidential Primary on March 1, 2016. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)
Caucus: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to call the Town Caucus for Monday, March 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Public Library. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki - yes, Frain – yes)
Seek Re-election: Mr. Sprague announced that he will seek re-election to the Board of Selectmen.
Minutes: On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the regular session minutes of November 19 and December 3, 2015 and January 14, 2016. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)
On a motion made by Wysocki and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. (Sprague – yes, Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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