Board of Selectmen Present: Stanley Wysocki
April 27, 2017 Thomas J. Frain
Town Hall Jonathan Keep
Don Lowe, Town Administrator
Linda L. Day, Town Secretary
Mr. Wysocki called the Board of Selectmen’s meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
GREAT BROOK FARMS, INC., ALTERATION OF PREMISES AT 356 MAIN STREET
Mr. Frain recused himself from this discussion and left the meeting room.
Mr. Slater met with the Board of Selectmen to request approval for an alteration of premises at 356 Main Street, Bolton, MA 01740. The intent of the alteration is to serve alcohol on the exterior patio/deck. The patio/deck area will be fenced off in a way to prevent patrons from passing drinks from one location to another. On a motion made by Keep and seconded by Wysocki, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the request for the alteration. (Wysocki – yes, Keep – yes)
UPDATE ON CAMP VIRGINIA
Mr. Kenneth Troup and Ms. Ashley Davies, Land Protection Specialist for the Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss Camp Virginia and request the Board of Selectmen’s endorsement of the grant process. Mr. Troup stated that there is still an interest on everyone’s part to preserve Camp Virginia and the key thing is to apply for a $400,000 PARC grant at the beginning of July. The grant would be awarded at the end of the year, and a town meeting vote would be necessary if we were to receive the grant. As part of the grant application an appraisal is required which is estimated at $3,900. Mr. Troup stated that the Girl Scouts have backed off of their stipulation that no lots could be sold which changes the economics of the proposed purchase.
Mr. Lowe stated that while they had an appraisal of $1.3 million, we can no longer assume that $975,000 would be deemed an acceptable purchase price.
The Conservation Commission is supportive of the purchase and agreed to pay for the appraisal knowing they would be reimbursed $3,000 of the $3,900 and that the Board of Selectmen are in support of the effort. Mr. Troup asked the Board of Selectmen to consider whether they would like to have an official appointed committee to work on the grant application and purchase.
On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the cost of the appraisal and support the execution of the grant application for $400,000 with all other decisions reserved for a future time. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
DISCUSSION REGARDING DETAILS OF A NEW CRUISER
Mr. Keep suggested that Police Chief Nelson advertise on Commbuys for the purchase of the new police cruiser and would like to see a more traditional colored cruiser without tinting on the front windows to give a sense that we are a nice friendly town. Mr. Keep also questioned the ratio of sport utility vehicles (SUV) versus cruisers in Bolton as mentioned by Mr. Troup at a previous Advisory Committee meeting. Mr. Frain stated that it makes sense to advertise on Commbuys for the new vehicle and agreed with Mr. Keep’s suggestion about the colors of the police vehicles.
Police Chief Nelson stated that he uses the state bid pricing to cost out the new police cruisers and didn’t think he would find a better price on Commbuys but would provide Mr. Lowe with the specifications to be advertised on Commbuys. He stated that the department has four black SUV’s and didn’t recommend going to two-tone vehicles because it would incur more cost. The tinting of the front windows is industry standard, with privacy glass on the back windows for surveillance work.
Mr. Keep questioned if the new cruiser had to be a SUV. Police Chief Nelson would like to keep all vehicles the same and found that the sedans are too small. The difference in price between a SUV and sedan is between $1,000-1,500.
Police Chief Nelson will meet with the Board of Selectmen at a future meeting to review various color schemes.
RECOMMENDATION OF POLICE CHIEF TO APPOINT 2ND SERGEANT POSITION
Police Chief Nelson reported that after advertising again for the second Sergeant position, he had three candidates within the department interested in the position. They included Police Officer Jonathan Couture, Police Officer William Warnken and Police Officer Walter Nadeau. Police Chief Nelson recommended that Officer Couture, who ranked #1 be appointed as Sergeant.
Mr. Frain, who voted against Officer Couture before, stated that his vote wouldn’t change and was pleased with Officer Warnken’s background.
Mr. Keep stated that there were other issues concerning Officer Couture and he had received two phone calls of concern.
Mr. Wysocki was in favor of appointing Officer Couture who has worked for the town for six years.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction with Mr. Frain’s unwillingness to publicly air his issues with appointing Officer Couture and was surprised to hear that Mr. Keep had issues with Officer Couture when at the last meeting his only concern was related to the budget, rather than with Officer Couture.
At that point, Mr. Frain gave details of three incidents that included when Officer Couture approached him at the Town’s Veterans Day brunch without introduction and questioned the attire that Mr. Frain was wearing. Mr. Frain felt that Officer Couture had invaded his personal space. Another incident was when Officer Couture sat in a Selectmen’s meeting glaring at Mr. Frain during discussion regarding the search and hiring of the Chief of Police and lastly when Mr. Frain stopped at the Country Cupboard and when leaving Officer Couture followed him, giving the impression that he was running his plate. Mr. Frain didn’t appreciate this type of behavior and he found it to be very disturbing.
Tom McGilvary stated that not discussing the issues publicly led him to believe issues related to Officer Couture were more serious than described, but understands where Mr. Frain was coming from whether he agrees or not.
A motion made by Wysocki to appoint Officer Couture to the Sergeant position as recommended by Police Chief Nelson was not seconded.
On a motion made by Keep and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Officer Warnkin to the Sergeant position. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Update on Minuteman: Mr. Lowe reported that he attended the most recent Minuteman Committee Meeting and sat through a virtual tour of the proposed building which was very impressive.
There is one more meeting with the Lincoln Planning Board and Conservation Commission before they can report out from both the Board and Commission before the timeline for moving forward with the project will be known. Mr. Lowe stated that approximately $1 million out of the $144 million project was budgeted for the permitting and inspections required for this project. There is a good chance that the project will be completed by September of FY19.
Update on the Dog Complaint Appeal: Mr. Lowe reported that on Friday, April 21, 2017 the appeal of the dangerous dog designation was heard in the Clinton District Court by the Court Magistrate. Mr. Lowe attended with Town Counsel Jessica Murphy, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Stanley Wysocki, Animal Control Officer Susan Latham and several of the residents that testified at the Selectmen’s hearing including the individual that was bit by the dog. The only person that testified on behalf of the Town was Ms. Latham, Animal Control Officer. The exhibits submitted at the hearing by the Town of Bolton was a very comprehensive presentation. The dog owners were present without Counsel and there was no dispute of facts. The dog owners hoped the dangerous dog designation could be revisited in a year
or so. The Court Magistrate did opine that there is nothing in the statute that prohibits such a thing but nothing that says the Selectmen needs to entertain such a request. A decision from the Court Magistrate is expected in two weeks from the date of the hearing.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUSINESS
9th Senior Appreciation Month: Ms. Mary Ciummo requested that the Board of Selectmen proclaim the month of May as Senior Appreciation month in sponsorship with the Board of Selectmen and Council on Aging to pay tribute to our seniors. The theme for the month is “Age Out Loud”. Ms. Ciummo read the proclamation aloud. A series of activities have been planned, including the delivery of May baskets to our seniors made by the second graders at the Florence Sawyer School and organized by Ms. Day, Town Secretary, two senior luncheons and a scavenger hunt. On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen proclaimed the month of May as Senior Appreciation month. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
Town Common Concert: Mr. Tim Castner, a member of the Board of Freedoms Way requested approval to hold a free community concert on June 29th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. as part of a commemoration to celebrate Henry David Thoreau’s birthday. On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, voted to approve the concert to be held on the Town Common on June 29, 2017. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes) Meg O’Leary confirmed that this event has been approved by Police Chief Nelson.
Request for street sign at the Town Common: Meg O’Leary met with the Board of Selectmen to request permission to place a street sign at the entrance of the Town Common. Ms. O’Leary has received the appropriate dimensions from the Department of Public Works. On a motion made by Keep and seconded by Frain, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Winslow Green Street sign at the Town Common. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
Access to Person’s Park Cottage: Ms. Martha Remington stated that according to the bylaws of the Friends of Persons Park a meeting should be held on an annual basis and April has been designated for the meeting. It will be an outdoor meeting and Ms. Remington would like the panels removed from some of the windows so that anyone attending the annual meeting can see the inside of the cottage. On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the overtime for a Department of Works employee to remove the panels form the cottage for the meeting to be held Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes) Mr. Lowe will make the arrangements for the employee to remove the panels.
Bills/Payroll Warrants: On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the bills/payroll warrants #W17-19 and W17-19A, #W17-20 and W17-20A, #W17-21 and W17-21A, #W17-22 and W17-22A. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
Minutes: On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve minutes of July 14, 2016, November 3, 2016 and December 1, 2016. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
On a motion made by Frain and seconded by Keep, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. (Wysocki – yes, Frain – yes, Keep – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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