Date of Meeting: Monday, April 9, 2007
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30PM – 10:00PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Roger Deal, Ken Sydow
Others Present: Suzanne Olsen, Town Administrator; Michael Kane, Banner Reporter; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; Others as listed on sign in sheet
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm.
Police Chief Sahagian: Monthly report to the Board.
-Recent increase in identity theft and credit card fraud. 3 cases total last year; 6 to date this year. The P.D. has 2 information pamphlets available to residents re: ID theft and scams. Chief Sahagian will also be passing out at the senior lunch at the Town House this week.
-2 I.O.D. last week –
o Rob Thomas scratched his eye during a yard search for a suspicious person.
o Mark Shepard hyper extended his knee Saturday while assisting with a West Boylston call and putting suspect into cruiser.
-Power outage at station this past weekend; line went down, lost some power and 2 computers (they were also on surge protectors). The new HVAC system was hit, but not “fried”. It’s still under warranty, and the parts are in the mail at no cost.
Teresa Prunier (Water District): She was surprised to hear there would be an article on the warrant to purchase GIS for the Planning Board. Ms. Prunier had a discussion with Howard Drobner about WPI students that inventoried the Water District infrastructure and thought they might be able to help.
-Through Professor Fabio Carrera, WPI students completed Phase I and inventoried, laid framework for roads, street names, etc. For Phase II, they will develop a management system for the Water District application. The cost to the Water District for all work is a donation for $10K to WPI.
- Prof. Carrera told Teresa Boylston is small enough so that all departments could be up and running within about one year. Roger Deal asked if almost complete – yes, about 75%. Ms. Prunier said next steps for the town would be to start with the Assessor’s office. Drawing houses on each plot plan would take the most work.
-Roger Deal asked if this has been discussed with the Planning Board. Teresa discussed with Howard Drobner in January, gave him the project website info and invited him to the Water District meeting, but he never responded. She feels it could save the town a lot of money to continue with this system versus purchasing new software.
- Ken Sydow suggest a meeting/presentation with Prof. Carrera and town boards and departments to get their input. Meanwhile, he suggests holding off the town meeting warrant question until we’ve researched possibilities. Teresa will coordinate a meeting sometime after the Town meeting.
-Mr. Sydow motioned to defer article #25 from the warrant to obtain more information; Roger Deal seconded, voted all in favor.
Mark Bertonassi, Building Inspector: Monthly report to the Board.
-The Board asked the location of plans and documents for town-owned buildings and property. Mr. Bertonassi says they are not in one location. Sandy Bourassa is currently helping to organize while going through archives and filing alphabetically, etc.
Girl Scouts Troop 987: Troop Leader Sue Filsinger informed the Board that the troop is pursuing their “silver award”, and will be doing community projects and services. The troop presented their plans and request to the Board:
- Sue Moore (formerly of Scar Hill Road) asked the troop to repaint the paths along the nature trail at Hillside (behind Municipal Office Building). They would also be picking up any trash as they repaint, then create a piece of “artwork” out of the trash as a circle with a diagonal line through it to symbolize no littering.
-In summary, they need permission to re-designate the trails and to display the trash creation. They are also requesting that the Board cover the cost of the spray paint (about $2 - $5 per can), the Styrofoam circle and supplies for the trash art (< $30). Their service and labor would be donated. Jim Stanton asked what color paint needed – 3 colors, as listed on current key created by Sue Moore.
- Ms. Filsinger noted there are about 3 miles of trails, and the troop plans on working April 22nd to complete the project.
-Ken Sydow motioned to provide up to $100 out of Selectmen’s expense line, based on receipts provided after purchases; Jim Stanton seconded, voted all in favor. The Board thanked the girls for their service to the Town.
Gigi Desautels (Conservation Commission Chair): Ms. Desautels requested to meet with the Board because the Conservation Commission (“Con Comm”)’s request for 2 additional hours for their Administrative Assistant (Melanie Rich) was cut out of the FY08 budget by the Finanace Committee. An additional workload from the Con Comm is requiring more time from Ms. Rich, who currently works 15 hours for Con Comm and 17 hours for the Board of Health.
-Jim Stanton said since the FY08 budgets are finalized, she would have to find the money from somewhere else. He notes that last year, a full 40 hours were offered to expand that position to include assistance for the Building Inspector, but Ms. Rich was not interested. Mr. Stanton asked Ms. Desautels if the Con Comm has money in other line items to cover the additional 2 hours per week. She will look into her budget further to see if she can find funds elsewhere, but was asking for it to be considered if possible.
- Ken Sydow said the Board can look at when final numbers are reviewed with the Finance Committee. Bottom line of the budget cannot change, but if money can be moved, they will consider it.
8:00 Horizon Partners: Larry Greene (Thompson-Liston), Alan Perrault (Horizon Partners) and Attorney Jonathan Silverstein were present to discuss status of Sewall Street gravel pit.
-Larry Greene wants to know how Horizon Partners can work with the town to continue the development. Mr. Greene says the project was initiated in January 2006. Since then, the acreage has been lowered, and due diligence, site design, etc. have all been completed. The NHESP protection buffer zone was added to the map for the wood turtle in October 2006, and the project has been on hold. Mr. Greene provided a timeline summarizing all events.
-Alan Perrault feels his original proposal of $18,750/unit for a purchase price of $560K will no longer be economically feasible. The housing industry has changed, and the turtle buffer zone is beyond their control. With only 15 units plus 5 affordable units possible, they cannot pay $560K for the land. Attorney Jonathan Silverstein noted the original P&S agreement indicated the site as nearly 12 acres, and it is now only 3+/- acres of buildable land.
- Attorney Angelini asked if there is a way around the turtle boundary. Mr. Greene says a sighting in 1983 was the basis for the map being updated, and it would take years to disprove. Jim Stanton says NHESP says the person who reported the sighting is not a matter of public record.
- Atty. Silverstein said since the bid/proposal was premised on a per-unit cost, and the P&S was premised on a per-unit price, the proposal can state a dollar amount per unit purchase price, then be modified according to number of buildable units. The P&S is not within the Central Register or bid requirements; P&S agreements are modified routinely based on changing conditions. Atty. Angelini says this poses an interesting argument, but it does get very “sticky”.
-Mr. Perrault believes they’ve done everything possible under the circumstances, and would like to still move forward with a development in town.
- Ken Sydow says the P&S indicates purchase price of not less than $560K, and he’s not comfortable going below that (at a price of $375K, based on 20 units). Atty. Silverstein feels that it is within the Board of Selectmen’s rights to reduce the P&S price, since it was clearly based on price per unit.
-Sue Olsen has had several conversations with Helen Lester in the Inspector General’s office. We may get a protest from other builders if we go forward with a reduced price for the land; cannot clearly determine if section 16 would allow or disallow.
- Atty. Angelini says the town has the right to refuse, since $375K is much lower, and they could use the land for other purposes it they so choose. They may later go into executive session to make a decision. Sue Olsen would like to see the project move forward.
Town Administrator’s Report:
M.O.R.E. Group: Assessment for inclusion in Central MA solid waste program; estimated cost is $1254, effective July 1, 2007 for town to continue as member of MORE. Currently, we are not participating too much, but we may have money in an account from past activity. Sue is not sure of the balance, but it may cover the $1254 cost. If not, Sue is requesting permission to pay fee to participate. Ken Sydow motioned to pay program fee; if not covered with M.O.R.E. account balance, to be paid out of FY07 Selectmen’s budget; Jim Stanton seconded; voted as follows: Ken – yes, Jim – yes, Roger – no. Approved.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program: This is an Act that the town is required to pay transportation to school of choice for homeless children. Currently, YOU Inc. does not have any children in this category, but the school has $12K budgeted for it. Since YOU Inc. is the “bridge home”, the original town of residence is not responsible, the town of the bridge home would be. The suggestion by the school administration is that we renegotiate their lease for the difference. Ken Sydow said we could propose to YOU Inc. that we’d amend the lease so if the situation does arise, YOU Inc. would reimburse the town for such expenses. Jim
Stanton said if/when the circumstance arises we will discuss with Moe Boisvert at YOU Inc.
Project Management Forum: as required under 30B for public buildings being held on 5/11 in Millis MA from 8:00am – 1:15pm. Ken Sydow will try to rearrange his schedule; Jim Stanton is not available, but would like Sue Olsen to go if available. She has plans, but will try to rearrange.
Budget: Roger wanted to review MOB expenses that show 20% increase. Sue Olsen says it’s a typo; she will provide an updated copy when changes are made.
Patricia & Michael May, 603 Cross Street- requested through the Town Administrator to purchase Town Owned land that abuts their existing property. After discussion the Board voted unanimously that the land is not for sale and asked the Town Administrator to so notify the Mays.
Road opening permit: The Town Administrator informed the Board of Dave Donahue’s inquiry re: his need to apply for a road opening permit and it is not required since the subdivision was approved prior to the effective date of the Selectmen’s regulations.
Expense Forms: Roger Deal recommends employee expense forms standardized as a requirement for reimbursement. He also asked who signs off expenses before going to the accountant. Suggests chair or department head sign off on expense reports. In order for the Town Accountant to pay, he should have a valid sign-off. Ken Sydow suggests adding to “housekeeping items”, to be discussed later with boards and committees.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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