Date of Meeting: Monday, June 4, 2007
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:35PM –10:00PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Ken Sydow, Roger Deal
Others Present: Suzanne Olsen, Town Administrator; Michael Kane, Banner Reporter; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as listed on sign-in sheet
Meeting was called to order at 6:35p.m.
Special Town Meeting: Ken Sydow motioned to approve the 6/25/07 Special Town Meeting warrant as presented. Roger Deal seconded, voted all in favor. The warrant articles are no longer override questions, but transfers:
1. $100K for Tahanto FY08 budget.
2. $50K for Boylston Elementary budget.
3.$150K for Boylston Elementary FY07 budget.
· Dennis Pojani (Moderator) asked if a new budget has to be approved along with money transfers. Jim Stanton said all FY08 amounts are transfers from stabilization fund or free cash. The $150K transfer for FY07 will be from unexpended budget line items.
· Line item numbers were added to the warrant articles to clarify where the money was going to. Ken Sydow motioned to approve as amended, Roger seconded, voted all in favor.
· Heidi MacDonald (resident) was present, and asked if there will be accommodations made, should an overage of voters attend the meeting. Mr. Pojani noted the statute requiring accommodation of all voters wishing to participate, and there will be another area ready to accommodate additional people. As a precaution, an assistant moderator will be necessary, and video and audio will be set up in the gym and auditorium. Sue Olsen asked about receiving ballots at check-in; Dennis will consider it and discuss with Atty. Angelini.
Re-organization of Board:
· Roger Deal nominated Jim Stanton as Chairman, Ken Sydow seconded, voted all in favor.
· Mr. Deal nominated Mr. Sydow for Vice Chairman, Jim Stanton seconded, voted all in favor.
· Mr. Sydow nominated Mr. Deal as clerk, Mr. Stanton seconded, voted all in favor.
Wire Inspector Jay Morrill: Monthly report to the board.
· Wiring permits have been steady
· Would like to make addition to permit fees: penalty for working without a permit. The Building Inspector charges a minimum of $200 fee working without a permit. Jim Stanton told Jay to talk to Mark Bertonassi about it. Jay did, and they discussed a penalty fee of not less than $100, and possibly doubling the permit fee. These fees are at the discrepancy of the town, and approved by the Board of Selectmen. Atty. Angelini asked if the offending contractors (working without a permit) are reported to the State. Jay said it’s not required
unless a contractor does it repetitively
Plumbing Inspector Eric Johnson: Monthly report to the board.
· All is going well; just small jobs, all major subdivisions completed.
· Fees currently in line with other towns.
· Could possibly add fines for late / no permits being pulled.
At 7:05p.m. on a motion made by Selectman Ken Sydow and seconded by Roger Deal, the following roll call vote was recorded to go into Executive Session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B ¶ 3, for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining: James Stanton-yes, Roger Deal - yes, Ken Sydow – yes. The Board agreed they would reconvene in open session.
7:45PM: Reconvened in open session.
Richard Reardon / Sr. Citizen Grant: Mr. Reardon explained that there are about 76 seniors that participate in the senior luncheons and activities at the Town House on Main Street. Parking is insufficient, and the stairs are difficult for some seniors. The Council on Aging newsletter goes out to 740 households; there are 1428 “baby boomers” in Boylston, according to the Telegram & Gazette.
Since the library grant cannot include a Senior Center, they have researched other grants.
· Community Opportunities Group (Boston) met with seniors last fall. A small town (Millville) received an $800K grant for their senior center from HUD. $3.75M is available for FY07. The maximum grant per town is $800K; 5-8 grants per year are awarded. The Council on Aging is aiming for a February 2008 submission of a grant application; money could be received as early as September 2008.
· They are requesting a parcel of land at Hillside; a document clarifying land is available is required to submit with grant application. Jim Stanton says there is land available but the BOS is currently looking at the property via a committee to determine the best use for Hillside. They hope to have plan completed by Fall town meeting, or possibly the Spring annual town meeting. A library and senior center can be built together, but the money has to be spent separately for each. Ideally, some parts of the building could be shared. Mr. Stanton suggests
Mr. Reardon meet with Sue Therriault (Library Trustee); she has a lot of data that can be shared, and perhaps some costs could be shared, etc.
· Mr. Reardon also asked about a letter he wrote regarding traffic signs to be placed at Sun Bank; Sue Olsen will check with Chief Sahagian for a status.
Maple Street land to be donated: Mr. Vogel was present and requested a status on whether the Board will accept the lots on Maple Street that are being offered as a donation; it’s been months since his attorney (Ayoub) sent a letter and nothing has been decided. Atty. Angelini explained he was waiting on a response from the Planning Board and has written to Atty. Ayoub re: question of whether these lots were requested by the Planning Board. Atty. Angelini explained that he and the Board will need to understand what is going on before the Selectmen decide to accept or decline the land offer.
Fall Town Meeting date: Sandy Bourassa (Town Clerk), Margo Richardson (Assessor’s Admin. Asst.), and Ellen McKay (Treasurer) questioned the Board about a Fall meeting date, stating that October is too late, it needs to be in September, to allow time for the tax rate to be set. Jim Stanton said nothing on the fall town meeting warrant will impact the FY08 budget. September would be too soon to get articles on the warrant; an October meeting would be best.
· Ellen McKay noted if borrowing any money, the first interest payment would be due in 6 months. If money is appropriated, it will delay setting of the tax rate. Mr. Stanton understands that is an interest payment is due, it will need to be transferred from available funds.
· The Board will set a date for an October Fall meeting in the near future.
Heidi MacDonald (PTO): Ms. MacDonald wanted to meet with the Board to discuss the failed override at the Annual Town Meeting, and get opinions as to why it was unsuccessful; where do the 3 board members stand?
· Roger Deal said his article in last week’s Banner expressed his opinion. Mr. Deal was asked in the article “what went wrong?”. He feels the town has not embraced commercial development to increase the tax base. The issue is not “for” or “against” the school, but the fact is taxpayers are “maxed out”. Mr. Deal says the town and schools need to work together rather than waste time determining who is wrong rather than what is wrong. Perhaps nothing went wrong with the override vote, since he
feels there was no real “winner”.
· Ken Sydow commented on what can be done for next year. More commercial revenue is needed in town. Residents should be attending Planning Board meetings to support the positive incoming businesses.
· Jim Stanton noted that over ½ of the town’s new revenue is given to the schools each year. The town has made concerted efforts over past years to work with the schools. A tax increase via an override is not the answer, based on the voters’ recent decision.
· Ms. MacDonald doesn’t believe long-term goals are the answer for next year. She’s not laying blame or finger-pointing, but wants to look at what went right vs. what went wrong. There are not enough parents to get a school override passed, so there needs to be an override for the entire town to get enough money for the school.
· Mel Martinez (Knob Cone Drive) agrees that we have to do this as a town, and can’t wait until 2 months before an election to educate people. Increasing commercial development is the correct long-term goal, but it can’t help the schools next year.
· Ken Sydow says by continuing 3-year budget projections, and townspeople know what to expect, it would help. People have told him if it were a 1-year override, they would vote with more confidence.
· Francesca Bang (Rocky Pond Rd): if the Board of Selectmen spoke more in favor of the override by putting out more information to residents, it would help. Jim Stanton said the Berlin School Committee does not regularly participate in meeting with the BOS, and do not feel they need to meet with the Boylston BOS.
· Ms. MacDonald said the BOS shouldn’t compare the town budget to the school budget, since most of the school budget is state mandated. She feels the School Committee is living within their budget. Jim Stanton says the perception of the voters is the school budget is mismanaged. Mr. Martinez asked whose job it is to “sell” the budget and change the perception of the school mismanaging their money. Mr. Stanton says priorities need to be determined when budget cuts are being made.
· Ms. MacDonald told Jim Stanton to “put your money where your mouth is” for next year’s override. Jim said the town meeting shouldn’t be when it happens; it’s work that needs to be done prior. BOS has been and continues to be willing to help and work with the schools. Ms. MacDonald says she will add all three selectmen to her ballot committee for next year.
· Lou Mikitarian (Adams St.) says that if every department in town, including the schools, has been whittled down, then the entire town should be included on an override question. Jim Stanton asked if applied to the whole town, shouldn’t all departments be set to the same standard for setting their budgets? In past years, all town departments have had 3% wage increases and level funded services and expenses; the school has not ever adhered to those numbers. Mr. Mikitarian said if it could be defined what would be cut in town (eg, DPW, Police, Fire) if the
override is not voted, then vote would be more fair and the schools won’t be singled out.
· Mr. Deal said speaking as a senior citizen with 3 children that went through the school system, there is a strong resentment from seniors when others say they are able to afford increased taxes, but just don’t want to. They’ve “paid their dues” and it shouldn’t be assumed they have the money to pay extra taxes, but they do want to provide for the next generation.
· Ms. MacDonald asked for a next action item from the Selectmen. Jim Stanton suggested she meet with the school committee. She insisted on getting potential dates to set a meeting with the school committee to meet with the BOS. Jim says they’ve already communicated potential dates and will wait for a response; she does not need to arrange the BOS meetings for them.
Jonathan Howley: Mr. Howley is requesting use of the Town House to host an event to raise funds so he can to go to Africa with a community service program through the YMCA. Four students from Central Mass. were chosen to go. He will be holding a fundraising concert on June 20th from 5-9pm with 3 bands playing; the admission will be $5 per person. Mr. Howley is also asking the Board to waive the fee for use of the Town House. The Board said an insurance certificate will be required; the YMCA could possibly provide that. Otherwise, they don’t see a problem. Ken Sydow motioned to waive the fee for use of the Town House on June 20th, pending receipt of an insurance certificate naming the town as certificate holder; Jim Stanton seconded,
voted all in favor.
Appointments:
· Roger Deal motioned to appoint Christine Stille to the Library Re-Use Committee; Ken Sydow seconded, voted all in favor.
· Board needs list of Fire Dept. and Police Dept. staff to be re-appointed for the June 18th meeting. Lori will get information.
Petition for sign at Rtes. 70/140: Lynne Deegan (Boylston Deli) sent a petition with 50 signatures requesting a ladder-type sign be installed at the corner of 70/140. The sign would advertise and be paid for by local businesses, and would be approximately 15’ tall by 6’ wide. Each ‘ladder’ would have the business name and the mileage to get there.
Since this property is currently being developed, Ms. Deegan’s request will be forwarded on to the Planning Board; a letter will be sent to Ms. Deegan explaining same.
Grant Writer: Sue Olsen updated the Board: the RFP has been sent out and proposals are due by June 6th. There will be 60 days to review any proposals received, and the contract will be awarded no later than 8/1/07.
Planning Board: Atty. Angelini updated the Board re: this evening’s Planning Board hearings that he sat in on due to new member on Planning Board, but hearings had already been started. Both applicants were present tonight, Atty. Angelini indicated it may be better to restart the application process; it could be expedited due to circumstances. Applicants seemed OK with that; the Planning Board was all set to vote, likely will be in favor, so applicants will be continued to next date when full Planning Board quorum present.
Meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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