Date of Meeting: Monday, June 23, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Ken Sydow, Roger Deal
Others Present: Sue Olsen, Town Administrator, Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant, Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; others as listed on sign in sheet.
No financial warrant.
Meeting convened at 6:30PM.
July Hours for Sue Olsen: At the request of the Board of Selectmen, Sue created a list of needs/projects to be worked on for the month of July.
She is allowed a maximum of 19½ hours a week (state law) in order for it not to affect her retirement compensation. Her submitted project list totals about 51 hours. Some questions about the projects:
- Jim Stanton asked when an Auditor’s bid was last done and could it wait for the new Town Administrator? Sue said it was done five years ago, and the current bid specs are already out.
- Jim asked when various leases are up. Sue: The MCJTC is up in October. Also, two cell tower leases are in discussion.
- Roger asked about building maintenance at Hillside requiring two hours a day. Sue: Usually, depending upon what’s in process.
- Ken Sydow asked what on the list can be delegated. Jim can talk with Sue on a daily basis to discuss priorities and delegating.
- For July, concentrate on completing bids already out and written and the current financial audit. Also, there is no need to attend meetings. Jim would also prefer not having the Monday and Tuesday 2-day per week schedule, but maybe Monday and Thursday.
- Roger asked why Sue should attend Monday night meetings. Jim: She can report on what’s been done, what’s upcoming, prioritizing, etc. Roger wants to avoid wasting her time on Monday meetings; feels we should minimize, if possible.
- Procurement; as it comes up, let them know; determine if it can be put aside.
Title: Interim Town Administrator, to be paid hourly.
Roger: Do we need a contract? Board doesn’t feel it’s necessary for a temporary situation.
Motion made that, effective July 1 we will hire Sue Olsen as Interim Town Administrator for $34.13/hour, up to 19½ hours per week. Motion seconded, voted All in Favor.
Audit Letter for FY’09 --: Attorney Angelini sent a letter requesting the Board of Selectmen vote to agree to pay his fee of $400 before he writes a letter for the audit company. Motion made, seconded and voted All in Favor.
Appointments -- Affordable Housing: J. Lombardi; voted all in favor. Appeals Board: Robert Cotter. Only Jim and Roger voted in favor; Ken abstained.
June 30 Special Town Meeting Warrant Review -- Twenty-five people needed for a quorum. Jim will do Article #1 and Roger will do Article #2.
Jim asked Stephen the process if there are any amendments to the budget.
Stephen: This is in the jurisdiction of the Moderator; however, the article was drafted so as not to entertain any motions (“…or to act any other way therein.”). This will prevent changes and the budget being recalculated on the Town Meeting floor.
Dennis Pojani: Mostly agrees but needs to review with Stephen. Wants to be sure it doesn’t allow for a change on the floor. Did the School Committee approve the budget?
Jim: not yet, but he believes they will, based on last week’s School Committee meeting.
Building Inspector – Monthly Report to the Board (7:40 PM)
Ken asked the status of the Calliope Theatre. He has been receiving phone calls.
- Mark: They got a ZBA variance for setbacks. They need Planning Board approval for wellhead distance special permit (over 15% impervious).
- Jim: How much over 15%? Mark: About 18 to 20% total.
- Ken: What are the specifics regarding distance from wells within the district? Mark: Outside 1500 feet of wellhead, can submit application required to be removed from wellhead district. Maps he uses show they are within 1500 feet of wellhead.
- Ken: Where would they apply to be removed, if a certified engineer confirms they are over 1500 feet from a wellhead? Mark: They would go through the Planning Board. The builder (Ron Aspero) said he was going to check with the Water District maps.
- Ken: If removed, then what would they need to do? Mark: They would need to go through the Building Department.
- Mark asked Ken who made the phone calls. Ken: The Fuller Foundation, which is funding the building addition. It would be nice to walk them through the process.
- Roger: The process seems to be flawed. If the Applicant Advisory Committee were functioning, they might have been aware of some of this ahead of time.
- Mark: Their builders and architects didn’t pick up on it earlier either. The addition renders the lot over 15% in total (including the pre-existing building), but they said the by-law was unclear that it was not only the addition.
Jim: While the Town Administrator is interim, could Mark oversee some building/maintenance questions to take off her plate? Mark: Yes.
Appointments, Cont’d –
Finance Committee – ask Dave to take over Helen Duffy’s vacated term.
Veterans’ Agent – Jim asked Sue the status of sharing an agent. Sue spoke with Leon Gaumond (West Boylston) today; got name but hasn’t contacted him. Jim asked that she contact CMRPC and get a copy of inter-personnel agreements. CMRPC is on hold, based on last week’s joint board meeting
Building Inspector – Ken and Jim voted in favor; Roger abstained.
Assessors Vacancy – Ask Margo to draft language to be put in Banner as press release for one-year term. To be appointed to serve until next election.
Fire Dept. – Modified motion made, seconded, voted All in Favor.
Police Dept. – Motion made to approve as submitted by the Chief; motion seconded, voted All in Favor.
Revenue Study Committee – Roger would like to serve as the Board of Selectmen’s representative (make it a seven-member committee). Motion made to approve concept, with membership to be approved as revised; motion seconded. Voted All in Favor.
Capital Investment Overseer Committee – Continue to July.
Town Administrator Hiring -- The search firm presented three candidates after initial interviewing. The Board of Selectmen met on Friday; interviewed one candidate in person, two by telephone. Awaiting feedback from hired consultant regarding continued interest from candidates. Board of Selectmen believe two of the three have potential.
Candidates to meet with department heads next (individually). (Will not need to be posted, per Town Counsel.) Then, if there are to be additional interviews with the Board of Selectmen, post the meeting.
Contract negotiations may be Executive Session.
Jim would like non-local candidate (Patrick Jordan of Michigan) brought in for some interviewing process (he was only interviewed via telephone last week).
Ken: If local candidate has an interest in the job, is there a need to spend money to bring in another candidate?
Jim: Both are qualified; he’s not convinced the local candidate is the right one.
Ken: Would like to wait a few days and vote next Monday; get feedback from Don Jutton (search firm) first.
Roger: Doesn’t want to decide tonight; would like to price flights.
At 8:32 PM on a motion made by Selectman Roger Deal and seconded by Ken Sydow, the following roll call vote was recorded to go into Executive Session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B ¶ 6, for the purpose of considering the purchase, exchange, taking, lease or value of real property: James Stanton-yes, Roger Deal - yes, Ken Sydow – yes. The Board agreed they would reconvene only to adjourn.
Return to open session 9:00pm; motion made to adjourn. Voted All in Favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
| 
