Date of Meeting: Monday, February 25, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 7:00 PM –- 10:10 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Roger Deal, Ken Sydow
Others Present: Suzanne Olsen, Town Administrator; Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as listed on sign-in sheet
Financial Warrants signed in approval prior to the meeting.
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
Sand and Salt Budget: Motion to approve overspending of sand/salt budget as recommended by Don Parker. Ken seconded the motion, voted All in Favor.
Sign Requests:
· Boylston Elementary School: Ken motioned to approve School’s Bingo sign as requested; seconded, voted All in Favor.
· 5K Road Race: Roger motioned to place Memorial Day 5K road race signs as requested. Motion seconded, voted All in Favor.
Town Administrator’s Report:
· Library Custodian. Sue pointed out no money budgeted to cover new building at Hillside and Ken is already stretched to the limit.
· DPW: Ken Franz retiring at end of March.
· Fire Chief: Inquired about mandatory, random drug testing for all firefighters, effective July 1, 2008. Jim will get in touch with Joe to discuss, then refer to Attorney Madaus for opinion re: legality.
Affordable Housing Committee – Mike Borsuk, Affordable Housing Committee Chair (7:00 PM):
Mr. Borsuk outlined information pertaining to establishing a Local Housing Authority (“LHA”).
· Four Commission members voted in; fifth member is state appointee from town (a Commissioner’s term is five years).
· Boylston’s inclusionary zoning by law requires LHA to be formed. However, funds might never be initiated – a developer can do his own 40B versus the local initiative.
· Town would have to give land to LHA; they apply to HUD, grants, etc. All would be affordable housing, since all would be rentals. (Housing Authority only does rentals.)
· Rate of rent based on 25-30% of adjusted household income—mandated by federal or state law.
· Shortfall in LHA operating expenses would be covered by the state.
· Roger questioned if any taxes would be paid to the Town. Mr. Borsuk said if elderly tenants, no taxes. A family program = PILOT payment to the Town, but it “isn’t much.”
· When applying for funding from the state, they require part of the development be family housing in order to get funding.
· Roger asked what the qualification is based on. Mr. Borsuk said current income only. Indebtedness or credit ratings are not taken into account.
· LHA would handle all costs and maintenance. No financial obligation is required from the Town. LHA commissioners, elected by Town, are responsible to residents, hold public meetings, etc.
· Roger Deal commented that if families have children, we’re taking on the cost of education, but with no tax requirement to the Town. What enforcement is made to prevent the state from taking over the property to meet 10% Affordable Housing. Mr. Borsuk said regarding families, there are currently 28 families in Town below poverty level; they would have FIRST option for the rental units; therefore it would be families already in Town, just relocating with affordable opportunity.
· Revenues go to LHA
· Ken Sydow questioned ownership over time. Mr. Borsuk said the property would be LHA owned in perpetuity.
· Land offered by the Town needs to be developable, accessible, etc., but the Town makes the final determination. Mr. Borsuk believes there might be a need in Town for affordable housing; Housing Authority might accomplish that. Possibly, the Affordable Housing Committee could do a questionnaire with resident feedback before going forward. For example, a single-person household requirement could = $40K. (Assets are not considered if someone sells their home.)
· Mr. Borsuk will meet with the AH Committee to put together a sample survey to be sent out.
Claire O’Neil CMRPC 43D Expedited Permitting (7:35 PM): Suzanna Paige was also present.
· Claire provided a questionnaire to review.
· Suzanna: CMRPC funded to assist towns in adopting 43D local permitting. Allows Town to identify specific sites for streamlined permitting. Town would be committing to a 180-day turnaround once application is received.
· What are the benefits?
o Grants up to $100K for things like staffing assistance, consulting services, etc.
o Priority for other financing
o Aggressive, online marketing of site and promotion of pro-business climate.
o Site needs to support 50,000 square feet of business on site; doesn’t need to be built up completely, just needs to support it.
o Grant application only one-time.
· Claire said if a site is primed and ready to go, you could designate that site immediately, then establish another site for long-term. Jim asked if the site is already permitted, can that site be designated? Suzanna said yes, it’s dependent upon the site, not the application. However, the Town would need to prepare and improve the process in order to meet any future applications on that site. The state approves two things: The grant application and the site itself.
· Ken Sydow noted a site in Town that is permitted, but owner could not continue due to the time it took to get permit. Site would likely need re-permitting. Could the marketing aspect of the 43D apply? Response: Yes. The first thing needed is Town Meeting approval of the site; then you can apply for a grant. Once the site and grant is approved, the Town opts into the program. Once the check is cashed, there is a 120-day time frame to get the permitting process in place. It is best to determine what is needed to be able to decide a permit application within 180 days. For example, rewriting rules for joint public hearings, purchase permitting tracking software, personnel (staff), consultant.
· Once application is received, it takes 30 days to review it for completeness. Once it’s complete to Town’s specifications, then the 180-day timing begins.
· Once a site is designated, it remains so for five years. Building permit, ANR, and subdivision plans are not applicable to this expedited permitting.
· Ken asked how the state monitors the timing of the permitting process. If by software, they could have access but if not, is additional paperwork/filing required of boards/commissions? Claire is not sure how the state monitors. Suzanna also not sure and will look into.
· Attorney Madaus asked if towns adopt amendments to their zoning bylaws, or try to coordinate it with existing laws. Suzanna said some do; it depends on the community. If so, the grant funding money can assist with that (consultant, Town Meeting costs, etc.) This is an opportunity to make zoning more specific and is encouraged.
Linden Street Extension: Don Parker in attendance to discuss Article 4 of the March 3, 2008 warrant (returning land on Linden Street):
· The area near Mr. Wheeler’s lot was elevated at the time of the land taking. Water now pools in front of his property. Last spring, the DPW dug a trench to relieve the water backup. When snow was plowed, it blocked the trench and water backed up. Don says if we give the land back, we need to correct draining and it will cost the Town more money to go the other way down the road. He feels there should be language in the article to allow Town to move drainage to low spot of property (easement required). Best solution would be to put basin in.
· Attorney Madaus asked if the water back up was a problem for several years. Don said yes, but if the plan is discontinued, drainage shown on layout can’t be constructed. Atty. Madaus agreed if installing drainage is not on the plan, an easement would be required.
· The Board agreed to pass over the article until drainage issues resolved, and will reconsider in May. Lori will notify the Planning Board that it does not need to hold a hearing re: this article.
Finance Committee Budget Hearing (8:30 PM):
· Review of FY09 budget.
· Dave Butler says Workers’ Comp and General Insurance is a “buyer’s market”, we should put out to bid.
· Assesors’ Overlay on Annual Town Meeting Warrant is for reassessment costs.
· Board of Health: large increases. $3-4K extra for mosquito control (+ initial $30K)
· Landfill engineering up from $3500 to $6600 ($9500 to $30K total costs)
· Earth Day = $15K (first year only; thereafter $5K) [Jim asked Sue to look at this.]
· Flu Clinic = $1,500.
· Overall, municipal budget about $300K in deficit.
· Police Department: Up $35K (salaries, expenses)
· DPW: Up due to increased costs of sand, salt, fuel
· Parks & Recreation requested $150K for field (capital expense).
· Town Administrator salary up from $68K to $95K (based on salary survey of area). Dave Butler asked the status of hiring new TA; will the committee be involved, etc.? Jim stated that of the applicants to date, the vast majority did not meet minimum criteria.
· Dave questioned Project Manager - new position? Jim said we might not need that, depending on whether the Grant Writer position is funded.
· Dave also questioned Selectmen’s Clerical up to $15K. Jim said to wait for Grant Writer results – we may take out.
· Jim said they are waiting to know time frame, possible cost for Tahanto. Meanwhile, Boylston’s share of feasibility study is $150K.
· Eric to send all budget sheets to Lori for distribution to departments.
· Dave Butler asked where the new ladder truck is going to be stored. Jim will discuss with Joe.
Personnel Board to Finance Committee:
· Library comp time for Monday holidays – resident wrote to Personnel Board. Re-visit.
· Personnel Board also feels Building Inspector should not get raise since they graded himas an 8; he is currently paid at 10 and they consider him overpaid.
· Library Trustees want to give Director a 6% raise versus 3% for all other employees.
· GASBY Retiree GIC (money put aside to fund).
>>>>>EXECUTIVE SESSION 9:40 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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