Date of Meeting: Monday, October 19, 2009
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:25 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Nancy Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel (Arrived at 6:40 PM); others as noted on sign-in sheet.
Financial warrants signed in approval.
Approval of Minutes: Motion made and seconded to approve October 5 Regular Session minutes. Voted All in Favor.
HRP Building Permit Fee Waiver: Motion made and seconded to approve waiving fee. Voted All in Favor.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
· Town Hall HVAC for gym and basement. Temporary heating system for the season costing $2,500 will be covered by MIIA.HVAC money left in articles from past (2007, 2008) for first and second floors. Estimate for design cost of work is $18,000; balance of articles if $45,000. Work would possibly be in excess of $100K. Ken Sydow stated he would like to move forward but $100K for gym and basement seems excessive. Approve to put out to bid (design).
· Town Accountant search. One of two finalists was interviewed today. The second will be interviewed on Friday.
· Compass Pointe: The Planning Board met October 5 to hear the petition to extend the subdivision deadline.
o Jim Stanton: will ask again: need legal opinion from Steve – how is the developer not responsible for repaving the road if they’re obligated to widen the road by two feet. Do they just expand the road by two feet on one side and they’re done? If we have no legal basis to make them repave, then we’ll do it ourselves (only if no legal way to enforce it).
o Ken Sydow agrees it doesn’t make sense they wouldn’t need to repave. Regarding the street opening, he would not consider until bond is in hand.
o Roger said he agrees as well but, regardless of logic, if it’s not formally written in agreement, we can’t enforce it.
o Ken: believes the plan that went to court and was approved didn’t include that two foot requirement as original subdivision plan did before it was appealed.
o Steve Madaus: the Planning Board might require clarification of the requirement as a consideration of their extension application.
Report of Chief Sahagian to Board of Selectmen (7:05 PM):
· Recommended hours for trick or treating: Saturday, October 31 5:00 – 9:00 PM. Motion made and seconded to approve. Voted All in Favor.
· September 15 – ticket hearing.
· September 22 – the Chief and Sergeant Szymkiewicz met with the Town Administrator regarding regional dispatch. He provided salary study figures.
· October 15 – Tahanto lock-down drill
· October 30 – Continuance of McGrath case.
· DARE Halloween party set for October 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM
· Cadillac in evidence will be released by December 9. Will auction. Ken Sydow asked where the money goes. Tony stated one half goes to the District Attorney’s office and one half to the Police Department for drug enforcement. Ken asked if money from the Cadillac sale be used toward another vehicle? Tony said he was not sure.
· Officer Barbato is scheduled to return to work the end of October from Workers’ Comp.
· Officer Bazydlo out (non-IOD) for surgery for several weeks.
· Registry of Motor Vehicles reminder: sign-up for license renewal reminder is posted on the Police Dept. website. One-time sign-up for courtesy reminder of renewal due.
· Replacing cruiser: Gave description of current cruiser to be replaced and status of all other vehicles; review of maintenance on vehicles. Jim Stanton said we can’t fund a $30K warrant article Chief submitted; we only have $24K left of already certified free cash. Tony said this was unknown to him; he was told by the Board of Selectmen to submit an article for a car; he’s been informing them of the need for months. Jim stated he just found out today that we only have $24K available in leftover free cash. FY’11 free cash won’t be certified and available until the spring Town Meeting. Ken asked if we don’t have money now, we could possibly consider two in the spring. Tony said that happened when he first started; it
was difficult to pass then. Ken asked how often all six cruisers are on the road at the same time. Tony said usually only during situations such as the ice storm; Memorial Day, etc. Also, we can’t run vehicles all day without downtime; it would kill them. Jim said they will change the article to transfer $15K to the PD expense / maintenance account.
Report of the Fire Chief to the Board of Selectmen (7:35 PM):
· Call volume was down in September.
· A grant of $477 was received and used to purchase new portable tank.
· No new information has been received on the FEMA grant.
· Took on two new part-time hires.
· Fire Officer I Program recently completed by Lt. Jason Bradford and FF Mike Buddenhagen
· Purchased a replacement for Fire Dept Car 1.
Report of Highway Superintendent to Board of Selectmen (7:45 PM):
· All catch basins have been cleaned.
· Employee going to chiropractor; still okay to work.
· Received new front-end loader; showed photos to Board.
· Cemetery gift: an anonymous donor made a gift of $25K to the cemetery.
· Considerable truck maintenance done recently. One repair totaled $7K.
· Salt went up $1 a ton ($64.12). Sand is now $12 a yard.
Report of the Building Inspector to the Board of Selectmen (7:55 PM):
· Submitted a spreadsheet of permits.
· Has met several times with builder of Stiles Crossing and Compass Pointe.
· Site inspections at Tower Hill ongoing. No more silt problems to date.
Report of the Town Administrator, Continued:
· Re: tax title property. The Zekos Group was only auctioneer which submitted a proposal meeting the criteria set forth in the Request for Proposals. Okay to wait, as long as it is done before the Annual Town Meeting. Roger asked if Mrs. Puff negotiated with Zekos regarding their rate of commission. He would like to do so in Executive Session. Stephen said Counsel should review the final documents from the auctioneer.
· Library Waiver Request Nick Langhart stated the Library will need to apply for a waiver from the Municipal Appropriation Requirement this year due to a calculation error made during last year’s budget request.
· Parks and Recreation held a joint meeting with West Boylston on October 14 regarding possibility of sharing programs and services. Discussed was the possibility of Karen Barber expanding her responsibilities to include West Boylston and possibly offering joint summer programs for residents of both towns.
· The Massachusetts Municipal Association is sponsoring a Home Heating Energy Savings Seminar to be held on November 11, 2009 at l:00 PM at Sunbanke Village. All Boylston residents are invited to attend.
· Quarterly Veterans’ Agent Report Received. Two Boylston veterans received supportive services this quarter.
Warrant for Special Town Meeting was approved with changes.
A sign request from the school was approved.
A brief discussion was held regarding the overlapping of appointments to various boards.
Motion made to adjourn; motion seconded; voted All In Favor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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