Date of Meeting: Monday, December 14, 2009
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:05 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Roger Deal, Ken Sydow (arrived 7:55pm)
Others Present: Nancy Puff, Town Administrator; Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as noted on sign-in sheet.
Financial warrants signed in approval.
FY2011 Budget: Chairman Stanton asked Town Administrator Colbert Puff if she spoke with the Superintendent McDermott regarding FY11 budgets yet. She replied yes; she told Dr. McDermott that their budget should be level funded and she would like a preliminary copy by end-December if possible.
Town Administrator’s Report:
· Asian Long Horned Beetle (ALB) located in Boylston: Three infected trees were found in Cook Street area by the USDA during their routine inspections. The trees will be scheduled for removal (only the infested trees, not surrounding ones). Property owners have been notified. The USDA’s complete survey is not scheduled until 2010.
· AARA Grant (EECBG): Mrs. Colbert Puff submitted the grant on 12/7 for three projects:
o Town Hall Boiler ($40K)
o Second Floor / entry window replacement in Town Hall ($50K)
o Town Hall / Police Station / Elementary School lighting upgrades ($60K)
· Wachusett Regional Recycling Center: Waiting for status re: Boylston resident turnout at recent collection day on 12/5. Each participating community contributes proportionate to population, and Boylston’s cost for FY11 is $1320. Jim Stanton asked about operation hours once the center is open; Nancy said hours are not set yet.
· Ice Storm Reimbursement: The State announced additional aid to communities that incurred unexpected expenses as a result of last December’s ice storm. Boylston is slated to receive an additional $39,189.
· Health Insurance Options for 2011: Town Treasurer Alyce Johns and Nancy Colbert Puff met with MIIA account rep. to review possible health insurance plan changes that may benefit the town and its employees.
· Regional Dispatch Study: Fire Chief Flanagan and Police Chief Sahagian have met with Tom Kennedy, the consultant on the regionalization project. Scheduled to meet again on 12/15 and receive a progress report.
· Treasurer/Collector’s Work Schedule: In accordance with our employment offer to Alyce Johns, Mrs. Johns has requested that the Board consider a reduction in her regular work week from 40 hours to 35 hours.
o Roger Deal said we’ve already had a conflict in the past with another position working less hours than expected. Why have exceptions for a position if it requires full time? If it’s not full time, then we need to re-evaluate and pay on an hourly, part-time basis.
o Jim Stanton is not comfortable saying what number of hours the job requires based on a 3-month survey. It’s a cyclical job, and there are weeks it requires 50 hours, some weeks 35 hours. Let’s wait until the close of the fiscal year, after we’ve been through a full cycle. Then we can examine and adjust accordingly.
o Roger agreed. If necessary to reclassify, then we look at the position and adjust hours and pay accordingly.
o Jim Stanton noted it’s easier to get people to agree to reduce hours than it is to increase hours. We want to be sure this is not just a honeymoon period after cleaning off the desk. If we reduce the salary line, then need to increase it later, it will be more difficult to get it added to the budget. Jim asked Nancy to come back to the Board in May with a proposal.
· Applicant Advisory Committee: Held second session with Habitat for Humanity team.
· Route 140 Corridor Study Progress: Tentative date of 1/26/10 (snow date 1/27) set to follow up on fall’s public meeting. Mrs. Colbert Puff has received preliminary reports from the team and will be working with them on zoning changes for May town meeting.
· Town Hall Holiday Closures: Town Administrator recommends Town Hall be closed Thursday 12/24 and 12/31 as day off for part-time employees who don’t work Fridays. Full time employees would work Thursdays and have the Fridays off. Jim Stanton asked why offices can’t be opened ½ day; otherwise, there will be two 3-day weeks. Nancy explained there will be only a couple of employees here. Jim will leave it up to her discretion.
· Anniversary Date: Tonight is Town Administrator’s 1-year anniversary of hire date. Would like next meeting to review the year’s accomplishments. Board agreed that the 12/28 meeting would be a workshop meeting, no appointments. Time to be changed from 6:30pm start time to 3:00pm start.
Police Chief Sahagian Monthly report to the Board
· Presented monthly stats for November
· 11/22 monitored Pop Warner Super Bowl at 70/140 field.
· 11/23 call from Iaccarino to fingerprint 4 workers for Federal Building project in Boston.
· 12/4 worked Cyprian’s detail
· 12/8 Officer Bazydlo had surgery; on FMLA until mid-February
· Chief is scheduled to work Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (triple-time cost savings)
· Received clearance to put Cadillac in evidence out to bid.
· Questions /comments re: FY11 budgets: two contracts due for re-negotiation; what should salary increase for non-union personnel be.
o Jim Stanton said level fund on salaries.
· Chief would like to be apprised of Compass Pointe road work if/when it happens. Shrewsbury High School, YMCA, etc. should be notified. Nancy said she is still awaiting the bond.
Highway Superindent Parker Monthly report to the Board
· Issue arose today with pothole on School Street that a resident hit last Friday. Damage to car, claim made against the Town. Don already patched the pothole. Mrs. Colbert Puff said the town is responsible only to respond once notified of the pothole. The insurance company will not likely hold us liable. Roger said we’ll leave up to the insurance company to make the decision.
· Water is collecting on Cross Street near route 70. Don spoke with a contractor today re: cutting the shoulder back.
· 3 loads of salt received; total cost around $6K. Used about 20-30 tons of the 90 tons delivered.
· Don feels there’s a discrepancy in the Winter Parking Ban. The Police Dept. is reluctant to tag cars other than between the hours of 1am-6am. Several cars were parked last Sunday around 6pm during the storm and were in the way of the plows. If a snow emergency is declared for each storm by the Board of Selectmen, the Police Dept. can enforce it.
· Request on behalf of the Red Knights: pieces of 9-11 disaster will be made available, and the Knights would like to incorporate into the existing memorial. They will present a design when available.
Building Inspector Bertonassi Monthly report to the Board
· October and November – 50 permits total
· Comparing our permit fees to other towns, we have 2-part fee base: $7/$1000 per renovations, $10/$1000 for new construction. Most towns have a single-fee structure of $10/$1000. The Board asked Mr. Bertonassi to research cost/ structure in other towns and come back to them with a proposal for a fee increase, if necessary.
7:30PM: RECESS
Meeting reconvened:
7:45 PM: Tax Classification Hearing with Board of Assessors
Carl Cravedi recommendation is single rate of $12.62 (from $12.40).
New growth = $98,964 (compared to about $180K last year)
Motion to approve single rate of $12.62 per $1000 as recommended by the Board of Assessors was seconded and voted all in favor.
Habitat for Humanity Howard Drobner requested to meet with the Board to follow up with requested information regarding fee/permit waiver request.
The overall cost of the project is estimated at $300K. The building permit would cost about $3K. Total estimated in fees requested to be waived is ˜ $4687. (They already paid the Board of Health soil testing fee.)
Jim Stanton is not agreeable to having the Town put money out (for legal hearing ads, etc.). Howard said they would be responsible for legal ads, mailings, etc.
Motion to waive application fees applicable and payable to the Town of Boylston for the Habitat for Humanity project was seconded and voted all in favor.
Roger Deal noted that Richard Reardon, who is on the Habitat for Humanity Team, will be speaking at the Congregational Church’s Men’s Breakfast on Tuesday, January 5th. Mr. Reardon will present details and status of the project. Mr. Deal extended an invitation to Mr. Drobner and any other interested parties to attend the breakfast.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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