Date of Meeting: Monday, February 22, 2010
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:20 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Nancy Colbert, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as listed on the attached sign-in sheet
Financial warrants signed in approval.
Temporary Sign Request: A request for a temporary sign by BBravo to advertise a movie night for March 16 and a musical planned for April 9-11 was made. Motion to approve was made, seconded and voted All in Favor.
Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 8, 2010 was made, seconded and voted all in favor.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
· Route 140 Corridor Study consulting team to present their recommendations at this evening’s meeting.
· Zoning Changes for 140 Corridor to be proposed by consulting team. Board might then choose to forward changes to Planning Board for a public hearing.
· 2009 Annual Audit for FY2009 has been completed by Roselli Clark. Town received a favorable review with no noted control deficiencies or material weaknesses.
· Y.O.U., Inc. Lease Renewal: Current lease is up for renewal on March 31, 2010. Maurice Boisvert, President and CEO of Y.O.U. Inc., sent a letter seeking an extension of the lease with level rent. The Town Administrator will meet with Mr. Boisvert and School Director of Finance, John Roy, to discuss transportation costs incurred by students at Y.O.U. Inc.
· Town Meeting Special Articles:
o Economic Development Fund: Discussion has been held re establishing a budget line or special article to fund ongoing economic development activities, such as those being carried forward by the Business Marketing Committee. The Board would like to start with $20,000 in line item.
o GIS Development/Electronic Parcel Mapping: The Town Administrator estimates $20K will be needed to implement this but it will result in an immediate saving on annual map updates (which we now budget at approximately $8K/year) of $1500/year.
o Town Hall Gym/Lobby HVAC: Cost is estimated at $120K
o Cemetery Revolving Account: Cemetery Superintendent, Don Parker, requested the spending limit be changed from $15K to $30 to purchase a new lawn mower this year.
(7:00 PM) Hillside Restoration Project/Gough House Lease: (Nel Lazour and Patrick Healy present)
· Ms. Lazour stated they want to make the Gough House a Town asset and have the HRP and the Town come together in ownership of Gough House and use it for Town functions/meetings.
· Jim Stanton stated that in the past the Town was not to assume any financial or management responsibilities with regard to Gough House. He asked how close it is to habitable condition now. Mr. Healy stated it was not far.
· Jim Stanton asked how close it will be after the $245K grant is exhausted. Mr. Healy responded that they did not know. Jim stated he would want to know the number (cost to make it habitable) before any decision is made.
· Ms. Lazour said they are not asking the Town to pay for anything, but, rather, just share the use of the house.
· Jim Stanton said that, according to their proposal, HRP is asking for additional funds. When the lease was established it was made clear that the Town did not have funds for Gough House. Perhaps HRP should winterize it and not pay for heat every year in an effort to save on costs. Jim stated it is not a matter of a desire to support them, but a matter of the Town’s ability to pay.
· Ms. Lazour said they are looking at ways to reduce their costs, even if the organization still pays for it. Mr. Healy said they are looking to work as a team to lower net costs for heat, insurance, etc. (e.g., a way to purchase a rider on the Town’s insurance versus carrying their own policy).
· Ms. Lazour gave, as an example, the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury, which is Town-owned and is the Town’s responsibility but a non-profit “Friends” arm does the fund raising. The point is to make the house self-sustaining once it is restored.
· Jim inquired as to the capacity of rooms for meetings. Mr. Healy said they are working on a meeting room that will hold up to 90 people.
· Jim would like further discussion regarding specific uses and needs of the Town.
· Theresa Prunier (in audience) stated that ten years ago, residents voted to purchase Hillside. Before we renew a lease, we should decide a design and use, and present it to the taxpayers for their say in taking over some of the responsibility.
· Ms. Lazour agrees with Ms. Prunier. The HRP has reached out to the Townspeople for participation, but it has been somewhat slow. They welcome anyone to sit on the Hillside Planning Committee and become involved.
· Jim stated he would like to see a re-use plan before considering renewal of the lease.
· Town Counsel Madaus noted if improvements are done by the Town it becomes a public project, which brings it within the public bidding process, wage scales, etc.
(7:30 PM) Veterans’ Representative’s Update to the Board of Selectmen: (Present: Vin Perrone, Brian McNeil, Dave O’Doherty [taking over for Brian McNeil, who is leaving for Afghanistan] and Joe Boyle)
· Ten residents have received support and services from the Veterans’ Service Office. On February 23 an annual training update will take place; all will be attending.
· Ken Sydow noted he has heard a number of positive comments since Mr. Perrone last appeared before the Board.
· The Board thanked Messrs. Perrone, McNeil, O’Doherty and Boyle for their service.
Route 140 Corridor Study Preliminary Final Report: Appearing before the Board to present report findings: Attorney Mark Bobrowski and Doug Prentice (Traffic Engineer). The corridor study has been conducted from the Shrewsbury line on Route 140 (Colonial Drive) to the West Boylston town line; build-out potential was observed by parcel over a five-year period.
· The study suggests signage and road marking updates/maintenance (e.g., turn lanes);
· There are no pedestrian accommodations at the 70/140 traffic light. The Town would need to work with the State to include a pedestrian signal.
· It is suggested that the connection from Shrewsbury Street to School Street be closed. Some accidents have occurred at that location; the geometry is not standard, - it is an awkward configuration, especially at night.
· Jim Stanton asked if the report gives priority to projects the Town should pursue based on the recommendations being made? Mr. Prentice said Yes, in terms of short-mid-long term.
· Regarding sidewalks: there are none near the Elementary School. There is a federal program available (referenced under existing conditions) called “Safe Routes to School Program” that the Town might take advantage of. The program liaison is Mass DOT “saferoutesinfo.org”; Massachusetts received $3.5M last year state-wide. The money can be used for anything from crossing vests, signals, sidewalks, for example.
· The report suggests a striped, marked bike lane on both sides of the highway be added. They found several bicycles in their counts during the study. This can tend to drop speeds and make the road more closed in. This could be done with the existing width of the road and the breakdown lane. Ken Sydow questioned if a defined bike lane generally slows traffic; Mr. Prentice said yes and it also services a need for cyclists.
· Herb Cronin: As a state highway would this fall under the state highway dept? Mr. Prentice said it would not; it would be under Town jurisdiction and maintenance.
· Roger Deal inquired as to how a bike lane would develop business in Town. He requested they focus the discussion on plans to install stores and businesses on Route 140. Doug Prentice said a bike lane will help slow traffic until something further develops on the Corridor.
· A traffic signal is warranted on South Sewall Street, which should accommodate motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
· Herb Cronin asked if we have the opportunity to create commercial development, how we would approach lanes, curb cuts, etc. Mr. Prentice said that would be in the purvue of the Town, the Planning Board, etc. for site-specific developments; long-term planning.
· Roger asked what steps would be recommended for immediate improvements. Mark Bobrowski said there are five major recommendations in the study:
1. Amend the map: rezone the parcels between East Temple Street and School Street into a class of mixed use/industrial district.
a. The triangular-shaped area near MaryAnn Drive should be rezoned to Commercial;
b. Eliminate LI district and create a “Shrewsbury Street Business District” (retail/office);
c. Rezone present Commercial District to a “Neighborhood Business District” (emphasize smaller business district);
d. Industrial/Business District becomes “Flexible Business Development District.”
2. Dimensional regulation changes.
3. Use-regulation changes.
4. Site Plan Review (warrant article 4)
a. existing site-plan bylaw is very weak;
b. improve decision-making process for the Planning Board;
(Currently the Building Inspector has a say regarding look, landscaping, etc., interpretation.)
5. Site Design Standards (Article 7).
· Roger asked what he meant when he referred to the Building Inspector acting as the Planning Board. Mark Bobrowski said the site plan review states the Building Inspector will study it regarding safety, etc. At the end of the day it’s the Building Inspector who is calling the shots right now. It’s a very old model of site plan review but it has since come a very long way and should be in the Planning Board’s function. Ken added it would also make it easier for applicants as well as the Planning Board to do their job.
· Laurie Levy (resident in audience): at Annual Town Meeting, as soon as ‘large box retailers’ is mentioned, zoning changes are going to go out the window.
· Bill Manter (Planning Board): Prior to the Town Meeting we need to tie it to economic development and promote that we’re developing regulations that have been in place in most other towns for years. Also emphasize that most of this work has been done with grant money.
· Herb Cronin (Business Marketing Committee): This needs to be summarized and explained simply that we’re bringing our Town in line to be in conformance.
· Town Counsel Madaus inquired whether any existing uses in changed areas would make them non-conforming after zoning changes. Mark Bobrowski said they didn’t look at all yet; he is not sure.
· Attorney Madaus said he would like to add qualifying language on the performance bond allowing the Town to act on it.
· Herb said, regarding setting aside money for future use, can’t we charge the applicant, force them to pay? Mark said no, but many applicants are business savvy and willing to help the Town with negotiations.
A motion was made to send articles to the Planning Board for review; motion seconded and voted all in favor.
Town Administrator’s Report, Cont’d:
· Stormwater Management: Our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDEP) compliance activities over the past years have been funded by a 2008 Special Article. Next year we will have to submit a new general permit and develop a thorough stormwater management program. These activities might cost up to $10K in consulting costs and the Town Administrator has inserted this cost into the 32011 budget under the Conservation Commission.
· Energy Conservation Block Grant: Boylston did not receive funding for its proposed energy conservation projects.
· Cable Advisory Committee: Tom Maritska advised the Town Administrator last week that the Committee will begin its formal contract renewal process in the next few months; this will involve surveying cable customers regarding satisfaction with cable service. The Town Administrator spoke with Ellen Cummings, Regional Director for External Affairs, who informed the Town Administrator that Verizon has no plan to expand into Boylston in 2010.
o Contract renewal for Charter Communications requires a public hearing. The Town Administrator is to look into options and put out a RFT for cable services.
Motion made to adjourn; motion seconded; voted All in Favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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