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Date of Meeting: Monday, November 1, 2010
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:16 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as listed on the attached sign-in sheet
Financial Warrants signed in approval.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
Asian Long-Horned Beetle Update: A Town-wide briefing will be held for residents on Monday, November 8th, 7:00 PM at Tahanto.
Regional Dispatch: Town Administrator, Chief Sahagian and Chief Flanagan met with Dave Clemmons, Emergency Communications Manager for Worcester and Lt. Kokernak from Sterling Fire Dept. for discussion.
- Worcester is still aiming to be operational by July 1, 2011. They are looking for 5 communities to enter inter-municipal agreements by July 1, while actual start dates can be set for later. Boylston’s share of project cost would be $42,000 for FY12.
- In addition to 911 calls, they are willing to answer after-hours calls for Highway and Light Dept, with a fee to be determined if requested.
- Their entire staff is being trained to be certified in Emergency Medical Dispatch.
- They plan to assign a person on each shift to be dedicated to Boylston if we choose to pursue this service.
- Also need to fill balance of role that current dispatchers fill (24-hour staffing of Police Dept., administrative support, etc.)
- The personnel-only estimated cost for Boylston to join is $81,380 the first year, minus grant funding ($42K) for a net of $38,674. Additional annual costs for phone lines and T-1 connections will be required. No capital costs are anticipated for this year. Costs for opting in at a later date will be higher.
- Still need to work out answering questions regarding coverage for other duties currently filled by the Boylston dispatchers at the Police station. Town Administrator is working with chiefs for a Q & A session.
- Jim Stanton asked about a time table. Ms. Puff said it depends on how soon answers are found.
- Roger Deal said we need to quantify savings before any decision is to be made. A five to ten percent savings might not be worth pursuing if other services are sacrificed.
Green Street Drainage:
- Mrs. Colbert Puff met with Northborough DPW Director Kara Buzanoski and Boylston Green Street residents Larry and Sandy Campo to review construction drawings for a drainage line to be run from Green Street across their property to its rear, where it is wooded. They have agreed to grant Northborough a 20’ easement for the work and Northborough will be able to install the line before the winter freeze with a temporary patch, and pave in the Spring.
Personnel Board Interview with Greg White:
- Mr. White has been a resident since 2000; is married with two children.
- He is a sole-practitioner attorney with 15 years’ experience as a prosecutor in Worcester, Middlesex and Norfolk Counties.
- He teaches at Harvard Law School
- Dick Prince (Personnel Board Chair, present) said the Board is down to two people and has been fairly inactive for the past two years. Mr. Prince said per the Selectmen, the role of the Board is to be changing to be consistent with what other towns are doing for activities/responsibilities. They are waiting on further direction.
- Jim Stanton said the existing personnel by-law does outline some responsibility for the Board of Selectmen. The by-law was in effect before we had a full-time Town Administrator; many functions are now with the Town Administrator but thee remains a function/need for the Board, which is to be defined.
- Nancy Colbert-Puff spoke with Atty. Kim Rozak from Mirick O’Connell, who is still working on a revised by-law. She doesn’t have a time frame for completion.
Motion made by Roger Deal and seconded by Ken Sydow toappoint Greg White to the Personnel Board; voted all in favor.
7:05 PM Hearing on application for Auctions Express LLC, Class II License:
Mark and Ronald Wagner appeared before the Board. They need a Class II license to register at auctions and they don’t want to run it through their current new car business.
- Jim asked what would be different at the facility for used cars. Ron said they would be using the existing facility without any changes.
- Ken asked if the Audi and Jaguar dealership is still there. Ron said yes, but they will eventually build a new building for the Jaguar dealership.
- Jim asked if they are keeping the same number of cars. Ron said it would likely be less.
- Stephen Madaus noted they should have a designated proposed area – what portion will be occupied by Class I, Class II, etc. They should be kept separate.
- Jim asked how many spaces would be designated for the Class II business. Ron said 20 to 25, possibly less. Ken said they shouldn’t limit themselves to a small number, due to large space available on the lot. On the plan, show where the used cars will be parked and use as many spaces as they think will be necessary in the long run.
At the request of the applicant, the Board agreed to continue the hearing to November 15 pending receipt and review of a site plan detailing the following:
- Signage
- Number of spaces
- How they are laid out
- Identify lighting
- Note any changes.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to continue the matter to the November 15, 2010 meeting.
Town Administrator’s Report, Cont’d:
Tax Title Sales: Two parcels have been closed on thus far; the remaining parcels to be scheduled over the next two weeks.
School Bond: As of October 20, 2010, the MSBA made its final payment to the Town in the amount of $3,904,251. US Bank has submitted a call notice to existing bondholders. On December 15, 2010 we will squire US Bank the final payment on the bond. The Town will net approximately $104,000 from the redemption.
MIIA Loss Control Grant Award: We received a $1,440 grant from MIIA to purchase and install freeze alarms in Town Hall and the Police Station, and to perform roof inspections on both buildings.
HVAC: Temporary heat installed due to contractor not being able to complete the work until January.
Finance Committee Budget Review Process:
- The Town Administrator noted this is a reevaluation year. Valuation will drop, which will impact the tax rate. The other will be the school project to impact. The rate will be significantly impacted. We need to get the message out that the rate is not indicative of what the taxpayers will be paying.
- Free cash not yet certified.
- Jim said to plan to have budgets out to departments by early December and returned early in January.
- Jim asked if we should consider level-funded budgets?
- The Town Administrator said local receipts are down approximately $60K from last year and we need to anticipate an overall revenue reduction. She feels a reduced budget is a good idea.
- Roger asked what the net effect to taxpayers will be with reduced values but increased taxes. Jim said the net would be a 2.5 percent increase to the tax bill, plus the school building, less debt exclusion just paid off for the elementary school
- Eric Brose asked if the new police car is to be funded this year, Jim said he is not sure,- we’ll see.
Linden Street Extension: David Wheeler contacted Nancy Puff regarding finishing the road. She will review with counsel and get in touch with him.
At 7:40 PM on a motion made by Selectman Ken Sydow, and seconded by Roger Deal, the following roll call vote was recorded to go into Executive Session under MGL c. 39 §23b ¶3 to make preparations for negotiations for non-union personnel.
7:45 PM: Open Session reconvened.
7:45 PM: HEARING: Habitat for Humanity Road Opening Application:
- A bond will be required, per Don Parker, of $250.
- Habitat for Humanity was looking to do it now but has no money; possibly can do it in the spring.
- Don Parker estimates the cost of the work to be approximately $6,000 to & $7,000.
Motion was made to approve, subject to obtaining bond, and guidance of the Highway Superintendent. Motion seconded and voted all in favor.
USDA: Clint McFarland, ALB Update Mr. McFarland presented updated maps of infested trees found to date.
- There is a heavy infestation, mostly in sugar maples, at the base of Hillside. (Maple, birch, elm and whipple are most preferred hosts.)
- Two residents on Main Street, along with FritoLay, have already agreed to the cuttings.
- Jim Stanton said he hasn’t seen many dead trees. Clint said it will take time to actually kill the tree (seven to ten years). The issue is additional infestation in the future and long-term.
- Jim said he has a difficult time coming to terms with taking down all of the host trees at Hillside. He can justify doing so in high areas of concentration, but not in other areas of the property.
- Ken said he agrees with taking all host trees along Rte. 140 and the concentrated area of Hillside. In all other “in-between” areas he would like to see only infested trees removed.
- Clint said new sugar maples going up the drive and the large, old, established trees would go on a case-by-case basis, and spared if at all possible.
- In West Boylston, after the trees have been removed, and with new surveys, they are still finding some beetles in areas outside of the area they felt was heavily infested.
Motion was made by Roger Deal for a full removal of trees in the red grid areas and only the infected trees in the balance of the map. Motion seconded and voted all in favor.
- Clint said they would give at least one week’s notice prior to removal.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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