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Board of Selectmen Minutes 11/15/2010
Date of Meeting:        Monday, November 15, 2010
Location:               Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time:                   6:00 PM –  8:10PM
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.


Temporary Sign Request:  Request was made by the Boylston Lions Club to place a sign at the intersection of Routes 70 and 140 to advertise wreath and Christmas tree sales.   Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to approve request.

At 6:45 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 M.G.L. c.30A §21 ¶2 to discuss strategy regarding with non-union personnel and ¶3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation.  James Stanton – Yes; Roger Deal – Yes; Ken Sydow – Yes.   The Board agreed they would reconvene in open session.

Open session reconvened at 7:15pm.

Report of Police Chief Sahagian to the Board of Selectmen:
  • October 5:  The Chief conducted an in-service training.
  • October 8:  The Department participated in range firing.
  • October 24:  The DARE Halloween party was held at the Town House.  Ten bicycles and helmets were given away.
  • October 26:  The Chief attended the regular dispatchers meeting.
  • October 29:  Ticket hearings at Clinton District Court.
  • October 31:  No incidents on Halloween night.
  • November 2:  Attended the Congregational Church breakfast.
  • November 2:    Nineteen cars were broken into.  All were unsecured.  The Chief conducted an investigation into the recent car break-ins.  Forty arrests have been made to date in Town.  This is the first time repeat hits have been made in the same area (Woodland Road?)
  • November 17:  Will attend a meeting with the Fire Chief and the Town Administrator regarding regionalized dispatch.
  • Police are continuing to monitor speed on Green Street.  The Chief believes the problem is a 25 MPH sign placed at Kendall Street years ago; the speed limit is actually 40 MPH.  The sign used to be at Ethan Allen/Cross Streets.  Roger Deal said to take it down.
  • An engine repair of $1,000 was made to Car 6.
Fire Chief unable to attend meeting to give report due to an ambulance call.

Report of Don Parker,  Highway Superintendent, to the Board of Selectmen:
  • The Highway Department has been readying vehicles for winter.
  • They have done patching and sealing on Central Street.
Report of Glenn Hand, Building Inspector, to the Board of Selectmen:
  • One SFH permit
  • Inspections included some additions, roofs, decks and one sign.
  • Little activity in Town with the exception of the six homes being built on Sewall Street (Compass Pointe).
  • The Inspector did a final inspection at Tower Hill; it went well.
  • Ken Sydow said he has had some business people tell him that calls and interaction with the Building Inspector’s office has been professional.
  • Roger inquired about expansion plans for YMCA Camp Harrington.  Mr. Hand said he just had a verbal discussion with the engineer regarding the general plans.
  • The Building Inspector has dealt with several inquiries regarding the tax title property auctioned last month.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
  • Demolition Delay Bylaw:  Bruce Symonds of the Historical Commission has requested the Board consider placing a demolition delay bylaw on the next Town Meeting Warrant.  If someone applies for a permit for demolition of a historic building (over 100 years old), the Building Inspector notifies the Historical Commission, which then has a hearing with the applicant.  The Commission might opt to place a six-month demolition delay on the project.  Ideally, the bylaw helps the Historic Commission to inform owners of other options for the buildings, etc.  They would then work with the applicant to preserve the building.  West Boylston is considering a similar byaw.  Attached is a sample bylaw from Pittsfield provided by Mr. Symonds.  If the Board is inclined to support placement of this item on the warrant, the Town Administrator will work with Mr. Symonds to develop an appropriate bylaw for the Town
  • Ambulance Bill Abatement Request Policy:  Joe Flanagan, Fire Chief, is unable to attend this evening to address this item at tonight’s meeting.  Attached is a draft policy to address instances of unpaid ambulance bills due to denied claims or uninsured patients.  The Board will review the draft.
  • Tri-Town Affordable Housing Meeting:  The final meeting of the regional affordable housing project is scheduled to be held here on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall conference room.
  • BBRSD Central Office Lease:  The BBRSD office lease is due to expire as of June 30, 2011.  School Superintendent McDermott informed the Town Administrator that he will discuss the possibility of locating an alternate space for the district.
  • Electronic Message Board:  The Town will receive an electronic sign board, at no cost, from the Central MA Regional Planning Commission’s Homeland Security Department.  Don Parker will pick up the sign on Tuesday, November 16.
  • Retirees’ Health Insurance:  The premium is going up $20/month in January.

7:45 PM   HEARING:  Tax Classification

  • The Board of Assessors has recommended a single-rate tax of $15.66, up from $12.82 in 2010.  This is an increase of $2.84 per thousand.
  • The following examples of the impact of the new rate were given:
  • Example:  An Ethan Allen home with 2010 taxes of $7,340.73 will be $7,577.87, an increase of $239.14.  The assessed value of $572,600 will be lowered to $483,900, or 3.23%.
  • Example:  a Highland Street house in the Morningdale area, assessed at $218,700 in FY’10 with a tax of $2,803.73, will now be assessed at $190,000 and the 2011 tax will be $2,977.30, up $173.57 or a 6.2% increase.  Large houses will go down more than smaller, less expensive homes.
  • Example:  An Edgebrook Drive condo with a $199,700 FY’10 assessment was taxed $2,560.15 in 2010.  The 2011 assessment will be $161,100 and the FY’11 taxes will be $2,522.83, down $37.32 or 1.5%
  • Ken Sydow said the public will want to understand why the assessments are down but the taxes are up.  Assessor Carl Crevedi said the budget is up 4.6% and more money needs to be raised.  There is little new growth and existing homeowners will pay more.  The tax bill is driven by how much money the Town spends and its budget.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to set the tax rate at $15.66.

  • Carl said they are missing a Board member and no volunteers have come forward.  They would like to recommend that Margo Richardson be appointed to the Board of Assessors. Jim Stanton said this issue was raised at Town Meeting a few years ago regarding double payment.  He thinks it requires a vote by the Town Meeting to allow the Board to appoint a Board of Assessors employee to their Board as a member.  
  • Margo said a person working in the office as a clerk wanted to be a Board member, as well as a clerk, and it caused a conflict.  Jim said that until we check with counsel we cannot appoint Margo.  Carl maintained that it is done in many other towns.
  • Roger asked if it would involve a change in compensation.  Margo said $1,000 (the stipend) is not going to make or break her; there would be no regular compensation change.
  • Carl said James Holyoak moving was a big loss to the Board.  Jim said the Selectmen previously proposed to have the Board of Assessors appointed, primarily to alleviate such a problem.  Perhaps we should reconsider.
  • Ken asked how we can reappoint James Holyoak.
  • Carl said in the event no one is available to fill the office, then perhaps with input from members we can jointly appoint?  Maybe counsel will have options
  • Jim asked the Town Administrator to consult with counsel for options.
8:00  Class II Hearing Continuation from prior meeting:
  • The site plan has been reviewed and highlighted, indicating used car parking spaces, service area, etc.
  • Seventy-nine (79) of 300 spaces are to be used for Class II purposes.
  • They are currently using approximately 130.
  • There will be no changes to the actual area.
Motion was made by Roger Deal to approve the plan as submitted with 79 spaces, showing existing sign, used car showroom, lighting, service area, business designated to Building #2, as submitted on the plan dated 11/28/2000.  Motion seconded and voted all in favor.

At 8:10 PM motion was made to adjourn.  Motion seconded and voted all in favor.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant