Date of Meeting: Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:20 PM
Members Present: James Stanton, Chairman; Members Roger Deal and Kenneth Sydow
Others Present: Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen; others as noted on attached sign-in sheet
Report of the Chief of Police to the Board of Selectmen:
Police Chief Sahagian:
- June 30: Clinton District Court for ticket hearings
- July 4: No incidents
- July 11: Officer Bazydlo cleared for full duty
- July 16: Hillside for Habitat for Humanity event – all went well
- July 29: Clinton District Court for ticket hearings
- August 6: Possible strike by Verizon employees; might be of long duration.
- Supported two funeral crossings last month
- Route 140 water line project apparently complete; Mobil station has been demolished.
- FY2012 Annual lease payment made in July
- State breathalyzer machine went for certification test in July; a major part of the machine needs to be replaced at a cost of $450 out of the Chief’s budget. He has opted not to repair the machine, since new machines will be out of April 1, 2012. Meanwhile, if any come up, he will run any breathalyzer tests out of West Boylston or Shrewsbury. The total they run annually is approximately six.
- He applied for a grant for a portable unit for use at the High School for underage parties.
- Several area towns have had street signs stolen in the past few weeks. About five were stolen in the Morningdale area.
- GPS systems were stolen from two unlocked cars. Two vehicles at Mt. Pleasant Country Club and one at Cyprian Keyes were entered and laptops were stolen; both vehicles were unlocked.
- There was a house break-in on School Street and another attempted break-in on Linden Street.
- August 1: Motor vehicle fatality on Route 70 in front of Wagner’s. Have been working with the Worcester County District Attorney’s office for evidence and any applicable charges. The other driver’s license was immediately suspended.
- Ken Sydow thanked the Chief for his attendance at the Applicant Advisory Committee meetings, specifically this morning with the Phoenix Communications.
Report of the Highway Superintendent to the Board of Selectmen:
Don Parker met with Kara Buzanoksi (Northborough DPW Director) regarding the Green Street repair. He estimates the drainage repair will be at the end of August. Don noted the need to put in a structure that ties into that, pending their drainage install.
- Jim asked Don if it would be repaved by winter. Don said it depends on when Northborough is finished; he does not want to do it before they have completed the work. They are putting in four structures on their side around the curve. This should relieve water problems by winter. Ken asked if the other end of Green Street could be done if the Northborough end is not ready. Don said School Street also needs to be done; it has heavier traffic than Green Street. There should be enough money to do both projects. He has not submitted any paperwork yet. The order is up to the Board of Selectmen.
- Nancy Puff said STRAP (Small Town Rural Assist Program) grant money is available; she will submit an application for Green Street and should have a decision by November, to plan for a spring project.
- The department is working on Ethan Allen Drive to level it off.
- They had the opportunity to do road sweeping this morning but the sweeper is broken down again. Don will make calls. The bucket won’t go down. Don is guessing it could just be a linkage problem.
- The water line on Route 140 is complete but they nee mill off where the trench is, and then add a finish coat.
- The stop sign and post at the crossover from School Street to Route 140 has been stolen twice.
- He has an employee on Workers’ Comp; is waiting until the end of October to fill the position. It is currently being filled with part-time summer help. Jim asked if the foreman’s position is still funded. Don said it is but he has only $3K budgeted. Jim said to speak with Nancy Puff and possibly talk to Kim Rozak about options to hire, if necessary, while the employee is on Workers’ Comp.
- Regarding the Cemetery Commission, a member recently passed away; Don will speak to other Commission members regarding a possible new appointment for the balance of the term.
Report of the Building Inspector to the Board of Selectmen:
- Two house permits were issued last month: Nichols and Sewall Street.
- Tony went to meet with the Tahanto project managers at the school with Roy. They walked the site; it looks to be on time or ahead of schedule. The site contains very high quality soil which is likely helping the construction; nothing additional needs to be brought in.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes: The minutes for March 14, 21, 24, April 1, 4, 15 and 25 were presented to the Board for approval.
Ken Sydow made a motion, seconded by Roger Deal, to approve the minutes as presented. Voted all in favor.
Straw Hollow Engine Show: The Fire Dept. applied for a two-day entertainment license for August 13 and 14.
Motion made, seconded and voted all in favor to grant the license.
One-Day Alcohol License – Town House – Wedding September 24, 2011: Application of Diana Bourbeau and Ken Gallant for a one-day alcohol license was presented to the Board.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to grant the license.
One-Day Alcohol License – Town House – Wedding August 6, 2011: Selectmen signed the license, which was previously approved pending insurance certificate
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
Police Department/School Administration window replacements: The Town Administrator recommended six additional windows be replaced, bring total to 24 at a cost between $15,000 and $20,000. This will completely replace the windows on the east side.
Motion was made by Roger Deal and seconded by Ken Sydow to approve replacement of 24 windows; voted all in favor.
Driveway Paving: The rear driveway is to be done by August 4; the main driveway to be done by Tuesday, August 9.
Parking Lot Paving: Seven bids were received for this job, the lowest being $75,625.70, submitted by MA Broken Stone of Berlin. The Town Administrator recommends the Board award the contract to MA Broken Stone and authorize the Chairman to execute the contract. The paving is for everything except the upper lot where the MCJTC vehicles park.
Ken Sydow made a motion that the contract be awarded to MA Broken Stone and to authorize the Chairman to execute the contract; motion seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor.
Gough House Bid: project will go to bid next week, with a bidders’ conference scheduled for August 18 and bids due September 7 at Noon. The scope of the work is primarily limited to structural framing reinforcement, which will enable the creation of a large meeting room in the rear. Bidders are required to have DCAM certification as General Contractors in the Historic Building category.
Chapter 32B §21: With regard to increasing healthcare costs, the Governor and the Legislature are allowing two new options that allow municipalities to (a) “follow” a GIC equivalent plan; or (b) join the GIC without going through a traditional collective bargaining process. Draft regulations to guide this process will be released very shortly; likewise, MIIA is working to develop a “GIC equivalent” plan for us to consider.
Phoenix Communications: The Applicant Advisory Committee met this morning to consider the plan of Phoenix Communications to locate their headquarters at this location. This is an expedited permitting site, so all permit applications are required to issue a decision with 120 days of receipt of a completed application.
Former Mobil station, Route 140: The station has been razed and the water main extension is complete. Construction on a new station should begin shortly.
Shrewsbury Zoning on Route 140: The Town Administrator recently spoke with Shrewsbury Town Planner Kristen Wilson, who advises that Shrewsbury continues to work on a rezoning proposal for the Boylston/Shrewsbury shared border off Route 140. Shrewsbury’s Targeted Zoning Committee intends to mimic our Flexible Development Zone in order to maximize our potential to attract development at our shared border.
Fiscal Year 2011 Year-End Transfers: The year-end transfers, prepared by Town Accountant, Nancy Nykiel, are attached for the Board’s approval.
The transfers were approved and signed by the Board of Selectmen pending Finance Committee signatures.
F-2012 Committee Appointments:
Motion was made by Ken Sydow, seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor to make the following appointments:
Carolyn Crane, Cultural Council
Reappointment of Dennis Costello, Joe Flanagan, Mary Jasper, Tony Sahagian and Don Parker to the Homeland Security Committee;
Reappointment of Robert Thomas, Pamela Rudge, Joe Flanagan, Steve Mero, Lori Esposito, Mike Lucia, Jennifer Lamontagne, the Town Administrator and the Town Treasurer to the Insurance Advisory Committee
Mary Jasper, Jane Meegan, Dennis Goguen, the Town Administrator and the Town Treasurer to the Senior Tax Rebate Committee
Don Parker, Highway Superintendent to the Stormwater Committee
Joe Flanagan appointed as Civil Defense Director and Right-to-Know Coordinator
Town House Committee:
A question was raised regarding a review of usage and the possibility of a fee increase. The Town Administrator said it was reviewed and it was decided that fees would not be increased. Ken Sydow said if there were an agreement, he was not aware. He feels that a fee increase would offset electric use and heating. The Lions Club donates yearly for improvements. The decision was to leave it as is for a year and then re-evaluate the costs next year.
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to reappoint Janice Resseguie and Don Parker to the Town House Committee.
Memorial Day Committee:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to reappoint Joseph Larkin to the Memorial Day Committee.
Personnel Board:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to appoint John Stowe, Whitney Libby and Greg White to the Personnel Board.
CMRPC and Transportation Committee:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to appoint Howard Drobner to the CMRPC and Transportation Committee.
Board of Registrars:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to reappoint Mary Morrill to the Board of Registrars.
Boylston Marketing and Development Committee_and Hillside Study Committee
The Business Marketing Committee’s name has now been changed to the Boylston Marketing and Development Committee. One person from this committee shall also serve on the Hillside Study Committee. The Hillside Study Committee will present an update and make recommendations by February 2012 for the Board to act on definitive parcels. Their recommendations and findings can then be turned over to the Marketing and Development Committee after identifying potential areas for commercial development.
The overlapping member will allow extra communication between committees. Also, Planning Board and Conservation Commission members will be on the Hillside Study Committee. With a combined committee one looks at engineering/topography, others would be members with a marketing/business background. It saves each committee member from having to sit through the other meeting, wasting their time. It is also recommended that at least one Board of Selectmen member be on the Committees.
- The Boylston Marketing Committee has done a great job and feels they should continue. Ken Sydow said, regarding the Hillside Committee, he would also like to see the Zoning Board represented as well, if possible. The Business Marketing Committee from years ago accomplished a lot. He feels the Town Administrator should be the primary member, not just someone to “maintain a working relationship.” She would be an ideal fit based on her planning expertise and also is the common thread for Board of Selectmen communication.
- Ken Sydow said all meetings of Committees should be held in the Municipal Office Building. Past studies being put together by the intern will help immensely in the progress of the Hillside Study Committee.
- Roger said his interest is solely in getting results and relieving the tax impact on the residents. He has no objection to two committees and agrees with Jim’s suggestions. Jim said he thought the Board needs to reaffirm that this Board is very supportive of business coming to the community and supporting the tax based revenue.
- Roger said a number of people are waiting for us to get something done; they need to see activity. He agrees that Nancy Puff must be involved in both committees, but the ultimate responsibility belongs with the Board of Selectmen and a Selectman should be on each committee.
- Jim said that even laying the groundwork to make it easier for businesses to locate is still helpful so that when projects are coming through, we look like an attractive option. We have to be clear about all we have accomplished so things are not re-done (e.g., the 140 traffic study).
- Ken said one thing this Board supported/implemented was the Applicant Advisory Committee that Nancy Puff is key to participating in and the Building Inspector has received great feedback. Many other towns do not have that.
Roger Deal made a motion to approve the committees as proposed, with a Selectman to participate on each, and one overlapping member. Five people will sit on each committee (that is a target number), excluding the Board of Selectmen member and the Town Administrator. Ken Sydow seconded the motion and it was voted all in favor.
Ken Sydow said the Board needs to define time commitments involved so volunteers would know. He would also like to create a time line of everything done over the past five-six years.
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Ken Sydow and voted all in favor to appoint Herb Cronin and Ronald Wagner to the Boylston Marketing and Development Committee.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:20 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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