Date of Meeting: Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:20 PM
Members Present: Chairman Kenneth Sydow, Members Roger Deal and James Wood
Others Present: Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen; others as noted on attached sign-in sheet
6:33 PM: Ken Sydow called the meeting to order.
Special Town Meeting: The schedule was discussed:
- The School Dept. needs a meeting to transfer vocational transportation money to the current-year expense line.
- A date of December 12, 2011 was set for the meeting.
- The Warrant will open November 1 and close November 14.
- Discussion was held regarding roads to be repaired; might also need funding.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to set the Special Town Meeting date as December 12, 2011 at Tahanto.
Free Cash: Free cash was certified at $639,099. Nancy Puff presented an expenditure balances report with detail.
Veterans’ Day: Because Veterans’ Day falls on a Friday this year, full-time employees would have the day off. Part-time employees would have the day before off, but Town Hall would have to be closed on November 10. Another option would be a floater day, to be used at each employee’s discretion, thereby keeping Town Hall open. The Board of Selectmen agreed to a floater day.
Retiree Health Plan Renewal: The premium is down $30/month.
MIIA Credits: $32,337 for various reimbursement/participation credit.
ALB and Wood Debris: Residents are not supposed to remove host material from their property. After the ice storm the Town chipped the wood. Now, residents can hire a contractor to remove the wood or they can burn it on their property.
Phoenix Communications: On October 28, 2011 they pulled a permit for the Turflinks site. They later determined the site is not economically feasible at this time.
Halloween Rescheduled: Due to town wide power outage on Halloween week. On Saturday, November 5, the Boylston Elementary School is conducting a fund-raiser and daylight savings time begins Saturday. Friday night would allow additional daylight.
Motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to change Halloween trick or treating hours to Friday, November 4, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Joint Appointment – Cemetery Commission: No Cemetery Commissioner or candidate appeared. It is now rescheduled to the next Board meeting.
Don Parker, Highway Superintendent’s Update on Storm Cleanup:
- There were numerous equipment breakdowns following the weekend storm:
One radiator
Two hydraulic hoses
Nearly all trucks lost antennae
A branch smashed the driver’s window of one truck
Both out-sourced plow trucks broke down.
All equipment is now being repaired.
- Mill Road Circle: a telephone pole was accidentally knocked down during tree clearing by the front-loader.
- The used bucket truck that was purchased for $5,000 over the summer has been invaluable in assisting the men to help the Light Department clear lines and trees.
- Ken Sydow asked Nancy Puff to discuss what she, the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Highway Superintendent and Light Department did to help the Town reach restoration of power ahead of schedule. Nancy said people do not realize how much damage was done (more than the ice storm). She understands the Light Department was immediately contacting outside sources for assistance. This was an extraordinary storm that downed healthy, young trees from private property, many of which downed wires, etc. Two additional towns’ highway and fire departments were assisting the Light Department, while the police dispatch fielded all overage calls from the Light Department to assist residents.
- Don Parker said 99% of the Town is back in service as of this time. He thinks all Town departments did a great job.
Highway Dept. Additional Help: Don Parker requested a decision on the possibility of hiring an additional worker. Ken Sydow asked what improvements/maintenance it would allow. Don said the catch basin cleanings would be timely; the worker would help during grass mowing season, etc. Also, recent developments approved add more maintenance for the Highway Department. Ken asked if Don could make do with a temporary hire until this could be put in the budget for next year. Don said he could cover a part-time temporary worker at the lowest rate out of his budget. He has someone in mind who previously was seasonal help.
A motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to hire a temporary worker, as stated.
Nancy Puff re Board of Health Meeting on Monday Night : Regionalization.
- Dennis Costello will not be recommending that Boylston participate.
- Roger asked if we need to seriously consider regionalization in all areas. Does the Board of Selectmen have a say? Nancy Puff said only if the Board of Health votes and approves, then the Board of Selectmen would need to vote. Ken said some towns signed up to a blind agreement and now don’t know what the figures are and what services are provided. The frustration is that there is not enough information to make an intelligent decision. Roger asked who has the final say. Ms. Puff said it involves both boards, but she will look into it.
- Ken thinks the issue is the inter-municipal agreement and the outstanding questions to be answered.
- Mike Kane, reporter for The Banner, said the Board of Health is now offering towns a chance to come in to help set policies. That is why West Boylston agreed last week to participate.
Roger asked what the current budget is. Nancy Puff said the Board of Health is responsible for a wide variety of regulations. Currently, we focus on environmental regulation, but not the added, enhanced public services that we can’t expend resources on. Worcester would offer this increase in services, but has yet to define the scope. There is supposed to be an increase in services, but at the same or increased cost.
Jim Wood said we would also lose control we currently have as a small town.
Hillside Study—Intern’s Report:
Jim Wood asked for a copy of the completed report that was already distributed to Ken Sydow. Ken said he had received a draft and was going to review it first; then Nancy Puff was to review it individually with Jim and Roger before the intern is present. We can then make individual adjustments. Jim asked what adjustments. Ken said to review the draft for typos, etc.
Jim asked why he didn’t have a chance to review the report at the same time Ken did. Ken said it was voted that way when the report was to be done. Before it becomes a public document, each Board member can review it and then discuss it in meeting.
Jim said that if he had had the report he would have been able to do that. Nancy Puff said she will provide a copy to Jim.
Roger asked if each person needs to sit individually with Nancy Puff; wouldn’t it save time to discuss it at an open meeting? Nancy Puff said it is a Power Point presentation, which is meant to be presented in that format and reviewed with additional information.
Roger said he doesn’t care about typos; he wants to get a feel for the report. All three members have equal responsibility to review the report and share information. Ken said this was based on a change set up by the Board of Selectmen with the previous Chair. It was meant for the Chair to review the report and then bring information back to the Board. Roger said his issue is accessibility. All board members should receive distributed information equally.
Ken Sydow brought up Nancy Puff’s expertise and that Jim and Roger would be getting the full benefit of the presentation. They should rely on her knowledge to understand the presentation better. Roger said Nancy Puff’s viewpoint should restate the original objective of the report and if the expectations were met, in her opinion.
Ken briefed Jim about the reason for the report and the intern’s work.
Upon motion by Roger Deal, seconded by Jim Wood and voted all in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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