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Date of Meeting: Monday, February 6, 2012
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:34 PM – 8:03 PM
Members Present: Chairman Kenneth Sydow, Members Roger Deal and James Wood
Others Present: Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen; others as listed on the attached sheet
Financial Warrants were signed in approval.
The meeting commenced at 6:34 PM.
Temporary Sign Request:
Request has been made for a temporary sign to advertise a BBRAVO production three weeks prior to a March 30 performance.
Motion made by Roger Deal, seconded by Jim Wood and voted all in favor to approve the request.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
F’13 Budget:
- The assessors submitted their budget with a two percent increase overall. Also, the DPW and Library have increases. The TA seeks the Board’s direction as to how to plug these figures into the budget draft.
- The TA said the Finance Committee is conducting hearings this evening.
- Ken Sydow said we will wait for the Finance Committee’s recommendation.
- The DCR PILOT payment will provide an additional $47K in revenue this year.
Health Insurance Reform Proposal:
- The last teacher’s union negotiation was canceled; Superintendent Dubrule will check on the status.
- Jim Wood said the Police Department and the Dispatcher negotiations went well. Both would rather increase their contribution than go with GIC’s deductible plans. He hopes the teacher’s union agrees; all need to agree to move forward. The alternative is the MIIA or GIC deductible plan
Memorial on Central Street:
- Roger expressed his reservations about the process intended for the removal of the Central Street memorial, specifically with regard to the police acting as the Board’s agent to notify the family. He feels the Police Department should not be involved as it might be too intimidating, and it is a sensitive issue. Jim agrees with Roger and feels a letter should come from the Town Administrator as it would be a softer approach.
- Ken said he doesn’t think the intent was to “knock on a door.” The Selectmen set policy and they probably should be notifying via letter. Perhaps we should have a motion to hold the policy until we hear back from the Police Chief and Town Counsel.
Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor, to hold up on the prior order of notification (re: Central Street memorial) until additional information and clarification is received from Town Counsel.
- Roger said we just need to ask Town Counsel if the Board or the Town Administrator can send notification.Ken said he believes we can, but Counsel will advise.
- Roger said he is suggesting we keep the police out of the notification. We just need to ask Counsel if we may use any other agent. Jim agrees the police should be left out of it. He feels a letter or telephone call should be made by a member of this Board.
- Ken said the Chief’s previous opinion is that this memorial is not a safety hazard. As the policy is written, the Board has the authority to send or designate a representative, and he agrees the police should not be notifying families. It’s a tremendously sensitive situation. This motion would just be to hold off on the notice and memorial policy previously voted. Also, he would recommend deferring the timing until after graduation this spring, since the deceased would have been in the 2012 graduating class in Shrewsbury. The next question is, is it truly a safety issue?
- Roger agrees with the time delay, but leave the police out of notification. The entire Board agrees.
Cell Tower Lease:
The U. S. Wireless lease is ready for the Mile Hill Road site. The Town Administrator asked the Board to approve the lease and for the Chairman to execute the lease on behalf of the Board.
Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor to approve the lease.
Jim Wood asked how tall the tower is. The TA said she did not know; they first have to go through the permitting process.
MWRA – Wachusett Reservoir Tree Clearing:
- Ken Sydow and Nancy Colbert Puff attended a meeting regarding the MWRA’s plan to remove approximately 1,600 trees from the South Dike area to comply with regulations that prohibit trees on earthen dikes. Removal is scheduled to being in March, with a June completion.
- We asked that notification be placed in The Banner before clearing starts.
7:20 PM Monthly Report of the Building Inspector:
- Regarding the Tahanto building project, the Plumbing/Gas Inspector has not accounted for so many inspections; there have been about 22 more than planned with an additional ten due before year-end.
- The Electrical Inspector is traveling more miles than covered by his mileage reimbursement. This is currently coming out of the Building Dept. expenses.
- Total additional funds requested for Plumbing and Gas is $2,325. Tony is not sure of the exact figure needed for mileage; he will check with the Electrical Inspector.
- Roger said these are the types of things he anticipated last year going into this. We bid these jobs out and the figure we get should be accurate to begin with. He asked Tony to please get a total from the Electrical Inspector so we know what we’re talking about. Nancy Puff noted that the permit fees are more than enough to cover the expense.
- Ken said to come up with the total detail and we will make a request from the reserve fund to the Finance Committee.
7:30 Hearing on Transfer of Mount Pleasant Country Club A.B.C.C. License: (In attendance: Attorney Marshall Gould and new owners Regan Remillard and Brian Lynch.)
- Mr. Remillard (President, MPCC) requested transfer of the license from previous Mount Pleasant owner (it was purchased from members on January 1, 2012). Mr. Remillard grew up in Worcester County and is now living in Boston. He became interested in the club when it came up for sale. Brian Lynch is the General Manager.
- Jim Wood asked if there are any major changes planned. Regan said not this year but there would be down the road. There will be renovations to the clubhouse and to the golf course/grounds.
- Ken asked Attorney Gould if all signs were in place as they should be (crossing street; parking lot, etc.) Stephen Scheufele (in audience) of Central Street inquired about any changes in hours/consumption/parties, etc.; he said the club has been a good neighbor to date. Regan said nothing was changing. Mr. Scheufele said he has been happy to date and wants to be sure the new owners will also be good neighbors.
- Brian said he could call the town officials in Bolton for a reference, as he was the General Manager at The International for 27 years and it was a great neighbor. He also welcomed him to contact the Bolton Police Department, their Town Administrator, neighbors, etc. He feels he would get positive feedback from the community.
Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor to approve the petition to transfer the liquor license.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant Schedule:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Jim Wood and voted all in favor to open the Warrant; close according to draft memorandum.
Council on Aging: (In attendance: Brittany Blaney-Anderson, 15 Intervale Rd., WBAC Manager; Janet Sargood, 15 Heritage Lane, photographer; Randy Wheeler, 13 Intervale Rd, President, WBAC; Dennis Goguen, Chairman, Council on Aging.)
- Randy said WBAC likes to tape programs to air them on their channel for people who cannot make it to meetings. It was brought to his attention that they have not been able to film meetings of the Council on Aging.
- Brittany said that early last year, she attempted to begin filming meetings. The first time they attended, the meeting was canceled because Jane Meegan, Council on Aging Coordinator, refused to be filmed. Brittany explained to her the open meeting laws. When full meetings began again, postings were for 5:30 meetings but a couple of meetings started at 7:00 PM and two started at 5:00 PM. One meeting in December was held in Executive Session for the purpose of not being filmed.
- Dennis said it would have been nice to get notice before they showed up for taping the first time. The objection was because people felt uncomfortable.
- Roger said it gives the appearance of impropriety. Is there any reason for non-posted time changes?
- Dennis said changes were made to accommodate members attending the meeting. If it’s a problem, he will make sure they are posted correctly and will likely go back to a 7:00 PM posting.
- Roger said the meeting should be held when the time is posted; the time cannot be changed without appropriate notification (per open meeting laws).
- Janet said she knows Jane was calling committee members and telling them what time to show up so she could avoid being filmed.
- Roger told Dennis there should be no objection to filming and posting accordingly, going forward, within legal open meeting laws as we all have to do. Dennis agreed and said there was no problem as of last Wednesday.
- Randy said WBAC is just trying to make meetings available to the public, especially seniors who cannot attend.
Cable Advisory Committee:
Tom LaRoche appeared before the Board requesting reappointment to the Cable Advisory Committee.
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Jim Wood and voted all in favor, to reappoint Mr. LaRoche to the Cable Advisory Committee.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes:
Motion was made by Roger Deal, seconded by Jim Wood and voted all in favor, to approve the meeting minutes of September 16, 2011, with one edit.
Ken Sydow thanked Nancy Colbert Puff for her time and service to the Town. Jim told her she did a good job; Roger agreed and wished her well.
At 8:03 PM Jim Wood made a motion, seconded by Roger Deal and voted all in favor, to adjourn.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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