Date of Meeting: Monday, April 29, 2013
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:40 PM
Members Present: Chairman Kenneth Sydow, James Wood, Matthew Mecum; Martin McNamara, Town Administrator, Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant (Others as listed on attached sheet.)
Financial Warrants were signed in approval.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 6:30 PM.
FY2014 Appointments:
Board of Appeals: Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to appoint Janet Lombardi to the Board of Appeals for a term of five years.
Business Marketing Committee: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Herbert Cronin to the Business Marketing Committee for a term of one year.
Council on Aging: Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to appoint John Faucher, Karen Tremblay and David Wheeler to the Council on Aging for a term of one year.
Cultural Council: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Sue Filsinger and Carolyn Crane to the Cultural Council for a term of one year.
Historic Commission: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Paul Kalinowski to the Historic Commission for a period of three years.
Historic District Commission: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Gerald Jones to the Historic District Commission for a period of three years.
Homeland Security: Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to appoint Joseph Flanagan to Homeland Security for a term of one year.
Insurance Advisory Committee: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Joseph Flanagan and Jennifer Carrico to the Insurance Advisory Committee for a period of one year.
Memorial Day Committee: Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to appoint Brittany Blaney-Anderson to the Memorial Day Committee for a term of one year.
Senior Tax Rebate Committee: Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to appoint Jane Meegan to the Senior Tax Rebate Committee for a term of one year.
Veterans’ Agent: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Vincent Perrone Veterans’ Agent for a period of one year.
Tax Title Custodian: Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to appoint Martin McNamara Tax Title Custodian for a period of one year.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
- Assistant Treasurer/Collector: The Town Administrator and the Treasurer have interviewed candidates for the position. The TA and the Treasurer recommend Denise LaValle be hired as Assistant Treasurer/Collector. Ken Sydow asked if our offer fits within our price range. The TA said nothing has been offered yet but we should be okay as she is aware of the salary range.
Matt Mecum made a motion, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor, to support the TA’s recommendation, subject to a salary offer, physical and pre-employment requirements.
- Hornet and Wasp Control at Town Hall: Wasps and hornets have made hives inside the siding and under the roof at Town Hall, producing an extremely large and active population. Ken Goodwin and our exterminator are working on a plan to eliminate them.
- Town Administrator’s Vacation and Sick Time: Attached to the TA’s report is his schedule of six vacation days and 12 sick days remaining. He will use one vacation day this week and carry five vacation and 12 sick days over. He plans to take one week’s vacation July 29-August 2 and one week August 26-30.
- E-Permitting Project: The final RFP for this project has been completed. Advertisements ran on April 22 and proposals are due on May 9. Once the proposals are in and distributed to each of the nine towns, three will be selected as finalists and each will be required to attend an interview and demonstrate their product in early June. We will be watchful of ongoing support/cost beyond year one and once the contractor is selected, we are committed to participate.
- American Fidelity Assurance Company: We are moving forward with the conversion of certain insurance benefits effective July 1. This includes offering a Flexible Spending Account for the first time. Employees will be able to put money aside on a pre-tax basis to cover their out-of-pocket medical expenses. Fidelity representatives will be conducting benefits reviews May 22 – 24.
- FY2014 Health Insurance Rates: The health care rate increased by 1.9% while the dental rate remained the same. Notification will be sent out to all active employees with the paychecks on Wednesday, May 15. New rates for retirees will not be available until later in the year and will be effective in January. The TA has received inquiries concerning how the changes at Fallon and Reliant will affect those who are on the Fallon plan. This is considered a “Qualifying Event,” so any retirees who chose to stay with a particular doctor no longer covered under the Fallon plan, they can change to the Blue Cross Medex Plan which costs $158.36/month, somewhat higher than the Fallon plan’s $133.50/month.
Tri-Town Aggregation Project (Northborough, Berlin and Boylston): (Joe McGrath of the Conservation Commission appeared before the Board.)
A large conservation grant is being offered called the Landscape Partnership Grant Program. If Boylston is willing to work with other towns and come up with 500 acres of restricted conservation land (Town-owned parcels do not count toward the 500 acres), up to $1.4M is available for this Tri-town grant. The caveat is that lots have to be adjacent to existing wildlife preservation areas. The application will be submitted this summer.
Jim Wood asked how many acres Boylston need to come up with. Joe said about 400 acres are outlined, but 500 total acres among three towns. Ken asked where the grant money goes if received. Joe said we would form a joint partnership with Sudbury Valley Trustees (it is a State requirement for non-profits to participate in the grant. The money would go to the Town’s general fund and would not be specifically used for the Conservation Commission.
Matt asked if there are any tax benefits to the landowners. Joe said there are several ways to do it; some allow tax savings. The purpose is to put land in perpetual trust, not gain a small tax benefit. Matt asked if DCR-owned property counts toward the 500 acres. Joe thought it probably did not as the land is already in a protected state. Also, no DCR land is contiguous to wildlife protection.
Jim asked how many acres have been targeted in Boylston. Joe said 400 to 500 acres but we won’t get all of that turned over. We will get what we can.
7:00 PM Annual Town Meeting Warrant Review:
- At 7:00 PM, the Selectmen will transfer current funds immediately prior to the Town Meeting.
- 7:15 PM, commence Town Meeting.
- Articles 1 – 14 will all be taken as one; routine annual articles.
- Articles 15 and 16: Personnel Board.
- Article 17and 18: Jim Wood.
- Article 19: Matt Mecum
- Articles 20, 21, 22: Steve Mero
- Article 23:
- Article 24: Joe Flanagan
- Article 25: Bill Manter
- Article 26: Marty will explain; Matt will make a motion.
- Article 27: Bill Manter
- Articles 28 and 29: Citizens’ Petition. The Town Moderator will ask who wants to move the Articles. Ken asked Marty to speak to the impact on the Town. Marty said the cost could be $50K/year for a full-time officer, kennels, etc. Also, regarding fines, if not part of the by-laws, they will be unenforceable. Steve Madaus said we have a catch-all provision in our by-law so fines could be collected through a non-criminal disposition process.
Marty and Steve could answer questions, depending upon the discussion at Town Meeting. Enforcement officers were named. If adopted as is, it might be unenforceable.
- Articles 30and 31: Brad Wyatt
- Article 32: Ken Sydow
- Articles 33and 34: Eric Brose
- Article 35: Jim Wood
7:55 PM Intermunicipal Agreements (“IMA”): (Larry Brenner of the Boylston School Committee present.)
- Due to declining enrollment and budget constraints, the School Department is looking at any opportunities to more flexibly and efficiently utilize staff across our schools. Utilizing an IMA is one way to do this.
- It would allow teachers to become employees of one town and then charge back their costs to the other town. This would simplify administration.
- This does not change the total cost to the town or school budgets, teachers’ hours, pay rates or benefits.
- Mr. Brenner outlined some examples of how it could work.
- The School Department attorney would draft the IMA.
Report of the Town Administrator, cont’d:
- Leaf Dump: Steve Mero and the TA have been looking around Town for an alternate location to the Sewall Street location as a leaf and yard waste drop off. A main issue is the ability to block off access to the area so that people are not able to drop off whatever they wish whenever they wish. There is a possibility of using some area near the parking lot at Y.O.U., Inc. Hopefully, a decision can be made
soon. Jim asked for a time frame. Marty said it could be a week or possibly longer. It depends on DEP availability to visit sites. Ken asked if the TA had any estimates on the cost to operate the dump. The TA said if it operates during the week, there would be no additional cost. If on the weekends, the cost would be to pay employee minimal hours, e.g., four hours on Saturday: $120/day during only a few weeks of the year. He estimates a cost of $2,400/year.
- GASB45 – KMS Actuarial Contract: The TA presented the Board with a contract with KMS Actuarial. The Board signed the contract and valuation can proceed.
- Central Mass Mosquito Control Project has announced a goal of collecting $10,000 tires as part of their source reduction program. They have a curbside pickup program where residents can call their office (508-393-3055) to schedule a pickup. Tires are collected at no charge to residents or member communities and are brought to a recycling facility.
- Building Repairs at Hillside: The exteriors of both buildings require attention, without which we will be faced with major problems. The TA requested the Board appoint a committee which would include some building and/or construction experts from Town to look at the buildings and give the Board a recommendation on what should be done.
- Library Renovation Project: The Library has moved to Town Hall during renovations. Work on the Library should commence this week.
- Highway Department: The TA commended the employees of the Highway Dept. for their work on the grounds at Hillside.
Hillside Farmers’ Market: The Hillside Restoration Project would like to operate a Farmers’ Market again this year. The market will operate on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM August 3 through October 5. They will also promote the following special events:
August 31: Community Yard Sale
September 7: Local Harvest Barbecue
September 14: Children’s Day
September 28: Shop Local
October 5: Apple Fest
Motion was made by Matt Mecum, seconded by Jim Wood, and voted all in favor to allow the Hillside Restoration Project to hold a Farmers’ Market.
Motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to allow a Community Yard Sale to be held on August 31, 2013 at Hillside.
Google Drive: To upload/store apps. Steve Madaus reminded that as long as no deliberation through the site, it is okay.
At 8:40 motion was made by Jim Wood, seconded by Matt Mecum, and voted all in favor to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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