Date: March 27, 2006
Date Minutes Approved: April 10, 2006
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES
Present: John Tuffy, Chair; Elizabeth Sullivan, Vice-Chair and Andre Martecchini, Clerk.
Absent: No members were absent.
Staff: Richard MacDonald, Town Manager; and Barbara Ripley, Executive Assistant.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
OPEN FORUM
No items were discussed.
SWEARING-IN OF TOWN OFFICIALS
The following elected officials were sworn-in by Ms. Nancy Oates, Duxbury Town Clerk. These officials were chosen at the Annual Town Election on March 25, 2006:
Mr. Andre Martecchini, Selectman
Mr. Allen Bornheimer, Moderator
Ms. Linda Collari, Assessor
Ms. Elane Siddall Mutkoski, Library Trustee
Mr. John Griffin, Housing Authority
Mr. Brendan Halligan, Planning Board
BOARD RE-ORGANIZATION
Mr. Tuffy nominated Ms. Sullivan as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
Ms. Sullivan nominated Mr. Martecchini as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
Ms. Sullivan nominated Mr. Tuffy as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
BLUEFISH RIVER FIREHOUSE DONATION
Ms. Nancy Bennett was present. Mr. Martecchini moved to accept a donation of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vose, of Powder Point Avenue in Duxbury. Second by Mr. Tuffy. It was noted that this is the second donation by Mr. and Mrs. Vose. Vote: 3:0:0.
DUXBURY ANIMAL SHELTER DONATION
Mr. Martecchini moved to accept a donation of five-hundred dollars ($500.00) from Dana S. Jolley, in honor of Ms. Annie Eldridge, to the Duxbury Animal Shelter. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
EXIT CONFERENCE FOR FY05 AUDIT: POWERS & SULLIVAN
Ms. Renee Davis of Powers & Sullivan was present. Ms. Beth Conway, Town Treasurer, and Mr. John Madden, Town Accountant, were also present. Ms. Davis explained that FY05 represented the second year that the Town chose to submit a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report CAFR. The FY04 report received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The FY05 report has been submitted for the same award.
Mr. Martecchini commented that the report is full of very useful financial information. He would like to have the content more readily accessible to citizens. Ms. Davis noted that the report appears, in its entirety, on the Town’s website (on the Accounting Department page). Mr. Tuffy said that townspeople may be more likely to read the information if selections from it were made part of a more accessible document, such as the Annual Report.
Ms. Davis noted that the only outstanding issue from the FY04 CAFR is the need to abate old personal property tax balances. These balances are so old that they are virtually uncollectible. For FY05, the only outstanding issue is the need to take a proactive approach to the planning and implementation of GASB Statement No. 45 (Reporting for Post-employment Benefits Other than Pensions). The most important consideration in the planning process is obtaining an actuarial valuation.
HARBORMASTER: PROMOTIONS OF HARBORMASTER STAFF
Mr. Beers announced that Mr. Jake Emerson has been promoted to Executive Officer, and Mr. Michael Pforr has been promoted to Operations Officer. Mr. Emerson and Mr. Pforr were present, and received the congratulations and appreciation of the Selectmen.
VENDOR APPLICATION FOR DUXBURY BEACH: J. JOHNSON
Mr. Jay Johnson, owner of Little Jimmie’s Italian Ice, was present. He said that he is a twenty-five year resident of Duxbury who would like to serve the Town by providing genuine Italian Ice at the beach.
Ms. Sullivan said that she had spoken with the President of the Duxbury Beach Reservation, the actual owners of the beach, who said that they do not want to expand the vendor base. J’s Ice Cream has had a vendor license at the beach for many years. There have been no problems, or any reason to deny the renewal of J’s license.
Mr. Johnson asked whether a rotating schedule would be possible, to allow another vendor to have the opportunity to work at the beach. Ms. Sullivan noted that Mr. Johnson’s product is limited to Italian Ice, while J’s has a variety of desserts available. She questioned whether the public would be well-served by having less variety available.
Mr. Martecchini asked whether the applicant has spoken with any of the Trustees of the Duxbury Beach reservation. Ms. Ripley noted that the President of the Duxbury Beach Reservation had indicated that he would attend tonight’s meeting, but he did not appear. Mr. Martecchini encouraged Mr. Johnson to get in touch with the Trustees, and to come before the Selectmen at a future date.
EVENT PERMIT REQUEST: BEST BUDDIES CHALLENGE
Mr. Paul Curley, Route Manager for the Best Buddies Challenge was present. Mr. Curley said that the Best Buddies Charity Bicycle Race has come through Duxbury for five of the last seven years. The total ride is 90 miles long, starting at the JFK Library, and finishing at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port.
Ms. Sullivan noted that the Duxbury Police Chief has volunteered to donate two officers to help with this event. Favorable letters were received from the Fire Department, Board of Health, and School Department. It was noted that Mr. Curley has already received permission from the School Department to use the Duxbury Middle School as a rest stop. The Inspectional Services Department requests that if there are any tents or temporary structures that they be notified and allowed to inspect them.
Mr. Tuffy moved that the Board grant permission to Best Buddies International to travel through Duxbury on Saturday, May 20, 2006 and to use the Duxbury Middle School as a rest stop. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
REVIEW PURCHASE & SALE AGREEMENT FROM DUXBURY GRANGE
Mr. Martecchini explained that the Local Housing Partnership has been working with the Duxbury Grange to acquire their property for potential use as a site for affordable housing units. The purchase and sale agreement is not quite ready at this point, however.
TOWN MANAGER BRIEF
Mr. MacDonald noted that:
· The State intends to begin rehabilitation of Route 3A in April. The project is expected to continue through May 2007. He is working with the State to minimize interference with school buses and with the fish ladder construction.
· The Town Manager, Town Treasurer, and Town Accountant will be attending GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board) training next month.
· The budget process for FY08 has begun.
MINUTES
Mr. Martecchini moved to accept the Executive Session minutes of 2/27/06 as written, to remain sealed until the business contained therein is resolved. Second by Mr. Tuffy.
Vote: 3:0:0.
BONUS SHELLFISH SEASON
Duxbury Harbormaster Donald Beers has requested a bonus shellfish season for the month of April, due to abundant shellfish resources in the Town of Duxbury. Mr. Tuffy made a motion to declare temporary Bonus Shellfish Seasons for the commercial harvesting of softshell clams and for the commercial harvesting of quahog clams for the month of April 2006; subject to the regulations outlined in the Duxbury Harbormaster memorandum dated March 23, 2006. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
IN MEMORIUM
Mr. Martecchini noted the passing of Mr. Paul Binsfield, a member of the Shellfish Advisory Committee and of the Fiscal Advisory Committee. He gave many hours of service to the Town and will be deeply missed by many Duxbury citizens.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Martecchini moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 PM. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
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