Date: January 16, 2007
Date Minutes Approved: January 22, 2007
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES
Present: Elizabeth Sullivan, Chair; Andre Martecchini, Vice-Chair, and John Tuffy, 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
Ms. Mary Lampert announced that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold two public meetings on January 24, 2007 (1:30 pm and 7:00 pm) regarding the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant Supplemental Impact Statement.
TOWN MEETING ARTICLE: FOURTH OF JULY PARADE
Ms. Maggie Kearney, Mr. Don Reed, and Mr. Rick Potash were present from the Fourth of July Committee. Ms. Kearney stated that the committee seeks the same amount as in previous years ($10,000.00). The rest of the money required to conduct Fourth of July weekend activities comes from fundraising. Ms. Kearney said that the Committee is very enthusiastic about their new website: www.duxbury4thofjuly.com. When it is up and running, it will be linked to the Town's website. The Town Manager was asked to seek Town Counsel review of the
Committee's vendor policies.
Mr. Martecchini moved that the Board endorse the Annual Town Meeting article requesting funding for the Fourth of July parade, in the amount of $10,000.00. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
TOWN MEETING ARTICLES: NUCLEAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Present for the discussion were:
Mary Lampert, Nuclear Advisory Committee Chair
Rebecca Chin, Nuclear Advisory Committee Member
Fire Chief Kevin Nord, Director of Duxbury Emergency Management Agency (DEMA)
1) Rapid-Dialing Telephone Calling System: Ms. Lampert explained that these systems can quickly notify all households, or a segment of our population, by providing a pre-recorded automated message in the event of an emergency. She explained that the Duxbury Public Schools currently have a similar system. However, it is restricted by contract for use only by the schools, and can notify only the school population. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department also has a rapid-dialing system. However, this system serves the entire county. Its capability is largely directed toward contacting emergency responders. It cannot notify the entire Duxbury population in an acceptable time frame. We have no control of when/if our request for calls will be
processed. Therefore, we need our own system.
Ms. Lampert said that the initial set-up cost would be $9,011.22. There is $3,000.00 remaining from a 2006 Annual Town Meeting article. Therefore, $6,011.22 is needed. Chief Nord said that his DEMA budget would probably be able to support annual maintenance of a rapid-dialing calling system (approximately $3,500.00 per year). However, he cannot afford the initial outlay. He is working with Entergy to see if they might be able to help with the expense. He also said that this system could be useful for a variety of Town Departments. For example, the Harbormaster could notify boat owners in the event of a storm. The Board of Health could use the system to activate the Medical Reserve Corps. He thinks that
he may be able to get some of the funding from Town Departments.
Mr. Martecchini asked the Town Manager whether the proposed FY08 budget included any separate money earmarked for this article. Mr. MacDonald responded that it does not.
Mr. Martecchini moved that the Board of Selectmen support the Annual Town Meeting article for the implementation of a rapid dialing telephone calling system in the amount of $6,000.00, provided that the money come from grants or from the FY08 operating budgets of other Town departments. Second provided by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
2) Hand-Operated Gas Tank Pumps: Ms. Lampert said that cars running out of gas will delay evacuation for everyone. There are four service stations in Town, but none of them are open 24 hours/day. To address the potential need for gasoline in the event of an evacuation call after business hours, DEMA developed Letters of Agreement with the service stations so that they could open pumps in such a situation. To address the possibility that there could be a concurrent power failure, and/or it could be difficult to get the pump computer system to activate, the purchase of hand pumps was recommended. Approximately $2,000.00 would be required for the pumps and shipping.
Mr. Martecchini again ascertained that there is no money earmarked for this purchase in the FY08 Budget.
Mr. Tuffy moved that the Board of Selectmen support an article to accept grant monies to purchase equipment necessary to manually operate underground gasoline storage tanks for use in an emergency. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
3) Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Aging Management Plan: Ms. Lampert explained that the current aging management plan, and the one proposed in the Pilgrim application for license renewal, is inadequate because: 1) It does not provide for adequate inspection of all systems and components that may contain radioactively contaminated water; and 2) There is no adequate monitoring to determine if and when leakage from these areas occurs. Some of these systems, she said, include underground pipes and tanks which the current aging management and inspection programs do not effectively inspect and monitor.
Mr. Martecchini moved that the Board support the Town Meeting article with a resolution for more effective methods of inspection and monitoring in the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Aging Management Plan. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
4) Plume Transport Model: Ms. Lampert stated that the State currently bases emergency planning on the false assumption that a radioactive plume would be carried in a straight line, and that the "affected area" would be within a narrow-shaped wedge—called the key-hole. However, Ms. Lampert said that this theory ignores the variability of wind in coastal communities, and could result in sending citizens into a plume.
Mr. Martecchini moved that the Board support the Town Meeting Article for a resolution advocating a change to Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's plume transport model. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
TOWN MEETING ARTICLE: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY COMMITTEE
Present from the Committee were:
Ms. Donna Theodossiou
Mr. Jeff Warren
Mr. Andre Martecchini (Selectmen Liaison)
Mr. Martecchini explained that the Committee has met four or five times since the Committee was formed in the Fall. They are working hard to evaluate all of the possible avenues for exploration. The Committee is seeking a total of $5,000.00 to fund programs they have identified to date.
One of these programs involves joining the Local Governments for Sustainability organization. The amount needed for dues would be $900.00 which would cover the Town through June 2008. This organization provides energy management software. This software would use Town data to make predictions of future energy consumption.
Another program involves investigating possible sites for a wind turbine. Consulting fees for this project are estimated at approximately $4,100.00.
Since there is no money earmarked in the FY08 budget for these projects, Mr. Martecchini asked that the Board of Selectmen postpone voting on the proposed article, until the Alternative Energy Committee can reconvene to discuss potential funding sources.
TOWN MANAGER BRIEF
· A Notice to Proceed will be issued this week to the Graham/Meus architectural firm of Boston to perform the study of conditions at the Percy Walker Pool.
· The Percy Walker Pool Committee had intended to seek design money at the Annual Town Meeting for improvements at the Pool. However, they will be withdrawing this request since the conditions study has not been completed.
· A contract for $20,000.00 was signed with ATP Environmental of Melrose for final design of drainage work in the Halls Corner area. The goal of this work is to improve water quality in Kingston Bay.
· The Division of Marine Fisheries has issued a grant of $21,900.00 for a Town Pier pump-out and an upgrade to Marine II.
· Our Health Agent, Tracy Baugous, has received a $2,500.00 grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for equipment to be used by the citizen Medical Reserve Corps.
· The Town Manager and Finance Director are working diligently on the budget. There are a large number of requests for funds, but no funds are available. A hiring freeze is being considered.
Mr. Tuffy commented that Town staff has been making it look easy to provide services with fewer and fewer resources. However, it is not easy, and this will become more obvious over time.
MINUTES
Mr. Martecchini moved to accept the Board of Selectmen minutes of January 8, 2007 as written. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 2:0:1 (Mr. Tuffy abstained.)
BOARDS & COMMITTEES
North Hill Advisory Committee Appointment: Mr. Tuffy moved to appoint Mr. Michael Rufo to fill an unexpired term on the North Hill Advisory Committee, such term to expire on 6/30/07. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
Alternative Energy Committee Resignation: Ms. Mary Sacksteder resigned from this committee as she has moved away from Duxbury.
Alternative Energy Committee Appointment: Mr. Andre Martecchini moved to appoint Ms. Barbara Bartlett to fill the unexpired term of Ms. Mary Sacksteder on the Alternative Energy Committee, such term to expire on June 30, 2008. Second by Mr. Tuffy. Vote: 3:0:0.
Cable Advisory Committee: Ms. Sullivan requested that citizens with an interest in cable television and communication apply for membership on the Cable TV Advisory Committee. New members are needed.
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Ms. Sullivan noted that Town Reports for Fiscal Year 2006 are available in the Selectmen's office, the Town Clerk's office, and the Duxbury Free Library. She said that the report provides a wealth of information about the activities of Town Departments and the municipality as a whole.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Tuffy moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 PM. Second by Mr. Martecchini. Vote: 3:0:0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara A. Ripley
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