The weekly meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday evening, June 27, 2006 at 7:35 p.m.
Present: Theresa McNulty, Clerk; David L. Walsh
George Samia, Town Administrator
Karen Grabau, Adm. Assistant
Not Present: Peter A. Hamilton, Chairman
Mr. Walsh noted that as Mr. Hamilton was not present this evening, as voted previously, Mrs. McNulty would act as Chairman and Mr. Walsh as Clerk.
Appointment
Marilyn Thompson met with the Board to sign her contract with the Town as the Treasurer/Collector.
Board members extended a welcome to Marilyn. Mr. Samia noted her qualifications and work experience in area towns’ Treasurer/Collector offices. Stated that we were pleased to have her with the Town and wished her well.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve and sign the employment contract between the Town of East Bridgewater and Marilyn Thompson, Treasurer/Collector for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, with options for renewal.
Public Hearing
Daryl Crossman, Manager Rights of Way, Verizon, relative to two petitions for placement of new poles on Summit Drive and Winter Street.
Mr. Crossman went over the location of the poles noting that in each case they were required due to new construction.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the placement of one new Pole 93/7 on Summit Drive to maintain support to the existing pole line and provide service to a new residence and one new Pole 4/7-1on Winter Street to maintain support to the existing pole line and to provide service to a new development.
Appointment
Scott Hastings, School Committee member and Ralph Dumas, School Business Manager, met with the Board relative to the possible upcoming new school construction.
Mr. Hastings explained that a Statement of Interest is a prerequisite in order to be eligible to submit applications for funding assistance. Went over some of the information contained in the packets submitted to the Selectmen. Noted that the School Committee had voted unanimously to submit the Statement of Interest relative to the High School and Central School.
Mr. Dumas explained some of the findings in the recent school assessment; Central School’s total enrollment exceeds classroom capacities; High School inadequate for needs of students. Noted with new modular classrooms, the kindergarten will be housed within the Central School, will now be able to utilize gym area as a gym and not classrooms. Also, noted that with the kindergarten moving to the Central, the rooms vacated at the High School will be used to house the Administrative Offices and make them handicap accessible, as they will be on the first floor.
Mr. Walsh stated that he had concerns regarding voting to endorse both a High School construction and Central School renovations.
Board of Selectmen -2- June 27, 2006
Further discussion was held regarding the conceptual design of the High School, reasons for construction of a High School and renovations for the Central School, anticipated costs for projects, Leland farms property and problems with using that area for schools.
Mr. Walsh stated that he was prepared to move recommendation on High School but was not ready to move forward with the Central School one. Noted that the vote tonight would be a tie with only two members; felt that at the next meeting there will be a full Board, would be best to wait. Stated he was not comfortable to vote on tonight, would like to study further. Stated he would discuss with School Committee members during next few weeks.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, resolve that having convened in an open meeting on June 27, 2006, the Board of Selectmen of East Bridgewater, in accordance with its charter, by-laws and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest Form dated June 22, 2006 for the East Bridgewater high School located at 11 Plymouth Street in East Bridgewater, which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which an application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future:
East Bridgewater High School Priority #3 Prevention of loss of accreditation
Priority #7 Replacement of obsolete building
and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest Form, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of an application, the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, or commits the School District to filing an application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Appointment
Board met with members of the Finance Committee relative to vacancies on the Committee and other concerns of the members.
Present were Finance Committee members, Sally Feeney, Tony Figueiredo, Jeff Luttazi and Bill Jacques.
Mrs. Feeney noted that the committee plans to meet during the summer and would like to have a full committee before fall.
A discussion took place regarding the town by-law regarding finance committee. Board agreed to forward a copy of by-law to town counsel for review and recommendations for changes.
Board announced that letters of interest for the positions available on the Finance Committee should be sent to the Selectmen’s Office. Board will review all letters received for their July 25 meeting.
Appointment
Sen. Brian Joyce met with the Board to inform them that at this point a finalized state budget will bring the Town an additional amount of state aid of $946,000 over last year’s amount. Also, informed the Board that in a supplemental budget for 06 has been approved and included in that is $300,000 for repairs/construction of sidewalks for several streets.
Board expressed their appreciation to Sen. Joyce for his continued work for the Town.
Mr. Walsh expressed the Board’s appreciation to Richard Swan, Wayne Meserve, Frank Santilli and Grazziano Cement for their donations, which provided the new street lamps at town hall. Noted that work is completed and that the project has provided the town with an enhancement to our town hall.
Board of Selectmen -3- June 27, 2006
Open Forum
Norma Waugh and Sandra Mahoney, 80 Hobart Street met with the Board to ask for assistance regarding the ongoing problems with flooding of their property. Ms. Waugh stated that since last October, they have had damage to their home due to flooding. Noted several issues, i.e. rubbish/debris in brook, rocks at fields being undermined by water, large trucks using Skylur Way as a turn-around, need for additional drainage, etc. Ms. Waugh also informed the Board that there was a smell of methane gas in the area and no one can find the source. Noted that she had received a letter from a town board informing her that a grant had been received to put in drainage. Will try to find letter and get copy to Selectmen.
Board requested that John Haines be contacted and asked to check on the erosion around the rocks and the truck traffic on Hobart and Water Streets; check on truck weight capacity for Hobart and Water Street; check on drainage/brook grant with Planning Board and Conservation Commission to see who has information regarding this.
Board informed Ms. Waugh that they would get back to her with information as soon as it was available.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2006 meeting.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve proclaiming Friday, June 30, 2006 as Bill Shaw Day in the Town of East Bridgewater.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the request of the Lions Club Rockland for use of the Sachem Rock Farm on July 15, 2006 for a cookout and activities for sight impaired/handicapped children. The Sachem Rock Committee’s approval is attached.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Jerry Hartman to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the appointment of Chuck Carey to the Arts Council for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Todd E. Engstrom as a Constable (pays own bond).
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Marie Day to the Council on Aging for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Bronislaw “John” Morawski to the Council on Aging for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Jane Haines to Dial a Bat for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Margaret O. Alexander to the Historical Commission for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Diane Nordberg to the Historical Commission for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
Board of Selectmen -4- June 27, 2006
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Jane Haines to the Old Colony Planning Council Area Agency on Aging for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Jane Haines to the Old Colony Elderly Services for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Richard O’Flaherty to the Old Colony Planning Council - Alternate for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Richard O’Flaherty to the Old Colony Joint Transportation Committee for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Jeanne Bennett as Parking Clerk for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Marcia Weidenfeller to the Registrars of Voters for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Thomas W. Quinn to the E.B. Patriotic Activities for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Dominic Marini to the Plymouth County Cooperative Extension Service Trustee for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Herbert Wolfer as Sealer of Weights & Measures for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the appointment of the following to the Agricultural Commission:
Keith Batchelder Cameron Woodard
Daniel Batchelder Paul Marini
Cary Whitmore Lawrence Allen
Mark Hayward Scott Singleton
Caryl Guarino Robert Singleton
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the appointment of the following to the Recreation Commission:
Robert DeChristopher Lee Conrad
Thomas Hamilton Debbie Conrad
Tom Hamilton was present and discussed with the Board some of the ideas for the new Commission members; noted that they still need additional members for the Commission.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to approve the reappointment of Kelly Milne to the
Conservation Commission for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009
Town Administrator Report
Working on the end of the year reports and financial statements and closing of town’s books.
Board of Selectmen -5- June 27, 2006
Reminders:
New Trash/Recycling Program begins Monday, July 3 – weekly recycling pick-up
July 4 Holiday – Trash/Recycling on day later for rest of week.
Correspondence
Mrs. McNulty read a letter from Michael Finglas, Town Administrator in Hanson, complimenting John Haines on the resurfacing of Central Street.
Board offered congratulations to new employees:
Maryann Trask – part-time Health Agent
Amy Collier – Principal Clerk – Conservation Commission
Philip Woolf – full-time member - Fire Department
Sean Hughes, Michael Ryan, Christopher Moore, Andrew Wilds, Derek Avery and
Matthew Leighton – Call Firefighters
Letter from Mass. Historical Commission, informing Mary Ahern that Sachem Rock Farm will be considered on Sept. 13, 2006 and that it should be listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the end of 2006.
Board offered their congratulations to the Historical Commission for the reenactment at Sachem Rock and the well attended Chowda Fest.
M/Walsh, s/McNulty, a unanimous vote, move to adjourn Open Session at 9:00 p.m.
______________________________Clerk
Board of Selectmen
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