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March 16, 1993 Present: James Haggerty
Judith Murdoch
Robert Andrews
Joseph Frisoli
Chairman read a letter from George and Cynthia Hemple commending the action of officer Ron Clarke. Motion by Andrews, 2nd Murdoch to place the letter in his personnel file. 4-0 vote.
Also read a letter from Susan Andrews concerning the DARE program commending Officer Peter Daley. Motion by Andrews, 2nd Frisoli to place it in his file. 4-0.
Board of Selectmen was introduced to newly elected State Senator Therese Murray. Representative Charles Mann was also present at the meeting. Chairman mentioned several concerns on behalf of the Board, those being Rte. 58 and asked for Ms. Murray's support if need be concerning the ongoing construction issues. Ms. Murray stated with her background with the State Highway Dept. she would certainly be able to assist where possible. Mr. Haggerty also mentioned both the Town and the State's concerns regarding the schedule of the Telephone Co. regarding the removal of the poles to which Rep. Mann agreed. Discussion focussed on whether pressure could be brought to bear be both the Representative and the Senator in an effort to hasten the Telephone Co.'s progress because of safety factors relating to
travelling the roadway and construction. Board also asked our representatives questions concerning local aid and any planned distribution. Board focussed on discussion concerning the reform bill. Rep. Mann stated he voted against the reform bill package because he felt it would harm the communities he represented and specifically where he is unique having two regional school districts in his area, the reform package was very vague on these. He stated he felt there was a lot of opposition in the House, however the vote reflected an effort to send the reform bill up to the Senate with the specific issues to be addressed. Senator Murray stated that she was also opposed to the reform bill and states that it needs a lot of work. She stated that she doesn't feel that the reform bill will come out of the Senate the way it came out of the House, that the process will involve many changes, mainly dealing with distribution formulas and the Towns
requirements to supplement educational costs. She said from there it has to go to House Ways and Means, then back to the Senate and the House for a vote and finally to the Governors desk. She said even if a changed bill gets to the Governor's desk, there is no indication it will be signed and she sees at the earliest point it will be the fall. Selectman Frisoli brought up the issue of discrimination concerning phone service in the Precinct 1 area of Hanson, that being the 447 exchange which extends into Hanson. He feels that the residents do not have the same phone service that other residents in Hanson have. He feels that the phone co. should make corrections so that all Hanson residents receive the same types of service. He asked for any assistance that might be possible from the Senator and Representative in bringing this issue to the attention of the phone co and the dept. of public utilities. No other questions and thanked Senator
Murray and Rep. Mann for attending the meeting.
Board of Selectmen met with the Fire Chief, Highway Surveyor and Police Chief. The Exec. Sec. gave an overview of the vehicle plan as submitted through the budget process, as a capital improvement article and by a group of dept. heads. He explained to the Board that the concept behind the plan was simply to allow the Town to purchase a certain number of vehicles each year in order to perform Town functions as necessary. The rationale buying the same type of cars, Ford police package was based on price, durability and accessibility of parts based on the State bid list. The rationale of having dept. heads using them first was based on life expectancy of the vehicles since the dept. heads in most cases would be putting minimum amount of mileage on the cars prior to going into the police line.
Reasoning being that the P.D. puts the most wear and tear on the vehicle both in mileage and engine time and the depts. feel that by the dept. heads using the vehicles for the first year, it would be like supplying a new vehicle to the P.D. at no additional cost. The Chairman stated that he supported the plan however, questioned the amount of vehicles needed in the first year, he specifically addressed the issue concerning the Fire Dept. The Fire Dept. had a brand new truck over there, did the Chief need a new vehicle and still hold onto the truck. Could the Chief drive the truck instead of the new vehicle, or could the truck be used instead of a new one by the Highway Dept. He stated he would be inclined to deduct 15,000 or 16,000 from this plan based on subtracting either the truck or the vehicle and moving the existing truck in the Fire Dept. Selectman Frisoli asked why the Town Hall needed two vehicles and why the Town Hall needed a new
vehicle. Chief Huska again explained the rationale behind the new vehicles going to the Dept. Heads vs. going directly on line as Police vehicles. The Exec. Sec. explained that the Assessors felt they needed a vehicle to be used full time by the Assessor/Appraiser and in lieu of supplying her a vehicle the Town may very well have to vote 200,000 for the reval. There was a question brought up regarding the contract for the Exec. Sec. The Chairman pointed out that by contract the Exec. Sec. was granted the partime use of a car and it was agreed on a part time basis the Assessor/Appraiser would be able to utilize the vehicle through the week; however, with the increased demand for the vehicle full time for the Assessor/Appraiser, it would be necessary to seek a second car for the Town hall operation. Mr. Andrews left room to meet with Fin. Com. for a moment.
Chairman read a letter from the Highway Surveyor commending his staff, both full and part time, as well as the Police and Fire, Mike Joyce and his people that kept the shelter open during the storm. He also made the Board aware that he sustained a blown motor in one of his trucks and some structural damage to one of the other vehicles and would need to address this at the Special Town Meeting. Motion by Frisoli and 2nd by Murdoch, voted 3-0 to submit the letter into their files. Board also thanked Bob Andrews for coming in and Acting as the Civil Defense Director. With that Mr. Andrews returned to the room and he asked that the Board direct the Exec. Sec. to send a letter to Whitman asking that in the future we designate the W-H High School as a shelter to serve both Towns.
Questioned asked by Bruce Young how far over the Snow budget we are. The response was approximately $40,000 at this point.
The Board set the hours for the May 15th election per the suggestion of the Town Clerk. Motion by Murdoch, 2nd Andrews to open polls at 10:00 a.m. and to close at 7:00 p.m. 3-1 vote, Haggerty opposed. Chairman felt that the polls should stay open until 8:00 p.m.
Concerning the evaluation process for the Police Chief and Exec. Sec., the Chairman informed the Board members that he would pick up their completed evaluations next Tuesday evening and the Board would discuss them with the Exec. Sec. and Police Chief on the 6th of April.
Board read and voted each of the warrant articles as follows:
1 & 2 - motions by Murdoch, 2nd Andrews, 4-0
Articles 3-38 motion by Andrews, 2nd Murdoch 4-0 vote.
No requests for action.
Exec. Sec. asked his report be held for Exec. Session and the Board had discussion with Don Morway concerning a meeting which took place in E. Bridgewater on Monday evening, March 15, concerning the proposed gas station and repair station at the intersection of Rt. 14 and 27. Town of Hanson was represented by Mr. Morway from the Water Dept. Judy Murdoch, Selectman, Phil Lindquist from the Planning Board, Alan Spera and Judy Collins from the Board of Appeals. Hanson's representatives raised a number of concerns. Specifically addressing potential contamination of our well site. After lengthy discussion with the Planning Board in E. Bridgewater, it was agreed that that decision would not be made until April 12. The Board of Selectmen asked that each dept. in turn meet or discuss with their
counterparts in E. Bridgewater our concerns for this project and the Board of Selectmen would send a letter to the Planning Board, the Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Water Commission and the Board of Selectmen outlining our concerns prior to the meeting of 4/12. Motion by Murdoch, 2nd Andrews, for the Exec. Sec. to prepare a letter to be sent as stated above. 4-0 vote. The Chairman also pointed out that we should exercise our option for closing the drainpipe which runs under Rte. 27 into the Hanson aquifer area. Mr. Morway given permission to consult with Town Counsel.
Motion to enter exec. session under #3, negotiations, Police Fire and Dispatching , 1 Murdoch, 2 Frisoli, 4-0 roll call vote. Ralph Becker, Union President and Fire Chief present for exec. session.
Motion to adjourn by Murdoch, 2nd Frisoli, 10:15 p.m.
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Joseph Frisoli, Clerk
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