Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2002
Present: Cathy Kuchinski, Robert Forte and Daniel Webster. Stephanie McSweeney and Peter Jones absent. Also present Executive Secretary E. Winn Davis and Management Assistant Meredith Scozzari.
7:36 p.m. Chairman Webster called the meeting to order and read the announcements.
I. Chrissie Henner – Mass. Fisheries & Wildlife – Chrissie Henner was present to discuss the coyote problems in town particularly in the Harvey Circle area. Also present was the Board of Health, Police Chief Savage, Animal Control Officer Bernie Delory and several residents from Harvey Circle including Kristin Whalen, Don Bernier, Phil Grable, Jane Durante, Sue Lungren and Winter Street resident Dwight Howard . Ms. Henner explained the plight of the Harvey Circle residents as a resident is directly feeding the wildlife, specifically the coyotes. She indicated that the residents would like to enact a by-law prohibiting the feeding and baiting of wildlife. Ms. Henner had been previously advised that the next regularly scheduled town meeting is
in May 2003. The Board of Health informed the audience that they have discussed the matter with Town Counsel who recommended a regulation be drafted and enforced by the Board of Health. Several residents conveyed encounters and sighting of the coyote. Discussed distributing information through the schools for the children’s safety. The Police Chief discussed safety issues and indicated that the police would take whatever measures are necessary to keep the neighborhood safe. The Selectmen favored a Board of Health regulation as a short term solution and a by-law as a long term solution to be addressed in May. The Board of Health requested that the residents keep a log of the sightings.
8:45 p.m. Brief Recess
8:52 p.m. Back in Session
II. Library Trustees – Appointment of Library Trustee, Anne Strange 91 Big Rock Lane, Hanson.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to hold a joint meeting with the Library Trustees. Roll Call –Forte aye; Kuchinski aye; Webster aye; Library Trustees Faith Mosher aye Barbara Nelson aye, Linda Wall aye, Jennifer Hickey aye, and Beatrice Reynolds aye. Voted 8 – 0.
Mrs. Mosher introduced Mrs. Strange to the Board. Ms. Strange has been a long time advocate of the Library.
MOTION by Faith Mosher, second by Kuchinski to appoint Anne Strange to the unexpired term of Marie Hanlon. Term to expire in May 2003. Voted 8 – 0.
III. Mass. Electric – Joint Pole Hearing – Main Street – Mr. Steve Habelt was present on behalf of Mass. Electric and Charles Hanley was present on behalf of the Condo Association.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to open a joint pole hearing. Voted 3 – 0.
Mr. Habelt explained that the pole will be set in order to remove the guy wire from a tree at 38 High Street. He reviewed the plan with the Board.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to approve the joint pole request. Voted 3 – 0.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte. Voted 3 – 0.
IV. One-Day Liquor License Request –
Mark Tanner - School St., Hanson Sunday, Nov. 24th 12 – 5 pm SURPRISE PARTY
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to approve a one-day Liquor license to Mark Tanner for November 24, 2002. Voted 3 – 0.
V. Open Space Committee Appointments:
Philip Clemons 46 Main Street – Term to Expire 6/30/2005
Howard Dillon 372 Winter Street – Term to Expire 6/30/2004
Ronald Grattan 133 Pierce Avenue – Term to Expire 6/30/2003
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to appoint Phil Clemons, Howard Dillon and Ronald Grattan to the Open Space Committee with terms to expire as stated. Voted 3 – 0.
VI. Appointment to Parks & Fields –
Michael Glennon 53 Gorwin Drive – Term to Expire 6/30/04 – Unexpired term of Rick Vayo
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to appoint Michael Glennon to the Parks and Fields Commission to fill the unexpired term of Rick Vayo. Voted 3 – 0.
VII. Executive Secretary’s Report – Mr. Davis reported that he met with the Board of Health and Town Counsel regarding the coyote problem and with Conservation and Town Counsel regarding the Glenwood Place issue. Received a letter of thanks from Michael Thomas for the life saving assistance of two police officers, Mike Casey and Steven Gorman. Received a complaint from a 270 Lakeside Road about a dead tree. The Tree Warden informed the owner that he has no money in his budget to remove the tree. The tree is on town property. The Board instructed Mr. Davis to write a letter to the Tree Warden requesting the tree be removed. Still waiting for a letter from Mr. Abair regarding the Baran project. A Stormwater Management meeting is set for
November 20th . Discussed the Lite Control property and suggested that it be reviewed for contamination prior to receiving it as a gift for conservation land. VHB will conduct the review. Ms. Kuchinski suggested that the Conservation fund might be used to pay for the review. Mr. Davis will check into the matter. The Cultural Council has requested permission for obtain keys of the Town Hall in order to hold meetings. The Board agreed to give the Cultural Council access to the Town Hall.
VIII. Executive Session – Mr. Webster announced that the Board would be going into Executive session under item #3 regarding recent labor relations decisions at the Library & Recreation concerning clerical positions and Item #1 to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition and mental health of an individual – Mr. Davis.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to go into Executive Session. Roll Call –Forte aye; Kuchinski aye; Webster aye. Voted 3 – 0. Mr. Forte informed the Board he would not be participating in the discussions regarding the clerical union.
9:12 p.m. – Adjourned to Executive Session.
10:39 p.m. – Returned to Open Session - No votes taken.
Chairman Webster made a statement to the press that the Board discussed the matter with Mr. Davis only in response to recent newspaper articles. The Board hired Mr. Davis as an Executive Secretary and not as Town Counsel. The Board conducted a CORI check on Mr. Davis prior to his employ and items written in the papers regarding Mr. Davis’ past had been addressed with the Selectmen previously.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to adjourn. Voted 3 – 0.
10:45 p.m. Meeting adjourned
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