Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
November 9, 2004
Present: Robert Forte, Mark Gallivan, Catherine Kuchinski, Jesse McSweeney and Rebecca Coletta. Also present Executive Secretary Michael Finglas and executive assistant Meredith Marini.
7:30 p.m. Chairman Kuchinski called the meeting to order and lead the Pledge Allegiance and read the public announcements and upcoming meeting schedule.
Item I Liquor License Hearing – Edward Mahoney of d/b/a Tedeschi Food Shops
12 Monponsett Street has applied for a Wine & Malt License.
MOTION by Forte, second by Gallivan to open the hearing. Voted 5 – 0.
Mr. Mahoney was present with Attorney Daniel Webster and Richard Roth of Tedeschi’s Foods. Attorney Webster explained the franchise agreement and the rules, regulations and training requirements of Tedeschi’s with respect to underage sales of tobacco and alcohol. Mrs. Marini indicated all the paperwork was in order.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to approve the Wine & Malt liquor license to Edward Mahoney of Tedeschi Food Shop at 12 Monponsett Street. Voted 5 – 0
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to close hearing. Voted 5 – 0
Item II Appointment to School Committee – The Board of Selectmen met jointly with School Committee members Jim Armstrong and Bob Hayes to screen the applicants to fill Valerie Schell’s seat on the School Committee. The applicants were Patricia Sieve of 206 Holmes Street; James Egan of 263 Main Street; Melissa Andrews of 947 Monponsett St and Patricia Rich of 193 Holly Ridge Drive. Also present was Superintendent John McEwan and two school committee members from Whitman.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to open the joint public meeting. Roll Call – Gallivan aye, Forte aye, Kuchinski aye, McSweeney aye and Coletta aye. Voted 5 – 0.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Hayes to open the joint public meeting. Roll Call – Armstrong aye, Hayes aye. Voted 2 – 0.
The applicants introduced themselves, shared their residential, personal and educational history and expressed their interest in serving on the School Committee. All the candidates indicated that they would be willing to run for the seat in May and would have no problem with public speaking at town meetings or committee meetings. They were all willing to serve on subcommittees. After a lengthy interview process the Board and School Committee members thanked the applicants for their interest and enthusiasm.
Mr. Hayes nominated Patty Rich, second by James Armstrong.
Mr. McSweeney nominated James Egan, second by Coletta.
Roll Call Vote – Coletta – Egan; McSweeney – Egan; Armstrong – Rich; Hayes – Rich; Forte – Rich; Gallivan – Rich; Kuchinski – Egan. 4 Votes for Patricia Rich and 3 Votes for James Egan.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to close the joint public meeting. Roll Call – Gallivan aye, Forte aye, Kuchinski aye, McSweeney aye and Coletta aye. Voted 5 – 0.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Hayes to close hearing. Roll Call – Armstrong aye, Hayes aye. Voted 2 – 0.
Item III Department Head Reports –
Michael Kennedy – Building Inspector – Mr. Kennedy reviewed his monthly report indicating over $900,000.00 in construction projects in October. He has been conducting several woodstove inspections. Mr. Kennedy explained the in-law apartment requirement of having a common area with a doorway access. Mr. Kennedy recently toured the High School with the Fire Marshal and the project is moving along.
Jean Sullivan – Treasurer/Collector – Mrs. Sullivan presented her monthly report. Mr. Gallivan inquired about the comparison of FY04 and FY 05 amounts collected. Mrs. Sullivan will get the figures. She indicated the staff is doing excellent. She reviewed the Storm Water Management paperwork the Board needed to sign.
Chief Allen Hoyt – Fire Chief – Chief Hoyt indicated that Jerry Thompson was recently recognized by the State for his work with the middle school students. The Board offered its congratulations to Fire Fighter Thompson. Chief Hoyt informed the Board that the department has suffered severe apparatus repairs and will be looking to purchasing a new engine in the near future. The Chief, Lt. Smith and the Fire Marshall also toured the High School. The fire department is working on water pressure issues with the contractor. The Town will be getting an EOPS grant in December. The Chief reminded everyone that burning season opens January 15 and recommended residents do their burning early. Regarding safety issues he requested residents shovel out hydrants in front of
their homes and get their heating systems serviced before the cold weather sets in.
Chief Edward Savage – Police Chief – The Board welcomed back Chief Savage from his recent surgery. Chief Savage informed the Board that he applied for and received two grants for community policing totaling $38,000. He has also received a Speed Trailer, which will be used around town. The town is enforcing the “click-it or ticket” program. He highlighted work with the schools including student police academy, traffic campaigns and “missing” through the DARE program which educates students regarding internet crimes.
9:05 p.m. Brief Recess
9:15 p.m. Back in Session
Item IV Old Business Appointments to Police Station Building Comm. – The Board received six applications for appointment. The Board discussed the composition of the committee, which would be 7 members and 3 ex officio members.
MOTION by Forte, second by McSweeney to appoint Chief Savage, Executive Secretary Michael Finglas and Police Union member Kevin McCarthy as ex officio members. Capital Improvement member James Egan and Board of Selectmen member Mark Gallivan to the Police Station Building Committee. Voted 5 – 0
MOTION by Forte, second by Gallivan to appoint former Police Station Feasibility Study Committee members Paul Taber of 23 Wagon Trail and Doris Matthews of 34 Crooker Place to the Police Station Building Committee. Voted 5 – 0
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Forte to appoint Mathew Palermo of 201 Spring Street to the Police Station Building Committee. Voted 4 – 0 – 1 (Coletta)
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to appoint Peter Jones of 34 Rosewood Dr. to the Police Station Building Committee. Voted 5 – 0
The Board thanked the final candidate Bill Strait of 469 Indian Head Street for his offer of service to the Town.
Chief Savage will contact the committee members as to the date of the first meeting.
CATV Contract discussion – Mrs. Coletta briefly reviewed the draft agreements between Hanson and Whitman regarding the non-profit corporation to handle the Town’s CATV public access. She indicated that the Board of Selectmen would need to appoint the first four members to the Board of Directors. Whitman would appoint for board members as well. She reviewed the various options the Committee considered regarding alternative studios before agreeing on the shared studio. Mr. Gallivan thanked Mrs. Coletta and Ms. Kuchinski for their hard work on the committee.
MOTION by Coletta, second by Gallivan to authorized the Board to enter into a Community Access Corporation agreement between Hanson and Whitman for providing governmental and community assess programming. Voted 5 – 0.
Item V Executive Secretary’s Report - -- Baran – Mrs. Marini indicated notice must be sent to Baran regarding the potential repurchase of the Plymouth County Hospital property.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to authorize Chairman Kuchinski to send a letter of notice to Arbor House Limited Partnership of the Board’s Preliminary Notice of Exercise of Option to Repurchase the Assisted Living Facility property. Voted 4 – 0 – 1 (McSweeney)
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to authorize Chairman Kuchinski to send a letter to Hanson Gardens Limited Partnership in accordance with the Land Development Agreement of the Board’s Preliminary Notice of Exercise of Option to Repurchase the Independent Living Facility property due to the lack of commencement of construction. Voted 4 – 0 – 1 (McSweeney)
Engineering project update – Mrs. Marini informed the Board that the Roller Coaster Road project is moving along. A pole hearing will be held at the next Selectmen’s meeting in accordance with the Roller Coaster Road project. The asbestos abatement and the air quality testing at the BCI building was completed on Friday with the furnace replacement to be completed by the end of the week.
Annual MMA Meeting – Mrs. Marini requested that if the Board members plan to attend the MMA Meeting on January 7 & 8 to complete the registration form and return it as soon as possible.
Item V I Committee Reports – Government Study – Mr. McSweeney informed the Board that the committee has held two meetings and they are currently discussing the pros and cons of a Town Administrator or Town Manager. The committee discussed the financial departments and the necessity whether creating a position of finance director or budget director was necessary.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Forte to adjourn. Voted 5 – 0
Adjournment
9:44 p.m. Meeting adjourn
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