Selectmen’s Meeting ~
April 7, 2009
Present: ~Donald Howard, Stephen Amico, James Egan, Christopher Colclough and James Armstrong. ~Also present Town Administrator Michael Finglas and Meredith Marini, Executive Assistant. ~~
7:35 p.m.~~~~~~~Chairman Egan called the meeting to order, lead the Pledge Allegiance and read the announcements and upcoming meeting schedule.
Item I Town Administrator’s Report - - Mr. Finglas reported that for period ending March 26th he signed payroll warrant 39 in the amount of $106,327.45. Expense 39 in the amount of $10,941.56; Expense 39A - $18,623.27. For period ending April 2nd he signed Payroll warrant 40 in the amount of $103,203.84; Expense 40 - $158,065.73; Expense 40A $128,855; Expense 40B 12,563.41 and Expense 40C $18,288.60
Budget Update – Mr. Finglas indicated that an updated budget was in the agenda package. He was notified that projected revenues from the State of $165,000 may not be available. These funds would have come from the meals and room tax revenue. Consequently the previous $383,000 deficit has increased to $548,000.
Item II Finalize Warrants - Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Article 4 – Elected officials –
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to set the salaries for the full time elected officials as printed and set the salaries for Part Time elected officials at “0”. Voted 5 – 0
Water Commission member Bruce Young was present and requested that the Board put an article on the warrant to petition the legislature for a Home Rule Petition which would allow the part-time elected official, if and when their stipends are reinstated, to be able to join the health plan and pay 100% of the cost.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to open the Special Town Meeting Warrant and to insert an article for a home rule petition. Voted 5 – 0
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to close the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 5 – 0
Article 7 – Water Abatement Trust – Mrs. Marini explained that the article had been received and part of the original draft, but was inadvertently deleted when the Board made recommendations.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to recommend Article 7. Voted 5 – 0
Article 12 – Ambulance lease payment –
MOTION by Amico, second by Colclough to accept Article 12 for the ambulance lease payment for discussion.
Mr. Amico indicated that he was informed the life of the ambulance is three years, but the lease is a five year lease. Paying the lease early would allow the Chief to purchase a new ambulance one year sooner.
Mr. Armstrong indicated that he doesn’t disagree with the idea, but the Town is not in a position to make the second lease payment this year. The Town cannot afford it.
Voted 1 (Amico) – 4 – Motion failed – The article will not appear the warrant.
Article 16 – Parks & Fields Revolving Account – Mrs. Marini pointed out that Parks & Fields requested a verbiage change to their article to broaden the scope of revenue to include field rental fees.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to approve the verbiage change. Voted 5 – 0
Article 19 – Petition Article – Oldham Pond
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Amico to recommend Article 19. Voted 4 – 1 (Egan)
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
Article 10 – Dispatcher Contract – Brief discussion regarding the negotiation process. Mr. Egan pointed out that if the Board did not recommend the article, it would be perceived as not bargaining in good faith.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to recommend Article 10. Voted 5 – 0
Article 15 – Maquan Boiler
MOTION by Amico, second by Howard to amend Article 15 to $12,280.00 for discussion.
Mr. Armstrong voiced his concern regarding the amount of the project. He indicated that the School Committee has already voted to pay for the project out of their reserves and that the project was already completed or the parts have been ordered at the very least.
There was lengthy discussion as to which vendor was performing the work, the separation of the project and the amounts for the bids. Mr. Armstrong felt there were too many unanswered questions to make a recommendation at this time.
Voted 2 (Amico & Howard) – 3 – Motion failed.
Article 17 – Street Sweeper – Mr. Finglas informed the Board that he spoke with Mr. Harris who informed him that he would like to keep the article on the warrant.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to recommend. Voted 5 – 0
Article 25 – Petition Article - Sex Offender by-law – Chief Savage forwarded his comments through Mr. Armstrong regarding concerns he had about the by-law. Mr. Egan noted that the Board cannot amend the by-law as it is a petition article.
MOTION by Armstrong, Colclough to recommend. Voted 5 – 0
Article 26 – Petition Article – Recreation Caretakers –
MOTION by Howard, second by Armstrong to recommend. Voted 3 – 2 (Amico & Egan)
Item III Re-Appointment - Bill Strait – Board of Registrars for three years. Term to expire March 31, 2012
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Howard to re-appoint Bill Strait to the Board of Registrars. Voted 5 – 0
Item IV Appointment - Received an application for appointment from James Duffy, of 67 Gorwin Drive as an Alternate to the Council of Elder Affairs.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to appoint James Duffy as an Alternate to the Council of Elder Affairs. Voted 5 – 0
Item V Minutes - Approve minutes of March 24th – Mrs. Marini requested that the minutes be tabled until the next meeting.
Item VI Committee Reports – Brockton Power Plant – Mr. Amico indicated that the next meeting is in May. Phoenix Committee – Mr. Egan informed the Board that the Phoenix Committee will be hosting a Town Meeting Seminar for residents of Hanson and Whitman. Member of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committees, Town Clerks and Moderators from both communities will be on hand to explain the Town Meeting process. The date of the event is Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the High School.
Item VII Executive Session – Chairman Egan announced that the Board would be going into Executive Session under exemption numbers 3 and 6.
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Colclough to go into Executive Session under exemptions 3 and 6. Roll Call – Howard aye, Amico aye, Egan aye, Colclough and Armstrong aye.
Voted 5 – 0.
8:40 p.m. Brief Recess
9:50 p.m. Returned to open session
MOTION by Armstrong, second by Howard to adjourn. Voted 5 – 0
9:50 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Meredith Marini,
Executive Assistant
Voted and Approved 5 - 0
May 19, 2009
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