December 4, 2007
Lucy B. Wallace
William J. Marinelli
Robert E. Eubank
Timothy A. Clark
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chair, Lucy Wallace in the Town Hall meeting room.
RESIGNATION – BOARD OF SELECTMEN – Bill Marinelli reported that this would be his last meeting as a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bill stated that his decision to resign is based on personal and professional time constraints, and has nothing to do with current ongoing issues in town. The Board thanked Bill for his years of service and wished him well with his future endeavors.
TAX CLASSIFICATION HEARING – Assessor, Angela Marrama, was in attendance for a public hearing regarding the classification of property for Fiscal Year 2008. Ms. Marrama presented the Board with its options for splitting the tax rate between the different property classes. The Board asked questions regarding the classification options. On a Marinelli/Eubank motion, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a uniform tax rate, without any exemptions, for all classes for real and personal property in the Town of Harvard for the Fiscal Year 2008. On a Marinelli/Eubank motion, the Board voted unanimously to sign the acknowledgement of excess levy capacity, which was $7063.63.
APPOINTMENT – EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT – Lucy explained that with Valeska’s resignation as the Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen, Tim immediately posted the position throughout town to see if there was an interested candidate. Julie Doucet, the Assistant Assessor, expressed interest and submitted her resume for consideration for the position. Lucy and Tim both interviewed Julie and are recommending that she be appointed to fill the vacancy. Julie was in attendance and explained to the Board why she was interested in filling this position. On a Marinelli/Eubank motion, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Julie Doucet as the Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen.
LITTLETON CONSERVATION TRUST – CONSERVATION RESTRICTION – BLACK POND – Don MacIver, of the Littleton Conservation Trust was in attendance to present a conservation restriction to the Board for Black Pond area, which is located both in Littleton and in Harvard. He explained that both the Town of Harvard and Littleton’s Conservation Commission’s and Boards of Selectmen need to accept and approve the conservation restriction. On a Clark/Marinelli motion, the Board voted unanimously to approve a conservation restriction from Edith Boyd Smith to the Littleton Conservation Trust, pursuant to MGL Chapter 184, Section 32, for a 12.79 acre portion of a 26.49 acre collective parcel shown at 189 Whitcomb Avenue, Littleton, as parcel A, within the
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Town of Harvard, of Plan 1226 of 1996, as recorded at the Middlesex Registry of Deeds, and again, as plan 86 of 1997 as recorded at the Worcester Registry of Deeds.
TOWN CENTER SEPTIC – Glen Frederick, of Littleton Road, representing the Unitarian Church, Chris Ashley of Woodside Road representing the Congregational Church, Scott Hayward of the Housing Authority, and Carlene Phillips of the Council on Aging were in attendance to discuss their septic needs with their respective properties/potential projects that lie within the town center. Mr. Frederick explained that the Unitarian Church’s plan to expand their building, they have run into issues with regard to their septic, which is a similar concern voiced by the other present individuals as they relate to the Congregational Church, the Hildreth House, and the Housing Authority’s plan to come up with some senior housing in the town center. Tim Clark gave his history with this issue as being a member of the Town
Center Planning Committee, and the Town Center Septic Task Force. He explained that there was a meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to see what the current capacity and usage of the school’s facility, and phasing in any potential upgrades to that system. Tim Clark is recommending that the Board create a task force to come up with a proposed town center public sewer area, define the anticipated demand, identify needed upgrades to the existing system, figure out a cost estimate to design and engineer a system, come up with forecast the anticipated capital costs, come up with a municipal financing plan, which would clearly give the costs of the municipal users and the private users, come up with an idea of the user fee cost and recurring costs to the town, and to also identify alternative funding sources for the private users that would tie into the system. He stated that these items would be reported back to the Selectmen prior to the
Annual Town Meeting, so that they issue may be placed on the warrant. He further explained, that if voted on at the Annual Town Meeting, he recommended a more formal committee be formed to create and oversee an RFP for engineering services. The Board asked questions of Tim Clark. On a Clark/Eubank motion, the Board voted 3 to 0 (Marinelli – ABSTAIN) to create a five member wastewater implementation task force, under the direction of the BOS, to develop a request for the appropriation of funds for engineering and design services that may be required to prepare bid documents for a limited town center public sewer system and prepare a warrant article to be placed on warrant of the Annual town meeting scheduled for March of 2008 for the request of those funds. The task force shall consist of the Director of Public works, the Town Administrator, one member (or representative) of the BOS and at least two members of the public chosen by the BOS.
Bill Marinelli left the meeting at this point.
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LITTLETON ROAD – TRAFFIC SAFETY – Tim Clark reported that at the Board’s 11/20 meeting, he brought up the safety traffic concerns that have been brought to his attention to Littleton Road, and specifically where Littleton Road and Poor Farm Road, and Whitney Road intersect. At that meeting, the Board asked for clarification from Tim Clark of his recommendations, as he reported that he had already discussed with both the Police Chief and the DPW Director. Tim Clark requested that the Board request that the Police Department install warning signs within the right-of-way (ROW) of Littleton Road and in the areas adjacent to the intersections of Whitney Road and Poor Farm Road and the Town of Harvard Public Works Department should erect these signs in accordance with the standards outlined in the 2003 edition
of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Many residents of Littleton Road were in attendance to express their support of adding signage on and along Littleton Road, as many of them have felt their safety has been compromised whilst on that road. The Board discussed the issues and sought clarification from Tim Clark on the placement and number of signs. On a Eubank/Clark motion, the Board voted unanimously to place the following signs subject to the approval of both the Police Chief and DPW Director:
· Right of Way (ROW) on Littleton Road eastbound (towards Littleton)
- one warning sign indicating a curve/intersection ahead;
· ROW of Littleton Road – Westbound (toward Harvard Center)
- one warning sign indicating a curve/intersection ahead
· ROW on Littleton Road – Eastboard (towards Littleton)
- one sign indicating an intersection ahead with supplemental placard “500
feet” below.
· ROW on Littleton Road – Westbound (towards Harvard Center)
- one warning sign indicating an intersection ahead with supplemental
placard “500 feet” below.
· ROW on Poor Farm Road – Northbound (towards Ayer Road)
- one “stop ahead” sign.
· ROW on Poor Farm Road – Southbound (towards Ayer Road)
- one “stop ahead” sign.
Additionally, the Board agreed to investigate the legalities of removing the posted “45 mph” sign in the above locus’ along Littleton Road.
MINUTES – On a Clark/Eubank motion, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of 11/20, as presented.
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December 4, 2007 – Page 4
NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION (NRWA) – Tim Clark reported that the NRWA will be holding a workshop on to address storm water management issues through the EPA Phase II program, local bylaws and ordinances, regulations, inspections and other means. The workshop is scheduled for December 11th at 7:00 PM at the NRWA office located in Groton.
FOR ART’S SAKE – Tim Clark reported that the first community exhibition by For Art’s Sake will be ending on December 15th. Hours are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 6:00 P.M and it is held in the Hapgood Room of the former Library.. There will be an artist’s reception on Friday, December 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
VOLUNTEER FAIR – Tim Clark reported that on Saturday, January 12th, there will be a Volunteer’s Fair in Volunteer’s Hall at the new library. It will be an opportunity for new residents to meet current and former volunteers and to get an idea of what community groups are in the Town of Harvard.
DEVENS DISPOSITION CRITERIA – On a Eubank/Clark motion, the Board voted unanimously to postpone the discussion on the Devens Disposition Criteria until the Board’s 12/18 meeting.
MUNICIPAL BUILDING ASSESSMENT – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – Tim Clark was asked at the Board’s last meeting to come up with an executive summary of the Municipal Building Assessment which he presented at the Board’s last meeting. Tim Clark reported that he has not yet completed the executive summary, and will present it to the Board at a future meeting.
LOCAL INITIATIVE PROJECT (LIP) – 40B PROJECTS – Lucy drafted a document which addressed the Land Use Boards request for dealing with 40B projects and how the town determines if they become a Local Initiative Project (LIP). Tim Clark suggested that something be added regarding due diligence with regard to qualifying the potential developer, in an effort to evaluate the suitability of the developer. The Board discussed this request and felt that would be a suitable amendment. Lucy will present the Board with a final draft at their next meeting.
GROUP INSURANCE COMMISSION (GIC) – On a Clark/Eubank motion, the Board voted unanimously to charge Tim Bragan, Lorraine Leonard and Marie Sobalvarro of the Finance Committee to look into the GIC and assess whether it would be viable for the Town of Harvard to join. Tim Bragan will report further at a future meeting.
ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWALS – Tim Bragan presented the Board with the list of annual license renewals. He reminded the Board that they will be acting on the licenses at their next meeting.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE SELECTION COMMITTEE – PUBLIC HEARING – Tim Bragan reminded the Board that the Finance Committee Selection Committee will be holding a public hearing on December 5th at 7:30 P.m. in the Bromfield School Library.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) – Tim Bragan reminded the Board the CDBG public forum on the housing rehabilitation grant application will be held on Monday, December 10th at 7:30 P.M.
ALL BOARDS BUDGET MEETING – There will be an all board’s budget meeting on Tuesday December 11th at 7:00 P.M. in Volunteer’s Hall in the Library.
SHAKER HILLS GOLF COURSE – Tim Bragan presented the Board with a document prepared by town counsel which details how MGL Chapter 61B applies to the Shaker Hills Golf Course. Further, the document will be included in the response to the Shaker Hills Ad-hoc Committee regarding their previously expressed concerns.
ASSISTANT ASSESSOR – The appointment of Julie Doucet as the Executive Assistant leaves a vacancy in the Assessor’s office. Tim Bragan presented the Board with the advertisement for the position, which will be run in this week’s newspapers. The deadline date will be December 21st. Tim Bragan will report further at a future meeting.
CORPORAL JOHN MCCLURE – Tim Bragan informed the Board that Corporal Jim McClure will be returning from Iraq on Saturday, December 15th. Valeska prepared a certificate of appreciation for the Board’s signature. Tim Bragan further reported that the coordination of Mr. McClure’s homecoming is being handled by Veterans’ Services Officer, Dennis Lyddy. Bob Eubank will attend the homecoming ceremonies.
PLANNING BOARD – ANNUAL TOWN MEETING – WARRANT ARTICLES – Tim Bragan reminded the Board that the Planning Board will be attending the Board’s next meeting to discuss the potential warrant articles the Planning Board will be asking the Board to be placed on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 P.M.
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