Board of Selectmen
Minutes
May 6, 2008
Leo F. Blair
Timothy A. Clark
Lucy B. Wallace
Ron V. Ricci
Peter E. Warren
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chair, Leo Blair in the Town Hall meeting room.
APPOINTMENT – PLANNING BOARD – ASSOCIATE MEMBER – Mary Essary, and Joe Sudol, of the Planning Board, were in attendance to introduce Craig Bardeneuer, of 101 Ayer Road, to the Board. The Planning Board is requesting that Craig be appointed as an associate member to their Board. On an Essary/Blair motion, the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously by a roll call vote (Essary – AYE, Sudol – AYE, Brooks – AYE, Blair – AYE, Clark – AYE, Warren – AYE, Wallace – AYE, Ricci– AYE) to appoint Craig Bardeneuer to the Planning Board as an associate member.
APPOINTMENT - CONSERVATION COMMISSION - ASSOCIATE MEMBER-
On a Clark/Warren motion, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Joshua Gould, of Willow Road, as Associate member on the Conservation Commission.
MINUTES – On a Wallace/Clark motion, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Strategic Planning Session on 4/15, as presented.
On a Warren/Clark motion, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of
4/22, as presented.
APPROVE USE OF FRONT-END LOADER FOR THE DUCKY WUCKY RACE ON MAY 10TH - On a Wallace/Ricci motion, voted to approve use of front end loader by the Rotary Club for the Ducky Wucky Race.
APPROVE YANKEE DOODLE DIXIELAND BAND – On a Wallace/Blair motion, the Board voted to approve use of the Hildreth House through December 31, 2008.
APPOINT ARJUNA HAYES AS STUDENT MEMBER ON THE COMMUNITY CABLE COMMITTEE – On a Ricci/Clark motion, the Board voted to appoint Arjuna Hayes as student member on the Community Cable Committee.
EX-OFFICIO CLARIFICATION WITH TOWN COUNSEL – Town Counsel Mark Lanza was in attendance for clarification. Mark stated the general rule is selectmen can not serve on a board appointed by and under the supervision of the selectmen. An exception can be made with a vote at town meeting and must be reauthorized each year specific to that particular selectman. The basic definition of Ex-officio is a Latin term that means position, appointment, duties which are part of the authority of the position. It was explained the Selectmen can appoint ex-officio positions. Mark also explained that when a newly created committee is formed if it is designated that a selectmen shall be included in the committee that is acceptable. The member serving in an ex-officio status has
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May 6, 2008 Page 2
all the same rights any other member on the committee. Leo Blair suggested the Board develop a policy moving forward.
REVIEW CAPITAL PLANNING COMMITTEE – Lucy Wallace spoke regarding the report of the Capital Planning Committee. She explained they met on May 1st and provided a report with their recommendations. Recommendations are as follows:
1. DPW Barn – replace existing 25 year old boiler with 2 waste oil burners cost estimated at $25,000.
2. DPW Transfer Station- Upgrade electrical service to the transfer station to add 2 more compactors cost estimated at $25,000.
3. Elementary School – Install 26 fans to service 13 rooms. Fans will be donated. Installation cost estimated at $10,000.
4. High School – Replace 1 boilers with 2 smaller boilers cost estimated at $140,000.
The report stated the Committee voted unanimously to recommend the funding of each of the above capital projects at the amount requested for a total capital expenditure of $200,000.
The Committee recommended:
- Funding Source: All four capital items to be funded from the Stabilization Fund. Presently there is about $1.7 million in the Stabilization Fund, representing roughly 8% of our operating budget. Reducing the Fund by $200,000 will bring it closer to 7% of the budget which is within range for highest rating for borrowing purposes. The Committee unanimously voted in favor of this proposal.
Article(s) Structure: The four projects could either be bundled into a single article or presented as four separate articles. As funding from the Stabilization Fund requires a 2/3 vote, the Committee voted (4yes, 1no) to recommend a single article divided into 4 subsections (1 for each project) to be funded with up to $200,000 from the Stabilization Fund. This would avoid the need for repetitive 2/3 votes, while providing the electorate the ability to amend the article to delete particular project(s) and decrease the amount to be taken from the Stabilization Fund should they so desire.
Tim Clark questioned the use of the Stabilization Fund for capital items in the future.
Ron Ricci questioned the necessity of additional compactors.
During public comment George McKenna and Joshua Gould were skeptical of Geo Thermal as a better alternative. Joshua Gould expressed concern regarding the purchase of 2 waste oil burners as well as Lorin Johnson.
On a Wallace/Warren motion, the Board voted to accept the report from the Capital Planning Committee.
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May 6, 2008 Page 3
DISCUSS AND APPROVE STM BALLOT QUESTION AND/OR QUESTIONS –
Debbie Ricci and Lorraine Leonard from the Finance Committee were in attendance to present recommendations to the Special Town Meeting.
Finance Committee recommendations are as follows
- Article #1 - An override question in the amount of $200,000 with no additional questions to be added.
- Support of all 4 capital items as separate Articles.
The Finance Committee did question the funding sources of the articles. Their suggestions were as follows:
- DPW Barn – recommended funding from DPW FY08-FYO9 operating budget.
- DPW Transfer Station – funding source appropriate but the Finance Committee requests support from BOS on this article and continued review of the facility for future energy efficiency.
- Elementary School - recommended funding from the Shaw Trust Fund.
- High School – approve of stabilization funding.
Lucy Wallace supported a $200,000 override question and another question including the COA in the amount of $12,505.
Tim Clark supported the $200,000 override question and another question including the COA in the amount of $12,505.
Ron Ricci supported only a $200,000 override question.
Peter Warren supported only a $200,000 override question.
Leo Blair supported only a $200,000 override question. He did propose finding another place in the budget to fund the request. He suggested using $10,000 from the vacant DPW position. This would be a temporary solution for FY09.
On a Wallace/Clark motion, the Board voted to support an additional 10 hours for the COA director for the FYO9 budget. (Wallace – Aye, Clark – Aye, Warren – Aye,
Ricci – Nay, Blair – Aye)
On a Ricci/Warren motion, the Board voted unanimously to have a ballot question for a $200,000 override.
On a Clark/Wallace motion, the Board voted by a roll call vote to add a second ballot question to include the COA request of $12,505 for a total of $212,505. (Wallace – Aye, Clark – Aye, Warren – Nay, Ricci – Nay, Blair – Nay)
On a Wallace/Ricci motion, the Board vote by a roll call voted to place each capital planning recommendation on as separate warrant articles. (Wallace – Aye, Clark – Aye, Warren – Aye, Ricci – Aye, Blair – Nay)
On a Wallace/Warren motion, the Board voted unanimously to reauthorize the use of a revolving account to be used to fund the activities of the Fourth of July Committee with
the revenue or expenditures of this account not to exceed $25,000 in any given fiscal year, or take any action in relation thereto.
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May 6, 2008 Page 4
RECONSIDERATION OF ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOTE– Leo Blair requested a revote to have the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee (HEAC) as a standing committee of the Conservation Commission instead of the Board of Selectmen. Leo Blair withdrew his request due to no support from the other members of the Board. No action was taken.
***On a Wallace motion, the Board voted unanimously by a roll call vote
(Clark- – AYE, Wallace – AYE, Blair - AYE, Warren – AYE, Ricci - Aye) to enter into executive session at 11:20 pm, as authorized by Chapter 39, Section 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws, at a meeting for which 48 hours notice has been given, for the purpose of discussing personnel issues. Following the executive session, the Board will reconvene into open session, for the sole purpose of adjourning. ***
The Board reconvened into open session at 11:40 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
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