Board of Selectmen
Minutes
April 21, 2009
Town Hall Meeting Room
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chair, Leo Blair in the Town Hall Meeting Room. Leo Blair, Timothy Clark, Peter Warren, and Lucy Wallace were all in attendance. Ron Ricci was not present.
MINUTES – On a Wallace/Warren motion, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of 4/7, as amended.
SELECTMEN/TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS –
Peter Warren cautioned residents on the placement of their brush debris on the roadsides.
He reminded residents that brush should be within the right of way but not touching the black top.
Tim Clark stated that on Tuesday, April 28th it will be walk to school day. There will be three meeting points: Depot Road soccer field parking area, Carlson’s Orchard parking area, and Armstrong Road between East Bare Hill Road and Bolton Road at 7:45AM. Anyone interested in leading a walking school bus should contact Tim Clark.
Tim Clark asked Peter Warren (liaison to DPW) to follow up with the DPW Director Rich Nota regarding debris clean up at the Town beach.
Lucy Wallace stated that on Tuesday, May 28th the Energy Advisory Committee will be holding a public meeting at Volunteer’s Hall on Geo Thermal home heating and cooling.
Wallace said that Representative Jen Benson will be hosting a regular district meeting in Lunenburg. Topics of discussion will include the house budget and most importantly legislation that was filed to potentially restore cuts made in local aid which could mean $138,000 for Harvard.
Lastly, Wallace asked about the concern regarding a property on Pond Road. Peter Warren confirmed the Police Chief and the Board of Health are addressing the issues.
Leo Blair said there would be a special meeting held with the Board of Selectmen and the Town Center Sewer Action Group on Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00PM in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
Tim Bragan said he received an email from a bicyclist regarding brush on the roads. Bragan said the Police Chief would have something in the paper addressing the issue.
Bragan said notification was received regarding Chapter 90 funding for FY10 which will be $235,277.
Bragan said an extension was granted from the ZBA regarding the Mace zoning issue.
Bragan said the FEMA clean up was advertised. He explained a call from MEMA was received regarding the ability to provide private road clean up. Bragan said any issues will be addressed.
Bragan stated the ABCC had no issue with Fruitlands providing alcohol beverages free of charge at their event to be held on the April 24th. Bragan confirmed the Liquor License would be ready tomorrow for the Board members to sign.
Board of Selectmen – Minutes
April 29, 2009 page 2
Bragan spoke regarding the idea of possibly having the 4th of July fireworks at Fruitlands. He explained Fruitlands would have to apply for a special permit.
Bragan also stated that Evergreen Solar sent a letter to Peter Lowitt (DEC) indicating a solution, path and timeline regarding the noise disturbance. Peter Lowitt responded by asking Evergreen Solar to provide specific dates. Bragan said the noise source has to do with a blower.
Bragan told the Board that the Finance Committee books will be in this week.
STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION– The Board members checked their calendars and agreed to hold the session on June 2, 2009 at 4:00pm.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTMENT- On a Wallace/Clark motion, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Joshua Gould to fill the vacancy left by George Watkins with the term ending on June 30, 2012.
TOWN EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENTS – On a Wallace/Warren motion, the Board voted unanimously to approve the employee appointments through the time period indicated on the sheet “Employee Appointments 2009” dated April 21, 2009.
DISCUSS CREATION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE TOWN CENTER SEWER IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – Leo Blair explained this committee would continue where the Town Center Sewer Action Group work ends if articles 24 & 25 pass at Town Meeting. Tim Clark explained a body must be created to manage this project. Leo Blair said once the construction is complete then a Sewer Commission will be in place to manage the sewer district. Blair said this committee will be the key group in implementing the actual construction. Tim Clark and Tim Bragan drafted a charter that Leo Blair read.
Mission: The Town Center Sewer Building Committee (TCSBC) shall be responsible for all activity related to implementation of the town center sewer project from acceptance at the annual Town Meeting through completion of construction.
Membership: The Town Center Sewer Building Committee will be comprised of nine (9) members consisting of four (4) non-voting members which shall be the Town Administrator, Finance Director, a member of the Board of Health and a member of the Water Commission, and five (5) voting members as follows: five citizens-at-large, of which two may be owners of real property within the Waste Water/Sewer District. All voting members shall be registered voters of the Town of Harvard. All appointments shall be made by the Board of Selectmen.
Board of Selectmen – Minutes
April 21, 2009 page 3
Term of Appointment: |
Each voting member shall serve, one year term that begins June 1, 2009 and expires June 30 of the following year. Each voting member is eligible for reappointment during the construction of the Town Center Sewer system. Once the system is fully constructed and the finances for the project have been secured, then the committee will disbanded upon the direction of the Board of Selectmen |
Selection Process: |
Request for membership shall be made at the first Selectmen’s meetingfo llowing the May 5, 2009 election and appointments made in accordance with the Selectmen’s appointment process. Two members who are owners of real property within the Wastewater District shall be nominated and recommended to the Selectmen for appointment by a caucus of owners of real property residing within the Wastewater District.
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Responsibility: |
The TCSBC shall develop, supervise and direct all Requests for Proposals and all contracts for professional assistance related to the design, permitting and construction of an extension of a public sewer located within the town center as defined by the map that has been accepted by th annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2009. All contracts f
services shall be reviewed and approved by the Board lectmen and executed by the town Administrator under the advisement of the Town Finance Director acting as the town’s Procurement Officer. |
Reporting: |
The TCSBC shall make regular reports to the Board of Selectmen, and shall properly post their meetings and maintain meeting minutes in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law. |
Leo Blair said this charter is a description of the intention for this committee and this should be adopted at the meeting on April 28th. Blair also suggested the charter be posted on the town website.
Board of Selectmen – Minutes
April 21, 2009 page 4
WATER DEPARTMENT – Water Commissioner Rick Dickson was in attendance. He first thanked the BOS for adding him to the agenda on behalf of the Water Commissioners which also includes Duane Barber and Curtis Howes. Dickson explained they have a public meeting once a month. Dickson stated as a junior water commissioner his job has been to do some research. Dickson explained he has been reviewing the 2006 Source Protection Plan. He explained in August of 2008 a letter was sent to the BOS and school department highlighting a couple issues that may have threats to the Town’s water supply. Dickson explained the primary water supply is located off of Pond Road which has two wells number 2 and 5. These wells provide drinking water for the center section of town. This section does include both schools and town buildings. Dickson
stated the water quality from those two wells is excellent and is tested monthly. In recent testing, Dickson stated there have been some concerns with the sodium levels increasing and perchlorate levels. He explained some details regarding the underground storage tanks at the schools and explained that the focus of the plan was to protect the ground water. Dickson stated that the third well is a back up well for emergencies which have high levels of iron and manganese and has not fully run since 1999. He explained to update the well at this time it would require treatment which would be costly. At their last meeting the Water Commissioners declared that well as an emergency only well to avoid the expensive testing. Dickson cautioned that moving forward there needs to be a real focus regarding water sources in town. He said threats to the wells are real and the Town needs to stay proactive. Dickson said there is good drinking water in Town and it is great that the water does not
need treatment. Dickson said the Water Commissioners support the Town center sewer as it would eliminate a major threat to the water system. Peter Warren asked about the water pipe construction coming up Oak Hill Road to connect onto Mass Ave. Dickson said the project had not gone as smoothly as expected and he confirmed the DPW Director would be working on it. Tim Clark thanked Mr. Dickson for coming and asked about the status with DEP regarding the classification of this well as emergency so we are in compliance. Dickson confirmed DPW Director Rich Nota and Town Administrator Tim Bragan are in the process of preparing a letter to DEP. Lucy Wallace confirmed the warrant article funds would be to possibly test for a new well site or upgrade existing well. Dickson said he has met with a member of RCAP Solutions Inc. which is a small system assistance company that assists with finding funding sources for this nature of work. Dickson said he spoke with Worcester Polytech and they will
be creating two senior projects for civil or environmental engineering students. Dickson said the Water Commissioners have placed a sign on Pond Road as a dedication to Dave Swain for his 33 years as a Water Commissioner.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION –
Jeff Harris, 69 Whitney Road, shared his concern about present town officials not respecting Town Meeting votes and cautioned Selectmen to honor requests of town residents at Town Meeting.
Board of Selectmen – Minutes
April 21, 2009 page 5
***On a Wallace motion, the Board voted unanimously by a roll call vote
(Clark – AYE, Blair - AYE, Warren – AYE) to enter into executive session at 8:07 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 discuss personnel and contractual 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 10:30 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
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