SELECT BOARD MINUTES FOR MEETING
Tuesday December 22, 2015 2:30 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Lawrence Mandell, Chair
Elias Gillen, Member
Andrew Harhay, Member
Kelli Robbins, Executive Secretary
Linda Blodgett, Treasurer
Mr. Mandell called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm
Select Board signed business license for the following businesses;
New Business
Motion 122215-01 Mr. Gillen, to close the Town Hall from Christmas Eve, December 24, 2015 to January 3rd, 2016, 2nd Mr. Mandell. So voted
(note Town Hall will reopen to the public on January 4, 2016)
Discussion of budget for fiscal 2017 to be submitted to the Finance Board on January 4, 2015.
Ms. Blodgett was in attendance to answer any questions pertaining to insurance numbers that differ from what was budgeted and what was actually spent in FY 15. The Police and Fire Casualty number has been excluded from budgets in the past causing the town to pay the bill without the benefit of budgeting the amount. This has been added under the insurance portion of the budget.
Mr. Mandell asked Ms. Blodgett how the Town Hall expense account was funded if we spent more than we budgeted. Ms. Blodgett explained that the Select Board vote to allow the accountant to move money from non-exhausted accounts to cover accounts that need adjustments. Mr. Mandell stated he remembered voting for this action to be performed.
Discussion of bringing the salary of the Executive Secretary up to comparable town salaries for the same position. Discussion of the hours needed for the job to be completed in a satisfactory fashion. The hours currently being worked average 36 hours a week. Mr. Harhay indicated that other towns created a study group to determine the process of switching to a Town Administrator. Mr. Gillen explained that under the law an Executive Secretary and Town Administrator are the same thing. The Town has the authority to have a Town Administrator under the adoption of G. L. c. 41, § 23A, which has been previously adopted at town meeting.
Discussion of no longer receiving law books as the information is readily available on line.
Discussion of need for town maintenance line item. Many things are being paid for out of Town Hall expense.
Discussed possibility of hiring Town Counsel to actually work at the Town Hall and be available to all the departments for 2 or 3 days a week. Consensus is to look into it further to check feasibility. Having “in house” town counsel will allow the town to accurately forecast cost for this particular line item.
Motion 122215-2 Mr. Gillen, to research getting in house counsel. 2nd Mr. Mandell. So voted.
(See original budget proposal and edited budget proposal to submit to Finance Board.)
Discussion of eminent domain process and adverse possession to acquire the parcels located on Shore Drive known as lots 30 and 31. Ms. Robbins will research these options.
Motion to adjourn Mr. Mandell, 2nd Mr. Gillen. So voted. 4:20 pm.
Next meeting to be January 5, 2015at 7 pm.
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