Town of Hudson - Board of Selectmen
Minutes –August 30, 2004
1. Call to Order:
Present were Messieurs Loura, Durant, Parente, Leeber, Lucy, Blazar, and Cipriano. Also present were Mesdames Ciccolo and Santos.
2. Minutes to be Approved:
Public Session: August 9, 2004
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to approve the minutes by a margin of 5-0.
Executive Session: August 9, 2004
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted to approve the minutes by a margin of 5-0.
3. Citizen’s Issues:
4. Meetings and Public Hearings - 7:00 PM:
Selectmen to meet with SullivanHayes regarding proposed purchase of Town Property on Route 62.
Robert Davis, representing SullivanHayes made the initial presentation recapping the response to the Town’s RFP and some of the work and discussions that have taken since the last appearance before the Board this spring. Mr. Davis indicated that they had been working with representatives of the town on two major issues, the provision of public safety services and mitigation of those impacts and the mitigation of traffic impacts at a number of different locations.
Regarding the provision of police, fire, and ambulance to the site, Mr. Davis indicated that he had received cost estimates for four additional police officers and four firefighters, and that SullivanHayes was willing to meet this cost.
Regarding traffic issues, the specific measures recommended were reported on by Randy Hart from Vanesse Hangen Brustlin, who represented the developer. As the result of a number of meetings with the Internal Traffic Committee, individual department heads, Paul Blazar, and Michelle Ciccolo, a consensus had been reached on appropriate measures for each of a number of different locations and intersections. Mr. Hart detailed these in his presentation, including traffic signalization and interchange improvements along rte. 62, and a three-phase approach to improvements at the downtown rotary, all to be funded by SullivanHayes. Other measures were proposed for other locations, including the Cox/Packard/Lincoln intersection.
Various Board members raised questions about specific details of the proposed development and the presentation from Mr. Hart, and then the floor was opened to members of the public in attendance.
Mr. Hippolito from Blaine St. raised several concerns, about the traffic impacts in the area in which he lives, and inquired as to how he could have this issue returned to town meeting for a new vote. The Board replied that it had already taken a vote on this option and decided to move forward.
Weeden Parris, from Chaplain Drive inquired about the plans to replace the water tank on site, and Bob D’Amelio from Edgewood Dr. inquired about the approval process from this point forward. Charles Ryan from Local 475 of the Carpenter’s Union spoke in favor of the jobs that would be created by the project, and John McDonald from River Rd. said that he believed that the benefits of the proposal outweighed the drawbacks. Mr. Myron Osgood agreed. Ms. Diane Peterson from Gates Pond Rd. asked whether the sale was contingent upon zoning approval from Berlin and the Board indicated that, from its point of view, it wasn’t.
Individual members of the Board expressed their opinions about the project, emphasizing the creation of jobs, the tax revenues, and other economic benefits that would derive from the project – especially in light of the possibility that a different shopping center could be built in Berlin that would result in the same traffic but no benefits. Members also pointed out that other uses of the site could have more dire impacts with less upside to the town, and additionally emphasized that the tax benefits accruing to Hudson would be in direct proportion to square footage that is erected in Hudson as opposed to Berlin.
After all comments had been received by the Board, Mr. Durant made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Leeber, to approve the sale of the town land to Sullivan Hayes, and to have Town Counsel and the Executive Assistant move ahead with preparation of a Purchase & Sales agreement for signature at the Board’s earliest opportunity. The vote was approved by a margin of 5-0.
5. Licenses:
6. Personnel:
Selectmen to note the retirement of Marie Collins form the Police Department.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to note the retirement by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider approval of appointment of Katrina Proctor as the Conservation / Board of Health Assistant at a NU, Grade M3.
On a motion by Mr. Leeber, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted to approve the appointment by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider approval of appointment of Election Officers.
On a motion by Mr. Leeber, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to approve the appointments by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider granting 30 days of advanced sick time to Officer Thomas Quinn.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Leeber, the Board voted to approve the sick leave advance by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider approval of appointment of Karen Roberts and Cori Hunt as part-time Communications Dispatchers and promotion of Jodi Blanchard from part-time Communications Dispatcher to full-time Communications Dispatcher at Grade 8 Step 4.
On a motion by Mr. Leeber, seconded by Mr. Durant, the Board voted to approve the appointments by a margin of 5-0.
7. Contracts:
Selectmen to consider approval of signing Capital Fund Program Amendment to provide $122,571 in financial assistance to the Hudson Housing Authority for modernization and capital improvements.
Mr. Leeber recused himself from the vote as he does business with the Housing Authority as a landlord. On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted to sign the Capital Fund Amendment by a margin of 4-0.
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign three year contract in the amount of $121,574.22 with Leslie Boardman (SB) for Animal Control Services.
On a motion by Mr. Leeber, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider award and contract with Daniel P. Robinson, d/b/a Able Fence Co., in the amount of $11,850 (LQ) for fencing of Technology Drive field.
On a motion by Mr. Parente, seconded by Mr. Leeber, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign contract with Putnam Pipe Corp in the amount of $5,520 (LQ) for fire hydrants.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Leeber, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign three year contract with Joe Green for appraisal consulting services in the amount of $95 per hour for appraisal and $125 per hour for court appearances (BP).
On a motion by Mr. Parente, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign three year contract with Gustafson Environmental for on-call water and wastewater consulting services in the amount of $100 per hour (BP).
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to consider award and contract with Architectural Casework & Millwork, Inc., in the amount of $13,306 (SB) for construction of a reference desk for the Library.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to award the contract and authorize its signing by a margin of 5-0.
8. General:
Selectmen to note receipt of donation from William Verdone for the Lampson Park Project.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Loura, the Board voted to accept the donation by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to sign three Chapter 90 Reimbursement forms totaling $316,164.02.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to sign the authorization forms by a margin of 5-0.
Selectmen to sign Commonwealth Capital Application.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Leeber, the Board voted to sign the application by a margin of 5-0.
9. Town Issues:
Mr. Leeber asked if the Internal Traffic Committee would favor the installation of a four-way stop at Packard/Cox/Lincoln St. pending the design of controls at that site.
Mr. Leeber asked if the town could look at making some clearer markings on Chestnut St. in Hudson indicating its one-way lay out as it enters Stow, and if research could be done to determine what needed to be done to widen Marlboro Rd. in Stow in order to make it a two-way street.
10. Proclamations:
Selectmen to issue proclamation honoring October 24th as United Nations Day.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to issue the proclamation by a margin of 5-0.
11. Correspondence to be Noted by Clerk:
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Parente, the Board voted to note correspondence by a margin of 5-0.
12. Adjourn:
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Leeber, the Board voted to adjourn by a margin of 5-0.
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