Minutes of Meeting – April 25, 2007; meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m.
Present: S Pavlosky; RN Sandlin; L Messana; JH Pumphrey; RT Akroyd.
MOTION by JHP, seconded by RNS to accept the Minutes and Executive Minutes of April 11 as presented. 5/0 vote.
Library Update: The Board updated the group on the proposed library plan. RTA explained that the proposed plan has changed slightly since the last meeting. The Town will now level fund the Library at $242,000. The library, in turn, will sign a lease agreement at $42,000 for the first year. An annual lease will be negotiated each year for the duration of the bonding. This change was necessary because if the Town lowers its appropriation to the Library, they could lose their certification, and thus lose funding. Carlo Schneller from EDM presented the Selectmen with a report on the structural integrity of the library building. In general, the building appears to be in very good condition. The main issue appears to be pointing up of the various chimneys. The estimated cost for expected
repairs over the next 5-7 years is $76,300.
JHP opened the public hearing on changes to a W&M license held by Open Window, Inc. by reading the advertisement as it appeared in The Berkshire Eagle. Joe Baczek explained that he doesn’t anticipate any changes as to how he will run his restaurant, Dish. MOTION by JHP, seconded by SP to close the public hearing. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JHP, seconded by LM to grant the change of manager, transfer of stock, pledge of license and a new officer/director to the existing W&M license currently held by Open Window, Inc. d/b/a Dish as requested. 5/0 vote.
Ralph Petillo from the Chamber appeared before the Board, explaining that he has seen a change occurring in the economic base of Lenox over the past 24 years. He sees a need to improve upon the character of the Town to entice visitors. He sees affordable housing as a need to allow younger people to live in Lenox. Richard Wise also appeared before the Board to discuss ways to promote business in Lenox. He feels that there have been no significant improvements in Town, and that the Town appears to be aggressively anti-business. He feels that street lights on Church Street would go a long way to promote more business. Phil Halpern states that Lenox needs to reinvest in itself. The Selectmen thanked the Chamber members for coming in and expressed their desire to foster a business friendly climate in Lenox.
Kim Flynn gave an update on activities by the Village Improvement Committee. She announced that the next Green Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th. The committee is hoping to install three kiosks that would help visitors locate various shops in and around town. MOTION by JHP, seconded by RNS to grant permission for the committee to erect a banner announcing Green Up Day across Main Street for one week. 4/0 vote with LM abstaining.
MOTION by JHP, seconded by LM to award a contract in an amount not to exceed $26,000 to Solar Works for the installation of photovoltaic panels at the high school, and to authorize the TM to sign same. 5/0 vote.
MOTION by JHP, seconded by LM to appoint Sally Vincent to the Youth Drug and Alcohol Committee, replacing Charlotte Finn. 5/0 vote.
The Board reviewed the warrant articles for the upcoming Town Meeting. Moderator Hugh Cowhig confirmed that Article #8 (purchase of library property) will be a ballot vote, and that Article #21 (petition article to create a Town Library Department) is non-binding.
Old/New Business: LM informed the group that she recently attended the Lee Area Traffic Study meeting and that it was very informative. She also congratulated Tony Salvatore, Chris Long, Joe Goetze and Mary Ellen Deming for their years of service to the Town.
MOTION by RNS, seconded by JHP to proclaim June 24 as Beatles Day in the Town of Lenox. 5/0 vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Minutes Taken By: ___________________ Minutes Accepted By: ______________________
Mary Ellen Deming Clerk
Assistant to Town Manager Board of Selectmen
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