Minutes of Meeting – April 2, 2008; meeting called to order at 5:30 pm.
Present: S Pavlosky; L. Messana; JH Pumphrey; RT Akroyd; RN Sandlin.
MOTION by RTA, seconded by LM to accept the Minutes and Executive Minutes of March 19 as presented. 5/0 vote.
MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant a one-day A/A license to Eastover Resort for 4/21 from
4-11pm at the mansion. 5/0 vote. MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant a one-day W&M license to Zara Rankell for 4/5 from 1-8pm at the Community Center Ballroom. 5/0 vote. MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant a one-day W&M license to Ventfort Hall for 4/12 from 7-10pm at Ventfort Hall. 5/0 vote. MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant a one-day W&M license to Eastover Resort for 4/14 from 4-9pm at the mansion. 5/0 vote. MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant a one-day W&M license to the Lenox Historical Society for 4/18 from 5-7pm at The Academy. 5/0 vote.
MOTION by LM, seconded by SP to appoint John Willey and Phil Smits as Reserve Police Officers for the Town of Lenox. 5/0 vote.
MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to grant permission for the National MS Society to utilize Town roads, Triangle Park and the restrooms at The Academy from 9:30-noon on May 3 during their annual walkathon. 5/0 vote.
Members from the Church on the Hill and the Chamber came before the Board to explain their Tents of Hope Project, which is a project aimed at raising funds for the purchase of tents to be used as shelters for the victims of the Darfur crisis. They asked for permission to utilize the Library Park on Saturday, May 31 for a “Tent City” painting day, with a rain date of June 1. MOTION by RTA, seconded by JHP to approve of said request. 5/0 vote.
RNS announced that the Fire Department will be conducting drills on a house that is to be replaced at 40 Brunell Avenue near the town’s sewer pump station. It is scheduled for the morning of April 12.
The Board received an update on GE’s Rest of River Corrective Measures Study. We are probably another year away before any decisions are made as to what should be done, but this issue will need to be monitored closely by the Town. GE is currently recommending that should removals be done at all, that the dredging in the river take place down to New Lenox Road, that a sand cap of 6” be placed in the river from New Lenox Road down to and including Woods Pond and that some 38 acres of flood plain from Pittsfield down to Woods Pond be scraped. It was agreed to have representatives from the EPA attend a future meeting to update the Board.
West Street: The Board reviewed the two options from MA Highway. Option A provides for 10’ sidewalks/bike paths with the existing road width, and would require 35 large trees to be removed. Option B provides for a narrower sidewalk of 5-6’ and a slightly wider road footprint, with 10 large trees to be removed. It was agreed that a public hearing should be scheduled to hear which is the preferred option.
FY09/ATM Warrant: MOTION by JHP, seconded by RTA to approve Articles 1-3. 5/0 vote. MOTION by RTA, seconded by LM to approve warrant articles as subsequently revised. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JHP, seconded by RTA to approve Article 23 regarding trench regulations. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JHP, seconded by RTA to approve Article 24 regarding the discontinuance of Reservoir Road. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JHP, seconded by SP to place Article 28 regarding rezoning of the Vahle property on Pittsfield Road on the warrant. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JHP, seconded LM to place Article 29 regarding health insurance for elected officials on the warrant. 5/0 vote. Both of these articles were by petition.
There was some discussion regarding the issue of health insurance for elected officials. Tom Romeo stated that it is an inequality issue – 11 officials are eligible, 17 are not – and grandfathering does not address this. Warren Archey agreed, and stated that he would not like to see any compromise on the petition. The Board feels that grandfathering is self-correcting through attrition. At this point, JHP left the meeting due to illness.
The meeting continued with the Finance Committee going through the proposed FY09 budget expenditures and revenues. Old/New Business: LM went through the employee anniversaries.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.
Minutes Taken By: ______________________ Minutes Accepted By: ______________________
Mary Ellen Deming Clerk
Assistant to Town Manager Board of Selectmen
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Mary Ellen Deming
Town of Lenox
Town Hall - 6 Walker Street
Lenox, MA 01240
phone: (413) 637-5500
fax: (413) 637-5518
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