Minutes of Meeting – February 4, 2009; meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.
Present: RN Sandlin; L Messana; J McNinch; KR Flynn; S. Pavlosky.
MOTION by RNS, seconded by LM to accept the Minutes and Executive Minutes of January 21 and the Minutes of January 28 as presented. 5/0 vote on 1/21 Minutes; 4/0 vote with KRF abstaining on 1/28 Minutes.
PaPA Center A/A License: KRF recused herself from this matter as she works at the law firm representing Shakespeare & Co. MOTION by RNS, seconded by LM to open the public hearing. 4/0 vote. The clerk read the advertisement for a new General on Premises license for the PaPA Center theatre lobby, concessions lobby, entry lobby, productions lobby and exterior picnic areas for Shakespeare & Company’s liquor license. The ABCC determined that two separate licenses were necessary for this large parcel of land. Lori Robbins appeared before the Board to answer any questions they had regarding this license request. MOTION by RNS, seconded by LM to close the public hearing. 4/0 vote. MOTION by RNS, seconded by LM to approve the new General on Premises A/A license as presented.
4/0 vote.
Building Inspector Bill Thornton, on occasion, must condemn a building. As part of this process, a Board of Surveyors is needed. Accordingly, MOTION by LM, seconded by KRF to appoint Robert Harrison and Charles Liston to serve on the Board of Surveyors. 5/0 vote.
The Board previously approved the Affordable Housing Production Plan. However, the state asked that several edits be made to clarify the Town’s intent. MOTION by JM, seconded by LM to approve the edited version of the Affordable Housing Production Plan as presented. 5/0 vote. SP formally recognized the members of the Committee for a job well done.
SP reiterated that the Board had previously voted to endorse the ACEC as originally proposed, and that a letter of support to Secretary Bowles to this effect has now been drafted, signed and is ready for mailing.
The TM updated the Board on the Town’s budget process to date, and what the Governor’s mid-year cuts in state aid as well as his proposed FY10 budget means for Lenox. For FY09, the town will see a $65,000 cut in state aid, which we will deal with by holding back on expenditures, not using health insurance contingency money and having local receipts come in higher than budgeted. As for FY10, the Governor’s budget is still just a proposal, but we could see a 7% cut in local aid. However, if the 1% increase in state wide rooms and meals tax is approved, it may actually be more like a 4% reduction. While we do a little better than we assumed a month ago with the State Aid, local receipts will likely drop, thus we stay even.
MOTION by RNS, seconded by LM to appoint Gregory King, Matthew Sterling and Skylar Swanson as Relief Firefighter/EMTs. 5/0 vote.
Old/New Business: LM went through the staff anniversary dates. KRF praised the Library for the wonderful and very successful fundraiser they held over the weekend. The Board briefly discussed the farmer’s market coming to Triangle Park this summer. It was agreed to monitor the event to make sure that no problems or issues arise.
By roll call, SP, LM, RNS, KRF and JM voted to go into Executive Session at 7:45 p.m. to discuss current negotiations with personnel.
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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