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Minutes of Meeting – July 11, 2012; meeting called to order at 6:30pm. Present: John McNinch; Ken Fowler; Ed Lane; Channing Gibson; Dave Roche.
The Board held a joint meeting with the Lenox Housing Authority to appoint a member to replace Holly Higgins who resigned from the Board. Diana Kirby was the only applicant for this opening. By roll call vote, the Boards voted as follows: JM, Diana Kirby; KF, Diana Kirby; EL, Diana Kirby; CG, Diana Kirby; DR, Diana Kirby; Marge Pero, Diana Kirby; Theresa Sorrentino, Diana Kirby. (Application)
Citizen’s Open Forum: Susan May, the Solarize Mass Coach, updated the Board on progress made on the solar project. She stated that a contractor had been selected, Astrum Solar, and that additional information will be mailed out to residents next week. CG suggested that she notify the building inspector’s office about the program. Another resident requested that the Board send a letter to the state requesting that the speed limit on Kemble Street be reduced from 45mph to 35mph. MOTION by DR, seconded by EL to send said letter. 5/0 vote.
MOTION by DR, seconded by JM to accept the Minutes of June 20 and 25 as presented. 5/0 vote.
KF gave an update on the recent Selectmen training held jointly with the Great Barrington Board of Selectmen at the Great Barrington Firehouse on June 25 and 26. He stated that there are eight points on good governance, and that you need to remember who you serve. Others commented on the value of the training as it reinforced and clarified the role of the Selectmen as policy makers.
MOTION by JM, seconded by CG to participate in the FY13 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, and to authorize the TM to sign a contract for same. 5/0 vote. (Contract, letter)
Environmental Committee Reorganization: The Board reviewed a proposed mission and scope of work for an Environmental Committee. It was agreed that the new committee should consist of five individuals. MOTION by JM, seconded by CG to create the Lenox Environmental Committee, utilizing the charge as submitted. 5/0 vote. Anyone interested in serving should submit a letter of interest to the Selectmen’s office.
Wedding Planner: Dawn Carberry explained what her group is planning and how she anticipates utilizing the $2500 that the Marketing and Events Committee has recommended. She stated that she would be willing to consider this a loan. After further discussion, MOTION by DR, seconded by EL to grant the amount of $2500 to the Wedding Planners Tour Event without the need to pay it back to the Town. 5/0 vote.
DR stated that he and CG have been attending the marketing meetings, but are not at a juncture to talk about a direction for the Town to take. He feels that within a few weeks there should be a recommendation as to the next steps in the process. Our contracts with Bodden-Hamilton have ended. Any new work to be done will require a new RFP and selection process. JM stated that since the Town has already spent $60-70,000, we need to keep moving forward. Kim Flynn asked if there was someone who could keep the Discover Lenox website current. (Application)
The Board held a brief discussion regarding the exterior painting of the Library building. It was agreed to move forward with the exterior painting and the repair and painting of the rear cupola, but not the repair and painting of the shutters. MOTION by DR, seconded by JM to award the bid to Gentleman Painting of Pittsfield, MA in the amount of $34,800 which includes Add On #1 , and to authorize the TM to sign a contract for same. 5/0 vote. (Bid Summary)
The TM gave an end of the year status report and a beginning of FY13 report. He stated that the Town finished the year in the black, and thanked all department heads for their hard work in keeping to their budgets. He stated that the two Reserve Fund Transfers voted at the last meeting need to be amended as follows: Veterans from $25,000 to $20,000 and the ConCom mowing of the fields from $1000 to $1650. In addition, two new transfers need to be acted upon as follows: a transfer in the amount of $82.06 to cover election costs, and a transfer in the amount of $5764 to cover costs associated with the senior tax work-off program. MOTION by JM, seconded by EL to approve two amended and two new Reserve Fund Transfers as recommended above. (Reserve Fund Transfer forms)
Consent Agenda items: MOTION by DR, seconded by EL to approve a temporary sign request from the Church on the Hill for one week prior to their July 28-29 craft fair. 5/0 vote. MOTION by CG, seconded by EL to approve the display of an easel and small sign outside of the Library building on eight Fridays and Saturdays (July 6 to August 24) from 11am-2:30pm only. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JM, seconded by CG to grant permission for a temporary banner above the Welles Gallery for the last two weeks of July. 5/0 vote. MOTION by CG, seconded by EL to grant permission for Solarize Lenox to hang a banner over Main Street from July 31-August 5 and August 13-19. 5/0 vote. It was suggested that the Town add cleats to the poles so that the banners hang better. MOTION by JM, seconded by EL to grant
permission for a temporary banner at Essentials from July 13-27. 5/0 vote. DR suggested that a form be created, listing the dimensions, location, color, etc. of the sign to be erected. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JM, seconded by EL to grant permission for the Morris PTO to utilize Lilac Park during Apple Squeeze on Saturday, September 22, 2012. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JM, seconded by EL to grant a one-day W&M license to the Lenox VFW for 8/18 from 6:30-9pm at St. Ann Parish Center. 5/0 vote. MOTION by DR, seconded by EL to grant a one-day W&M license to Paul Lippmann for 9/8 from 2-5pm at the Welles Gallery. 5/0 vote. MOTION by DR, seconded by EL to grant a one-day A/A license to Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary for 7/21 from 6-10pm. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JM, seconded by DR to approve a one-day A/A license to Kerry Sullivan for July 20 from 6pm-midnight in the Community Center Ballroom. 5/0 vote. MOTION
by DR, seconded by JM to grant an Outdoor Dining License to Nejaime’s Wine Cellar located at 60 Main Street. It was requested that he have adequate signage stating that no consumption of alcohol will be allowed. 5/0 vote. MOTION by CG, seconded by EL to grant permission for a sandwich board sign to Scott Shortt of the Kemble Inn located at 2 Kemble Street. Both KF and CG stated that while the Board is approving this sign, the guidelines specify what type of material will be required and that it is not likely that plastic signs will be allowed next year. 5/0 vote. MOTION by JM, seconded by CG to grant permission for a sandwich board sign to Aspinwall Equestrian Center, David and Caroline Roche located at 293 Main Street. 4/0 vote with DR abstaining. The Board announced that Lynn Sutton has resigned from the Historical Commission and anyone interested in serving should submit a letter of interest to the Selectmen’s office. (Letter, applications)
Old/New Business: CG mentioned that the Planning Board would like to put together an ad hoc committee to work on an open space and recreation plan. It is expected that it would take approximately nine months, meeting 1 to 2 times per month. JM will be the representative from the Board. DR brought up the lack of rain, and the need to conserve. He feels that the Town needs to pursue new water supplies. EL stated that the DPW is working on this project. He then went through the various DPW projects occurring around town. CG mentioned that there will be a joint meeting with the Planning Board regarding economic development on August 14 at 5:30pm. He also mentioned his frustration with the utility companies with regard to an interconnection agreement for the solar project. JM stated that
the Watershed Committee will be looking at a draft watershed conservation restriction at their meeting tomorrow morning. It was agreed to refer a letter received from NAK Integrated to the Marketing and Events Committee once a direction has been determined.
By roll call, DR, KF, EL, JM and CG voted to go into Executive Session at 9:20pm to discuss contract negotiations, and to not return to open session.
Minutes Taken By: ______________________ Minutes Accepted By: ______________________
Mary Ellen Deming Clerk
Director of Administrative Services Board of Selectmen
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