Minutes of Meeting – April 1, 2015; meeting called to order at 7:00pm. Present: Channing Gibson; Warren Archey; Ken Fowler; Dave Roche. Absent: Ed Lane.
CG stated that the Easter Egg Scramble will now be held in the Community Center on Saturday, April 4 at 11am.
Consent Agenda: MOTION by KF, seconded by DR to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: Permission to hold the Rhubarb Festival on Saturday, May 23 from 10-3 in Roche Reading Park, and to grant $1000 (if needed) to cover expenses, with the balance of unused funding to be returned to the Town; approve a one-day W&M license to Ventfort Hall for 4/10 from 5-7pm. 4/0 vote.
Town Manager Report: The TM asked the Board to ratify his appointment of Josh Romeo as a part-time firefighter/EMT. MOTION by KF, seconded by DR to ratify the appointment of Josh Romeo as a part-time firefighter/EMT for the Town. 4/0 vote. He then stated that the proposed FY16 Town budget is still the same as it was as presented at the 3/19 BOS meeting. DR stated that he does not want to see the various departments try to fund the Snow and Ice deficit; he would rather utilize Free Cash to cover this expense. The TM mentioned that the School Department budget figures are now incorporated into article #4 rather than being two separate warrant articles. As for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting warrant articles, he stated that Town Counsel has recommended modifying the capital budget article into two
separate articles, separating out the purchase of the fire truck. MOTION by DR, seconded by WA to approve the ATM warrant and FY16 budget, pending final review by Town Counsel, and to call the Annual Town Meeting for Thursday, May 7, 2015. 4/0 vote. The Board then held a discussion regarding the proposed public parking regulations that were presented to them at their March 19 meeting. MOTION by DR, seconded by KF to call a public hearing regarding downtown parking regulations for Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 7:15pm. 4/0 vote.
MOTION by DR, seconded by WA to appoint Charlene Rosen to the Affordable Housing Committee, and Marybeth Mitts to the Affordable Housing Trustees. 4/0 vote. Those two boards are in full support of these appointments.
Tennessee Pipeline: The TM stated that he continues to meet with the BRPC working group, and that Kinder Morgan has filed with FERC to make the proposed route through Hancock, Lanesboro and Cheshire, although the route through Lenox is still listed as an alternate route.
Rest of River: No report.
Solar: The TM informed the Board that representatives from Ameresco were in Lenox last week, collecting data for the final design on the landfill site. We should hear back shortly regarding final negotiations.
Citizen’s Open Forum: Tom Romeo brought up the 4/4 vote at the CPC meeting regarding the Undermountain Farm request. He would like to see this issue readdressed. He feels that the following assertions are inaccurate: 1) the Town was not involved in the very beginning, 2) $250,000 is too much money, and 3) there are still too many unanswered questions. CG stated that the Board has reached out to BNRC and would like to see that land preserved and are working on a plan to discuss further with them.
BOS Reports: KF mentioned that the Planning Board held a public hearing regarding the large scale solar photovoltaic by-laws. The Environmental Committee has placed on the agenda of their next meeting the two petition articles for the upcoming ATM. DR asked that the paving schedule be placed on the Town’s website.
As the Board was getting ready to go into Executive Session, Clarence Fanto from The Berkshire Eagle, questioned the Board’s justification to go into ES to discuss the Undermountain Farm issue rather than in open session. CG stated that the Board will be discussing opening negotiations and how best to proceed.
By roll call, CG, DR, KF and WA voted to go into Executive Session at 7:40pm to discuss strategy regarding the acquisition and disposition of real property.
Minutes Taken By: ______________________ Minutes Accepted By: ______________________
Mary Ellen Deming Clerk
Director of Administrative Services Board of Selectmen
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