AGENDA
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006
6:30 p.m. - Convene Meeting - Conference Room 1
MINUTES
APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS
6:30 Public Comment
Joint Meeting – Finance Committee – Budget Review
COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE
OLD BUSINESS
1) Special and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Review – Draft 1
NEW BUSINESS
1) Replacement Sewer Bond
2) Request of Rod & Gun Club – Event on March 11, 2006
MMR ISSUES
BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE UPDATE
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Board of Selectmen
Minutes
March 7, 2006
Present: Selectman Green, Selectman Myers,
Selectman Cahalane, Selectman Cook
Town Manager, Joyce Mason
Absent: Selectman Taylor
Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Green at 6:30 p.m.
Town Hall, Conference Room #1.
APPOINTMENTS AND HEARINGS:
Public Comment:
Melissa Avenue resident Ralph Marcelli related concern with regards to a petition article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant accepting the layout of Melissa Avenue. Mr. Marcelli indicated that of 118 residents being assessed betterment; only 57 have signed the petition article, less that ½ of the residents. It was also noted the easement taking and layout plan as described in the petition article is incorrectly dated December 27, 2000. The plans were re-drawn on December 27, 2005.
Mr. Marcelli also stated that the road is proposed to be paved beyond Jones Road to the common drive. Of the seven property owners in the area of Melissa Avenue, only one was noted to sign the petition in support of paving. The area residents do not want this portion of the road to be paved.
In response, the Town Manager indicated she would review the amount of signatures on the petition contained in the warrant that was certified by the Assessor’s Office. Previous minutes state the road paving project would end near the Marsters’ property on Melissa Avenue as requested by the concerned residents.
It was agreed the matter would be further reviewed and discussed at the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Replacement of Sewer Bond:
Thomas Connolly, Treasurer Collector was present to request the Selectmen approve and execute documents relative to the $357,541 Replacement Sewer Bond. The documents would then be delivered to the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust’s Office in Boston.
The purpose of borrowing the referenced sum would finance consultant services and associated costs related to the development of a Watershed Nitrogen Management Plan Effluent Pipeline preliminary design.
It was agreed the Certificate of Vote would be included in the minutes. The date of the respective agreement is Tuesday, March 7, 2006.
Motion made by Selectman Cahalane to approve and execute the Certificate of Vote for the Replacement Sewer Bond.
Motion seconded by Selectman Cook.
VOTE: Unanimous. 4-0.
Request of Rod and Gun Club – Event on March 11, 2006:
Correspondence was received from the Rod and Gun Club dated February 27, 2006 requesting the Selectmen approve a liquor license date on Saturday, March 11, 2006.
Motion made by Selectman Cahalane to approve the request of the Mashpee Wampanoag Road and Gun Club to use their liquor license on Saturday, March 11, 2006.
Motion seconded by Selectman Myers.
VOTE: Unanimous. 3-0.
Selectman Cook abstained.
APPOINTMENTS AND HEARINGS:
Joint Meeting – Finance Committee – Budget Review:
The Board of Selectmen conducted a joint meeting with members of the Finance Committee for the purpose of reviewing the Omnibus Budget for fiscal year 2007.
Two budgets were distributed, one that included the Cape Cod Regional Technical School, and the other without. It was noted that an article appears on the Town Meeting warrant to raise and appropriate $492,481 to meet the Town’s share of the cost and operation and maintenance beginning fiscal year 2006.
It was disclosed the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee are in agreement with the budget with the exception of the Town Clerk salary-elected and the Elections & Registrations expense account.
Respectively, the Town Manager has recommended the salary of the Town Clerk remain consistent with all Town employee increases. Using this method, the Town Clerk would receive a 2-2 split increase. It was noted the Town Clerk receives the same benefits as all Town employees.
The Finance Committee has recommended a $52,919 salary for the Town Clerk. The Town Manager has recommended for FY07, a salary of $51,675. It was noted the Town Clerk has requested a salary of $55,967. As an elected official, the Town Clerk has the ability to go before the voters on Town Meeting floor to request an increased salary.
It was determined the employee compensation/reclassification study prepared by Government Consulting Group was the rationale of the Finance Committee to reach agreement on their wage recommendation as referenced. To date, the study has not been adopted by the Board of Selectmen. The compensation study also sets a minimum and maximum salary range for the position. In FY06, the salary of the Town Clerk was $50,160.
The Selectmen recommended that a structure be developed to outline perspective salaries over a longer term rather than reviewing a single pay formula on a year to year basis.
The Board, with the exception of Selectman Myers agreed to support the Town Manager’s recommended salary for the Town Clerk. Selectman Myers was noted to support neither recommendation. He stated the position is unique and should be considered with a longer term contract. It was noted the Town Clerk’s position is the only full-time elected position in the Town of Mashpee.
Discussion followed regarding the $1,000 discrepancy in the Elections & Registration expense account. It was noted that in the future, the voting machines will be in need of an upgrade to meet ADA state requirements. To date, the directive has not been a requirement. The Town Manager identified the Finance Committee if necessary, as a potential funding source to provide for the expenditure if it is unforeseen. There was no action taken between the two Boards on the two matters.
Each line item of the Omnibus was further considered. Under Shellfish, propagation account, the Selectmen directed the Town Manager to allow the expense of $14,000 to remain consistent with previous years. The propagation of the department has been a successful endeavor.
The recommended Omnibus Budget of the Town Manager is $43,124,033. The recommended Omnibus Budget of the Finance Committee is $43,126,277, a discrepancy of $2,244.
To balance the operating budget, the Town Manager has considered the use of $1,803,746 in free cash. The capital improvement program, a budget of $174,282 is also considered to derive from free cash resources.
OLD BUSINESS:
Special and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Review – Draft 1:
The Board of Selectmen reviewed with the Finance Committee, the Special and Annual Town Meeting warrants of Monday, May 1, 2006.
The following action was considered;
Special Town Meeting Warrant:
Energy and fuel related articles; Article #3 Department of Public Works, Article #5 Police and Article #7 Library shall be incorporated into (1) article.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant:
Article #3 Capital Improvement Program; a Public Hearing is scheduled on March 13, 2006. Due to budgetary constraints, capital requests for May amount to $174,282. Other capital issues will be addressed at the October Town Meeting.
Article #4 To appropriate $2,114,000 for the purpose of constructing and equipping a Mashpee Fire & Rescue Substation in South Mashpee.
Motion made by Selectman Cahalane to approve the following Ballot Question: Shall the Town of Mashpee be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 ½, so called, the amount to pay for the bond issued in order to construct and equip the Mashpee Fire/Rescue Sub Station?
Motion seconded by Selectman Cook.
VOTE: Unanimous. 4-0.
Article #11; Recommendation to improve the language contained in the article that would replenish the Personnel Accrued Benefit Account.
Article #16; Submitted by the ADA Committee to establish a Disability Commission was held for further review.
Article #17; Temporary Repairs to Private Ways submitted by the ADA Committee was also held for further review. It was noted that Town Counsel remitted correspondence with respect to this regard, and the issue as to whether Town employees or agents may lawfully enter upon private property to erect street signs will be further discussed.
It was agreed that an ADA Committee representative would meet with the Selectmen at their next meeting to further review Articles #16 and #17.
Article #18; Prohibiting Feeding of Waterfowl. To be submitted by Lake Management Committee.
Article #20; To amend Deed (Housing Authority) on property located at 570 Old Barnstable Road. Agreement to clarify Town Counsel’s position and to add more specific language.
Petition Article #23; Melissa Avenue. To clarify certification of signatures and to review plan layout at next meeting.
The Board of Selectmen is expected to finalize the Annual and Special Town Meeting Warrants at their next meeting.
Adjournment:
Motion made by Selectman Cook to adjourn at 8:18 p.m.
Motion seconded by Selectman Cahalane.
VOTE: Unanimous. 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen M. Soares
Secretary to the Board of Selectmen
| 
