BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012
In attendance: J. Thomas Hurley, Denis F. Keohane, Robert C. Sweeney, Annemarie Fagan, Interim Town Administrator and Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary
- Chairman Hurley convened the meeting at 6:36 p.m. in the John A. Cronin Conference Room of the Town Hall.
2. The Board met with students from St. Mary of the Hills School who were requesting permission to hold its second annual fund raiser to benefit the needy in Haiti.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request for the use of the Town’s streets and ways for St. Mary of the Hills School second annual fund raising walk to benefit the needy residents of Haiti.
3. Denis F. Keohane moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted to approve the November 1 and November 20, 2012 meeting minutes as written and the November 15, 2012 as amended.
4. The Board confirmed its next meeting dates, December 6 and December 20, 2012.
5. Philip Johenning, 24 Parkwood Drive, addressed the Board regarding hours of operation for the Town Hall.
6. Pursuant to Chapter 40, Section 56 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Board convened a public hearing on Property Tax Classification specifically to make decisions regarding the property tax burden to be borne by each class of property, Residential, Open Space, Commercial, Industrial and Personal. Board of Assessors members M. Joseph Manning, William Bennett and James Henderson met with the Board as well as Chief Assessor Jeffrey d’Ambly.
After discussion Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to adopt a Minimum Residential factor of 97.8236, to not adopt a residential exemption, to not adopt an open space discount and to not adopt a small commercial exemption.
7. The Board met with Richard Sullivan and Kathryn Senesi from Powers and Sullivan, Town Accountant Amy Dexter and members of the Town Audit Committee to review the Town’s independent FY2012 audit. Although no deficiencies in internal control were identified opportunities for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency were presented.
8. The Board met with Dennis Regan and Peter Nagle from National Grid and Public Works Director Joseph Lynch regarding a project that was undertaken by National Grid without the required permit for a street opening issued by the Town. The project was discussed and it was agreed that National Grid would submit the proper paperwork for a public hearing process so that this project could be completed in a timely manner.
9. Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to accept a grant award for 60 hours of services provided to the Department of Public Works (Solid Waste Division) by the Department of Environmental Protection valued between $5,000 and $6,000 and to approve a contract and scope of work document with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
10. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Department of Public Works budget in the amount of $6,093,186.
Denis F. Keohane moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Fire Department budget in the amount of $4,672,984.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the FY2013 Education Incentive for the Fire Department in the amount of $95,348.50 which represents 1,978 college earned credits.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Police Department budget in the amount of $6,088,981.
The Board met with the Police Chief Wells to discuss the recent Marijuana legislation and agreed to invite the Chair of the Board of Health to a future Board meeting to discuss this issue.
Denis F. Keohane moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Conservation Commission budget in the amount of $2,500.
Denis F. Keohane moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Consolidated Facilities budget in the amount of $612,412.
Denis F. Keohane moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Historical Commission budget in the amount of $2,240.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Inspectional Services budget in the amount of $348,388.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve, sign and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY14 Selectmen’s E&R budget in the amount of $21,852.
11. The Board accepted a resignation from John King of the Alternate Energy Committee.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to appoint Philippe Genereux, 61 St. Mary’s Road, to the Alternate Energy Committee to serve through December 2013.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to reappoint the following members to the Alternate Energy Committee to serve through December 2013: Henry MacLean, Oliver Crichlow, Tara Manno Richer, John Barron Clancy and Laurie Webster.
The Board accepted a resignation from Ewan Innes of the Town Government Study Committee.
Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to reappoint the following members to the Town Government Study Committee to serve through December 2013: Richard Neely, Kathleen Conlon, John A. Cronin, Annemarie Fagan, Robert Gatnik, Ewan Innes, Leroy Walker, Michael Joyce, Mary McNamara and Marvin Gordon.
12. Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from the First Congregational Church to display a banner on church property to announce the church’s sixth annual “Caroling on the Common” program that is scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2012.
13. Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from the Girl Scouts of Milton to hold sidewalk sales in the East Milton business area in accordance with the Town’s rules for fund raising events on public sidewalks.
14. Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Hurley to represent the Board as its voting delegate at the MIIA Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Hynes Convention Center.
15. The Board met with Mary McNamara and Leroy Walker to discuss the job description for the Town Administrator position and to consider a request to amend the Committee’s charge.
After discussion, J. Thomas Hurley moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously to amend the charge of the Town Administrator Screening Committee by authorizing the Chair of the Committee to extend the deadline for the submittal of applications by up to four weeks beyond the November 30 deadline if necessary.
Denis F. Keohane moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the final draft of the Town Administrator job description.
16. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously with J. Thomas Hurley voting yes, Denis F. Keohane voting yes and Robert C. Sweeney voting yes to enter Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to threatened litigation (Kevin Mearn v. Town of Milton) and for the purpose of discussing non-union collective bargaining (Police Chief’s contract) and to consider the lease of the Animal Rescue League property and a purchase of land for the Cemetery, believing that having these discussions in Open Session would have a detrimental effect on the litigating/bargaining/negotiation position of the body and to return to Open Session for the purpose of adjournment and to convene a meeting of the Trustees of the Governor
Stoughton Fund.
17. Robert C. Sweeney moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 10:55 p.m. to adjourn.
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