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May 2, 2013
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

In attendance:  J. Thomas Hurley, Denis F. Keohane, Kathleen M. Conlon, Annemarie Fagan, Town Administrator and Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary

1.      Chairman Hurley convened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Cronin Conference Room of the Town Hall.

2.      Denis F. Keohane moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted 2-0-1 with J. Thomas Hurley voting yes, Denis F. Keohane voting yes and Kathleen M. Conlon abstaining to approve the April 17, 2013 meeting minutes as written.

3.      Kathleen Conlon moved to nominate Denis F. Keohane as the new chairman of the Board.  Mr. Keohane accepted the nomination.  J. Thomas Hurley seconded the motion and the Board voted to appoint Denis F. Keohane as the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Kathleen Conlon moved to nominate J. Thomas Hurley as the new secretary of the Board.  Mr. Hurley accepted the nomination.  Denis F. Keohane seconded the motion and the Board voted to appoint J. Thomas Hurley as Secretary of the Board of Selectmen.

4.      John Arthur, 1375 Brush Hill Road addressed the Board speaking in opposition to the Milton Mews project as did Deborah Felton, Executive Director of Fuller Village and Canton resident, Denny Swenson.  Jeffrey Stoodt, 21 Cypress Road and Kristan Bagley Jones, 32 Belcher Circle spoke in support of the Milton Art Center.  Lynda-Lee Sheridan, 57 Clifton Road and Brian Kelley, 11 Hope Avenue addressed the Board regarding plans for a fireworks display on June 7 (June 8-rain date)

5.      The Board met with Joan Clifford, Director of the Milton Arts Center and Attorney Mary McNamara to discuss a proposed amendment to the lease agreement between the Town and the Milton Arts Center for the property at 334 Edge Hill Road. (Chairman Keohane recused himself from this discussion)  Discussion included the status of the Arts Center application for 501C3 status and the request for an additional year at the present rental fee of $500.

        The Board agreed to offer the Center the rate of $500 per month for the first six months of lease year 2013-2014.  Mr. Hurley suggested that the rate for the second six months be $1,500 but $1,000 of that monthly amount (or $6,000 in total) be deferred to the last year of the lease agreement.  Ms. Clifford and Ms. McNamara will bring this offer to its Board and let the town Administrator know its decision in a timely manner.

6.      The Board met with Attorney Peter Epstein who represents the Town in matters that have to do with cable licensing and telecommunications.  Mr. Epstein reviewed the renewal process for the RCN license.

7.      The Board met with Town Accountant Amy Dexter who reviewed the most current flash report on the General Fund.

8.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to award the contract to perform actuarial consulting service pertaining to the Town’s other post-employment benefits (OPEB), other than pensions, in accordance with the provisions of the Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 45 (GASB 45) as of July 1, 2012 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013 and 2014 to Primoris Benefit Advisors, Inc. in the amount of $7,250.

9.      Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve and sign a proclamation to acknowledge the Town’s distinction as a TREE CITY USA community.

        Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve and sign a proclamation in recognition of Arbor Day.

10.     The Board met with Historical Commission Chair Stephen O’Donnell who was soliciting support from the Board on Article 44 which would amend the Zoning Bylaws to address parking limitations at 98 Adams Street (Swift Hat Shop).  After discussion, J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to support Article 44.

11.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to authorize the Planning Director to issue a Request for Quotes for the appraisal of the Town-owned portion of the property at 131 Eliot Street.

12.     The Board met with Lee Toma, Chairman of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to discuss the Town’s interest in becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community.  After discussion J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to work with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to apply for a Bicycle Friendly Community status for the Town.

13.     Kathleen Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the following reappointments through May 2014:

  • Town Counsel- John Flynn
  • Keeper of the Lockup (Chief of Police)-Richard G. Wells, Jr.
  • Inspector of Wires-Domenic DeFranceschelli
  • Plumbing and Gas Inspector and Sealer of Weights and Measures-Mark Kelly
  • Director of Public Works/Town Engineer-Joseph Lynch
  • Assistant Director of Public Works (Operations) and Local Superintendent for the Suppression of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths-Brian Carlisle
  • Director of Planning and Community Development-William Clark
  • Director of Milton Emergency Management Agency-Mark Williams
  • Veterans and Burial Agent and Director of Veterans Services &Veterans  Grave Officer-Michael Cunningham
  • Registrar of Voters (one each year-Term = 3 years) Kevin P. Donahue
  • Agent for the Peabody Fund-Diane Ferrari
14.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve of the following members of the Milton Village/Central Avenue Revitalization Committee to serve through April 2014:  John Zychowicz, Katherine Dunphy, Michael Wilcox, Everett Hayward, Ruth Heiden, Chad Lundeen and Peter Jackson.
        J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Paul Yovino to serve on the Broadband monitoring Committee through May 2014.
15.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the following amendments to the Traffic Rules and Orders:

Article V, Section 1:
        Morton Road – Install “No Parking” signs on the easterly side of Morton Road from the intersection of Eliot Street to the driveway of 10 Morton Road.
        
        Article V, Section 7:
        Eliot Street – Install “2 Hour Parking” for the first fifteen spaces on the southbound side of Eliot Street, beginning at 95 Eliot Street counting back towards Adams Street (currently posted “Service Zone”).

        Central Avenue – Install “15 Minute Parking 6-10 p.m.” for the three parking spaces between 20 and 30 Central Avenue (in addition to current “1 Hour” posting).

        Article III, Section 11:
        Randolph Avenue Remove the “No Turn On Red” sign on Randolph Avenue (northbound) at the intersection of Centre Street.

        Other Recommendations:

        Brook Road – Install advanced warning signage on Brook Road at the intersection of Briarfield Road warning of hazardous curve ahead.

16.     Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve forwarding to the Warrant Committee the following Reserve Fund Transfer requests from the Police Department:

  • Police General-Gasoline in the amount of $25,000
  • Police Salary & Wages-Overtime in the amount of $28,665 (Marathon bombing)
  • Police Salary & Wages-Overtime in the amount of $6,233.19 (Presidential Election)
  • Police Salary & Wages-Overtime in the amount of $5,000 (June Special Election)
for a total of $64,898.19.

17.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from the Milton Mustangs Youth Football to display one A-frame sign in several rotating locations announcing registration of youth football in the fall.

        Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from Brookwood Farm to display A-frame signs announcing the annual plant sale that is taking place on the weekend of May 18, 2013.

18.     The Board discussed the warrant articles in preparation for the upcoming annual town meeting that begins on Monday, May 6, 2013.

19.     Denis F. Keohane moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously with Denis F. Keohane voting yes. J. Thomas Hurley voting yes and Kathleen M. Conlon voting yes at 9:51 p.m. to enter Executive Session for the purpose of conducting strategy in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel-Deputy Police Chief’s contract, and to discuss the purchase and value of Town-owned real property located on Central Avenue adjacent to the MBTA Red Line Central Avenue stop, believing that having these discussions in Open Session would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the body and to return to Open Session to adjourn.

20.     Denis F. Keohane moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 10:37 p.m. to adjourn.