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BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013
In attendance: Denis F. Keohane, J. Thomas Hurley, Kathleen M. Conlon, Annemarie Fagan, Town Administrator and Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary
1. Chairman Keohane convened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Cronin Conference Room of the Town Hall.
2. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the December 3, 2013 meeting minutes as written.
3. The Board confirmed December 17, 2013 January 7, 11 and 21, 2014 as future meeting dates.
4. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the following 2014 Common Victualler license renewals:
Radio Coffeehouse, 24 Central Avenue, Milton Youth Hockey, Ulin Rink, Newcomb Farms, 1130 Randolph Avenue, LETHE, LLC (New England), d/b/a/ Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 360 Granite Avneue, Abdelghani Sanoussi, d/b/a Zach’s Pizza and Wings, 538B Adams Street, Ho Jarn, Inc., d/b/a Mr. Chan’s, 534 Adams Street, Jenna’s Place II, d/b/a JCI (Houghton’s Pond Concession), Marketplace Café, 10 Bassett Street, Tino’s Pizza, 2 Central Avenue, Stella’s Luncheonette, 558 Adams Street, Starbuck’s Coffee, 552 Adams Street, Miltdun, LLC, d/b/a Dunkin’ Donuts, 545 Adams Street, B&D Ichiro, Inc., d/b/a/ Ichiro Sushi, 538A Adams Street, Spelbound, Inc., d/b/a Milton House of Pizza, 537 Adams Street, Atlantic Hill Construction, Inc., d/b/a/ G.H. Bent & Company,
7 Pleasant Street, Wharf Street Restaurant Group, LLC, d/b/a 88 Wharf, 88 Wharf Street, Welch Restaurant Management, LLC, d/b/a/ Abby Park, 550 Adams Street, Milton Fuller Housing Corp., d/b/a Fuller Village, 1372 Brush Hill Road, Milton Fuller Housing Corp., d/b/a Fuller Village, 1399 Blue Hill Avenue, The Plate, 27 Central Avenue, Milton’s Opus, LLC, d/b/a/ Steel and Rye Restaurant, 95 Eliot Street.
5. Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of the Police Chief to appoint Mary E. Murray, 20 Victoria Street, to the position of Substitute Traffic Supervisor, subject to the approval of the Personnel Board.
6. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the acceptance of a 2014 Ford Police Inceptor Utility vehicle for the Milton Police Department awarded as part of a regional EOD/K9 grant in the amount of $45,000.
7. Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve and forward to the Warrant Committee, the FY15 Selectmen’s budget in the amount of $429,128 (level dollar) and $532,525 (level service).
8. The Board discussed potential articles for the May 2014 Annual Town Meeting based on recommendations by the Department of Revenue’s Financial Management Review of the Town.
Discussion on the re-establishment of the Audit Committee as a bylaw committee concluded with the Board agreeing that it should allow the Town Government Study Committee to make a recommendation before submitting an article for consideration by town meeting.
The Board discussed whether to submit an article for the establishment of a trust for the Town’s liability for the funding of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), or non-pension benefits earned by public employees. Currently, the Town maintains a stabilization fund for this purpose. Because of the small amount set aside for OPEB at this time and the expense of administering an OPEB trust, the Board concluded that it will not seek authority to establish an OPEB trust at this time. The Town Accountant and the Town Administrator will research the costs of administering an OPEB trust.
The Board discussed the formation of a bylaw review committee and agreed to postpone further consideration until the Moderator has made his appointments to the Town Government Study Committee and that committee makes a recommendation to the Board.
The Board discussed the formation of an IT Committee and agreed to postpone further action on this until Town Meeting acts on the Board’s request for a $50,000 appropriation to hire an IT consultant.
9. The Board met with Jay Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Carpet located at 502 Granite Avenue, and his Attorney, Frank Marinelli to discuss a modification to the signage at this site. Mr. Kennedy is proposing to lease his property at 502 Granite Avenue to a new business, Sleepy’s, the Mattress Professionals, and is seeking permission to leave the existing LED sign on the roof and to add lettering to the west side façade. The Board discussed and debated the requested modifications with Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marinelli and Planning Director William Clark and agreed to leaving the sign with modifications and add signage on the front of the building, again with modifications. The Board will prepare a detailed motion for a vote at
the December 17 meeting.
10. The Board met with Planning Director William Clark to discuss the proposed planning services at Granite Avenue relating to the redevelopment of the Park and Ride Lot. Mr. Clark reviewed the different alternatives discussed by the Granite Avenue Committee and the services needed to perform a streetscape analysis and an evaluation of traffic signalization.
After discussion, J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator to sign a Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and MassDevelopment for planning services at Granite Avenue related to the potential redevelopment of the Park and Ride Lot at this location.
11. The Town Administrator informed the Board that Congressman Michael Capuano will hold an informal meeting at the Council on Aging on Monday, December 16, to address questions relating to airplane noise.
Ms. Fagan also publicly thanked the Amateur Gardeners for their beautification efforts for Town Hall, the Gazebo, the Police Station and the Fire Station during the holidays.
12. The Chairman reported on an event sponsored by the Milton Times that was held at the Common Market during which Lynda-Lee Sheridan was recognized for her contributions to the Town. Mr. Keohane also reported on the Fireman’s Ball and a request from the seniors at Fuller Village to meet to update them on the happenings in the Town.
13. Denis F. Keohane moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 8:08 p.m. with Denis F. Keohane voting yes, J. Thomas Hurley voting yes and Kathleen M. Conlon voting yes to enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation (Kevin Mearn v. Town of Milton) and to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property (Deer Run Lane Property) believing that having these conversations in open session would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body and to return to open session to adjourn.
14. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 9:28 p.m. to adjourn.
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