BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING TUESDAY APRIL 22, 2014
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 6:33 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 April 1, 2014 meeting minutes as written.
3. The Board confirmed April 28 at 4:30 p.m. and May 1, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cronin Conference Room and each night before Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m., as future meeting dates.
3. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the current payroll and vendor warrants.
4. Eugene Irwin, 120 Highland Street, addressed the Board regarding his belief that the site of the Town Farm may be a former Native American burial site and should not be disturbed.
Ellen DeNooyer, 83 Capen Street, addressed the Board regarding the poor condition of the property at 131 Eliot Street. Ms. Denooyer agreed with the Building Commissioner’s recommendation to demolish the building.
5. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 139, Section 1, the Board convened a public hearing to determine whether the property at 131 Eliot Street is a nuisance or a danger to the neighborhood. Joseph Prondak, Building Commissioner, Brian McDonough, Attorney representing the owner of 131 Eliot Street, and Fred Cowen, Structural Engineer from Cowen Associates were present.
Building Commissioner Joseph Prondak gave testimony which included a time line of events describing a series of inspections, subsequent discussions with the owners of the property at 131 Eliot Street and steps taken by Mr. Prondak to try to ensure the safety of the public. (Shortly after Mr. Prondak began his testimony at 6:58 p.m., Attorney Brandon Moss from Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane arrived.) Mr. Prondak concluded his statement by recommending to the Board that members direct the Connellys to immediately repair or remove the building at 131 Eliot Street.
Attorney McDonough disagreed with some of the statements made by Mr. Prondak and stated that the Connellys want to take down the building but do not want to be held liable should any of the Town’s property be damaged in the process. He asked the Board to not consider the issuance of another demolition order and feels that the Town already has what it needs to get the demolition done. He stated that the Connellys will not agree that the building is unsafe but will agree to demolition because it is keeping with their new 40B proposal for the property.
Selectman Conlon suggested that the Board continue the hearing, which would give both parties an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and reach an agreement on the demolition of 131 Eliot Street.
Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted 2-1-0 with Kathleen M. Conlon voting yes, J. Thomas Hurley voting yes and Denis F. Keohane voting no, to continue the public hearing until April 28 and to designate Attorney Brandon Moss as the Board’s representative in these discussions.
6. The Board met with Police Chief Richard Wells to discuss the updating of the Town’s Taxi Rules and Regulations and to renew licenses for taxi companies providing service in Milton for 2014. After a review of the updates to the rules and regulations, the Board agreed to consider an increase in the annual taxi license fee and deferred its vote until a comparison study of rates in other communities can be done.
Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the renewal of the following taxi cab licenses for 2014: Milton Taxi, Inc., 188 Providence Highway, Hyde Park-26 taxi cab licenses; Milton Cab Company-10 Des Moines Road, Quincy-25 taxi cab licenses, Parkway Cab, Inc., 66 Alpheus Road, Roslindale, 1 cab.
7. The Board deferred its vote on a draft letter to the FAA until further edits can be made.
8. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from Artspace Milton for temporary signage at the following locations announcing a community event that will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2014 on the grounds of the Wakefield Estate: Brook Road and Central Avenue (near Pierce Middle School); Squantum and Adams Street; Canton Avenue and Blue Hills Parkway and Blue Hills Parkway and Brook Road.
Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from The Milton Amateur Gardeners to display a banner on the Town green from May 1 through May 10, 2014, announcing its annual perennial flower sale that will take place on May 10, 2014 at the gazebo.
J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from Parks and Recreation to display a banner on the Town green from May 10 through June 16 announcing the Department’s summer recreation programs.
Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from Fitness Unlimited to re-hang two temporary sail-banners on the roof of 364 Granite Avenue announcing Fitness Unlimited’s Spring 2014 promotion. The Board noted that it had received a couple of complaints about the sail banners last Fall and that it would reconsider this type of signage in the future.
J. Thomas Hurley moved, Denis F. Keohane seconded and the Board voted 2-0-1, (Selectmen Conlon recused herself from this vote) to approve a request from Beth Israel Deaconess-Milton Hospital to display temporary signage from April 23 through May 10, 2014 at the following locations announcing its annual fundraiser gala that will take place on May 10, 2014: Canton Avenue and Blue Hills Parkway; Reedsdale Road and Brook Road; Adams Street and West Squantum Street.
9. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a new lit sign on the front of Starbucks Coffee at 552 Adams Street.
10. Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Diane DiTullio Agostino, 147 Ridgewood Road to the Commission on Disability to serve through July 2015.
11. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request from Milton Academy for one day liquor licenses for the following dates and locations:
June 13, 2014:
Cox Library, 6-7:30 p.m., Schwarz Student Center, 6:30-10 p.m., Pritzker Science Center, 6-7:30 p.m.
June 14, 2014:
Wigglesworth Hall, 6-9:30 p.m., Admissions Office Lobby, Warren Hall, 6-9:30 p.m., Straus Library, 6-9:30 p.m., Cox Library, 6-9:30 p.m., Elliott Commons, Millet House, 6-9:30 p.m., Pritzker Science Center, 6-9:30 p.m., , Schwarz Student Center, 6-9:30 p.m. and the Robert Saltonstall Gymnasium, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
12. Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract in the amount of $42,884. to Heitkamp Inc. of Watertown, CT for the Drain Line Cleaning and Television Inspection contract for work on Canton Avenue and Central Avenue and to authorize the Town Administrator to sign all pertinent paperwork on behalf of the Board.
13. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the appointments of Brian Marsh and Edward Milazzo of Worcester Polytechnic Institute as temporary seasonal interns in the Engineering Department contingent upon approval by the Personnel Board.
14. The Board discussed the draft response letter to Mass Housing Partnership regarding the application for Determination of Project Eligibility for the Hendries Building project. The Board will approve the final version of the letter at its April 28 meeting.
15. Denis F. Keohane moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 9:04 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 the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property (211 Centre Street) and Assessors Map Section I, Block 38D, Lot 9 parcel, and to discuss collective bargaining strategy (Southeastern Public Employees Association), believing that having these discussions in open session would compromise the bargaining position of the body and to return to open session to adjourn.
16. J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:50 p.m.
| 
