BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room at 29 Thompson Street. In attendance were Edward A. Maia, Dr. Richard M. Smith and Edward S. Harrison. Also present were Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of January 29, 2013 – open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Special Town Meeting – Discussion of Needs
1. Hecate Power – Intent to Negotiate PILOT for Solar Generation Project
2. Zone Change for 110 Main Street Parcel – RV to CC
3. Transfer from Health Insurance Account to School Operating Budget
Ms. Neggers explained the need to hold a Special Town Meeting on March 11, 2013, and opening and closing the warrants on February 12th.
Item (1), the intent to negotiate PILOT for solar generation project, Ms. Neggers said the town was approached by Hecate Power who asked the town to begin the process of negotiating a payment in lieu of tax agreement, relative to their development of a 12 megawatt solar farm on the Arooth property on Upper Palmer Road. In order for that to happen, a town meeting has to give authorization to negotiate on behalf of the municipality by its vote, and we need to do that prior to entering any formal negotiations with this company.
Item (2), Ms. Neggers noted the town is in the middle of the beginning, of the building project for 110 Main Street, and we need to change the zone. Ms. Neggers said the zone for the former school was in an RV district (Residential Village) and the proposal is to change that to CC (Central Commercial). An article has been requested authorizing that zone change.
Item (3), Ms. Neggers explained, the amount of money put forward in the health insurance account as part of the net school spending has been tracked and there is actually more in the account than what is going to be spent on health insurance because of our transfer to the GIC. Ms. Neggers noted the School Department is continuing to struggle with costs in terms of the increases in Special Education costs; this request is to transfer these funds to the School Operating Budget so they could use these funds to address their budgetary concerns. This is all part of Net School Spending; it’s just going from one account to another.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to schedule a Special Town Meeting on March 11, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to open the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held on March 11th with a projected closing date of February 12, 2013. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to vote to request the Planning Board to initiate and complete the process to proceed to do the zone change to convert the 110 Main Street parcel from Residential Village to Central Commercial. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Neggers explained the custodian ordered the wrong size flags recently with the sum of money the Board voted to take from the Gifts to the Town Account. The correct size cost more, so an additional $118 will need to be added to the prior amount approved.
Dr. Smith made a motion to authorize an additional $118 from the Gifts to the Town Account to pay for the flags. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
At 7:12 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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