BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 27, 2010
Chairman Story opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance to our flag. Selectmen Story, Keller, Bulgaris, Russo, Walker and Town Administrator Chuck Kostro were present.
Robin Williams, liaison between the 375th Anniversary Committee and NES updated the Board on the school’s planned activities for the 375th celebration which includes a “living museum” which will be open to the public on May 6th. She noted that children and teachers at NES have been hard at work to put this together. She requested permission to install a permanent sign in the front area of the school, which is town property. This would consist of two 4’x4’ posts with a span of approximately 8’ between the two. Banners could then be hung to advertise school or town events. Installation of the sign will be done by a parent at no cost to the town or the school. After a brief discussion it was moved by Selectman Keller, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to approve the proposal for the sign at the school as presented.
Town Administrator Chuck Kostro noted he had received an e-mail from Joan Weyburn in answer to his request for information regarding the Town owned property on Hanover Street adjacent to the school and provided the Board with a copy of the e-mail. An extra work order has been issued for the Newman Road Project but all costs have been secured through grant monies, he noted. In accordance with our audit recommendations all warrants are available in Kostro’s office for review and signatures of the Selectmen. A list of goals and objectives for 2011 for the Selectmen was presented to them for their review. This list was drafted as a result of the workshop meeting held earlier this month. Letters drafted by Kostro for the Selectmen’s signatures to the
Triton School Committee and Whittier School Committee will be sent requesting the attendance of a representative at our ATM to address any questions that may arise concerning their budgets. Kostro advised the personnel policy noted on the agenda is being reviewed by the Personnel Board and will be submitted for approval at a later meeting.
The Selectmen reviewed and discussed the list of street lights suggested for shut off by the Police Department. It was moved by Selectman Russo, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to shut off all lights noted on the list provided by the Police Department as “terminate”. This list represents approximately one quarter of the street lights in town, Kostro advised.
An invitation to the Selectmen to speak at the 1st Parish Church’s 375th celebration on May 29th was read by Chairman Story. The church also issued a list of activities to be held the weekend of May 29th thru the 31st and Story encouraged all to attend.
It was moved by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously to place an article on the ATM warrant to allow the Selectmen to accept on behalf of the Town a parcel of property at 30 Northern Blvd. It was noted that this parcel is contiguous with property already owned by the Town.
A request from Adelynrood to erect a free standing directional sign for their facility at the intersection of School and Elm Streets was tabled on a motion by Selectman Russo, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
A one day liquor license for Historic New England for their Draft Horse Plow Day at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm on May 8th from noon to 3 p.m. was approved on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
A new Class II Used Car License was approved for Circle Auto Sales at 6 Newburyport Turnpike on a motion by Selectman Russo, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
A one day liquor license for Governor’s Academy for their Reunioners Day on Saturday, June 12th from 12 noon to 12 midnight was approved on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Russo and voted unanimously.
On the recommendation of Fire Chief Pearson the following persons were appointed to the Board of Fire Engineers and Forest Warden positions: William Pearson, Douglas Janvrin Sr., Robert Dash, Timothy Wareham, Wallace Ziehler, Timothy Leonard, Douglas Janvrin Jr., and Nate Walker, on a motion by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
A warrant article for the ATM to allow the sale of a 5.4 parcel of land south of Temple Boulevard on Plum Island was approved on a motion by Selectman Keller, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
A draft of the ATM warrant was reviewed and articles discussed Planner Martha Taylor and David Mountain, Chair of the Planning Board addressed their zoning changes and Martha supplied a matrix of uses for the Commercial Highway district and the Business/Light Industrial district to aid the Board. Each article was assigned to a Selectman for town meeting. It was moved by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to place Article 25 (to establish a revolving fund for the Grange Hall Facilities Management Committee and authorize an expenditure of up to $20K for FY11) on the ATM warrant. The “Selectmen’s Message” drafted for the front of the warrant was also approved by the Board.
The latest budget for FY11 drafted and voted by the Finance Committee was discussed. This draft reinstates the Reserve Fund, provides a small COLA to employees and zeroes out the lifeguards. With all adjustments this budget is in deficit by $151K. Remley, Chair of the FC noted that they were confident that with the possibility of overlay excess, unknown state revenues, additional free cash, collection of back taxes and perhaps a small over ride request the budget can be balanced by the fall meeting in October. The pros and cons of the Selectmen’s balanced budget vs. the FC deficit budget were argued. The Selectmen were uncomfortable with the size of the deficit and the lack of funding for the lifeguards. Chief Reilly spoke in favor of lifeguards and Connors of the FC questioned where they would be stationed due to the erosion of the beach. Several options for the budget were discussed and it was finally decided that both boards would meet on Friday, April 30th
at 7 p.m. to hash out a final budget to present to town meeting.
The minutes of the April 13th meeting were accepted as presented on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted. Selectman Russo abstained as he was not present at that meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Sirois, Admin. Asst.
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