BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 26, 2011
Chairman Story opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to our flag. In attendance were Selectmen Story, Bear, Bulgaris, Keller, Walker and Town Administrator Tracy Blais.
At 7 p.m. the legal notice for a public hearing on the proposed disposition of real property located at 14 Old Point Road (Parcel U02-150) 0.31 acres and 33-16th Street (Parcel U03-47) .225 acres was read. Planner Martha Taylor noted that 14 Old Point Rd. contains 1355 s/f with 24.8’ of frontage was listed as municipal/vacant is assessed at $17,400, is not stand alone buildable and is subject to the PIOD. 33-16th Street contains 9800 s/f and is also listed as municipal/vacant. Comments from the audience were sought and there were none. Selectman Bear moved to declare 14 Old Point Rd. as surplus, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously. Selectman Keller moved to declare 33-16th Street
as surplus, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously. Kathleen Pearson updated the Board on the RFP status of the surplus properties (34-14th St., 71,73, and 81 Old Point Rd.) and the pros and cons of establishing a minimum bid. She advised that Counsel had recommended no minimum but inserting language to allow the BOS to reject any and all bids not in the best interest of the Town. It was moved by Selectman Keller, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously to list these four properties without a minimum bid but to include the language recommended by Counsel. Taylor inquired about the status of a possible fire well on the Newbury Neck parcel (R05-10). Chairman Story advised that Deputy Chief Nate Walker has requested this parcel be retained by the Town for use as a fire well.
At 7:15 p.m. the public hearing on a new application for a “restaurant – all alcohol” liquor license for Gregg Pugh d/b/a the Plum Island Beachcoma at 23 P.I. Blvd. was opened. Proof of notice to the abutters was submitted. Mr. Pugh advised he planned an 80 seat restaurant and full bar with a basic menu focusing on family fare. The building and parking lot will be brought into compliance. Hours of operation will be seven days a week with lunch starting at 11 a.m. and continuing through dinner until 9:30 or 10 p.m. in the summer and 9 p.m. in the winter. Last call in the bar will be 11.30 p.m. He noted he was hoping for a June 18th opening. Story asked if there was anyone who
wished to speak for or against the application. Bob Connors (Annapolis Way) commented that it would be great to see the property utilized again. Selectman Bulgaris moved to grant the license subject to ABCC approval, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
Board and Committee Reports – Martha Taylor advised that a draft license agreement has been received from Borders to Boston and also submitted to National Grid for comments and concerns. Liability for the infrastructure, costs and potential commitments for coverage by the Town are still possible problems, she noted. Counsel will review the agreement and with his input and that of our members, concerns and comments will be forwarded to Borders to Boston to insure our interests are on the table. Selectman Walker commented that as we progress, we should not offer more than we want to be responsible for and we should take great care to negotiate minimal costs to the town. We need to have our own facilities in shape first. He also
noted that any final agreement will need approval by a town meeting vote. Frank Remley, Chair of the Finance Committee reported that his committee was working diligently on two budgets until the results of the override vote are known. Bruce Webster asked when the budgets would be available to the public so they can see where the $950K will be spent. Remley advised that they will be posted on the FC web page the end of this week. Webster commented that people only see news articles which are often incorrect, yes/no signs and public consensus is fuzzy. He suggested making the two budgets available to the general public and advertising their availability at several key locations. Remley agreed to try to make this information available in a timely manner.
Chairman Story welcomed Tracy Blais as Newbury’s new Town Administrator. Ms. Blais advised she had an opportunity to meet with department heads to learn their priorities and Sam Joslin had given her a tour of the town. She recommended the Selectmen look into reactivating the Capital Planning Committee after Town Meeting. She noted that deficits seem to be holding so the numbers can be finalized for the warrant and the Selectmen will need to schedule a meeting Thursday, May 5th to sign the Special Town Meeting Warrant so it can be posted by Monday, May 9th.
A request to close the intersection of Lunt & Central to the intersection of Main and Central from Friday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m. through Saturday, June 18th at 6 p.m. for the Byfield Days celebration was approved on a motion Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
A request from Community Methodist Church for permission to hold a boot drive on Central Street at the Church May 13 & 14 to raise funds for Partners in Development’s reconstruction efforts in Haiti was approved on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
The minutes of the April 12th meeting were accepted as presented on a motion by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
Use of the Upper Green ball field by Anna Jaques’ Softball League on Tuesday evenings from June 21st through September 13 was granted on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
A request from the Candidates Forum group to place a “sandwich” sign on the Upper Green advertising their “candidate’s forum” on May 3rd at 7 p.m. at NES was approved on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Keller and voted unanimously.
A request from the B2B Committee to reserve the Upper Green on Sunday, June 12th as a rain date for their scheduled yard sale on the 11th was approved on a motion by Selectman Keller, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
The warrant for the May 10th election was reviewed and signed by the Selectmen as moved by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
The Board advised the ATM warrant would be closed to petition articles at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 28th as moved by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
Nathaniel Cabral-Curtis for Howard Stein Hudson Assoc. has scheduled their first community meeting on the Byfield Village Roadway Design Project for Thursday, May 5th at 7 p.m. at the Newbury Town Library. Flyers and press releases will be forthcoming.
Warrants were signed for Town Administrator Tracy Blais.
Selectman Keller updated the Board on a recent meeting she had with two local real estate persons, Sam Joslin, Doug Packer, Counsel Penski and Martha Taylor regarding the Temple Blvd., property RFP. The recommendation from this group was to re-issue the RFP without a minimum bid but to include language suggested by Counsel that the BOS may reject any and all bids not in the best interest of the Town. Also suggested was the addition of a caveat of a grace period of ninety days to obtain necessary permits for this property with the allowance of an extension if held up by a town agency. Peter Saradjian asked if the Board would entertain a bid from a non-profit. Selectman Bear noted that the idea was to get this property back on the tax base and there
were always big problems associated with a PILOT. Chairman Story recommended placing this matter on the next meeting agenda to discuss re-issuing this RFP.
Dave Williamson spoke briefly on the possible sale of one of his lots to the town for a public safety building. He noted that as there are no monies available this is now a moot point and the Merrimack Valley Beach Alliance may have another location to be considered. Chairman Story expressed the Town’s gratitude to Dave for allowing the storage of town equipment on his land during the off seasons.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Sirois, Admin. Asst.
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