BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MARCH 15, 2012
Chairman Story opened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to our flag. In attendance were Selectmen Story, Bear, Bulgaris, Mountain, Walker and Town Administrator Tracy Blais.
The override ballot language was briefly discussed. Blais advised that the amount to be requested had been reduced based on the action taken at the School Committee meeting last night reducing the impact to Newbury. The original request of $440K has been reduced to $293K which represents approximately $95 a year average increase to homeowners. It was moved by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Bear to approve the override ballot language as presented. Selectman Mountain asked for clarification of what the passage of the override would represent. Blais advised it would keep public safety and public works services status quo, add two FTE’s to the towns workforce and possibly a 2% COLA for employees which will get us back to
2009 status. The motion was voted unanimously.
A letter of support for “Tax Reform for Education” will be reviewed by the Board and voted at the next BOS meeting on March 27th.
Selectman Mountain presented a list of talking points to be considered for a letter to the NRC regarding Seabrook’s re-licensing application. He noted he had looked at citizen’s concerns and was impressed by Newburyport’s letter to the NRC. A brief discussion ensued. Communication and transparency to the public and town officials were significant to the Board. The list of points will be reviewed and those important to Newbury will be included in a letter which will be completed at the next meeting on March 27th.
Selectman Bear, BOS liaison to the Capital Planning Committee gave a brief update on their past meeting. He noted the committee’s charge is to identify and catalogue the town buildings, equipment, town-owned parcels of land and create a five-year plan to address needs proactively rather than reactively. The members of this board are Tracy Blais, Kathleen Pearson, Frank Wetenkamp, Frank Visconti, Robert Connors and Selectman Bear as liaison. Connors, Chairman of the CPC advised they have a report for the BOS and FC addressing fiscal 2013 needs and will have a full five-year report covering fiscal 2014-2019 in the near future. The 2013 report addresses the library building, the Byfield Grange Hall, and the Police trailers at Town
Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Sirois, Admin. Asst.
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