BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MAY 14, 2013
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, Mountain, Walker and Town Administrator Tracy Blais.
TA Blais advised that the Board of Health would be holding a “household hazardous waste day” on June 29th and a flyer would be forthcoming. A letter from our Representative, Lenny Mirra advises our Chapter 90 funding for FY14 will be $410,896. Thursday, May 9th, a preliminary meeting was held with Martha Taylor and MVPC representative Tony Komornick for a progress report on the P.I. Traffic Study. MVPC has gathered data on accidents, citations etc. and will start the traffic counts now that the season has started. They will also review our existing bylaws. The second phase of this study will be a level of service analysis. Target for their report is the end of June or early July. Discussions are ongoing regarding the creation of a new regional veteran’s services district. A petition to the General Court to enact a special law creating this district is on our ATM warrant. This district may involve Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and Amesbury. The
proposed location is currently the Costello Transportation Center in Amesbury. We are still working through the legal requirements which would allow us to enter into this proposal, Blais noted. This legislation would allow us to form the District and the Selectmen will decide if we should join. Blais also advised that the Principal Assessors position has been offered and accepted by Michelle Branciforte from Middleton. She will start on June 3rd. A meeting has been held with the Newbury Fire Co. to see if they want to be part of the proposed new Public Safety Building before moving forward with the next phase of design work (criteria for site selection). The Fire Co. will vote on this issue at their next meeting and advise the Public Safety Bldg. Committee of their decision.
A one day liquor license for Governor’s Academy for their Alumni weekend was approved for June 7, 2013 from 6-10 p.m. and June 8, 2013 from 3-11 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
A request for a banner on the Upper Green back stop advertising the Merrimac River Feline Rescue Society’s “strut for strays” event for the period May 15th to May 20th was approved on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously. Frank Bertolino of the MRFRS was in attendance for this request.
A request for a banner on the Upper Green back stop advertising Byfield Days, June 7-9th was approved on a motion by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously. The banner may be installed May 24th and should be removed June 10th.
A request for use of the Upper Green by the Byfield First Parish Church for a family picnic and softball game on Sunday, June 16th from approximately 11a.m. to 3 p.m. was approved on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously. David Mann, Coordinator was present to answer questions from the Board and will be responsible for clean up at the end of the event.
Six one-day liquor licenses were approved for Protection Fire Co. #2 for functions on June 1st from 12-4 p.m., June 23rd from 1-5 p.m., June 29th from 6-10 p.m., July 6th from 1-7 p.m. and July 13th from 2-6 p.m., on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
The minutes of the April 16th, April 23rd, April 30th and May 7th meetings were accepted as presented on a motion by Selectman Mountain, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted. Chairman Story abstained as he was not present at these meetings.
A letter of appreciation to the DPW from the residents of Colby Village for the department’s fine work clearing snow was read and filed.
A letter from Representative Lenny Mirra regarding our Chapter 90 funding for FY14 was read and filed.
Selectman Mountain gave an update on the Media Committee. Broadcasts from Town Hall are now live. While it is not possible to broadcast the Town Meeting at NES live, the meeting will be taped. The equipment for this taping can then be used at any location. This will be a test run. Caleb and Richard have put together a calendar for the cable channel and the town website will be updated for this site. The committee is working with Triton to get the Educational channel up and running. Most of the equipment is in place. The committee is seeking programs for our channel but must insure copy rights are not violated. Blais advised she was working with Richard on insurance to cover
this matter. The concerts at NES are being taped and hopefully we can incorporate them into our programming. Mountain commented that he hoped by next year, town meetings could be broadcast live.
Tracy advised Essex County Greenbelt would be holding a celebration on June 8th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 42 Main Street, Byfield to celebrate their recent acquisition of a 4.2 acre parcel know as the Pearson Fields Conservation Restriction. The festivities will include snuff barn tours, wine tasting, pony rides, nature & trail walks, children’s games, music, refreshments, a yard sale and a mystery guest. All funds from this event will go to support Essex County Greenbelt. The event will be posted on the website.
Chairman Story advised he had been in Boston to attend the hearing on our home rule petition to allow John Van Loan to rebuild his dwelling off Plum Island Turnpike. Senator Tarr presented the bill, Van Loan presented his plans and Story reaffirmed the vote of approval at Town Meeting.
The legal notice for a liquor license transfer for the Byfield General Store was read by Chairman Story. At 7:30 p.m. the public hearing was opened. In attendance were Wayne Altavilla Sr. and Jr. Wayne Jr. will be taking over the business from his parents who are retiring. The d/b/a will change from Byfield General Store to BGS Variety. Chairman Story asked Chief Reilly if there have been any reported problems and Chief Reilly replied there have not. The hours of sales will remain the same. It was moved by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to approve the transfer of license. The application will be forwarded to ABCC for final approval.
The warrant for the State Election to be held on Tuesday, June 25th for a Senator in Congress was signed for the Town Clerk.
Leanne Eagan addressed the Board regarding parking on Sunset Drive. Parking along the marsh side of Sunset constitutes unsafe road conditions and she is concerned with the safety of the people who live there. She referenced the number of vehicles utilizing the road to the refuge and felt the police should patrol the road on a regular basis. During the day it is beach people and in the evenings it is restaurant patrons, she noted. There are no sidewalks and no room to walk dogs or babies. Blais advised that MVPC was studying the problem and a report would be forthcoming by the end of June. Until the study is complete, Eagan asked that all parking be revoked until a decision is made. Few citations are issued but calls
to the station should be looked at, she stated. She also questioned the speed limit on the street. Chief Reilly noted that while he appreciates Ms. Eagan’s concerns there are times when he must prioritize high risk situations over parking complaints and we respond when and as soon as we can. We also have parking issues on Old Point Road, Southern Blvd. and even parts of Northern Blvd., he advised. Chairman Story noted that the MVPC study would probably address speed limits as part of their investigation. Eagan warned that she would be calling more now that the low season is over and traffic has increased. Walker asked if it was just the parking or was it the refuge traffic. Eagan answered that due to refuge traffic, parking on the shoulder is a problem and there is not enough room for walkers. Blais noted that both Police and Fire have assured us that emergency access is not
a problem. Mountain commented that due to the way the island has developed from summer cottages to larger year-round homes, it is an urban planner’s nightmare. These issues require a concrete solution. Carole Doyle, 17 Sunset asked why restaurant parking could not be directed to PITA Hall or other lots. Mo Cassidy, 25 Sunset stated he was frustrated by the lack of respect and people turning around in his driveway. He felt the owners of the P.I. Grille should be more proactive in finding parking solution for their business. Cassidy insisted there was no parking on the street in 1969 when he moved into the area. Chief Reilly noted that since he had become Chief in 2006, there has been parking allowed on the road. The Board agreed there were an overwhelming number of zoning issues on P.I. to be addressed but they felt this parking study by MVPC was a step in the right direction
and only one of several avenues being explored. We are not taking these issues lightly.
Warrants were signed for TA Blais.
At 8:45 Chairman Story moved to enter into executive session to conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris. A roll call vote was taken – Bulgaris, yes; Bear, yes; Mountain, yes; Walker, yes and Story, yes. Chairman Story advised this meeting will not reconvene at the conclusion of the executive session.
The meeting was officially adjourned at 9:15 p.m. at the close of the executive session, on a motion by Selectman Mountain, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Sirois, Admin. Asst.
| 
