BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2014
Chair Joseph Story opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to our flag. In attendance were Selectmen Story, Bear, Walker and Town Administrator Tracy Blais. Selectmen Mountain and Bulgaris were absent.
TA Blais announced that Conservation Agent Doug Packer has been appointed to the state’s Coastal Erosion Task Force by Governor Patrick. Congratulations were extended to Doug on his appointment. Blais advised the first draft of a lease agreement was in the Selectmen’s drop box for their review and comments. Also in the drop box are the proposed changes to the Town Administrators Act for the Annual Town Meeting warrant. She noted that the snow and ice deficit is currently $29K and this does not include the last three storms. Blais advised she was working on preliminary budget requests for FY15. Based on a 50/50 revenue sharing we are looking at a proposed over ride of $250K to $300K. The
regional school budgets have not been finalized and figures will probably not be in until the end of March.
Four one-day liquor licenses were approved for Protection Fire Co. #2 for functions on March 1st, May 10th, June 7th and June 14th from 3-10 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
At the request of Bethany Groff, site manager at the Spencer-Peirce Little Farm for Historic New England, a letter of support for their grant application to the Massachusetts Historical Society for roof and chimney repairs at the Swett-Ilsley House was approved and signed on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
A Class II License for William Pierce d/b/a Willy-P Classics @86 Newburyport Turnpike was approved on a motion by Selectman Walker, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously.
A notice for a dog hearing scheduled for March 11th at 7:30 p.m. for a dog complaint issued January 29th from Sarah Muller of Lunt Street against a dog owned by Festa, 48 Moody Street was approved and signed on a motion by Selectmen Walker, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously. Notice will be sent to all parties.
Business license renewals for 2014 were approved for Schneller BMW Performance @ 26 Middle Road and Pert Lowell Co. @ Lanes End on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
The minutes of the February 11th meeting were accepted as presented on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously.
Warrants were signed for TA Blais.
Chairman Story reported on the last school committee meeting he attended. He advised a preliminary budget was presented showing an increase to Newbury of 5.56%. There is another scheduled meeting this week to review this budget.
Richard Marks of 3 Longbrook Road asked to speak on the matter of the Larkin Road Dam. He noted that at the end of the discussion at the last meeting there seemed to be no resolution. He commented that the science was outstanding and the question left outstanding was what will happen with the dam. Selectman Walker even stated he had a new perspective on the situation. He asked if there was any way a citizen could ask the Board to do something rather than nothing. Chairman Story advised that the purpose of the meeting with Ben Gahagan was to give him a venue for presentation of his accomplishments to date with the area dams. Selectman Bear stated he was in favor or repairing the fish ways but stead fast in his decision to not
remove the dam as he did not believe it was in imminent danger of failing. Mr. Marks was thanked for bringing his concerns to the Board.
At 7:25 p.m. Selectman Walker made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the DPW contract because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of this body, seconded by Selectman Bear. A roll call vote was taken: Walker, yes; Bear, yes and Story, yes. Selectman Walker announced that the meeting would not reconvene at the conclusion of the executive session.
At the conclusion of the executive session the meeting was closed at 7:35 p.m. on a motion by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Walker and voted unanimously by roll call vote: Bear, yes; Story, yes and Walker, yes.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Sirois, Admin. Asst.
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