Town of Newbury
Board of Selectmen
MINUTES
Date: November 25, 2014
Present: Chairman, Geoffrey Walker, Selectmen, Chuck Bear, Michael Bulgaris,
Damon Jespersen and Town Administrator, Tracy Blais
Chairman, Geoffrey Walker, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the salute to the flag.
Board and Committee Reports: No Board or Committee Reports
Citizen’s Concerns: No citizen’s concerns
Public Hearings:
In accordance with Chapter 369, Acts of 1982, Section 1, Principal Assessor, Michelle Branciforte made a presentation for the determination of the percentage of tax levy to be borne by each class of real property for FY15.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Jespersen, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to follow the recommendation of the Board of Assessors not to adopt a residential exemption.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously to follow the recommendation of the Board of Assessors not to adopt a commercial exemption.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to adopt the recommendation of the Board of Assessors to retain a uniform tax rate for fiscal year 2015 with a residential factor of one/single tax rate.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Jespersen and voted unanimously to allow the authorization of Town Administrator, Tracy Blais, to sign Form LA5 on the Department of Revenue’s Gateway Electronic System, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen.
The legal notice for a public hearing on National Grid petition, (plan #17026891) to install approximately 14’ +/- UG secondary wire in customer install 2-3” concrete encased conduits crossing Smith St from existing pole 20-1 to JJ-1 to provide service to lot 11, was read and the hearing was opened. Carols Valle and John Butler of National Grid explained the project to the Board of Selectmen.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Jespersen and voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.
The legal notice for a public hearing on National Grid and Verizon New England petition, (plan #16260601) to relocate pole P4 a distance of approx. 12’ north to the property line between 7 and 9 So. Pond St, at the request of the resident of 7 So. Pond St., was read and the hearing was opened. Carlos Valle of National Grid explained the project to the Board of Selectmen.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.
John Butler of National Grid hand delivered and presented to the Board of Selectmen, copies of petition, (plan #17935848), dated November 25, 2014, for Old Rowley Road which has not yet been scheduled for public hearing.
He explained that within the last two or three years, National Grid had a third party attachee, Bay Ring Communications, run wires through town, attaching to National Grid’s existing poles. When Bay Ring arrived at Old Rowley Road, 2 poles were missing to get them into the Town of Rowley. National Grid chose not to set the poles and allowed Bay Ring Communications to petition for the poles and set their own poles. Mr. Butler stated that there should be a petition on record for the 2 poles Bay Ring Communications set at the end of Old Rowley Road but he could not locate copies of the petitions at the Town of Newbury.
There is now a new home at the end of Old Rowley Road that National Grid must serve. The exisiting, Bay Ring Communications poles are not tall enough and National Grid does not attach to poles owned by other companies. National Grid must have the legal right to own the poles.
The petition, (plan #17935848), proposes to replace the Bay Ring Communications poles previously petitioned for and installed and to install and maintain National Grid solely owned poles. He explained that the circumstances of the petition were unusual, not something that normally occurs and therefore he was seeking advice from the Board on how to handle it.
Following discussion, the Board of Selectmen decided that before moving forward the documentation pertaining to the petition granted by the Town of Newbury to Bay Ring Communications should be located and the Town would need to have communication with the company.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Jespersen, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously to table the discussion of the petition of National Grid until the December 9th meeting, allowing time for more information to be obtained.
Following the motion, further discussion ensued. The Board of Selectmen requested a copy of the agreement between National Grid and Bay Ring Communications for review of Town Counsel and discussion at the December 9th meeting. The two week time frame for the legal advertising necessary prior to a public hearing was also discussed.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Jespersen and voted unanimously to set the public hearing date for the National Grid petition, (plan #17935848), for Board of Selectmen Meeting of Tuesday, December 23rd at 7:15 p.m.
Motion: At 7:30 p.m., a motion was made by Selectman Bulgaris, seconded by Selectman Jespersen and voted unanimously to open the Public Hearing for the Borrego Solar Special Permit Application for 136 Main Street.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to continue the Public Hearing for the Borrego Solar Special Permit Application for 136 Main Street until the January 27, 2015 Board of Selectmen Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Town Administrators Report: No report by the Town Administrator
New Business:
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to appoint Linda McCamic to the Board of Assessors.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Jespersen and voted unanimously to approve the Amended & Restated Conservation Restriction at 280 High Road submitted by the Trustees of Reservations.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Jespersen, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously to set the time for the February 10, 2015 Special Election from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Correspondence:
All Correspondence was reviewed.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Jespersen, seconded by Selectman Bear and voted unanimously to write a letter from the Board of Selectmen to Comcast addressing concern over the new price
adjustments beginning December 20th and to address the cost of extending service to those Newbury residents without service.
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Jespersen to add the Town’s name to the Environment Massachusetts’ letter in support of solar energy due November 26th. Motion opposed by Selectmen Walker, Bear and Bulgaris.
Minutes:
Motion: A motion was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the November 18, 2014 meeting as presented.
Warrants:
Warrants presented to the Board of Selectmen were signed.
Meeting Updates:
Selectman, Damon Jespersen, reported on the Plum Island sand dune restoration work day he had recently attended. Through a grant from the State’s Office of Coastal Zone Management to UNH and the Town of Newbury, researchers, led by UNH scientist, Dr. Gregg Moore, joined volunteers from Newbury, Byfield, Newburyport, Georgetown, Concord and Exeter, NH, to plant 4000 plants and to install 600 linear feet of fencing. The project will be ongoing through next year.
Selectmen Jespersen reported that the Municipal Building Committee had the first public workshop on Saturday, November 22nd for the proposed, new, combined Police Station and Town Hall building. It was lightly attended but he felt the presentation went well. Tours of the Police Station were given. Everything is moving in the right direction but more public interest and involvement in discussion is needed before the next Town Meeting.
Selectmen Jespersen reported that through his follow-up query with Sam Joslin about the signature requirement for one-day liquor licenses that a completed application containing all signatures, (Fire Dept. Police Dept. Board of Health and Treasurer), as well as the description and floor plan and all information listed under “required information” is required. Applications must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the event to the Selectmen’s secretary to be reviewed to ensure all information is submitted correctly prior to posting to the Board of Selectman’s meeting agenda.
Executive Session – None
Adjournment:
Motion: At 8:25 p.m. a motion to adjourn was made by Selectman Bear, seconded by Selectman Bulgaris and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Jameson
Executive Administrator
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