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Board of Selectmen Minutes 01/21/2009
MINUTES OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009
______________________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mauceri called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in Room 14 at Town Hall in the presence of members Mr. O’Leary, Mr. Harris, Mr. Veno, Mr. Delaney and the Town Administrator Greg Balukonis.  

1.      MINUTES
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 5, 2009 REGULAR MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 10, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)
2.          CORRESPONDENCE
NONE

3.          PUBLIC COMMENT
NONE

4.      ACCEPT GIFT – TERADYNE
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,536.00 FROM TERADYNE ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY

DISCUSSION:  Mr. Veno made a request that Teradyne be sent a certificate of appreciation from the Board.

VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)

5.      SNOW AND ICE DEFICIT

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO DECLARE A SNOW AND ICE EMERGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH MGL CHAPTER 44, SECTION 31D.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)




6.      LICENSE RENEWAL
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RENEW THE FOLLOWING CLASS I LICENSE TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2009 SUBJECT TO ALL REGULATORY DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS:
                                BOBCAT OF BOSTON, INC.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)

7.      LIVERY LICENSE
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO GRANT A LIVERY LICENSE TO JAMES WRIGHT D/B/A ACCURATE TRANSPORTATION, 240 PARK STREET TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2009 SUBJECT TO ALL REGULATORY DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. VENO

DISCUSSION:  Mr. O’Leary stated that he will abstain from voting on this motion because a family member owns 240 Park Street.

VOTED:  4-0-1 (Mr. O’Leary abstained)

8.      APPOINTMENT
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO PLACE IN NOMINATION THE FOLLOWING NAME FOR APPOINTMENT/REAPPOINTMENT AS MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2011: (1 OPENING)
                        PAUL CHAPMAN, 97 CHESTNUT STREET
                
                
MOTION BY:  MR. DELANEY
SECONDED BY:  MR. HARRIS
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)
9.           FY2010 BUDGET PRESENTATIONS
        1.) Treasurer/Collector
  • Maryann MacKay spoke of budget and required duties.
2.) Hillview
  • George Stack spoke on behalf of the hillview budget. He reported that even in these tough economic times they have seen a 2% increase in business.
3.) Elder Affairs
  • Mary Prenney spoke on the budget and the services and programs provided by elder affairs.
4.) Veterans
  • Tim Callahan explained the budget and service provided through veterans services and spoke of how 75% is reimbursed by the state when eligible.
5.) Community Planning Commission
  • Heidi Griffin presented on behalf of the community planning commission’s budget.
6.) Recreation
  • Rita Mullen, manager and volunteer, spoke on behalf of the recreation department
  • Maureen Stevens, department head, continued to explain the budget
7.) Information Technology
  • Gene Tworek spoke on responsibilities of the information technology department and the required budget.
8.) Town Administrator/Board of Selectmen/Legal Counsel
  • Mr. Balukonis presented on budgets. He explained how general legal counsel represents the town in labor cases that may arise. He went on to explain the budget for the Town Administrator’s office including staffing and responsibilities.
10.          APRIL TOWN MEETING         (9:53pm)
Mr. Balukonis went over dates and warrant articles.
11.          TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
To begin with, Mr. Balukonis brought to attention that the town needs to appoint someone as a civil defense director, which is an agent for emergency management issues—disaster preparedness. The Board requested more information regarding this matter. Mr. Balukonis went on to discuss the Federal Economic Stimulus Program and the total of the sixteen project requests submitted by the Town. He went on to say that the Town is in receipt of a notice from AAA in regards to the Ernest Henry demotion/suspension arbitrations case and the dates of the hearing. In addition, the town received notification from AAA regarding an appeal in former Patrolman Morrison’s end of career buybacks. Mr. Balukonis also discussed the fact that the Town sent notification to all of its unions, including the schools, regarding the change to the employee health insurance program – both the Town and the employees will save money monthly. He went on to recommend the Selectmen approve filling a position for a Special Heavy Equipment Operator for the Parks and Recreation Department despite the hiring freeze and noted that the department will fully fund the position from the revolving fund. Mr. Balukonis discussed the major water line break on Lowell Road resulting in two homes being damaged and an oil spill occurring in one of the homes as well. The Town is coordinating with its insurer to process the damage claims for both residences. Mr. Balukonis went on to discuss how there are a number of claims involving the Town at this time and that Town Counsel would like to meet with the Board to provide them with a litigation update at no additional cost. Lastly, he requested an Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation or collective bargaining strategy.

11A.        SPECIAL HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD MAKE AN EXCEPTION WITH THE HIRING FREEZE ANDFILL THE VACANCY OF SPECIAL HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

MOTION BY:  MR. O’LEARY
SECONDED BY:  MR. VENO
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)

12.          OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Delaney
  • Thanked the Fire and Police Department for their hard work and efforts, especially over the last few weeks and expressed sympathy to neighbors who suffered massive flooding over the water main break.
Mr. Harris
  • Thanked all who helped with the recent fire, floods and fatalities.
Mr. O’Leary
  • Thanked Congressman  Tierney for giving him the opportunity to go to the inauguration and gave a brief update on the event.
Mr. Mauceri
  • Read a written statement prepared for and to be distributed to the town employees regarding the current economy. He also recognized how hard the department heads are working to maintain positions and how they’re being forced to cut operating expenses. He also thanked the efforts of the public works department over the past several weekends with the continuous snow.
Mr. Veno
  • No comment at this time










13.        EXECUTIVE SESSION
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR
THE PURPOSES OF LITIGATION OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STRATEGIES, AND FURTHER THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION THEREAFTER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ADJOURNMENT.

MOTION BY:  MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY:  MR. O’LEARY

VOTED:  MR. MAUCERI:  AYE               MR. O’LEARY:  AYE                                       MR. DELANEY:  AYE               MR. VENO:  AYE
                MR. HARRIS:  AYE

The Board returned to open session at 11:30 p.m.

14. ADJOURN (11:30PM)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ADJOURN.

MOTION BY:  MR. VENO
SECONDED BY:  MR. HARRIS
VOTED:  UNANIMOUS (5-0)
















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Michael Harris, Clerk                                                   Date