MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
November 23, 2004
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building beginning at 7:00 pm were Selectmen John Clayton Jr., Carole A. Makary, Edward R. Perry Jr., and Janet G. Wheeler Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan Flint Hosier.
Selectman Kathleen K. Farrell was absent from the meeting.
Chairman Jack Clayton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Following a discussion among Mr. Perry, Ms. Wheeler, and Ms Makary about the amount of detail to be recorded in the Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 minutes, discussion of those minutes was deferred to the end of the meeting. The minutes of the Nov. 9 open session were approved, with the following amendments: erroneous dates of minutes in section header were corrected; typo in Whitman Street section was corrected. Ms. Wheeler moved, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted to accept as amended. Mr. Perry abstained, not having attended the Nov.9 meeting.
Town Administrator’s Report
In preparation for the evening’s discussion on sprinkler installation at the elementary schools, Mr. Wrigley advised the Board of options on who would decide the question of whether to install them and how the expense could be funded.
Mr. Wrigley reported meeting with Finance Committee members Steve Dungan and Tom Ryan on their ongoing efforts to model Stow’s future financial condition. He planned to review and comments on their income/expense model when available.
Mr. Wrigley also accepted the contract from Virtual Town Hall for the town’s new website services, following the incorporation of his requested changes. He expected the contract to be executed soon.
He and Fire Chief Dave Soar are reviewing call firefighter benefits, in light of the recent Lancaster situation involving a firefighter’s death.
Visitors
Fire Chief David Soar requested the Board to appoint two new call firefighters to his department: Chris Mailloux and John Mitchell, Jr., both of whom are FFI and FFII certified and Mass. Registered EMTs. Ms. Makary moved to accept Chief Soar’s recommendation to appoint the candidates, Mr. Perry seconded, and all voted in favor.
School Building Committee Chair Steve Dungan, Superintendent of Schools Michael Wood, and Facilities Manager Bill Spratt joined Fire Chief Soar to discuss fire protection at the elementary schools with the Board and Mr. Wrigley.
Chairman Clayton introduced the question and background of the sprinkler systems. Chief Soar then explained that, as Chief, he is a proponent of sprinklers in any building. He then noted that the school are protected, are up to code, and are tested yearly. Center School has heat detectors; Pompo has heat and smoke detectors. Fire drills are done four times a year. Chief Soar recommended smoke detectors for Center School.
Bill Spratt, facilities manager for the school district, priced the detectors at $60 each, for a total of $4,000.
Installing sprinklers would require 60,000 gallons of water in an underground cistern; tanks and a pump must be installed. The cost to retrofit the school is $3 to $4 a foot, plus $40,000 per 30,000 cistern, of which two would be needed. The cost of pumps and additional material is not included in this estimate.
Superintendent Wood said that, since none of the three schools have sprinklers, Hale should be considered, too, especially given that it is the only school with a second floor. He recommended addressing the fire protection needs as a system of grades K-8, not just K-5.
Mr. Perry suggested that smoke detectors seemed the most cost effective answer at present and requested a plan, total cost estimate and time scale.
Regarding who would be responsible for the project, Mr. Dungan pointed out that, given the Building Assistance moratorium until July 2007, the Town’s current school building program will not be complete until 2009 or 2010. His committee’s question is how much to invest in the existing schools, not knowing the final decision on renovate/add or build new. He said the Building Committee needed to keep its eye on the long-term goal.
State Fire Marshall Stephen Coan, from the audience, said that sprinklers are life savers and he is hoping that the state will require them even in private homes. As a present action, he supported installing smoke detectors at Center and cited statistics to support his recommendation. Mr. Wrigley noted that architect Keith Hoffses estimated a $250,000 cost to install sprinklers at Pompo.
Chief Soar, Fire Marshall Coan, and Superintendent Wood answered several questions from parents in the audience regarding fire standards and codes in the schools, pending legislation, and updates to a 2002 school study.
Mr. Clayton said the ultimate solution would be to have sprinklers; for the interim he supported the Chief’s recommendation for smoke detectors at Center. Mr. Perry concurred, recommending installation as soon as possible, while the school Building Committee stayed focused on the long-term. Ms. Makary repeated that the smoke detectors were the district’s responsibility; Mr. Wrigley responded that the SBC fund was an appropriate use. Mr. Clayton concurred, stating that Warrant Article 26 covers renovations.
Mr. Wrigley offered to take responsibility to get the project done. Mr. Perry moved to authorize Mr. Wrigley to commence a plan to install smoke detectors at Center School, the work to be funded from the School Building Committee funds, Ms. Makary seconded and all voted in favor.
Superintendent Wood told the Board that the school district is committed to provide the towns with information to develop capital plans for their schools. He said the bigger question is what codes the buildings should be brought up to, the cost, and the priorities. Mr. Perry requested the schools to advise the towns on the appropriate codes, in the context of state and federal school policies, and to include sprinklers in their next proposal.
Chief Soar concluded his visit with an overview of his department’s operations and needs. He has been Stow’s chief for four and ½ years now and said the department is doing well progressing on its five-year plan. Important accomplishments have been replacing outdated and unsafe equipment and providing 24-hour coverage.
Regarding needs, a new truck – four-wheel drive source pump – is needed to replace a smaller capacity, two-wheel drive 1982 truck, bought used 12 years ago, with a 10-year life expectancy. It is failing and there are no parts for repairs. The new truck will cost $325,000 or more.
Another need is better radio communications. He explained the technical issues with the present equipment and configuration and said he is having the problem evaluated. Grant money will be used for the evaluation. Longer term, he will apply for a firefighter safety grant to go to 400 bands (ultrahigh-frequency waves).
The Chief cited the following additional needs: station space; possible substation; adding a third firefighter to days this year and two more next year; unknown of future ALS service.
Action/Discussion
Whitman Street intersection traffic-rule revision
The Board reviewed a draft of the specific wording for the proposed traffic rule change for the Whitman Street intersection, creating a five-way stop. Ms. Makary moved to accept, Mr. Perry seconded, and all voted in favor of enacting the rule change. The Board signed the new traffic rule and Town Clerk Linda Hathaway witnessed the signatures. After a two-week public notice period, the new rule will be incorporated in the town’s traffic rules and the Highway Department can install the signs.
Selectmen’s FY05 goals
The Board reviewed an Oct. 12 draft of FY05 goals and objectives and agreed to the following goals and assignments.
1. Bylaw Review
Bylaw review committee and chair - Jack Clayton
2. Master Plan Update
EO418 conformance – Janet Wheeler
Planned development strategy – Janet Wheeler
Assabet River Rail Trail – Ross Perry
3. Municipal Land Use/Needs
Management plan for town-owned properties – Kathy Farrell
Acquisition of property for municipal use – Janet Wheeler
4. Improve quality of life
Improve dangerous roadways – Carole Makary
5. Communication
Between boards and committees “sharing of goals – Board
Joint Boards subcommittee to align goals and objectives – Board
Public outreach/citizens’ input – Board
Selectmen to meet with all departments/committees annually - Board
6. Budget
Public safety: review of staffing/future needs – Carole Makary
Provide town with a budget that can be balanced within the tax levy –Board
Meaningful tax relief for seniors – Board
Operating manuals for all town departments – Ross
Budget status report early in the process - Board
Tri-Town/NRSD – Board
The following responsibilities were also agreed to:
q Perambulation – Ross
q Master Plan liaison, website and Chapter 61 process – Janet
q Tri-Town liaison and Marlboro Road – Carole
q Capital Planning liaison – Kathy
q Bylaw review liaison - Jack
Correspondence/Discussion
Following their Nov. 7 vote to present the proposed Dispatchers’ contract for negotiations, the Board signed the agreed-to contract.
The Board reviewed a proposed response to a letter from Peter Mills regarding the Pilot Grove deed agreements drafted by Chairman Perry and approved its mailing.
In response to a request from the School Building Committee for an associate member from the Board, Ms. Makary volunteered to take the role and will follow up with SBC Chairman Dungan.
The Board reviewed the status of vacancies on the Master Plan, Bylaw Review and Cultural Council and agreed to make appointments of current applicants at the next meeting.
In response to a petition from Zander Way residents for snowplowing, the Board considered the Planning Board’s written decision on the development – that Zander Way would remain a rural way. Mr. Perry moved, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted to deny the petition.
In response to letter from Town Clerk on dangers with the Town Hall parking and crosswalk, the Board voted to a traffic rule change, based on the recommendations of Safety Officer Tim Lima. Ms. Makary moved that Officer Lima’s recommendations be drafted as a traffic rule amendment, Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor. The Board will consider the draft at its next meeting.
The Board reviewed the meeting minutes of Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 and the requested amendments by Ms. Makary and Ms. Wheeler. An extended debate ensued on 1) what was actually said at the meetings and 2) what was appropriate level of detail for the Board’s minutes. In one instance, Ms. Hosier quoted a segment from a tape recording of the meeting that contradicted a proposed change by Ms. Makary.
Ms. Makary moved, Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor to accept the minutes with all Ms. Makary’s and Ms. Wheeler’s changes. Mr. Clayton, who had recused himself from both of the October meetings, abstained.
The Board then voted, by roll-call vote, to end open session and move to executive session, from which to adjourn without re-entering executive session, for the purpose of discussing employee contract negotiations.
Open session adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Flint Hosier
Administrative Assistant
Board of Selectmen
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