MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
February 22, 2005
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Selectmen Kathleen K. Farrell, Carole A. Makary, Edward R. Perry Jr., and Janet Wheeler.
Also present was Administrative Assistant Susan Flint Hosier. Chairman John Clayton and Town Administrator William Wrigley were absent.
Acting chairman Perry called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Bills/Minutes
There were no bills. Approval of minutes was deferred until the meeting’s end.
Town Administrator’s Activity Report
While Mr. Wrigley was absent from meeting, his advance report to the Board included his recommendations to approve two of the evening’s agenda items: renewal of the firefighters’ union contract for FY2005 and the School Building Committee’s request for spending approval on several projects.
Marlborough Road Stop Sign
Ms. Makary, the Board’s representative for Marlborough Road traffic, explained the need for a stop sign at the intersection of Marlborough and Gleasondale roads. It is the first of two steps to improve safety, to be followed by a possible reconfiguration of the intersection. Ms. Makary said that this recommendation had come from both the Police and Highway departments and that she had the buy-in from the residents.
Safety Officer Tim Lima attended the discussion, stating that drivers were observed accelerating through the existing Yield sign at the intersection.
Just prior to the meeting, Town Engineer Bruce Fletcher advised the Board that federal signage regulations should be met in the stop sign decision. Following a discussion on this, the Board agreed to vote on the sign, as planned, contingent upon the sign meeting the federal rules. Ms. Makary moved to change the Yield sign to a Stop sign at the intersection of Marlborough and Gleasondale roads, contingent upon it meeting federal regulations. Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor. The Board signed the amendment to the Stow Traffic Rules and Orders, which was attested by the Town Clerk.
School Building Committee
Chairman Steve Dungan and members Anne Draudt, Edmund Green, Greg Jones, and Sara Kilkenny, architect Keith Hoffses and Superintendent of Schools Michael Wood visited the Board for a status update and transfer of funds request. Mr. Dungan walked the Board through budget and expense reports. He confirmed that the total expenditure figure of $483,625 for work done at Pompo and Center during the summer of 2004 is firm. The Town Administrator had reviewed the reports, as well, and based his recommendations on them. The School Building Committee requested approval: 1) to spend allocated funds for eight separate items not specifically listed previously, and 2) to transfer unused funds from three existing accounts into a single, less restricted account to fund additional work as it arises.
The two groups had a detailed discussion of prior Town Meeting votes and fund allocations, current activities, time constraints relative to the school building reimbursement program re-starting in July 2007, and upcoming warrant articles.
During the discussion, Mr. Dungan noted that the committee had voted against including Pompositicutt addition/renovation among the building options. This raised a debate between Ms. Farrell and Mr. Dungan on what choices the voters would have: Ms. Farrell wants voters to have this option; Mr. Dungan said the committee wants to present only its best choice to voters.
Returning to the spending approval, Ms. Makary moved to allow funds from the three current SBC accounts to be eligible from the Feb. 17 list of anticipated expenses, up to $150,000, with the specific allocations to be worked out with the Town Administrator. Ms. Wheeler seconded.
Ms. Farrell moved to amend the motion to include conceptual plans for a Pompo addition/renovation project, reiterating her concerns relative to what she perceives as limiting choices to the voters. In response to a question from Ms. Makary, Mr. Dungan responded that the charge of the SBC is to come up with the best long-term solution for Stow’s elementary schools. Mr. Perry did not think the spending of the remaining funds from the articles limits the Town’s choices at this time. Ms. Farrell stated her concern that the high cost of a new building will create economic hardship for lower-income taxpayers in a bad economy. Mr. Perry’s opinion on the amendment was that the Board should limit its vote to the eight listed projects, for which it had Mr. Wrigley’s advice.
As there was no second to Ms. Farrell’s motion, the Board voted the first motion, with all in favor.
Mr. Perry said he received a request from the Bolton Board of Selectmen to look at the Future Electronics building (on Rt. 117 just over the Bolton town line from Stow) as a possible regional middle school with Stow. Mr. Perry asked Mr. Dungan to have the SBC include the building in its considerations. Mr. Dungan agreed that working with neighboring towns is good but that the SBC wants to stay focused on its present effort.
Mr. Dungan reiterated the need to the SBC to bring solutions to Stow’s Town Meeting and there is some time sensitivity due to the reinstatement of the school reimbursement program which resumes July 2007. Ms. Wheeler said the situation regarding the Future Electronics site is a very new piece of information and while people should be aware it should not be interpreted as a need for the SBC to “roll up their sleeves” at this time for in depth involvement. Mr. Perry said it is an appropriate time to look at feasible alternatives. Ms. Makary said she would work with Bolton on this, in her role as the Board’s liaison to SBC and Tri-Town and the Board of Selectmen cannot keep adding to the SBC’s “to do” list. Mr. Dungan said if there is another solution out there that is better than
anything else we are looki9ng at then we owe it to ourselves to “carpe diem.” Ms. Wheeler pointed out that the work being done by the Tri-Town would not necessarily negate the work done by the SBC as the land assessment process that is in process might be used for schools and other municipal uses. Mr. Wood gave a description of the warehouse and office space at the Future Electronics site. He said the parcel has about 300,000 sq.ft. of interior space and 73 acres of land. The site will be vacated on Sep. 1 and will go on the market in the near future.
In response to a question from Ms. Wheeler, Mr. Wood said the 20 acres of GenRad (prior site owner) property that had some contamination issues has been remedied and is tested annually. The 20 acres is not part of the 73 acre parcel coming up for sale.
FY05 Firefighters Contract
Having discussed and supported the contract changes in a prior meeting, the Board voted to execute the agreement, with no further discussion. Ms. Farrell moved, Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor. Board members signed three copies of the contract for the three parties: the union, Town Administrator (as chief negotiator), and the Town.
Housing Partnership
The Board reviewed an outline of a Housing Partnership’s purpose by Ms. Makary, Ms. Wheeler, and Greg Jones, associate member of the Master Plan Committee.
The purpose of defining the mission guidelines is to give potential members an idea of what is involved to serve on the committee. There was discussion about the types of backgrounds that might comprise the committee. Ms. Wheeler suggested specific professions not be listed because it could limit the people who might apply. Ms Makary noted that thins was a committee that membership should be recruited.
It was agreed that there be a residency requirement for membership and that there be seven members, with staggered terms for the first round of appointments: two for one year, two for two years and three for three years.
Ms. Wheeler moved to appoint a seven-member Housing Partnership, using the Commonwealth’s guidelines as its charter, Ms. Makary seconded and all voted in favor.
Public Safety Planning Committee
The Board agreed to include one resident as a member-at-large of the newly formed Public Safety Planning Committee. The resident would join seven town representatives: the Fire and Police Chiefs, Highway Superintendent, Town Administrator, and representatives from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee. The committee’s responsibility is to deliver a plan and recommendations to the 2006 Annual Town Meeting. Each committee will name its representative.
Mr. Perry will send a letter to the committees, asking for the representatives, so that work can begin.
Municipal Land Use Committee
Having previously agreed to establish this committee, the Board reviewed the membership and next steps. Members will include representatives from Master Plan, Capital Planning, Public Safety Planning, NRSD School Committee, Housing Partnership, Council on Aging, Recreation and Open Space.
Plowing Asa Whitcomb Way
Following new information that Asa Whitcomb Way will be proposed as a public way at May Town Meeting and with revised recommendations from the Planning Board and Highway Superintendent, the Board re-voted a residents’ petition that the Town plow the road.
Chairman Perry asked for a motion to rescind the Board’s Jan. 11 vote to deny the petition. Ms. Makary objected to having to rescind the vote, stating that she preferred to re-vote since new information had been made available to the Board. In her opinion, the prior vote should stand based on the information that was available at that time. Mr. Perry explained that rescinding was the customary process but allowed a departure from it for this vote. Ms. Farrell moved to approve plowing Asa Whitcomb Way for the remainder of 2005; Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor.
Stow TV Broadcasts of Selectmen’s Presentation
Mr. Perry inquired as to the Board’s interest in filming an informational presentation for Channel 9 broadcast, as offered by the Public Education & Government Committee. It was suggested that Mr. Perry consider making the presentation as he had experience doing one as a member of PEG.
Common Victualer License
The Board approved the renewal of Papa Gino’s Common Victualer’s license for 2005. Ms. Farrell so moved, Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor.
New Table for Warren Room
In preparation for filming board meetings, the Warren Room will be equipped with audio and video equipment. Based on a suggestion to enhance the quality of the productions, the Board requested information on conference tables designed for the purpose. Ms. Makary stated interest in receiving more information regarding possible table configurations. A curved table that would allow the Selectmen to see each other more easily would help facilitate working meetings.
The Board reviewed catalogue examples and requested more information on possible layouts. The Board members suggested that PEG funds be used; PEG liaison Mr. Perry, on the other hand, said that PEG did not see furniture as meeting the criteria for cable account purchases. Ms. Farrell stated her position that taxpayer dollars not be used for the purchase, if the existing table was adequate.
Additional Notes
During a brief update on the Town’s website project, Ms. Wheeler said that, in reviewing the site, not all departments had the email feature enabled. She stated her position that all departmental contacts should use the email feature provided by the software. Town Clerk Linda Hathaway asked to address the Board and explained that not all departments were prepared to use email as a regular communication channel with the public. Mr. Perry said that it had earlier been agreed that contact by email was an independent decision by each department. Ms. Wheeler said it was her understanding that departments had some say relative to what content they wanted to post, but that she assumed contact information was standard with contact person, email, phone, fax, hours of operation. Ms. Makary did not recollect contact by
email being an option and was surprised that all departments with a stow-ma.gov email address would not automatically include that as a contact feature on the website.
Ms. Farrell noted an upcoming information meeting on housing trusts scheduled for March 8 and asked if any members could attend. As it was a day time meeting, no member was available.
Minutes
The Board reviewed the draft minutes of Dec. 14, 2004, Jan. 11, 2005 and Feb. 8, 2005.
Two versions of the Feb. 8 minutes were presented for consideration: the original version drafted by Ms. Flint Hosier and a slightly abbreviated version prepared by Mr. Perry. When there was objection to using the shortened version, the Board voted on the original version; Ms. Makary moved, Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor of accepting the minutes, as amended. The amendment involved a minor change to the Municipal Website Update section.
The Jan. 11 meeting had open and executive session minutes. Ms. Makary moved to accept the Jan. 11 open session minutes, as written, Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor. Ms. Makary moved to accept the Jan. 11 executive session minutes, as written, Ms. Farrell seconded and all voted in favor.
Two versions of the Dec. 14 minutes were considered: the original draft by Ms. Flint Hosier and an amended draft by Ms. Wheeler and Ms. Makary. Ms. Farrell moved to accept the original version, stating that the chairman was trying to shorten the minutes and the proposed additions did not add value. Among other amendments, Ms. Wheeler wanted to add a new section to the minutes on Chapter 61 land parcels, a topic not on the agenda but about which she asked questions at the meeting. She wanted those questions and the responses reflected as a matter of public record. Ms. Wheeler noted the amendments were not “verbatim transcripts” and, in total, added only one-half page to the meeting minutes. Ms. Makary stated that the criterion should not be whether an item is on the agenda but whether the subject was discussed
during a public meeting of the Selectmen.
Ms. Makary moved to accept the Dec. 14 minutes with the amendments, Ms. Wheeler seconded and all voted in favor. Ms. Farrell then requested that, in the future, Board members read the agenda and call the Chairman or Town Administrator before the meeting with questions and requests for information, instead of spending meeting time on it.
The Board voted to adjourn at 10:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
No signature
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