MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
February 27, 2007
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Chairman Stephen Dungan and Selectmen Carole Makary, Jason Robart, and Janet Wheeler.
Selectman Thomas Ruggiero was absent.
Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan McLaughlin.
Chairman Dungan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Public Input
Connie Schwarzkopf of Harvard Road said that on February 12 the Highway Department cut trees near the roadside of her property. Because the trees are located over a stone wall from the street, it was her understanding that these were her trees, not the Town’s. Ms. Schwarzkopt left a written complaint with the Board, as well. Mr. Dungan said that he has had communication with Ms. Schwarzkopf on this.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley reported the following:
· His Joint Boards meeting on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget would follow later in the meeting.
· The Snow property appraisal is underway, working toward the Town Meeting deadline.
· The Collings submitted a written offer for land they are removing from Chapter status. The 120-day deadline is before June 2 and the Board needs to decide whether to pursue in time for Annual Town Meeting; otherwise a Special Town Meeting will be needed. Town Counsel is communicating with Mr. Collings counsel to resolve some ambiguities.
· The Cushing matter will be discussed in Executive Session later in the meeting.
· As a result of Mr. Wrigley’s letter to DEP regarding a compliance order for the Presti property in Lower Village, DEP agreed to allow the Town more time to work with private developers and property owners to solve the water and sewer problem there.
Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2007: Mr. Robart moved to accept the minutes as amended; Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Proclamation for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
The Board agreed to support the Massachusetts Motorcycle Safety Council’s Safety Awareness Month, also recognized by Governor Romney. The Awareness Month runs from mid-March to mid-April. Public Safety Officer Lima volunteered to be the Town’s liaison to the program.
Ms. Makary moved that the town officially comply with the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association’s request to recognize the state’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period – the last week of March through the last week of April; Mr. Robart seconded; and all voted in favor.
Delegation of Right-to-Farm Files to the Agricultural Commission
At the suggestion of Agricultural Commission chairman Dwight Sipler, the Board agreed to delegate its duties under the General Bylaw Article 15, Right To Farm, to the Commission.
Ms. Wheeler moved to transfer responsibility for Right to Farm records management to the Agricultural Commission; Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Town Administrator’s Joint Boards Meeting on FY 2008 Budget
The following boards were represented: Assessors, Capital Planning, Finance, Nashoba Regional School District, and Selectmen.
Mr. Wrigley opened the meeting by explaining the meeting’s purpose: The General Bylaws had been amended to have the Town Administrator convene a meeting of the present boards to review the financial well being of the town and to forecast finances in the upcoming fiscal year.
He asked the attending boards to focus on the larger picture, as other forums exist for the line-item details. He also noted that figures are preliminary, the boards’ best guesses at this time. By the second Selectmen’s meeting in March, he will make his recommendations to the Board; no recommendations are implied in tonight’s discussion.
Nashoba Regional School District: Assistant Superintendent George King reported that the current estimate was an increase of 7.03 percent, 75 percent of which is for human resources (minimal increase in staff and 7 percent increase in health insurance). Student population projections are “pretty flat, a 1- to 2-percent increase, smaller than the last few years.
Board of Assessors: Chairman John Bolton and Principal Assessor Dorothy Wilbur reported that New Growth, at $300k, is down significantly at from last year’s $500k and over $600k the year before. The cause is no commercial growth, no significant new housing development. The Active Adult Neighborhood at Arbor Glen will not affect New Growth this year. Also, Local Receipts are “pretty flat.”
Capital Planning: Chairman Jean Lynch reported that the high school track project is being put off for one year and the district is considering a capital campaign for athletics. The Community Preservation Committee is deciding on several projects of capital size, such as Town Hall sprinklers, Lake Boon weed remediation, and stonewall rehabilitation in Lower Village. Police, Fire, and Highway departments have not yet met with Capital Planning (scheduled for March 6). There is currently $400k in capital requests.
Municipal Budget: Mr. Wrigley reviewed the elements of the Town budget, beginning with the large reduction in SBA reimbursement for the Hale renovation this year. He discussed adding to the Stabilization Fund and using Free Cash to buy down some of the capital expenditures. The department-requested municipal budget increased 7.49 percent over FY07 approved budget; NRSD projected a 7.2-percent increase while Minuteman projected a 1.4-percent decrease, the second year of decrease. Based on available numbers at present, the municipal budget shows a deficit of $331,206.
School Building Task Force Update
Task Force chairman Ellen Sturgis reported that the over 20 original options had been narrowed to 12 and now to five options. The task force would prepare its final presentations for the public in the next two weeks. The task force also looked at Hale School needs, to be part of a Master Plan for the schools. She said the task force plans to bring two proposals to Town Meeting.
Ms. Sturgis, Mr. Wrigley and Board members then discussed how to present the proposals and request funds, for example as a total amount or design only. The requirements of ballot questions for borrowing and expectations of state reimbursement were raised.
Decision on Collings Property Purchase Option
Robert Collings of Barton Road presented his recommendations on the disposition of Chapter property. He owns 68 acres of land, 64 of which have been in Chapter 61B status. He is withdrawing the land and had negotiated two land swaps for portions of the property. Of four potential house lots, he will trade two of the four for a lot bordering the river; he will exchange the other two house lots for another parcel owned by Maynard Sand and Gravel. He plans to build a residence for his son on the fifth lot.
Based on a value of $274k per lot, it would cost the Town $1.0M to purchase the land. He asked the Selectmen to pass on the Town’s option to purchase the property.
Ensuing discussion by the Board raised the following points:
· Suggestion to hold a Joint Boards meeting to decide
· Is the transaction so complex that it can’t be consummated?
· Town Counsel has noted that if both parties fail to agree, the matter could go to court.
· There has been no groundswell of support from other boards.
· Can the Town use the land?
It was agreed that Mr. Robart would arrange for polling of the other boards and scheduling of a joint boards meeting.
Decision on Membership of Affordable Housing Trust
The Board agreed to membership for the Affordable Housing Trust as outlined in the Housing Partnership’s November 29, 2006 memo.
Ms. Wheeler moved to create an Affordable Housing Trust; Mr. Robart seconded; and Mssrs Dungan and Robart and Ms. Wheeler voted in favor. Ms. Makary abstained.
Acceptance of Perambulation Report
The five-year perambulation report, completed by former Selectman Ross Perry, was accepted by the Board. Mr. Robart moved to accept the report; Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Acceptance of Selectmen’s 2006 Annual Report
Ms. Makary moved to accept the final version of the Board’s 2006 report; Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor.
Selectmen’s Master Planning
The Board agreed to begin its own master planning based on the direction and priorities on the Town Master Plan currently in development. Ms. Wheeler will coordinate with Mr. Dungan to have the Master Plan Committee visit the Board.
Liaison Reports, if any
Mr. Robart said he had been contacted by a member of the Lake community about the Recreation proposal for Pine Bluffs and suggested that the Lake community be invited to attend a Board meeting.
Executive Session
At 9:11 p.m., the Board entered Executive Session.
Ms. Wheeler moved to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Cushing property litigation strategy, per MGL C.39, s23b and not to return to Open Session following adjournment; Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor by roll-call vote.
At 9:33 p.m., the Board adjourned from Executive Session, ending the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant, Board of Selectmen
Approved as amended, May 1, 2007
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