MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
October 15, 2007
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Chairman Stephen Dungan and Selectmen Kathleen Farrell, Jason Robart, Thomas Ruggiero, and Ellen Sturgis.
Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan McLaughlin.
Mr. Dungan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Public Input
Ted Perry, co-chair of the residents’ group Concerned Citizens of Stow, told the Board he hoped they would withhold their vote on the Snow property until they decide on the Banks’ and other properties and the Citizen’s Petition [on land use] is heard by the town.
Chairman’s Comments
Mr. Dungan read a letter from Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association announcing that Stow Treasurer-Collector Pamela Landry had been designated a Certified Massachusetts Municipal Treasurer. The Board expressed its appreciation of` Ms. Landry.
Mr. Dungan said the Board would reschedule its regular October 23 meeting to October 30, so that all members could be present.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley made an announcement on behalf of the Medical Reserve Corps that this year’s flu clinic would serve as a dry run for emergency drills by the MRC and encouraged residents to participate.
He said the NRSD School Committee voted to use surplus Chapter 70 funds to reduce the towns’ annual assessment. For Stow, the amount is $93,250.
Lastly, the Parker litigation is in the discovery phase and the Selectmen’s Office is preparing the documents now.
Meeting Minutes
Approval of minutes was deferred to the next meeting.
Val’s Project Recognition
Ms. Farrell read two Certificates of Recognition from the Town to residents Sylvia and Henry Estabrook and Vivian and William Dean for 37 years of volunteer service to Val’s Project. Board members signed the certificates, which Ms. Farrell will present at an upcoming Appreciation Party for them.
Appointment to the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust
Trish Settles of Whitman Street visited the Board to request appointment to the newly formed Affordable Housing Trust. Presently a member of the Affordable Housing Partnership, Ms. Settles would hold membership in both committees, per the Board’s Sept 25 vote to restructure Partnership.
Ms. Sturgis moved to appoint Trish Settles to the Stow [Affordable] Housing Trust, Ms. Farrell seconded; and all voted in favor.
Cable License Advisory Committee on Verizon License
Lew Halprin, chair of the Cable License Advisory Committee (CLAC), visited the Board seeking approval to issue a call for cable-license applications. A similar call was made a year ago, after Verizon asked to apply, but Verizon delayed its plans to provide a cable service. They were now prepared to apply again.
Anne VanTine, Stow TV coordinator, joined Mr. Halprin to request approval to hire legal counsel on the licensing. CLAC had voted to ask the Board to approve this hiring for an estimated $4,000-$5,000.
Ms. Sturgis moved to approve the Cable License Advisory Committee to pursue a license with Verizon; Ms. Farrell seconded; and all voted in favor.
Mr. Dungan agreed to prepare and sign letters to the Department of Telecomm and Energy and Verizon on the selectmen’s vote
Next, the source of funds was discussed. Ms. VanTine asked that the Town’s legal budget “split the cost” the Town’s cable account. Mr. Wrigley said that the Town’s legal account was not for this and suggested that the license advisory and local access advisory committees request a Reserve Fund transfer from the Finance Committee. It was agreed that Ms. VanTine and Mr. Halprin would submit a request for Reserve Funds to Finance.
Ms. Sturgis asked the Board to vote its approval on hiring the attorney, as opposed to a verbal okay. She moved to endorse the use of an attorney in the license agreement; Mr. Ruggiero seconded; and all voted in favor.
Mr. Halprin then asked that the Board consider a re-constitution of Cable License Advisory, which was tentatively scheduled for the next Selectmen’s meeting.
Discussion and Vote on Snow Property Warrant Article
The Board continued its discussion of priorities for the Snow property, a vote on which had been postponed to tonight’s meeting so that Mr. Robart could participate.
Based on a grid, created by Mr. Dungan and Ms. Sturgis, of evaluation criteria, e.g., Population Served and Use, e.g., Recreation,
Mr. Robart: the grid raises three issues: need, ultimate use, and at what price? He sees a benefit now and in the future in affordable housing. He still has questions about recreation need, e.g., we’re renting fields to others and soccer sign-ups are dropping. Agriculture is clearly aneed and he wants to give affordable housing significant consideration. What’s the right price for Snow? And for others that have recently come on the market? He cannot support the Snow purchase at $1,300,000.
Mr. Dungan: He feels strongly about affordable housing but thinks a combination of recreation and agriculture is right for Snow. The Board has only one parcel before it. The per-acre price might be high, but there are defined needs.
Mr. Robart: Snow is still on the market. Board must exercise its fiduciary responsibility to get the right price.
Ms. Sturgis: She puts everything in the context of the school project, which is the most important. Any cost being incurred should be minimal. She is concerned with spending $1.5M for young people. She is pleased to see agriculture as a priority, combined with affordable housing in a small footprint. The Snow price is too high.
Mr. Ruggiero: We are now at $2.7M to build recreational fields plus $70.0K for mitigation. He thinks Recreation and Agriculture are the right priorities but the cost for other recreation projects does not come close to this price. The feedback he gets from residents support this use but “at the right price.” The RFP was out long enough, if others were interested. He asks Recreation to explain why this costs $1.4M. He is in favor of buying Snow and doing this project.
Ms. Farrell: She feels the grid is subjective and questions what is the risk of the loss. A lot of Town time and money has been spent and the Board has been consumed with it. There are two questions: Do we take it to Town Meeting? And do agree with a purchase at this price? We should bring it to Town Meeting. But she cannot support it at this price. We need to look to the future, for example, the schools. Assuming moving forward with the school building means freeing up Pompo. The Board has discussed consolidating community offerings there, e.g. senior center and playing fields. The question needs to go to Town Meeting and let people vote. The Board needs to get past this and move on to other needs, such as a planned production strategy.
Mr. Dungan: Agrees it’s critical to bring forward to Town Meeting.
Mr. Robart moves that the Board of selectmen supports the Town’s acquisition of the Snow property for a sum of money to be negotiated, for a price less than $1.3M, for mixed use consisting of two of the three following uses: affordable housing, recreation, and agriculture; Ms. Farrell seconds.
Discussion on motion:
Mr. Robart suggests voting this tonight and by Town Meeting having two definite uses. Mr. Ruggiero notes that the Board has listened to everyone and now has to step forward. Mr. Wrigley advises that including all three uses in the article gives voters an option to choose but adding a third at Town Meeting is outside “the four corners.” Mr. Ruggiero feels that leaving three is not taking a leadership role. Ms. Farrell is concerned with the process and how the proposal got to Town Meeting last time.
Mr. Dungan moves to modify Mr. Robart’s motion to change the specified uses to Agriculture and Recreation; Mr. Ruggiero seconded. Two voting in favor (Dungan and Ruggiero); three opposed (Farrell, Robart, and Sturgis). The motion to amend fails.
Following more discussion on the main motion, Mr. Robart moves to amend his motion to specify the following two uses: affordable housing and agriculture; Ms. Sturgis seconds. Two voting in favor (Robart and Sturgis); three opposed (Dungan, Farrell, and Ruggiero). The motion to amend fails.
Voting on the main motion: three voting in favor (Dungan, Farrell, and Robart); two voting opposed (Ruggiero and Sturgis.) The motion passes.
Mr. Robart suggested that next step is for the Board or its designees to approach the seller to negotiate the price and bring the result back to the Board.
Mr. Dungan, Mr. Wrigley, and Ms. McLaughlin will write a warrant article that includes the three uses. Mr. Wrigley will check on the language of the associated ballot question.
Ms. Sturgis moves that Mr. Dungan and Mr. Robart negotiate for the Board; Mr. Ruggiero seconds; all vote in favor. It was agreed that they will consult with Mr. Wrigley on negotiating.
MSBA Update
Ms. Sturgis reported that Stow is on the “short list” of 144 projects. She hopes to post the project manager RFQ this week.
Land Use Planning Committee
Mr. Robart presented a draft proposal for a land use task force, which is based on his conversations on the group’s charter, principles, etc.
He proposed:
· A five-member committee, with representation or expertise from Housing, Conservation, Community Preservation, Planning, and overall Town government (Selectmen).
· Established as a task force.
· To provide recommendation to Town Meeting.
· To leverage and consolidate the work of past committees.
· An open and participatory process, as was the School Building Task Force.
· Three outcomes:
1. Needs and uses of land.
2. What is available.
3. Understand financing options.
· Develop a strategy and plan to present to the Town for adoption by the Town.
Mr. Robart said he would next send the written proposal to the Board. Ms. Farrell said they also need to plan how to take care of what the Town already has.
Liaison Reports
Mr. Ruggiero (Public Safety) and Ms. Farrell are looking into an issue with Barton Road.
Ms. Sturgis (Community Preservation) attended Recreation’s presentation to the CPC and will forward the slides.
Ms. Sturgis and Ms. Farrell attended the MMA Selectmen’s Fall Conference, which was worthwhile.
At 9:02 p.m., Ms. Farrell moved to adjourn; Ms. Sturgis seconded; and all voted on favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant, Board of Selectmen
Approved as written, October 30, 2007
| 
