MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
January 23, 2007
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Chairman Janet Wheeler and Selectmen Steve Dungan, Carole Makary, Jason Robart, and Thomas Ruggiero.
Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan McLaughlin.
Chairman Wheeler called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
Public Input
None.
Ms. Wheeler said that she wanted to share a letter she is submitting to the newspapers and to the Board, ending that she was stepping down as chairman, as of the end of this meeting. She read the letter to the Board and the public.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley updated the Board on the Egan MCAD case, with a progress report and upcoming dates. He also noted the disruption to Town personnel due to court time.
Regarding the Snow property, he said he took the first step in getting a commercial appraisal by contacting Jon Avery of Avery Associates. Because time is so important, he recommends, as sound business practice, to go with an experienced and qualified local firm without going through a competitive process. A Reserve Fund transfer will be the source of the funds.
He said the Lower Village study group was presently investigating possible water solutions on Town-owned or private property and the issues related to both. The group is working with the property owners and Conservation Commission on this and Dave Coppes of the Conservation Commission and MWRA has joined the study group.
Regarding the Cushing land, it might be a year or more before the Town gets a decision on the 120-day matter.
Mr. Wrigley has completed interviews with four candidates for the open position of Town Accountant. He requested that the Board vote to hire the top candidate.
In response, Mr. Dungan moved to authorize Mr. Wrigley to consummate the hire of a Town Accountant, after reference checks and other due diligence; Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor.
The Board also voted on the following requests:
· Snow property appraisal: Ms. Makary moved to employ a experienced and qualified commercial appraiser, following sound business practices, for an amount less that $5,000 to evaluate the Snow property; seconded by Mr. Ruggiero, and all voted in favor.
· Public safety dispatcher: Mr. Robart moved to hire Brenda Taylor as the new civilian dispatcher, [per the recommendation of the Police and Fire Chiefs and Dispatch Supervisor]; Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
· Acting call firefighter lieutenants: Ms. Makary moved to appoint Barry Evers, Tim Neufell, Jim Ruggerio, and Lisa McNiff as acting call firefighter lieutenants, per the recommendation of the Fire Chief; Mr. Dungan seconded, and all voted in favor.
· Call firefighters: Ms. Makary moved to appoint Jonathan Murphy and Matthew Magazu as new call firefighters, per the recommendation of the Fire Chief; Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor.
Meeting Minutes
Minutes of 10/24/06: Mr. Dungan moved to accept the minutes as amended, Mr. Ruggiero seconded, and all voted in favor.
Minutes of 11/14/06: Mr. Dungan moved to accept the minutes as amended, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Minutes of 11/21/06: Mr. Dungan moved to accept the minutes as amended, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor
Minutes of 12/12/06: Mr. Dungan moved to accept the minutes as amended, Ms. Wheeler seconded, and all voted in favor. Ms. Makary, being absent on December 12, abstained.
Correspondence
Ms. Wheeler noted that Ross Perry had submitted the final perambulation report of the Town boundaries, for the Board’s acceptance. Given the size of the report and large number of photographs, it was agreed that it would be distributed to the Board members on CDs.
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust
Mr. Dungan explained a request for the Housing Partnership to appoint members to the new Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. It was agreed to defer the decision to the next meeting.
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
Board of Health member Betty Cormier and MRC member John Sangermano explained the structure and purpose of the MRC. There is a five-member executive committee; chaired by Sarah Robart with members Louise Peacock, Vickery Trinkas-Randall, Ms. Cormier, and Mr. Sangermano.
The MRC is a federal initiative begun in 2002 for the purpose of managing large-scale emergencies, such as pandemics, terrorist attacks, and weather disasters. The Stow MRC of roughly 100 volunteers has been meeting monthly since July, with the focus on training.
The Board’s discussion included questions on regional organization, the relationship to MEMA, and the school district town’s being in different MRC regions.
Liaison Reports
Mr. Ruggiero, liaison to the Recreation Commission, reported on the commission’s decision to sponsor a new effort to improve recreation by a citizens’ group, Recreation for Stow (RFS). The Recreation Commission will decide whether RFS will be a sub-committee of the Commission or a working group under the Director. The Community Preservation Committee agreed to match $5,000 in private funds in support.
Annual Visit from Representative Pat Walrath
Rep. Walrath discussed Congressional activities of interest to Stow. These included:
· Amendments to the School Building Authority regulations.
· An additional $55 million in Chapter 90 funds given to cities and towns.
· New permitted use of MBTA assessments, through membership in a Regional Transit Authority, for local transportation, such as COA vans. (Stow pays an assessment of $60k per year.)
· Changes in the Community Preservation Act, such as funding preservation of artifacts and acquisition of affordable housing.
· Municipal Relief bill made permanent.
· Voting and attendance at public hearing, e.g. Planning and Zoning boards.
· Creation of Municipal Affordable Housing Trusts
· Changes in definition of agricultural land and in Town’s right to purchase “Chapter land.”
She reported that the state is projecting only a 3-percent growth in revenue for FY08, much lower than the previous year. Mr. Wrigley confirmed that the FY08 revenue side will be difficult for Stow, without the increases in local and school aid seen last year.
Rep. Walrath reported a plan is in the works for many municipal employees to be able to join the state’s health-care plan, with local approval. Both the employees and towns could save money. Mr. Wrigley said that the cost difference is only 1 percent for Stow. He is more interested in bills dealing with alternatives or an end to the Middlesex Retirement System.
Selectmen’s Mediation
Mr. Robart introduced the topic, reporting that all members have seen Tad Mayer’s modified proposal that complies with the Open Meeting Law.
Mr. Dungan moved to agree to accept the MWI proposal, as described in Mr. Mayer’s current draft. Mr. Robart seconded.
The Board had an extended discussion on various aspects on the issue. These included disagreement on the mediator’s proposal and various suggestions to change it, the length of time going by without resolution, the impact of Ms. Wheeler’s resignation as chair, the money it was costing.
Toward the end, Mr. Robart said that they, as a board, agreed to go through with this process and asked if the members still supported the goals of the conflict resolution. Mr. Robart, Mr. Dungan, and Mr. Ruggiero said they agreed. Ms. Makary said she did not agree and had been in unsuccessful closed-door mediation before. Ms. Wheeler said she did not have the amount of time this would require.
Mr. Wrigley recommended that the Board abandon the effort, if mediation was being discarded. The Board agreed.
Executive Session on the Egan MCAD Matter
At 10:05 p.m., Mr. Dungan moved to convene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the Egan MCAD matter, per MGL C. 39, s23b, and not to return to Open Session following Executive Session. Mr. Ruggiero seconded; Board members voted unanimously by roll-call vote.
At 10:20 p.m., the Board left Executive Session and did not return to Open Session.
Adjournment
Respectfully submitted,
Susan McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant, Board of Selectmen
Approved as amended, March 27, 2007
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