MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Open Session
July 8, 2008
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Chairman Thomas Ruggiero and Selectmen Stephen Dungan, Kathleen Farrell, Jason Robart, and Ellen Sturgis.
Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan McLaughlin.
Chairman Ruggiero called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Public Input
None.
Chairman’s Comments
None.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley reported on the following topics:
· He is working with the contractor on the Snow Recreation project and expects to have an agreement soon.
· He is also working on the EOEEA grant application for project funding, due July 15. One year ago, the grant was not approved because the Town did not own the Snow property. Now the Town does own the land and this will hopefully improve Stow’s position.
· He received the final cherry sheet from the state, which is less than one-half of 1 percent different than his estimate. Stow was charged twice for regional transportation ($39,247 x 2), because MART is now charging in addition to the MBTA. This was corrected and Stow is close to a contract with MART.
Bond Note Renewal for Center/Pompo Renovation
Treasurer-Collector Pam Landry asked the Board to approve a $130,000 note for one year at 2.5 percent from Eastern Bank. The Board signed the note.
Snow Property Agriculture Lease
Dwight Sipler, chair of the Agricultural Commission, visited the Board to discuss leasing the agricultural portion of the Snow property for farming. Following the Town’s purchase of the property, the Commission advertised the opportunity to lease the land. One response was received that met all the specifications, from Applefield Farm owner Steve Mong. Because some of the leased parcel will include a Pick-Your-Own area, Mr. Mong has listed the Town as additionally insured to protect the Town for liability.
The land will be leased at $100 per acre (the going rate), up from $25 per acre on the earlier lease for Tuttle Lane farm land. The parcel boundaries are listed in the Recreation Commission’s map and are being flagged on the land now. Of the total Snow parcel of 13.2 acres, 6.0 is for agriculture: 5.0 for farming and 1.0 for road access.
Following discussion by the Board, Ms. Farrell moved to approve the lease of the agricultural portion of the Snow property to Applefield Farm; Mr. Dungan seconded; and all voted in favor. Mr. Ruggiero executed the lease agreement on behalf of the Board.
Land Use Task Force Appointment
Dorothy Spaulding, an associate member of the task force, applied for a current vacancy for a voting member. Mr. Dungan moved to appoint Ms. Spaulding to the LUFT; Ms. Sturgis seconded; and all voted in favor.
Master Plan Committee Appointment
Planning Board member Kathleen Willis requested appointment to the Master Plan Committee. Ms. Farrell moved to appoint Ms. Willis as the Planning Board’s representative to Master Plan; Mr. Dungan seconded; and all voted in favor.
Annual Committee Appointments
Mr. Dungan moved to appoint all the individuals to the various committee positions, as listed on the June 23, 2008 posting; Ms. Farrell seconded. Four members voted in favor (Dungan, Farrell, Robart, and Ruggiero); one voted opposed (Sturgis). The motion carried.
Selectmen’s Master Planning
Mr. Dungan said he met with Karen Kelleher, Planning Board Coordinator, regarding the status of the Master Plan and will attend the committee meetings on a regular basis. He wants to hold public forums in the fall on the full plan, in addition to forums on the proposed mixed use zoning bylaws.
Liaison Reports
Elementary School Building Committee: The NRSD School Committee voted to approve the Initial Certificate of Compliance and the Memorandum of Agreement for the Mass School Building Authority. The documents will next come to the Selectmen for approval.
Public Safety: New Fire Chief Mike McLaughlin is on board at the Fire House. Stow is using mutual aid while our ambulance is being repaired.
At 7:50 p.m., Mr. Dungan moved to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing employee contracts and not to return to Open Session; Ms. Sturgis seconded; and all voted in favor by roll-call vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant, Board of Selectmen
Approved as written, August 26, 2008
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