Minutes
Stow Board of Selectmen
August 25, 2015
Present at the meeting that was held at Town Building were Brian Burke, Donald Hawkes, Charles Kern, Thomas Ryan and James Salvie.
Also present were William Wrigley, Town Administrator and Maureen Trunfio, Administrative Assistant.
Mr. Hawkes called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Public Input: None
Chairman’s Comments: Mr. Hawkes announced that at 7 p.m. on September 23rd there will be a lecture entitled “Lake Boon Then and Now - Illustrated Boat History Tour,” given by Richard Gelpke, at the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge on Hudson Road in Sudbury. He also announced that the annual Lake Boon Carnival will begin on August 28th and end on August 30th.
Meeting minutes
Mr. Ryan moved to accept the meeting minutes of August 11, 2015 as amended. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Permit Request for Stow Gobbler 5K Road Race
Jacquelyn Harnett, Hannah Honig and Katie Piccioli were present to request permission to organize the 9th Annual Stow Gobbler 5K Race in partnership with the Stow Recreation Department. The organizers assured the Board that they will have an insurance certificate on file before the race date. Public Safety officials have approved the event. More information can be found on the Web at www.stowgobbler.org and at #StowGobbler on Twitter.
Mr. Salvie made a motion to approve the use of Town public ways for the Annual Stow Gobbler 5K Road Race on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Promotion of Detective Michael Sallese to Detective Sergeant
Police Chief Bosworth was present, along with Detective Michael Sallese, to recommend a promotion of Detective Sallese to a hybrid position entitled Detective Sergeant. The Chief praised Detective Sallese’s work over the past six years. The Selectmen, as well as Mr. Wrigley, each individually concurred with the Chief and commented personally on Detective Sallese’s quality of service to the Town. It was unanimously agreed that Detective Sallese should receive the promotion to Sergeant. Detective Sallese commented on the Massachusetts opiate addiction problem, and reminded the public that there is a no-questions-asked drug drop-off box located in the lobby of the Police Station.
As recommended by the Police Chief and the Town Administrator, Mr. Ryan moved to promote Michael Sallese to the position of Detective Sergeant in the Stow Police Department effective July 1, 2015. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Randall Library Building Project Update
Randall Library Trustees Chair Marianne Sharin was present to update the Selectmen on the status of the Randall Library Building Project. Library Director Melissa Fournier was also present for the discussion.
Mrs. Sharin explained that there are currently two projects being discussed with regard to the Randall Library. The first relates to an interior renovation to the second floor of the historic section of the library. The second is the beginning stages of research into the need for a new library building at some point in the distant future. The Trustees would like to begin the process of the latter project with a survey of the residents and their opinions of the needs of the Town’s public library.
The discontinuance of the current Library Building Committee was discussed, as all current members’ terms have expired. If a new purpose is to be defined, a new Committee should be established, with the purpose defined and member at large position(s) posted. The Selectmen would appoint members at a future Board of Selectmen’s meeting and Town Clerk would swear in members. Mr. Salvie said that, at present, he is the Selectmen’s liaison to the Randall Library, but due to his involvement in the Fire Station/Community Center project, he would not be able to serve on the Library Building Project Committee.
Ms. Fournier explained that the redesign phase of the second floor of the Library would utilize existing Town funds that were previously allocated. The Trustees would then ask for a vote at Annual Town Meeting to receive construction renovation funds for the project from the Community Preservation Committee.
Mr. Wrigley suggested that one Building Project Committee serve to facilitate both projects.
Overview of Draft Earth Removal Bylaw
Karen Kelleher, Town Planner and Kathy Sferra, Conservation Agent were at the meeting to present the draft revision of the Earth Removal Bylaw. After comments are received from the public at the hearing to be held as part of the September 8, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting, the bylaw may be further revised and will be brought to fall Special Town Meeting to be held on Monday, November 16, 2015.
The revised bylaw was drafted so that Earth Removal will not be allowed as a principal use. It would remain as a part of the General Bylaw. Many earth removal issues would be dealt with during the permitting process by Boards other than the Selectmen; in most cases by the Planning Board, Building Department or Conservation Commission. The Selectmen discussed the new exemptions, the need to clarify the fine structure, the unit of measure, and the clarification of the use of the word “operation.” There are exemptions such as projects under 100 cu yads or less for any purpose. The Selectmen thanked and commended Ms. Sferra and Mrs. Kelleher, as well as Assistant Planner Jesse Steadman, for their work on this bylaw revision. A copy of the draft revision may be viewed on the Town website or in the Selectmen’s
Office.
Overview of draft Noise Bylaw
Building Commissioner Craig Martin was present to present his draft revision of the Town’s Noise Bylaw. Because the current Noise Bylaw is unenforceable, Mr. Martin was asked to revise it and he began by suggesting that the Noise Bylaw be moved from the Town’s Zoning Bylaw into the General Bylaw. The revised bylaw intends to regulate noise from a variety of manmade sources and activities. Ambient sound level will be measured at the property line, shall not be increased by more than 10 decibels weighted for the “A” scale [dB(A)] due to the sound from the property. Enforcement of the bylaw shall be carried out by the Selectmen or appointee of their choosing.
After comments are received from the public at the hearing to be held as part of the September 8, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting, the bylaw may be further revised and will be brought to fall Special Town Meeting to be held on Monday, November 16, 2015. A copy of the draft revision may be viewed on the Town website or in the Selectmen’s Office.
Entertainment Licenses
The Selectmen had a brief discussion about the issuance of Entertainment Licenses. Administrative Assistant to the Selectmen, Maureen Trunfio, stated that according to MGL Chapter 140 § 181 and MGL Chapter 136 § 4, the Board of Selectmen is responsible for the issuance of licenses for public entertainment.
Anyone wishing to be granted an entertainment license, should contact the Selectmen’s Office to request an application. This process should begin at a minimum of eight weeks before an event is planned to occur. If liquor and/or fireworks are to be present at an entertainment event, more time should be allotted to apply for additional permits.
At 9:22 p.m. Mr. Wrigley left the meeting.
Sign Liquor License for Transferred License – Stowaway
Mr. Salvie move that the Board sign an amended liquor license for Stowaway Golf Course reflecting transfer of the license from John W. Melone to J. Melone & Sons, Inc., approved by this Board at the April 28, 2015 meeting after a public hearing, and approved by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission on August 14, 2015. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Liaison reports
Mr. Burke had nothing to report.
Mr. Salvie reported that the Pompo Building Committee determined that there would not be a new roof installed at the Fire Station/Community Center as a part of the initial building process.
Mr. Ryan had nothing to report.
Mr. Hawkes had nothing to report.
Mr. Kern had nothing to report.
Mr. Burke made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 PM. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen
| 
