Minutes
Stow Board of Selectmen
May 26, 2015
Town Building
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 p.m.
Public Input: None
Chairman’s Comments: Mr. Hawkes thanked Mr. Kern for his year of service as Chair. He announced that the Annual Beach Clean Up at Lake Boon would take place on Saturday, June 13th from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. He thanks all who participated in the Memorial Day Parade, especially Jeff Lance, organizer of the event. Mr. Hawkes mentioned the Town’s appreciation for the organizers and all involved with this year’s SpringFest and offered special thanks to Karen Kelleher and Deb Woods, the event organizers.
Meeting minutes
Mr. Ryan moved to accept the meeting minutes of May 13, 2015 as drafted. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Board decided that they were not prepared, at this point, to approve or release the Executive Minutes that were presented, as some items were still considered sensitive.
Disposal of Surplus Equipment and Furniture
The Town Clerk was present and requested permission to dispose of furniture and equipment that have been declared surplus during a sale this spring at the Pompo School location. An inventory list was provided and the Selectmen authorized her to add additional items, if any were found before the sale.
Mr. Burke moved to declare as surplus property the Town-owned items inventoried by the Town Clerk, and to permit a sale of these items at a date to be announced. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Order of Taking for Brandymeade Circle
Article 50 on the May 2015 Annual Town Meeting warrant proposed acceptance of Brandymeade Circle as a public way; the article was approved by voters. This is the next step in the process. The Selectmen voted to approve and sign the Order of Taking for Brandymeade Circle. The Town Clerk was present and notarized the document.
Mr. Ryan moved to approve the Order of Taking for Brandymeade Circle dated May 26, 2015. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously
Mr. Burke stepped out of the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
Recognition of Eagle Scouts
The Selectmen voted to sign Certificates of Achievement of Eagle Scout status by Tommy Taft and Matt Glauner. Tommy Taft researched and constructed a historical marker for Red Acre Village. Matt Glauner built and installed kiosks at both ends of Track Road. The certificates will be presented by Mr. Hawkes at the Eagle Court of Honor to be held by Troop 1 on the evening of June 13, 2015 at Town Hall.
Mr. Ryan moved to recognize Tommy Taft and Matt Glauner for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and to sign and authorize the Chairman to present proclamations for both of them at their recognition ceremony on June 13, 2015. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Burke re-joined the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
Annual Animal Control Warrant
This annual warrant authorizes the Animal Control Officer to carry out her duties. The Selectmen reviewed and voted to approve the Annual Animal Control Warrant and it was signed by the Chair.
In accordance with Chapter 140, section 151A of the Massachusetts General Laws, Mr. Salvie moved to approve the annual Animal Control Warrant, dated May 26, 2015, and effective for one year from June 1, 2015, and to authorize the Chairman to sign it on behalf of the Board. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Boating Activity Permit for Recreation Department
Lake Boon Commission Bylaw No. 11 states:
No person shall engage in the business of renting boats or canoes or permit their premises to be used for launching or dock facilities by other than members of their family or social guests without a Commercial Use Permit. Such permits are to be issued by the Selectmen of the town in which the property concerned lies and only after recommendation of the Lake Boon Commission. The fee for such permits is five (5) dollars and they shall continue in force until December 31st of the year issued unless sooner suspended or revoked.
The Selectmen’s office received a letter dated May 4, 2015 from members of the Board of the Lake Boon Commission requesting that the Board consider issuing a permit to the Recreation Commission which would allow them to continue the Camp Stow boating program as well as the boat rental program that currently runs when Camp Stow is not in session.
On the recommendation of the Lake Boon Commission, Mr. Salvie moved to grant a Commercial Use Permit to the Stow Recreation Department for its boating program, in accordance with letters submitted to the Lake Boon Commission on August 27 and September 4, 2014. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Special Liquor License for Decibels Foundation
The Decibels Foundation has been holding this golf tournament for many years. The Foundation helps children with hearing loss and their families through programs and education.
Mr. Salvie moved to approve and sign a Special One-Day Liquor License for the Decibels Foundation for a Golf Tournament to be held at the Wedgewood Pines Country Club on Monday, June 22, 2015, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Annual appointment of Forest Warden
Mr. Ryan moved to reappoint Fire Chief Joseph Landry to the position of Forest Warden, for a one-year term, ending May 31, 2016. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Annual appointment of Building Commissioner
Mr. Ryan moved to reappoint Craig Martin to the position of Building Commissioner, for a one-year term, ending May 31, 2016. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Annual appointment of Inspectors
On the recommendation of Building Commissioner Craig Martin, Mr. Ryan moved to reappoint the following inspectors, for one-year terms, ending May 31, 2016. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
- Electrical Inspector: Robert W. Norton
- Deputy Electrical Inspector: Charles Weeks
- Deputy Electrical Inspector: Michael A. Norton
- Gas Inspector: Adam Sahlberg
- Deputy Gas Inspector: Robert Smith
- Plumbing Inspector: Eric S. Sahlberg
- Deputy Plumbing Inspector: Adam Sahlberg
- Deputy Plumbing Inspector: Robert Smith
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley said that Town Counsel has seen copies of the documents filed by Mr. Collings’ attorney, Tom Mullen, seeking a preliminary injunction in Middlesex Superior Court May 28, 2015 to prevent enforcement of the cease and desist order issued by Stow’s Zoning Agent in March prohibiting Collings’ any use of his aircraft at his airfield on Barton Road. He told the Board that Barbara Huggins has prepared a response to the Collings court submission for injunctive relief, and Stow will argue against the Mr. Collings request in Court on Thursday. Mr. Hawkes stated that the Collings Foundation has been advertising airplane rides at its large annual event usually held over Father’s Day Weekend. Mr. Burke inquired whether the Town has planned any enforcement activities. Mr. Wrigley mentioned that the enforcement could
consist fines of $300 for defying a cease and desist order. Mr. Collings has a hearing scheduled with the ZBA on Monday, June 1, but he will not be heard due to a time bar issue.
Mr. Wrigley explained that, based on the advice of attorney Chris Petrini, the Town has written a position letter explaining its decision to pass over Seaver Construction, the low bidder on the Pompo Fire Station/Community Center project. This decision was based on the performance review by Architect, Kaffee Kang, at the State’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), reference checks and a meeting with Seaver at Kang Associates.
Mr. Wrigley told the Board that he had been forwarded five candidates to consider, at Paul Yannoni’s recommendation, and Mr. Wrigley interviewed three of those five applicants for the Information Director position. Ron Eld, a Stow resident, was hired as the Town’s new IT Director. Ron is an experienced IT manager and comes highly recommended. Mr. Wrigley stated that he was thankful to Paul Yannoni for serving as our interim IT Director.
Mr. Wrigley left the meeting at 8 p.m.
Liaison Re-Assignments
See attached sheet
Liaison Reports
Mr. Kern had nothing to report.
Mr. Ryan had nothing to report.
Mr. Burke reported that the Historical Commission has been working to digitize and archive many Town documents. This work will be put out to bid in the near future. The Town Clerk had mentioned that she believed it would be helpful to have a specific person dedicated to the RFP/Grant-writing process. Randall Library Trustees will be requesting Community Preservation Funds (CPC) for renovations totaling approximately $150K. He added that the Local Access Cable Advisory Committee (LACAC) will be requesting $40K from the CPC to help fund a transition to digital broadcasting, subject to Capital Planning review. He added that StowTV is planning to launch a StowTV YouTube channel. They would like to visit the Selectmen’s meeting to discuss this.
Mr. Hawkes informed the Board that the Recreation Department’s construction project at Pine Bluff is going well and that evidence of a new storage building and an observation deck were visible. He added that the Lake Boon Association will hold their annual meeting on May 31, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Assabet River Wildlife Refuge. He announced that the next Tri-Town meeting will take place in Lancaster on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Mr. Hawkes mentioned that Wednesday night meetings of the NRSD School Committee work well with the Selectmen’s Tuesday night meeting schedule.
Mr. Salvie reported that the Fire Station/Community Center will be working to confirm that all hard costs in the bid package have accurate estimates.
At 8:35 p.m. Mr. Salvie made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen
Selectmen's FY16 Committee Assignments and Liaisons/Contacts
Committee Memberships
Brian Burke CPC (Community Preservation Committee)
Fence Viewer
Finance Committee
LACAC (Local Access Channel Advisory Com)
Tri-Town
ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals)
Don Hawkes Conservation Commission
LBC (Lake Boon Commission)
MAGIC (Minuteman Advisory Group on
Interlocal Coordination)
MAPC (Metropolitan Area Planning Council
w/ K. Sferra)
MPO (Boston Region Metropolitan Planning
Organization)
NRSD School Committee
NRSD Space Study Task Force
Open Space Committee
Planning Board
Rec. Commission
Charlie Kern Council on Aging
Fire Station/CC Bldg. Comm.
Minute Man Regional High School
Tom Ryan Board of Health
Fire/Highway/Police Dept.
Fire Station/CC Bldg. Comm.
Historical Commission
LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee)
Jim Salvie Capital Planning Committee
EDIC (Economic Development & Industrial
Commission)
Energy Working Group
Fire Station/CC Bldg. Comm.
Randall Library Bldg. Comm.
Randall Library Trustees
SMAHT (Stow Municipal Affordable Housing Trust)
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