Minutes
Stow Board of Selectmen
March 22, 2016
Town Building
Present at the meeting that was held at Town Building were James Salvie, Brian Burke, Donald Hawkes, Charles Kern and Thomas Ryan.
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 thanks Shaw’s Supermarket for their generous weekly donation of flowers. He reminded the public that Town Clean Up Day will be held on April 9th. He informed the public that long-time conservationist, Tom Shepherd had passed away and also mentioned Trooper Clardy of Hudson who was killed in the line of duty.
Green Communities Check and Certificate Presentation
Kelly Brown, Green Communities Regional Coordinator, was at this meeting and presented the Town with a Certificate and a check in the amount of $144,115 for a Green Communities grant. State Representative Kate Hogan, Building Commissioner Craig Martin and Assistant Facilities Manager Doug Hyde along with Arnie Epstein of the Energy Working Group were present to accept. The Town Administrator, George Peterman of the Energy Working Group, Karen Kelleher and Jesse Steadman of the Planning Department and the Board of Selectmen were thanked for their contribution to this effort.
Mr. Epstein was named Energy Manager and will compile Green Communities reports on a regular basis.
Discussion/vote to establish Town Buildings Space Use Feasibility Study Committee
Mr. Wrigley reported that he suggested a group be formed to assess various Town buildings in terms of their condition and potential usefulness to the Town. He mentioned the current Fire Station that will soon be vacant. Craig Martin said Doug Hyde could Chair the Committee. Vacancies for this new Committee will be publicly posted.
Mr. Salvie moved that the Board of Selectmen organize a Town Buildings Space Use Feasibility Study Committee to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Town Hall, Crescent Street Fire Station, and old Crescent Street Highway Barn for the purpose of developing recommendations for consideration by the Board of Selectmen relative to possible future uses of each building. The Feasibility Study Committee will work under the direction and control of the Town’s Facility Manager. The Committee will be appointed by the Selectmen and will consist of 7 members. It is further expected that the Committee will serve at least until the Feasibility Study Committee presents final recommendations, to the Selectmen. The Feasibility Study Committee is expected to provide the Board of Selectmen with periodic progress reports. Mr.
Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Discussion/vote on Appointment of Veterans Services Officer
Mr. Salvie moved that the Board of Selectmen appoint Joseph Jacobs as the Town’s Veterans’ Services Officer, to fill a one-year term expiring on March 31, 2017. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Public hearing – Sidewalk Easements – Adams Drive and Wheeler Road
At 7:30 p.m. the Chair opened the hearing In accordance with MGL C.82, s.21-23, read the legal notice stating that the Board of Selectmen would conduct a public hearing to consider acceptance of Adams Drive and Wheeler Road sidewalk easements. Karen Kelleher of the Planning Department was present. Mrs. Kelleher suggested that the Board note that the language of article be subject to modification by Town Counsel.
Mr. Salvie moved that the public hearing for the acceptance of sidewalk easements for Adams Drive and Wheeler Road be closed. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Salvie moved to accept an easement over a portion of a parcel of land located on Adams Drive from Crown Castle Properties, as shown on a plan entitled “PLAN OF LAND IN STOW, MA” dated June 4, 2014 (revised through July 14, 2014), and as described in the May 2, 2016 Annual Town Meeting warrant, subject to modification of the final language by Town Counsel. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Salvie moved to accept an easement from James P Lipcon and Meghan Lipcon over and under a certain portion of the land on Wheeler Road, identified as a “15-FT WIDE SIDEWALK EASEMENT” as shown on the plan entitled “Plan of Land on Wheeler Road in stow, Massachusetts” prepared for James P & Meghan Lipcon by Foresite Engineering dated August 26, 2013, revised December 9, 2013 recorded with the Middlesex South County Registry of Deeds as Plan No. 730 of 2015, and as described in the May 2, 2016 Annual
Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Discussion/vote on language for debt exclusion question- Minuteman High School Building Project
Representative to the Minuteman High School Committee, Alice DeLuca was present.
Pursuant to MGL Chapter 54, section 42C and MGL Chapter 59, section 21C, Mr. Salvie moved to place the Selectmen’s ballot question pertaining to the debt exclusion for the Minuteman High School building project, reading:
“Shall the Town of Stow be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so called, Stow’s portion of the amounts required to pay for the bonds to be issued by the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District for the purpose of paying costs of designing, constructing and originally equipping a new high school, to be located at 758 Marrett Road, Lexington, Massachusetts, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto.”
on the May 10, 2016 Annual Town Election ballot. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Nashoba Regional School District (NRSD) Annual School Committee Update
Mark Jones, Representative to the NRSD School Committee, was present and gave the Board a verbal summary of items currently being discussed by the School Committee. These included the process of hiring a new Superintendent of Schools, High School Space Study Task Force, collective bargaining and NRSD’s developing FY17 Budget.
FY17 Budget Presentation – Town Administrator
Mr. Wrigley explained his proposed FY 2017 Budget to the Board. The proposed amount requested is $28,424,682, a 4.23% increase.
Mr. Hawkes left the room at 8:51 and returned at 8:54
At 9:16 Mr. Wrigley left from the meeting.
Correspondence
Mr. Hawkes called a letter from the Suburban Coalition to the attention of the Board.
Liaison Reports
Mr. Kern had nothing to report.
Mr. Burke reported that he had attended a CPA meeting at which a request was presented for funds for the second phase of the Recreation Department’s Pine Bluff project. He said he attended the public open house presented by Eversource Energy in Hudson.
Mr. Salvie attended a Stow Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (SMAHT) meeting at which the potential use of property at 323 Great Road was discussed.
Randall Library Renovation Project received submissions from six bidders. Three have been chosen to be interviewed by the Committee and that process will begin the week of March 28, 2016.
At 9:18 Mr. Ryan moved to adjourn. Mr. Salvie seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen
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