Stow Board of Selectmen
Town Building – Warren Room
December 13, 2016
Present were Selectmen James Salvie, Brian Burke, Don Hawkes and Tom Ryan. Also present were Town Administrator Bill Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Maureen Trunfio. Ingeborg Hegemann was absent.
At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Salvie called the meeting to order.
Public input: None
Chair comments: Mr. Salvie wished everyone Happy Holidays and announced that tonight’s meeting would be the only Selectmen’s meeting for the month of December. He asked for a moment of silence in memory of Roland Belanger.
Minutes:
Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the meeting minutes of the November 29, 2016 meeting with amendments. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Hawkes moved to accept the meeting minutes of the September 27, 2016 meeting as drafted. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Proposed Call Training Lieutenant position– Stow Fire Department~
Fire Chief Joe Landry was present and outlined the need for the creation of a Call Training Lieutenant. He recommended promoting Lieutenant Barry Evers, a 15-year member of the Fire Department, to the position.
On the recommendation of Fire Chief Joe Landry, Mr. Burke moved to establish a new position, Call Training Lieutenant, for the Stow Fire Department, and further moved to appoint Call Lieutenant Barry Evers to serve as Call Training Lieutenant. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Dispatcher appointment – Stow Police Department~
Police Chief Bill Bosworth was present and explained the need to hire a replacement Dispatcher to fill the position vacated by Samantha Howard. He recommended Brandon Murphy of Worcester who would come in with all the mandatory training required for Dispatch.
On the recommendation of Police Chief Bill Bosworth, Mr. Hawkes moved to appoint Brandon C. Murphy as a Police Dispatcher for the Stow Police Department for a one-year probationary period. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Pole Hearing – Hudson Light & Power – installation of new pole on Hudson Road
At 7:17 pm Mr. Salvie opened the Pole Hearing regarding a request by Hudson Light & Power (HL&P) to install a new pole on Hudson Road. Pat Laverty, an Electrical Engineer from HL&P was present to explain the need for the pole to the Board. He explained that a solar field was being developed in the area and it would require an additional pole for its operation.
No abutters attended the meeting and no questions were raised by citizens or the Board.
Mr. Ryan moved to close the hearing. Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Burke made a motion to grant the application by Hudson Light and Power for a sole pole at a location as set out in the Order for sole pole location presented in the Selectmen’s meeting packet that refers to a petition dated November 3, 2016. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Hiring of Truck driver/laborer for Highway Department
Mr. Wrigley explained that this hire was needed to fill the vacancy created when Steve Landry recently retired. Highway Superintendent Mike Clayton was not present but spoke with Mr. Wrigley prior to the meeting to recommend Ben Miele of Groton, MA for the position.
On the recommendation of Highway Superintendent Mike Clayton, Mr. Burke moved to authorize the Town Administrator to hire Ben Miele for the position of Truck Driver/Laborer for the Stow Highway Department. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Hudson Light & Power Update – Arnie Epstein, Stow HL&P Representative
Mr. Epstein provided the Board with an annual update regarding the Town’s electricity provider, Hudson Light & Power. This included information regarding rates, outages and incentives/rebates.
Discussion/vote re: proposed Eversource Transmission Line project
Mr. Salvie confirmed with Mr. Epstein that December 29, 2016 is the planned date for Eversource to file a petition to a state review board. A preferred route and an alternate option will be submitted by Eversource.
Members of the Gleasondale community were present. Kathryn West of 8 High Street spoke on behalf of the group in opposition to the proposed project. She stated that they were especially opposed to a plan that would utilize overhead power lines. The Board discussed the issue and voted to inform Eversource that the Town does not support a plan that would utilize overhead lines.
Mr. Ryan mentioned he had walked the proposed route and would be willing to work with other towns to support their opposition, but noted that even in a situation without any leaves on the trees, he could barely see a house in the vicinity of the railroad bed in Stow. And therefore, he was not completely convinced the lines of view from Stow homes in the proposed transmission line area would be a problem. However, because of how it might affect neighboring towns’ residents, he is concerned about the project and would work with the neighboring towns to dissuade an overhead proposal from being submitted to the state. He also said he was concerned with the degree of wet soil in the area and thought it may affect Eversource’s plans to install lines underground.
Mr. Burke made a motion that the Stow Board of Selectmen resolve that Eversource should not submit a proposal for an overhead transmission line on the Massachusetts Central Right of Way, in any form, as part of its petition to the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB). Mr. Hawkes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Renewal of 2017 Liquor Licenses
Establishments with liquor licenses in Stow have all returned the documents required by the ABCC and the Town, regarding Workers’ Compensation and liability insurance, and the Building Commissioner and Fire Chief have conducted safety inspections for all requiring them (this does not apply to package stores.)
Mr. Hawkes moved to renew the Town’s 2017 Liquor Licenses for the following businesses. Mr. Burke seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously, pending confirmed consent with Police Department.
Stow Food & Beverage LLC 58 Randall Road Stow, MA 01775 |
J. Melone & Sons d/b/a Stowaway Golf Course 121 White Pond Road Stow, MA
01775 |
Nickrosz Spirits, Inc. d/b/a Colonial Spirits of Stow 117 Great Road Stow,
MA 01775 |
Ken’s Liquor Shoppe, Inc. 8 Hudson Street Stow, MA 01775 |
Robert Page III LLC d/b/a Butternut Farm Golf Club 115 Wheeler Road Stow, MA
01775 |
Wedgewood Country Club of Stow, Inc. 215 Harvard Road Stow, MA 01775 |
Russell’s Convenience Store of Stow 390 Great Road Stow, MA 01775 |
The Air Field Café, Inc. d/b/a Nancy’s Air Field Café 302 Boxboro Road Stow, MA 01775 |
Mr. Yi Jin Yang Red Ginger Restaurant 117 Great Road Stow, MA
01775 |
Special Liquor License for Selectmen’s holiday party
The Board determined that it would discuss a time and place to hold the annual Selectmen’s Party at its next regularly scheduled meeting in January, and apply for a one-day liquor license at that time, if necessary.
Town Administrator’s report
Mr. Wrigley reported that he and Information Technology (IT) Director Ron Eld would attend a Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) meeting in Boxboro on December 14th to discuss the prospects of participating in a regional IT services program managed through an independent contract developed and implemented through Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
Liaison Reports
Mr. Salvie told the Board that there would be a Randall Library Trustees meeting on Wednesday, December 14th.
Mr. Hawkes reported that he had attended a recent Council on Aging Board meeting.: He wanted to follow up on Mark Jones’ comment in the minutes of September 27, 2016 that all towns may be interested in the school district’s facilities. Mr. Salvie suggested all Stow School Committee members attend the Selectmen’s January 13, 2017 meeting.
Mr. Burke reminded everyone that the next Tri-town meeting would take place tomorrow night in Bolton. He added that the Local Access Channel Advisory Committee (LACAC) had been drafting language for the ATM warrant and had submitted its FY18 budget to the Selectmen’s Office.
Correspondence
Mr. Hawkes called to the attention of the Board a letter from the Sureau family expressing their interest in serving on the Open Space Committee. He also mentioned a letter to the Recreation Commission from resident Gerald Noone to Recreation Department expressing his disappointment about the closure of the Snow Field ice rink.
At 8:46 p.m. Mr. Burke moved to convene in Executive Session, pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, section 21(a)(3), for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation, and to review Executive Session minutes, and to adjourn thereafter. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously. Mr. Ryan, aye, Mr. Salvie, aye, Mr. Hawkes, aye and Mr. Burke, aye.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Administrative Assistant
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