Town of Sturbridge

Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

March 10, 2009

Senior Center

7:00 P.M.

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 with the following members present: Kevin Smith (KS), Larry Morrison (LM), Priscilla Gimas (PG), Bob Williams (BW), Mary Dowling (MD), Virginia Stallone (VS), Mary Redetzke (MR), and Patricia Affenito (PA).  Mike Serio (MS) arrives at 8:25pm.

Motion to approve the meeting minutes for 2/26/09, as written, made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 6-0-1 (PA absent).

Motion to approve the meeting minutes for 3/3/09, as written, made by MR, seconded by PG, so moved 7-0-0 (PA absent).

Motion to authorize the additional deficit spending on FY09 Snow & Ice: #14232-52000 (Purchase of Services) for $$30,000, #14232-54000 (Supplies) for $20,000 and #14231-51300 (Overtime) for $2500 made by MR, seconded by PG, so moved 7-0-0 (PA absent).

Motion to reconsider FY10 budget salary lines #11141-51120 Moderator, #11221-51100 Board of Selectmen, #11411-51100 Board of Assessors, #11711-51100 Conservation Commission, #11751-51100 Planning Board, #15101-51100 Board of Health made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 8-0-0.

Stipends on elected officials need to be reviewed by Personnel Committee and Legal.

Elections & Registrations cannot be removed; they are required by law to have stipends.

Motion to move FY10 budget salary lines to ‘0’ on  #11141-51120 Moderator, #11221-51100 Board of Selectmen, #11411-51100 Board of Assessors, #11711-51100 Conservation Commission, #11751-51100 Planning Board, #15101-51100 Board of Health made by VS, seconded by LM, so moved 7-0-1.

Motion to approve FY10 budget line #11351-51120 Town Accountant: Dept Head at $59,653 made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 8-0-0.

Motion to approve FY10 budget line #11451-51120 Finance Director: Salaries at $88,794 made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 8-0-0.

Comment: the newspapers indicated that Jim Malloy was requesting a raise in his salary for FY10 but, in fact, it was FinCom who put his salary back in the budget.

7:30 pm Jennifer Morrison - Chair, Planning Board, Jean Bubon- Town Planner and Mary Blanchard- Selectman here to discuss Article 17 (the rezoning of Route 15) and other Planning Board articles.

Issues:

1)      Heavy traffic on Route 15 and maintenance of the road

2)      Distraction of business from Main Street

3)      Abutters/ neighbors oppose it due to the traffic

4)      Competition concerns with other 2 truck stops in Sturbridge- this one would have better access.

Planning Board did not argue for or against it because it is by petition and it will go forward anyway also that this is a zoning issue and not site plan review.  Site plan review would go through rigorous discussion.  Discussion of current Master Plan for Route 15 and that a new Master Plan has been approved.

Tom Creedon- Resident and former Planning Board member:

Ÿ         Planning Board did not do due diligence

Ÿ         Police Department has not been consulted on the impact of this change and development on the force.

Ÿ         2 times Hobbs Brook size

Ÿ         No plan for sewer

Ÿ         Located at the head of the Quinneboag River

Ÿ         Traffic on Rte 15

Ÿ         Construction company- Flying J filed bankruptcy

Ÿ         Town assessor cannot say whether this is good or bad economically for the town.

Jennifer Morrison and Jean Bubon respond:

Ÿ         Site plan review is very strict and can have no comment without a potential use defined.

Ÿ         Planning Board did do due diligence- approved article but with a ‘lukewarm’ reception

Ÿ         Scope of article is too broad

Owners of the Property- Mr. Bergeron and Mr. Grossi:

Ÿ         Flying J coming out with reorganization and has not filed bankruptcy

Ÿ         Planning Board did do due diligence- it is in the best interest of the property and the town

Ÿ         Sewer: 4 legal perks, Tighe & Bond did preliminary design for 80-100k plant in Holland

Ÿ         Don’t wait: they pay taxes each year, business use is best vs. residential.  In order to move forward with a plan and design for sewer, they need to submit a plan for the project and the expected capacity for the plant

Ÿ         There are wetlands but will have sufficient buildable land

Ÿ         EDC support this article

Ÿ         This is commercial -Commercial use prohibits a truck stop and truck parking, only Commercial II allows truck stop.

Ÿ         Union, CT portion is already commercial; Holland, MA rezoned it.

Ÿ         Whether this passes or not, they buildout will occur on the Holland portion.

8:30pm discussion moves on to other Planning Board articles.

Motion to accept ATM Article 14: Open Space Residential Development made by MS, seconded by MR, so moved 8-0-1.

Discussion of open space uses, town cannot demand it be turned over.

Motion to accept ATM Article 15: Zoning Bylaws- Accessory Dwelling Unit made by VS, seconded by MS, so moved 6-2-1.

Discussion:

Ÿ         Short term rental cannot be defined- written for intent to stop properties from being used as vacation rentals in established family neighborhoods.  Planning Board does not have agreement on short term rental definition.  Towns in MA are split 50/50 on this wording.

Ÿ         Does not satisfy ‘affordable housing’ 10% requirement

Ÿ         If no lease is signed then the tenant is ‘at will’ and only needs 30 days to vacate.

Ÿ         Wording is left open on purpose to look at case by case.

Ÿ         Unsure how it affects assessed value of property: not a multifamily, is it a duplex?

Ÿ         Does not limit the number of permits available in Sturbridge

Ÿ         There is nothing to stop new developments from building all with accessory units

Ÿ         Must meet all other building and zoning requirements (eg. Parking). Must meet accessory dwelling requirements and special permit requirements to be approved.

Ÿ         No recourse for abutters to stop a permit

Motion to accept ATM Article 16: Zoning Bylaws- Accessory Use by Special Permit made by VS, seconded by MS, so moved 6-0-1.

Update on Master Plan: RFQ to Planning Board by 3/17, Final draft RFQ by 3/31, then advertise/interview/appoint steering committee.  Kickoff is June 2009 and should be done by early 2011.

Motion to take no action on ATM Article 17: Zoning Map Amendment (Rte 15) made by LM, seconded by PG, so moved 7-0-1.

Discussion:

Ÿ         Would like to wait for new Master Plan

Ÿ         Uncertain of affect on Main Street and wetlands

Ÿ         Why do they need this parcel if they already have Union, Ct and Holland, MA?

Ÿ         Permits travel with property, not owners.

(9:25pm MS leaves)

Discussion on Recreation Field Design:

Ÿ         Can we justify spending this during this year?

Ÿ         Free cash does not go to tax rate

Ÿ         It probably will not impact our fiscal policy guidelines

Ÿ         It is an investment in our community

9:50pm  Discussion on Sturbridge Tourist Association-  PA steps down for discussion and vote

Motion for Article 31: Sturbridge Tourist Association budget: to transfer and appropriate from the Hotel/Motel Special Account to the Sturbridge Tourist Association Account the sum of $89,542 for the following items:

Administration                                                           $  4,477.00

Advertising, Printing, Promotion & Production           $44,771.00

Sturbridge Special Events/Community Support           $26,863.00

Maintenance                                                              $  8,954.00

Unclassified                                                               $  8,954.00

Total                                                                         $89,542.00

Made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 6-0-1.

This budget was presented to follow the guidelines in Article 29 yet allow for adjustment and concerns about the categories for FY10 only.

Motion to reconsider Article 29: Sturbridge Tourist Association, as amended, made by BW, seconded by MR, so moved 6-0-0.

Motion to amend Article 29 as follows made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 5-1-0:

Ÿ         Amend 1.91 (D)(3) to read, “Promote and revitalize the Commercial Tourist Zone and the Historical Commercial Zone as the primary designated are for tourism.”

Ÿ         Amend 1.91 (D) (4) to change the word “it’s” to “its”

Ÿ         Amend 1.91 (D) (5) to read, “Develop goals and a vision for tourism in Sturbridge keeping in mind the general character of the Town and its natural resources, the Commercial Tourist and Historical Commercial Zones and the best interest of Sturbridge tourist-related businesses.”

Ÿ         Amend the second 1.91 to read as 1.92 and then to amend this section as follow:

Ÿ         Amend the first sentence to read, “There is hereby created and established a Sturbridge Tourist Association (STA) which shall consist of seven (7) voting members.”

Ÿ         Under the fifth category of appointees to read, “Two (2) members from a tourist related business (retail, restaurant or similar tourist related activity) located within either the Commercial Tourist Zone or the Historical Commercial Zone in Sturbridge, owner or authorized representative, for an initial term of on (1) year and thereafter for a term of three (3) years.”

Ÿ         Add a sixth catergory of appointees that reads, “One (1) Sturbridge resident for an initial term of two (2) years and thereafter for a term of three (3) years.”

MD would like it noted that she would like ‘benefit’ specified in Article 29.

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 pm.

Respectively submitted,

Patricia Affenito