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Town Of Sutton Board of Selectmen |
Meeting Minutes
Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on 3/3/2015 by a vote of 4-0
(Selectman Chizy absent)
7:00 p.m. – February 17, 2015
Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:
Chairman Kenneth Stuart, Vice Chair David Hall, Selectmen Mike Chizy, John Hebert and Paul Maynard
Town Administrator James Smith & Debbie Jacques, secretary
Chairman Stuart calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
Public Forum: no comments
Vice-Chair Hall motions to accept as presented minutes from the Feb. 3rd, 2015 BOS meeting; Selectman Hebert 2nds passes 5-0
FY2016 Preliminary Budget Presentation: TA Smith begins by saying there will be another presentation once the unknowns become known. The total budget for FY16 is $29,549,855. This is a 3.22% increase from FY15. There is a current deficit of $36,150. on this budget. A brief review of the overall changes includes dept. changes (wages), employee benefit increases & educational increases. Some of the unknowns at this time are the increases in health care and the number of students going to BVT. This is the 5th year of debt payment on the new school project and our goal continues to be to reduce our reliance on use of free cash with the goal of eliminating completely. Governor Baker is due to release his budget on March 4th but has promised not to touch local aid. In reviewing the revenue
trends, State Aid is at the same level as 2007 which is why we have a greater reliance on property tax. The projected new growth for FY2016 is $160,000.. Our local receipts have increased due to things such as the lease at Manchuag Library to Puckihuddle and SRECS from net metering. To keep the insurance premiums down we may look in to making plan design changes but if we do make changes we are looking in to having an HRA account funded with $100,000. for employee deductible assistance. The Enterprise funds have remained the same. The Capital Plan for FY2016 is $815,000., Free Cash is at $499,667., and Chapter 90 funds $140,000 retained earnings are at $42,000. We continue to fund OPEB, the 5-year Capital Plan is funded by the Stabilization Fund. The school is still struggling and relies on one time money to balance their budget. Selectman Chizy has no questions as this is a preliminary budget, Jim, Tim and their crew do a heck of a job and to only be off $37,000.,
there is not another town in the area that is in as good of shape as Sutton. Selectman Hebert agrees with Mike and says a lot of work goes into the budget and there are still unknowns, John is confident that the Governor will not reduce Local Aid. Vice-Chair Hall echoes the previous comments; the auditor at the last meeting spoke highly of our financial team. There are unknowns but this gives us a sense of where we are going, the school has issues that must be dealt with. Selectman Maynard says the budget message was very thorough, Paul says the HRA for employees is great-it is a win win situation. Good job again on the budget. Chairman Stuart says there are still so many unknowns but says our financial team is one of the best in the state. It is difficult at times but tough decisions have to be made. Any time you put a budget together you have to make compromises especially when you have a deficit.
Dedication of the bandstand at the Town Common: TA Smith says we had received a request from Leo Perreault requesting the bandstand be named after Ronald Annis that passed away last month (copy of letter attached). Selectman Chizy said he remembered when Ronnie approached him years with the idea to build a bandstand at no cost to the town. It was built with donations. Mike goes on saying Ron was a great guy and did great things for the town, the band stand is one of the nicest around. Selectman Hebert was Police Chief when this was built; he said Ron was the head driver in this with help from Don Conley and Denise Krula. You will never find another bandstand built as well as this one-it is a perfectional piece. It is unique and fitting for the town. Johns only request is that it be named Ronald P. Annis as he always liked
using his middle initial. Vice-Chair Hall says sadly he did not know Ron Annis but is pleased to hear the stories about him, the bandstand is an iconic image and Ron was instrumental in getting it built. Dave thanks Sgt. Leo Perreault for taking the time to request this. Selectman Maynard recently delivered records and pictures of the bandstand process to the Town Administrators office from Ron Annis, Paul thinks it would be great to put his name on it. Chairman Stuart says one of the highlights in town is when the high school band has its concerts there; the highlight of the winter season is when it is lite. The rest of the seasons, spring summer and fall you see people there having wedding pictures, prom pictures. Ken knew Ron and his family, he was well liked, and he was a mountain of a man, a gentle giant. He knew the importance of this bandstand to people on town. It is the centerpiece of Sutton; he is 100% for naming it after Ron. Ken would like to see in the future some type
of policy for naming rights in town, there are so many well deserving people. Selectman Maynard motions to dedicate the Town Common Bandstand in memory of Ronald P. Annis, Selectman Hebert seconds passes 5-0
Town Administrator update:
- Modular Units IFB- an addendum has been issued, the deadline has been extended to Feb. 25th 2015 @ 10AM
- Net Metering IFB- Five companies have requested packets. The deadline is Feb. 26th 2015 @ 10AM
- LED lighting- Jim has increased the capital appropriation from $95,000. to $109,000. To pay our consultant (George Woodbury) to assist with the whole process.
Chairman Stuart asks if the $109,000. is all inclusive- TA Smith replies yes it is.
Select. Hebert asks what happens to the old lights, TA Smith replies we are just purchasing the fixtures not the poles.
- Galaxy Development changes- going before Planning on Feb. 23 to make changes. They are proposing replacing the 7000 sq foot restaurant with 2 multi-tenant retail/restaurant buildings totaling 11,388 sq feet.
- NGrid: contacted Jim last week asking if they could extend the typical construction hours due to the recent snow storms. The hours being requested are 3am to 8pm vs 6am to 8pm. This would be for a month
The BOS all agree that if they can concentrate their work in nonresidential areas that would be ok, the trucks have back up beepers and can be very noisy at that hour of the morning; they do not want residents bothered. Selectman Maynard agrees to this if this for emergency snow removal only. Chairman Stuart says the weather has been unprecedented. All agree this is a broad request. TA smith will discuss further with NGrid.
- Two new Finance Committee appointees: Elizabeth Budzinski and Stephanie Forsythe.
Announcements:
Selectman Chizy announces at this time he is not going to run for reelection. He has served the town for over 47 years. He started out as a cub master, little league coach, Conservation Commission, Earth Removal, Solid Waste Committee, 300th Committee, COA and the Board of Selectmen. He was on Conservation when Dorothea Waters gifted Waters Farm to the Town, he was new on the BOS when they did not have a Charter, we now have a Charter. Mike says most of the things got done with 4 good administrators; they were Dextor Blois, Mike Boynton, Pat Nedoroscik and Jim Smith. Mike goes on to say he appreciates the cooperation he has received from this board as well as the other boards in town, nothing gets done with one person, the word “I” does not exist. Mike has just turned 84 and has done his time; he
offers a thank you to all that he has worked with. Selectman Hebert responds saying Mike has always been for the town, you have done a lot of good for the town, thank you for your services. Vice-Chair Hall feels Mike has served longer than 47 years,, while doing research recently he noticed Mikes name sometimes serving on more than one board. Dave goes on to say he will miss Mike and thanks him for his service. Selectman Maynard thanks Mike, Mike is the reason Paul ran for Selectman. Chairman Stuart says Mike has been the voice for those that feel they have no voice. Kens 1st impression of Mike was of a gruff old man, he now sees Mike as dedicated to the town with a great sense of humor. A lot of the policies started with Mike, wearing ties to meetings, the pledge at the start of meetings as well as publically airing meetings. Mike, you will be missed.
Chairman Stuart and Vice Chair Hall both offer congratulations to Amy Haven, girls basketball for her 1000 points. She is the 7th girl
in Suzies history to accomplish this.
Correspondence: N/A
At this time, Chairman Stuart motions to enter into Executive Session under M.G.L., c30A, Sec. 21 #3 and enter back into regular session for the sole purpose of adjournment, Selectman Chizy seconds, passes 5-0 7:52pm Roll Call Taken
Selectman Chizy motions to adjourn. Selectman Hebert seconds passes 5-0
Meeting adjourned 8:30pm
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