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04/21/2015 BOS Meeting Minutes
                                                                 Meeting Minutes
  
                                           Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on 5/5/2015 by a vote of  4-0-1     
                                                                (Selectman Hebert abstains, absent form 4/21/15 meeting)
7:00 p.m. – April 21, 2015
                                       Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:                           
       Chairman Kenneth Stuart, Vice Chair David Hall, Selectmen Mike Chizy and Paul Maynard (Selectman Hebert absent)       
       Town Administrator James Smith & Debbie Jacques, secretary   

Chairman Stuart calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman Stuart has a moment of silence for the passing of Corporal John Dawson of Northbridge killed in Afghanistan 2 weeks ago.

Public Forum: James Dwyer of 142 Ariel Circle Sutton. Mr. Dwyer begins by saying he is here as a private citizen but does hold a seat as a Sewer Commissioner. Mr. Dwyer discusses the 2 Sewer systems in town (Manchaug & Wilks.); he goes on to cite section 10.8 of the town’s bylaws as well as the section covering rates. Mr. Dwyer submits the information he has just discussed (attached to final minutes). In ending his discussion, Mr. Dwyer adds that his term is up this year but he would like to be reappointed.  Chairman Stuart thanks Mr. Dwyer; he says the board will take it under advisement.
 
Vice-Chair Hall motions to accept as presented minutes from the 4/07/2015 BOS meeting; Selectman Maynard 2nds passes 4-0
Selectman Chizy reads the Arbor Day Proclamation                                                          Selectman Hebert absent
Vice-Chair Hall reads the Sutton Youth Baseball Proclamation

Blackstone National Golf Club: Matthew Stephens, general manager is present to request a seasonal music & dance license for Friday & Saturday evenings 7-11pm. Mr. Stephens at this time amends the request to include weddings held in the tent. Vice Chair Hall asks about abutting neighbors but realizes they are set back off the road and does not feel they will be disturbed. Selectman Maynard states they run a top notch operation, he has no issues, Chairman Stuart says they have done a great job promoting the restaurant, he has no issues. Vice Chair Hall motions to approve the weekend entertainment request by Blackstone National Golf Club to be held on Fridays & Saturdays as well as weddings as applicable during the 2015 season between the hours of 7pm to 11pm, Selectman Chizy 2nds passes 4-0

CORI Policy: TA Smith informs the BOS that Cheryl Rawinski and Judy Bater in the Board of Health have been trained and are registered with DCJIS as representatives of the Town of Sutton to run CORI’s for the municipality sector only. This is needed to view CORI’s for recreational camp personnel as well call firefighters, etc. The board must adopt this policy. Vice Chair Hall says this makes sense and asks for clarification under section lll authorized personnel. TA Smith says Cheryl & Judy will be the only 2 to have access to these files. Selectman Maynard says this is a good idea and it is keeping with the laws. Chairman Stuart states we have to protect the children attending camps, he understands the reason for this. Selectman Maynard motions to adopt the CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) Policy for the Town of Sutton (municipality only), Selectman Chizy 2nds passes 4-0

Contract for the sale of modular classroom units: TA Smith says this is just to finalize the sale in which Triumph Modular was the winning bid at $45,000.00. The units should be out by the end of the week. TA Smith goes on to say the $45,000. will be applied to the debt on the school project. Selectman Chizy motions to sign the contract for the sale of the modular classroom units to Triumph Modular Inc. for the sale price of $45,000.00, Selectman Maynard 2nds passes 4-0

FY16 Final Budget presentation: TA Smith says this has been an interesting budget to work on, the late numbers have allowed us to balance the budget. Health Insurance at the beginning of the budget process showed an 11% increase but after working with the IAC as well as the unions we were able to reduce that to a 6% increase. There will be plan design changes which will show an increase in co-pays, specialist visits, MRI & CT scans. The total budget is $29,549,855. (3.22% increase over FY15). We will continue to pay debt on the school project, reduce our reliance on free cash and state aid is level funded. We have $60,000. Budgeted for unemployment but if there are layoffs that may have to be adjusted. The School Dept. budget is still a work in progress. Employee benefits have increased by $128,000. And under capital improvements we have budgeted $290,000. ($200,000. is for the new tennis courts at the school). The big picture is relatively positive although the school dept. continues to struggle. There will be an additional burden on our property & casualty insurance for the new High school Middle school as well as the request for an additional custodian and other related costs to the new buildings. Selectman Chizy says Jim and Tim have done a good job. Vice-Chair Hall says this is a continued conservative approach to budgeting. Dave commends Jim and all involved for the Health Insurance changes; he says this is a creative and hardworking budget. Dave asks how this will affect the retirees, TA Smith states they are on a different plan. Selectman Maynard states great job. Chairman Stuart congratulates Jim and Tim for putting together this budget. It takes tough decisions and imagination when putting together a budget.

May Town Meeting Warrant & Election Warrant: the warrant has been reviewed previously, hearing no questions Vice-Chair Hall motions to approve the May Town Meeting Warrant; Selectman Maynard 2nds passes 4-0
Vice-Chair Hall motions to approve the May Town Election Warrant; Selectman Chizy 2nds pass 4-0                                                                                 
TA Update:
  • Plan Design Changes: after working with the IAC we were able to reduce to a 6% increase over the proposed 11% increase (as discussed during Budget presentation)
  • Tour of the town Common was held 4/13 with Mr. Stewart, Matt Stencel and TA Smith: discussion was on additional parking spaces as well as memorials and planting appropriate bushes.
  • Chairman Stuart thanks Jim for meeting with Mr. Stewart, the center part of town focuses on who we are.
  • Metacomet Land Trust meeting: took place 4/9. The Town was presented with an award for our ongoing conservation efforts and energy use reduction. Selectman Chizy was also presented an award for his years of conservation efforts.
  • Selectman Chizy says the award is for the whole board; Jim and Jen have done most of the work. Sutton is 1 out of 6 towns in MA that has reduced the energy by 20%. Mike also thanks Pat Nedoroscik and Lisa Mozyinski
  • Vice-Chair Hall thanks Metacomet for recognizing the years of service by Mike Chizy. It was well deserved.
  • Selectman Maynard thanks Metacomet for their presentation, he found it very interesting
  • Chairman Stuart says Mike is very modest, he has done a lot in town and should be commended.
  • Telegram Editorial: John Couture and Matt Belsito were thanked for their efforts in dealing with the roof collapse at Sutton Plaza. TA Smith extends the thank you to the Police Chief and his department.
  • Chairman Stuart said the professionalism exhumed by John and Matt on national tv showed them to be great leaders.
  • John Couture has been appointed to the BBRS by Gov. Baker. John is an outstanding Building Commissioner and we congratulate him.  
  • Selectman Chizy says John Couture is the best Building Commissioner Sutton has had, he has done the town proud.
  • Vice Chair Hall says terrific news for John.
  • Selectman Maynard is very proud of John; he taught Paul a lot about buildings when Paul was the Fire Chief.
Announcements:
  • Selectman Maynard reads the names of 10 runners that took part and finished the Boston Marathon.
  • Vice-Chair Hall announces that Sat. April 25th there will be a cleanup of the area around Singletary Lake.
Roundtable:
  • Selectman Chizy announces that with school out this week there will be more mouths to feed at the Food Pantry, if you can give please do so.
  • Vice-Chair Hall reads an article about the Michael Ellsessar Fund donating 9 defibrillators to area schools. Sutton was one of the recipients.
 
 7:58 pm Selectman Chizy motions to adjourn, Selectman Maynard 2nds passes 4-0
Meeting Adjourned