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06/27/2017 BOS Meeting Minutes
Town Of Sutton
Board of Selectmen
                                                        Meeting Minutes
  
                                           Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on 7/11/2017 by a vote of     5-0
                                                                                                   
7:00p.m. – June 27, 2017
                                       Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:                           
        Chairman Jesse Limanek, Vice Chair John Hebert, Clerk David Hall and Selectmen Michael Kenney & Raymond Plante  
Town Administrator James Smith & Deb Jacques, secretary  
 
Chairman Limanek calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Forum:  N/A

Selectman Plante motions to approve the June 6, 2017 meeting minutes as presented, Vice Chair Hebert  seconds passes 5-0

Certificates of Recognition as read by Selectman David Hall to Officer Mike McGee and Officer Mark Giro for responding to a cardiac call at Waters Farm this past fall and using an AED on an individual that had collapsed. Present along with Officers Giro and McGee is Police Chief Towle and the recipient of the lifesaving tactics Al Ames.  

Acquisition of Blackstone Street Bridge easements: Jen Hager, Planning Director is here to discuss. Jen states this is for the bridge replacement to take place. Some are temporary easements and some are permanent but this only effects 3 parcels. Most of these easements are over air and water, very little is land. This bridge will be closed for up to one year while the replacement takes place. Once this agreement is approved and filed with the Registry of Deeds, MA DOT will proceed and advertise the project. TA Smith questions what will happen if someone does not sign off, Jen replies it will be taken with eminent domain. Vice Chair Hebert says he is glad to see this moving forward, this is a historic dam (singing falls), once completed it will be good for the resident. MA DOT is paying 100% for this bridge replacement. John also thanks Jen for having all the paperwork complete and having attended meetings to make sure this can go forward. Selectman Hall says it is great that it is not being done with local money, Dave asks Jen to confirm so if someone does not sign off we will take thru eminent domain, Jen replies yes along with the payment we will make to them. Dave says it is a betterment of the area itself. Selectman Kenney says two town bridges (Blackstone St. and Depot St.) paid for by the state fantastic. Selectman Plante says it is nice to know the state is paying for two good size projects. Ray asks about contractor contingencies, Jen replies MA DOT district three is handling this, they have to also follow the public procurement process which is the lowest bid. Chairman Limanek thanks Jen and John Hebert (CMRPC representative) for their work in this project. This replacement is a legitimate need. Jen says it is a benefit to have a constant voice at CMRPC (John Hebert). Vice Chair Hebert motions, pursuant to the vote taken under Article 6 of the October 17 Town Meeting, to execute an Order of Taking and take by eminent domain, for public way purposes and for the purpose of rehabilitating and reconstructing Blackstone Street and the bridge thereon, permanent and temporary easements (for a term of 5 years) in, on and under the parcels of land shown on a plan entitled “Plan Showing Easements for Blackstone Street Improvements Over Blackstone River Prepared for Town of Sutton,” dated December 27, 2016, prepared by Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC, and to award damages for the taking in the amounts set forth in Exhibit B attached to the Order of Taking, which Exhibit B is not to be recorded with the Order, Selectman Kenney seconds passes 5-0

Board reappointments /Town Administrator reappointments as read by Selectman Hall (list attached). Selectman Hall thanks all that volunteer their time to serve on the various boards. The town cannot run without these people. Selectman Kenney thanks all that have served as well as those being reappointed. Selectman Plante asks for clarification on the function of a fence viewer. TA Smith replies they address issues, usually between neighbors for things such as the height and size of a fence (spite fence).  Chairman Limanek says it is wonderful that these individuals continue to give their time to the town. Thank you to all that are involved. Selectman Kenney motions to approve as read the reappointments made by the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator as read, Vice Chair Hebert seconds passes 5-0

Special Education Stabilization Policy: TA Smith begins by saying this was an idea brought about by finance committee Chair Jeff Bannon along with Tim Harrison due to the unpredictability with the school dept. meeting the needs of individuals that may come in after the budget has been approved.  This was passed at the May 2016 Town Meeting and will be funded with the help of the stabilization fund.  Vice Chair Hebert says this is very good sound management for the financial team, in the long run this also will help with our bond rating. Selectman Hall says kudos to Jeff Bannon and Tim Harrison, this demonstrates sound fiscal planning over the long term. Unexpected Spec. Ed. Costs can ruin a budget. This will be a nice luxury to have, Dave fully supports this. Selectman Kenney says this is smart thinking outside the box. Selectman Plante echoes all that has been said. Ray goes on to say having a child with special needs he wondered where the funding came from. Sutton is ahead of the game, Ray has personally seen the result of the funding for Spec. Ed. Chairman Limanek had served on the School Committee for five years and said this funding was always an issue. Jesse states this is a well thought out plan. Selectman Plante motions to approve the Special Education Stabilization Policy, Vice Chair Hebert seconds passes 5-0
  
TA Update:
  • Green Communities Grant award - Doreen DeFazio and Chairman Limanek were at the State house Monday, June 19th to accept a grant award in the amount of $204,888., this will cover two boilers at the ELC and two electric cars. This grant brings the total of Green community’s grants to $639,467.00.
  • Goddard Lodge Rehabilitation - bid process has begun, a contract will be issued once the bidding process has ended.
  • Sidewalks to the Early Learning center - bid will be going out shortly. Plans and specs are being drawn up by Andrews Survey.
  • Town Farm Road cell tower- broke ground on Monday, June 19th, this has been 9 years in the making. Thank you to all the boards for their support over the years. Thank you also to the Whittier family for their support.
  • Annual third grade visit to the Town Hall took place. Thank you to Jen Hager for leading the tour.
  • Green line velo was held on Sunday June 11th. This event went off without any issues.  
 
Selectman announcements/Correspondence/Round table
Selectman Kenney asks for an update on the sidewalk from the school to Shaw Farm as well as an update on the paving projects in town.  Mike also addresses recent events on social media and the possibility where some may have felt bullied.

Selectman Plante says there are several issues on social media from the BOS level to the federal level, we are all professionals and we all have to be responsible for what we say.

Chairman Limanek reads the list of needed items for the Mike Chizy Food Pantry.




Vice Chair Hebert motions to adjourn the meeting, Selectman Hall seconds passes 5-0
Meeting adjourned 8:26 pm