Date of Meeting: September 16, 2003
Date of Transcription: September 17, 2003
Transcribed by: Kelly Barrasso
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN
Chairman Chamberlain called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Selectmen Present: Cindy Chamberlain, Chairman
Patrick G. Tropeano, Clerk
Mary Jane Pillsbury
Renee Fernandes-Abbott
Bruce Sauvageau
Present: Michael Hartman, Town Administrator
II. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Present before the BOS: John Germain
Mr. Germain stated he has spoken to the Admin. in the past re: a pothole & catch basin near Dennis Lane. He expressed concern re: a car hitting this pothole. He stated nothing has been done for three months. He stated he has not spoken to the Municipal Maintenance Dept., but the Admin. had stated he would contact them. The Admin. added that the Municipal Maintenance Dept. was contacted the next day after speaking w/ Mr. Germain.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
C1. Authorization to sign bills, documents, etc.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS authorize the Chair to sign invoice from Methuen Construction in the amount of $763,631.00. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: (4-0-1)
Selectman Fernandes-Abbott abstained
NOTE: A moment of silence was held for the passing of Myron Peabody.
C2. Appointment - Veterans’ Graves Officer
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS appoint Henry F. Dors as the Assistant Veterans Graves Officer to a term to expire 6/30/04. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
1. Chapter 61A Notice. Notices received 8/29/03 re: the Town Clerk received the A.D. Makepeace parcels via hand delivery. That office then distributed them accordingly. The parcels are on Plymouth Rd. & Tihonet Rd.
Town Counsel has determined as long as the Town Clerk can certify that Chapter 61A notices were received at her office for all pertinent boards, the legal requirement for notice has been met. Therefore, the notices were legally received 8/20/03 & the 120-day clock started that date.
Per the BOS’s policy, copies of the information received have been sent to the Wareham Land Trust, Preservation Committee, & Open Space Committee. They have thirty days to make any recommendations to the BOS.
V. LICENSES & PERMITS
(NONE)
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(NONE)
VII. BUSINESS
A. Open Space & Recreation draft discussion.
Chairman Chamberlain stated this discussion would be held at the BOS’s 9/30/03 meeting.
B. Any other business.
1. Carpenter bus replacements.
Selectman Sauvageau stated he attended the FinCom’s recent meeting w/ the Admin. He stated discussion was held re: the replacement of 14 Carpenter school buses since they have been required from the State to be taken off the road. He stated estimated costs for the replacement of these buses were discussed w/ a cost total of approx. $884,000. He stated discussion was held re: possibly leasing buses for over five years at 3%. He stated discussion ensued re: how to finance these buses & a request was made for the immediate purchase of seven buses now & the purchase of seven more in the spring.
Selectman Sauvageau explained to the BOS that there is a mold problem at the Upper Cape Vocational School that needs addressing. He stated the estimated costs to fix this problem are between approx. $600,000.00 - $2 million. He stated the Town will have to pay approx. 27% of this which equals $200,000.00 - $500,000.00.
Selectman Sauvageau stated other issues were discussed, for example, privatization of busing, charging fees for transporting grades seven through twelve, & possibly eliminating transporting grades seven through twelve.
Selectman Sauvageau stated the FinCom would like to meet w/ the School Committee to discuss these matters. He suggested the BOS send a letter to the FinCom Chair to have the BOS included at this meeting.
Selectman Pillsbury expressed concern re: if there is a Capital Planning Committee & that everything seems to be going directly to the FinCom. She would like to see the process get back to how it is supposed to be. She stated discussion re: busing had been held previously w/ the School Committee, but was ignored.
Selectman Pillsbury discussed the impact of these bus recalls on the budget. She stated fees are being charged in other areas, but not Wareham. She feels the bus transportation matter should be put out to bid. She stated if the transportation were to be privatized, then the Town would not have ownership of the buses & the Town wouldn’t be facing this $1 million problem. She added that the Town side of government pays for the buses & she feels the BOS should call the shots on this matter, not the FinCom.
Selectman Tropeano stated the Town owns the buses & if decided, the Town side should take control of this issue. He stated the bus issue & the mold issue come directly out of the budget.
Selectman Sauvageau stated that discussion ensued at the FinCom meeting re: Town run transportation vs. privatization. He stated it was presented that there would be no savings to privatize. He stated discussion also ensued re: charging fees & the Superintendent stated the School Committee rejected this. Discussion ensued.
Selectman Pillsbury feels the issue needs to be handled amongst all the boards before any buses are purchased in the fall.
The BOS members concurred to hold a meeting w/ the School Committee to discuss the bus issue.
B. Water District lawsuit.
Selectman Tropeano addressed the Water District’s lawsuit.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS request a meeting w/ the Water District to discuss differences on this matter. Selectman Sauvageau seconded.
NOTE: Selectman Tropeano stated the taxpayers are the ones who will have to pay for this lawsuit.
Admin. Feels it is worth exploring. He stated there will be some expenses to the
Town & Water District taxpayers for Counsel.
VOTE: (4-0-1)
Selectman Chamberlain abstained
Chairman Chamberlain discussed her issues re: compromise.
NOTE: Selectman Pillsbury submitted pictures to the Admin. of a tree that needs attention before the storm comes (Hurricane Isabel).
VIII. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS
1. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott - Asked the BOS if the Planning Board could use the BOS’s meeting room on 10/22/03. The BOS members concurred.
2. Selectman Chamberlain - Tomato & Basil had originally had a hearing scheduled to meet w/ the ABCC re: their license. She stated it was approved as well as Café Uva’s license.
Selectman Chamberlain stated that the Buzzards Bay Project sent a letter addressed to Chief Joyce, which commended the Wareham Police Dept. for retrieving, stolen equipment from their office. She read the letter into the record.
Selectman Chamberlain discussed the policy changes for the Alcoholic Beverages license holders. (See attached). She stated she has found a TIPS trainer & discussed sessions she will conduct. Brief discussion ensued.
Selectman Chamberlain stated that when the renewal process begins next year, copies of TIPS training would have to be submitted w/ the paperwork.
Selectman Chamberlain stated she received a four-page memo from Ken Ferreira of the ZBA on 10/1/03 re: a 40B project. She asked the BOS if she could send a letter to the ZBA re: receipt of the information pertaining to an 18% affordability rate already established in Town.
Selectman Chamberlain stated Wanco Management, Inc.’s 40B project would be remanded back to the ZBA on 10/8/03. She stated the Board needs to put in writing to Wanco Management, Inc. that the Board will not be inclined to extend the sewer line. Discussion ensued re: if this request was for a sewer line extension.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved at 7:45 P.M. to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation. Selectman Sauvageau seconded.
POLLED VOTE: Selectman Tropeano - Yes
Selectman Sauvageau - Yes
Selectman Pillsbury - Yes
Selectman Fernandes-Abbott - Yes
Selectman Chamberlain - Yes
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Barrasso
Kelly Barrasso, Transcriptionist
The forgoing minutes were submitted to the Board of Selectmen/Sewer Commissioners for their approval on February 10, 2004.
Attest: Patrick G. Tropeano
Patrick G. Tropeano, Clerk
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Date signed: February 10, 2004
Date copy sent to Wareham Free Library: February 24, 2004
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