MINUTES OF MEETING OF SELECTMEN/SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Date of Meeting: February 24, 2004
Date of Transcription: February 25, 2004
Transcribed by: Kelly Barrasso
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN
Chairman Chamberlain called the meeting to order at 7:02 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
NOTE: Chairman Chamberlain stated the BOS has been receiving many complaints re: the audio portion of the taped BOS meetings. She urged citizens to contact ComCast Cable Co. to complain about this matter.
II. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Present before the BOS: Donald Carlson
Mr. Carlson discussed the issue of the Town having two Water/Fire Districts. He feels that the Town should get back to the home rule & get the politics out. He stated the present system has been used since 1907.
Mr. Carlson stated the idea of changing how government works arose when Mr. Murphy was Town Admin. He discussed the statement made by a newspaper on this issue in the year 2000.
Mr. Carlson stated he would like a non-binding referendum question placed on the ballot for the dissolution of the two Water/Fire Districts through legislative action. He asked the BOS to place this question on the ballot so the taxpayers can share their opinions if they wish to do this or not.
Mr. Carlson proceeded to provide information re: the Districts, for example, the Districts are exempt from Prop. 2 ½ through the Dept. of Revenue, even though State law states differently, there has been no audits conducted on the Districts since approx. 1999, & District taxes have increased approx. 19.4%.
Selectman Pillsbury stated years ago Mr. Carlson had asked this request, but the request was made during the middle of negotiations re: out-of-District areas. She stated there was support for Mr. Carlson’s request to put a question on the ballot, but nothing was ever done.
Selectman Sauvageau asked what the advantage would be to the Town if there were only one Water/Fire District. Mr. Carlson explained why he feels there is double taxation going on for the taxpayers.
Present before the BOS: Gerry Costello, Sawyer St.
Ms. Costello presented the BOS w/ a petition to ask the BOS to revisit the decision made on 2/10/04 to make Sawyer St. a one-way street. She stated the problem w/ this street being a one-way is that it limits access to residents’ homes. She stated during certain times of the year, for example, during parades, festivals, etc. homeowners on this street are unable to access their homes.
Selectman Pillsbury suggested this matter go back to Chief Joyce who made the recommendation to the BOS & possibly have him meet w/ the residents of this street.
Brief discussion ensued re: the two options offered by Chief Joyce & how he urged the BOS to select the one-way street option.
Ms. Costello stated instead of having Sawyer St. a one-way, she suggested having parking banned on the street, which was Chief Joyce’s second option. Chairman Chamberlain discussed the issue of doctors’ offices in this area & the need for parking for patients.
Present before the BOS: George Solontelli
Mr. Solontelli stated it is not patients parking on Sawyer St., but the employees of these doctors’ offices. He feels these employees should utilize the municipal parking area across the street or park in back of the doctors’ offices. He stated the decision re: Sawyer St. was made w/out asking the opinions of the residents living on the street.
Selectman Pillsbury again suggested that Chief Joyce revisit this matter.
Present before the BOS: Matt Vehigin
Mr. Vehigin expressed concern re: residents not being involved w/ the decision made for this street. Chairman Chamberlain stated that when Chief Joyce or the Admin. come forward w/ an issue like this it is because complaints have been received.
Mr. Vehigin feels there are other issues to consider, such as snowplowing. He feels that making Sawyer St. a one-way is the worst decision of all for the residents of this street.
Selectman Tropeano stated that Chief Joyce had said if there was a no parking ban on the street, the street would become a speed zone & that’s one of the reasons the one-way street was established.
Present before the BOS: Andy Costello
Mr. Costello stated that he speaks on behalf of the residents on the street. He feels that it is possible to allow limited parking on the street, for example, patients seeing a doctor. He expressed concern re: employees of the doctors’ offices parking on the street all day long. He wants to keep this area residential & safe.
The BOS members concurred to ask Chief Joyce to revisit this matter.
III. BEN BRYANT, COALITION FOR BUZZARDS BAY UPDATE
Mr. Bryant stated that the Coalition for Buzzards Bay is looking at policies for the protection of Buzzards Bay. He discussed garnering support for legislation aimed at preventing oil spills (Information attached as reference).
Discussion ensued re: single vs. double-hulled vessels.
Mr. Bryant discussed two public hearings slated on this matter (Information attached as reference).
Discussion ensued re: oil spill prevention & response fund & how it will be funded.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS authorize the Chair to draft & sign a letter stating the BOS’s support of the passage of legislative measures to prevent oil spills in the Town’s waterways. Selectman Sauvageau seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
C1. Authorization to sign bills, documents, etc.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the Board sign invoice from Methuen Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $474,749.25 re: the Wareham WPCF upgrade project. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C2. Appointments: Election/Poll Workers & Open Space Committee.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS appoint the following as election/poll workers on an emergency basis to cover the 3/2/04 State Primary & the 4/6/04 Town Election w/ terms to expire 6/30/04: Richard McKnight, Peter Spetrini, Deborah A. Soule, Susan M. Wells, & Jeanette Pitts. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS appoint Sandra Engler as a member to the Open Space Committee to a term to expire 6/30/06. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C3. Approval of minutes of previous meetings: 9/23/03 - Regular Session.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS approve the Regular Session meeting minutes of 9/23/03. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: (3-0-2)
Selectmen Chamberlain & Fernandes-Abbott abstained
V. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
1. Sewer Connection Request - 51 Wankinco Avenue. A request has been received to connect Lots 3, 17A, 17B, & C-7 on Map 50A, Wankinco Avenue, to the Town’s sewer system. The plan has been reviewed by David Simmons.
If this connection is approved, there are several conditions that should be attached to that approval.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the Board approve the connection for 51 Wankinco Avenue, Map 50A, Lots 3, 17A, 17B, & C-7 to the Town’s sewer system, subject to the following conditions:
• Payment of all fees shall be paid when the sewer connection permit is applied
for.
• A licensed drain-layer in the Town of Wareham will make the service
connection.
• A detailed drawing shall be provided showing the location of a clean out when
the connection fee is paid.
• The necessary road opening permits must be obtained from the Town.
Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (4-0-1)
Selectman Sauvageau abstained
VI. LICENSES & PERMITS
(NONE)
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. See attached for Recreation Dept. announcement.
VIII. BUSINESS
A. Discuss Town Meeting Warrant Articles.
Admin. stated the Warrant will be closing on 3/2/04.
Discussion ensued re: what to do w/ Mr. Carlson’s request, the Town Meeting timeline, & what the BOS needs to consider.
The BOS members concurred to direct the Admin. to speak w/ Town Counsel re: this matter & that after the Admin. speaks to Town Counsel, to hold a special BOS meeting to vote on insertion of a ballot question.
B. Class II Licenses - Discussion re: required $25K bonds.
Chairman Chamberlain discussed the requirement of Class II License holders to obtain a $25K bond. She stated as of today, there are four Class II License holders that have not complied w/ this requirement to have a $25K bond certificate on file, even after several attempts by the BOS office to obtain them.
Selectman Tropeano feels that Class II License holders need to establish the use of their license properly in that it is their primary business. He feels that some of the Class II License holders are not being used properly. Selectman Pillsbury agreed. Discussion ensued.
MOTION: Selectman Pillsbury moved the BOS hold show cause hearings for the following Class II License holders: American Auto Sales, Cape Cod Choppers, Route 6 Auto Sales, & TST Auto Sales. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C. Any other business.
1. The BOS will hold weekly meetings in March.
IX. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS
1. Selectman Sauvageau - Stated the Cable Advisory Committee would be meeting in March to go over the community surveys. He discussed the strategy for the second round of negotiations w/ ComCast.
Discussion ensued re: issues w/ the audio sound of the taped BOS meetings shown on cable for the past 10 years. The BOS concurred that this should be stressed in talks w/ ComCast. Selectman Sauvageau discussed how this could be approached w/ ComCast.
Present before the BOS: Steve Ruiz, Cable Advisory Committee
Mr. Ruiz discussed feedback he has heard from citizens re: cable service.
2. Selectman Chamberlain - Stated there was a presentation made by a dept. head at a Community Preservation meeting re: connection fees. She discussed briefly.
Selectman Sauvageau reported that the Zoning Re-Write Committee is in the last phase of rewriting the draft article to be submitted on the Warrant for Town Meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved at 8:48 P.M. to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation & discussing strategy relative to collective bargaining for non-union personnel. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
POLLED VOTE: Selectman Fernandes-Abbott - Yes
Selectman Pillsbury - Yes
Selectman Tropeano - Yes
Selectman Chamberlain - Yes
Selectman Sauvageau - Yes
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Barrasso
Kelly Barrasso, Transcriptionist
The foregoing minutes were submitted to the Board of Selectmen/Sewer Commissioners for their approval on April 26, 2004.
Attest: Patrick G. Tropeano
Patrick G. Tropeano, Clerk
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Date signed: April 26, 2004
Date copy sent to Wareham Free Library: April 27, 2004.
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