MINUTES OF MEETING OF SELECTMEN/SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Date of Meeting: April 13, 2004
Date of Transcription: April 14, 2004
Transcribed by: Kelly Barrasso
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN
Chairman Chamberlain called the meeting to order at 7:03 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: Jim Fox
Mr. Fox stated last Friday, after the election, he still saw political signs up for Selectman Fernandes-Abbott. He feels there should be a BOS policy re: this. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott apologized for the signs still being up as she thought they were all taken down Tuesday night after the election. Mr. Fox stated his issue is all political signs that are not taken down.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
C1. Authorization to sign bills, documents, etc.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS sign bill from Kopelman & Paige for professional services through 1/31/04 in the amount of $16,166.24. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C2. Approval of minutes of previous meetings: 3/9/04.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS approve the Regular Session meeting minutes of 3/9/04. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C3. Appointment to Open Space Committee.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS appoint John P. Kelly as a member to the Open Space Committee to a term to expire 6/30/07. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: (4-0-1)
Selectman Sauvageau abstained
Present before the BOS: John Kelly
Mr. Kelly stated he is the National Resource Planner for the MA Army National Guard. He discussed his experience & what his job entails.
IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
1. Sawyer Street. Following the BOS’s decision to make Sawyer St. a one-way from Main St. to High St., several residents have indicated they are opposed to this option. These residents sent letters identifying several arguments & indicating they would prefer to see no parking rather than having it is a one-way street.
Chief Joyce again reviewed the matter and has submitted a report to the BOS. Initially, of the two options recommended - making Sawyer St. a one-way or eliminating parking completely - The BOS chose the former, which the Chief believes was the best option. However, eliminating parking completely would also be acceptable. It is the BOS’s decision.
Administrator stated the Chief has spoke to several residents & Dr. Wiegandt.
Selectman Sauvageau suggested giving a survey to all residents of the street to ask them which option they prefer. Discussion ensued.
Selectman Sauvageau stated he would like a majority feeling of what the residents want & to have a clear & precise feeling of what they want. Discussion ensued re: if the survey should have the two options w/in it.
Selectman Sauvageau suggested placing Chief Joyce’s current letter to the BOS w/ the survey that goes out. Discussion ensued.
The BOS members concurred to send out a survey along w/ Chief Joyce’s current letter to the BOS.
2. Special Events in Onset. Based upon conversations w/ the Onset Fire Dept. & the Town’s EMS dept., Chief Joyce has recommended that the BOS decline all application requests for “large” special events in the Onset area due to safety concerns re: the anticipated closing of Dummy Bridge for reconstruction.
As the BOS knows, these large events have a significant economic impact on many of the businesses in Onset. Therefore, before considering denial of all applications outright, the BOS should consider establishing contingencies or conditions that, w/in event permits would mitigate some of the potential impacts of the closing of the Dummy Bridge.
Administrator stated it is unclear at this time when the bridge will actually close.
Selectman Pillsbury stated regardless of when the project begins, it would impact two summer seasons. She stated she cannot see shutting down Onset & impacting the businesses due to this project. She stated there are two other routes in & out of Onset. She feels that the Administrator is right & there must be a way to come up w/ contingency plans instead of shutting down the whole village.
Selectman Tropeano stated he would never vote to shut down all events for the summer because of the negative economic impacts that would have on the viability of this area. He stated there has to be another way & it has to be found. Selectman Sauvageau agreed.
Administrator stated work will commence at the staff level to start dealing w/ contingency plans.
3. Change Orders #6 - WPCF Upgrade Project. This change order, in the amount of $57,649.03 is for: septage equalization piping changes ($48,711.95), fire alarm revisions ($3,070.00), roof top condenser unit support ($3,225.57), sprinkler control panel connections at filter building ($1,514.48), & FRP intake at sludge DW building ($1,127.03).
Administrator discussed the equalization piping change is for existing piping that needs to be upgraded.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the Board approve & authorize the Chair to sign Change Order #6 for the WPCF Upgrade Project in the amount of $57,649.03. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
V. LICENSES & PERMITS
1. Onset Cape Verdean Festival Association - Request to waive two-year non-profit requirement status to conduct a raffle.
Present before the BOS: Mary McCoy
Kenney Fontes
Mr. Fontes thanked the BOS for support last year of the festival. He stated the Assoc. is requesting a waiver of the two-year non-profit requirement status to hold a raffle.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS approve the waiver of a two-year non-profit requirement status to conduct a raffle for the Onset Cape Verdean Festival Association. Selectman Sauvageau seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
2. Wareham Little League, Inc. - Request to permit use of Town roads for the annual parade on 4/18/04 (4/25/04 rain date) at 12:00 noon.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS approve the request for use of Town roads for a parade permit to Wareham Little League, c/o Sharren Frazier, President, P.O. Box 614, Wareham, MA for their annual parade to be held on 4/18/04 (rain date 4/25/04) at 12:00 noon. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. See agenda.
B. See agenda.
C. Signing of Certificate.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved the BOS sign the enclosed certificate. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
D. Chairman Chamberlain read letter into the record to BOS from Vilroy Keyes thanking them for the certificate that was presented to her.
VII. BUSINESS
A. Town Meeting Warrant Articles.
Annual Warrant Articles:
Article 6 - Budget
MOTION: Selectman Fernandes-Abbott moved Favorable Action on Article 6 of the 4/26/04 Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Selectman Tropeano seconded.
VOTE: (4-0-1)
Selectman Pillsbury abstained
Special Warrant Articles:
Article 1 - Supplemental Budget
Administrator stated the amount is $335,779, which will come from free cash. He discussed the breakdown of the monies & where it will go.
MOTION: Selectman Tropeano moved Favorable Action on Article 1 of the 4/26/04 Special Town Meeting Warrant. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: (4-0-1)
Selectman Pillsbury abstained
Article 6 - Wetlands By-Law Amendment
Selectman Tropeano expressed concern re: regulatory powers that would be granted to the Conservation Commission under this article. He stated this would be a Charter issue, not issuance from the State. He doesn’t feel this is right & he can’t support this article on that basis. He stated he couldn’t see the Conservation Commission coming before Town Meeting w/ changes & just being able to make changes after that on their own.
Discussion ensued re: the section pertaining to setting fees. Discussion ensued re: the content of the article. Discussion ensued re: Section 4 of the article.
Selectman Pillsbury expressed concern that the By-Law would go down due to this one matter. She stated at a presentation she had asked what regulations would be promulgated & the answer sounded like a By-Law & it would be too long for a regulation. She stated a regulation should be minor & if something is significant it should be placed in the By-Law.
Selectman Pillsbury stated she agrees w/ Selectman Tropeano & that Section 14 needs to be deleted. Discussion ensued re: limiting Section 14 to procedural. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott suggested that in Section 14, the last paragraph should delete the words “at a minimum”.
The BOS concurred to relay their concerns to the group that submitted the article.
B. Any other business.
(NONE)
VIII. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS
1. Selectman Pillsbury - Stated people have asked if there is a District question on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. She stated the answer is “no” & that it was taken off prior to the closing of this Warrant. She stated no further action would be taken at this time.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Selectman Pillsbury moved at 7:52 P.M. to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation. Selectman Tropeano 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 July 20, 2004.
Attest: Patrick G. Tropeano
Patrick G. Tropeano, Clerk
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Date signed: 7/20/04
Date copy sent to Wareham Free Library: 7/21/04
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