MINUTES OF MEETING OF SELECTMEN/SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Date of Meeting: March 22, 2005
Date of Transcription: March 23, 2005
Transcribed by: Kelly Barrasso
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN
Chairman Tropeano called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Selectmen Present: Patrick G. Tropeano, Chairman
Bruce Sauvageau, Clerk
Mary Jane Pillsbury
Renee Fernandes-Abbott
Cindy Parola
Present: Michael Hartman, Town Administrator
II. PRESENTATION BY TREASURER/COLLECTOR
Present before the Board: John Foster, Treasurer/Collector
Mr. Foster discussed the Standard Times article quotes from last week. He stated there are several misleading quotes. He stated the calculation rate as of 6/30/04 is 96.7% vs. the 90% stated in the article.
Mr. Foster stated that outstanding tax title amounts are approx. $3.8 million & the Collector’s office has been working diligently on this matter for the past year. He discussed what is being done to identify properties. He stated there are several categories of properties & there is progress in attacking said properties.
Mr. Foster stated there are 196 properties labeled land of low value foreclosures. He discussed the procedure for dealing w/ these properties. He stated there are 46 properties in land court & the Town has recently foreclosed on a home, which was appealed, but the Town retained ownership. He stated there are 187 properties that require further field research. He added that there are properties that eventually will go to land auction & he understands the Wareham Water District is interested in purchasing property. He stated that the University Trust & Striar properties would be going to land court.
Mr. Foster stated that staff has been working very hard to straighten out these matters & there is a plan to work through all of this.
Mr. Foster stated there is approx. $813,000 owed in land court property cases at this time which can be collected w/in two to three years if not redeemed. He stated there is approx. $650,000 outstanding in land of low value properties.
Selectman Pillsbury asked if there were a land auction & taxes owed were to be collected, would the interest have to be collected as well. Mr. Foster stated that collection of everything is required. Brief discussion ensued.
Selectman Sauvageau stated if this matter was being dealt w/ by a private business, these properties would have been written off as bad debt, but private municipalities are different.
Selectman Sauvageau stated the Standard Times article appears to suggest that these tax title issues are a new issue for the Town, but they have been an issue for many years. He discussed monies collected by this department through a collaborative effort in pursuing these matters.
Mr. Foster noted that it takes approx. one & a half to two years to take a parcel to land court.
NOTE: Discussion ensued w/ the Assessors Department.
Present before the Board: Steve Curry, Chairman of Board of Assessors
Paul Keefe, Director of Assessment
Chairman Tropeano stated that an article in the Courier stated taxes would increase $512.00, which is inaccurate.
Mr. Curry discussed the comparison of FY04 vs. FY05 figures. (Attached as reference).
Mr. Curry discussed the mandate to review property values every year now & make adjustments (interim adjustments) if necessary due to skyrocketing values.
Mr. Keefe discussed the statistical analysis used to determine the interim adjustment (utilizing sales figures) for statistical analysis. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Curry briefly discussed exemptions & tax relief for seniors & that information packets are available at the Assessors office. Mr. Keefe discussed a “work off” program for senior citizens. Brief discussion ensued re: the Ruth Thompkins Papageorge fund that helps seniors. Discussion ensued re: this information not being printed on tax bills at the present time. Chairman Tropeano stated Town Meeting authorized this & it should not have been taken off the tax bill. The Board concurred that this matter needs to be addressed.
III. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Present before the Board: Kenneth Michaels
Mr. Michaels stated he would like to see a tax cap placed on property taxes for senior citizens. He proposed seniors be able to work/volunteer for the Town to work off taxes. The Board concurred that this type of program be looked into.
Mr. Michaels discussed the difficulty many seniors have in paying their taxes.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Authorization to sign bills, documents, etc.
(NONE)
B. Approve meeting minutes from previous Regular Session: 3/8/05
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Regular Session meeting minutes of 3/8/05. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
C. Appointment – Fence Viewer
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board appoint James M. Stonefield & Gail A. Murphy as Fence Viewers for the Town of Wareham to a term to expire 6/30/06. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
NOTE: Present before the Board: Mr. Stonefield
Mr. Stonefield discussed what a fence viewers job is.
V. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
1. Tremont Nail Master Plan Committee. The Tremont Nail Master Plan Committee met last night & they have asked that the Administrator if his office can receive proposals for renting a house of the Tremont Nail property.
The Board concurred to allow the Administrator to receive proposals for the property under the guidelines of the Village I District.
VI. LICENSES & PERMITS
A. Renewal of Seasonal Liquor Licenses for the year 2005, under the provisions of Chapter 138 of the MA General Laws for the year 2005.
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal Common Victualer Wine & Malt Beverages License held by Mary Tirrell d/b/a Fonzie’s Diner & Gift Shop, Mary Tirrell, Manager, 3074 Cranberry Highway, East Wareham. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal All Alcoholic Common Victualer’s License held by Bay Pointe Functions, Inc., d/b/a the Pavilion at Bay Pointe Country Club, William Goyette, Manager, 10 Bay Pointe Drive, Onset. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal Common Victualer Wine & Malt Beverages License held by Gyjo, Inc. d/b/a The Lobster Pot, Joseph Marino, III, Manager, 3155 Cranberry Highway, Wareham. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal Common Victualer Wine & Malt Beverages License held by Mark, Inc. d/b/a China Garden, Mark Ivan, Manager, 265 Marion Rd., Wareham. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal All Alcoholic Club License held by Pointe Independence Yacht Club, Inc., Robert Vendetti, Manager, 15-17 Independence Lane, Onset. Selectman Pillsbury seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal All Alcoholic Common Victualer License held by Stevie B’s, Inc., d/b/a Onset Sports Resort, Stephen Beranger, Manager, 270 Onset Ave., Onset. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved the Board approve the Seasonal All Alcoholic Common Victualer License held by MG & GM, Inc. d/b/a Onset Bay Blues Café, Grant McConnell, Manager, 2 West Central Ave., Onset. Selectman Parola seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be held on 4/5/05.
VIII. BUSINESS
A. Discuss Warrant articles.
(NONE)
B. Any other business.
1. Commuter Rail Survey.
Selectman Parola updated the Board on the status of the commuter rail survey.
2. LaRusso Project.
Selectman Parola stated she received an e-mail from Mr. Devorski stating that the Town of Rochester will be voting on this project.
3. Board of Health Rules & Regulations.
Selectman Sauvageau spoke re: the BOH Rules & Regulations handbook. He commended the work put into the handbook.
IX. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS
(NONE)
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Selectman Sauvageau moved at 7:57 P.M. to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining relative to non-union personnel. Selectman Fernandes-Abbott seconded.
POLLED VOTE: Selectman Parola – Yes
Selectman Fernandes-Abbott – Yes
Selectman Sauvageau – Yes
Selectman Tropeano – Yes
Selectman Pillsbury – Yes
VOTE: Unanimous (5-0-0)
NOTE: Chairman Tropeano announced that the Board would not be coming back into open session.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Barrasso
Kelly Barrasso, Transcriptionist
The foregoing minutes were submitted to the Board of Selectmen/Sewer Commissioners for their approval on April 5, 2005.
Attest: Bruce Sauvageau
Bruce Sauvageau, Clerk
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Date signed: April 5, 2005
Date copy sent to Wareham Free Library: April 6, 2005.
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