Board of Selectmen
Senior Center
August 9, 2005
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Dale Donovan. Selectmen in attendance included Ira Wood and Helen Miranda Wilson. Selectmen Michael May and Jerry Houk were absent. Town Administrator Tim Smith also attended.
Announcements:
· Donovan announced that Fire Chief Alan Hight has announced his retirement as of December 31, 2005 after 30 years of service to the Town. He extended gratitude on behalf of the Board for Chief Hight’s many years of service and to the Chief’s family for their support of him. He noted that in the interim Deputy Chief Dan Silverman will be administering the Department.
· Wilson announced that the NRAB has scheduled a hearing on the draft Harbor Management Plan on September 12 at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center.
· Donovan announced that the Historical Society will hold a program on August 10 at 8 p.m. at the Library on salt making on Cape Cod and will be announcing the recipient of this year’s Salt of the Earth Award.
· Donovan announced that this will be the last year that Toots Tousignant will serve as square dance caller.
· Beach Administrator Suzanne Thomas announced that the Wellfleet lifeguards took second place at this year’s Cape Cod lifeguard competition.
The Board met with consultant Don Jacobs who presented a report on the Fire Department. Mr. Jacobs outlined the process used noting that he feels that he was able to get to know the Department and to ascertain its vision. He noted the need to update the building; identified the organizational structure of the Department as the number one priority; recommended that the Fire Chief position function more as a manager rather than a leader; noted the need for planning and establishment of standard operating procedures/guidelines; noted the need to improve the membership and operation of the call unit; noted the need to improve communication by defining roles and responsibilities; recommended establishment of two Deputy Fire Chief positions with assigned specific duties outlined in job descriptions and identified
the need for a more inclusive management style noting that internal operations have caused problems within the Department. Donovan noted that in the conclusion of the report Mr. Jacobs identifies the structure, with the Board of Selectmen as appointing authority, as a problem causing failure of proper oversight.
The Board met with COA Director Jacqui Wildes who presented a Wellfleet “Care Campus” proposal. Henry Tuttle, Director of Outer Cape Health Services, was also in attendance. She explained the goal to coordinate accessible, affordable services for elders who wish to stay in place as they grow older; projected an increase in the senior population noting the lack of specialty medical care and transportation in the region and explained that Outer Cape Health Services wishes to expand and modernize its facility and has been exploring the possibility of joining forces and discussing the feasibility of expanding services to the elderly on the Senior Center site. Mr. Tuttle noted that the Outer Cape Health Board of Directors voted to move
Page 2 – Board of Selectmen Minutes – 8/9/05
forward to make this project happen. On a motion by Wood, seconded by Donovan, the Board voted unanimously to support the Director of the Council on Aging in her efforts to explore the feasibility of a health care campus.
The Board met with DPW Director Mark Vincent to discuss snow plowing. The Town Administrator outlined the legal situation relative to plowing of private roads noting that the Town has never accepted the portion of the statute allowing the Town to spend public monies to plow private roads. Wilson noted that she has begun the process of obtaining signatures for the necessary petitioned ballot question. Mr. Vincent outlined the options with estimated costs of plowing public roads only, plowing all public and private roads and plowing all public roads and paved private roads. Donovan suggested continuing this discussion to the next Board meeting when a full board will be present noting concern that not plowing private roads could be a public safety issue due to certain private roads connecting Town
roads. It was suggested that maybe the Town could sand private roads. The Town Administrator will look at the private roads that connect to Town roads for the next meeting and will check with Town Counsel regarding sanding of private roads. Jeff Stewart suggested maintaining the status quo until the next annual election noting concern that a lot of seniors live on private roads.
The Board interviewed Helen Purcell for appointment to the CPA Committee, Erik Mitchell for appointment to the Board of Water Commissioners and Henry Boriskin and Guy Daniels for appointment to the Shellfish Advisory Committee.
Request to use Town property – on a motion by Wood, seconded by Wilson, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of Caitlin Langstaff of the Tidal Theatre Co. to use the White Crest Beach parking lot on August 18–21 from 5-7:30 p.m. for car theatre.
Old Business:
a) Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off Program Policy – Donovan suggested keeping the two parts of the program separate (department heads submit eligible jobs and applicants submit applications to be in the program) in lieu of the prohibition on people serving in their own departments. The work assignment decision would not be made by the department head.
b) Wood suggested that the Board begin the process of developing a MOU with the National Park Service relative to human services issues. Donovan suggested that the Town Administrator and staff meet first with the Park Service to get a sense of what form this matter should take.
Correspondence: Wood noted Olga Kahn’s resignation from the Cape Light Compact.
Town Administrator comments – requested an executive session at the end of tonight’s meeting for union negotiations, a personnel matter and litigation.
Consideration of the minutes of July 26, 2005 was postponed until the next Board meeting because a majority of members who attended the July 26th meeting was not present.
Page 3 – Board of Selectmen Minutes – 8/9/05
Future Meetings/Agendas – goals, draft Harbor Management Plan, proposed policy on information for committee members, list of information for new members of the Board of Water Commissioners were suggested.
On a motion by Wood, seconded by Wilson, the Board voted unanimously at 9:20 p.m. on a roll call vote (Wood, Wilson, Donovan – yea) to enter executive session, after a five minute recess, to discuss union negotiations, a personnel matter and litigation and to reconvene in open session.
The Board reconvened in open session at 9:55 p.m.
On a motion by Donovan, seconded by Wood, the Board voted 2-1, with Wilson voting against, to appoint Dan Silverman as the interim Fire Chief until December 31, 2005. Wilson indicated that she voted against this appointment because she wanted more time to consider the terms of this appointment and to discuss it with the full Board.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Smulligan
Administrative Assistant
Dale Donovan, Chair Ira Wood Helen Miranda Wilson
| 
