Board of Selectmen
Library Meeting Room
December 13, 2005
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Dale Donovan. Selectmen in attendance included Michael May, Ira Wood, Helen Miranda Wilson and Jerry Houk. Town Administrator Tim Smith also attended.
Announcements:
· May announced, as representative to the Cape Light Compact, that electric bills are going to rise but the Town of Wellfleet will be receiving a solar electric system for Wellfleet Elementary School.
· Donovan announced that the Charter Review Committee meeting to review their recommendations and receive public input is scheduled for Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center.
· Denny O’Connell, Planning Board Chair, announced that the Planning Board will be looking at Zoning Bylaw changes and will be meeting with various committees to discuss proposed amendments. The Planning Board public hearing is scheduled for March 1st.
· Houk announced that the Charter Review Committee is also meeting tomorrow night at the Senior Center.
Mort Inger of the Friends of Wellfleet/Truro Health Care presented a check for $17,902 to Richard Brunson, President of Outer Cape Health’s Board of Directors, to be used for design and planning for a new health care facility in Wellfleet.
The Board met with Board of Health Chair Richard Willecke, Board of Health member Lezli Rowell and Health/Conservation Agent Hillary Greenberg. Mr. Willecke noted that the Board of Health currently has its complement of members and is working with the Board of Water Commissioners reviewing well testing data. Ms. Rowell discussed proposed Title V revisions and the issue of overcrowding in summer rentals. Ms. Greenberg discussed the State mandated Emergency Management and Bioterrorism Plan and updated the Board on the status of rabies on the Lower Cape.
The Board met with Suzanne Thomas who presented an overview of the Gull Pond Management Plan and recommendations. She discussed parking, the need for improvements to the public bathhouse, launch ramp, canoe racks, boat rental lease (recommended that the lease not be renewed because the demand for public space is overwhelming the need for a private boat rental business on public property), parking (recommended that a daily parking fee of $15 be established) and the sluiceway (recommended that the two existing parking spaces be eliminated and the Town negotiate with the Seashore for land for temporary parking). Discussion included policing of Gull Pond and the Sluiceway. Donovan moved and Wilson seconded a motion to accept the Beach Administrator’s recommendation and not lease the boat rental area
this year. Jack Ferreira of Jack’s Boat Rentals addressed the Board and recommended that boat rental services continue at Gull Pond. Further discussion included increased parking enforcement in the area. On the motion the Board voted 0-4-1, with May, Wood, Wilson, Houk voting against
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and Donovan abstaining. On a motion by Houk, seconded by May, the Board voted 4-0-1, with Donovan abstaining, to lease the property this year and determine parameters at a later date. On a motion by Wilson, seconded by Donovan, the Board voted 4-1, with Houk voting against, to eliminate the existing parking spaces at the Sluiceway and work with the National Seashore to develop increased parking at a removed area and to retain dropoff access for boats. It was noted that the vote on parking at the Sluiceway will need to be addressed at a subsequent public hearing to amend the Regulations with Regard to the Sluiceway. Ms. Thomas stressed the need to update the bathroom facility at Gull Pond. A motion by Wilson to add bathhouse rehabilitation at Gull Pond to the capital budget was not seconded.
The Board discussed:
a) Set Population Estimate for 2006 Seasonal Liquor Licenses – on a motion by Wood, seconded by Wilson, the Board voted unanimously to set the population estimate for seasonal liquor licenses in 2006 at 17,500.
b) Renewal of Annual Liquor Licenses – Houk left the table. On a motion by Wood, seconded by May, the Board voted unanimously 4-0, to approve the annual liquor licenses of The Wicked Oyster; Wellfleet Spirits Shoppe; Finely J.P.’s; Bookstore and Restaurant; Seaside Liquors; Wellfleet Village Center, Inc.; The Lighthouse Restaurant.
c) Business Licenses – on a motion by Wilson, seconded by May, the Board voted unanimously 4-0 to approve the business licenses of Wellfleet Village Center, Inc.; Wellfleet Marine Corp.; Robert’s Porsche-Mercedes Service; Hannah; Karol Richardson, Inc.; Gone Fishin’ Sporting Goods; Boathouse Gift Shop; Wellfleet Marine Corp. (rental booth)
d) Request to Use Town Property – Houk rejoined the Board. On a motion by Wilson, seconded by Houk, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of the Friends of the Wellfleet Libraries to use the east side driveway and Town Hall lawn on July 16 (rain date July 23) and August 6 (rain date August 13) from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual summer book sale.
e) Special Town Meeting Review – Moderator Dan Silverman noted that although the warrant preparation was excellent with much information available, the way the articles were presented was not as successful as it could have been because it was very difficult to anticipate the additional information necessary. Discussion included the seating of the Board of Selectmen, television coverage, scheduling the meeting the week after Thanksgiving, pursuing negotiations with Cape Cod 5 for the purchase or eminent domain taking of the Gutsy Bender property, pursuing negotiations with the Catholic Church for the possible subdivision/purchase of its Route 6 property and the charge from Special Town Meeting. On a motion by May, seconded by Donovan, the Board voted unanimously to instruct the Town Administrator to
negotiate whatever he deems necessary with Cape Cod 5 for the Gutsy Bender property. There was consensus that the Town Administrator contact a representative of the Catholic Church as soon as possible to indicate that the Town is looking for a site for a public safety facility and to determine if they would be interested in subdividing the Route 6 lot.
f) Representative to Regional EMS Designated Service Zone Planning Committee – on a motion by May, seconded by Wilson, the Board voted unanimously to designate Interim Fire Chief Dan Silverman as its representative.
g) Withdraw Wastewater DRI – on a motion by Wilson, seconded by Houk, the Board voted unanimously to withdraw the wastewater DRI from the Cape Cod Commission list.
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h) Town Administrator Appointment – the Town Administrator indicated his appointment of Lorial Russell as the Animal Control Officer and requested that the Board waive its fourteen day waiting period. On a motion by Wood, seconded by May, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Town Administrator’s appointment of Lorial Russell as Animal Control Officer and to waive the fourteen day waiting period.
i) Current Snow Plowing Procedures – it was noted that at times it appears that unnecessary snow plowing is being done. The Town Administrator explained what triggers snow plowing. It was noted that the Police Department determines if salting and/or plowing is required based on poor driving conditions and once the decision is made, Dispatch calls the Assistant DPW Director and resources are deployed according to the weather conditions.
Wood presented the correspondence report and the following were noted:
· Information from the Mass. Commission on Status of Women regarding the Unsung Heroines Initiative.
· Abigail Franklin’s letter of resignation from the Conservation Commission and Anne White’s letter of resignation from the 335 Main Street Committee.
· Evelyn Jackson and various citizens petition regarding Lot 382, Assessor Map 29 – the Town Administrator explained this matter noting that it is private property.
· Disclosure of appearance of conflict of interest – on a motion by Wilson, seconded by May, the Board voted 4-0-1, with Donovan abstaining, to allow Rebecca Rosenberg to serve on the Herring River Project Stakeholder Group because her interest will not substantially affect the integrity of the service which the municipality may expect from her, and that her disclosure be filed with the Town Clerk as required by MGL C 268A.
Open Session:
· Paul Messina addressed the Board regarding plowing of private roads and requested that the list of private roads to be plowed be expanded to include those that meet certain criteria. Donovan noted the response from the Attorney General’s office regarding the complaint that the Town has not as yet adopted the appropriate section of M.G.L. to allow the Town to plow private roads and financial concerns.
· Dan Silverman addressed the Board regarding last Friday’s storm commending the members of the Fire Department for their response, discussing sheltering and the need for a generator at the Senior Center and asked the Board to reconsider its decision on the use of a Town truck by the Assistant DPW Director. Discussion included referring constituents’ concerns to the Town Administrator/staff and the Police Chief’s decision not to open Wellfleet Elementary School as a shelter due to lack of need.
Future Meetings/Agendas – Donovan noted that the Board will meet to review Fire Chief resumes on December 20. Wilson suggested a joint meeting with the Housing Authority and Local Housing Partnership. The Board discussed the status of the Town Administrator’s evaluation; the Town Administrator indicated that he would prefer not to have a public discussion this year.
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On a motion by Wilson, seconded by May, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of November 17, 2005 with one amendment.
On a motion by Wilson, seconded by Donovan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of November 22, 2005 with one amendment from the floor.
On a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Smulligan
Administrative Assistant
Dale Donovan, Chair Michael May Ira Wood
Helen Miranda Wilson Jerry Houk
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