BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 14, 2005
MINUTES OF MEETING SELECTMEN’S OFFICE 6:30 PM
The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 PM with the following members present: Richard Di Mento, Chairman; Martin O’ Brien, Selectman; Susan J. Bolster, Selectwoman and Virginia L. Wilder Executive Secretary/CAO.
Executive Session
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing issues relative to contract negotiations relative to potential cell tower project.
ROLL CALL: Chairman Di Mento - Yes
Selectman O’Brien - Yes
Selectwoman Bolster- Yes
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to go back into open session at approximately 7:00 PM.
School Bond Issue
Treasurer/Collector Nick Basso was present the sale of School Bonds.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the sale of the $5,000,000 School Bonds of the Town dated March 15, 2005 to Crews & Associates, Inc. at the price of $5,045,474.80 and accrued interest is hereby confirmed. The bonds shall be payable on March 15, of the years and in the principal amounts and bear interest at the respective rates as follows, subject to earlier redemption at the option of the Town as provided in the Preliminary Official Statement dated February 28, 2005. Please see attached official document.
Middle School Citations
A group made up of students, teachers and parents were on hand to watch the Board of Selectmen award citations to the middle school students involved in winning the Malden Catholic Quiz Bowl First Place Championship.
Continuation of the Kasbah Entertainment Hearing
Nasser Belghiti along with his attorney Ed Patten were present to discuss the pending application for an entertainment license that would provide for a bellydancer at his restaurant the Kasbah located at 59 Putnam Street.
Selectmen O’Brien reiterated his concerns regarding the license as it currently appears on the application. Selectmen O’Brien said he would be more inclined to vote yes if the application was amended to the following regulations:
q Performance would cease at 11 PM.
q Performance would be in the “main dining area” only.
q Performance would be contained to a stage area rather than among the tables.
Selectwoman Bolster stated that she would be inclined to vote yes if Selectmen O’Brien’s above stated conditions were adhered to.
Chairman Di Mento stated he is not in favor of granting this entertainment license regardless of the above conditions.
Mr. Belghiti explained that having the performance on a stage is not culturally accurate and would not be in line with his vision for the restaurant’s ambience.
A North End attorney and patron, Ms. Salcito spoke on behalf of the restaurant and how much she enjoyed the entertainment.
Local resident and abutting business owner Kathy DeMarco spoke on behalf of the Kasbah and stated she was in favor of the Kasbah being granted an entertainment license for bellydancing as it was in her opinion and art form and positive cultural experience for restaurant patrons.
Attorney Patten submitted a list of 104 supporters of the Kasbah’s license application.
Selectmen O’Brien held fast to his convictions stating he could not support the application as it currently stands and asked Mr. Belghiti to amend the application as was suggested earlier.
Mr. Belghiti refused to amend the application.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to therefore deny the entertainment application for bellydancing at the Kasbah Restaurant.
New Water Rates
As recommended by Town Accountant Mike Bertino, due to the increase of 19% in the Town’s MWRA assessment, it is necessary to increase water and sewer rates. Mr. Bertino proposed the Board vote the following increases in water and sewer rates to be applied in the next billing cycle.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to increase the new water rate to $3.05 per 100 cubic feet. This constitutes a 14.3% increase over the current rate of 2.67.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to increase the new sewer rate to %5.37 per 100 cubic feet or a 3.6% increase over the current rate of $5.18.
Minutes
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the minutes of the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting held on February 10, 2005.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the minutes of the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting held on February 24, 2005.
Old Business
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve Karla Murphy to the Dalrymple School Re-Use Committee.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the Final Warrant for Town Meeting to be held on May 26, 2005.
New Business
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to appoint Peter Boyle of Pleasant Street to serve on the Tree Committee.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to engage the firm of Eagle Graphics print the Town Report. As required by Massachusetts General Law, three companies were invited to bid. At the end of the bid period two companies participated. Eagle Graphics at $4.26 per page and Athol Press at $9.85 per page.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the Taxi License application submitted by Joanne Cleary of Pleasant Street.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the Taxi License application submitted by Americo Giangregorio of Birch Road.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the transfer of $9,200 to the Police Training Line Item as requested by Chief Goldstein.
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Vitale
Administrative Secretary
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Richard F. Di Mento
Chairman
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