BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 13, 2005
MINUTES OF MEETING SELECTMEN’S OFFICE 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00 PM with the following members present: Martin O’Brien, Chairman; Susan J. Bolster, Selectwoman; Brian J. Perrin, Selectmen and Virginia L. Wilder Executive Secretary/CAO.
Tree Committee
Members of the Tree Committee came before the Board to provide an update of the recent works of this committee. David Hickey, DPW Director told the Board that several trees have been planted using private donations.
Selectmen Perrin suggested a possible sponsorship program to allow people to sponsor a tree and then add a memorial plaque to be placed on said tree.
Tree Committee Chairman Richard Di Mento proposed the creation of a Tree Bylaw for the Town of Winthrop to provide rules and regulations relative to Town trees.
Mr. Di Mento suggested to viewers that people call the DPW if they want to donate a tree.
David Hickey said that the Town has approximately 2800 public trees to take care of and approximately 20 to 30 trees are lost annually. Also reported was that the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has provided a grant in the amount of $8000 for a tree nursery of about 60 trees. This will allow the Town to purchase young trees and harvest approximately 12 trees annually to be pulled out of the nursery and replanted in Town where needed.
Selectmen Perrin asked how successful the Town has been in getting replacement trees due to car accidents. DPW Director David Hickey replied “very successful”.
Emile Di Mento stated she would like to see the Board put together a formal “Tree Policy” in place so that the new government is aware that trees are a priority in Winthrop.
Chairman O’Brien thanked the Tree Committee for coming and wished them well on their future endeavors.
Logan Center Taxiway Committee
Arthur Flavin, Sr., and Harvey Maibor, were present to deliver a detailed and informative presentation to the Board relative to issues with the existing taxiway and the future Centerfield Taxiway at Logan Airport. Missing from the meeting was Committee member Edward Patton.
As this presentation was quite complex the accompanying report has been attached to these minutes to best represent information discussed.
Skateboard Committee
Parks & Recreation Director Sean Driscoll as well as Rotarian Ronald Vecchia were present to update the Board on the proposed Skateboard Park. The gentlemen informed the Board that they have reached 75% of their goal of $10,000 that will be matched by the Rotary Club as promised.
Sean Driscoll suggested dividing the Ingleside Park street hockey area to allow for the hockey as well as the skate park. The Skateboard Committee was looking for approval from the Board of Selectmen on this location to move the project forward.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to designate half of the Street Hockey area of Ingleside Park as proposed for the Skate Park.
General Business
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to allow the following police officers to carryover vacation time into the following year:
Det. Judy Racow 4 days
Sgt. Sal Femino 7 days
Det. Robert McFarland 5 days
Off. Nancy Dalrymple 4 days
Off. Ferruccio Romeo 3 days
Off. Shawn McCarthy 5 days
Lt. Brian Perrin 15 days
Off. Mary Crisafi 9 days
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to approve the request from Peter Gobiel to allow for the July 4th Horribles Parade in Point Shirley.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to approve a Taxi License for Barry Steg of Pond Street, Winthrop.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to approve a permit for Winthrop Arms to place a temporary storage container adjacent to their property on Cliff Avenue while they remodel the kitchen. This was approved with a stipulation that handicapped parking on Cliff Avenue not be disturbed.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to approve the recent amendment to the Comcast Cable Contract that eliminates the Winthrop Customer Service Center office and moves this function to the new Saratoga Street facility in East Boston.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to appoint Darrin Baird as the Selectmen’s designee on the Storage Container Committee.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to appoint Peter Boyle to the Storage Container Committee as the Planning Board’s designee.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to approve the Fire Department’s request to transfer funds in the amount of $15, 000 to cover overtime costs associated with overtime over the last six months.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to waive the Administrative Fee for the Town of Winthrop to go before the Appeals Board relative to the Water Tower Cingular Project.
VOTED: on a motion by Selectwoman Bolster, 2nd by Selectmen Brian J. Perrin and made unanimous by Chairman Martin W. O'Brien to retain Attorney Deidre Donohue to assist the Town in reviewing the issues relative to zoning of Viking Oil.
Community Speaker
Attorney Robert Indresano came before the Board asking permission to speak relative to the new health insurance coverage for retired Town Employees. Mr. Indresano was briefed on the health insurance situation and left with his questions answered.
Chairman O’Brien closed the meeting by commenting that he has interest in looking into the possibility of becoming a “hands free” community. He commented that other cities and towns in the Commonwealth have decided not to allow drivers to use hand held cell phones while driving. He said he will look into it further at a later date.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Vitale
Administrative Secretary
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Martin W. O’Brien
Chairman
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