Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2010
Regular Session 7:05 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
Questions from the Public
Ms. Hood asked the Board of Selectmen to make an effort to reduce the number of lights in town buildings and street lights that are left on 24 hours per day.
Harbor Regulations and Mooring Fees
Ken Corson explained the mooring fee rate is still appropriate but he does recommend levying the fee on all boats, not just those 17 feet and greater. He also proposed that a revision to the Harbor By-law be included in the warrant for the 2010 Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Voted - to change the mooring fee to charge a mooring fee to cover all vessels 13 feet or larger
Instead of those 17 feet or largerVoted - to increase the mooring permit from $250 to $350 per season for moorings in the Worlds End area.
Harbormaster Budget
Mr. Corson explained that the Harbormaster’s budget has been significantly reduced during the last two budget cycles. Without additional funding the office will be unable to enforce all mooring permit regulations, the pump out boat is reimbursed at 75%; the cost to the town for this service is $3,366.
Susan Murphy said that it is clear that there are money issues related to enforcement. A lack of personnel will result in a fall of revenue. Mr. Kenny, a Marina owner in inner harbor, said the pump out service is a great service. Ms. Burns said she would like to take the request for a revised budget under consideration. The Board will return to the matter next week.
Cable Advisory TV
The Committee advised that the low service option is ready to start and is in place. The committee is waiting for staffing for government and it is ready to go. There is equipment to put something out. The equipment can be installed as soon as arrangements are made with the vendor and the Town Administrator’s office. The committee is also ready to wire all the other meeting rooms. The contract requires training in filming and editing after the contract has been in place for a year. This will require cameras, computers for editing and a part time staff person to do the training. The government channel will broadcast meetings. My Mass tv.org also has programming available – interviews with the governor, government, state and national programming. At the low service level the committee would like to have a professional field camera, which would cost around $3,000, for filming town events such as Lincoln Day and the 375th anniversary events. The committee could segue into the medium service option by renting space in other communities’ studios.
Mr. August said it is legally doable to amend the license with a newspaper notice, public comment period and an amendment that must be agreed to by both the Selectmen and the cable company. Whether to do and how to do it is a policy question. Most towns go with the access corporation. Cable is not a government function so the creation of an access corporation is a way of privatizing it. Mr. August said that a lot of towns delegate the government channel to the public access corporation while retaining control over content. There are over a hundred non-profits operating cable channels. Mr. August suggested the rates could be phased in over the life of the contract. He also reviewed the benefits of the public access corporation and the ways to have some programming guidelines for public access programming.
Mr. August agreed to send an article for warrant to allow for discussion of options at town meeting.
Ms. Peavey said that in December more hours were authorized for Kate Richardsson to work on the government channel. The day to day work of getting programs on air would be her role. The studio in a box is part of the government channel. Jon Asher said that originally the Advisory Committee said the studio in a box and the wiring of town hall was ok if it was for the government channel.
Selectmen/Town Administrator Reports
Mr. Paicos advised the Board that a recommendation had been received from TetraTech Rizzo but the Town cannot move on closing the landfill before It is determined if there is contaminated soil that would need to be transported to the landfill on Hobart Street prior to closing. The TetraTech contract for environmental services for the property in back of the former DPW will be $18,000. There will also need to be money for a water main to get water to those residences that are currently on well water. He said the Town will work with DEP to move this to closure quickly. Mr. Riley said it is important to decide what the Town wants to use that property for. Once the type and amount of contamination is determined, then discussions of the future use can go forward. Mr. Paicos noted that there is a grant program on brownfields mediation and he hopes to apply to the fund to get a grant. Mr. Paicos reported that the School Committee voted to transfer $10,000 to the salary account for the benefits coordinator. This money came from the unanticipated early retirement of a teacher. He also extended thanks to all those employees who turned out for the transportation unit last Monday morning.
Mr. Riley reported on a request regarding the proposed veterans’ home on Fort Hill St. There will be a meeting with Veterans Council, the Veterans Agent and the representatives of Fr. Bills. There is a group home permit in place on the property. The proponents need to show the State that there is Town approval and support. Fr. Bills/Mainspring is asking the Community Preservation Committee for one third funding to make this work properly. He said this proposal will come to a future Board meeting. Ms. Burns reported that the Affordable Housing Trust would close on the Beal Street parcel tomorrow. This will be the first purchase by the Trust for affordable housing. According to the by-law, this has to have the review of the Town Accountant. An architect did a pro bono design that would improve the streetscape on Beal Street. Mr. Riley noted that up to this point the Town has never created an affordable housing unit.
Voted - to approve the following transfers from the Reserve Fund:
To the Harbormaster – Wages Account in the amount of $18,812
To the Harbormaster - R&M Vehicle Account in the amount of $1,600
To the Assessors – R&M Vehicle Account in the amount of $327.35Voted - to amend the Elections budget as follows:
Payroll - $17,350
Expenses - $15,855
Voted - to amend the Building Department budget as follows:
Payroll - $175,988
Expenses $ 3,810
Voted - to appoint the following to the July 4th Parade Committee:
Carrie Murphy, 29 Cushing Ave.
John Reader, 64 Downer Ave.
Laura Fisher, 3 Huckleberry Hill Lane
Cassandra McDermott, 198 Hersey Street
Gary Nisbet, 223 South Street
Meeting adjourned 10:15 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk