Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
May 25, 2010
Regular Session 7:05 pm
Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns
Selectmen/Town Administrator’s Reports
Mr. Paicos reported that the staff is currently checking on a marker that suddenly appeared at the Beal Street Playing Fields and the matter will be resolved. He also met with Harry Wey today about the insurance bid. Sue Nickerson has been a great resource in pulling all the necessary information together for the committee. The committee is willing to meet with the Board next week if the RFP is up for review before being issued. Mr. Paicos advised the Board that he met with the Insurance advisory Committee today to discuss possible changes in the health insurance plans.
Ms. Burns received a call from the chair of the Open Space Acquisition Committee who said the committee was more or less moribund. She asked if there was a better way of doing the work of the Open Space Committee. The Committee may come to visit the Board on this matter. Before there was an Open Space Committee the Conservation Commission had this duty. The focus of the Community Preservation Committee is somewhat different since it does not seek out projects, it responds to proposals. Ms. Burns noted that it is a good idea to have someone other than the committee making the funding decision seeking out possible acquisitions. The Board has been interested in creating tywo Deputy Town Administrator positions but any new job description must be reviewed by the Personnel Board. Currently the Assistant Town Administrator is covered by the Personnel By-law and the Finance Director is under contract for personal services. It is unclear if in this case one person be could be on a personal services contract and one not. Mr. Rabuffo reported that at 11:00 a.m. on Monday there would be a Memorial Day event at the High School and another at 2:00 p.m. at Linden Ponds. National Grid letter has been sent from Town Counsel and, to date, we have not had a response. The Chief Financial Officer’s contract will be discussed in executive session at the end of this meeting.
The Board considered request for Reserve Fund Transfers.
Voted - to approve the following Reserve Fund Transfers:
Unemployment Claims in the amount of $12,700
Accounting Auditing Services in the amount of $5,691
Conservation Commission in the amount of $12,560
Assessors-Revaluation Services in the amount of $15,000
DPW-Equipment/Leasing in the amount of $307,684
Bathing Beach R & M Grounds in the amount of $500
Voted - to approve the following Intra Department Transfers:
Community Planning-ZBA/Planning Clerical services in the amount of $7,000
Bathing Beach R&M Grounds from salaries to R & M Grounds in the amount of $2,600
Extension of the Shipyard Tax Increment Financing Agreement
Hal Davis, representing the Shipyard owners, said that since 2004 he has been working on attracting new tenants to the Shipyard. Last December the Board approved seven new tenants for participation in the project. The State felt that since the minimum term for any agreement of this type is five years which would require the extension of the existing agreement for an additional year. Mr. Paicos noted that an email has been received from the state indicating that a statement must be included attesting that no side deals exist in which the Town recoups any portion of the statutorily required personal and real property tax exemptions. Mr. Davis said that many communities have done this with the money going to a trust fund for economic development.
Beal Street Crosswalks
Harry Sylvester informed the Board that Traffic calming measures other than the speed bumps on Beal Street may be effective. The Shipyard had agreed to install a traffic light on Beal Street at the intersection of Sgt. Terry Drive. It is the developer’s plan to install the traffic light within the next three to four months. Removal of the speed bumps will cost about $2,500. Since last week the DPW has done some investigation on speed humps. Some material was gathered and Mr. Sylvester presented this to the Board.
The document given the Board differentiates between speed humps (20 mph) and speed bumps (5 mph). Ms. Burns said that although she was not at the meeting she got the impression that both Mr. Rabuffo and Mr. Riley were of the opinion that the speed humps should go. Mr. Riley suggested that if the humps go and the light is installed then it should be looked at it again when the top coat is to be
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installed. Mr. Sylvester said he would like to reserve comment until everyone had an opportunity to read the material and respond. Mr. Riley suggested that he had worked on a project in Foxboro with raised crosswalks that are not as high as those currently in place.
Mr. Riley asked that the Traffic Engineer come back to the Board prior to the removal of the speed humps. Mr. Sylvester will return by July 1 to report to the Board. Ms. Burns suggested another possibility of a three way stop at North, West and Beal Streets.
Increase Citizen Involvement and Participation in Town Meeting
Mr. Rabuffo explained that the League of Women Voters had been investigating ways to increase citizen involvement and participation in Town Meeting. Kate Boland, Eva Marx, Julie Strehle and Connie Colman presented the League’s findings. Of the twelve communities surveyed, eleven begin the annual meeting on a Monday evening , Cohasset on Saturday. Most communities average two to three sessions and have only one Annual Meeting with a rare special. Only half of the communities surveyed have a quorum requirement.
The lead up to town meeting varies by community. In Concord the warrant closes and is on the website within 10 days. Mr. Riley said it appears that in some cases the Advisory Committee does not review the articles heard by the Planning Board or the Selectmen. Ms. Boland said that in some other towns the Finance Committees do not make recommendations on non-financial articles. Mr. Riley said that if Hingham wants to go in the direction of Concord’s way of doing business is that would mean revising the role of various committees in the process. Ms. Burns said that this would be the government study committee’s role. Advisory Committee, according to the by-law, is to review all articles.
Ms. Boland said that in September the Concord Board of Selectmen and Advisory Committee will post schedules of the public hearings on budgets and warrant articles. It was noted that the Town Forum which was held in December was originally intended to talk about what was coming up at town meeting. Ms. Burns said that the process is totally under the control of the Board of Selectmen as far as the warrant articles. As it stands now, the warrant articles must be in writing but often they are merely placeholders. She suggested the one step would be to close the warrant more firmly.
Mr. Rabuffo recommended for this to be on the Advisory Committee agenda and that both the Selectmen and Advisory start to lay out dates associated with the plan. Ms. Burns noted that if the amount of time someone is allowed is addressed the meeting is in the by-law so any change would require an article. The Board asked everyone to plan to return before July 1 to make recommendations.
Unfunded Mandates Letter
Mr. Rabuffo said the final item on the agenda is a letter on unfunded mandates. The issues include special education - other ways to deal with this issue, public safety - what changes will be coming to Police and Fire, Library – what it the future of the library. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has a document on unfunded mandates imposed on towns by the state. The proposed letter will be going to Representative Bradley and Senator Hedlund. Ms. Burns suggested that there be some revisions made to the letter as presently written. Quarterly budget reviews indicate that we will come in on target for Town budget. Next year as a result of the Town Meeting budget vote the School Department the school will face reductions. There are positions that we had this year that will not be around next year. By doing it this way unemployment is avoided. There were not layoffs but there are positions unfilled due to attrition.
Voted - to approve a letter on unfunded mandates subject to stylistic edits.
Voted - to dismiss with thanks the Naming Policy Development Committee
Mr. Rabuffo noted that a series of issues have arisen n the last few days that require an executive session for contract negotiations, for real estate and for pending litigation. The Board voted, by roll call vote, to adjourn to executive session for purpose of contract negotiations, real estate discussion and pending litigation.
Mr. Riley – yes, Ms. Burns – yes, Mr. Rabuffo – yes.
Open session adjourned 9:05 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk