MINUTES
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2006
7:00 P.M.
SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins
SELECTMEN ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Acting Town Administrator Stephen Lombard, Chief Mason, Jeff Carter, Len Stewart, Tom Groux, and others.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:25 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.
Chairman Wilkins explained that the Board just came out of Executive Session for the purpose of collective bargaining.
PUBLIC COMMENT/WEEKLY BRIEFING
Len Stewart of the Cape & Island Regional Domestic Violence Council asked the Board to issue a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Prevention Month. Chairman Wilkins agreed to schedule this item for next week’s agenda.
PUBLIC HEARINGS (7:30 P.M.)
A. For the purpose of discussing proposed Recreation and Youth Commission Beach fee increases for 2007.
Mr. Marsland read the hearing notice into record. Jeff Carter, Recreation & Youth Director, distributed a comparative analysis of beach fees for 2006. He pointed out that we currently have the lowest fees and proposed the following fee schedule changes:
Resident sticker increase from $10 to $20
Daily ticket increase from $10 to $15
Weekly ticket increase from $40 to $55
Eliminate two week fee
Institute seasonal pass at $125
Mr. Carter answered questions from the Board. Mr. Lombard recommended that the Board support the fees which he noted are in line with surrounding towns. An unidentified member of the public encouraged enforcement by ticketing and commented that she is against the practice of people being allowed to drop off passengers in the beach parking lot without having to pay a fee. Mr. Lombard responded that we can only charge a fee for those who are parking and Chairman Wilkins recommended that she take her concerns to the Recreation & Youth Commission. Mr. Marsland moved that the Board approve the 2007 Beach Sticker Rates as outlined in the September 5, 2006 memo to Mr. Lombard from the Harwich Recreation Department and that would be Daily Stickers $15, Resident Stickers $20, Resident Second Stickers
$20, Non-Resident One Week $55, Non-Resident Season $125 with the duplicate stickers being $1 and with the Non-Resident Two Week Sticker being eliminated. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. Mr. Piekarski remarked that he doesn’t see what we have given to warrant this increase and when we have a beach management plan in place we can look at the fees. Mr. Lombard reminded the Board that we are doing extensive work at Earle Road Beach. Mr. McManus commented that we are increasing services and this fee increase is warranted. The motion carried by a 4-1-0 vote with Mr. Piekarski opposing the motion.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Family Pantry to thank the Board of Selectmen for their support
Mary Anderson, Executive Director, presented the Board a plaque honoring the Town and the Board for their continuing support of The Family Pantry.
B. Parking issue on Depot Street, North Harwich
Mr. Lombard explained that he supports the Chief’s recommendation on this matter that “No Parking or Standing $25.00 Fine” signs be authorized by the Board of Selectmen on Depot Street in North Harwich. Mr. Piekarski moved the recommendation and Mr. McManus seconded the motion. Chief Mason explained that large commercial semi trucks and other vehicles waiting to make deliveries are parking in a manner that obstructs business traffic into the Georgetown Cranberry building and are damaging the landscaping in front of that location. He stated that attempts have been made to gain voluntary compliance from the vehicle operators with temporary or minimal success. He added that the property owner of Georgetown Cranberry and the Highway Department have requested “No Parking”
restrictions in the area to prevent trucks and other vehicles from blocking egress as well as to prevent further damage to the landscaping and storm drains. Mr. Cole asked if the spilling over of employee parking is from Stonewood onto Georgetown Cranberry and Chief Mason clarified that it is not the employees but rather the trucks delivering materials to Stonewood. Mr. Cole stated that the letter from Officer Cheverie indicates that the main issue at hand is the employee parking just off the road on the east side of Depot Street directly across from Stonewood and that the other issue is the large volume of delivery and pick up trucks. Mr. Cole stated that it is his understanding from our zoning by-laws that a business is supposed to have an adequate number of parking spaces for employees and customers. He asked Chief Mason if Stonewood has adequate employee parking or if it is just more convenient for employees to park across the street. Chief Mason
stated that it is his understanding the delivery trucks and pick up trucks found it easier to park out on Depot Street rather than to maneuver Stonewood’s parking lot or there may be other trucks in the lot waiting to make deliveries or pick ups. Mr. Piekarksi stated that there must be site plans for these areas approved by the Town that need to be enforced by the proper agencies in Town. Mr. Cole stated that they may have encroached on employee parking. Chief Mason suggested that this go before the Planning Department to readdress the expanded business of Stonewood and to reassess how their operation is set to alleviate the parking problem. Mr. Cole stated that it should go before the Planning Board for their review. Mr. Lombard said he didn’t know the Planning Board’s authority in this situation but agreed to bring it before them. The motion carried unanimously.
C. October 8, 2006 event at Brooks Academy Museum sponsored by the Harwich Historical Society
Mr. Lombard described the request to block off the one-way portion of Parallel Street to traffic on Sunday, October 8, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a fundraising event. He added that the Historical Society has been in contact with the Police Department regarding this request. Mr. Piekarski moved to grant the request. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and it was so voted.
D. Ambulance Billing Abatements
Mr. Lombard outlined the request to abate 7 ambulance bills totaling $4,140.33. Mr. Piekarski moved to grant the abatements. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and it was so voted.
E. Pledge of Liquor License Policy – Second Reading
Mr. Piekarski moved to accept the second reading and bring back for a third reading. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and noted minor changes to the policy. Mr. Piekarski amended his motion to include the changes and it was so voted.
F. Acceptance of Gifts Policy – Third Reading
Mr. McManus moved to approve the Board policy on Acceptance of Gifts for its third and final reading. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. Mr. Marsland and Mr. Cole made minor editorial changes which were noted by Mr. Lombard. Mr. McManus agreed to amend his motion to include the changes and it was so voted.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Resignation of Sara Chase from Recycling Committee
B. Caleb Chase Fund Request
C. Minutes –
1. September 5, 2006 – Regular Meeting
2. September 11, 2006 – Regular Meeting
3. September 18, 2006 – Executive Session
Mr. Cole requested to remove Item B from the Consent Agenda and the Board agreed to address each item separately.
Mr. McManus moved approval of Item A. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and it was so voted.
With regard to Item B, Mr. Cole pointed out the excessively high usage on the utility bill for the month of April and Mr. McManus noted that the meter had not been read for 14 months. Mr. Piekarski remarked that the usage is still unusually high. Mr. Cole stated that he would like more information and he moved to postpone this item until next week. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Cole moved to approve the minutes of September 5, 2006. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and it was so voted.
With regard to the minutes of September 11, 2006, Mr. Marsland pointed out that two of the votes regarding joint dispatch should have been 5-0-0 rather than 3-2-0. He also noted that he had commented on the suggestion of setting up dispatch with other towns that this would be regionalization. At Chairman Wilkins’ request, Mr. Marsland agreed to submit text to that affect and the minutes would be brought back to the Board. Mr. Cole pointed out that the word “were” on the top of page 7 should be “we.”
With regard to the Executive Session minutes of September 18, 2006, Mr. Cole submitted changes and Chairman Wilkins agreed to bring the minutes back.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT
A. Discussion on the candidates for Town Administrator
Tom Groux distributed to the Board summary reference review and background information on the candidates for the Town Administrator position. He reported that there was no adverse information on any of the candidates. Mr. Groux stated that all references were positive and that the three candidates all have experience in municipal government and financing and have had good working relationships with their department heads. Mr. Groux stated that he would recommend any one of them and he took questions from the Board.
Chairman Wilkins inquired as to Mr. Owens’ status and Mr. Groux responded that he expects to receive an offer from a community in New Hampshire. Mr. Cole stressed the need for the finalists to spend time with our department heads and community leaders. He commented that he would like all three to be finalists. There was a consensus of the Board that the finalists should meet with department heads and that the Board should hold second interviews. Mr. Marsland stressed that he would like all finalists to be present for the second interview and Mr. Piekarski concurred. Chairman Wilkins reported that Mr. Embury would be available at the end of October which he noted is not out of line with their timetable. He added that Mr. Embury may be available to start on December 1. Chairman
Wilkins indicated that he would like to have Mr. Embury and Mr. Merriam as finalists but is reluctant to hold up Mr. Owens who has a possible position and would prefer not to ask him to wait until the end of October. Mr. McManus and Mr. Piekarski concurred with Chairman Wilkins. Mr. Cole reiterated that he would like to have all three as finalists and Mr. Marsland agreed stating that if they are going to wait for Mr. Embury he doesn’t see reason to drop Mr. Owen as a finalist. Mr. Cole moved to continue to regard all three as finalists and notify them of such as well as our intent to have them back at a time certain. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. Mr. Piekarski and Chairman Wilkins opposed the motion. The motion carried by a 3-2-0 vote.
Mr. Piekarski requested that CORI reports be conducted on all three candidates prior to their final decision and Mr. Groux agreed to handle this. Mr. Groux emphasized to the Board the importance of coming to a unanimous decision on the final candidate as it is always better for the new person to start with a unanimous Board behind him.
B. Budget Message
Mr. McManus expressed concern over item #2 of the Budget Message, “No new positions or increase in hours of part-time personnel will be allowed.” Mr. Lombard discussed the rationale behind this statement and Mr. Cole stressed that the language is clear and it is not the message he wants to convey. After extensive discussion, the Board reached a consensus that the language should indicate that there would be no net gain in positions and hours and that they will remain at FY07 levels. Chairman Wilkins agreed to discuss with Mr. Lombard and bring back amended language at the next meeting.
Mr. Piekarski recommended that they invite in the School Committee, Superintendent of Schools, Capital Outlay Committee and Finance Committee to have a general discussion of the future financial needs of the Town. The Board agreed to hold the session in two weeks.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Wilkins adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Steidel
Recording Secretary
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