Town of Harwich Massachusetts - Minutes

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2008

SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins

SELECTMEN ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Town Administrator James Merriam, Asst. Town Administrator Nan Balmer, Chief Flynn, Lt. Culver, Susan Leven, Jack Brown, Larry Ballantine, Bill Baldwin, John Mahan, Joe McParland, Bill Doherty, Gerry Loftus, Don Dickinson, and others.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.

Chairman Wilkins reported that the Board had just come out of Executive Session where they approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Chairman Wilkins requested that Ms. Leven address a recent letter in a local paper regarding Stonewood Products. Ms. Leven briefly explained that the letter was not so much about Stonewood Products but rather it was really about the difference in the Town’s approach to traffic issues in two separate parts of Town.

PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. McManus commented that the Town’s annual No Place for Hate event on Martin Luther King Day was well attended and Chairman Wilkins noted that the participation by the Harwich High School students was extraordinary.

1. December 10, 2007 Executive Session

2. January 7, 2008 Regular Session

3. January 14, 2008 Executive Session

B. Accept resignation from Capital Outlay Committee

C. Appoint (3) additional Election Officers for current year

D. Approve recommendation of Conservation Commission to appoint representative to Trail Committee.

Mr. McManus moved approval of the Consent Agenda and the recommended actions thereon. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Marsland requested to pull item A1 and Mr. McManus amended his motion as such and Mr. Cole agreed to second the amendment. With regard to Item B, Mr. Cole noted that he would speak to Mr. Atkinson regarding the contents of the letter. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Mr. McManus moved approval of the December 10, 2007 Executive Session minutes. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a 4-0-1 vote with Mr. Marsland abstaining from the vote.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/PRESENTATIONS (7:15 P.M.)

A. Community Preservation Committee Recommendations

Mr. Brown outlined the CPC project funding requests and recommendations of the Committee. He took questions and comments from the Board.

At Chairman Wilkins’ request, Mr. Doherty updated the Board on the RTA and the Flex Bus. He explained that there was a vote taken at the last RTA meeting to set forth a series of public hearings with the first one scheduled for January 24, 2008 at Eastham Town Hall at 4:30 p.m. and a press release has been issued as such. Mr. Doherty read the public hearing dates and encouraged the public to make their voices heard. He stated that if they receive the supplemental funding they will address reorganization of all bus routes in the County and he noted that he had recommended doubling the fares. Mr. Doherty stated that after the public hearings he will have more to report.

Chairman Wilkins asked Mr. Doherty what action steps the RTA will take in order to mitigate the potential financial consequences to Harwich if the supplemental funding doesn’t pass and the RTA is not funded. Mr. Doherty responded that he believes the discussion has been to identify what the debt is and then come up with a debt service program which spreads the payment of that debt over a period of time. He pointed out that the money for the RTA is a deduction from the Cherry Sheet and as such it would be deducted before it came down but until they get an outcome on supplemental funding an exact debt figure cannot be determined. He reiterated the need to revisit the organization of all the system’s services so that routes are continued in the most efficient way.

A. Vote Habitat for Humanity – Gomes Way Project Ground Lease Agreement

Don Dickinson of Habitat for Humanity briefly described the history of the project and presented a copy of the site plan with a brief overview. Mr. Dickinson answered questions from an abutter and Ms. Leven pointed out that as part of the Comprehensive Review Process, the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing. She added that the public is welcome to all meetings of the various boards that will be addressing this project in preparation for the public hearing and she urged interested parties to watch for these meetings on the Town’s website. Ms. Leven also stated that if the abutters would like to appoint a contact person she would be happy to notify them of these meetings. Mr. McManus moved to approve and sign the Ground Lease Agreement between the Town of Harwich and Habitat for Humanity for the lease of the property known as the Gomes Way project. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

A. Vote Brooks Academy/Historical Commission Lease Agreement

Mr. McManus moved approval of the agreement. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. After discussion Mr. McManus agreed to amend his motion to make the agreement effective tonight. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

B. Vote Trade in on 2001 Ambulance

Mr. McManus moved to reconsider their vote regarding the purchase of a new ambulance. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a 4-0-1 vote with Mr. Piekarski abstaining from the vote.

Mr. Cole moved to proceed with the purchase of the $192,000 ambulance as recommended by the Town Administrator and Fire Chief without trading in this 2001 vehicle. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. The motion carried by a 4-1-0 vote with Mr. Piekarski in opposition.

Mr. McManus moved to transfer the current Rescue 73 vehicle, contingent on the new one arriving, to the Emergency Management Department and that at that time the two existing Dodge ambulances be decommissioned and taken off the road and disposed of. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Merriam suggested that the motion be amended to declare those two vehicles surplus. Mr. McManus agreed to amend his motion as such and Mr. Cole agreed to second the amendment. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

NEW BUSINESS (Continued)

B. Review Warrant Articles for Annual Town Meeting

Mr. Merriam noted that he will work to re-order the articles. Chairman Wilkins asked that department heads and committees be notified when the Board is going to discuss their articles. The Board agreed that a “Town Administrator’s Recommendation” column should be added. Mr. Piekarski recommended dedicating one night for withdrawing articles and one night for voting support or non-support of articles. Mr. McManus inquired as to the deadline for signing the warrant and publication and Chairman Wilkins requested that they receive a calendar timeline for the warrant which should be copied to the Finance Committee as well.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Merriam delivered the following report:

Attached is a spreadsheet of the 20 article warrant, including the petitioner, the requested amount and funding source. The Finance Committee met on January 17^th and voted all but three articles. Their votes are provided in the FinCom column. They voted to indefinitely postpone Article 18, so as to redraw the parcel lines and retain upland to be added to the Harbormaster parcel for future use rather than transfer the upland to the Conservation Fund. They also indefinitely postponed the Article 19 Housing Needs analysis for more information since this article re-appears on the ATM warrant with funding from the CPC. Also attached is a spreadsheet by Dolly Parkhurst at the Finance Committee’s request regarding the savings and cost impacts of adopting section 18.

The Capital Outlay Committee met and discussed potential space and money saving ideas. Building Committee Chairman Ray Jefferson advised me that they continue to refine the design and costs, which are at $9.8 M. They are working on the cost and feasibility of septic pumping to the Middle School vs. on site system. (see Joe Borgesi’s memo dated January 18^th.) Chief Mason coordinated a tour of the Dennis new Police Station for our Selectmen, Finance and Capital Budget Committees for May 17^th. Selectmen Cole and Marsland, Finance Committee Bob Tombs and Skip Patterson, Building Committee Chairman Ray Jefferson, Chief Mason and I attended.

After receiving the Cape Light Compact analysis and recommendations, we sought a quote for HVAC design from Allied, but was not happy with their price, so we’re seeking additional quotes.

Bank St. Beach complaints

I met with residents who live in close proximity of the beach who are inquiring whether the Town sets beach hours for closing so that disturbances, particularly after the 1 pm bar closings could be imposed. I’m meeting with Police and Rec officials to further discuss the complaints and potential resolutions.

SELECTMEN’S REPORT

Mr. Cole reported on the recent meeting of the Police Station Building Committee, Finance Committee and Capital Outlay Committee. The Board agreed to address the Police Station article at their meeting on February 4, 2008. The Board also agreed to meet on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 on the week of Special Town Meeting. The Board further discussed whether to meet the week following Special Town Meeting but no action was taken. Ms. Balmer took questions on her report.

Mr. McManus moved to adjourn at 9:28 p.m. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Respectfully submitted,