Town of Harwich Massachusetts - Minutes

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008

SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus

SELECTMEN ABSENT: Piekarski, Wilkins

OTHERS PRESENT: Town Administrator James Merriam, Asst. Town Administrator Nan Balmer, David Ryan, Chief Flynn, Chief Mason, Susan Leven, Ginny Hewitt, Carolyn Cragin, Gary Costin, Mark Russell, Polly Hemstock, Jack Brown, Bob Tombs, Ray Jefferson, John Mahan, Susan Rohrback, Geoffrey Wiegman, and others.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-Chairman Marsland.

Ms. Leven reported on last week’s public meeting at Town Hall to discuss the motorized vehicle issue. Chief Flynn and Chief Mason reported on the coordination of public safety efforts to carry out recent rescues. Mr. Jefferson noted that the bid opening for general contractors for the proposed public safety facility is on April 24^th. Mr. Mahan thanked the Harwich Mariners for the gift to assist with the light replacements at Whitehouse Field.

PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ms. Rohrback, District Aide to Senator O’Leary, provided information on pending legislation including a bill on homeowners insurance. She also noted that the dental program at the elementary school was stopped due to a problem the Department of Health had with the sealants being used on the students.

A. Approve minutes – Executive Session - April 14, 2008

B. Approve 2008 renewals - Junk Dealer Licenses

C. Approve renewal of Annual Common Victualler License for Dave’s Ribs

D. Caleb Chase Requests:

Mr. McManus requested to remove Item D1 from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Cole moved to approve Consent Agenda Items A, B, C and D2 and take the appropriate actions thereto. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. Mr. Cole questioned whether the signature on the application from Dave’s Ribs was that of the president. Mr. Merriam agreed to check on it. Mr. Cole withdrew his motion and moved to approve Consent Agenda Items A, B and D2 and take the appropriate actions thereto. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

With regard to Item D1, Mr. McManus moved to suspend the limitations of the policy and vote to make a grant of aid in this particular case of $700. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. The motion carried on a dateMonth2Day1Year20002-1-0 vote with Mr. Marsland in opposition.

A. Warrant/Article Review: (7:15 P.M.)

1. School Department Articles #21 and #22

Mr. Costin explained that the School Committee voted to reduce its FY 09 request for maintenance from $87,150 to $57,150 as the $30,000 balance in FY 08 was expended on carpeting. Mr. Merriam noted that $50,000 from Article 23 is still available. The Board left it up to the School Committee to allocate the funds from Article 23 between Articles 21 and 22. The School Committee agreed to take it up at their next meeting on April 29^th and the Board agreed to vote on the articles at pre-Town Meeting when they have the recommendation of the School Committee.

2. Community Preservation Committee Articles

Mr. Marsland noted his preference to hold off on this item until next week as Mr. Merriam is going to have Attorney Giorgio work up language that could be used on Town Meeting floor. He expressed his concern over the pending court decision with regard to misappropriation of CPC funds by the Town of Newton. Mr. Marsland noted that they could entertain these articles at Town Meeting with a provision that the money would be spent pending the results of the appeal that is taking place. Mr. Brown commented that his Committee feels that all the requirements in Articles 42, 43, 44 and 45 are covered by the Community Preservation Act. The Board and Mr. Brown agreed to hold off on the articles until next week.

4. Identify differences with Finance Committee and Community Preservation Committee

The Board agreed to hold these items until next week when there would be a full Board.

A. Approve FEMA Grant for Community Center Shutters and authorize Chairman to sign

Mr. McManus moved to authorize acceptance of the FEMA Grant for Community Center Shutters and authorize the Chairman to sign. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

B. Request by Fire Department for authorization to display two banners advertising CPR classes being held in April and May

Mr. Cole moved to approve the request from the Harwich Fire Department for displaying their banners. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. Mr. Wiegman pointed out that there is an illegal sign currently on the property regarding an upcoming blood drive and he provided a photograph as such. He argued that it is inappropriate to approve this agenda item until the Harwich Fire Department comes into compliance. Mr. Merriam recommended the Board act on this item and approve the request as Mr. Wiegman currently has a case pending in the ZBA. Chief Flynn explained that the sign was placed there by Cape Cod Hospital and cannot currently be moved because it is locked. Mr. McManus agreed to contact Cape Cod Hospital to let them know the process for putting up signs for this program which he noted is critical to the public welfare. Mr. Merriam pointed out that the sign by-laws need further revision. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Merriam delivered the following report to the Board:

Geoff Larsen, Sue Leven and I met with Anthony Baroni and his attorney Myra Singer to create a local Site Plan which addresses the truck entrances and egress from Great Western without triggering DRI jurisdiction. Anthony will develop a new plan within the week.

Treasurer Dolly Parkhurst has informed me that Cape Cod 5 will extend a line of credit at 2.5% for the short term borrowing.

Tony Pagliaro called to inform me that the Golf Committee will schedule a meeting next week to discuss the options and also schedule a public hearing re: a proposed change to add $50 to members annual fee to access the practice facility. I have requested a meeting next week with Dennis Hoye, Tony, George and Dave Marsland to discuss the hiring of golf instructors. Dennis informed me that the Golf Committee voted at their April 14^th meeting to recommend IP for Article 23 to renovate the tee boxes.

Emergency Management

Director Lee Culver has provided our office with an updated Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Copies will be distributed to various Department Heads who will assume responsibilities.

Community Center Saturday Nights

The Facilities Committee invited the Youth and Recreation Committee and other interested parties to their meeting on April 15^th to discuss opening for Saturday nights. The approved budget for $4596 will cover only half of the year for 2 paid staff, and Carolyn Carey put forward a proposal which starts in July and ends in January. The Facilities Committee voted to endorse a program which covers summer months but terminates at the end of January. Carolyn and Vice Chair Pam Groswald committed to find additional monies (not from the Town budget) to keep the Community Center open throughout the year. Youth and Rec did not approve this schedule but supports a schedule which begins in September or October.

A staff meeting held on April 17^th discussed a compromise in which the Friends of Youth would be asked to contribute towards an Activities Coordinator for nine months, while Sheila House and Carolyn would coordinate a summer program, including fundraising dances.

Due to favorable interest rates on our $2 million bond issue, we can reduce our FY 09 Debt budget by $15,300. See attached.

Attached is the first draft of the positive motions of FinCom, BOS or CPC.

Health Director Paula Champagne

I am working on a program,~“Health and Environmental Occupational Exposures for the Out of Doors Workers”. This seminar with be approx 1 ½ hrs long and will cover topics such as ticks, mosquitoes, and associated health risks such as Lyme, West Nile Virus, Rabies; prevention and exposure risks and Sunsence.

Mass Highway property

Attached is a letter from Mass Highway in which they wish to retain the front portion for drainage purposes. After conversation with Rep. Peake, she may ask Mass Highway to revisit and retain a drainage easement and then transfer the property to the Town for affordable housing purposes.

Current Delta Plan Monthly Premium to Employee:~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Individual:~~~~~~~~~ $28~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Family $71

Current Vendor Premium on Enhanced Plan:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Individual:~~~~~~~~~ $42~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Family $107

CCMHG Premium on same Enhanced Plan:~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Individual:~~~~~~~~~ $37~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Family: $93

Dolly says we will not be able to stay in the Current Plan because of requirements that a certain number of Harwich employees are in plan which she says it’s not reasonable to expect when we switch to CCMHG. See attached for a summary of the Enhanced plan benefit. You can see that CCMHG’s dental rates are far less expensive for the Enhanced Plan than what we could purchase on our own.

Attached is John Giorgio’s review of the CPC sponsored articles on the Annual Town Meeting warrant as you requested.

Mr. Cole moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Respectfully submitted,