MINUTES
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2006
7:00 P.M.
SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins
SELECTMEN ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Acting Town Administrator Stephen Lombard, Tom Leach, Bruce Gibson, Murray Johnson, Geoff Wiegman, and others.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.
WEEKLY BRIEFING
No one appeared before the Board.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Bruce Gibson spoke in opposition of Ballot Question #1, Sale of Wine by Food Stores.
CONSENT AGENDA
HECH housing loan payoff (continued from October 16, 2006)
Minutes
September 27, 2006 – Regular Session
October 10, 2006 – Regular Session
October 23, 2006 – Executive Session
C. Committee Resignations:
Tom Huckman as Housing Committee representative to the
Community Preservation Committee – Confirm David Purdy as new
representative from Housing.
Charlie Beggs as member of the Shellfish and Marine Water Quality Committee
Mr. Marsland requested to remove Item C2 and Chairman Wilkins requested to remove Item B2. Mr. Piekarski moved approval of the balance of the Consent Agenda. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Piekarski moved approval of the October 10, 2006 minutes. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
With regard to Item C2, Mr. Marsland noted that the letter from Mr. Beggs indicates that this Committee has not met in two years. Mr. Marsland questioned whether the Committee is needed. Tom Leach explained that although the Committee was very active years ago, it hasn’t had a quorum in years, since the Water Quality Task Force was formed. He further explained that the charge for the Committee was to promote shellfish propagation and address water quality issues. He also noted that the Natural Resources Department has been moving forward with our shellfish propagation through our shellfish lab. Mr. Cole suggested that the water quality part of this Committee’s charge be incorporated into the charge of the Water Quality Task Force. Chairman Wilkins asked that the Appointments
Subcommittee get a recommendation from Mr. Leach regarding the future of the Shellfish and Marine Water Quality Committee after which the Board can take some action.
Mr. Cole moved to accept Mr. Beggs’ resignation. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS (7:15 P.M.)
Harbor Management Plan/Marine Fee Schedule (tabled from October 16, 2006)
Mr. Marsland read the hearing notice into record. Mr. Lombard explained that Town Counsel has reviewed the Plan and has made several recommendations. Dr. Murray Johnson stated that the Waterways Commission ratified the changes made by Town Counsel at their meeting on October 18, 2006.
Mr. Marsland questioned the language “Town-owned facility” in Section 8.2 in light of the impending removal of the fuel tanks. The Board discussed the language with Mr. Leach and it was agreed that the language was appropriate. Mr. Leach requested that all the commercial boats be allowed to take on fuel from a tank wagon.
Mr. Piekarski asked if Mr. Lombard’s recommendation is to include all of Town Counsel’s recommendations and Mr. Lombard stated that it is.
Mr. Cole explained that he had questioned language submitted by the attorney and he has since learned from Mr. Lombard that the language is appropriate. Mr. Cole moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Piekarski moved to accept the Town Administrator’s recommendation. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Mr. McManus moved to approve the modifications to Appendix B, Marine Fee Schedule, as proposed by the Waterways Commission. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. Mr. McManus pointed out the changes which included the addition of Class F for a passenger ferry and a change in the year round paid passenger carrying boat fee. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Leach reiterated the need to give consideration to granting the vessels that want to pay for the T-permit a privilege to take from the fuel tank trucks just as the other commercial boats do. Chairman Wilkins said this would be a future agenda item.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Annual Meetings with town boards, commissions and committees
Waterways Committee
Dr. Johnson delivered the attached annual report to the Board. The Board discussed the report with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Leach. Mr. Cole urged that dredging projects be incorporated into the Capital Plan in the aggregate as part of the infrastructure. The Board discussed strategizing for public/private partnerships for dredging and Mr. Piekarski stressed that a plan for our beaches needs to come first.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Lombard noted that Town Administrator interviews with Mr. Owen and Mr. Merriam are scheduled for November 1, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. and with Mr. Embury for November 2, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. He stated that he had met with Mr. Owen today and he had taken him to various facilities in Town and he will do the same with Mr. Merriam tomorrow.
He added that he met with Deputy Assessor and Town Accountant and they will be reviewing all the financial projections that we made to see if anything has changed and this review will be an ongoing process.
Mr. Lombard also report that we have engaged the services of Kevin Donahue Associates for the study of the Town’s insurance and they will have a report by the first week of December.
Chairman Wilkins stated that he has asked the Town Administrator to bring all the parties together involved in the landscaping project at the Community Center and then give the Board a briefing. Mr. Lombard confirmed that he has directed that no more work will be done there until or unless it comes through the Town Administrator/Selectmen’s Office. Mr. Piekarski cautioned about fundraising going on in the Town’s name and that this should come through the Town Administrator’s Office as well.
ACTION ITEMS
Volunteer Policy – Final Reading
Mr. Lombard noted that he had made only one change and that was to the definition. Mr. McManus moved approval. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
First Quarter Financial Review
Mr. Ryan outlined the attached first quarter financial review.
Mr. Marsland stated that he would advocate for discontinuing the benefit of providing health insurance to paid elected officials who serve for 6 years and he asked that this be an agenda item. Chairman Wilkins asked Mr. Lombard to have a discussion with Mr. Ryan regarding the history of this. Mr. Ryan took questions from the Board and stressed the need to be kept informed of the personnel changes of the School Department.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT
Mr. Piekarski stated that there have been numerous correspondences recently regarding access to Town Counsel and they need to put an end to it. He emphasized that the Board has a policy in place with regard to access to Town Counsel. Mr. Lombard stated that the issue has been resolved.
Mr. Marsland encouraged the Board to address the process for replacing the Fire Chief upon his retirement as soon as possible. He also reported that the gate at the Shaw’s Market has been vandalized to the point that they can’t rehang it yet the posts remain and it has become a public safety matter. He asked that the Police Chief and Fire Chief look at this and if there is not a need, have Shaw's remove the posts. Mr. Lombard noted that the Police Chief has spoken with the people at Shaw's about removing the posts.
The Board discussed the format for second interviews for Town Administrator candidates.
Chairman Wilkins made reference to correspondence received from Mr. Loftus and recommended that some time in January they have a meeting regarding housing and at the same time show a video from Community Development Corporation. Mr. Piekarski suggested having the Housing Committee and Housing Authority select some of the topics for that night and bring forward some of the items that have not been acted on yet. The Board agreed that a coordinated approach would be best. Chairman Wilkins stated that he wanted to schedule the Cultural Council for the November 6 or November 13 meeting along with the Housing Committee and Community Preservation Committee.
Mr. Cole noted that the Budget Subcommittee looking into the matter of tax classification met this evening with Assessors, the Town Accountant, Deputy Assessor and Mr. Wiegman. He explained that they had a good discussion and will be having another meeting to focus on understanding the methods that are employed for assessing the commercial property and to assure themselves that those are as accurate and reliable as the residential assessments. He added that they will be coming back to the Board with something after that meeting.
Chairman Wilkins encouraged the public to exercise their right to vote on Election Day, November 7.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Piekarski moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Steidel
Recording Secretary
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