MINUTES
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2006
7:00 P.M.
SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins
SELECTMEN ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Acting Town Administrator Stephen Lombard, Lincoln Hooper, Barbara Anne Foley, Bob Larsen, Geoffrey Wiegman, Mary Ellen Bowley, Ray Gottwald, Pam Groswald, Tim Millar, George Boulé, Jeff Carter, Frank Sampson, Carole Ridley, and others.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.
Chairman Wilkins called for a moment of silence in remembrance of Donald Trepte, Chairman of the Dennis Board of Selectmen.
WEEKLY BRIEFING
No one appeared before the Board.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
No one appeared before the Board.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes –
1. October 2, 2006 Regular Meeting (tabled from October 23rd meeting)
2. October 23, 2006 Regular Meeting
3. November 6, 2006 Executive Session
Mr. Cole moved to approve the Consent Agenda as written. Mr. McManus seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
ACTION ITEMS
A. Request by residents, by means of petition, to repair sidewalks along Route 28 in Harwich Port
Mr. Lombard explained that this petition is requesting that the Town repair the sidewalk along Route 28 in front of the The Melrose building, at 601 Route 28, Harwich Port. He stated that it is in serious need of repair and that the petition was referred to Highways & Maintenance Director, Lincoln Hooper, for review. Mr. Lombard further explained that Mr. Hooper had spoken to Mr. McCourt of Mass. Highway who came down and reviewed the situation with Mr. Hooper and that Mr. McCourt recognized the need for the sidewalk to be repaired. Mr. Lombard added that although Mr. Hooper agrees that the sidewalk needs repair and there is traffic mitigation money to be used for this purpose, that it is really in the purview of the State to make the repair. He stated that the project was originally scheduled
for the fall but has been put off to the spring and that Mr. Hooper is recommending that we pursue the State to make the necessary repairs.
Mr. Hooper reiterated Mr. Lombard’s remarks and added that he can’t recommend using our taxpayers’ dollars to make repairs on a State highway. Mr. Hooper answered questions from the Board.
Mary Ellen Bowley, resident of The Melrose, described the treacherous conditions of the sidewalk and the potential for injuries.
Mr. Piekarski encouraged the residents to contact their State representatives and Senator and hold them accountable for repairing the sidewalk. Mr. Piekarski moved to submit a letter to the appropriate State agencies and political offices asking them to move this up on their radar screen, make it a priority and share our level of concern that this poses to the residents of Harwich. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. Geoffrey Wiegman asked if the Board could close the sidewalk as it is a public safety issue. Mr. Lombard responded that he would see that appropriate markers are placed there to warn pedestrians that the sidewalk is hazardous. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Annual Meetings with town boards, commissions and committees
§ Recreation and Youth Commission
John Mahan, Vice Chair, reviewed the highlights of the attached report and he and Jeff Carter, Director of Recreation & Youth, took questions and comments from the Board.
§ Council on Aging
Ray Gottwald, Chair, introduced the Committee members and reviewed the attached report. Mr. Gottwald and Barbara Anne Foley, Director of Council on Aging, took questions and comments from the Board.
§ Community Center Facilities Committee
Pam Groswald outlined the attached report and took questions and comments from the Board.
§ Bikeways Committee
Tim Millar, Chair, reviewed the highlights of the attached report and took questions and comments from the Board.
§ Golf Commission
George Boulé outlined the attached report and took questions and comments from the Board.
B. Pleasant Bay Resource Management Alliance to review the status and implications of the Mass Estuaries Project, Total Maximum Daily Load development and Comprehensive Wastewater Management on a regional basis.
Carole Ridley explained that more than a year ago the Alliance convened a work group with participants from the Pleasant Bay watershed towns of Harwich, Orleans, Chatham and Brewster, MassDEP, the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) and Cape Cod Commission to review progress on the MEP and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development, and to review strategies for regional cooperation in managing nitrogen loading from watershed sources. She stated that the release of the MEP Technical Report in May and the release of the draft TMDL Report in August represents
major milestones in their efforts to address nitrogen overloading in the Pleasant Bay system. Through a slide presentation, Ms. Ridley reviewed the status and implications of the MEP and TMDL process in an effort to address comprehensive wastewater planning on a regional basis.
A. Annual Meetings with town boards, commissions and committees (continued)
a. Town Water Quality Task Force
Frank Sampson, Chair, delivered the attached report and took questions and comments from the Board.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT
A. Discuss Benchmark Study (Article 2006 ATM)
B. Review Mission Statement (Article 2006 ATM)
C. Review Charter – suggestions to Charter/Review Committee
Chairman Wilkins requested that the Board review the articles with regard to the benchmark study and mission statement and provide input with changes or re-write if necessary. He also requested that the Board review the Charter, specifically keeping in mind anything they feel may prevent the new Town Administrator from carrying out tasks that the Board would like him to in relationships with the Board, committees, departments that report to him and departments that do not.
Mr. Marsland noted that Channel 18 now provides streaming video access of Selectmen’s meetings.
Mr. Piekarski noted that they need to disband the Town Administrator Search Committee as well as address the letter from Real Estate & Open Space regarding Mr. Bassett’s property.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. McManus moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Steidel
Recording Secretary
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