MINUTES
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2007
7:00 P.M.
SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins
SELECTMEN ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Administrator James Merriam, Chief Mason, Deputy Chief Flynn, David Ryan, Geoffrey Larsen, Paula Champagne, and others.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.
WEEKLY BRIEFING
Mr. Ryan reported that free cash has been certified this year for the period ending June 30, 2006 at $2,080,000 which represents a 13.2% decrease over the prior year.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
A. Police Chief to award Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medals to Officers
In a brief ceremony, Chief Mason presented Officer Joseph LaBelle with the department’s Distinguished Service Medal and Officers Neil Nolan and Kevin Considine with the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of their extraordinary actions at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on December 8, 2006 on Route 6. The Board thanked the officers for their heroic actions and they received a standing ovation from the audience. Deputy Fire Chief Flynn thanked the Police Department for continually providing assistance to them.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes – January 8, 2007
B. Request for assistance from the Caleb Chase Fund
Mr. Cole moved to approve the two items, A and B, on the Consent Agenda. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Merriam delivered the following report:
Earle Road Beach
The Youth and Recreation’s application before the Planning Board to expand the beach and construct 99 spaces was approved unanimously Tuesday night by the Planning Board. An article for a supplemental appropriation of approximately $60,000 will be needed to be added to the Special Town Meeting warrant so that work can be completed before this summer.
Annual Town Meeting warrant
Sandy, Ann and I have grouped articles by theme or content which should allow Town Meeting to flow more smoothly. Charlie Sumner informed me that Brewster warrant has one article for all the Community Preservation projects and another article for the Recommended Capital Projects.
Seasonal Census
Marilyn Fifield, Research Analyst from the Cape Cod Commission, has advised that the peak population estimate is 37,850 based upon the 2000 Federal Census of 12,386 residents plus estimated number of summer residents and visitors. Attached is the back up information including the calculation and methodology used for the past 35 years.
Finance Committee Meeting
The Finance Committee met on Tuesday evening and approved a couple of Reserve Fund Transfer requests for the Planning Board’s East Harwich meeting and the Property Insurance study. They also set meeting times for various department heads to review requests. They expressed to Dave Ryan and me their desire to find funding for the Building Inspector’s office and the Board of Health staffing, as well as funding for one firefighter/paramedic and four defibrillators.
Brewster Regional Cooperation
During my visit at Brewster Town Hall, I inquired with Charlie Sumner if there was any interest in exploring a regional fire district to include the East Harwich Fire Station. He indicated that Brewster has an unmet need and they were funding a feasibility study for a new fire station. I also inquired about Nauset’s School enrollment status. He showed me in their FY 08 budget request the fact that the District’s enrollment for the combined High School and Middle School has declined 121 students since the previous year and projections are that there will be similar declines over the next four years. Unfortunately, the High School is 18 miles from Brewster.
Air Duct Cleaning
Disaster Specialists started cleaning our Town Hall air ducts on Tuesday night. They have informed me that the amount of material to be removed is more extensive than originally estimated and the vents are difficult to remove, so they expect to work through Saturday and Sunday in order to complete their assignment.
Beach Management Plan
Jeff Carter has advised me that the Recreation and Youth Commission voted Wednesday night to approve the Beach Management Plan with four minor wording changes. We expect to receive the approved plan today.
ACTION ITEMS
Long Pond Treatment
The Conservation Commissions of Harwich and Brewster will hold a joint hearing on February 13th at 7pm in the Brewster Town Hall. Charlie Sumner and I co-signed 24 copies of the Notice of Intent for both communities. Copies of the Notices were mailed by Brewster’s Town Administrator’s Office to Long Pond abutters of both communities. Charlie discovered that $150,000 of State money for this project is reimbursable, so he has had to add an article in his Special Town Meeting warrant to front this portion of the project. He is hoping to obtain legislators support to change this reimbursement to a grant prior to the closing of his warrant. Would you vote to waive the $300 abutters filing fee as this is a Town sponsored project?
Group Health Insurance
I met on Tuesday with the Chapter 32B Employees Group Health Insurance Advisory Committee and a representative from Cook and Company. I explained to the group of School and Municipal employees and retirees that we need to update our plan designs and explore other options by considering joining MIIA, CCMHG, or even the State’s Group Insurance Commission. First, I tried to dispel rumors that we’re trying to take benefits away. I explained to them that the Board of Selectmen receives their recommendations but that the Board actually sets the rates. They agreed to meet with our Blue Cross representative and learn what product choices are available for active employees and retirees and why we should be dropping the Master Medical plan. That meeting is set for February
7th. As I had advised the Ch.32B group, I have made initial with Blue Cross to provide the information so that MIIA and CCMHG can provide quotes to us. Prior to joining any of these groups, School Administration and we will have to first negotiate the change with all of the employee unions. Attached is a copy of a letter to the CCMHG which was also forwarded to the Ch.32B group. Also attached is a letter from the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition which describes the GIC reform and asking the Legislative Delegation to sign on as a co-sponsor of this legislation. I would ask that we contact our State Senator and Representative and ask them to co-sponsor this bill.
2010 Federal Census
Secretary of State William Galvin has requested through Chairman Wilkins to designate a local liaison to work with his office. After speaking to Anita Doucette, I would recommend that the Board designate our Town Clerk to serve as that local liaison to the Secretary of State’s Office regarding the 2010 Federal Census.
Mr. Cole questioned what the justification is for the 6.1 persons per unit used in the calculation used to determine seasonal population.
ACTION ITEMS
Vote on funding for Operation In From The Streets
Mr. McManus moved to appropriate $1,500 from the Housing Special Reserve Fund and waive the procedure. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – ACTION ITEMS
With regard to the Long Pond Treatment project, Mr. McManus move to waive the $300 fee. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
With regard to the proposed health care reform, Mr. McManus moved to authorize the Town Administrator to prepare a letter for the Chair’s signature asking our state legislators to support legislation on the GIC insurance reform. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. Mr. Piekarski suggested contemplating sending a letter to support some legislation to allow the towns to negotiate separately with unions as opposed coalition bargaining. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Chairman Wilkins suggested the Board think about drafting a similar letter having to do with the issue of homeowners insurance.
Mr. Cole moved that the Chairman be authorized to designate our Town Clerk as the local liaison with the Secretary of State’s Office for the purpose of preparing for the 2010 Federal census. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and it was so voted.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Warrant review
1. Building Department
Geoffrey Larsen, Building Commissioner, provided recommendations for his department including hiring a part-time Building Inspector to help with plan review, inspections and enforcement as well as increasing compensation for Electrical, Plumbing and Gas Inspectors to approximate the cost of the same service in the surrounding towns. Mr. Larsen also provided recommendations to fund the needs of his department. Mr. Merriam recommended that the Board consider the plan. Mr. Larsen took questions from the Board. The Board agreed that a hearing on Building Department fees should be set up as soon as possible.
2. Board of Health
Paula Champagne, Health Director, provided a recommendation to restore the Health Department’s technical staff to pre-override standards. She explained the effects of the staff cuts on her department noting that they have had to lower their standards and focus on permit driven, direct service work. Mr. Piekarski acknowledged the need for staff and added that he hopes the Town Administrator can present the Board with a way to solve this problem. Mr. Marsland concurred and added that he looks forward to Mr. Merriam’s recommendation.
B. Warrant one-liners review
Mr. Merriam outlined the changes that were made to the warrant. The Board discussed methods for grouping the articles as well as their order.
Mr. Piekarski moved to remove the Asset Management Study article. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote. Mr. Piekarski stated that he won’t support buying any copiers until we have a purchasing system in place. It was agreed that the article to Amend Harwich Employees Association Compensation Plan & Job Descriptions should be grouped with the other studies and should be changed to Fund the Study for HEA Compensation Plan & Job Descriptions. Mr. McManus noted that the article to Amend Non-Union Compensation should be presented as a lump sum. It was agreed that Mr. Ryan and Mr. Merriam would meet to discuss non-union compensation and bring something back to the Board. Also, it was agreed that Mr. Merriam would report back whether there are
any proposed changes to the Personnel By-Law. Mr. McManus moved to delete Article #32, Remove and Replace the Fuel Storage System at DPW Garage. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Chairman Wilkins asked Mr. Merriam to speak to the Superintendent of Schools regarding articles that should be included in their budget including funding the part-time Medicaid Clerk, textbooks, and Project Contemporary Competitiveness. He added that the Superintendent should be told that maintenance articles should be in the school budget beginning next year.
Mr. McManus noted he believes an article to establish a private road betterment fund passed last year. He added that Article 34 should be to Reconstruct and Fund Cove Road, Old Post Road and Wayside Road. Mr. Merriam agreed to investigate the matter. Mr. Cole noted that Article #62 should be Fund Benchmark Study and added that he needed to change the language of Article #61. Mr. McManus requested that Mr. Merriam have the issue on the suggestion of having a Public Safety Director thoroughly investigated and report back to the Board. The Board agreed that there only needs to be one library article for staff.
Mr. Piekarski urged that they need to start specifying funding sources for the articles and get final dollars on petition articles. Mr. McManus stressed the need to notify the departments when they are going to discuss their articles. Mr. Merriam said it is the goal to have the warrant wrapped up and ready for signature by the end of February.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT
Mr. Piekarski stressed that the Board needs to decide what they are going to do with the Fire Chief’s position and it should be put on the agenda as soon as possible. Chairman Wilkins stated that Mr. Merriam should come back with a recommendation on this and Mr. Cole stressed that the Public Safety Director discussion should come first.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Cole moved to adjourn at 10:00 p.m. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Steidel
Recording Secretary
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