Town of Harwich Massachusetts - Minutes

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2007

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

SELECTMEN ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Town Administrator James Merriam, Chief Remillard, Deputy Chief Flynn, David Ryan, Dorothy Parkhurst, Geoffrey Wiegman, Gerry Loftus, and others.

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

Chairman Wilkins explained that the Board had just come out of Executive Session for the purpose of disposition and acquisition of real estate.

Dorothy Parkhurst, Treasurer, provided information to the Board regarding the number of retirees who are eligible for Medicare.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (7:15 P.M.)

A. Request for transfer of stock by William R. Coffin & Sons, Inc. d/b/a Plum’s Package Store

Mr. Marsland read the hearing notice into record. Chairman Wilkins opened the hearing. Mr. Cole questioned the requested share distribution noting that the current total share is 82 and the new shares total 80. With no one present to speak on the application, Mr. Cole moved to continue the hearing to March 12, 2007. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

A. Minutes – February 12, 2007 Regular Meeting

B. Special Permit for the Annual Irish Pub Road Race

Mr. McManus moved to approve Item B. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Mr. Marsland noted that Page 2 of the minutes in Item A should be changed from 25,000 to 15,000. Mr. McManus moved approval of the minutes as amended. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Merriam delivered the following report:

Governor Deval Patrick released his House 1 budget on February 27^th. Attached is a spreadsheet which lists the amounts in the Cherry Sheet Receipts and Charges. The net impact is a shortfall of $78,038. Unfortunately, the Governor funded Chapter 70 at $200 million, not the $256 million needed and expected. It is my understanding that the Legislature will work to restore the full amount. As a result, I asked, and Supt. Cragin agreed, to absorb the Medicaid clerical position $37,443 within their operating budget. They also reduced their technology request to $54,306.

Attached is the updated spreadsheet on one liners with FinCom votes through March 1^st. With the Cape Cod Tech assessment reduced to $814,661, we have redistributed those funds between the Library and Board of Health budgets, as shown on Amendment #2. Thus, the Library article has been deleted from the warrant. The Annual Warrant has been reviewed and is ready for your execution.

Building Permit Fees

Geoff Larsen has provided the attached memo with editing corrections to the new Fee Schedule. Geoff assures us that it is consistent with his presentation during the hearing.

Dolly, Dave Ryan, Carolyn Cragin, Gary Costin and I met with MIIA representative Ann Ludlow and she has provided us with a viable proposal. See attached rates. She will return next Thursday to present to the Insurance Advisory Committee. Also, Carol Cormier from Group Benefit Strategies and represents the CCMHG has informed me that they will be providing us with a proposal next week. They plan to set their rates on March 7^th.

Chiefs Mason, Remillard and I have scheduled our first negotiating session next week with the Police and Fire unions re: joint dispatch.

Tom Leach has researched the options for pilings replacement and is recommending the new fiberglass material at $140,000, rather than the Green Heart pilings from South America, which are shipped every 4-6 weeks.

A. Municipal Benchmarking

Ken Strachan from Municipal Benchmarking LLD provided a presentation and answered questions from the Board.

A. Lower Cape Cod Community Development Corporation application for Affordable Housing Special Revenue Funds.

Mr. McManus moved to approve the application by the Lower Cape CDC and when it comes back for its second required approval, that information on ownership by the Portuguese Mens Club be addressed. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

B. Proposed Planning Board Amendments

Mr. Piekarski moved to refer the amendments to the Planning Board for hearings. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

C. Approve amended Capital Budget

Mr. Cole moved to approve amendment to the Capital Plan. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

D. Request to approve Motorcycle Safety Awareness in Harwich (signage) – Police Chief to coordinate project.

Mr. McManus moved to approve placing signs by the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association after consultation with the Police and Highway Departments on appropriate locations. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Warrant and One-Liners Review

1. Article discussion:

a. Zoning Article re: Wequassett Inn Petition

Atty. Myer Singer and staff of the Wequassett Inn spoke on behalf of their petition article.

Chief Mason spoke in support of the Police Department articles.

Supt. Carolyn Cragin and Business Manager Gary Costin spoke in support of the School Department articles.

Chief Remillard spoke in support of the Fire Department articles.

The Board discussed the articles at length. Mr. Piekarski moved to extend the meeting for 20 minutes. Mr. Cole seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

E. Sign Annual Town Meeting Warrant

Mr. McManus moved to eliminate Article 4 – Amend Personnel By-Law. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Mr. McManus moved to move Article 29, Fund Reconstruction of Cove Road, Old Post Road and Wayside Road, to Article 80 and renumber as such. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Marsland and Mr. Piekarski opposed the motion and the motion carried by a 3-2-0 vote.

Mr. McManus moved to move Articles 60 through 65 to Articles 12 through 17 and renumber as such. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Marsland and Mr. Piekarski opposed the motion and the motion carried by a 3-2-0 vote.

Article 60 – Fund One Fire Fighter/Paramedic

Article 61 – Fund One Full Time Principal Clerk at Fire Dept.

Article 62 – Fund One Captain/Paramedic/Emergency Medical Officer

Article 63 – Fund New Police Officers

Article 64 – Fund Part-time Program Volunteer Coordinator for COA

Article 65 – Fund Additional Hours for PT Outreach Coordinator at COA

Mr. Cole moved to combine Articles 14 through 17 as well as the storage tanks from Article 20 into a capital appropriations article. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Article 14 – Fund Architect/Project Manager for Construction of Police Station

Article 15 – Harwich Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning

Article 16 – Fund the Road Maintenance Program

Article 17 – Lease/Purchase/Equip New Vehicles

Article 20 – Purchase New Equipment

Mr. Piekarski moved to combine Article 18, Fund New Water Source Exploration, and Article 19, Water Meter Radio Read System, into a Water Department capital article. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 60, Fund One Firefighter/Paramedic, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. Chairman Wilkins, Mr. McManus and Mr. Cole opposed the motion and the motion failed on a 2-3-0 vote.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 61, Fund One Full-Time Principal Clerk at Fire Department, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 62, Fund One Captain/Paramedic/Emergency Medical Officer, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 63, Fund 6 New Police Officers, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. Mr. Cole moved to amend the motion to reduce number to 2 Police Officers and subsequently withdrew the motion. Chairman Wilkins, Mr. McManus and Mr. Cole opposed the motion and the motion failed on a 2-3-0 vote.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 64, Fund Part-Time Program Volunteer Coordinator for COA, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 4-1-0 vote with Mr. Cole in opposition.

Mr. Marsland moved to remove Article 65, Fund Additional Hours for Part-Time Outreach Coordinator at COA, from the warrant. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion. Chairman Wilkins, Mr. McManus and Mr. Cole opposed the motion and the motion failed on a 2-3-0 vote.

Mr. Piekarski moved to remove Article 72, Town By-Law – House Numbering, from the warrant. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. Chairman Wilkins, Mr. McManus and Mr. Cole opposed the motion and the motion failed on a 2-3-0 vote.

Mr. Piekarski moved to remove Article 29, Fund Reconstruction of Cove Road, Old Post Road, Wayside Road, from the warrant. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion. Chairman Wilkins, Mr. McManus and Mr. Cole opposed the motion and the motion failed on a 2-3-0 vote.

Mr. Piekarski moved to remove Articles 25, 26 and 27, from the warrant. The motion was not seconded.

Article 25 – Fund Building Maintenance at the Schools

Article 26 – Fund Project Contemporary Competitiveness

Article 27 – Fund Technology Hardware and Software for School Dept.

Mr. McManus moved to approve and sign the warrant as amended. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Mr. Cole moved to appoint Ralph Smith to the Council on Aging for a three-year term, Donna Wood-Eaton as an alternate on the Agricultural Commission for a three-year term, and Barbara Yamamoto to the Traffic Safety Committee for a one-year term. Mr. McManus seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.

SELECTMEN’S REPORT

Mr. McManus moved to request the Town Administrator contact Representative Peake to submit special legislation similar to that which Brewster submitted to allow bond funding of private road betterment projects. Mr. Piekarski seconded the motion and the motion carried by a 4-1-0 vote with Mr. Marsland in opposition.

The meeting adjourned at 11:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,