MINUTES
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
GRIFFIN ROOM, TOWN HALL
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007
Joint Meeting with Finance Committee 7:00 P.M.
Regular Meeting 8:00 P.M.
SELECTMEN PRESENT: Cole, Marsland, McManus, Piekarski, Wilkins
SELECTMEN ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Administrator James Merriam, Barry Worth, and others.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Wilkins.
JOINT MEETING WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Board held a work session with the Finance Committee focusing on the Town Meeting articles for which they had taken different positions. Chairman Wilkins noted that there will be another work session in the near future.
WEEKLY BRIEFING
Barry Worth of the Utility and Energy Committee updated the Board on wind power in Harwich. He explained that since he last reported to the Board, the Committee had gotten together with the Water Department and found a location for a tower in North Harwich. He noted that they had given the coordinates of the location to MTC who had sent a letter stating that there is no place in Harwich that does not interfere with the Chatham Airport and therefore the highest tower we can put up is about 230 feet which would limit us to a 200-250 kilowatt turbine. Mr. Worth asked that the Town Administrator write a letter to the FAA asking if the regulation being quoted by Aviation Systems, consultant for MTC, known as Part 77 of the FAA regulations applies to Chatham Airport. He noted that Part 77 refers to
airports with runways more than 3,200 feet and that Chatham’s runway is 3,000 feet. Mr. Worth took questions from the Board and Mr. Merriam agreed to write the letter to the FAA.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes –
1. March 19, 2007 Regular Meeting
2. March 26, 2007 Executive Session
B. Approve Seasonal Licenses for Bud’s Go Karts
Mr. McManus moved to approve the items on the Consent Agenda and the recommended actions thereon. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Merriam delivered the following report:
Ballot Questions & Warrants
Bond Counsel has approved the 7th Ballot Question pertaining to potential acquisition of the Downey Property. The Annual and Special Town Meeting Warrants as well as the Ballot questions were sent to the printer on April 5th. It will be published in the Cape Cod Chronicle on April 19th. It will also appear on the Town’s website.
Saquatucket Harbor Dredging
Congressman Bill Delahunt’s Chief of Staff Mark Forrest advised me that Congressman Delahunt has submitted a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget for $250,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to remove 7,500 cubic yards of material from Saquatucket Harbor.
Piling Replacements at Wychmere and Saquatucket Harbors
Town Engineer Joe Borgesi reports that we received bids on April 5th and the low bid was submitted by AGM Marine from Mashpee in the amount of $112,000, which is within the $125,000 request in the Special Town Meeting warrant.
Cape Cod Mitigation Funds
Selectman Cole and Planner Leven have provided a spreadsheet of the Mitigation funds available from various projects from the Cape Cod Commission for Harwich.
Emergency Generators
We have the option of rotating two generators. The surplus East Fire generator can be installed at Highway and the Highway generator can be installed at Town Hall. Staff is working on the installation costs.
Tax Title accounts
As a result of a staff meeting, I have requested a status report from Attorney Ford on the 237 accounts presently in Tax Title which represents $1.2 million in outstanding taxes and fees with the intention of applying the $25,000 balance of the old Land Bank monies to pay for legal work for the next 6 months. After that money is expended, it would be our recommendation to seek supplemental funding from Town Meeting next Fall. We do encourage an aggressive schedule of processing foreclosure in order to return these parcels back to the tax rolls.
Council on Aging Board
I was honored to attend my first meeting of the COA Board and get to meet each of the members. Barbara-Anne Foley provided an overview of their annual report to the Board of Selectmen. They were appreciative of our efforts to expand the Outreach Worker’s hours to meet a growing need for our senior population. We also discussed the support for the Article to adopt the Senior Work-Off Program.
The Green Communities Act
Maggie Downey is seeking our support for this bill. Attached is her e-mail and sample letters of support.
Chamber of Commerce
I met with Sandy Davidson to discuss Chamber issues. She indicated that there will be a kick-off on April 26th at the 400 East for the July-August Harwich insert of the Cape Business publication. She talked about various topics and pictures for the issue.
Thank you – Harwich Port Boat Works
Attached is a letter of thanks to John Our from Deputy Chief Flynn for their assistance with removing the pick-up truck from Wychmere Town Dock.
Mr. McManus stated that we need to look into a contingency plan on dredging and Chairman Wilkins stated to Mr. Merriam that the Harbormaster needs to report to him immediately on that.
Mr. Cole stated that Mr. Merriam should speak with the appropriate department heads to find projects where we can legitimately use the mitigation funds.
ACTION ITEMS
A. Send letter supporting comments of Cape Light Compact on Green Communities Act
Mr. McManus moved to authorize the Chair to sign and send the letter supporting the legislation. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Town Hall hours for week of Town Meeting
The Board did not address this item.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT
After a discussion on the Municipal Partnership Act, Mr. McManus moved to authorize the Chair, in his testimony at the State Committee, to be generally supportive of the legislation on behalf of the Town of Harwich. Mr. Cole seconded the motion. The motion carried by a 4-1-0 vote with Mr. Piekarski in opposition.
The Board agreed not to hold a meeting next week.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. McManus moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 p.m. Mr. Marsland seconded the motion and the motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Steidel
Recording Secretary
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