Present: Selectmen Casey, Grimes, O’Donnell, Angley and Chairman Muscato. Also present Town Administrator LaFond and A.T.A. Bouchard.
The chair read the announcement of vacancies on the various Boards, Committees and Commissions. Muscato also informed residents of the upcoming Community Forums on April 25 and May 9.
Old Colony Regional Vo-Tech School Committee Budget:
Paul McDonald, OCRVS School Committee Member, stated that there is proposed Chapter 70 increase of 10% for regional schools. OCRVS will be getting an increase of 9% or $500,000. This is a starting point in assessments to the member Towns. Enrollment is up for next year from 91 to 98 students from Carver, and the per student assessment is $5,841. Carver is still reaping the rewards since Ed Reform. Significant increases are:
• Contractual salaries - $175,180
• Employee benefits - $118,853
• Utilities - $65,000
• One-Half of FTE Technology Specialist - $34,114
• Computers and equipment - $15,000
• NEASC Accreditation - $13,003
Percentage of reimbursement from the state is $350,000 vs. costs of $503,000 (65%). McDonald also stated contract increases with the unions are at 3 ¾% per year for three years. Overall increase in their budget is 5.89%. The state formula determines assessments to the town.
SEMASS Update:
Board received a letter from the Health Agent, Robert Tinkham, regarding SEMASS stating there would be no interruption of service from the SEMASS Fire and presently there are no concerns.
Fire Chief Weston updated the Board regarding their mutual assistance at the scene. He had four firefighters and the deputy dispatched for two shifts of 12 hours. This was a large industrial fire he has ever seen. A total of 56 pieces of apparatus responded to the fire. O’Donnell asked if SEMASS would reimburse the cost to the Town for responding. Weston stated this is not normally done, and is considered mutual aid.
EMS Director Tom Walsh stated there was a problem with the emergency notification system by the Plymouth Sheriff’s Department. It is a software problem they will be working on. With their system they are able to use 71 telephone lines and inform residents in about one hour using this system. Walsh is working on this with the Sheriff’s Department and will keep on top of the situation.
Resident Mike Grant expressed his concern with the notification system, and stated we needed a plan of action. Walsh stated this is the only system we have and it will be fixed.
Resident Bryan Lauzon discussed the situation of his wife being on-call with Animal Control. She had nothing to tell the residents, and that she was not notified.
Weston stated that this incident brought a lot of things to light that we need to work on
for the future, and this was a lesson learned.
Scott Roberts, Handicapped Commission, expressed his concerns about the handicapped people in Town. Walsh stated the EMS has a list of residents with special needs and urges anyone to contact him on residents with special needs.
Weston also stated that he has nine new firefighters out of the class of 13. Of them four were from Hanover.
Walsh stated that the Town has been recertified regarding the LEPC Plan from the state for another three years.
Lions Club Grant for ADA Listening Device:
Bryan Lauzon, President of the Lions Club, presented the Town with a Grant in the amount of $1,040 from the South Carver Lions Club to assist with buying an ADA Listening Device to be used for meetings for the hearing impaired. Lauzon stated that the system is being used this evening as a demonstration of the device. There will be a console with six to seven portable listening devices. The Town will match the grant received from the Lions Club. Motion by Grimes to accept the grant, second O’Donnell. Vote unanimous.
Plymouth/Carver Aquifer Advisory Committee:
Sarah Hewins presented to the Board a draft plan. The Committee will be meeting May 12 and June 14, as well as this Thursday. The communities would like to continue to meet. She will keep the Board updated regarding the meetings. Selectmen Grimes was present last night to hear the presentation. Grimes stated he would appreciate the various boards and committees reviewing this document. Sarah is our representative with seven other Towns. Grimes believes this issue needs more research. Muscato stated there is no more funding after June 30th and we sent a letter to the nine other Boards of Selectmen to please contact their legislative representatives this week urging additional funding. O’Donnell also expressed his concerns due to the strip mining
going on in Town and the impact on our resources. There are 25 mining operations in Town. He suggested we should have the Earth Removal Committee come before the Board to ask pointed questions. He asked if the Earth Removal By-Law Study Committee has been meeting yet. Grimes responded they will be having their first meeting shortly. Motion by O’Donnell and second by Grimes to invite the Earth Removal By-Law Study Committee to come before the Board. Vote unanimous. O’Donnell thanked Sarah Hewins for pointing out this situation last night. Hewins stated her understanding is that water can move lateral, therefore no erosion control is needed.
Handicapped Committee:
Susan Shaughnessy request to be appointed to the Handicapped Committee. Motion by Grimes second by Angley to appoint. Vote unanimous.
Late Petition Articles:
LaFond stated he received from Steve Pratt on March 9th a letter requesting that the Board allow three petition articles from the Boy Scouts be placed on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. These were not presented by the deadline of February 28, 2007. There are three eagle scout projects they would like to work on in the community as follows:
Petition Article #1:
$3,000 for an Eagle Scout project for repair and maintenance of the Civil War Monument located in Shurtleff Park.
Motion by Grimes, second by Angley to allow article to be placed on warrant. Vote unanimous.
O’Donnell asked if CPA monies could be used for this purpose. LaFond will contact the CPC Committee.
Petition Article #2:
$1,000 for an Eagle Scout project for the repair and maintenance of the bathrooms at Shurtleff Park.
Motion by Grimes, second by Angley to allow article to be placed on warrant. Vote unanimous.
Petition Article #3:
$3,000 for an Eagle Scout project to build a handicapped access ramp at Sampson’s Pond.
Motion by Angley, second by O’Donnell to allow article to be placed on warrant. Vote unanimous.
Scott Roberts, Handicapped Commission, stated they will be having a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM and welcomed residents to attend. Muscato stated that TRIAD is very interested in working with the Handicapped Commission.
Citizen’s Participation:
William Sinclair, IDC, reminded residents on the Community Forum on April 25th on the Cole Proper Update.
Resident Bob Jerrier of 8 Center Street presented a petition of residents living on Center Street regarding the volume of traffic on Center Street. He indicated that he had spoken to Chief Parker regarding their concerns of speeding. He would like to Board to work with the Police Department to curb the situation with more enforcement. Chief Parker
stated his department received a grant for traffic enforcement but was limited by the grant on dates from April 23rd until this coming Saturday. He further stated he has only two patrol officers on duty, and that he does have an article on the warrant to add another patrol officer and this would be helpful in traffic enforcement. Jerrier stated the issue is volume of traffic on the street and feels Center Street has 10 to 15% more volume than other streets. Muscato thanked Jerrier for his civic efforts.
Selectmen Notes:
Casey mentioned that the Sunday paper quoted that Chapter 70 Funds are back up to $275,000. LaFond stated governor budget provided 1.5% additional state funds of $140,000. This year this is a joint resolution by the Ways and Means Committee. The Town of Carver would get about $275,000 or 2.5%. Even with this we still would fact a budget deficit of between $500-600,000.
Grimes encouraged residents to attend forums as it is the Town’s future. Every citizen is welcome to participate.
O’Donnell expressed his concerns regarding EEE, and what Carver could do to get action from the State. Resident Mike Grant stated he went to a meeting of the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Study Group. The one thing that came out of this is that we have to protect out citizens. He stated Florida goes out early and we need to take action now due to mosquitoes are prevalent here. Grimes stated this issue should have special priority. O’Donnell suggested that the Town express to the State our concerns that spraying is needed. Angley stated that the cranberry growers have always worked with Plymouth County Mosquito Control. Spraying should be done when needed
Town Administrator Notes:
LaFond informed the Board that the Town had received a grant in the amount of $9,800 to be used for marketing purposes for the Farmer’s Market. This was a collective effort by Sheila Sullivan-Jardin, Dick Ward and Irene Winkler. They hope to apply for another $10,000 in grant funds. Muscato suggested that perhaps some of the funds could be given to the boy scouts for the restrooms. Motion by Angley, second by Grimes to accept grant. Vote unanimous.
LaFond gave an update on the BATG Landfill matter on what the Town still needed.
Motion by Angley, second by Casey to adjourn at 9:25 P.M. Vote unanimous.
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