Town of Carver, MA - Selectmen's Minutes of September 25, 2007

Angley announced openings on the Finance Committee and IDC and invited Sarah Hewins to discuss vacancies on the Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Committee.

1. Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Committee is a seven member sub-committee of the Conservation Commission and is looking for new volunteer members. Two members will be from the Conservation Department, one from the Recreation Department, and five will be at-large members.

2. The Conservation Commission was awarded a grant this past summer for $3,840.00 from the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (a branch of the EOEEA) to help with the digital mapping of the storm drains and outfalls in the Town of Carver. This funding will help us meet the May 2008 deadline required by the EPA to complete the storm water mapping of the entire Town. This digital mapping will bring the Town into compliance with the federal storm water permitting process and will prevent the Town from being fined by the EPA up to $25,000 per day. This is being done to assist the Department of Public Works as well as to protect our rivers.

3. Bob Francis and his department at the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School made the 3’ X 3’ signs that will be installed at the trail entrance to the Cole Property off Pleasant St. She thanked him and the school for their help.

4. Update on the Plymouth/Carver Aquifer Advisory Committee (PCAAC): the PCAAC is continuing its work on implementation of the Aquifer Plan developed in the past fiscal year by the Committee. Three topics have emerged as the Committee’s focus:

A. Developing a Regional Open Space Plan using the existing plans that most towns have, including Carver, and assisting the Town of Plympton in their efforts to develop their first plan. The Committee feels it makes sense to plan regionally to protect our open space so that each town’s protected parcels will be further protected by abutting parcels in other towns.

B. Reviewing existing local bylaws and regulations in each of the 7 communities with land in the Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer and making recommendations to the appropriate boards within those communities regarding changes and/or updates that towns may choose to adopt to ensure protection of our current and future water supplies needed for human and habitat use. The decision to adopt any new or updated bylaw will be totally up to each town. This is a technical assistance opportunity, not a mandate.

C) Water Conservation Education in the schools: EEA has offered to provide educational workshops designed for 2^nd-5^th grade classroom use. These workshops focus on hands-on, fun investigations into water, water use, watersheds, and watershed animals. Area schools are being contacted and invited to participate in this watershed education program.

The Board met with Peter Soroka and his father Peter Soroka, owners of Pier 18 Seafood Express located at 123 Main Street in the space previously occupied by Plane Jane’s Pizzaria. They requested a common victualer’s license for the sale of food for take-out. Soroka stated that the menu is basically lightly fried seafood and will likely expand in time.

Chair of the Earth Removal Committee John Garretson was present and explained the current concern over membership. LaFond explained the input from town counsel recommending that the Board appoint at least two members to the committee pursuant to the existing by-law.

Ward updated the Board as the activities of the Earth Removal By-law study committee. He has asked Jack Hunter to help draft amendments and the next meeting is scheduled for the third Thursday in October.

The Board and Garretson discussed the potential problem of the permit application for the project off Ward Street now that the membership had changed. Garretson stated that there may be reason for a new hearing based upon information from the DPW as to possible weight restrictions. He stated that the Ward Street proposal was continued until October 3.

Scott McCaig, Finance Committee Chair provided the Board with a form that would be used on a monthly basis to update status of the legal budget. He stated that the fundamental problem is that we don’t budget enough for legal services.

Paul Johnson of 3 Laurie Lane stated that the town should address the current projected budget deficit for legal expenses at a special town meeting should we hold one in the fall.

IDC Chair Will Sinclair stated that the Community Forum series would be continuing on October 10 with a discussion on Public Education.

- reported that he had spoken to Sen. Pacheco’s office emphasizing Carver’s opposition to a Casino in Middleboro and the potential impact on town resources;

- stated that he was having a meeting with the Kingston Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Bill Napolitano of SRPDD and the USDA to discuss “green” programs.

O’Donnell thanked people for their well wishes during his recent absence and stated that he was slowly getting back to a normal schedule.

Grimes stated that he too had been in contact with Sen. Pacheco regarding the town’s position on a potential casino in Middleboro and reported that Pacheco compared the potential impact to that of the Galleria Mall. He advised a more proactive attack on this issue.

Angley recognized Police Chief Arthur Parker who reported that he was just notified that the state had just finalized the recognition of the Rt. 44 Brook Street bridge in honor of Robert Rooney who had been killed in action in Iraq last year.

LaFond updated the Board on his recent meeting with MMA’s Fiscal Policy Committee at which time the status of the state’s FY 2007, FY 2008, and preview of the FY 2009 budgets were discussed including the status of the declining lottery revenue. He also explained the role and effort of MMA in addressing the issue of expanded gaming and the effort to form a policy statement.