Present: Selectmen Grimes, Casey, Ward, O’Donnell, Chair Angley, Town Administrator LaFond and A.T.A. Bouchard
The Chair announced that long time elected official, Charles Hamilton, had passed away and expressed his sympathy to his family. Vacancies on various boards and committees were also announced.
Mark Beaton – Kingston Selectman:
Mark Beaton, Kingston Selectman and also the Chairman of Kingston’s Green Energy Committee, came at the invitation of Carver’s Green Committee to speak to the Board of Selectmen on his community’s committee. They have a seven member board established in 2002 and meet twice a month with a budget of $1,000. The main purpose was to cut energy consumption and look into alternative energy sources. They have received grants to study wind power. They plan to create excess revenue to go into the general funds. They also had a goal of reducing gasoline consumption by 20% on municipal vehicle use. He did advocate the Town joining IKLEA as it is a great source of information, and Kingston would not have made the progress it has without them, and also to do an energy audit on
municipal buildings. He also stated the Governor is promoting a Green Community Act that could bring revenue to Towns. Ward stated that we formed a committee and the next meeting is on March 25th at 7 PM and invited any interested residents to attend. Grimes stated he appreciated Mr. Beaton’s help and information he gave this evening.
John Angley – Agenda Guidelines:
Angley read a prepared statement outlining new Agenda Guidelines for the Board of Selectmen’s meetings due to the lack of civility at previous meetings, and the need for the Board to conduct their business in a more efficient manner. He stated that he became particularly concerned with the progression of lack of respect, personal attacks, etc. at the last Board meeting held on February 12th. Residents who viewed the meeting as well as Selectman Ward had expressed their displeasure with the way meetings were being conducted. Angley stated he had to take blame for this progression. He stated Citizen’s Participation is a privilege and not all towns allow it. Angley further stated after research he is instituting the following Agenda guidelines:
Citizen’s Participation:
1. Effective immediately for all future meetings, Citizen Participation will be the first item on the Agenda and will be allotted a maximum of 15 minutes in total, three minutes maximum per person.
2. Any citizen may request, by close of business (4 PM) on the Wednesday preceding the next Board meeting (second and fourth Tuesday of the month), that an item be discussed during the Citizen Participation portion of the meeting.
3. Items requested for placement on the Citizen Participation part of the Agenda shall be in writing, stating the subject matter, individuals expected to be present, a concise statement as to the essence of the subject matter, and a sample of any written or printed matter intended for a handout (8 copies) to the Board, in order to permit Members of the Board an opportunity to review the material prior to the meeting.
4. Personalities, politics and personal attacks are not appropriate material for Citizen Participation, and as such will be ruled out of order by the Chair who is authorized to issue warnings to offending parties.
5. The Chairman will decide after reviewing items requested for placement on the Citizen Participation part of the Agenda, whether the item shall be approved to be placed on the Board of Selectmen’s Agenda, or whether the issue will be directed to another Department Head/Committee/Board to better answer the citizen’s concerns.
Department Heads, Committees, Commissions and Boards, and other Agenda Items:
1. The deadline to be placed on the Agenda for a meeting is 4 PM on the Wednesday prior to the Selectmen’s Meeting (second and fourth Tuesday of the month) and must provide as much background material accompanied by a written short summary by the deadline.
2. In an emergency, the Chairman can make exceptions to this policy on a case by case basis.
Ward did state that after the last meeting he could not sleep for about three hours, that the meeting was chaos, and that the meeting is controlled by people in the audience. He stated that he went to Angley’s house and told him he had to do something about the meetings. He also expressed displeasure with the sign that was held up, and stated it distracted him. The Board needs to meet in a respectful, orderly fashion. People may not agree, but at least can be respectful. Ward further cited several situations of people bringing subjects up at Board meetings with the Board having no clue beforehand and they cannot respond.
O’Donnell stated that he was not opposed to having decorum, but is opposed to eliminating Citizen’s Participation. Casey stated he is very comfortable with policy. Grimes stated other people in the past had signs and it was allowed. Ward stated he found it distracting. Grimes also stated that the limitation on speaking should apply to the Town Administrator.
Citizen’s Participation:
Judy Fitzgerald commented that the STM broadcast last evening had sound problems for the first hour. Steve Dewhurst stated that students who do not usually run the cameras were running the cameras that night. Roberta Frugoli stated it was not the fault of the students, but rather the new Director running CCAT.
Rod Forrester spoke regarding his displeasure with the Building Commissioner regarding the Fixcarver.com signs and he wrote a letter regarding this to him asking questions and has yet to receive a response. LaFond stated Mendoza has put together a response for him and stated that he would ensure that it is sent to him within two business days. Paul Johnson stated he submitted a letter at the budget hearings, and that reference was made regarding illegal signs. They received no letter asking them to be removed, and asserted that their signs are not illegal.
Makepeace Grant:
Craig Weston came before the Board regarding a grant application to the A.D. Makepeace Neighborhood Fund for the Police/Fire Station Building Committee. O’Donnell and Grimes had concern about the ethics of accepting grants from Makepeace, and would like legal opinion whether it is ethically correct to accept these grants. Motion by Grimes to accept grant contingent on checking the ethics of accepting grant, second by Ward. Ward asked about the deadline, and Weston responded that applications are due on 3/3/08. LaFond asked is this because Makepeace is a private company vs. a public Agency. Grimes stated that he is concerned about “clause expectancy”. Ward asked is this was the standard procedure. O’Donnell stated a call to the Ethics Commission should do it
as he is concerned about the propriety. Vote unanimous.
One Day Special Licenses:
Motion by Grimes, second by Casey to grant One Day Special Licenses to Bartending Service of N.E. on April 18 at the Sportsmen’s Club and the Friends of the COA on March 16th at the COA Nutrition Center. Vote 4-0-1 (O’Donnell abstained).
Michael Mendoza – Outstanding Building Official of the Year Award:
Angley read award received by Mike Mendoza received from the S.E. Mass. Building Officials naming him Outstanding Building Official of the Year. LaFond stated that both he and Mendoza’s Office Assistant, Maureen Dupre attended the award ceremony honoring him.
Carver Cultural Commission Appointments:
Motion by Casey, second by Grimes to appoint Mary DeGrenier and Dorothy Jeanette Melberg to the Carver Cultural Commission. Vote unanimous.
Minutes of January 8, 2008:
Motion by Ward, second by Grimes to approve. Vote unanimous.
Selectmen Notes:
O’Donnell announced the passing of Rose Barros, Charles Silva’s Mother and Charles Austin. He also stated that J.D. Kelley was hospitalized.
Ward expressed his sympathy to the family of Charlie Hamilton and stated he was a great American who served his country in World Ward II. He also remarked on the passing of Robert Reynolds. He also talked to Jack Hunter about South Carver and wants to look at the area to see if we should do a water district or not. Hunter stated the IDC subcommittee for the South Carver Water Study will have a meeting on April 9th. The Myles Standish Forest wells are hung up in legal issues and they hope to get an answer from the State before April 9th.
Grimes stated he would like a discussion on the Planning Board Article at the next Selectmen’s meeting.
Casey state the Plymouth Airport Commission will be having a public information meeting from 5 PM to 8:30 PM at the Federal Furnace Elementary School. They are talking expansion and our residents are going to be impacted and urged attendance. Grimes stated there are 6 to 8 more corporate jets. Ward stated that the hangers are presently full and we can expect some expansion into Carver. Grimes stated he has a copy of the Master Plan and that we can make copies.
Town Administrator Notes:
LaFond reported there is a Fiscal Policy Meeting next week on the state budget process.
Motion by Grimes, second by Ward at 10 PM to go into Executive Session under MGL Chapter 39 §23B to hear union grievances and not to return to Open Session Roll Call Vote taken – Yes all present.
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