Minutes of Selectmen’s Meeting of June 10, 2008
Present: Selectmen Grimes, O’Donnell, Casey, Ward, Chairman Angley, Town Administrator LaFond and A.T.A. Bouchard.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. The Chairman announced the openings on various committees, boards and commissions.
Citizen’s Participation:
Dawn Padovani discussed her requests for tapes and DVDs of the Selectmen’s meeting to be made available to the public at the Library. Jean Bouchard stated that the previous director of CCAT stated he would do this for our office. The Office assumed he had been doing this since January. Mr. Goehl has since left CCAT’s employ and in talking to the Interim Director, Dan Miott, has since learned that Mr. Goehl had not done this. Mr. Miott stated that the cable studio is unable to download the taping there; it has to be done by the Selectmen’s staff in “real time”. Padovani stated she had also talked to Miott. The Town Administrator will talk to Miott before the next meeting in order to come to a resolution regarding the matter.
Annual Town Meeting Articles:
Article #
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Description
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Vote
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3
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Elected Officials Salaries
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Recommend - Unanimous
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6
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COLA for Non Union
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No Action
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19
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Private Water System
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No Action
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21
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Con Com $5,000 maintenance
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to be withdrawn
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65
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74 Rochester Road
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No Action
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LaFond stated that there will be a small deficit with next year’s budget that will be made up with new growth. LaFond wanted to thank John Adams, Scott McCaig, Ellen Blanchard and Jack Franey for their work on helping to make the bottom line work this year.
Special Town Meeting Articles:
Article #
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Description
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Vote
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1
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BAN Interest on Cole Property
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Recommend - Unanimous
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2
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Supplement 2008 Budget
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4-0-1 (O’Donnell Abstained)
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3
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Increase spending limit for water system
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Withdraw - Unanimous
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4
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Wage and Classification Plan
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4-1 (Grimes No)
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5 & 6
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BOA Articles to defer property taxes and to reduce the rate of interest from 8% to 4%
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Recommend - Unanimous
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One Day Special Licenses:
Motion by Grimes, second by Ward to approve One Day special Licenses for St. John’s Club for June 21, 23 and 24. Vote unanimous.
Motion by Grimes, second by O’Donnell to approve One Day Special for July 19. Vote unanimous.
Camping By-Law Sub Committee:
Ward motioned and volunteered as a member of the Board to serve on the Camping By-Law Sub Committee, second by Casey. Vote unanimous.
Selectmen Notes:
Ward stated he went to the IDC meeting last evening. Several people talked to him at the Farmer’s Market about the Benjamin Ellis School. They were concerned as to some things they want to have looked at for that building, and neighbors also want to form a study committee on that issue with maybe some type of guidance for the RDA. He would like to see if people are interested on serving on it. He would like to see it put on an Agenda of an upcoming meeting. Motion by Ward, second by Casey to form committee. O’Donnell questioned this as he understood that is why we created an RDA. Other boards have resources and can assist them, and we should set a timetable for recommendations for this building. Grimes stated that this issue has been around for a few years.
Vote unanimous.
O’Donnell reminded everyone Flag Day is coming up and asked residents to keep our men and women serving in the armed forces around the world in our thoughts and prayers.
Grimes brought up the letter from the Attorney General’s office regarding the Executive Session Minutes on the Chief of Police’s contract. He would like to have it discussed at the next meeting.
Both Casey and Angley had no notes.
Town Administrator Notes:
LaFond stated the Whitworth Property Group continues to meet on future uses of the property. He also continues to meet with two collective bargaining unions, and continues to prepare for Town Meeting. The Recreation Committee’s salary line item for FY09 had been reduced, which essentially would have eliminated the Swim Lessons and Lifeguard Programs. As a result of a very generous gift from the Dorinne Merritt Fund in the amount of $10,000 the programs will be funded. He thanked the Merritt Family for generous gift.
Motion by Casey, second by O’Donnell to go into Executive Session and not to return to Open Session under MGL 39§23B, #1 and #3. Roll Call Vote - Unanimous.
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