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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 03/09/2009 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 9, 2009 Selectmen Present: Edwin G. Carr, Chairman Paul Carlson Frederick Koed Ralph Dormitzer Karen Quigley Others Present: William R. Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Clerk Chairman Edwin G. Carr called the meeting to order at 7:OOPM. Town Manager's Report Town Manager, William Griffin, asked the Board to sign a release of an easement over the property at 60 Nichols Road. The Board signed the document prepared by Town Counsel. Selectman Ralph Dormitzer moved to release the easement held by the Water Department at 60 Nichols Road and sign the document. Selectman Frederick Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Mr. Griffin announced that the four communities working on the joint dispatcher project have just received a million dollar grant to build the facility. Selectmen's Comment Period Selectman Dormitzer stated that walking through town he has noticed a great deal of damage to trees and planters around town. He is hoping a list can be put together to determine which damage belongs to the Town and which would be from construction (L&M etc.). Selectwoman Quigley mentioned the letter from the South Shore Vocational Technical High School which states that they are not allowed to charge any type of transportation fees due to their regional funding process. Selectwoman Quigley also asked that in the future the Board be given notice of rate changes [water] so that the residents and the community have more time to discuss them. Chairman Carr complimented Eagle Scout Graham Sinclaire on how great the RTF Brochure came out. He also congratulated Joanne Chittick on her receiving the Cohasset Mariner's Citizen of the Year award. Bond Signing—Selectman Paul Carlson moved to approve and sign a permanent financing of a Bond with the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust in the amount of$415,215. The proceeds have been used by the Water Department to finance rain garden and stormwater management projects. The term for the bond is twenty years at 2%and the debt service will be repaid from water revenues. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Article Review Water Commissioner, Glenn Pratt, and Mr.Joe Nedrow reviewed the need for these articles. Articles 16, 17 and 18 are needed to make the appropriate land transfers so that preliminary site work can begin for the proposed Senior Center. Minutes—3.9.09-JBO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 9, 2009 Article 16: Transfer of Land by Water Commissioners to Board of Selectmen—Selectman Carlson moved to recommend Article 16. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Article 17: Acquisition of Property for Senior Center—Selectman Carlson moved to recommend Article 17. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Article 18: Conveyance of Property—Selectwoman Quigley moved to recommend Article 18. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Article 5: Capital Stabilization Fund—Mr. Steve Gaumer of the Capital Budget Committee reviewed the background of this article for the Board. After a brief discussion,Selectman Dormitzer moved to support a motion to raise and appropriate$320,000 to the Capital Stabilization Fund. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Mr. Griffin asked the Board to vote for the $28,324 in turn backs to the Stabilization Fund. Selectman Dormitzer moved to support the transfer$28,324 back to the Stabilization Fund. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Article 6: Capital Improvements Budget— Mr. Gaumer reviewed, in great detail,the many requests the Capital Budget Committee fielded and what capital items they have chosen to recommend. Mr. Gaumer was joined by committee member Peter DeCaprio and reviewed each item and the plan on how to finance them. After a lengthy discussion,Selectman Carlson moved to recommend Article 6 as recommended by the Capital Budget Committee: Facilities Management,Town Hall Fire Alarm System Replacement, Osgood School hot water heater; School Department,two(2) school buses and one (1) SPED van; Fire Department one(1) Rescue Pumper; Public Works, one (1) sand spreader, and one (1) front loader refurbishment; Information Technology Master plan,Town Hall Equipment replacement program; Library, computer placement program and finalization of staff work room; and Police Department, communications and security system upgrades, one (1) marked cruiser and five(5) computer and three (3) printers for a total expenditure recommendation of$789,400. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Senator Robert Hedlund & Representative Garrett Bradley—Update State Finances—Representative Garrett Bradley reviewed where the Town is presently with the 9C cuts and what the future could hold. He suggests the Town plan on cutting another 10% off of State Aid for FY10. They stated that the revenue picture gets more and more bleak each day. Senator Hedlund stated that there is some discourse in the Senate about how the government uses the "Rainy Day"/Stabilization Fund. He stated that many in the Senate feel they are too reliant upon that fund. Senator Hedlund and Representative Bradley also discussed the stimulus package, the MBTA and other transportation issues and health insurance issues and the cost to the Town. The Board thanked them both for coming in. Article 10: Post Retirement Health Insurance Liability Stabilization Fund—Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommended to raise and appropriate$20,000 into the post-retirement health insurance liability stabilization fund. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Article 3—Operating Budget—Mr. Griffin reviewed the changes he has made to the FY10 Budget. Selectman moved to recommend the operating budget as amended by Mr. Griffin. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Minutes—3.9.09-JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 9, 2009 Executive Session—Chairman Carr moved that the Board go into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Selectman Dormitzer will recuse himself from the discussion and leave the session. The Board will only come out of Executive Session for the purposes of adjourning the meeting. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion. Selectwoman Quigley—Aye Selectman Calson—Aye Selectman Dormitzer—Aye Selectman Koed—Aye Chairman Carr—Aye Meeting adjourned at 10PM. Respectfully submitted, Chairman Edwin G. Carr Minutes—3.9.09-JBO 3