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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 04/06/2009 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 6, 2009 Selectmen Present: Paul Carlson, Acting Chairman Frederick Koed Karen Quigley Selectmen Absent: Edwin G. Carr, Chairman Ralph Dormitzer Others Present: William R. Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Recording Secretary Selectman Paul Carlson called the meeting to order at 6:50PM Selectman Frederick Koed moved the Board go into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing strategy with respect to litigation. Selectwoman Karen Quigley seconded the motion. Selectman Koed—Aye Selectwoman Quigley—Aye Acting Chairman Carlson—Aye The meeting came back in to open session at 7PM. Town Manager's Report Town Manager, William Griffin, alerted the Board that Recreation Commission member, Lisa L. Lojacono, has resigned from the Commission. The Board of Selectmen and the Recreation Commission will need to meet and make an appointment. Selectmen's Comment Period Selectman Koed expressed condolences to the family of Harry Ritter. Selectwoman Quigley thanked everyone for coming out to Town Meeting and the Town Election. Selectwoman Quigley also announced that it looks like they have enough funding to complete the Border Street culvert project. Selectman Carlson thanked all of the candidates who participated in democratic process by running for election. Licenses& Permits—Selectman Koed moved to approve the Common Victular license for Blue Restaurant Group, d/b/a The Blackstone Tavern. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Selectman Koed moved to approve the Common Victular license for 5 South Main Street. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(3-0). Minutes—Selectwoman Quigley moved to approve the minutes of March 2, 2009 as amended. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Selectwoman Quigley moved to approve the minutes of March 9, 2009 as written. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Selectmen—4.6.09 -JBO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 6, 2009 Reorganization of the Board—Selectman Koed moved to appoint Paul Carlson as Chairman. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Chairman Carlson moved to appoint Selectwoman Quigley as Vice-Chairman. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Federal Stimulus Project Prioritization— Mr. Griffin reviewed the methodology he used in creating the matrix of projects he submitted to the Board. The Board discussed various projects and again feels the Town Hall Restoration project is on the top of their list(s). Selectman Koed asked Mr. Griffin if he could get the Board an update on the condition of the Beechwood Street culvert. The Board will wait to prioritize the list of projects until they have a full Board. Judeth Van Hamm—Energy Audit Grant— Ms. Van Hamm and Mr. Rodney Hobson of the Alternative Energy Committee addressed the Board. Ms. Van Hamm stated that the Town is positioning itself in the green energies program and that the State has very clear criteria the Town must follow to participate. She stated that just signing up for the audit fulfills five or six criteria for the Town. Chairman Carlson asked if the Alternative Energy Committee could look into the possibility of using geothermal heat for the proposed senior center and if the AEC could look into grants available under the green energies program. After further discussion, Selectman Koed moved to approve the Town filing with the State Energy Audit Program. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3- 0). Public Hearing—Comcast Cable License Renewal—Attorney Hillman of Town Counsel, as well as Cable Advisory Members Pat Martin,James Morrison and Michael Zotos (in the audience) addressed the Board. Attorney Hillman reviewed the history of the cable license negotiations. He stated that Cable licenses are not exclusive and that soon they will be back before the Board with an application for a Verizon cable license. Attorney Hillman reviewed how the franchise charge on the cable bills will help fund new equipment for the Town. Ms. Martin stated that eventually a studio will need to be constructed and run by the Town. This could lead to great education possibilities and better local programming. Comcast will no longer be maintaining their studio in Norwell and therefore the Town will need to create its own. There was then a lengthy conversation about the fees, equipment etc. Senior Manager for Government Relations for Comcast, Frank Foss addressed the Board. He thanked the Board for working with Comcast. He confirmed that Comcast is indeed leaving the public access business, and that Towns owning their own studios is the wave of the future. Selectwoman Quigley expressed her concern over the proposed PEG non-profit having autonomy over the fees which could be about $100,000. She asked Attorney Hillman to provide the Board with the proposed non-profit structure for the Board's review. Chairman Carr moved that the Board of Selectmen as they are the Issuing Authority under the statutes governing the regulation of cable television, approves the draft Renewal Cable Television License for Cohasset, Massachusetts, dated as of April 15, 2009 between the Town of Cohasset and Comcast I of Massachusetts, Inc.,for a term of 10 years,and hereby grants that nonexclusive renewal license to Comcast on the terms contained in the draft. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Selectwoman Quigley moved to delegate the ascertainment hearings with Verizon to the Cable Advisory Committee. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Selectmen—4.6.09 -JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 6, 2009 Selectman Koed moved to adjourn the meeting. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (3-0). Meeting adjourned at 8:06PM. Respectfully submitted, Paul Carlson, Chairman Selectmen—4.6.09 -JBO 3