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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 03/01/2010 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 1,2010 Selectmen Present: Paul Carlson, Chairman Karen Quigley Frederick R. Koed Ralph Dormitzer Edwin G. Carr Others Present: William R. Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Clerk Chairman Paul Carlson called the meeting to order at 7:OO13M. Town Manager's Report Town Manager, William Griffin, announced that the Town has received notice from the Green Communities Consultant, Bluewave Strategies,that they are now ready to provide planning assistance to Cohasset. Mr. Griffin asked the Board for input on the composition of the Committee that will work the Bluewave. After a brief discussion,the Board agreed that they should meet with members of the Planning Board. In addition, it was suggested that members of the Zoning Board of Appeals,the Alternative Energy Committee, the Conservation Commission and the Board of Selectmen have representatives on the committee. Mr. Griffin asked the Board to approve the request from Mr. Paul Adams. Mr. Adams requested to erect, around the flagpole he built at the Hagerty Building, a two foot high stone wall with lighting with a dawn to dusk timer, all at his own expense. The Board asked for a sketch as well as more information on the lighting,they also asked if the lights will be solar and if their being on dusk to dawn will disturb the neighbors. Mr. Griffin will get back to the Board. Mr. Griffin announced that the date for the Cat Dam Meeting has been changed to Thursday, April 8, 2010. Mr. Griffin then asked the Board to sign the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Selectmen's Comment Period Selectman Edwin Carr stated that NASA has accepted the Cohasset Town Flag to go up on the Space Shuttle with Captain Stephen Bowen. Selectman Ralph Dormitzer stated that he had received many calls regarding the Water Department and their budget. He stated that the Board will not be determining if they will support the increase this evening. He said that he wondering if an audit of the Water Department is needed. Mr. Griffin said that he would be receiving a new budget from the water department shortly. He also explained that if by June 30, 2010 there is a shortfall, the money would have to be made up with the General Fund and there would need to be budget cuts. Chairman Carlson stated that the Water Department may not be ready, but they need to come in before the Board. There was a brief discussion about how the motion for the budget at Town Meeting could be split up. Selectman Quigley then stated that she knows the Water Commissioners work very hard, but once again the warrant is going to print and things are down to the last minutes, like the Water Department not having their numbers ready. She stated that she found this both unacceptable and disappointing. Selectmen—3.1.10-JBO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 1,2010 Selectman Frederick Koed made mention of the letter from the Army Corp of Engineers that was included in the Board's packets. He stated that the Army Corp is looking for the route the Board wants to take and what it wants to do. Chairman Carlson stated that Mr.Amory Houghton of 91 Atlantic Avenue has asked to meet with Mr. Griffin and himself to discuss this matter. Selectman Quigley stated that she would like clarification on what the previous vote of the Board was and if that was conveyed to the Army Corp. Chairman Carlson stated that he did not think there was any written correspondence. Mr. Griffin stated that he did not recall sending anything, but he would look into it further and get back to the Board. Public Comment Period—Peter Whittemore of 47 Elm Court addressed the Board. Mr. Whittemore stated that it was his understanding that the business with the Army Corp would be transparent and asked why the Board is still having meetings with private citizens. Chairman Carlson stated that there was nothing going on behind the scenes and that he and Mr. Griffin were giving Mr. Houghton the courtesy of meeting with him. Annual Town Article Review Amend Purposes of Capital Stabilization Fund (Article 5)—Chairman of the Capital Budget Committee, Mr. Steve Gaumer, addressed the Board and explained that the purpose of this article is to fill a procedural void that is in the bylaw. For example, if the Advisory Committee's Reserve fund were to be used in an emergency during the course of the year(i.e. a broken piece of fire equipment), this would allow for the Capital Stabilization Fund to reimburse the Reserve Fund for the emergency during the current fiscal year. After a brief discussion, Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend article S. Selectman Edwin Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Capital Stabilization Fund (Article 6)—Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend article 6. Selectman Quigley seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Community Preservation Committee(Article 8)—Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), Stuart Ivimey of 7 Sankey Road, addressed the Board. He then reviewed each request for the Board asking that each be voted on separately. Recommendation A: Mr. Ivimey explained that this article is general housekeeping and reviewed the subaccounts of the CPC. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation B: This is the appropriation for a land purchase for the purposes of open space that was approved as part of Article 12 at the 2004 Annual Town meeting. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend this article. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Recommendation C: This rescinds recommendation "E" of Article 7 of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting approving the acquisition of a portion of the Ozzy Ingram property. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend.Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation D: This is a $50,000 request to replace the boiler at the Historical Society Building (former Paul Pratt Memorial Library). Selectmen Dormitzer, Koed and Quigley all expressed concern that this could fall under"maintenance" which cannot be funded by CPC money. It was agreed to hold Selectmen—3.1.10-JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 1,2010 off on voting on this recommendation until the Board receives an opinion from Town Counsel on the matter. Recommendation E: This article if for improvements at 60 Elm Street, an affordable housing facility, in the amount of$12,300. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation F: This article is for improvements at 60 Elm Street, an affordable housing facility, in the amount of$15,375. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation G: This article is for improvements at 60 Elm Street, an affordable housing facility, in the amount of$12,325. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation H: Mr. Ivimey was joined by Debbie Shadd of the Open Space Committee and Sandy Durant of the Cohasset Land Trust. They reviewed the recommendation stating that there is a group of citizens that are interested in purchasing the Morrissey property to be retained as open space. They reviewed the plans for an appraisal,fundraising and grant options. They are requesting a total of $245,000 from the CPC. After further discussion,Selectman Quigley moved to recommend. Selectman Dormitzer seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Recommendation I: Mr. Ivimey was joined by Mr. Merle Brown to review the request for funds in the amount of$250,000 to make extraordinary changes and preserve Meeting House Pond located on Cohasset Common. After Mr. Brown reviewed the plans,Selectman Carr moved to recommend. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recommendation J: This recommendation was reviewed extensively. The request is for$24,805 from CSCR to correct stormwater damage and preserve the Haggerty Property located at 40 Parker Avenue by conducting several repairs. Chairman Carlson stated that he felt this sounded like maintenance. President of CSCR,Jack Buckley of 272 North Main Street and Mr. Steve Daley of 322 Jerusalem Road addressed the Board. Mr. Buckley expressed how upset he was by allegations made by people in Town. He then reviewed for the Board the contributions made to the Town by CSCR. Mr. Daley then addressed the issue of whether this work would be considered maintenance. He does not see it as such and stated that the work does qualify for CPC funds and reviewed each portion of the proposed work. Selectman Dormitzer and Selectman Quigley both expressed concern about whether the work was maintenance or a capital improvement as well if the building was actually historic. There was further discussion from Michael and Lisa Dick, of Parker Avenue, Russell Bonetti, of Parker Avenue, Kathy O'Malley of the Cohasset Historical and others. After this discussion,the Board agreed to wait on voting on a recommendation until they had received the opinion from Town Counsel. Recommendation K: This request was withdrawn. Consider Vote on Operating Budget(Article 3)—Mr. Griffin asked that the Board consider the Operating Budget only as both Sewer and Water are not ready and the Schools would not be certifying their budget until later in the week. Selectman Carr moved to recommend Article 3,the Operating Budget only,as presented by Mr. Griffin. Selectman Koed seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Selectmen—3.1.10-JBO 3 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 1, 2010 Consider Vote on Sewer Betterment Interest Rate (Article 19)—Selectman Carr moved to recommend article 19. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Consider Vote on Sewer Project Financing(Article 23, Citizen's Petition)— Mr. Griffin reviewed the history of how the other sewer projects were financed in the Town. He then explained the process of this article would be if approved at Town Meeting. Selectman Quigley stated that there has been a lot of talk about fairness and asked where the fairness is for those who are paying for sewer systems in the Town when they themselves could very well never receive sewer. After further discussion, Chairman Carlson moved to recommend Article 23. Selectman Dormitzer seconded the motion and the vote was 3-2, Selectmen Quigley and Koed against. Selectman Koed moved to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Meeting adjourned at 10PM. Respectfully submitted, Paul Carlson Chairman Selectmen—3.1.10-JBO 4