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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 03/15/2010 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 15, 2010 Selectmen Present: Paul Carlson, Chairman Karen Quigley Frederick R. Koed Ralph Dormitzer Edwin G. Carr Others Present: William Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Clerk Chairman Paul Carlson called the meeting to order at 7PM. Town Manager's Report Town Manager, William Griffin, reviewed the make-up of the Water Planning Group. The members will include:two members of the Selectmen, two members of the Water Commission,two members of the Advisory Committee, two members of the Capital Budget Committee, and two citizens at large. Mr. Griffin stated that three citizens have expressed interest as well and when the Board is ready, appointments can be made. Selectmen Comment Period Chairman Carlson congratulated the Girl's Basketball team on their State Championship. Chairman Carlson then stated that the Board has received the opinion from Town Counsel on the CPC articles and asked that they be put back on the agenda the next week. He then reminded everyone to complete their ethics test as it is due by April 2"d. The Chairman also informed the Board and the community that he and Mr. Griffin did meet with Mr. and Mrs. Houghton and the Houghtons reiterated their request for relief from the flooding problem near their home and suggested an up and down vote of Town Meeting regarding the Treats Pond Restoration Project. The Board will place this for discussion on a future agenda. Selectman Ralph Dormitzer stated that the DPW has made great efforts and has gone out to dig out the pipe at Sandy Cove every day, including Sunday. He stated that the Houghton's home is uninhabitable and they have had to leave. He then reviewed the other flooded areas in Town. Selectman Karen Quigley stated that she had taken a drive during the day and that the Reservoir and its abutting properties, Doane Street and Beechwood Street near Bound Brook are all still very flooded. Public Comment—Ms. Martha Gjesteby of 81 Old Pasture Road addressed the Board. She stated that the Water Planning Group should be an Ad-Hoc committee and that they need people with financial, chemical and environmental backgrounds. She does not feel they should have Water Commissioners on the committee. She also feels there may be State and Federal people who could help the Town. Licenses& Permits—Selectman Carr moved to approve a one-day liquor license for a St. Patrick's Fundraiser event at St.Anthony's Parish, located at 10 Summer Street, on March 20, 2010 from 6- 11PM. Selectman Dormitzer seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Selectmen—3.15.10-JBO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 15, 2010 Minutes—Selectman Quigley moved to approve the minutes of February 8, 2010 as written. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0,Selectman Dormitzer not present at this meeting). Annual Town Meeting Article Review& Recommendations: Sewer Commission Budget—Chairman of the Sewer Commission,John Beck, addressed the Board. Selectman Dormitzer asked if the Commission was solvent. Mr. Beck stated they are, but they have to be very careful as they too are affected by the reduced water consumption. Mr. Beck then reviewed the adjustments and expenses they have cut to break even. They are presently renegotiating the contract with their plant operators to see if they can achieve a reduction in cost. They are hoping they can reach an agreement so that they do not have to exercise their 60 day out clause. He then reviewed areas on the revenue and stated that they would be breaking even for FY11. Selectman Quigley asked Mr. Beck how they would be addressing pump replacement and if it has been resolved. Mr. Beck stated the issue has not been resolved. He gave the history on the pumps and reviewed the various options they are looking at. Selectman Quigley stated that she noticed that the budget line for the Consulting Engineer is increasing by 50%and that she would think it would be going down. Mr. Beck stated that negotiations take a lot of work and that their engineer has been very helpful and is very knowledgeable in the industry. He stated that they do not have an internal person to deal with these issues. He stated that they hope not to spend all of the money budgeted. Selectman Quigley stated that having sat at nearly all of their meetings, it seems to her that the Commission delegates just about everything to the engineer and that they are not as involved as they could be. She feels they have a very able Administrative Assistant who costs a lot less that could handle much of this. Mr. Beck stated that presently the Administrative Assistant does a very good job but there are things that only Mr. Coughlin can do. Selectman Quigley stated that as an observer, it appears to her that the consulting engineer has more control of the budget. Mr. Beck stated that he prepared the budget and that he takes full responsibility for it. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend the budget to Town Meeting. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was 4-0, Selectman Quigley abstained. School Department Budget—Members of the School Committee Alfred Slanetz, Adrienne McCarthy, Paul Schubert and Superintendant Denise Walsh addressed the Board. Mr. Slanetz stated that the schools have made great strides in education with college acceptances etc. He stated that presently the budget is treading water and they are working hard to balance everything out. He said that the schools have$425,000 of mandated expenses, as well as cuts in circuit breaker money and grants. He asked the Superintendant to review the budget in more detail. Ms. Walsh reviewed the numbers detailing where cuts were made so they could maintain level services. Mr. Slanetz stated that they also looked very closely at raising fees, but felt that presently the fees cover half of the services they are required to provide. Ms. Walsh stated the budget would be going up 2.9%from FY10. The school committee certified a budget of$15,138,668,which comes in approximately$104,000 higher than the budget provided by the Town Manager. There was a lengthy discussion about what the process would be at Town Meeting should the school budget not meet the recommended budget of the Town Manager. Ms. McCarthy stated that the unemployment costs to the schools have required them to go from $80,000 budgeted in FY10 to $240,000 for FY11. It was discussed that the unemployment costs had been on the Town's side of the budget, but due to the fact that the majority of this cost comes from the schools,the Town took their own unemployment costs and the schools did the same. There was then a discussion about budgets, and end of year transfers. The School Committee has another scheduled meeting prior to Town Meeting and will discuss this further. Selectman Dormitzer stated that overall this is a good Selectmen—3.15.10-JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen March 15, 2010 budget and to come in only$100,000 over on a fifteen million dollar budget is not bad. The Board thanked them all for their time. Cable Advisory Committee Update—Chairman of the Committee, Pat Martin, and Attorney Rod Hillman of Town Counsel's Office addressed the Board. Ms. Martin reviewed where they are, stating that the Town now has both Comcast and Verizon under contract and now they are preparing to update the equipment in Town as well as build a studio at Town Hall. They reviewed various plans for the improved equipment and the construction plans for the studio. They also presented the budget for the Cohasset Community Television Corporation. Selectman Dormitzer moved to approve the budget as presented. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Operating Budeet(Article 3)—Mr. Griffin explained to the Board that they would be approving the budget,without the Water Department, as presented; it would then be amended at the June Special Town Meeting. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend Article 3 as presented. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Supplemental Appropriations(Article 10)—Mr. Griffin reviewed the funds needed to supplement the budgets for Police Overtime and Legal Fees. Selectman Dormitzer moved to recommend Article 10 as presented. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Selectman Dormitzer moved to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Meeting adjourned at 9:15PM. Respectfully submitted, Paul Carlson Chairman Selectmen—3.15.10-JBO 3