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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 08/05/2014 Minutes Board of Selectmen August 5, 2014 Selectmen's Office-Town Hall 41 Highland Avenue Cohasset, MA Selectmen Present: Diane Kennedy,Chairman Steve Gaumer Martha Gjesteby Karen Quigley Kevin McCarthy Others Present: Christopher Senior,Town Manager Paul DeRensis,Town Counsel Chairman Kennedy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Public Comment-None Minutes Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve minutes of 7/15/14 as amended,seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Licenses The Daily Press Juice Bar located at 132 Chief Justice Cushing Highway submitted an application for a common victualler's license. The owner is John M. Peraino. They will serve cold-pressed juices,teas, waters,smoothies as well as salads and sandwiches as a retail business. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve a Common Victualler's License for The Daily Press Juice Bar located at 132 Chief Justice Cushing Highway,seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Approve and Sign Pilgrim Bank Easement Attorney DeRensis gave an overview of the easement to the board. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to accept the easement as written,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Pole Hearing Cedar Street Rich McDonald and Bill Matthews were present on behalf of National Grid. They went to each location and presented the board with alternatives for each pole location. Mr. McDonald stated the issue with Pole 55 can be resolved by trimming back the tree. This would alleviate the problem. He can have their tree warden meet with the town's warden. The issue with Pole 54 is it has a bad corner on it. They need to add a pole behind the existing pole. They could place this pole three feet back so it would be more esthetically pleasing. The issue with Pole 42 is the same issue as Pole 55. They can trim the tree back and this would eliminate the problem or they could actually take down the tree for the town. Again,they would work with their tree warden and the town's warden. As for Pole 32, they would need Selectmen-8/5/14-TC Initial ��`� Minutes Board of Selectmen August 5, 2014 to put a push brace behind it on the town's property. if they put the brace further back they would need an easement with the property owner. Attorney DeRensis stated there is a state law that communities can opt to put utilities underground and require utility companies to cover costs. It does involve a town meeting vote. Users would be accessed 2%on their bills. The board asked that they come back with an updated plan and potential easement with the property owner. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to continue hearing until 8/19 at 7:10 p.m.,seconded by Chairman Kennedy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Pole Hearing Jerusalem Road Rich McDonald and Bill Matthews were present on behalf of National Grid. The issue with Pale 137 is the tree is dying and there is nothing else to attach it to. They are suggesting putting a pole across from tree.The Pole 129 needs to be replaced with a new pole;there is no alternative. Mr. McDonald stated Pole 122 is a different situation. He has spoken with the owner and he believes he could work with both neighbors and come to a solution. Claudette Bibro of 666 Jerusalem Road stated she doesn't want another pole installed. Selectman McCarthy suggested Mr. McDonald speak with Mrs. Bibro and the abutting neighbor and discuss options for the location. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to continue hearing until 8/19 at 7:20 p.m.and have National Grid look into more options and submit an updated plan including what was discussed with neighbors, seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Warrant for September 9,2014-State Primary Election • Chairman Kennedy stated the State Primary Election will be held on September 9, 2014. Absentee ballots for the primary will be available Monday,August 111h. The last day to register to vote or change party affiliation is Wednesday,August 201h and the Town Clerk's office will be open until 8 p.m. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve the warrant,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Application for Half-Marathon John Donlon was present requesting to hold the 3 Beach Minimum Half-Marathon on Saturday, September 27'h. He discussed the benefits for the town. The board had a lengthy discussion about their concerns with the number of events in town. The board agreed to hold off on further events until the board has a larger discussion. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to approve the event based upon stipulations as follows;the running populations for the event not exceed 200 entrants and by the extent possible the net proceeds to charitable donations shall be made as indicated in the proposal,seconded by Selectman Quigley. Selectman Gaumer amended his motion to include proof of insurance certificate naming the Town of Cohasset provided to the board by 8/19/14. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to accept amended motion,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was 4-1. Selectman Gjesteby voted against. The vote on the motion as amended was 4-1. Selectman Gjesteby voted against. Selectmen-8/5/14-TC Initiall:'� Minutes Board of Selectmen August 5, 2014 Committee Appointments Motion by Selectman Gaumer to appoint Diane Benson to Registrar of Voters for a 3 year term, seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Motion by Selectman Gaumer to appoint Richard Schiffmann to Cable Advisory Committee for a 1 year term,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Motion by Selectman McCarthy to appoint Merle Brown to Cable Advisory Committee for a 1 year term,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to appoint Peter Wood to Cohasset Common Historic District Committee as an Alternate Member for 2 years,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Town Counsel Paul DeRensis discussed with the board what the Board of Selectmen role is for boards/committees. The Selectmen do not have any oversight over boards/committees that the Town Manager appoints. The Selectmen also have no outside jurisdiction with any board/committee that is part of the legislative part of government(Advisory, Capital Budget).The Board also has no oversight over elected boards/committees(Planning,Water,Sewer, Board of Health, Library Trustees, Housing Authority, Open Space& Recreation and School). The Town Manager Act says the Town Manager coordinates(Planning, Economic Development,Conservation, Harbor, Design Review, CPC,Affordable Housing, Water,Sewer, BOH,Stormwater and Open Space & Recreation). Regulatory boards/committees that are set under General Laws and are given powers by the General Laws or bylaws of the town to make decisions with projects/properties. The Board of Selectmen is not the appeals board for any of these regulatory boards/committees. The Selectmen's oversight is limited to the administration matters not the substance. Most boards/committees are outside of the Selectmen's oversight. All boards/committees receive no compensation. The Selectmen set the charges of boards/committees and should review periodically. It is recommended that all boards/committees have a sunset date when they are created. Any member must be a registered voter and must be sworn in with the Town Clerk. All members must take the ethics test and submit a certificate to the Town Clerk, It is suggested all boards/committees are divergent. The Selectmen should be actively recruiting at all times. The members are volunteers and should be treated with respect. Their experience on a board/committee should be rewarding. Their work should be taken seriously. Selectman Quigley asked about regulatory boards/committees missing meetings and what is allowed. Attorney DeRensis stated a member can missed one meeting and review materials from the meeting as well as the audio and submit a form with the town clerk stating they have done so. They cannot miss more than one meeting of a hearing. If they miss a second meeting of the same hearing they must recuse from participating in that hearing. FY15 BoS Meeting and Town Meeting Schedule The board discussed possible dates for Special Town Meeting and Annual Town Meeting. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to set the date for Special Town Meeting for Monday, November 17, 2014 at 7 p.m.,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Selectmen-8/5/14-TC Initial /9)4C Minutes Board of Selectmen August 5, 2014 Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to set the date for Annual Town Meeting for Saturday, May 2,2014 at 20:00 a.m.and the Town Elections for Saturday,May 9,2014,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Budget Update-FY14 Closing Mr. Senior stated Finance Director Mary Gallagher has been working hard to close out the year. Ms. Gallagher went over the closeout numbers with the board. She discussed the General Fund Budget to Actual and the Sewer and Water Budget to Actual. The estimated free cash is$899,467.10 however about$190,000 will be going to OPEB. Selectman Gaumer asked why the water debt is not retiring as the sewer debt is. Ms.Gallagher didn't have the long term schedule debt with her. She will look into. She stated water has borrowed a lot more than sewer. Cash Handling Policies&Procedures Mr.Senior presented the Board with the draft of policies for cash handling and turnovers. The town is basically already following these procedures but this is to formalize it. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve the Cash Handing and Turnover Policies and Procedures, seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous(5-0). John Smith Expenditures After a brief conversation with Town Counsel Paul DeRensis he advised the board they do not need to discuss or vote on this. Selectmen Comments Selectman Quigley she is pleased that another Cohasset Student will be attending the Norfolk Agricultural School. She asked Mr.Senior if anyone is addressing the request to put a bench at the memorial on Spring Street. Mr.Senior stated Carl Sestito is aware of it and will speak with the resident. Selectman Quigley asked that the board receive all information for the meeting before the meeting. It is hard to vote on something they just received. Selectman McCarthy agreed. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to adjourn,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Meeting adjourned at 11:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane Kennedy,Chairman Selectmen-8/5/14-TC Initial Minutes Board of Selectmen August 5, 2014 Documents Pole Hearing-Cedar Street Pole Hearing-Jerusalem Road Minutes 7/15/14 Common Victualler's License-Daily Press Juice Bar Pilgrim Bank Easement Warrant for State Primary Election Application-Half Marathon FY14 Budget Information Cash Management Policy Selectmen-8/5/14-TC Initial