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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 10/07/2014 Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 7, 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 Louis Ross,Town Counsel Chairman Kennedy called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Chairman Kennedy moved that the Board of Selectmen enter into executive session Exception##6 & ##4-to consider the purchase,exchange lease or value of real property pursuant to section 21(a)(6) of chapter 30A of the General Laws;and also to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices pursuant to section 21(a)(4). Motion seconded by Selectman Gaumer. Kevin McCarthy Aye Steve Gaumer Aye Diane Kennedy Aye Karen Quigley Aye Martha Gjesteby Aye The board entered into executive session @ 6:36 p.m. The board came back into open session at 8:03 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Public Comment Michelle Onwood-Laney-32 Red Gate Lane submitted to the petition to the Board requesting to be put on an agenda to discuss their concerns with a dog park possibly being placed in Wheelwright Park field. Chairman Kennedy said she will put on an upcoming agenda. Treasurer/Collector Paula Linhares reminded residents that taxes are due on November 3`d. The bill was sent out with the June bill. Town hall will be open on November 3`d until 4:30 p.m. The new box outside of town hall is available until 3 p.m.on November 3`d. She also advised the board she has started the Unclaimed and Abandoned Property process. The list and application is on the town's website. Events Ann Madden-Community Center Nursery School was present to request permission for the Annual Halloween Fair on October 191". She explained the activities for the day. Selectman McCarthy asked about the insurance certificate. The board discussed where on the certificate the town should be listed. 1 Selectmen-10.7.14-TC Initial !1 V C 3 /``G-4v 7r�_7 Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 7, 2014 Motion by Selectman McCarthy to approve the Halloween Fair for October 19'h,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Motion by Selectman McCarthy to waive the application fee for this year,seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Paula Murphy-South Shore Community Center was present to request permission for the 20'h Annual Jingle Bell Walk on November 281h. Selectman Quigley asked if the horse owners have liability insurance. Ms. Murphy stated she would think they do but will confirm. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to approve the 20 Annual Jingle Bell Walk on November 281h and waive the application fee for this year,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Recreation Director Ted Carroll was present to request permission for the annual Thanks-for-Giving 5K Road Race on November 27'h at 7:30 a.m. This is the 6'h year of the race. They had 600 runners last year. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to approve the race for November 27`h'seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous (5-0). The board received a request from Curtis Liquor Store to allow the store to open at 10:00 a.m.on Sundays beginning October 23`d. (M.G.L.c.138,S.15). Motion by Selectman Gaumer to approve the Sunday hours for Curtis Liquors as requested,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Harbor Dredging Update Harbormaster Lorri Gibbons was present. Mr.Senior distributed an update from the Army Corps. They are prepared to help out if the town needs them. They have a plan in place to use the Government dredge CURRITUCK to remove the worst emergency hot spots should navigation of the harbor become absolutely dire or threaten to close the harbor entirely. This plan would use the CURRITUCK on only those spots which would provide manageable relief until the dredging as initially designed could be undertaken in the fall of 2015. Mr.Senior also stated that Chairman Kennedy has been working with Congressman Lynch's office as well. Lorri Gibbons advised the board that the commercial fleet cannot get in at low tide. She did some soundings tonight at the 5 p.m. low tide. There is 3 feet at low tide. Her plan is to put a mooring outside of the channel and during the low tides leave the Parker out there. They should be able to access it by the work boat. She hopes the winter is quiet and there aren't any storms. She is concerned with medical emergencies. She is working with Sandy Beach Association to pull up on Sandy Beach if there is an emergency. She stated the CURRITUCK dredge would help. She distributed some maps to the board showing the areas that need to be dredged. The channel is 15 feet wide with four feet of water. After some discussion, the board decided to send a letter to the Army Corps and letting them know they feel the situation is already dire. Motion by Selectman McCarthy so authorize the Town Manager,Chairman and Harbormaster to send a letter pursuant to the letter to the Army Corps requesting that they send the CURRITUCK to dredge Cohasset Harbor so that it is no longer in danger of closing and for the safety and health of the 2 Selectmen-10.7.14-TC Initial 2 Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 7, 2014 commercial fisherman,seconded by Selectman Quigley and the vote was unanimous(5-0).The board will cc;all governments officials. Harbor Committee The board had a brief discussion about the makeup of the committee. They will look for the charge and look into further and discuss at a future meeting. Committee Appointments Motion by Selectman McCarthy to appoint Merle Brown to the CCTV-Board of Directors for a one-year term expiring June 2015,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Budget Message Selectman Gaumer discussed with the board Category 6. He doesn't believe it belongs in the budget message. Selectman Quigley stated the budget message should be short and clear. The board discussed putting the goals and objectives in the warrant. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve the FY16 Budget message including category 6 but not the goals and objectives,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was 4-0-1. Selectman Gaumer abstained from voting and stated he is in favor of this but it is just the matter of style. Chairman of Advisory-Peter Pescatore-12 Lantern Lane asked if budget message shows general increases (payroll). Chairman Kennedy stated there is not anything about general increases in the message. Liquor Policies Mr. Senior distributed the draft liquor policies with prior comments and changes that he received. Most changes are stylistic. He needs to talk with Town Counsel, Rich Hucksam. The board discussed the chart of offenses and discipline guideline. Selectman Gaumer referred to Illegality on Premises and asked if they could include any violation of bylaw or condition of permits. Mr.Senior will check with town counsel. Selectman Quigley stated she had an issue with some of the wording stating police department and not the authorized agents of the police department. Mr.Senior will work on the final document and the board will discuss at next week's meeting. Chairman Kennedy suggested the board discuss one-day liquor licenses in the future as well. Mr.Senior stated he is looking at other towns and will come up with something. Topics Not Anticipated within 48 hrs. Chairman of Water Commission Leonora Jenkins was present and discussed with the board the water levels in Cohasset. She stated "All levels are fine. The interconnect project involved running a 12 " main From the Lumber Co up 3A to the site of the Whitney Crossing Pumping Station, building the pumping station and running a main up to the Turkey Hill tank on the Hingham side. The project, which cost$3,000,000,was 100% paid by the Linden Ponds Company(AKA Erickson),no Cohasset or Hingham rate payers spent any money.As part of the project, Linden Ponds installed a water main at Woodside Cemetery for future irrigation,and made a payment to the Water Dept. For security camera system. No Water is given/sold to Aquarion. There is a state permit issued that allows water for the use of Linden Ponds and they are billed directly on a monthly basis for this 3 Selectmen-10.7.14-TC Initial Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 7, 2014 water. Annual billings are approx. $250K—% MILLION DOLLARS. To keep track of the water used there are 3 meters at Linden, 2 for the development and 1 for waste water,Cohasset also has a meter at the Whitney Crossing Station. All of the meters are tested annually and the results are shared with the entities involved. Quarterly meetings are held at revolving locations between Cohasset,Aquarian and Linden Ponds. She also discussed Ellms Meadow. The Wellfield has been open since March and will remain so until hopefully through November or the first full frost. There have been two bill stuffers sent to each household and four articles in the Mariner regarding the importance of keeping the area free of local waste,yard and otherwise. In July new signs were posted to inform the residents that this is a water supply. One individual who does landscaping has been caught dumping from his business and has subsequently cleaned the area at the corner of James Lane and Cushing road. An area resident anonymously called the Water Dept. last Friday and indicated that area residents are still ignoring the dumping issue and someone has posted on their Facebook that they will continue to dump. This person did not want to be identified nor identify who they see dumping,but they are concerned about the effect of the chemicals and animal waste polluting the watershed. Two weeks ago a policeman stopped a landscaper from dumping and issued a warning. The landscaper informed the officer that he has been doing this for 10 years. Our workers have seen some new disposal. I am at a loss for what we can do to further deter this activity. The Water Dept.has no enforcement capacity,which falls under ConCom and the police. With some residents conflicted about doing the right thing I don't know how we can protect this resource other than a high cyclone fence along the perimeter. This is of course also a problem at Lily Pond and the Reservoir with people walking their dogs in the watershed and refusing to pick up after them." Chairman Kennedy stated she would put on an agenda soon. Selectmen Update Selectman Gjesteby asked for a moment for Doug Peck who passed away recently. He was a long time Rotarian and was a member of the Old Goats. Chairman Kennedy also asked for a moment of silence for Michael Westcott as well. He was a former member of the Planning Board. Selectman Quigley stated that lack Buckley and his students will be participating for the second time in the Coastsweep tomorrow. Also,there was a conference call today with the Jacobs Meadow Advisory Committee and it was a very positive and they discussed the set levels for the tide gate for the winter and the time frame the information will be sent to the abutters. Also, some of the marsh grass is growing back in. Selectman Gaumer had an extended conversation with a resident regarding door to door solicitation. The resident was upset that there is no non-reporting system. He asked if there is another number to call besides 911. Maybe the town could notify neighborhoods if there will be solicitors in the area. He asked Mr. Senior to come up with guidelines for this and investigate door to door solicitation with other towns. Chairman Kennedy congratulated Shaun Selha and Eric Seuss on both becoming new fathers this week. The police are advising residents there is a person calling residents stating they represent National Grid and are looking for information. They were advised that this is not an employee of National Grid and information should not be given out. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to adjourn,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m. 4 Selectmen-10.7.14-TC Initial PVC(�( Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 7, 2014 Respectfully submitted, Diane Kennedy Documents: Event Applications Water Dept. Memo Draft Budget Message FY16 Army Corps. Letter Petition-Dog Park Curtis Liquors-Request change of hour's Bancroft Mall Calendar 5 Selectmen-10.7.14-TC Initial,/)