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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 10/21/2014 Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 21, 2014 Selectmen's Office-Town Hall 41 Highland Ave. 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 Pledge of Allegiance Public Comment None Committee Appointments-OPEB Chairman Kennedy advised the board two members of the OPEB committee were not reappointed in June. Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to re-appoint Tim Davis and Carl Forsythe to OPEB for a one year term until June 30,2015,seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Selectmen Comments Selectman McCarthy stated a number of citizens have approached him and he is becoming concerned himself about the town not having a Police Chief for the past 2 Y2 years. Motion by Selectman McCarthy that the board places on next week's agenda an update by the town manager on his plans to provide Cohasset with a full time permanent police chief,seconded by Chairman Kennedy. Selectman Gaumer stated there is an interest on the board to see progress on this but the hire is the town manager's. He asked that Selectman McCarthy ask the Chairman to put it on an agenda rather than make it a motion. Selectman McCarthy added the Board has to approve the Town Manager's hire. At some point not having a Police Chief becomes a safety issue. He would like the public to see what the plans are to provide a full time Police Chief. Chairman Kennedy agreed it is important. However,the department is being managed by the current Acting Police Chief. It has gone on too long and the Town Manager was going to update the board tonight. Selectman Quigley stated she has had conversations with Mr.Senior and she is confident that he has been working very diligently on this. She does have a concern that since this issue was largely politicized before she is very concerned that it may become another hot political issue. She is urging her colleagues to keep this from happening again. She is not sure that opening this up to a public discussion is appropriate at this time. Selectman McCarthy stated it is very important to have transparency in the process. The public should be informed of what the plan is and the time table. He is making this a motion so the item is posted and the public is aware it will be discussed. Selectman Gjesteby agreed it is important but the town manager has been busy with STM and the warrant. Chairman Kennedy stated the way the board got into trouble the last time was trying to direct how the ad should be written,where it would be advertised or the language in a job description. Selectman McCarthy agreed to withdraw his motion if the Chairman agrees to put it on the 1 Selectmen-10.21.14 InitialhK Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 21, 2014 next agenda so that it is posted and if the public wants to hear what is being said they can do so. Mr. Senior stated he doesn't want the process to go on any longer. He is planning on releasing an RFP by the end of the week to begin the process. He shares the desire to move the process along. One of the things the community has to do right now is disengage the process from the people. He feels the town did that with the town manager process and it needs to be done here. He also stated he has enjoyed working with the Acting Chief and he is doing a great job but the town has to go through a clean process that is devoid of personalities and preconditions. Selectman McCarthy withdrew his motion. Selectman Quigley stated she attended a Stormwater meeting with Selectman McCarthy and the discussion included raingardens and the maintenance of them. This is an area she is interested in and believes it should be part of the budget process. She also asked for an update on the insurance from the Jingle Bell Walk and the BOH. Tracey Connors will look and see if the updated insurance was received. Selectman Gjesteby thanked the DPW for finishing the paving in town. She also stated she attended the school committee meeting and the security issues have been completed. Chairman Kennedy stated she has been asked about the 3A corridor study. She has spoken to Brian Joyce who said the study is ongoing and takes some time. They are talking about the timing of certain lights especially, at the 3A and Beechwood Street intersection as there was another bad accident there. Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds-Current Budget Update Water Chairman of Water Commission Leonora Jenkins-198 Jerusalem Road was present along with Finance Director Mary Gallagher. Leonora Jenkins stated she is happy to report the revenue is up$64,000 for this year compared to last year at this time. The projected bills for the second quarter are up$55,000. This is because of drought and fees (Toll Bros., more homes being built and more homes being sold). There will be a $193,000 reduction in debt service next year. They will have to determine the cost of running the plant. She discussed the article for transferring$100,000 from the Water Dept. Capital Stabilization Fund for the Water Commission and Town Manger to jointly use towards paying the 2015 Debt Service and to allocate$15,000 to jointly expend for the replacement of a section of the roof at the Water Treatment Facility. The debt service increased by$202,000. The other article discussed was Water Department Rules and Regulations Amendment-Section IX: 1 Meters, General and Appendix A- Rate 1. Leonora Jenkins stated this is a housekeeping article to establish equity among those in Cohasset that are connected to the water distribution system. Selectman Gaumer didn't agree with how the Capital Recovery Charges were divided among the users as well as why rates are not going down if what they are proposing is new billing(additional revenue to the water department). He stated they are over collecting on the debt. Selectman Gaumer and Selectman Quigley want the fee recognized as a Capital Recovery Charge in the article. Leonora Jenkins will work on the wording of the article. Sewer Chairman of Sewer-Brian Baldwin-65 Pond Street was present. He discussed the FY14 Sewer Operational Financial Statement and summary of the approved budget with the Board. He discussed the Sewer Commission Transfers article. The Commission on behalf of the ratepayers has an outstanding debt of$15.5 million payable through 2033 for past capital expansion projects. In order to avoid a significant balloon payment in FY31, a combination of operating revenues and retained earnings are transferred yearly to the Sewer Betterment Stabilization Fund and the Sewer Debt Stabilization Fund to achieve a fiat yearly debt payment over the term of the bonds. Selectman McCarthy asked for as much detail as possible in the informational summary. 2 Selectmen-10.21.14 Initia1113�C�L Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 21, 2014 STM Warrant Chairman Kennedy stated the CEA gave the Town Manager a number of articles for the Board to consider putting on the warrant-including an article authorizing the Board to negotiate a lease with the Social Service League for occupancy of 91 Sohier Street,or the new Senior Center. The Board has discussed an initial lease proposal from the SSL, in executive session,and believe that while this presents an opportunity,there is due diligence to be conducted so that we can present to the Town a comprehensive plan at Annual Town Meeting,and within our regular budget year. Chairman Kennedy asked for a motion to approve the following article; this article is an extension of our conversations in executive sessions relating to proposed lease terms.The Board is reserving discussion on the merits of this article and the Board's recommendations of this article until a future meeting when the board can delve deeper into this and also discuss the citizens' petitions. Motion by Selectman McCarthy to put the article on the warrant as read by the Chairman,seconded by Selectman Gaumer and the vote was unanimous(5-0). The board went through all the articles. Chris discussed the personnel bylaw policy. The simple way to handle this is treat exempt employees the same as union employees. This current bylaw is outdated by 17 years. Motion by Selectman Gaumer to issue the warrant as presented with the noted amendments and verbiage repairs,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Town Manager Update Mr.Senior advised the Board the letter to Craig Martin of the Army Corps of Engineers has been sent. Representative Bradley's office, as well as Congressman Lynch's office, is actively engaged. He has a call into the Army Corps to follow up and is waiting to hear back. Mr.Senior stated that are a lot of things going on right now in Town. The degree of due diligence behind the scenes is not always apparent and projected. He is trying to established processes that are clean,transparent and repeatable. He is working to get more information available to the public through the town web page. For example; what projects are being worked on and the status of them,where money from town meeting appropriations is being spent and where the town stands on capital items. He wants everyone to have confidence in the processes. He wants the public to know the best way to reach him is to contact Jen Dram or Tracey Connors and setup an appointment. He is more than happy to talk to anyone. He appreciates the passion people feel. Minutes 10/7/14 Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to approve the minutes of 10/7/14 as amended,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Public Comment Chairman of Advisory Peter Pescatore-12 Lantern Lane reminded the board about the treasury policies approved last year which included a paragraph about yields at town meeting. He asked at the board discuss at ATM this spring. Also, he stated there are still issues with the school security. The fobs are in place but he is still working with the school committee and trying to find out why the funding provided in January 2013 to put in lobby guards are not complete. The software that runs the security cameras has not been completed. Chairman Kennedy asked Mr.Senior to reach out to the Superintendent and CTO Rob Bonnell for an update. 3 Selectmen-10.21.14 Initial Minutes-Board of Selectmen October 21, 2014 Motion by Selectman Gjesteby to adjourn,seconded by Selectman McCarthy and the vote was unanimous (5-0). The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane Kennedy,Chairman Documents: Water&Sewer Enterprise Funds-Current Budget Draft Warrant Minutes Deer Mill Veterans Ceremony I 4 Selectmen-10.21.14 Initial �?�