HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 03/31/2015 (2) Minutes-Board of Selectmen March 31, 2015
Selectmen 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
Chairman Kennedy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment
Francis Collins-404 South Main Street advised the Board and residents the Stormwater Advisory
Committee will be holding the Annual Flood Prone Area Survey meeting on April 7, 2015 @7 p.m. Mr.
Collins also stated that the Committee has some vacancies. Robin Lawrence-15 Beach Street and
President of the Sandy Beach Association spoke with the Board about increasing the height of the wall at
Sandy Beach. He is concerned with maintaining the sand. Mr. Lawrence stated CPC is willing to
entertain a proposal. He stated the town owns the wall and parking lot therefore; the town should be
the applicant. The Board had a brief discussion about whether it is feasible to get it on the warrant.
Chairman Kennedy stated they will speak with Brian Joyce.
Selectmen Update
Selectman Gaumer commended the Cohasset Police for their rapid response apprehending a historical
sex offender last week. They did a great job. Selectman Quigley stated she attended the Water Rate
Study public forum. She stated it is an important issue that people should get educated about.
Selectman Gjesteby stated she attended the DAR meeting and Christian Cunnie received the Good
Citizen Award. Chairman Kennedy congratulated the Rotary for a great road race this past weekend.
They had 1200 participants registered. There was also a Food Pantry Palooza this past weekend at town
hall which was very successful.
Article Review
Building Inspector Bob Egan, Planning Board members Michael Dickey-216 South Main Street and Clark
Brewer-262 North Main Street were present. Mr. Brewer discussed Article 21-Special Permits in the
Village Business District.The consensus of the Planning Board was that there is confusion between gross
and net measuring. They felt they needed stronger language. They also discussed Article 18-Adoption
of Stretch Energy Code. Mr. Brewer stated town counsel is reviewing the article. Mr. Egan explained
what the Stretch Energy Code is. He stated the building code now exceeds the Stretch Energy Code
from 2012. This code is required for all new construction and is not retroactive.
Current Year Budget
Quarterly Investment Report
Treasurer/Collector Paula Linhares was present and gave the Board an overview of the Investment
Executive Summary.
Selectmen-3/31/15-TC Initial��
Minutes-Board of Selectmen March 31, 2015
February Actuals
Finance Director Mary Gallagher was present. She went over the February Revenue and Expenditures.
Selectman Gaumer asked about the Water Revenue. Ms. Gallagher will get him more details. Mr.
Senior gave some highlights of the report and some of the positive signs and trends.
Project Management Update
Director of Project Management Brian Joyce was present. Mr.Joyce discussed with the Board FEMA and
Flood Map Revisions. John Cavanaro of Cavanaro Consulting was present and added that the FEMA
maps are not accurate for Cohasset. Sean Cunning-48 Jerusalem Road Drive spoke of how the
insurance is affected by the new FEMA maps. Mr.Joyce has received a quote from Woodard& Curran
to start the Letter of Map Revision application process for one section of the town at a cost of$39,000.
The LOMR process can take up to 9 months. Eric Eisenhauer-46 Hobart Lane stated he bought a house 8
years ago and wasn't required to have flood insurance. The new FEMA maps would require him to carry
the insurance even though he would never get water. He asked why the town wouldn't just go through
the LOMR process for the entire town. Mr.Joyce stated the plan is for just a minimal approach. The
Board had a lengthy conversation about what parts of town are the most vulnerable. The Board asked
Mr.Joyce to find out what it would cost the town to go through the process for the entire town and
come back to the Board with an estimate. Ralph Dormitzer- 111 Atlantic Avenue offered a point of
information. He stated the FEMA maps for Norfolk County are final and cannot be challenged at this
point in time. Mr.Joyce disagreed and said he would confirm this.
MAPC Parking Study
Project Engineer Brian Joyce advised the Board and the public that the MAPC Parking Study is on the
town website and encouraged everyone to review and submit their opinions and comments in the
suggestion box. Mr.Joyce gave an overview of the findings.
Budget FY16-Sewer
Chairman of Sewer Commission Brian Baldwin-65 Pond Street was present. He stated the Advisory
Board approved the sewer budget earlier tonight. He went through the FY16 Sewer budget with the
board. The Board had a lengthy discussion about the indirect costs.
Capital Budget
Chairman of Capital Budget Jack Keniley-46 Black Rock Road was present. Mr. Keniley reviewed with
the Board the proposed Capital Improvements budget. He explained how the funding gets financed and
discussed turn backs if a project doesn't happen within 3 years. Mr. Keniley and the Board discussed the
projects.
CPC Articles
Chairman of CPC Russ Bonetti-20 Parker Avenue and Peter Wood-77 Summer Street were present. Mr.
Wood discussed the Dennis Reardon Square Restoration that is proposed. Mr. Bonetti discussed the
other four projects with the Board as follows; Restoration of Cohasset Bi-Centennial Flag, Housing
Authority,Trustees of the Reservations and Cemeteries being filed with Central Registry.
Selectmen-3/31/15-TC Initial
Minutes-Board of Selectmen March 31, 2015
Minutes 3/24/15
Motion by Selectman Gaumer to approve the minutes of 3/Z4/15,seconded by Selectman Gjesteby
and the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Chairman Kennedy asked for a motion to go into Executive Session for Exception#2-(2)To
conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct
collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel; (3)To discuss
strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental
effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. The board
will come out of executive session for the purpose of adjourning only.The board will discuss updates
on contract negotiations and healthcare. Motion moved by Selectman Gaumer and seconded by
Selectman McCarthy.
Martha Gjesteby Aye
Karen Quigley Aye
Diane Kennedy Aye
Steve Gaumer Aye
Kevin McCarthy Aye
The board went into executive session at 11:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Kennedy, Chairman
Documents
Draft Warrant
February Actuals
Quarterly Investment Summary
Parking Study Summary
Flood Maps-FEMA
Proposed FY16 Budgets
Minutes 3/24/15
Selectmen-3/31/15-TC Initial
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