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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-04 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting February 4, 1992 The meeting was convened at 7 : 35 p.m. Present were Chairman Eugene Nigro, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Russ Graham and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following interested parties: George M Richards, William C. Brown, William V. Driscoll, Michael T. Terry, Bryan Hodgkins, Bud Dickey, Lois Bond, Ginny Lane, Tom Stohlman, Bill Burditt, Deirdre Hanley, Elia Marnik, Barbara Philbrick, M. J. Andreola, Anne Mark, Bill Murphy, Cathy Baranofsky, Ruth Cogan, Bill Redford. There were no minutes to be approved at this meeting. Liaison Reports Sally Hoyt reported on calls regarding the School Budget, the Desert Shield/Desert Storm Families Reception, and the Mass Municipal Association Meeting. She further commented on the sub- stance abuse programs, Recreation programs, and the fact that the Senior Citizen Grant has no special conditions. Dan Ensminger reported on the first Birch Meadow Task Force meet- ing, indicated that he had attended MMA sessions on Creative Budgeting and Recycling. Russ Graham indicated that there had been two meetings of the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee Task Force. They have a draft bylaw for the Board of Selectmen to consider. He also at- tended the FinCom/RMLD meeting. George Hines attended the MMA meeting. The Ice Rink Siting Ad- visory Committee also met once and will have a draft report for review by the Board of Selectmen next week. The Committee has received a formal offer from Nelson Burbank outlining the terms of the gift. He met with Gene Nigro and the Budget Sub- Committee, and the Committee is generally agreed on the use of free cash and the sense that we should stay with the current budget projections. He also acknowledged the RMHS track team. The boy's and girl 's track teams both won the State B Meet titles. Gene Nigro felt that the Budget Committee meetings exhibited a good spirit of cooperation although he was somewhat disappointed that the School Committee has decided against contracting out proposals for cafeteria and custodial services. He attended the Desert Storm/Desert Shield Family Support Group's reception. He commented on Geoff Beckwith's appointment as Executive Director of MMA, and attended an MMA session on American' s With Dis- abilities. Public Comment The Town Manager indicated that the Town has received the RESCO bill and the $427 , 000 bill was somewhat less than was an- ticipated. It is being reviewed by special counsel. On motion by Graham seconded by Hoyt the Board authorized the Selectmens Minutes - 2/4/92 - page 2 Town Manager to proceed with 30 to 40 hours of staff time to do a traffic study for the Haverhill Street Nike Base. Dan Ensminger was concerned that there was no precedent for use of this kind of staff time and it might be contrary to Town Meeting's Instruc- tional Motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-1-0, with Hines commenting that the report is being prepared for a Com- mittee appointed by the Board of Selectmen in order for the Board of Selectmen to make a decision. Personnel and Appointments The following residents were interviewed for a position on the Ad Hoc Senior Center Advisory Committee: William V. Driscoll, Bryan M. Hodgkins, George M. Richards, Thomas J. Stohlman and Michael Terry. People who applied but were not able to attend were Bob Jones, Rheta McKinley, Emma White and H. Allen Whitney. On mo- tion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the names of Mr. Driscoll, Mr. Hodgkins, Mr. Richards, Mr. Stohlman and Mr. Terry were placed in nomination. Mr. Driscoll, Mr. Hodgkins, Mr. Richards, and Mr. Stohlman receiving the required votes, they were appointed to this Ad 'Hoc Committee. The Board had expressed concerns about making appointments without interviewing all potential candidates, but the Town Manager indicated that time was of the essence. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt Virginia Adams was ap- pointed to the Senior Center Advisory Committee representing the Historical Committee by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger Irving Stackpole was ap- pointed to the Senior Center Advisory Committee representing the Council on Aging by a vote of 5-0-0. There were two applications for appointment to the Hazardous Waste Committee for a term expiring 6/30/92. Both Mr. Conary and Mr. Freeman were not present, and this will be posted for a fu- ture meeting. The Capital Improvements Advisory Committee Task Force has one applicant. However, Mr. Graham pointed out that the Committee has basically finished its work and therefore the Board did not interview for this position. Bud Dickey, Tree Warden and Supervisor of Parks and Forestry, ap- peared before the Board of Selectmen to discuss gypsy moth con- cerns. There was an infestation in certain areas of the com- munity last year, primarily in northern areas of Town, and we would like to be able to do a spraying program this spring. Spraying needs to be done in the mid to end of May, and there will be no state grants available. The spraying program should -; cover 10 to 12 miles of road. The intent would be to spray the street trees along the public right of way. The purpose is to control not eradicate s moths. The cost will be gypsy $3 , 870 with Town staff doing the work. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board directed the Town Manager to request a Reserve Fund transfer in the amount of $3,870 for this purpose. Mr. Dickey Selectmens Minutes - 2/4/92 - page 3 will also seek donations from the various tree companies in Town. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Board discussed the issue of "pumpkining" with Barbara Philbrick, Chairman of the School Committee. The School Com- mittee will be reviewing this issue with the Student Council and student representatives, and will report back to the Board of Selectmen in about a month. The Board of Selectmen expressed an interest in working with students to avoid recurrences of past problems, and indicated that there would be enforcement of any violations of law in the future. The Town Manager presented the Teacher's Payroll Deferral issue for the Vocational School. The Vocational School has recommended the rejection of the deferral of Teacher Payroll for FY93 . On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board voted to reject the deferral of any teacher compensation in FY93 for the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District pursuant to Chapter 336 of the Acts of 1991. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager presented the revised draft of the FY93 budget. There is minimal reorganization proposed. The total budget on the Municipal side is some $117, 000 less than funds available. There are some significant reductions in staff and services in order to accomplish this. The Board asked for reports on the following: 1) what are the fine levels over the past five years compared to manpower levels in the Police Department; 2) how many resident parking stickers do we sell on a monthly basis; 3) if there are significant cost savings in any of the budgets - i.e. schools or other major budgets, will that money then be available for reappropriation; 4) revised Workers' Comp sheets are needed; 5) what is the analysis behind the proposition that excise taxes are going to decrease for FY93 ; 6) what is the analysis behind the overlay reserve reductions; 7) what is the analysis behind the reduction in interest and investments; 8) what would the ef- fect of the bonding of RESCO pass through costs be; 9) what does Counsel feel about disclosure of our proposed numbers on the pass through cost. The Selectmen will meet Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. Specific Department budget reviews will not be scheduled. Bill Murphy, member of the Board of Health, supported the budget sub- mitted by the Health and Human Services Director. The Town Manager pointed out that his recommendation was actually higher than the Director's recommendation. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to go into Executive Session to discuss labor negotiations. All five mem- bers voted in the affirmative and the Board adjourned to Execu- tive Session at 10:30 p.m. Re `ectively pubm'tted: secret- r J