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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting April 7, 1992 The meeting convened at 7:39 p.m. Present were Chairman Eugene Nigro, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt and Selectmen George Hines and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested citizens: Bill Brown, Leslie York, Irene York, Bernice Herrick, Charles Herrick, Ed Driscoll, Pat Driscoll, Len Pienta III, R. A. Coco, M. H. Andreola, Annette Flanagan, Trish Brigham. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Minutes of March 3, 1992 were approved as amended by vote of 3-0-2 with Burditt and Hoyt abstaining. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Minutes of March 17, 1992 were approved by vote of 4-0-1 with Burditt abstaining. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Minutes of March 31, 1992 were approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Liaison Reports Bill Burditt extended congratulations to Dick Coco on being elected Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also asked about the possibility of naming an athletic field for Dickie Doucette. Sally Hoyt reviewed activity with regard to Elder Services and the Senior Center, with regard to Recreation registrations, with regard to the Drug and Alcohol Council Program. She also indi- cated that the early retirement bill (this is for state workers) is on the Governor's desk. George Hines attended the FinCom meeting, and they will meet again on the 22nd with regard to the Ice Rink. He received calls and mail with regard to the rubbish collection disposal program. Dan Ensminger had no report but indicated that he had received lots of calls. Gene Nigro indicated that he represented the Board of Selectmen at the Library Awards Program for youngsters who wrote essays on What the Community Means to Me. George Hines asked the Board of Selectmen to direct the Town Manager to begin the PWED application process for the access road to the Nike base. Public Comment On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt a proclamation for S.A.D.D. week of March 30 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt Richard Foley was appointed to the position of Town Accountant for a term from 4/1/92 through 3/31/93 by a vote of 5-0-0. It was indicated that the perfor- mance evaluation process hasn't been completed and George Hines as the liaison will keep it active. Bill Burditt commented that the Mass Municipal Association, state agencies, and all other Selectmens Minutes - 4/7/92 - page 2 people he has had contact with comment on the excellent quality of the accounting and financial services of the Town. Eugene Nigro cited the Auditors' Report as evidence of the excellence in this position. Discussion/Action Items The Board of Selectmen discussed the rubbish fee. The question was raised as to whether paper or plastic bags were better, and Tony Fletcher indicated that plastic bags were better for the in- cinerator and they were also considerably cheaper. The Town dis- poses of 9250 tons through RESCO. Fletcher recommended that we go with a two-bag system which would cost approximately $1.76 per bag for the large bags. Sally Hoyt indicated that she felt the small bags were too small. Dan Ensminger wanted to know what the variability was in the number of bags or containers put out per household. Anne Mark indicated that the black bags are recycled plastic. She felt that the policy issue is whether or not we can encourage reduction in solid waste via a variable rate. Dan Ensminger asked why we had not bid an exclusive franchise. The Town Manager indicated that he didn't recommend it because there will be so many additional changes in the rubbish collec- tion system that are beyond the control of the Town during the next 12 months, that we should change as little as possible cur- rently. George Hines asked if the burning of plastic bags was environmen- tally sound. Fletcher indicated that the RESCO retrofit is for that reason. He indicated that plastic sticks to the grate, but paper bags cause problems by burning out the grates. The scrub- ber satisfies current clean air standards and those proposed to be implemented in 1993. Fletcher indicated the Town has been forgiven by RESCO in the past on the put or pay contract regarding a 10% increase or decrease probably because of recycling mandates. He also indi- cated that the Town's case with RESCO starts on June 7 or 8 and the judge has indicated that there will be no further extensions granted to RESCO. George Hines indicated he feels there is lots of confusion about the rubbish fee. Ninety-eight percent of the people who have called him are opposed to the bag system and urge the flat fee system. He agrees. Sally Hoyt also supports the flat fee sys- tem. Bernice Herrick from the audience supports the flat fee system. Eugene Nigro read a letter from Martha Moore. Bill Bur- ditt prefers the flat fee system. Bill Brown suggested keeping the flat fee and eliminating recycling. Charles Herrick asked about leaf disposal and it was indicated that these are omitted from the waste stream and must be taken to the compost center. Linda King from the Solid Waste Committee felt that we should pay for usage and charge the fee accordingly. Ed Driscoll indicated that he supported the flat fee. George Hines indicated that even though the Board may go against the Solid Waste Advisory Selectmens Minutes - 4/7/92 - page 3 Committee's recommendation, the Board of Selectmen values the Solid Waste Advisory Committee's imput. Pat Driscoll asked about reduction in disposal since recycling, and the Town Manager indicated that in 1986 we disposed of 14,000 tons per year, and even with recycling it is down to 10,750 tons with 1,500 tons being recycled. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board moved to adopt a flat fee system for collection and disposal. Dan Ensminger indi- cated the flat fee is the least costly but the least fair but he favors the flat fee for now. Sally Hoyt hopes we would continue recycling. Eugene Nigro feels that we should keep it simple with as few changes as possible. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. John Pacino, Town Representative to the North East Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Committee, explained Ar- ticle 6 that deals with the method of election in the budget calendar for the Vocational . School. The options available for the election, to avoid a problem with the one man one vote issue, were to have the School Committee members appointed, to elect members at large throughout the District, to put all members from all cities and towns on the ballots of all cities and towns in the District with the requirement that one representative reside in each District; and to provide for a proportional vote on the School Committee. The preference from the majority of the School Committee members would be the third option to have each member from each city and town on the ballots for all cities and towns with the requirement that there be one representative residing in each community. The selection would be on the November ballot. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt to recommend Article 6, the vote was 0-5-0 and the Board does not support Article 6. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom- mend Article 7 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to reject the Teacher Payroll Deferral for FY93 for North East Regional Voca- tional School District by vote of 5-0-0. The Board reviewed the remainder of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recommend Article 4 on tax deferral by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to support Article 8 on a Capital Improvement Advisory Committee by vote of 5-0-0. On Article 9 on motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to recommend Article 9 on closing of the Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant by a vote of 5-0-0. On Article 10, setting of fees and charges, on motion by Burditt Selectmens Minutes - 4/7/92 - page 4 seconded by Hoyt the Board voted 4-1-0 to recommend, with - Ensminger opposed. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 11 on acceptance of gifts by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend Article 12 on the on the Zoning PUD amendment by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom- mend Article 13 on the Zoning PUD map by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend Article 19 by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom- mend Article 21 in the amount of $38, 000 for the RMHS elevator by a vote of 5-0-0, with the remaining unexpended balances to be determined at a later date probably at the Fall Town Meeting. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recommend Article 22 authorizing debt for the RMLD by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend Article 23 on the Washington/Main Street land acquisi- tion by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board voted to recom- mend Article 24 on disposal of surplus property by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend $70, 000 for the design of West and Willow Streets from Chapter 90 funds by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom- mend $250, 000 in Chapter 90 funds for South Street improvements by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted not recommend approval of the petitioned band article under Article 29 by vote of 1-3-1. The Board had already taken action on Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 26. The Board indicated that they would meet on Sunday at 1:30 to walk South Street. All members will try to attend. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board authorized the Town Manager to proceed with a PWED Grant application for improvement to the access roadway to the Nike base by vote of 5-0-0. Nancy Eaton felt that the action was premature. George Hines felt the construction could start in the spring of 1993 with completion in early summer of 1993 assuming Town Meeting approval this spring.