June 4, 2007
Present was Jonathan P. Smith, Ramesh H. Advani, James C. Lehan and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator.
Jonathan Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Jack Hathaway read the agenda contents.
CHIEF BUSHNELL – FIRE DEPT. INSPECTION FEE UPDATE
Chief Cole Bushnell appeared before the Board with a request to update the fees for the Fire Department. He is now looking to go to the maximum allowed under the Mass General Laws, which is $50. Many of the men are now state certified to do inspections. He said the fee for open air burning is one that causes a lot of angst. They would like to rescind the $10 fee and that is a way that they can offer relief to the residents. He said that this is a burden on the dispatchers to handle the permits and with all the other things they do, it is one thing they could not be required to do anymore. He said re-inspection fees are when things haven’t gone well. They are looking to rescind those fees as well. They will impact the fee at the time you are taking out the permit, and they can rescind it on the
other end. He would like to use this money for professional development. That is part of his contract, but he has never used it. They would like to go to Baltimore to a conference. They would like to be involved with other training products and deal with their peers and attend programs, do networking and professional development. Hopefully, they can use these fees for this. They would like to begin July 1st, but can push it out if they need time to notify the developers, etc.
Ramesh did not like going with such a huge increase. He would be more inclined to do a smaller increase every year than to do a huge one all at once. He understands that it is not for residential, but commercial, but still is not comfortable with the increase.
Jim understands what Ramesh said, but doesn’t have the same concern. He said percent wise it’s large, but dollar wise it isn’t. He feels the fee increase is a fair trade for the programs the Fire Department will get.
Jonathan agrees with Jim. He questioned getting rid of the open air burning permit fee. Chief Bushnell said that was the one fee that directly impacted the taxpayer.
Jack questioned if there is a fine for someone abusing the open air permit. Chief Bushnell said first is $100; second is $500 and third is $1,000.
Jim Lehan moved to accept Chief Bushnell’s fee schedule as presented. Jonathan seconded the motion. Jim and Jonathan voted aye; Ramesh voted no.
Ramesh brought up the public safety facility and told Jack we need to re-initiate the discussion. He said we really need to move forward with where it stands. Jonathan said Jack will discuss this in New Business.
Chief Bushnell said that Russ Hall will now be serving as the Pre-Hospital ALS Director Southwest Suburban Area Representative to the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. This is the licensing committee.
Chief Bushnell reported on Buckley & Mann, and was asked by Bob Bullock to go out to 17 Lawrence Street. Property is unsafe and unsecured and the buildings need to be razed. They need to put a security fence around the property, but there are many issues there. Jack said this is the first step to take to provoke the owner to raze the buildings on his own, or the town would do it and put the burden back on the owner.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS – DPW TRANSITION
Present was Board of Public Works (BPW) members Ed Melanson, Ellen Friedman, Harvey Nasuti, Vida Holmes and DPW Director Remo Vito.
Jonathan Smith noted that the control of the DPW will transition from the BPW to the Board of Selectmen on July 1, 2007.
Ed Melanson presented a list of open items from the BPW that they will hand off to the Board of Selectmen. The list represented the goals that were created in September 2004. Some of them are completed; others are still open. The list contains high, mid and low priority, with no priority on timeline.
Major items to consider are:
Capital Plan
Strategic Vision
On going projects that are approaching construction
Updating the Road program
Ed said that the BPW has had some discussion about their concern that the Selectmen will not be able to handle the new volume. What is the best plan to help get these tasks done. The BPW is recommending that an Advisory Board be created that could deal with the issues, create an executive summary and then let the Selectmen address them.
Jonathan stated that the Board of Selectmen is intended to be a policy creating board.
Jim stated that we are in a developmental stage of the board. We are still in the building stage. Jim said we need to be more strategical than tactical. He said this Board cannot do what their board has done. He suggested an advisory capacity. Jim said he understands the board wanting a break because they have done a lot of hard work for a long time. There are structural issues that are still open. We need to play an active role.
Ramesh felt there are organizational gaps that need to be filled that will help Butch manage much better. There should be an advisory group to help fill in. There should be a firm date from Jack’s standpoint that says from here on out, these need to be done now. We need a date to say it’s done. Ramesh said unless you cut the cord, there will always be a transitional state. He does not feel the Selectmen should be doing the day to day stuff.
Jack said he feels a timeline like six months might be a good transitional period. He said that sometimes you just need to try something and move forward and if it doesn’t work, we’ll fix it. How many committees can we endure? Another committee to work with isn’t something he’s looking forward to. He pointed out that Butch used to meet with his Selectman liaison before the BPW existed, and then brought the final to the Board of Selectmen for decision.
Jim said it is a good suggestion. Maybe the liaison could play the role. He said it would be unfair to dump this on Butch and Jack and say finish it.
Ed said the one fly in the ointment in setting a timeline is that they haven’t found the right #2 person. This put a lot of the responsibility back on Butch. They could have filled it by selecting an applicant, but they advertised several times and could not find the right person. This is a key position.
Butch felt that staffing was never completed. The base is good. There are other things needed to be looked at. He’s walking the fence on “do we need another committee”. The concept of going with a liaison, to him is a soft approach. Butch said we still need more work. He isn’t sure how to accomplish this.
Jonathan said there will always be things recurring that will always need more than the three of them (Selectmen) or the two of you (Jack and Butch). Jonathan suggested the water rates. Jim and Ramesh said that could be done with consultants or same as the Chief coming up with results of a study, or the Assessors doing the tax rate.
Ramesh said to build the organization. That should be the only thing, and the only focus. Ramesh said that is what the focus should be. The Board agreed there were a lot of issues still to be flushed out and decided before we go on.
Butch said he has a foundation, and what’s missing is the DPW Superintendent. Jim said he feels there is a need because there is too much blending of the day to day and the strategical planning. He said the strategic business planning component is suffering. The tactical part is stronger. But the business part is the most critical component, and that is the piece that hasn’t happened yet and needs the focus. Ramesh said that is because there has been a very active BPW and very involved liaison. He said this is the role that Jack should be doing, and in a transition he should be more involved.
Jim suggested working with the liaison and then also with Jack. Jim said he would do it because a lot of it is daytime and he’s available.
Jack said they should just go with it, whether it’s cold turkey or not. The committee isn’t going to be doing bylaws or whatever, so why have an ad hoc committee. We should use them in an advisory capacity and go with Jack, Butch and the liaison.
Jonathan asked if there is a necessity to have a comment back on the 18th or 25th, or don’t we need that. Are we established on what the direction is going to be? Jack said if he and Butch put together a list of questions for the 18th, the Board will try to attend and the BPW will start at 6. Once a month, Butch will come before the Board of Selectmen and talk about tactical things, and Jack can do strategic things.
On another matter, Butch reported that Union/Grove Street is a suitable location for the Adam Kennedy memorial. This is near his home and would be perfect. Tony Mastrianni will take care of a plaque.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Old Business Update
Jack had a report that crushing was happening at Call & Wait. He looked at the agreement and nothing was allowed. He and Bob Bullock are going out tomorrow afternoon to investigate. He assumes there will be violations. Jack said that they are supposed to be 75% clean by the end of June, and that isn’t going to happen.
We may need our first meeting in July to have them on the agenda.
Jack will follow up with the Conservation Commission. They should go look at the property tomorrow, and then decide if we need to meet with Conservation.
Jack said he spoke with Frank Gay, director of GATRA today. They opened bids to conduct the Dial-a-Ride in the new region. Medway and Bellingham just joined GATRA today, which helps more. They have contacted the four finalists, and will make a decision tomorrow. There will be a new number for people to call. There will be a local number and they will advise us of public information that townspeople will need to know.
Jack said that regarding the Route 115 TIP program, we are one of three projects with the potential to move up.
Regarding Patriot Place, Jack would like to have a meeting next week with the Everett Street residents. He will let the Board know when the meeting is and will post the Board.
Jack said that all our public safety people have been NIMS trained. He suggested the Board consider this when making appointments.
Jack said the veterans would like input on the naming of the bridge. Ramesh will meet with Jack at a Legion meeting to discuss this.
Jack discussed taking the subdivision inspections from the consultants and put it into the DPW to save costs. This is done in most towns. Stormwater, for example, is reviewed by DPW, Board of Health and Planning Board. If they can’t propose an answer, we will propose an answer through a warrant article on fall town meeting. One more last ditch effort to work through this themselves and make a decision, or put it through town meeting and let the people decide.
Jack gave the Bi-Weekly Calendar.
New Business
Jack said he and the Walpole Town Administrator asked the Sheriff’s Department to give us detainees to help with clean up along Route 1A. They will provide personnel.
Economic Development Committee is looking for high speed access.
Jack reported the Restraining Order issued for the Mark Perry dog on Village Green.
Jack said he would like to organize a Clean Up Norfolk Day. We should do this for the fall. The Board agreed there is no down side as this is a voluntary thing and you can take pride in the community. Jack will coordinate it for sometime in the fall.
Jim wants to make a decision on the Old Town Hall and get it done. We need a direction to go. He said let’s do it for the first meeting in August. Let’s make a decision and be done with it.
Jim said we had a roundtable regarding the Old Town Hall, and we weighed all options and came down to only one option. Let’s go with it. We need to talk with the Recreation Commission and be ready to make it happen in August. We know who has ownership in this and we know potential usage. Let’s work with Jack and make this happen.
Jonathan said he will work on it with Jack. Jack said for municipal purposes, it should be affordable housing. Jack said let’s move forward. If you are really getting into this, there are a couple of options – a deal cut with the builder, the Town can do it, or the Affordable Housing Committee can do it. Jim will attend the Affordable Housing meeting on June 13th and mention this.
APPOINTMENTS
Jim Lehan moved to appoint William Crump and Jeannette Wood to the Affordable Housing Study Committee, term to expire 6/30/08. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint Hilary Cohen as Animal Control Officer, term to expire 6/30/08. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint Richard Denzer to the Arts Council, term to expire 6/30/10. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Jamie Masterson, John Spinney and Jonathan Smith to the Cable Advisory Committee, term to expire 6/30/08. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint John Bermingham and Frank O’Neill to the Capital Outlay Committee, term to expire 6/30/09. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Lisa Newell and Kevin Roche to the Corrections Advisory Committee, term to expire 6/30/08. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint John Buchholz to the Design Review Board, term to expire 6/30/10. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint Kim Eldred, Robert Nicodemus, Kenneth Squires, Michael Kulesza and Jennifer Troutman to the Economic Development Committee, term to expire 6/30/08. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint Jennifer Burke, James Dyer and Eric Dupont to the Insurance Advisory Committee, term to expire 6/30/08. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Ramesh Advani to the MBTA Advisory Board, term to expire 6/30/08. Jonathan Smith seconded. After short discussion, Jim withdrew his motion and moved to appoint Jack Hathaway to the MBTA Advisory Board, term to expire 6/30/08. Jonathan Smith seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Girard St.Amand to the Registrar of Voters (R), term to expire 6/30/10. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Ramesh Advani moved to appoint George A. Hall, Jr., as Town Counsel, term to expire 6/30/08. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint John Olivieri as Veterans Graves Officer, term to expire 6/30/08. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
LIAISONS
Jonathan felt a concept where not only one person is involved with the boards and committees would be good. He said that it would cut down on time at meetings as well. Everyone would know what is going on in all departments, instead of only one member knowing.
Ramesh and Jim agreed to share liaison for the Norfolk Schools and King Philip.
Jonathan Smith mentioned two potential warrant articles being building projects and agricultural commission.
Jim Lehan noted that we need help with grant writing.
At 10:56 p.m., Ramesh Advani moved to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. The Board will not vote or return to open session except to adjourn the meeting. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Jonathan Smith, aye; Ramesh Advani, aye; and Jim Lehan, aye.
At 11:05 p.m., Ramesh Advani moved to adjourn the meeting. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of June 4, 2007.
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Ramesh H. Advani, Clerk
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