August 31, 2009
Present was James C. Lehan, Robert J. Garrity, James M. Tomaszewski, and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator.
Jim Lehan called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Jack Hathaway read the agenda contents.
EDC UPDATE
Bob Nicodemus, Walter Byron and Mark Nelson of the Economic Development Committee were present. Bob said that they have heard what we are talking about, and will work on the energy wind resources. They are looking at Southwood. He handed out documents for the Board. Southwood also has a water tower which is on the highest part of the property.
Bob said they are on the edge of putting a website together that will depict Norfolk. Rob thinks it looks great, and wants to have it up sooner rather than later. Mark said they would like a button on the home page that links to their information. Jack said that can happen.
Bob said there needs to be a point person who gets the information around to all the committees. The person can’t be at the permitting level. Jack will think about who could do it. Mark questioned getting an EDC mailbox/email.
ACTION ITEM
Rob Garrity moved to approve a block party on Sunday, September 6th from 10 a.m. to dark on Park Street/Analore Circle. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was so voted.
OLD BUSINESS
Jack gave a brief summary of where we are with the School Building Committee. There will be an article on the fall town meeting.
Jack said with respect to the Public Safety Building Committee, they conducted interviews today for Project Manager. One was chosen, and Jack will begin negotiations. Today we also received eight responses from architects. The Committee will put together responses from architects and Jack will work on that.
EVERETT STREET
Remo R. Vito, DPW Director and Everett Street residents were in attendance.
Jack noted that he and Butch and Chief Stone spent a couple hours reviewing this situation. He said they were on Everett Street and looked at all the options in the neighborhood. Butch suggested the three options listed in his memo, and said that is what they agreed on.
Butch said that putting deterrents in place now such as truck exclusions and stop controls will be a good start. We can look at it again later and watch it as we go forward and make changes if we need to.
Butch said if the Board goes ahead with this, the signs will be in place this week. We have signs; it’s just a matter of voting them into the rules and orders.
Nancy Connors, 30 Everett Street asked about the truck exclusion. Butch said it needs state approval. Nancy asked about getting the state rep. and senator involved. Butch said not at this point.
Nancy questioned the no thru stadium signs. Butch said Walpole picked up the tab, but it was costly and they stopped.
Residents questioned traffic coming from Walpole and could it be stopped. They asked why the Town doesn’t approach Robert Kraft and ask him for help. The Board explained that they have been to Foxboro Selectmen and Robert Kraft and no one is willing to help.
Residents in attendance gave ideas to the Board. Some questioned police enforcement, stop signs, barricades, traffic from Walpole, lowering the speed limit to 25 and blocking the street on game or event days.
Jim Tomaszewski moved to block Everett Street on game days and event day to thru traffic. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
Rob Garrity moved to install a permanent sign on Everett Street to no thru traffic for any stadium events on both sides from town line to town line (Norfolk to Walpole). Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan assured the residents that we will continue working with Walpole, even though they haven’t been responsive, and thanked the resident from Walpole who attended for his input.
On another matter, Butch Vito discussed the water leaks. We cut the fees, but when people are reluctant to fix the repairs, they are creating more of a cost to the Town. He asked the Board to think about their vote to waive the fees. Butch told the Board that he sends letters and people ignore them and don’t fix the leaks.
Jim Lehan doesn’t approve this. He feels that the first letter written makes the person feel like they have done something terribly wrong. Jack said that he and Butch suggest that if a leak is fixed in say 60 days, we waive the fee. Butch said that 25 leaks represent 200,000 gallons a day. Jim said that a pinhole leak can’t leak that much water in a given day. Butch will send a leakage report to the Board.
Butch will look at the letter sent, and possibly send a new first letter.
Butch said we have been using Wrentham water for the past 10 days. The Well did not average out what they thought. They are getting 50% of what they targeted.
Butch said he met with DEP regarding Spruce Road well. Rather than a supplement well, they can put a replacement well. It appears they are losing because of manganese and iron. They can drill a new well. He is hoping to have this up by spring. Butch said we will need to go to fall town meeting to revert the funds from the Gold St. well to the Spruce well.
Butch reported on the Route 115 project. The State is $8 million short for the projects they have sitting on the shelf. There are only 3 communities that haven’t advertised. We are ready to go on September 12. He’s going back in Thursday. The worst case is we are pushed into 2010. 2010 is October.
The Board reviewed the letter from Mr. Backlund letter. The Board is sympathetic, but there is nothing they can do.
OLD/NEW BUSINESS
The Board discussed their goals and approved them.
Jim T. discussed the affordable land and parcels that we thought we would net $100,000 off of. He said it doesn’t appear that way now.
At 9:27 p.m., Rob Garrity moved to go into executive session for contract negotiations. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Rob Garrity, aye; Jim Lehan, aye; and Jim Tomaszewski, aye. The Board will only return to open session to adjourn the meeting.
At 9:48 p.m., being no further business, Jim Tomaszewski moved to adjourn the meeting. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of August 31, 2009.
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James M. Tomaszewski, Clerk
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