May 7, 2007
Present was Jonathan P. Smith, Ramesh H. Advani, James C. Lehan, and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator. Also present was James Tomaszewski, Advisory Board Chairman, Arlie Sterling, Capital Outlay Committee Chairman and Advisory Board member and Fire Chief Cole Bushnell.
Jonathan Smith opened the meeting at 8:00 p.m., and waived the reading of the agenda.
TOWN MEETING PREPARATIONS
Jack Hathaway asked the Board what order they would like to see for the budget and their respective presentations. Jim Lehan felt presentations should be as each article comes up. Jack Hathaway had questioned whether he should separate out the COLAS from the rest of the operating budget, but after a discussion with Town Moderator Daniel Winslow, he was advised to put everything under the operating budget. Jonathan Smith asked if there were any changes that needed a vote. Jack said there were not.
Jack reviewed the changes to the budget for FY08 since the printing of the warrant. They are as follows:
1. Increase Free Cash use by $18,377 for the cost of the COLA for non-union employees.
2. Increased Cherry Sheet Revenue by $10,700 for additional Exemptions revenue and Police Career Incentive.
3. Increased Miscellaneous receipts by $7,000
4. Departmental budgets, increased by $18,777 for COLA
5. Decreased Reserve fund to $30,000
6. Decreased Highway Road program by $10,000
7. Increased Facilities Management by $2,300 for cost of operating trailer(too low)
8. Increased Norfolk Public Schools by $30,000
9. Increased Tri-County by $5,000 to $364,971
10. Increased SNCARC by $4,025.
11. Increased library by approximately $5,800 to fix error. They are now level funded at $123,301 of expenses.
A motion to accept the above changes to the budget was made by Jonathan Smith. It was seconded by Ramesh Advani, and it was so voted.
Jack Hathaway discussed the two presentations he had for the Operating Budget. There is one general presentation and another short presentation that would be given by Cole Bushnell, if more information was required on Town Meeting floor.
Ramesh Advani asked if the School was giving a presentation. Jack said they had been advised to. Jim Tomaszewski said he would contact both Kim Williams, and Chris Scott to see if they had a presentation ready, and stress the importance of having one for the voters. Ramesh Advani reminded Jack how important it was to emphasize mutual cooperation between the Advisory Board, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee on resolving the busing fee issues.
Jim Lehan asked how will we sequence the presentations? Jonathan Smith suggested that Jack make the presentations, then go into the budget. Ramesh Advani asked Jack to make a forecast/projection for the next 4-5 + years. Jim Lehan questioned whether to do this at Town Meeting. It might be too confusing for the audience. Jonathan Smith felt it would lead to complications, and what do we gain? Ramesh was adamant that this is a good time to show the complete picture, by trying to prepare the public for future budgets. Jim Lehan still questioned the soundness of this. Jim Tomaszewski is not sure this is the right venue. He suggested they postpone it to another time and place. Jim Lehan suggested that they split the difference and proposed that Jack create one slide to show FY09
projections.
Article # 3
Jack had prepared a color slide to show all the transfers. A copy of this slide was given to the Board members. A few questions were raised on specific items, and the Board commended Jack on a complete and concise representation of all transfers. Jonathan Smith made a motion to accept the Transfer article, Jim Lehan seconded and it was so voted.
Article #22
At 8:55 p.m., Charles H Stone, Jr., Chief of Police joined the meeting. Jack Hathaway reviewed the new Public Safety Building plans with the Board. Jack explained that we need to acquire 1.13 acres to make the site work, which is what they would like to acquire from the Federated Church. We would go from approximately 10,000 square feet to 41,845 square feet in the new facility. A 35 ft. height restriction limits the height of the new building.
Chief Stone discussed the design of the police side of the building. Chief Cole Bushnell also discussed the fire portion of the design plans.
Jim Tomaszewski questioned Chief Stone on the maximum number of police officers the building was planned for. Chief Stone said 30 people, and he is at 17 officers right now. They also discussed the placement of cruisers and what would be inside parking for them. There are a total of two spaces inside with a possibility of adding a third on the sallyport.
Chief Stone also reviewed all the previous proposed sites that were not suitable for this project. Ramesh Advani asked if there was outside funding that we could take advantage of, ie., State money, grants, etc. Jack said that they could contact Rep. Ross to help with that. Right now, the total cost of the new building is $16,817,271.00, which does not include the land acquisition.
Jim Lehan asked how much of this plan should be presented tomorrow evening at Town Meeting. Jack Hathaway said if we go forward on Article #22, which discusses the acquisition of the Federated Church land, people will ask what it is to be used for. Jonathan Smith suggested that we recess the meeting until June to address Article #22. Jim Tomaszewski mentioned that we should have all the facts in June, including the appraisals on the Church land, and we would be able to make a better decision. He also asked if the article should be indefinitely postponed, then reconvene in June.
Jonathan Smith proposed that we move Article #22 to the end of the warrant, due to lack of data, with the reasoning that more information was need to make a informed decision, then recess the meeting until June to discuss. We should have all three appraisals by then. Ramesh Advani asked if we couldn’t wait until the Fall Town Meeting. Jim Tomaszewski said the Advisory Board discussion had been to do that, he had been unaware that the Board of Selectmen already had so much detail. Jim Tomaszewski inquired about acquiring the land this spring then packaging the facility for Fall Town Meeting? Ramesh Advani wants the public to have all the facts before they make a decision. Why hurry? This needs to be presented well. Jim Tomaszewski asked for clarification; are we talking June for just the land and
package the rest for Fall. Jim Lehan said yes. Jonathan Smith reminded everyone that the land purchase will need a 2/3 vote by the voters.
Jack Hathaway asked Chief Stone and Chief Bushnell how they felt. Chief Bushnell deferred to Chief Stone for opinions. Chief Stone made the point that they need the land no matter what, they have a septic system that is failing, and have had parking issues for years. If they can get a new facility as well, down the road, that would be nice, but the land is still badly needed.
Jim Lehan proposed to just ask for the land if we postpone it to June. Ramesh Advani suggests that we don’t discuss the new building at this time. Jim Tomaszewski reiterated; do we just vote the land in June? Jim Lehan responded yes. Ramesh Advani agrees. Arlie Sterling thought more preparation might be advisable, and to do it all in the fall might be a better way to go.
Jim Lehan suggests that the Board of Selectmen meet with the Advisory Board on Wednesday, May 9th at 7 just before Town Meeting begins, and come up with a plan after that discussion. Jim Tomaszewski said his sense of the Advisory Board would be to recommend the purchase of the land. Arlie Sterling asked if the appraiser might come in with a lower number for the land than the original estimate of $250,000. Jim Lehan said let’s wait for the appraisers quotes to come in before we make any more decisions. Ramesh Advani asked what had been decided. Jonathan Smith agreed that the Selectmen would meet with the Advisory Board on Wednesday to make a determination.
Article #11
Chief Bushnell reviewed highlights of the power point presentation in reference to the Fire Pumper Truck.
Article #9
Jonathan Smith has a question concerning a line item in the Capital Budget. Did he understand correctly that King Philip had decided to lease all computers, thus freeing up the line item listed as PC Replacement Plan of $33,900.00 ? This money could then eventually be returned to Free Cash. Jim Tomaszewski said he would check it out with the KP School Department on Wednesday.
Ramesh then asked if the $33,900 could then be applied to the Sewer System /B1District Article #21. Jim Tomaszewski spoke about the discussion of the Advisory Board and how they arrived at their decision to Indefinitely Postpone this article. He said it was due to lack of information, and conflicting information from Director of Public Works, Remo R. Vito, Jr. Jim Tomaszewski argued that costs will change, and there are still many unanswered questions. Jim Lehan said there has been no cost analysis done.
Jim Tomaszewski questioned the value of postponing to a later date. Jonathan Smith asked who will make a substitute motion for the Board if they decided to challenge the Advisory Board. Ramesh Advani said he would. Jack Hathaway said he would give the motion verbiage to Ramesh. Jim Tomaszewski mentioned to the Board of Selectmen that if they override the Advisory Board’s recommendation, a lengthy discuss could result. Jim Lehan recommended that they put Article #21 to the end, and explain that they are waiting for data. Jim put forth 3 ways to go on this.
1. Push this article off until fall
2. Debate it on the TM floor
3. Push it to June
On reconsidering, he felt it might be better to move this to the Fall Town Meeting. Jack mentioned that the Master Plan would be ready by then. The Board of Selectmen decided they will agree with the Advisory Board, and will support their recommendation to indefinitely postpone this article and put in on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant.
The discussion of the Town Meeting warrant articles were concluded.
ACTION ITEMS
Jonathan Smith moved to approve the request of the Norfolk American Legion Post #335 to conduct their annual Poppy Drive at the Transfer Station on Saturday, May 19th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ramesh Advani seconded and it was so voted.
Jonathan Smith moved to approve the request of the Norfolk Lions Club to hand out flyers for Norfolk Community Day 2007, at the Transfer Station on Saturday, May 26th, and Saturday June 2nd from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ramesh Advani seconded and it was so voted.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Ramesh Advani moved to accept the minutes of the following meetings: February 5, 2007; February 20, 2007; March 5, 2007; March 12, 2007 –Special Meeting; March 19, 2007: April 2, 2007; April 9, 2007 – Regular and Executive Session; and April 23, 2007. Jim Lehan seconded and it was so voted.
NEW BUSINESS
Due to the lateness of the evening, Jonathan asked that the Board hold off on the discussion of the reorganization of the DPW and address it at another meeting.
Future meetings of the Board were discussed. Ramesh Advani and Jim Lehan discussed frequency, times and dates. It was decided that the board would agree to meet the first and third Monday of each month, with adjustments and additions as need. The following would be tentative dates for the next two months. All meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Monday June 4th
Monday June 18th
Monday June 25th
Monday July 9th
Monday July 23rd
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Jack asked the Board to review the job evaluation of Finance Director Jane C. Wall, and submit their recommendations and comments. Ramesh Advani inquired about an e-mail from residents on Stillwell Avenue, that was in the Board’s packet. He wanted to know what Jack had been doing in response to their requests. Jack said that Butch is looking into it, and has responded to the residents. He has also responded to inquiries in relation to Lawrence Street and Bretts Farm Road and the drainage issues. Jack pointed out that they are in line for repair/resurfacing. Lawrence Street in scheduled for 2008, and Stillwell Avenue for 2009. Ramesh Advani asked Jack to do a follow-up and report back.
Ramesh Advani brought up the recent letter by Dean Manning of the Norfolk School Committee that appeared in the Boomerang requesting a retreat to “iron out” differences between the Boards. Ramesh asked the rest of the Board if they could start a new chapter with the School Committee. Are there any ideas?
Jim Lehan said he would like to Norfolk School liaison. He said you can’t break down barriers by avoiding them. Jonathan Smith said he had already thought about asking Jim to become their liaison. Jonathan Smith feels that we need to be “latticed” with respect to liaisons, especially with the school. He wants to promote better communication about what’s going on within the board.
Ramesh Advani recommended that they “team up”, and share the schools between two board members. Ramesh Advani and Jim Lehan would takes the Norfolk Schools and Jonathan Smith and Jim Lehan would take the King Philip Regional School system. This would give them an overlap, so that each one knows what is going on in regards to any particular issue. The other liaisons on the list can remain individual.
Jonathan Smith brought up committee appointments, He asked that Jack send the Board the list of expiring Committee members soon so that they have time to review before terms are over. The Board would also like a letter sent to all members expiring in June, asking them if they would like to be re-appointed.
Ramesh Advani asked to have an update on the Grange. Jack Hathaway said he had spoken to CPC members Betsy Pyne and Paul Terrio on Friday. Ramesh asked that Jack reconnect with both of them on Tuesday. The State Grange has denied a mortgage stating that they do not utilize them. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has requested that one be put in place. Attorney Paul Lugten, at the request of the CPC, will work with Town Counsel George Hall to change the verbiage, in hopes that the State Grange will accept it. Ramesh is concerned that time is being wasted, and it will affect costs. He felt that the Board must manage the CPC more effectively and bring projects to closure.
Jim Lehan stated that there are several issues that need to be discussed concerning the direction the CPC should take. Ramesh Advani stated that this is a discussion best suited for another evening when they had more time. Jonathan Smith recommended that we make changes through the appointment process Ramesh Advani asked where does the CPC go for direction? Jim Lehan felt that the present CPC is dysfunctional. They need to build their own business plan, since they have the largest committee budget. Ramesh Advani felt the bottom line was that the BOS is ultimately responsible for the CPC.
At 11:05 p.m. Jonathan Smith motioned to adjourn to Executive Session for contract negotiations and stated that they would not return to open session. Ramesh Advani seconded and it was a roll call vote: Ramesh Advani, aye; Jonathan Smith, aye; and Jim Lehan, aye.
At 11:11 p.m., Jim Lehan moved to adjourn the meeting. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of May 7, 2007.
_____________________________
Ramesh H. Advani, Clerk
| 
