December 17, 2007
Present is Ramesh H. Advani, James C. Lehan, and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator. Jonathan P. Smith was absent.
Ramesh called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Jack Hathaway read the agenda contents.
AGENDA ITEMS
Jim Lehan moved to award the contract for leasing municipal space (water tower behind Town Hall) for wireless communications to Bell Atlantic Mobile of Massachusetts Corporation, Ltd., d/b/a Verizon Wireless for a lease term of 5 years with three five year extensions. This includes a 3% annual increase throughout the lifetime of any lease agreement between the parties. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to vote to rescind all the bids for the leachate pond roof structure due to bids exceeding the project amount voted at town meeting. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to vote Elissa Flynn-Poppey as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, effective January 1, 2008 - term to expire June 30, 2009 (replacing Martin Murphy who resigned). Ramesh Advani seconded the motion. Jim questioned why her when we have two associate members? Jack said because the senior associate usually is appointed first and he said Lorraine Sweeney, ZBA Chair, agreed. It was so voted.
SNOW STORMS
Jack extended appreciation to the DPW for the work the employees and snow plow drivers did. Jack said Butch Vito said he got a lot of complaints from residents. They were upset that they had to keep shoveling the ends of their driveway because plows kept coming by. Butch said they tried to keep up with the roads to avoid the slush and freezing.
Jim reinforced the work that the paramedics do, and commented on a letter that was sent to the Boomerang from a resident whose life was saved by the paramedics. Jim commended both the fire and police.
TAX CLASSIFICATION HEARING
At 7:40 p.m., Ramesh Advani read the hearing notice as it appeared in the newspaper and opened the public hearing. He asked Robbie Alford, Chief Assessor and Jane Wall, Finance Director to come forward.
Robbie gave the Board a presentation on the tax rate and compared it between last year and this year. He said they suggest a single tax rate of $12.78 per thousand.
Robbie stated that the industrial site at Shire Industrial Park induced sales and that was the 6% in commercial.
The split rate would save the homeowner an average of $87 per year.
Robbie told the Board it was the recommendation by the Board of Assessors to keep a single rate. Jim said that a split rate could be anything. The commercial base is beginning to grow, and at some point the Board needs to look at this. He does support the single rate for this year, but thinks the point is coming where we need to start looking at this in smaller increments - maybe a 95 split.
Ramesh would like to see a median residential and a median commercial for next year. He thinks there is a lot of merit in considering a split rate for next year.
Jim suggested that next year instead of looking at the normal percent, let's see the different increments. Robbie said he needs to look at this and it needs to be discussed with the Assessors prior to next year. The Board agreed.
Jim Lehan moved to accept the Chief Assessor's recommendation of a single tax rate. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
At 8:02 p.m., Jim Lehan moved to close the hearing. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was so voted.
At 8:03 p.m., Jim Lehan moved to go into executive session for contract negotiations and potential litigation. Ramesh Advani seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Jim Lehan, aye; and Ramesh Advani, aye. The Board will not return to open session except to adjourn.
At 8:12 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 December 17, 2007.
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Ramesh H. Advani, Clerk
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