BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MARCH 8, 2004

REGULAR SESSION MINUTES

 “APPROVED”

 

Present:  Thomas D. Hartnett, Chair; George F. Dillon, Jr., Vice Chair; John L. Saball, Clerk; Peter S. Cunningham, Member; Administrative Officer Jean E. Kitchen and Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant.

Absent:  Virginia C. Wood, Member

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m.

 

Nashoba Valley Technical High School Appointment

There was not a quorum present.  The appointment was rescheduled until March 15, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Insurance Advisory Committee RE: Recommendations of Health Insurance Coverage Vendor

Ms. Valerie Jenkins, Town Accountant and Ms. Maria Casey, Administrative Secretary to the Board of Selectmen were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Ms. Jenkins commended the members of the Health Insurance Advisory Committee for their cooperative efforts.  Ms. Jenkins stated the Committee had voted 5 to 3 to continue with Minute Man Nashoba Health Group.  Ms. Jenkins stated the Committee had a lot of work to do in a short period of time and would like to continue.  Ms. Jenkins stated the Committee would like to meet with the School to find out who their broker is and the details of their plan.

Mr. Cunningham moved to award the Health Insurance bid to Minuteman Nashoba Health Group for FY05 per the recommendation of the Insurance Advisory Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Discussion on Annual Town Meeting Articles

The Board reviewed the Annual Town Meeting Warrant (enclosed herein).  Ms. Kitchen stated this is an unnumbered draft version for general discussion and the Board would be taking positions on the articles after a joint meeting with the Finance Committee.

Article 3 - compensation for elected officials - Ms. Kitchen stated recommendation on the Board of Selectmen and Board of Assessors was a $250 cut.  Mr. Eddie Kopec stated the Board of Selectmen was negligent in passing on information about salary cuts.  Mr. Cunningham stated the fee is a stipend not a salary and the cut was a recommendation after reviewing the budget for potential cost savings.

Article 6 - Groton Country Club - Mr. Brad Durrin reviewed the Groton Country Club budget stating golf revenue was off by 20%.

Article 7 - Brown Loaf Property - fee for feasibility study for Chapter 40B

Article 8 - Highway Department - scheduled replacement

Conservation Article - Mr. Peter Morrison stated a need to maintain the fund.  Mr. Hartnett stated the amount of free cash would better be determined in the fall.

Article 13 - Ms. Jenkins stated the money was never borrowed and need to ask to rescind the borrowing capability.

Article 14 - series of four (4) articles for GDRSD

Elected Officials Health Insurance - Mr. Dillon stated there are currently ten (10) people eligible, which is a liability of approximately $10 - 11,000 per year for a family plan.

Sewer Articles - Mr. Hartnett asked if Pepperell was upgrading the system and Groton is a part of the system would Groton be required to pay for upgrades.  Mr. Karl Johnson stated in order to be able to continue to dump the treated waste into the river there is a need for the upgrade.

Personnel By-law - Ms. Joan Hutchinson stated the personnel by-law had not been updated in quite some time.  Ms. Hutchinson stated there is a proposed change to the benefits survey, and the Personnel Board would like to take earned leave days and convert them to (4) personal days.  Mr. Cunningham stated he would like to put it on as an agenda item.

Community Preservation Research Committee - Mr. Dan Emerson stated the Committee wanted to have the option to put the article on the warrant.  Mr. Cunningham stated the CPA needed to be passed by Town meeting and then followed by a State election.  Mr. Emerson stated if the CPA passes at Town Meeting it would come up for vote in November.  Mr. Nordblom stated the Finance Committee would be meeting with the CPRC on March 23, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.

Article 24 - Mr. Dillon asked if the definition was consistent with zoning.  Mr. Karl Johnson stated the definition was identical to the state definition for agriculture.

Article 25- replacing the growth by-law.

Article 28 - code change capital planning committee - definition of capital asset.

 

Recreation Commission Appointment - Neil Cotoni

Mr. Cunningham moved to appoint Neil Cotoni to the Recreation Commission to fill the three-year un-expired term to expire June 30, 2005.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Snow and Ice Removal Deficit Spending

Mr. Cunningham moved to authorize deficit spending for the removal of snow and ice for FY04.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Garden Club- Annual Plant Sale, May 8, 2004

Mr. Cunningham moved to authorize the Groton Garden Club to hold their Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 8, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon, at the Town Hall at 173 Main Street.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Request to release interest for Taisey Family Nominee Trust

Mr. Cunningham moved to authorize the Treasure to release the accumulated interest on the $16,000 Performance Bond to Robert G. Taisey, Trustee, Taisey Family Nominee Trust.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Ceremonial Bonfire Request - GDRHS

Mr. Cunningham moved to authorize the Fire Department to issue a Bonfire Permit pursuant to CMR 527, Section 10,23 and Mass General Laws Chapter 111, Section 142H to CJ Maloney, Assistant Principal of Groton-Dunstable Regional High School for the Boys Basketball State Championship on Friday, March 12, 2004 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.   Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Road Kill Officer Appointment - Steven F. Mickle

Mr. Saball moved to approve a One-Day Wine & Malt Liquor License for Paul Funch on Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the First Parish Church of Groton, One Powder House Road, Groton, Mass.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

Selectmen Liaison Updates

Mr. Hartnett read a letter from GDAY stating they had received a generous donation and withdrawn their request for funding for FY05.  Mr. Hartnett thanked the anonymous donor.

Mr. Saball stated he had met with the Fire/EMS regarding the merger and they were making good progress.

Ms. Kitchen asked the members to contact the departments they are liaisons to which had budget cuts.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved adjourn at 9:08 p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

Approved:  _____________________________        Respectfully submitted,

                      John L. Saball, Clerk                                    Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant

 

Enclosures (1) - Annual Town Meeting Warrant (Draft)

 

Date Approved:  April 26, 2004