BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MARCH 22, 2004

REGULAR SESSION MINUTES

 “APPROVED”

 

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

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:55 p.m.

 

Groton Dunstable Regional High School Basketball Team Presentation

Coach Keith Woods, Team co-Captain Greg Twomi and Representative Robert Hargraves were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Cunningham read a proclamation for the Basketball team.  Coach Woods and Mr. Twomi accepted the proclamation on behalf of the team.  Mr. Woods stated there would be a banquet at the High School to honor the team on Saturday, March 26, 2004 and tickets were available.  Mr. Woods further stated Representative Hargraves had invited the team to the State House for a tour and they would receive citations.

 

Earth Removal Exemption - 111 Farmers Row - Map 107, Parcel 5

Mr. Robert Prescott and Ms. Michelle Collette were present for this portion of the meeting.  Ms. Collette stated she would defer to Mr. Prescott as she has not received any information.  Ms. Kitchen stated the Board of Selectmen had not received any information.  Mr. Prescott stated he had assumed Ross Associates had submitted the calculations.  Mr. Prescott stated he would contact Ross Associates.  Mr. Prescott stated he would be meeting with the Historic District Commission (HDC) on March 30, 2004 for an informal meeting, following with a formal meeting to discuss the appropriate house color, architecture etc.  Ms Wood stated a concern raised in the previous meeting had been with the sewage disposal system (SDS) being a raised bed and a possible issue with the HDC and would like clarification if that were indeed an issue.

 

Ms. Wood moved to continue the hearing until April 5, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Petition Presentation RE: Naming of Park in West Groton

Mr. Richard E. Cleary, Mr. Elliot Blood, Jr., Mr. Winthrop Sherwin, State Representative Robert Hargraves and Ms. Helen Swieca were present for this portion of the meeting.

Mr. Cleary letter from residents requesting the West Groton Park project be named in honor of Korean War Veteran, Carol Gilbert Wheeler who was a West Groton resident.  Mr. Blood read a petition signed by residents requesting the same and presented it to the Board. Ms. Swieca stated Mr. Wheeler had not received his high school diploma because of his service.  Representative Hargraves stated a diploma could be awarded posthumously to Mr. Wheeler. Ms. Swieca stated the graduating class of 1951 will be holding a reunion on September 4, 2004 and if the park were to be named after Mr. Wheeler they would like the park named on that day, as the class will be in attendance.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to name the park in West Groton as the Carol G. Wheeler Memorial Park.  Seconded by Ms. Wood.  Unanimous vote.

 

Highway Department RE:  Regional Bidding for Road Materials

Highway Surveyor Tom Delaney was present for this portion of the meeting.

Mr. Delaney stated he and Ms. Kitchen had attended a seminar at which they had discussed the manner of bidding on road materials.  Mr. Delaney stated he currently bid singularly, however he would like to try bidding collectively with other towns to maximize cost savings.  Mr. Cunningham asked what type of materials would he be bidding on.  Mr. Delaney stated asphalt chip, line painting, possibly salt in the fall. Mr. Delaney stated Devens was a good hinge pin because of its size and commercial volume.  Ms. Kitchen suggested Mr. Delaney consider combining with Devens.  Mr. Delaney stated he would make some calls.

 

Mr. Dillon stated a letter had been received in the Board of Selectmen packets regarding Tree City USA and asked Mr. Delaney to explain what it was.  Mr. Delaney explained Tree City USA status is given to cities, which have met criteria (which is judged) for showing an interest in its trees, i.e. Groton has Friends of Trees and an Arbor Day Celebration.

 

Groton School RE:  Pesticides for Aesthetic Purposes - Chapter 85 of the Acts of 2000

Mr. Tim Dumont and Mr. John McMillan were present for this portion of the meeting.

Mr. Dumont stated the law requires they appear before the Board of Selectmen for the application of pesticides for aesthetic purposes.  Mr. Dumont stated there are regulations of Chapter 85 of the Acts of 2000 for the application of pesticides for schools.  Mr. Hartnett asked what types of pesticides were applied.  Mr. Dumont stated there are three types of pests:  grubs, cinch bugs, and sod web worms which applications are applied to control.  Ms. Collette asked what measures were taken to insure the safety of faculty and students.  Mr. Dumont stated there are guidelines, which have to be followed, however they try to apply when the students are not in residence. If the students are in residence they post notifications in designated areas prior to the application and for three (3) days afterwards.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to authorize the Groton School to use and apply pesticide for aesthetic purposes on the campus.  Seconded by Ms. Wood.  Unanimous vote.

 

Funds for Gilson Road

Ms. Michelle Collette was present for this portion of the meeting. 

Mr. Hartnett asked Ms. Collette the amount left in the fund.  Ms. Collette stated there was $68,499 in the fund; however there may be fees due to Kopelman & Paige, P.C.  Ms. Collette stated the Building Committee would be meeting tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. with Ms. Judy Converse and Ms. Karen Riggert of the School Committee to discuss what the next step should be since the Special Town Meeting vote did not support a temporary eminent domain taking of the property.  Ms. Collette stated if the Committee could get permission to enter the property without eminent domain to conduct the necessary testing it would not be in contradiction to the STM vote.  Mr. Dillon asked if the Board of Selectmen should delay.  Mr. Hartnett stated the Building Committee would meet tomorrow and he would attend.  Ms. Kitchen asked if he would bring a report back as a Selectmen Liaison update.

 

Review Minutes of Regular Session of February 9, 2004

Mr. Cunningham moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes of February 9, 2004.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  4 in favor, 1 abstention (Wood).

 

Review Minutes of Regular Session of February 17, 2004

Mr. Cunningham moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes of February 17, 2004.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Review Minutes of Regular Session of February 23, 2004

Mr. Cunningham moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes of February 9, 2004.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  4 in favor, 1 abstention (Saball).

 

Administrative Officer Report

Ms. Kitchen stated the Department of Revenue is conducting Financial Management reviews with the various departments.

 

Selectmen Liaison Updates

Mr. Hartnett stated he had at a previous meeting regarding the Recreation Department made mention of the Recreation Department assuming the responsibilities of the swimming program at the Town Beach currently administered by Barbara Ganem for the Conservation Commission and had failed to say what a good job the previous Conservation Administrator, Ms. Beth Montgomery had done while she held that position.

 

Mr. Dillon stated he had the honor of attending an Eagle Court of Honor for Andrew Collins, Mr. Dillon stated how impressed he had been with the ceremony and the dedication of Mr. Collins and his family to achieve this honor.

 

Mr. Saball stated he had met with the Fire Chief Joseph Bosselait and EMS Director Mr. John Walsh regarding the merger.  Mr. Saball stated they are making progress and have subcommittees, which are making strides towards the merger.

 

Mr. Hartnett stated the Fire Station is going well and appears to be on target for being finished in April.

 

Ms. Wood stated she had spoken with Mr. Chuck McKinney of the Growth Management Advisory Committee (GMAC) and she had resigned due to scheduling constraints.  Ms. Wood asked if there were another Board member who would like to take the position.  Ms. Kitchen stated a designee of the Board could fill the position.

 

Mr. Hartnett asked Ms. Kitchen for an update on the project adjacent to the Town Hall on Station Avenue.  Ms. Kitchen stated she had heard there are supposedly five condominiums planned for the site, there is a Zoning Board of Appeals permit, which had stated a wall should remain of the original structure.

 

Mr. Cunningham reminded everyone of the Taste of Nashoba Valley sponsored by the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce at Lawrence Academy.  Tickets are available at the door and from the Fire Department.

 

Ms. Wood moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

Approved:  _____________________________        Respectfully submitted,

                      John L. Saball, Clerk                                    Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant

                                                                                   

 

 

Date Approved:  April 5, 2004