BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 18, 2006

APPROVED

 

Present:  Peter S. Cunningham, Chair; George F. Dillon, Jr., Vice Chair; John L. Saball, Clerk; Mihran Keoseian, Member; Jeff Ritter, Interim Administrative Officer; Maria Casey, Administrative Assistant; and Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Review Special Town Meeting Articles with Sponsors

(Draft enclosed herein)

Ms. Onorina Maloney, Town Clerk, presented the article for updating bylaw/maps.  Ms. Maloney stated that the information currently available on-line is outdated and previously a lot of time and money has been committed to update the code book. 

Ms. Valerie Jenkins, Town Accountant, reviewed previous fiscal year bills.

Mr. Ritter stated that there was a place holder article for the funding of the police union contract and Town Hall/Library Employees union.

Mr. Webber addressed the Capital Stabilization Fund and Stabilization Fund stating that the goal of the Finance Committee had been to put 1.5%.

Mr. Dillon asked that the article for the purchase of Time Clocks be removed and requested that the Interim Administrative Officer look into the type of Time Clocks, location of the clocks and if they can be integrated into the payroll system etc.

 

Mr. George Moore addressed the Right to Farm by-law article.

 

Mr. Rick Hughson addressed the following CPA articles:

• Chicopee School Rehabilitation for the repair of the foundation of the privy and granite fencing.
• Historic Document restoration which is part of a five year project to restore and repair documents.
• Community Wide preservation project which is part 2 of a 3 part plan.
• Norris Property had been turned down last year due to prioritization of the applications, but this year there is funding available to take down the buildings and bring the property into conformance with the Conservation Restriction.
• Tennis courts at the Groton Country Club need repair/restoration
• Wharton plantation footbridges
• Prescott School
• Lost Lake basketball court

 

Mr. Keoseian stated that he was opposed to the funds to be used for the privy restoration and the amount of $50,000 for the basketball court seemed excessive for a CPA project.

 

Mr. Cunningham asked Mr. Hughson how many bids or how much detail the CPC required of applicants.  Mr. Hughson stated that obtaining multiple bids is encouraged, but not required.

 

Mr. Cunningham addressed the B & M railroad purchase of the right of way of the abandoned line from W. Groton to Pepperell which connects to Hollis, NH, the funding will come from the Conservation Commission.

 

Mr. Tom Delaney, Highway Surveyor addressed the article for an intermediate or light duty truck.  Mr. Delaney stated that he would ideally like a intermediate truck, but could make due if with a light duty pick up truck if the budget was tight.  Ms. Jenkins stated that a number needed to be inserted for budgetary purposes.  Mr. Delaney requested $52,000.

 

Mr. Delaney addressed the article for a replacement lawn mower.  He stated that the existing mower had been destroyed by fire and one option would be to buy 2 mowers with a narrower cutting range, but would be faster and increase efficiency.

 

Mr. Ritter addressed the article for the Williams Barn/Cemetery land survey conveyance.  Mr. Ritter stated he had spoken to Mr. Stan Dillis and received an estimate in the amount of $1,000 for the survey.  Mr. Ritter stated that he had also spoken with a representative of the Cemetery Commission and there may be some room for negotiation.

 

Mr. Scott Wilson, Planning Board addressed the Station Avenue funding article.  Mr. Wilson stated that the Planning Board was requesting the article to conduct a feasibility study of the land on Station Avenue to see what it will bear.  Mr. Wilson stated that it had become clear that the Planning Board needed to develop a master plan for the area.

 

Ms. Rena Swezey, Assistant Assessor addressed the article for Clause 41a.  Ms. Swezey stated that the deferral of taxes for senior citizens is currently only available for those with an income of up to $20,000.  Under DOR guidelines a town may vote to increase the requirements to $40,000 and make the program available for other seniors.

 

Mr. Stuart Schulman, Zoning Board of Appeals addressed the article for funding of an engineering review for Groton Residential Gardens.  Mr. Schulman stated that the funding would normally come from a 563 account but there is not enough in the account to cover the review of the drainage issues.

 

Jason Kauppi, Sign Committee RE: Update

Mr. Kaupi stated that the Sign Committee is made up of entirely new members and they have had six meetings at which they have decided that enforcement of the by-laws should start with education and one area of real concern is real estate signs.  Mr. Kauppi stated that the Committee would like to start by sending out a letter to the realtors explaining the by-law, followed up by phone calls and if that fails to curb the violations to the by-laws then citations would be issued.

 

Mr. Cunningham applauded the Sign Committees proactive approach and thanked Mr. Kauppi for volunteering and acting as chairman.  Mr. Keoseian thanked Mr. Kauppi and the Committee for a regulatory letter that is understandable.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

Surrenden Farm Update

Mr. Ed McNierney, Trails Committee was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Cunningham stated that the Surrenden Farm Land Use Committee was currently working on a land management plan and investigating the trail network. 

 

Mr. McNierney reviewed the trail system on a map, documenting existing trails and then potential trails depending upon the use of the land, i.e. agricultural. 

 

Parks Department Letter of Support CPA Application

Mr. Cunningham stated that the Board was being asked to draft a letter of support for the CPA application. 

 

Mr. Dillon stated that he did not feel the application addressed the basketball court specifications. 

 

Mr. Cunningham stated that there had been a commitment made at the time of the construction and he supported the application.

 

Mr. Keoseian stated that he did not support the application as presented.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that he would support the application, however he would like to see more specs.

 

Mr. Hughson stated that many representatives of the neighborhood has come forward asking if the CPC would support the basketball court.  Mr. Dillon stated that there would be a public hearing with the Finance Committee to review the warrant articles on Monday, October 2, 2006.  Mr. Hughson stated that he would tell the representatives that their presence was requested and required.

 

Mr. Saball stated that the town had committed to the basketball court, but some scrutiny was necessary.

 

Ms. Wood asked who would maintain the courts.  Mr. Hughson stated that the Parks Department would do the maintenance.

 

Mr. Keoseian stated that he supports recreation and the basketball court, and would support the application with a qualifier that more specifications and several quotes should be submitted for review.

 

Blue Ribbon Governance Committee Appointments                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Mr. Cunningham stated that Ms. Jane Bouvier and Mr. Don Kennedy had withdrawn their names from consideration.

 

Ms. Wood stated that she would be honored to be on the committee and asked if there were new issues or the same issues from when she had been on the Board of Selectmen.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to nominate Ms. Virginia Wood as business community representive to the Blue Ribbon Governance Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Keoseian.  Unanimous vote.

Mr. Cunningham moved to nominate Mr. Ed. Strachan as Citizen at Large representative to the Blue Ribbon Governance Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Cunningham stated that both Ms. Jane Allen and Ms. Sylvia Sangiolo had expressed interest in serving on the committee.  Mr. Keoseian stated that he had been impressed with Ms. Sangiolos questions and lively discussion during the previous form of governance meetings.  Mr. Cunningham echoed Mr. Keoseians comments and added that Ms. Sangiolo seemed to be very open to potential changes and that would be a very positive influence on the committee.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to nominate Ms. Sylvia Sangiolo as Citizen at Large to the Blue Ribbon Governance Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Dillon.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Dillon moved to appoint Virginia Wood as Groton Business Representative; Mr. Ed Strachan as Citizen at Large; Ms. Edna B. White as Town Government Study Committee Representative; Ms. Sylvia Sangiolo as Citizen at Large, terms to expire June 30, 2007.  Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.

 

Review FY08 Budget Schedules and Proposed Meeting with the Finance Committee, to

Review Budgets on Saturday, January 20, 2007 and Saturday, January 27, 2007

Mr. Ritter stated that he had met with Mr. Keoseian, Town Accountant Valerie Jenkins, Finance Committee Chair Jay Prager, and Mr. Dillon to discuss how to best approach the budget process or the year and suggested doing two Saturdays as an opportunity to review the budget collectively.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that it should cut down on the amount of time that the department heads would need to go before various boards.

 

INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS REPORT

Mr. Ritter reviewed the following:

• The Town Hall employees had observed a moment of silence on the front steps.
• Meetings attended
• Scheduled meeting with Dr. Genovese and non-department heads
• Submitted a form for Board approval to streamline the annual and special town meeting warrant articles.
• He will pursue the insurance company regarding the lawn mower which had caught fire.

 

SELECTMEN LIAISION REPORT

Mr. Cunningham stated that the Surrenden Farm Land Use Committee had done a site walk and roughed out the location of building sites for agricultural use.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that he had attended Grotonfest and congratulated the sponsors.  Mr. Dillon also attended the Farnsworth memorial at the old burying grounds on Sunday.

 

Consent Calendar

1. Approve Weekly Expense and Payroll Warrants  Mr. Dillon moved to approve and sign Payroll Warrant 06, dated September 21, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Keoseian. 3 in favor, 1opposed (Saball)
2. Appointments  Election Workers  Lona Bassett, Rena Swezey, Barbara Gale 
• Mr. Dillon moved to appoint Lona Bassett as Election Worker for Precinct 1, for the one-year term, term to expire June 30, 2007.   Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.
• Mr. Dillon moved to appoint Rena Swezey as Warden in Training for Precinct 2, for the one-year term, term to expire June 30, 2007.  Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.
• Mr. Dillon move to appoint Barbara Gale as Election Worker for the one-year term, term to expire June 30, 2007.  Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.
3. Approve Regular Session Minutes of September 11, 2006

·         Mr. Dillon moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes of September 11, 2006, as amended. Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.

4. Approve Executive Session Minutes of September 11, 2006

·         Mr. Dillon moved to approve and not release the Executive Session Minutes of September 11, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Dillon moved to enter into Executive Session at 9:45 p.m. in accordance with MGL Chapter 39, Section 23B, for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation and Will Not reconvene in Open Session.  Seconded by Mr. Saball.  Roll Call Vote:  Keoseian  yes; Saball  yes; Dillon  yes; Cunningham  yes.

 

 

                       

                                                                                    ______________________________

Approved:  _____________________________                   respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Kathleen Newell

                                                                                    Office Assistant

 

Date Approved:  October 30, 2006