BOARD OF SELECTMEN

FEBRUARY 27, 2006

REGULAR SESSION MINUTES

ÒAPPROVEDÓ

 

Present: George F. Dillon, Jr., Chair; John L. Saball, Vice Chair; Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk; Peter S. Cunningham, Member; Mihran Keoseian, Member; Jean E. Kitchen, Administrative
Assistant; and Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant

 

The meeting opened at 7:03P.M.

 

Trust for Public Lands RE: Surrenden Farms

Mr. Dillon reviewed the motion the Board was being asked to support. Mr. Dillon stated that the Community Preservation Committee was meeting at 7:30 this evening to review the proposal and would be asked to support the project. Mr. Keoseian asked if the CPC would be making a formal decision at its meeting. Mr. Rick Hughson stated that he felt from previous discussions that the CPC would recommend placing the proposal on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Keoseian stated that he would like to hear from the citizens who were present. Ms. Ann Luther spoke in support of the project. Ms. Marion Stoddart stated the parcel protects ¾ of a mile of the Nashua River and is a significant entrance to the Town.

 

Mr. Cunningham stated that he had had the opportunity to represent the Board of Selectmen on the Steering Committee which has been meeting every Monday at 7:30 a.m. Mr. Cunningham stated that there has been very positive support for the endeavor.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that he whole-heartedly supported the project as long as the CPC agrees to the funding and that serious consideration is given to the creative financing that had been proposed by the Steering Committee.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved that the Board of Selectmen, being satisfied that the environmental conditions present at Surrenden Farm are suitable for the farmÕs use as public open space, and more particularly for uses allowed under the provisions of the Community Preservation Act, supports the TownÕs acquisition of all or part of the farm, comprised of Lots 6, 7, 8 South and 8 North in partnership with the Groton Conservation Trust, with an ownership structure to be determined prior to the close of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, with the intention of said ownership structure being to divide the farm into separate areas of town ownership and Groton Conservation Trust ownership; with ownership by each party of a conservation easement over all or most of the land of the other. It is further moved that 1) the Selectmen support a funding structure whereby the TownÕs contribution to the acquisition of Surrenden Farm is limited to a maximum of $5,650,000, with the balance of the purchase price to be contributed from other sources, 2) the other sources of funds are expected to include grants or other appropriations of public funds from programs such as the Self Help Program administered by the CommonwealthÕs Division of Conservation Services, 3) if grants or other appropriations of public funds are awarded to the acquisition but are not available prior to closing on December 17, 2006, the Town will use short-term borrowing to bridge the gap in funds required to close, 4) on the recommendation of the TownÕs Community Preservation Committee, the Town will fund its contribution to the acquisition through proceeds raised by the Community Preservation Act, and 5) if the Community Preservation Committee approves the funding for the maximum of the TownÕs contribution of $5,650,000 the Selectmen will sponsor and recommend to Town Meeting passage of an Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, or a Special Town Meeting Warrant if necessary, for the TownÕs consideration on the first night of the Annual Town Meeting of the purchase of Surrenden Farms described in this motion. Seconded by Mr. Keoseian. 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Nordblom).

Nashoba Valley Regional Technical High School Ð Appointment of Alternate Member Ð Frank Belitsky

Mr. Robert Gosselin, Moderator; School Committee members Chuck McKinney, Cindy Barrett, Paul Fitzgerald, Alberta Erickson, and Karen Lofgren; Mr. Frank Belitsky and Mr. Kevin McKenzie (NVRTHS Representative) were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Gosselin stated that Mr. Belitsky had agreed to allow his name to be placed on the ballot for the position of Alternate member to the NVRTHS. Mr. Belitsky stated that he wished to further the horticultural program at the school and would open his land for use by the students. Mr. Gosselin asked for nominations.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to nominate Frank Belitsky to the Nashoba Valley Technical High School Committee, Alternate Member for the one-year term to expire March 31, 2007 Seconded by Mr. Gosselin.

 

Mr. Gosselin asked for a vote. The members of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen and the Town Moderator voted unanimously to appoint Frank Belitsky.

 

Mr. Cunningham move to appoint to Nashoba Valley Technical High School Committee, Alternate Member for the one-year term to expire March 31, 2007. Unanimous vote.

 

Stormwater Management By-Law

Ms. Michelle Collette and Mr. Tom Delaney were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Ms. Collette stated that the Earth Removal Advisory Committee had been working on the Stormwater By-law which is required by the Clean Water Act. Ms. Collette stated that Groton has a population of over 10,000 and therefore falls into the phase 2 category for requirements for state and federal guidelines. Ms. Collette stated that as part of phase 2 requirements they have been doing public education and public outreach. Ms. Collette reviewed the content of the by-law and requirements for maintenance. Ms. Collette stated that if the by-law is accepted at ATM the ERAC will work with all land use departments to review regulations and streamline the permitting processing to assure a consistent manner. Mr. Delaney thanked Ms. Collette and the member of the ERAC for their forethought and work on the by-law, stating that Groton has become a model to other towns. Mr. Delaney urged the Board to support the by-law.

 

Mr. Cunningham stated that there could be costs associated and the matter should be addressed when road acceptances come before the Board for approval.

 

Ms. Collette stated that there would be a public hearing in April to solicit public comment on the by-law.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

Declare Surplus Computer Equipment

Mr. Saball moved to declare the following computer equipment from the Council on Aging as Surplus: (6) Keyboards Ð Hewlett Packard; Gateway; NMB; Microsoft; Mitsumi; generic (no name); (7) Printers Ð Cannon; BIC, HP; HP Desktop 1600; HP Deskjet; Lexmark; Cannon; (6) Monitors- Compaq; MGC; IMGAC; Viewsonic; MBG; Samtrone; (4) Towers Ð HP; Gateway; Devine; Generic (no name); (1) Scanner Ð Plustek . Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Appointment Ð Scholarship Committee Ð Peter C. Myette

Mr. Saball moved to appoint Peter C. Myette to the Scholarship Committee for the unexpired vacant three-year term, term to expire June 30, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Sign Addendum for Extending Service to LFR, Inc for Landfill Monitoring

Mr. Saball moved to execute the Addendum to the Agreement between the Town of Groton and LFR, Inc. for Landfill monitoring services dated, February 13, 2006 as approved to form by Town Counsel. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Appointments Ð GIS, Website, Computer and Finance Committees Ð Steven Webber

Mr. Saball moved to appoint Steven Webber to the Finance Committee for the unexpired vacant three-year term, term to expire June 30, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Saball moved to appoint Steven Webber to the Website Committee for the unexpired vacant one-year term, term to expire June 30, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Saball moved to appoint Steven Webber to the Computer Committee for the unexpired vacant one-year term, term to expire June 30, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Saball moved to appoint Steven Webber to the GIS Committee for the unexpired vacant two-year term, term to expire June 30, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Minutes

Mr. Saball moved to approve the Special Session Minutes of February 17, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. 3 in favor, 2 abstentions (Nordblom and Cunningham).

 

Mr. Saball moved to approve and not release the Executive Session Minutes of October 17, 2005 (Session 1). Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Saball moved to approve and not release the Executive Session Minutes of October 17, 2005 (Session 2) as amended. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Saball moved to approve and not release the Executive Session Minutes of January 30, 2006, as amended. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Keoseian).

 

ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICE REPORT

No report.

 

SELECTMEN LIAISION REPORT

Mr. Cunningham stated that he would like to address the updates to the Chapter 40B legislation and possibly hear from our State Representative as a future agenda item.

 

Mr. Saball moved to enter into Executive Session at 8:00 p.m., in accordance with MGL Chapter 39, Section 23B, for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to contract negotiations for Personal Contracts for the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Administrative Officer and Town Accountant and will not reconvene in Open Session. Seconded by Mr. Nordblom. Unanimous vote.         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ______________________________

Approved: _____________________________                    respectfully submitted,

            Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk                                   Kathleen Newell

                                                                                    Office Assistant

Date Approved: March 27, 2006