Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2007
6:30 PM: Open Meeting; St. Patrick’s Parish Center
Quorum present: Michael Kirchner (MK), Curt Wilton (CW), Tina Skorput Cooper (TSC). Also present: Administrative Assistant (AA). No press present.
Board reviews and approves previous meeting minutes.
Board reviews and signs weekly payroll and vendor warrants
Board reviews SEA proposal for submission of Project Needs Form request to MassHighway. Board will review the document this week prior to submittal.
Board receives and reviews a letter received from resident Cory Smith who claims that he and his employees are being given too much attention by the WSPD. He says that his truck drivers are being followed around by the WSPD. Board thanks Cory for his letter and for coming before the Board. The letter will be passed along to Chief Cooper.
Board reviews a letter from Rouge owners on Center St. about the bad condition of the Center St. sidewalks. CW admits that these and nearly all other sidewalks in Town are in need of repair. That’s why the Town is moving forward with downtown infrastructure reconstruction plans. The Highway Dept. made repairs to the Center St. sidewalk last year and will continue to make reasonable repairs - short of rebuilding, which is what it needs.
7:00 PM: Chief Peter Skorput addresses the Board regarding last week’s bid opening for the new fire rescue/pumper vehicle. The Chief has reviewed the two bids received and recommends that the bid be awarded to Toyne, Inc. Toyne is the low bidder at $191,900. Furthermore, the second bidder – American LaFrance – was unresponsive to all components of the bid request. TSC makes a motion to award the bid to Toyne, Inc. CW seconds the motion. Vote taken, 3-0 in favor.
Chief Skorput discusses the condition of the Department’s 1974 Pumper. It is old and in need of various repairs. The Chief is not confident that the vehicle will last much longer without major repairs and recommends that the Board replace the vehicle in the upcoming year. MK responds that the vehicle should be replaced as soon as possible but that the timing might not be optimal this coming year. The taxpayers will already be experiencing a big hit with the Village School project. Following further discussion, Board will take the Chief’s request under advisement. Peter will investigate the cost of repairs to keep the Pumper going.
7:15 PM: Card Lake Inn owners Mike and Ellen Greer discuss parking issues in the lot owned by the Inn next to the Town Hall. Ellen notes that the Inn takes care of maintaining and plowing the lot and it is used by Town Hall workers and others in Town. She doesn’t necessarily want to prohibit the Town from using the lot but she’d like a little consideration or cost sharing in exchange. MK notes that two MEMO’s have gone out to Town Hall employees and Board members. They are effective for a short period, but are soon ignored. Another MEMO will be distributed. CW notes that part of the problem will solve itself in about 6 months when the Town Hall is vacated and moved to the Village School.
It is suggested that a split rail or some other type of fence be erected at the limits of the parking lot ownership next to the Town Hall. The Town only owns about 12 feet out from the building into the parking lot.
CW offers to plow the parking lot in the future. The Greer’s thank CW and the Board.
Other Items: Board reads a letter from Cemetery Commissioner Stuart Kuller asking the Board to appoint Archibald Fadding, Jr. to the vacancy on the Cemetery Commission. TSC makes a motion to appoint Mr. Fadding. CW seconds the motion. Vote taken, 3-0 in favor.
CW notes that there will be approximately $5,200 left over from the new Highway Truck borrowing. The auditors have said that the money can either be used to purchase some of the omitted options on the truck or seek Town Meeting approval to transfer the money for a similar purpose. The money cannot be closed out to free cash. Following a discussion, the Board recommends that CW use the surplus for some of the omitted options.
Board reviews a letter from the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Division of Mass Wildlife. The Department has given the green light to Lycott Environmental to conduct the chemical weed removal of Mill Pond in the spring. ConsCom has to be contacted to see what their pleasure is as far as finishing up the Public Hearing opened almost 2 years ago for this project.
MK wants the Board to convene an executive session at next week’s meeting to discuss strategy as it relates to certain contract negotiations. Board agrees.
7:57 PM: CW makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. TSC seconds the motion. Vote taken, 3-0 in favor.
Meeting minutes approved by:
_____________________ _____________________ ______________________
Michael Kirchner, Chair Curt Wilton Tina Skorput Cooper
Date: _____________
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