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Home My WebLink About2005-09-19 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Thomas Licciardello; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move into Executive Session to discuss Consideration of Employee Discipline and Collective Bargaining Clerical Union. Vote approved 5-0. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Thomas Licciardello, yes, and Rosemary Smedile yes. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the minutes of September 6, 2005, Executive Session as written and Open Session as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Recognition of Fire Department Employees The Board of Selectmen presented Certificates of Appreciation to Lt. William McCarthy, Firefighter Brian Freeman and all the firefighters of Unit 3 who on April 17, 2005, responded and assisted the residents at a house fire on Johnson Street. New Business Recognition The Board of Selectmen presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Suzanne Solomon for locating a new business La Samanna Salon in town. The Board of Selectmen presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the owners of Emporio Gourmet for locating a new business in town. The Board of Selectmen presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Donald C. Johnson for located Johnson School of Art in town. Appointments The Town Manager recommended appointing Curt Bellavance as Community Development Director. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the Town Manager's recommendation appointing Curt Bellavance as Community Development Director. Vote approved 5-0. The Town Manager recommended appointing Gerald Brown as the Inspector of Buildings. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the Town Manager's recommendation appointing Gerald Brown as the Inspector of Buildings. Vote approved 4-1. Donald Stewart opposed. The Town Manager informed the Board that he was still waiting for additional information regarding the status of special employee Art Kreiger. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 19, 2005 2 LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the following one-day licenses. Cynthia Rostiac, Stevens Estate, 723 Osgood Street, requests the following one-day liquor licenses: 1. Dolan Wedding, Saturday, September 24, 2005, from 5:00-11:00 PM, Full liquor bar 2. Kamp Wedding, Saturday, October 1, 2005, from 2:00—8:00 PM, Full liquor bar 3. Canner Bar Mitzvah, Friday, October 7, 2005, from 7:00 PM—12:00 AM, Full liquor bar 4. Leblanc Wedding, Saturday, October 8, 2005, from 5:00—10:00 PM, Full liquor bar James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to open a Public Hearing. Vote 5-0. Fresh City Eaglewood, LLC, Turnpike Street, requested a Change of Manager from Joan Rogan to Caroline E. Minneci Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the request of Fresh City Eaglewood, LLC. for change of manager from Joan Rogan to Caroline E. Minneci. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to close the public hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 5-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to open the public hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Massachusetts Electric Pole Petition — Plan #S53/489 Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the pole petition by Massachusetts Electric for the installation of an electric duct bank consisting of 2-3" ducts with cable to provide electric service to 612 and 622 Salem Street. Vote approved 5-0. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to close the public hearing. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Town Manager Evaluation Process The Town Manager asked the Board to complete the evaluation form and return it to the Chairman by Wednesday, September 28, 2005, for processing. Massachusetts Electric Easements— Foster Street The Board of Selectmen was asked to approve and sign documents for a Grant to Easement—Foster Street, Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England, Inc. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve and sign the Grant to Easement—Foster Street for Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England, Inc. Vote approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: Emergency Management Chairman Smedile requested a brief report regarding the town's emergency management plan and to highlight one area of concern; communications. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 19, 2005 3 Director of Emergency Management Jeff Coco highlighted the weakest areas in Communication as follows: Adequate antenna infrastructure; Radio interoperability; Radio dispatcher; Communications technology; Emergency Management communications. Coco specifically pointed out that there are many dead zones in town where police, fire and mobile phones do not work. He stressed that these problems should be minimized before a disaster hits. Also, the town needs to educate the public on how families need an emergency plan to be prepared in case of an emergency or a disaster event. Police Department Reorganization Plan Police Chief Richard Stanley brought forward a reorganization plan due to the recent retirement of an Executive Officer. The plan would allow the police department to more effectively and efficiently manage its internal organization and in-turn provides better service to the town. The Town Manager gave four options on how to reorganize the police department. The Town Manager recommended option 2; this option would promote the Communications Supervisor to a civilian head of the Administrative Services Division; hire a fulltime Public Safety Information Technology professional; and hire a second midnight dispatcher. Selectman Xenakis favored Option 2A because this would allow a dedicated sworn officer to computer responsibilities rather than a civilian computer person. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to accept the Police Department Reorganization Plan and the Town Manager's recommendation Option 2. Vote approved 4-0-1. James Xenakis abstained. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Due to increased risk of mosquito borne disease, the Board of Health with the cooperation and assistance of the School Department, Youth Services, and the Department of Public Works initiated a three part program to address the problem: Distribute educational information on ways to limit exposure to mosquitoes Hiring a contractor to apply pesticides on town and school athletic fields Prohibiting the use of town/school fields after 6:00 p.m., the highest period of mosquito activity. Regarding the redevelopment of the Lucent facility a meeting was held on Monday, September 12th, with representatives from various town boards and Nancy Colbert of the land use-consulting firm of Taintor& Associates, to begin a review of the design elements of the plan. A follow up meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall. Other work done includes the drafting of the 40R zoning changes that is currently being reviewed and the receipt of the developers fiscal impact study. This study has been referred to the town's fiscal consultant, Community Opportunities Group, for review and comment. Fire Chief Dolan has informed me that Fire Fighter Brian Canella has returned from National Guard duty where he was assigned to assist with the recovery efforts as a result of Hurricane Katrina The Town Manager will be attending the International City/County Management Association Annual Meeting from Friday afternoon, September 23rd retuning Wednesday evening, September 28th, 2005. ADJOURNMENT: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board