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Home My WebLink About2000-04-12 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES APRIL 12, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Keith Mitchell called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. ATTENDANCE: The following were present; Keith A. Mitchell; Chairman, John R. Leeman, Jr.; Donald B. Stewart;William B. Duffy, Jr.;Terri S. Ackerman; Acting Town Manager, James M. Xenakis (6:50 p.m.). APPROVAL OF MINUTES: William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve the Executive Minutes tabled previously from July 13, 1998;vote approved 4— 0. John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve the Executive Minutes for March 15, 2000; vote approved 3 — 0— 1 (William Duffy abstained). Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the Open and Executive Minutes for March 16, 2000;vote approved 3 — 0 - 1 (William Duffy abstained). COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENT AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Muscular Dystrophy-Fundraiser. Terri Ackerman; Acting Town Manager, stated she would be involved in a fundraising event held for Muscular Dystrophy on April 25, 2000. Muscular Dystrophy will incarcerate her in exchange for her attempt to raise bail money. Maritimes &Northeast Pipeline. Ms. Ackerman reminded the Board that all comments regarding the proposal made by Maritimes &Northeast Pipelines, LLC be made to the Department of Health, Communications and Energy before April 21, 2000. This will be discussed at the meeting on April 18, 2000. Town Salaries. Joyce Bradshaw stated that Jackie Sullivan has been working diligently on collecting information for the Town Government Salaries. There will be roughly 100 pages to be added into the Town Report to include the Salaries. The Selectmen's preference is to have the person's name published with the amount of pay, not a generalized position with a salary range. Currently, each department's total salary is published, but not in a break down by specific names. Ms. Bradshaw suggested that there be a supplemental made available to the Public to include such information, but is not cost effective to be added to the Town Report which has to be finalized to be sent to the printer in only two days. Normal distribution is to make between 1,000 to 1,500 copies to be provided at the Annual Town Meeting. John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve a hand-out to include the Salaries of all Municipal and School Employees as well as to include this data in the future Town Reports; vote approved 4 - 0. A suggestion was made of reforming a Town Report Committee for next year. Board of Selectmen Minutes April 12, 2000 Page 2 LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to move into Licensing; vote approved 4— 0. Merrimack Valley Chamber Mixer. Joe Bevilaqua of the Merrimack Valley Chamber requested a license and the fee to be waived for Malt and Wine for the Merrimack Valley Chamber Mixer,to be held on April 18, 2000, from 5 — 7 p.m. at Stevens Estate. John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart to favor the license as done in the previous year, which was to approve the request but charge a$30 fee; vote approved 4— 0. NEW BUSINESS: Warrant Article Recommendations. Title of Article Recommendation Report of Receipts, Expenditures. and Special Committees Address at Town Meeting Approval of Comprehensive Master Plan Address at Town Meeting Compensation of Elected Officials Favorable/Approved 5 - 0 Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Transfers Address at Town Meeting Unpaid Bills— Chapter 44 Section 64 Address at Town Meeting State Revenue Sharing Resolution Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Water Enterprise Fund-FY 2001 Appropriation Address at Town Meeting Sewer Enterprise Fund-FY 2001 Appropriation Address at Town Meeting Establish Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Establish Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund Appropriation FY 2001 Address at Town Meeting General Fund Appropriation Article—FY 2001 Address at Town Meeting Capital Improvement Plan—FY 2001 Address at Town Meeting Rescind Authorized but Un-Issued Bond Authorization Address at Town Meeting Appropriation of Tax Revaluation Address at Town Meeting Authorization Chapter 90 Highway Funds Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Authority to Accept Easements Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Authority to Grant Easements Address at Town Meeting Authorization for Revolving Funds Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Stabilization Fund Motion to strike; approved 5 - 0 Acquire Interests in Real Estate— Osgood Street Acquire Interest in Real Estate—Boxford and Foster Streets Address at Town Meeting Amend Zoning Bylaw Section 4.136(8) add Waiver No Action Taken Acceptance of MGL Chapter 40, Section 22F, setting fees Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Senior Citizen Tax Deferral -$40,000 per household Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Senior Citizen Tax Deferral -$50,000 per household Unfavorable/Approved 5 — 0 Licensing Automatic Amusement Devices Favorable/Approved 5 — 0 Street Acceptance—East Pasture Circle Address at Town Meeting Amend Growth Management Bylaw Unfavorable/Approved 4— 1 Amend Zoning ByLaw Section 7.1.2 No Action Taken Establish Betterment Assessment Amend Town Code—Prohibit Gasoline Lake Cochichewick Address at Town Meeting All Street Acceptances Address at Town Meeting Use Portion of Foster Farm for Fire Station Favorable/Approved 3 —2 Complete phase of sewer installation on Winter Street Address at Town Meeting All Re-Zoning Articles No Action Taken Charter Change for Town Meeting to be held on Weekday nights No Action Taken Board of Selectmen Minutes April 12, 2000 Page 3 OLD BUSINESS: Foxwood Subdivision. A lengthy letter was produced to William Duffy by Jack Devlin and his counsel, regarding issues in the Foxwood Subdivision Development. Copies of the letter were given out to the Board as well as the Town Counsel, Thomas Urbelis. Jack Devlin and his attorney have requested to have a meeting with Terri Ackerman, Acting Town Manager. William Duffy suggested having Thomas Urbelis present at this meeting which has not been scheduled as of yet. Budget Update. Budget review handouts were distributed reiterating budget figure amounts and details. The latest modifications include budget increase percentages. Different scenarios were produced to show estimated budget deficits. William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the Financial Committee recommendations as of April 6, 2000,with a provision of$638,114.00 which does not include any of the urgent cuts; no vote was taken. James Xenakis abstained from voting due to concerns he has regarding the second ambulance possibly being shut down and the Youth Center opening. William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman to approve the budget as recommended by the Finance Committee provided the material is not changed; vote approved 4— 1, (James Xenakis opposed). Further discussions regarding the budget details were tabled until the Finance Committee meeting that is to be held on Thursday, April 13, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room. Water and Sewer Update. There were more discussions regarding the gap in the water amount pumped versus the amount billed. There were some abatements that were billing errors accounting for part of this gap. The auditors from Melanson Heath have identified the errors. The normal gap is 15%,the Town's gap is at 20—25%. The issues which have made this percentage higher than normal are water meters that were under registering, ex-filtration(leaking water pipes), a Lucent Technology error, and known losses. William Hmurciak, Director of the Department of Public Works explained that known losses are things such as filling the reservoir, issues at the water treatment plant, flushing hydrants, and filling the water sweeper or trucks. The known losses are responsible for 2%—5%. The Lucent error is responsible for roughly 5%. William Duffy made a MOTION to set the rate for the water at the same current rate, also he made a MOTION,to reduce the indirect cost charge assessed to the two Enterprise Funds from$544,732 to $568,850 with a net reduction of$37,882. Kerry Dudeck, Financial Director explained that by doing this reduction it will throw the budget off balance by$10,000. William Duffy made a MOTION to amend this amount of the reduction from$37,882 to $27,882, seconded by John Leeman; vote approved 4— 0— 1 (Donald Stewart abstained). Water Rate. Donald Stewart made a MOTION to not adopt the recommendations made by Wes Gardner and to calculate the set rate at$2.75,no one seconded this MOTION. Several discussions ensued involving the recommendations made previously by Wes Gardner. Keith Mitchell suggested having comparable material to take under advisement from surrounding communities. Board of Selectmen Minutes April 12, 2000 Page 4 William Duffy made a MOTION to set the rate the same as it is currently and to adopt all proposed fees minus the $5.00 late charge, seconded by John Leeman, vote not approved 2— 3. Sewer Rates. The increase proposed is 14%, bringing the suggested rate to $3.14. Discussions were brought forth regarding betterment fees and increases. Kerry Dudeck calculated with the proposed increase in charges would increase revenue for water$168,000 and for sewer$195,000. William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to approve Option 1 as recommended; vote not approved 2— 3. Keith Mitchell wants the Town Consultant,Wes Gardner contacted to find out what towns he has used comparable system development charges from, if any. ADJOURNMENT: John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to continue the meeting until April 13, 2000,at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference room; vote approved 5 — 0. Sherry A. Collier Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board