HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-04-22 Board of Selectmen Executive Minutes /1 BOARD OF SELECTMEN EXECUTIVE MINUTES April 22,2002
EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Executive Session convened at 6:05 p.m.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present:Rosemary Smedile, Chairman;Donald B. Stewart;James
Xenakis; Wendy Wakeman; Susan Haltmaier, Mark Rees,Town Manager; Ray Santilli,Assistant Town
Manager.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Susan Haltmaier made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to move
into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation with Campion Hall,Foxwoods, land acquisition and
negotiations with union and non union employees and criminal investigation;vote approved 5-0.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session.
Vote: Wendy Wakeman yes; Donald Stewart yes; Susan Haltmaier yes;James Xenakis yes;Rosemary
Smedile yes.
Chairman Smedile stated the Board would be returning to Open Session after the Executive Session.
Campion Hall.
Town Counsel Thomas Urbelis was present and told the Board of Selectmen that the neighbors of
Campion Hall who were identified last year as potential witnesses are not going to testify. The witnesses
for the Town would be Bob Nicetm,Fire Chief William Dolan,and Bob Daigle,an engineer. Based upon
the anticipated testimony,Attorney Urbelis has not changed his opinion from what he expressed in a
previous letter of October 29,2001 as to the low probability of having the court order the tearing down of
the building.Town Manager Mark Rees recommends the Town move forward with this issue as money
has been spent on the preparations and the Town does not have much to lose by moving forward. Town
Counsel Thomas Urbelis will be going to trial regarding Campion Hall.
Foxwoods.
Town Manager Mark Rees received a letter from Town Counsel Thomas Urbelis regarding three articles
for Town Meeting that deal with Foxwoods. If these articles go forward the implications of the settlement
agreement would preclude a lawsuit by the Town against the developer regarding the residential
sprinklers.Ibis information was shared with Mr. Devlin,a resident of Foxwoods,who was not pleased
but would go along with the deal if the Planning Board voted to amend their subdivision by eliminating
the requirement for residential sprinklers, so there is not a liability issue between the homeowner not
being in compliance with a Town subdivision order. Second,Mr.Devlin would like the Town to use
legal pressure to compel the residential sprinkler installer to go in and not expand the sprinklers in houses
but repair and replace existing sprinklers so they come in compliance with the code. Mark Rees will
report back to the Board at a future meeting after trying to reach a resolution.
Out Country Fire Station,Land Acquisition.
At a previous meeting,the Board requested an analysis be conducted regarding various options that the
Town may want to consider.Under the 30B process you cannot negotiate when the bids are opened.
Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli stated the appraised value of the land on Salem Street&Boxford
Street is$275,000 and the assessed value of the land is$201,000.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to withdraw the warrant article at
Town Meeting;vote approved 5-0.
Land Acquisition: Land next to Water Treatment Plant.
^ When this land acquisition was last discussed with the Board,Town Manager Mark Rees was directed to
find another appraiser to provide the three values necessary to determine what the Town's offer will be.
^ Fidelity Appraisers was hired and appraised the entire parcel of land at$400,00 and $30,000 for the one
acre the town is interested in, leaving the remainder of the larger parcel at$370,000.
Susan Haltmaier made a MOTION,seconded by Wendy Wakeman,to have an engineering survey on the
land adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant;vote approved 5-0.
Negotiations with Non-Union Employees.
After the recommendations of the consultant Howard Tabor and Associates who completed the Wage and
Classification Plan at the Board meeting of March 29,2002, it was agreed that individual members would
voice concerns to the Town Manager. Changes were recommended to bring salaries upward or
downward to market analysis on the following employees: Dennis Bedrosian,Joyce Bradshaw,John Cyr,
William Dolan,Linda Hmurciak, Sue Ellen Holmes, Sue Northam,Kathy O'Neill,Barbara Philbrick and
Richard Stanley.
James Xenakis made a MOTION,seconded by Susan Haltmaier,to adopt the Wage and Classification
Plan as amended;vote approved 5-0.
Discussion: Susan Haltmaier and Donald Stewart still felt the Town Clerk's salary was too low. Town
Manager Mark Rees reiterated to the Board to keep in mind that this is not an issue of performance but an
issue of market analysis. This could be addressed in the Performance Appraisal for FY03.
ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION,seconded by Susan Haltmaier,to move out of
executive session;vote approved 5 -0.
^ Kathleen A.O'Neill,Administrative Secretary