MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

MONDAY - FEBRUARY 14, 2005 - 7:00 PM

 

WILLIAM HILTON CENTER

 

PRESENT:     Selectmen Robert Carroll Chairman, Anthony Papoulias, Jerry Klima

ABSENT:       Sel. Hunt and Sel. Richenburg

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Neil Harrington, Town Manager and Janet Flannery, Secretary

 

I.          Call to Order/Salute to the Flag

Chairman Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

II.        Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes of Jan. 10, 2005, Special Meeting of Jan. 12, 3005, and Meeting of Jan. 28, 2005

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to postpone until a full Board is present.

 

III.       Old Business

Phoenix Homes Sewer Connection Request

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to remove from the Table.

Chairman Carroll said that Sel. Richenburg was the Selectmen who had requested this be tabled so that the Town could talk with Counsel and DEP.  Sel. Carroll suggested that since Sel. Richenburg was absent and seeing that this is such an important issue and a policy issue, that this be tabled until March 14th when a full Board will be present.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to postpone consideration on this request until March 14, 2005.

 

IV.       New Business

License Renewals:

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve renewing licenses as listed on the attached page for the following categories: Sunday, Campground, Arcade, Entertainment, Parking Lot, Repair, Class II, Class III, Common Victualer, and General.

 

b.  New Licenses:

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to Polkadot Playhouse, Inc. - 175 Elm St. Unit 2.  This is to be a children’s activity center, not a daycare facility and mothers/parents will be with the children while at the center.

 

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to: Coach Lucy; Insights that Work - 14 Atlantic Ave. Unit B, Stelline’s Quality Painting - 50 Brissette Ave., ACME Services - 60 Cable Ave. And Heaven Scent Cleaning Services - 85 Atlantic


MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING OF FEB. 14, 2004

 

Ave. Subject to the condition that the licenses are solely to be used for a home office and no customers or employees are to be on the premises.

 

c.  Committee Appointments - none

 

d.  Update Report - Assessor

Cheryl Gillespie introduced herself as Chief Assessor and one of the 3 members of the Board of Assessors, the other two being Ed Gagnon and Sherry Volpone who is also a field assessor.  There are two part time clerks, Josephine Kohan and Crystal Hall, who fulfill a full-time position.  The only thing contracted out from her office is for the software and other than that everything is done in the office – all field inspections are done in-house.

Ms. Gillespie reported that overall growth in the last 4 years has about doubled; she then gave a handout to the Board showing the sales, motor vehicle excise tax and how they have grown over the last 8 - 10 years and indicated that in 1995 the median house sales price was $195,000 and in 2004 it was $310,000.

As soon as the values are certified by the State they will be put on the network and people will be able to access their own information on the net.  Values are set once a year and are updated the first of every year.  Tax maps have been digitized and are now GIS compatible.  Updates on the maps for 2003 have been completed and should be ready shortly.  The tax rate has been determined and she is just waiting for some last minute accounting to be reviewed before submitting it to the DOR; actual bills will be send out April 1st and payments will be due May 1st.  As for the state owned land, the State will re-value the dollar amount every 5 years.  The value for ‘05, which will show up on the ‘07 cherry sheet is a $34M value.  2006 will be a re-valuation year and the first meeting with DOR is this Wednesday where the work plan will be set.  In this process one-tenth of the Town is done as a measure of the list, then the sales and analysis will be done.  As for the affordable housing units created through the 40B’s, the assessors will be developing a new way to value them.  The present tax rate if $9.74 and the values have gone up so the average home owner will see an increase in their taxes.

The Board thanked Ms. Gillespie and commended her on her efforts and hard work on the valuations of the state owned land.

 

e.  Approve FY06 PILOT Resolution

Sel. Klima introduced this topic.  He is a member of the executive committee of STAR, which stands for “Stand Together and Act Responsibly”.  This is a group of 115 cities and towns who stand together to lobby for the State to make full payments in lieu of taxes for state owned land.  The Governor has proposed an increase of about $15M, but their program calls for $19M so they are trying to get all cities and towns to adopt a resolution and asked for the Board’s support in doing so.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to adopt the PILOT resolution as presented tonight.

 

 

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING OF FEB. 14, 2004

 

f.  Approve Chairman’s Letter to Phoenix Homes

Sel. Carroll presented a letter for the Board’s approval documenting the decision of the Board’s action as sewer and water commissioners.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve the letter to be sent to Mr. Andrew Gmelch of Phoenix Home.

 

g.  Vote to Approve CDBG Grant Application

Ms. Pearson requested the Board’s approval of this year’s CDBG Grant application for $800,000 which will include 3 projects:

Continuation of the existing housing rehab grant,

An addition to the Hilton Center which will accommodate space for the flu clinics, podiatrist visits and medical, as well as additional meeting rooms, and

A Certified Housing Plan for the community which will help to plan for more low-moderate income housing and give more local control over Chapter 40B development proposals.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve the CDBG grant application as presented by Ms. Pearson.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to submit a notice of intent  to submit the CDBG Program Grant Application.

 

h.  Winner’s Circle Running Club - Request to hold April Fool’s 4-mile Road Race

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve the race as requested to be held on April 3rd at 11:00 AM to benefit the local Chapter of the American Red Cross.

 

I.  Brad Kutcher (Bradku, Inc.) - re: Request for sewer extension permit for 19 Ferry Rd.

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to postpone indefinitely.

 

V.        Comments by Visitors - none

 

VI.       Sewer/Water

Atty. Healy re: Eugene Dean Trustee of Nobege Realty Trust - 18 Broadway

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to postpone this issue indefinitely as requested by Atty. Healy.

 

GISO Realty - 20 Cable Ave. Re: Notice of Appeal

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to set a date of Feb. 28, 2005 at 7:45 for a public hearing for a note of appeal with respect to 20 Cable Ave.

 

 

 

VII.     Correspondence

·                      Copy of a letter from Cambridgeport Systems to the Fire Chief commending him and his department and their willingness and assistance at a recent problem at their facility.

·                      Letter from Adelphia re: complaints received and their handling of them.

·                      Letter from Adelphia re: rate increase announcement in some of their services.

·                      Letter from the Women’s Crisis Center requesting permission to display a banner in Salisbury promoting their annual walk for violence.

·                      Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to approve subject to the approval of the DPW Director.

·                       

VIII.    Hearings - none

 

IX.       Town Manager’s Report

Mr. Harrington summarized his written report, a copy of which is attached and made a part of these Minutes.

 

X.        Selectmen’s Report

Sel. Papoulias asked if the Town is going to find a place for the Veterans to meet and the Manager said he hasn’t forgotten them and is still working on it.  There is an issue with the one building they are interested in that has not been resolved because of neighborhood concerns.

 

Sel. Klima announced that there is another meeting tomorrow night re: the rail trails at 7:00 PM in the school and there are plans for another day to work with Timberland on April 22nd to extend the trail further.  Presently there are about 25 interested people and he invited anyone else who would be interested to join them.

 

Sel. Carroll said that he did meet with Ms. Brown of the license commission as requested by the Board and she did rescind her resignation and will remain on the Board as a commissioner.

 

XI.       Executive Session - none

 

XII.     Adjournment

Motion by Sel. Klima, Seconded by Sel. Papoulias; Unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:25 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Flannery, Secretary

 

Approved:______________________________

     Ed Hunt, Clerk