MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
MONDAY - SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 - 7:00 PM
WILLIAM HILTON CENTER
PRESENT: Selectmen Henry Richenburg, Chairman, Robert Carroll, Jerry Klima, and Fred Knowles
ABSENT: Ed Hunt
ALSO PRESENT: Neil Harrington, Town Manager and Janet Flannery, Secretary
I. Call to Order/Salute to the Flag
Chairman Richenburg called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM.
II. Acceptance of Minutes
Minutes of July 11, 2005, Special Meeting of July 25, 2005 and August 8, 2005
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to accept the Minutes of July 11, 2005 and Special Meeting of July 25, 2005 as printed and to accept the Minutes of August 8, 2005 with a few minor typographical corrections.
III. Old Business - none
IV. New Business
License Renewals:
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Klima; Unanimously voted to approve a change of address on a Repair License for Dave’s Auto Body & Sons at 137 Lafayette Rd.
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to approve renewal of a General license to: Active Fitness - 6 Merrill St., Wash’n Wage - 8A Beach Rd., and Seaside Resorts, Inc. - 3 Liberty St.
b. New Licenses:
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Carroll; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to Advanced Technology Solutions - 44 Cable Ave. on the condition that no employees or customers are on the premises.
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Klima; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to WebAds Galore.Com - 1 Pleasant St. on the condition that no employees or customers are on the premises.
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to Tokyo Joe’s Studios of Self Defense - 106 Bridge Rd. Subject to a CORI being done on the instructors which the applicant agreed to have done.
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING OF SEPT. 12, 2005
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to approve a General license to A.J.I. Cleaning Co. - 96B Railroad Ave. on the condition that no employees or customers are on the premises.
c. Committee Appointments:
License Commission - 2 vacancies - 1 Applicant - Joseph A. Carroll - Lewis Ave.
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to table until the Manager receives Counsel’s opinion as to whether the applicant can serve since he is a part-time bartender in another town.
d. Acting Police Chief Simmons re: 4-Way Stop Sign at True Rd., Bartlett St., and Cushing St. Intersection
Chief Simmons addressed the Board to request permission to have a 4-way stop sign erected at the above intersection to increase the quality of life in that area. He has spoken with the DPW Director and he in agreement with this.
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to have the sign put up as recommended by the Police Dept.
e. Acting Police Chief Simmons re: Project Life Saver
Chief Simmons again addressed the Board to explain a new project that is starting up which is new to the area. This is a system offered to people who tend to wander away from home; they are fitted with a transmitter which is the size of a wristwatch and if and when they wander off from their caretaker they are monitored and found in a short time. The cost for a transmitter is about $150, but would be provided free to indigent people. If approved it should be up and running within 2 - 3 weeks.
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to approve the program.
f. Update/Presentation - Harbor Commission
Reggie Santos indicated that the Harbor Master is out of town and will make a detailed presentation at a later date. As for the Harbor Commission it if very much a team activity between the members and the Harbor master is working closely together to serve the boating public and to achieve their mutually agreed upon goals.
During 2005, 507 waterways permits, 124 mooring permits, and 22 dinghy docking permits were issued. There are presently about 80 people on the mooring waiting list. The FY06 harbor master’s budget is $36,444.00 which is slightly up from ‘05 due to increased operating expenses; however this budget is entirely funded through fees.
The Harbor master has continued working with the Boys & Girls club to develop a community boating program to give kids a chance to learn safe boat handling and sailing.
Mr. Santos also reported that: 1) the harbor master and all assistants have been trained and certified as first responders; 2) all emergency medical equipment carried on the patrol boat has been reviewed,
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING OF SEPT. 12, 2005
re-conditioned and restocked to bring it up to current standards; 3) a new small dewatering pump was purchased and the older large pump was reconditioned; 4) Work on the Harbor master plan has begun; 5) working with the DPW and Cammett Engineering was hired to research the deed to verify the boundaries of the town dock (this effort is being led by the DPW Director); 6) the float system has received the permits from the Army Corps of Engineers; 7) training is in process led by Don Jansen; 8) continued development is being made on the harbor master’s procedural manual; and 9) additional equipment is being obtained to improve communications & record keeping.
The future plans are to continue operational training through the North Shore Harbormaster’s Assoc. training program, courses at the police reserve academy, improvements to the town dock, additional floats and acquisition of additional river front recreational facilities.
Chairman Richenburg thanked Mr. Santos and complimented the Commissioners for their work and for listening to the public’s concerns.
g. CarsPort Taxi - Request to Approve a Surcharge to Present Fare Rates
Selectman Klima said he felt that there should be a hearing on this issue, although he’s not opposed the surcharge. Selectman Carroll pointed out that in the past week gas prices have come down 25 cents and if the surcharge is allowed at what point should it be removed? On the surface this seems simple, but when one really looks into it, it’s not and he agrees that there should be a hearing but thinks the Board needs to address the issue of fares in general; instead of a surcharge, possibly look at the fees and possibly increasing them.
Motion by Selectman Klima; Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to have a hearing on this request at the next meeting, Sept. 26th at 7:30 PM.
h. Vote on Regulatory Agreement re: North End Commons LLC/585 No. End Blvd.
The Board had concern with this and asked the Manager if by assigning a representative would that void the stipulations set forth by the Board. Manager explained that this seeks to authorize or designate someone to sign on behalf of the Board and by doing so it does not rescind any of the stipulations set previously and if the Board so wishes they can state that it is still subject to the same conditions.
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to execute on behalf of the Town of Salisbury, the Regulatory Agreement concerning the M.G.L. c.40B project known as North End Commons located at 585 No. End Blvd, by and between the Town of Salisbury, the Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development and North End Commons LLC subject to the developer of North End Commons meeting or agreeing to meet all of the conditions established by the Board of Selectmen as set forth in the letter dated August 17, 2004, from the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to the Dept. Of Housing and Community Development.
V. Comments by Visitors - none
VI. Sewer/Water
Sewer Expansion Study
The DPW Director requested approval to expend $40,000 to update the wastewater facility planning efforts.
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Klima; Unanimously voted that the Board of Selectmen approve Weston & Sampson’s proposal Number 34010 for professional services to update the wastewater facility planning efforts on a town wide basis. The expenditure is not to exceed $40,000 and the monies are to be taken from the Sewer Enterprise Fund.
VII. Correspondence
· Newsletter from the National Defense Committee re: observations of holidays since World War II and our civil rights.
· MMA Notice re: a Joint Conference for Aldermen, Councillors and Selectmen to be held on Sept. 23 & 24, 2005 in Worcester.
· MMA Notice re: State Teleconference briefings for municipal leaders on Katrina Relief.
· Invitation to the Selectmen to attend a meeting of the Association of Town Finance Committees on Nov. 5th at Holy Cross College from 9AM - 3:15 PM.
· Letter from Germain Bolduc resigning from the Route 1 Sewer Study Committee.
·
VIII. Hearings
7:30 PM - Alison Dembowski - 4 Elizabeth Lane - Water Access Fee Appeal
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Carroll; Unanimously voted to open the hearing at 7:30 PM.
Ms. Dembowski provided the Board with a packet of documents with information relative to her appeal, most of which had already been discussed previously. She then reiterated her reasons for requesting an appeal. Selectman Carroll said in the final analysis this issue has already been discussed and the regulation states that if a person was a customer prior to the effective date of the regulation then they would not have to pay, but if one became a customer after that effective date they would have to and he personally feels that the Board cannot back off.
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Selectman Carroll; Unanimously voted to close the hearing at 7:50 PM.
Ms. Dembowski was advised that the Board will take this under advisement and render a decision in two to three weeks and t hat the decision will be made at a public meeting and a letter would be sent thereafter.
7:45 PM - COMCAST Continuation of Hearing
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Klima; Unanimously voted to open the meeting at 7:55 PM. Chairman Richenburg commended the COMCAST representative for his presentation at the last Hearing and Selectman Carroll pointed out that the Board is being asked to approve the proposed assignment of the license and since the Manager had not received any comments from the public the Board can vote at this point.
Motion by Selectman Carroll, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to approve the proposed assignment of license and the change of control from Adelphia to COMCAST.
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
Selectman Klima announced that the Conservation Commission is having a workshop at the school this Wednesday, 9/14 at 7:00 PM and they are going to be looking at the paving of the beach issue and said anyone with those issues should attend. He further said that last Thursday there was a meeting to look into what to do about the wash-out on the rail trail at the town creek; the big May storm came over the embankment and washed out a large area in the middle of the trail which has led to increased flooding along Route 1. The MBTA owns this and are responsible for fixing this and it looks like they will be cooperating with the Town on this. It was a positive meeting.
Selectmen Knowles said that at the present time it appears that the Postmaster isn’t willing to put in a drive-up mail box in Salisbury. Sel. Knowles still feels the need is there and would like to go to the next step up to see if we can resolve the situation. Chairman Richenburg said he is in favor of Selectmen Knowles taking the next step. He then referred to a report given by the Health Officer re: the schools being sprayed for mosquitoes and he wanted to know if any other areas were sprayed. The Manager’s understanding was that Northeast Mosquito Control determines the areas to be sprayed but will check with Mr. Baxter.
Chairman Richenburg requested that the Goals & Objectives be placed on the next agenda.
XI. Executive Session - none
XII. Adjournment
Motion by Selectman Klima, Second by Knowles; Unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet E. Flannery, Secretary
Approved:______________________________
Fred Knowles, Clerk