BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2007 MEETING

WILLIAM HILTON CENTER

 

PRESENT:     Selectmen Henry Richenburg, Chairman; Jerry Klima, Ed Hunt, and Fred Knowles

ABSENT:        Don Beaulieu

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

 

I.          Call to Order/Salute to the Flag

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

 

II.        Acceptance of Minutes - none

           

III.       Old Business - none

             

IV.       New Business

            a.  License Renewals:

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Klima; unanimously voted to renew a Common Victualer license for: Foote’s Ice Cream – 159 Beach Rd.

 

Motion by Mr. Hunt, Second by Mr. Klima; unanimously voted to renew a General license for: Paradise Brazil – 50 Elm St., and Spadafora Flower Shoppe – 141 Bridge Rd.

 

            b.  New Licenses

Applications were submitted by The Salisbury Pub LLC for Entertainment and Sunday Entertainment, but it was pointed out that this would be a change in use and the applicant would have to apply for a variance with the ZBA.  Motion by Selectman Knowles, Second by Selectman Klima; unanimously voted to table until a variance is obtained from the ZBA.

 

            c.  Committee Appointments – none

 

            d.  Update/Presentations: COA Director Liz Pettis & School Committee

Ms. Pettis thanked the Board for the opportunity to address the Board and stated that there are over 1700 seniors in the community and their numbers are increasing every year.  She is hoping that the COA Center will serve as a community focal point offering a variety of services, including health, fitness, social and spiritual.  Some of the upcoming programs and services will include: daily lunches, stained glass workshops, oil painting, computer classes, yoga, health aging seminars, senior fitness programs, line dancing, pilates, craft classes and basket weaving.  Monthly health clinics will also be offered in conjunction with outreach where a case manager from elder services will be available to assist seniors with special needs or questions.  A new program Ms. Pettis would like to start is the friendly visitor and telephone assurance program which enables them to reach out to the homebound; she also wants to work with the local schools, the boys and girls club and the scouts to provide intergenerational programming.  Trips are also going to be offered through NECC and other local COA’s.  Transportation solutions will hopefully be helped by using the “Ring and Ride” and NEET programs.

In closing Ms. Pettis announced that the grand reopening is scheduled for Thursday May 10th from 4PM – 7PM and invited all residents to attend.

 

 

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2007 MEETING

 

            School Committee – Susan Fish

Ms. Fish announced that the Superintendent recently completed her Doctorate and is now Dr. Sandra Halloran.  There is a new school principal at the Middle School and search is underway for an elementary school principal at the Pine Grove School in Rowley.  A district accountant has been hired who will replace a bookkeeper who is retiring.  A workshop is being conducted on goal setting for the upcoming year.

 

            e.  Conservation Commission

Tom Hughes gave a brief update on the recent storm stating that the Town is in a similar place as a couple of years ago with the damage done to the waterways and walk ways.  Emergency permission was given to some residents allowing them to protect their property short-term, but for the long term they need to go before the Conservation Commission to get the proper approvals and documents; anyone who does any repairs without the approval will face an enforcement order.  Regarding the repair of t he breach of the railroad bed, what was done is an interim solution, and a longer term solution is to be developed within the next 6 months because without that solution it’s only a matter of time before it happens again.  He encouraged people who suffered any water damage to call the police or fire departments to make them aware of it so that when FEMA comes out to do an evaluation they will then go to make a determination.

 

            f.   Dept. of the Army – request for booth set-ups at the beach

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Klima; unanimously voted to allow the Mass. Army National Guard to set up a booth on the boardwalk area to present the National Guard to the public.

 

            g.  Town Manager’s Evaluation

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Knowles; unanimously voted to postpone until the meeting of May 7, 2007.

 

            h.  Update on the recent storm

Chairman Richenburg said he considered it an honor to have worked with the emergency management group and said it was gratifying to see the police, fire, DPW and emergency management team work in such a fashion as they did and that it goes beyond saying that although the fire, police and DPW’s leadership was a focal point, there are many volunteers who went above and beyond what was expected.  He also thanked the National Guard and State Police and requested that a citation be sent out thanking them both.  He then introduced the Emergency Management Director, Bob Cook who gave an update on the storm, where we are now and what will transpire from this point on.  He said they were faced with more types of emergencies than in the past, trying to make sure they took the citizens into consideration at all times, as well as the businesses.  He was grateful for the cooperation among the Selectmen, Manager, Police, Fire, and the DPW.  He added that the ConComm was also a great asset to the team in assisting residents on the beach.  FEMA is coming to Salisbury tomorrow at 9AM and they will be meeting and looking at damages to public facilities; in the afternoon they will look at the businesses and residences that had flooding.  Once done they will compile all the information and a determination will be made as to whether funds will be available.  He suggested that people take pictures of the damages and keep the receipts for monies spent on repairs.  The Selectmen all thanked Mr. Cook and all who were part of the team effort for all they did and for the endless hours they put in.

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2007 MEETING

 

            i.   Lori Porcaro re: request for a voluntary toll for Destination Imagination

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Knowles; unanimously voted to permit a voluntary toll to benefit students of Destination Imagination to compete in the regionals in Tennessee.  The toll is to be at the intersection of Bridge Rd. and Pleasant on April 28th and May 5th or 12th from 11AM to 3PM and monitored strictly by adults.

 

V.        Comments by Visitors

Mr. Charles Whitney, representing some of the businesses in the industrial park, as well as some of the residents on Rabbit Road informed the Board of a meeting at 2 Fanaras Road on May 1st at 10AM to discuss the options of getting sewer down Rabbit Road and the Industrial Park, and he invited the Board to attend.

 

Joanne Housianitis of 4 Vermont Ave. expressed her concern and displeasure as to how the past emergency was handled and recommended that a new task force be implemented for emergency preparedness before another event happens.  Chairman Richenburg explained that the town tried as best they could to address the issues as they arose and he takes exception to the fact that she said the Town didn’t take steps to plan before the event. 

Questions that other residents had were answered regarding snow fences, sand, and beach grass.

 

VI.       Sewer/Water

 

VII.     Correspondence

  • Letter from Great Meadows Tenants Association inviting the Board to their annual community day to be held on July 21st from 9AM – 2PM.
  • MMA Alert re: the Budget Debate.
  • Annual Report from the Mass. Housing Partnership
  • Brochure from Verizon entitled Local Viewpoint.

 

VIII.    Hearings - none

           

IX.       Town Manager’s Report

Mr. Harrington gave a brief overview of his written report, a copy of which is available in the Town Manager’s office.

 

X.        Selectmen’s Report

            a.  Ratification of Signing of Weekly Warrants:

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Knowles; Unanimously voted to ratify the signing of the following weekly warrants.

W07-157         Town Payroll                            W07-158         Police Payroll

W07-159         Sewer Payroll                           W07-160         CDBG Payroll

W07-161         Gen., Sewer, Water                  W07-162         CDBG

W07-163         Comm. Development  

 

Selectman Hunt announced that the baseball/softball was held last week with 4 selectmen present and commented on the perfect condition of the fields.  He also commended the players, their coaches and all who volunteer.  He then thanked the league and the town for helping the teams over the years to make it possible.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2007 MEETING

 

Regarding Landscape Xpress, Selectman Hunt said the businesses and residents are still complaining about the noise and the odor and he thinks that the Board should invite the owner of the property to come before them.  Motion by Selectman Hunt to start a revocation process on the license.  Motion failed a second.

Selectman Klima said he has talked with Town Counsel but it appears that the place to regulate the license is through the zoning by-law, which needs to be enforced.  Selectman Hunt pointed out that the DEP has the right to act on wetlands violations and the Town should request that of them.  The Selectmen requested the Manager to contact the DEP to get an update as to when the Town can expect a determination resulting from their last visit.

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Knowles; unanimously voted to ask the Conservation Commission to visit the site.

 

Selectman Klima reported that the Salisbury Coastal trails group conducted their work day last week.  There were 50 people from Timberland, about 15 people from Salisbury, the DPW lent its chipper, people were clearing, raking, and building flower boxes. 

 

XI.       Executive Session - none

 

XII.     Adjournment

Motion by Selectman Hunt, Second by Selectman Klima; Unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:20 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted:

Janet E. Flannery, Secretary

 

                                                            Approved: ___________________________

                                                                              Donald Beaulieu, Clerk