Selectmen Minutes

February 7, 2006

Bourne Veterans’ Memorial Community Center

239 Main Street

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

 

************************************************************************

 

Attendance:

Town Administrator

Thomas M. Guerino

Board of Selectmen:

Carol A. Cheli, Chairman

Galon “Skip” Barlow, Vice Chairman

Richard E. LaFarge, Clerk

Linda Zuern

W. Thomas Barlow   

Call the Meeting to Order at 6:04 P.M.

 

Salute the Flag/A Moment of Silence for Our Troops

Approval of Minutes

Selectman G. Barlow MOTIONED to approve the minutes of January 31^st. 2006 as presented.  Selectman Zuern SECONDED, UNANIMOUS.

TA Guerino asked Chief Klueber to come forward and give an update to the Board on the car accident of Officer Wendy Noyes that morning.  He explained that Deputy Fire Chief Cody was the first to arrive and he found the car in the median with Officer Noyes trapped inside. Flames were coming from the rear of the car and he kept the fire under control while Officer Noyes was extracted.  Engine 57 arrived and extinguished the flames. During the extrication, Officer Mike Kelly suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Tobey Hospital by the Sagamore ambulance.  Two additional ambulances were dispatched to the scene, one for Officer Noyes, who was transported to Falmouth Hospital, and the other for Officer Jay Perry who suffered knee injuries.  None of the injuries was life threatening and one of the firefighters was treated and released.

Public Comment – Non Agenda Items

Mr. Joseph Agrillo approached and after being instructed not to speak about SEMASS by Chairman Cheli, discussed the recall.  He stated that it should be taken care of among Bourne citizens.  He feels that instead of putting the citizens of Bourne to the expense and time of another vote, we should sit down and talk and he offered to mediate.

He also spoke about DNR being moved to the Police Department and stated that he’s 100% against it.  He knows how both departments operate and feels they are understaffed to work effectively.  The Police Department will not be able to police the baskets, either.  Further, let’s get some decent parking at Monument Beach! The space in front of the Canada Dry building could be utilized. 

Selectman Zuern clarified the transfer of DNR offices to the police department, but Mr. Agrillo still doubted the police’s ability to handle it.

Mr. Dave Foynes came forward to discuss process and delivery.  Four days ago a small group of Bourne citizens met to discuss the Board’s decision to dismantle the DNR.  The mission was to make their concerns and voices known.  The residents, who signed a petition that was later presented to the Board, are asking for time and for the Board to reconsider their decision to dismantle the DNR.  He read and presented the petition asking the Board to reconsider their vote.  Please let things settle down, he asked.

Selectman G. Barlow replied that they are following the Charter. There will also be a public hearing where Mr. Foynes will have the opportunity to come before the Board again. 

Selectman LaFarge MOTIONED to reconsider the vote of January 24^th, 2006.  Mr. Jim Mulvey expressed his hope that the Board would be open and listen.  Selectman W.T. Barlow said that’s their job, to listen.  Chairman Cheli said that TA Guerino is trying to streamline our community and whether we agree with him completely or not, he is working for the greater good.  Mr. Mulvey said the reorganization of the DNR is the province of the Selectmen alone, which is very unpopular.  Selectman G. Barlow said we have to have a public hearing because everyone has to have the opportunity to comment. Chairman Cheli said change is hard, but the public comment meeting will be very beneficial.

Mr. Foynes asked about the rumor concerning the removal of the Harbormaster’s salary from the budget.  TA Guerino replied that last week the DNR was intact and did not take into consideration the vote taken the week prior.  This week the budget is 99.9% the same except that the position of DNR Director is eliminated, pursuant to the vote.  The money is there for a Harbormaster and Assistant Harbormaster under the Chief of Police and it will be funded.  So the decision is already made? Mr. Foynes asked.  It doesn’t look good; it looks like the Board is sneaking around.

Selectman W.T. Barlow said that each year the Town of Bourne puts out a Town Report.  The Board of Selectmen has been asking to reorganize the DNR for several years, and this isn’t anything new.  No one is sneaking around; it’s not out of the blue.  It’s been in the Town Report for years as one of the goals of the Board of Selectmen.  A recent study report suggested that the DNR had no specific goal to allocate their funds or priorities.  On the 21^st of February 2006, the Board will hear from the public as to their opinions about the plan.  Mr. Foynes stood corrected and referred to himself as a neophyte since he is new to the area.

Chairman Zuern agreed with Selectman W.T. Barlow that this has been a long-standing goal.  She regards her vote as a “go-ahead” for the open public meeting to discuss the DNR situation.  She is open-minded and hopes the public will be open-minded as well.

Selectman G. Barlow reiterated what the plan consists of saying that the town needs better than they have now.

Selectman LaFarge respectfully disagreed with the Board.  Is there a reason for the goal?  Have we identified problems with the DNR?  NO.  Some changes have been adopted for no reason at all.  Part of the plan was to come up with a transition package (severance pay), but the only thing accomplished so far is the firing of the Director of DNR.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked in the interest of time that the Board move forward with the rest of the meeting.

Correspondence

Selectman LaFarge read the correspondence

FY07 Budget Review

TA Guerino stated that there would be many iterations of the budget.  Departments coming in level-funded put the budget together.  Budgets were gone over line by line and although he doesn’t agree with all the figures, he would change them if they had the money.  It meets the Board’s requirements, however.  Earlier he’d asked the Board to prepare specific questions that could be addressed at this meeting.  Further questions could be addressed at another meeting with department-heads.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked about the money available or would it be changed for this year’s budget. TA Guerino said they’d utilized Local Aid figures, and changes to the upward area are expected.  The new growth of $485,000 is down from last year due to fewer building permits, fewer single family and condo permits, and renovations is the only type of permit that is up.  Motor vehicle excise tax was another question.  The rationale is that folks aren’t buying new cars and are instead leasing.  No big purchases but more leases. 

As to why there was a $30,000 increase in marina revenue, the Capital Outlay Committee is recommending putting in more transient moorings and this will bring in additional revenue.  This will not bring in $30,000 of revenue, however, so review of this item may be necessary.

The ambulance fees are down 4% but that is prior to the Board’s vote to raise fees, so this will need to be re-addressed.  The Stabilization Fund and Capital Outlay may or may not change depending on how the Board determines how we should spend our money on capital.  There was a net deposit to stabilization of $300,000 after the revenue scenario.  The overall revenue is up a little over $400,000 or 1%.

Selectman W.T. Barlow thought the budget was overly optimistic in regard to excise tax.  It would be more prudent to go with level funding as opposed to increasing motor vehicle excise by $65,000.  He moved that under local and state receipts the motor vehicle excise be reduced from $2,400,000 to $2,335,000, as it was the previous year.

Selectman W.T. Barlow MOTIONED to reduce the motor vehicle excise to the previous year level.  Selectman G. Barlow SECONDED, UNANIMOUS.

Regarding the marinas, Selectman W.T. Barlow thought it would be difficult for them to go forward in the spring given the amount of damage.  He suggested being conservative and going with last year’s revenues. TA Guerino conferred with him.

Selectman W.T. Barlow MOTIONED to use 2006 revenue figures from the marina for the budget.  Selectman G. Barlow SECONDED, UNANIMOUS.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked it there were any funds from previous years for overlay surplus from the Board of Assessors?  TA Guerino didn’t think so.

Selectman LaFarge asked about salaries and cost of living adjustments.  TA Guerino explained that all union and some contracted employees, with the exception of the Town Administrator, are eligible for those adjustments.  Selectman LaFarge asked about significant increases for some departments.  TA Guerino explained that some employees are still in the wage and step plan.  Steps due to employee are reflected in the budget while those who are at top of their plan are getting longevity increases.  Selectman LaFarge asked about a 24% increase in Conservation and TA Guerino explained that hours were transferred and reconfigured from Zoning and Planning and were augmenting the Administrative Assistant position there.  There is no budget for the Town Collector since it has been consolidated into the Department of Finance. 

Selectman LaFarge asked about a line item for the Visitor’s Bureau.  TA Guerino said it was an annual appropriation made to the Chamber for their marketing brochure.  Selectman LaFarge said that at one time there was a Visitor’s Bureau Committee that took applications for what money there was and wondered who was making those decisions now since the committee was no longer functioning.  TA Guerino is in conflict since he is on the Board of Directors for the Chamber, he stated.  TA Guerino replied that in the past the Administrator made those decisions, but he wasn’t a member of that Board when he made the budget.  Further, that figure has been augmented and level-funded for the past few years so it wasn’t a conflicting line item.  Selectman LaFarge said that either that figure needs to be removed from the budget or a committee needs to be set up to deal with it.  These questions need to be asked in an open meeting. 

Selectman W.T. Barlow said that Visitor’s Committee was established by a previous Town Meeting vote.  Selectman Zuern said we used to have $30,000 in that account and the committee would’ve decided where that money would go.  Now that account is down to $4400.  She stated that perhaps the committee needs to be reinstated.  Selectman G. Barlow agreed that the TA should find out what happened to the committee.

Selectman LaFarge asked about the increase in salaries in the TA office.  TA Guerino said those figures include funding, in case the Board chooses pursuant to the TA’s contract, to authorize a 3% increase to the TA.  If they don’t, that money will stay in the account.  In addition, there are cost of living increases for the other employees.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked about state retirement having about $15,000 in it from an individual who passed away, and asked for a review.  TA Guerino said he would look into it.

Selectman G. Barlow mentioned moorings.  There are a lot of people who have been on the mooring waiting list for a long time.  The twenty additional moorings should be for everyone or no one at all.

TA Guerino said the Town Clerk provides the annual town meeting expenses. The salaries are level-funded.  In the Purchase of Services section consultant costs were pulled.   Selectman Zuern asked for $5000 be set aside for consultants.  TA Guerino said it had been suggested that the Board pencil it in so a vote could be taken.  He doesn’t expect to have extra money for it, but some adjustments could be made in other areas. 

Selectman G. Barlow commented that everyone has spent a lot of time reviewing the budget and it was developed by all the Department Heads.  Perhaps a page-by-page rather than a line-by-line review would be sufficient. 

TA Guerino concurred and began with the Finance Department, which shows a lot of zeros in the line items.  This was due to the Charter moving things over.  Selectman Zuern questioned if a particular Human Resource position was new.  TA Guerino said no, that it is the current Benefits Administrator who has been with the Town Hall for twenty years. 

TA Guerino requested an increase to the reserve of $25,000 for the Finance Committee.  An increase was asked for the Administrative Secretary who takes the minutes for the Finance Committee.  Money was added for dues and office supplies were cut.  An independent audit will be the price.

Selectman W.T. Barlow said the Reserve Account that the Finance Committee administers to the Town is like a backup.  The Police, Fire and Legal (and snow) are the three big monsters.  The more money put in those accounts, the more those departments think they have to work with.  The Finance Committee does a great job in holding that money back, but when figuring the dollar amount, keep it as low as possible.

Selectman W.T. Barlow MOTIONED to reduce that account from $275,000 to $250,000.  Selectman G. Barlow SECONDED with a request for discussion.

TA Guerino said that might be one of the areas that will have to be looked at.  Based on where most of the budgets are, it may not be a prudent way to hedge for the next year especially when most of the fuel accounts are up 30%.  Selectman LaFarge said that if the reserve were decreased, they’d be the first to hit it.  Selectman G. Barlow stated that it’s a small amount of money and shouldn’t be a concern.  Selectman Zuern said she’d prefer not to vote and the motion was withdrawn.

TA Guerino said that Legal has been reduced by $1000 and level funded.  Selectman LaFarge asked what the arbitration expense was.  TA Guerino explained that those are the expenses used when Bob Troy wants arbitration on a grievance, and there are usually a couple arbitrations at any one time.   Selectman Zuern agreed that we have an outside counsel for arbitration.

Postage has gone up and this deals with the maintenance contract with the postage machine.   Next year a new postage machine will be need to be leased in order to meet with new USPS compliance, but there is enough in the budget to cover that expense.

TA Guerino said regarding tax titles, this is an estimate but there are fewer foreclosures this year. In discussions with Town Accountant Lynne Burchill, this should be sufficient.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked how many were delinquent and outstanding.  TA Guerino said he would get those figures.  Selectman W.T. Barlow said that in the past, the Town hasn’t been very aggressive in pursuing this.

TA Guerino said the Town Clerk has done an outstanding job in reducing his line items.

Selectman Zuern said she spoke with someone in Wareham and they wondered how Bourne got so much done with so little staff?  TA Guerino agreed that we are not overstaffed and this is in part because the Town has been able to utilize the senior tax write-off program.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked about Board of Appeals.  TA Guerino responded that the secretarial position there was slated for elimination but the secretary resigned.  The hours were shifted over to Conservation.

The Engineering Department will be requesting a new “blueprint” machine next year since the present one is very ill.  They will try to get along for one more year.

The Economic Development Task Force’s line item for a $25,000 purchase of services is a new expenditure.  There is no money for economic development activities outside the scope of regular departmental duties.  $10,000 would be allocated to assist the BFDC in studies and the other $15,000 is for grantsmanship, such as for Monument Beach, lights on Main Street; the town needs to make a commitment to economic development.

Selectman G. Barlow said he’d like to see some of that money go into a regional plan with Mr. Halverson.  Selectman W.T. Barlow asked for an earmark to balance the budget and review.  Selectman Zuern said that sometimes grants are often available but we don’t have someone to apply for them.  It would be beneficial to have someone looking into grants on a regular basis.  TA Guerino said that relative to this, it would be a broad-based community-wide grantsmanship effort.

Marina repairs come out of capital.  There is some money in the existing budget.

Town Hall maintenance is at a minimum.  Looking through line items, there is little increase except for electricity and natural gas.  The boiler is 80+ years old and not at all efficient.  Because it’s a building of historic significance, CPA funds might be available for renovation of the boiler.  The boiler hasn’t been replaced since 1925.

Selectman Zuern said that natural gas and electricity costs for the Town Hall were significant and suggested looking at alternative energy.

Chairman Cheli noted that even the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has wind turbines.

The telephone budget is level-funded.  The Town is working very hard to trim the cost of phone services and are looking at ways to do the lines, cut personal calls and keep it to a minimum.  Service with Verizon and other carriers is being looked into for a better deal and that is why the telephone budget was level-funded.

The Police Department is down one officer. Not a street patrol, but the school enforcement officer has been reduced from the budget.  The schools have been told that if they want that officer, they have to pay for it.  None of the current 3 or 4 car systems are being changed. 

Chairman Cheli asked in regard to overtime, would it be better to hire more fulltime personnel?  TA Guerino said the Town is down on the number of officers they need for a town of this size and should look at adding officers as the budget permits.  This year the budget doesn’t necessarily permit it.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked if there was no request for capital project this year.  No, TA Guerino replied.

Chief Klueber and TA Guerino went over the budget many times and the Inspection Officer was put back into the budget so the complement is full.  Selectman Zuern thanked him.

TA Guerino said the line items for gas and electric at the Sagamore station have increased significantly and adjustments to budget may be necessary.  Chief Klueber said the electric bill this month was $5500.  Last month it was $4400.  He’s very concerned. 

Selectman W.T. Barlow said that TA Guerino is budgeting for less overtime than was spent in 2005.  He’s under-funding the overtime.  TA Guerino explained that depends on a number of things.  It’s minimal these are the areas that need to be brought in.  It’s an estimate, barring injuries, etc.

Note approximately $890,000 was transferred to help offset ambulance fees.  Working with the Sheriff’s Department and the County Representative to look at some assistance in the amount of money spent transporting people from the House of Correction. The Sheriffs Department’s supplies dispatching and that’s a $70,000 savings to the Town.

Selectman Zuern asked about a half-time zoning officer.  TA Guerino explained that when we figure where it would come from, it will be a transfer from one line item to another and will not be done at this time.

There are 1402 accounts at this time.  This includes parsing the copy machine out to each of the departments. TA Guerino recommend consolidating accounts like this one.

Selectman Zuern asked if Emergency Preparedness is under Police or Fire?  Chief Klueber said it’s under Jake Gould.

The DNR budget is subject to change depending on what the Board of Selectmen decides to do with the department.   Currently, no moves have been made on the line items except for showing what it would look like with the Department Head’s position eliminated.  

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked the TA if he had time to amend the budget prior to the Town Meeting.  TA Guerino said yes, as long as it was done by April.  If the Board chooses to enter into a lengthy discussion about it, then no.

Selectman Zuern commented that due to a lot of shifting, work on compensation will need to be done.  TA Guerino said as a follow-up, it would not be done in a vacuum.

There were several requests for Capital Outlay for the DNR;  $1,000,000 for Monument Beach, $84,000 for a patrol boat, $43,000 for a tug patrol boat, $150,000 for dredging,  $40,000 for maintenance of ramps, $60,000 for town moorings, $60,000 for propagation and patrol vehicles.  Selectman Zuern questioned $5400 in supplies for DNR. They over-expended the previous year.  

Bourne Public Schools voted to level-fund the budget.  TA Guerino thanked Superintendent LaFleur for all his advice.  They agreed that if they were able to find money and stay with the 6%, they would go back and augment the budget where appropriate. The school department was augmented by $100,000 on an $18,000,000 budget with the understanding that some Chapter 70 money would go to the school creating a 1.3% budget increase.

Selectman W.T. Barlow said the most important function of the local government is to educate the children.  He asked the superintendent and the business manager to come before the Board and explain what this means to the community.  Superintendent LaFleur said he’d make himself available on the 14^th, but please send a letter to his wife.

The DPW budget has taken a 5.3% hit.  Level funding has been slightly increased, and DPW saves the Town of Bourne a lot of money.  Selectman W.T. Barlow asked if there was an adjustment on the department-head’s salary? TA Guerino said yes, one step, plus cost of living.  He has one more step available.  He went on to say that most of the budgets were increased by 30%.  When the budget was being produced the prices had come down and then fluctuated up.  

Selectman Zuern asked about the municipal vehicle pool.  TA Guerino explained that there are two, almost three vehicles, and there is $1000 to run that pool.  It made sense to create this pool when the mileage cost went up to $.44 ½ per mile.

Streetlights have been reduced and he recommends that the Board of Selectmen put together a committee from Police, Fire, DPW and citizens to look at street lighting.  They were reduced in the 1980’s but people are now asking for them.  He recommends the committee report back prior to budget being adopted.

The Board of Health’s 1993 secondary vehicle may not be worth fixing – the undercarriage is in pretty rough shape.  A report will be submitted by the end of the week.  They are in the process of looking at other vehicles in stock to help with the situation.

Selectman Zuern publicly thanked Health Inspector Cindy Coffin for bringing in $52,000 in grant money for the Town of Bourne.  Ms. Coffin was applauded. 

The Special Workshop Opportunities Program has been level-funded; The Council on Aging has been primarily left alone and their net budget is down $830.

The more than 30% increase in electricity at the Memorial Center resulted from being billed for half the actual cost based on estimates from a temporary meter.  The budget has been augmented to reflect the actual bill.

A mistake was made on the Human Services Committee.  A $500 misread on the first line item should be removed.   The Human Service Committee did not recommend it.  All others are level-funded.

We’re gaining some revenue due to the retirement of library personnel.  The library may need a $104 adjustment.  The Library, Board of Health and Conservation gave great budgets and TA Guerino appreciated that.  He suggested augmentation for the Library and since the subsidies were hit hard, he recommended trying to come up with another $10,000.

The Lifeguard budget is down a little bit.  They will open three days later or close three days earlier depending on school schedule.

The Archives budget is up substantially.  Their budgets have been over-expended and they went from oil to gas heating.  They have no money even to buy a pen or a pencil at this time.

Selectman G. Barlow noted the huge jump in cost of insurance.  TA Guerino said that $965,000 is set up for town health insurance.

Selectman W.T. Barlow asked for updates in legislature and state aid from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.  Recommendations will be made as to where cuts can be made and further discussion is necessary.

The rest of the Budget will be discussed next week.

Selectman Zuern thanked all the departments for bringing their budgets down.

8:55PM – SEMASS 

Scott Peterson, Area Marketing Manager of Covanta Energy of SEMASS, presented a PowerPoint presentation.   A copy of the presentation was handed out to the Board of Selectman.  SEMASS is the largest provider of waste-to-energy facilities in the US and are a highly stable company.  Bourne and SEMASS entered into an MSW Disposal Agreement in January of 1997.  They have been discussing landfill operations for almost 2.5 years and are looking for an opportunity to run the landfill, not buy it.  The town would retain control of the landfill.  SEMASS would assume all responsibility for permitting/construction/marketing/operation and closure, as well as environmental responsibility for liability.  They would propose $10 million in bond, L/C or Insurance.  They stressed that they’re not there to fill up the landfill quickly and move somewhere else.  The town would have $11 million for their “needs” in 45 days.  Although it is difficult, SEMASS assumes long-term risks. The town won’t have to set aside funds for long term.  There’s even a rainy day fund, along with substantially increased Host Fee payments to the town.  Additionally, other opportunities exist such as composting and green fuel options.  Bourne and SEMASS would work together and negotiate in good faith.  If no agreement results, it was a great learning experience.  SEMASS thanked the Board for the opportunity to come forward.

Selectman Zuern said the best thing for Bourne is to keep the landfill open as long as possible.  Mr. Peterson responded that all that would be open for negotiation during the 45-day negotiation period.  What’s the true value of this opportunity?  The Finance Committee needs to come up with that figure.

Selectman G. Barlow said $1M isn’t as much as it used to be.  He’d need to listen to the Finance Committee and the Board of Health, but everyone will need time to think this through and talk to Town Counsel.  He appreciated seeing the numbers and thanked Mr. Peterson.

Selectman LaFarge asked who would be the parent company.  Mr. Peterson replied that he didn’t know.  Selectman LaFarge said that’s not a question for discussion, it needs to be specific.  Selectman LaFarge asked what they would do at the landfill.  Would it be waste to energy?   Mr. Peterson answered that it would be run the way it is today by taking in trash.  They would operate with a throughput of 180,000 tons a year; the vast majority would come in 20-ton trailers.  Selectman LaFarge said unless you increase the fill rate you won’t increase the host fee. There is a major concern over filling the landfill sooner rather than later.  If 5 – 6 times the host fee is generated, it stands to reason that the landfill will be filled 5 – 6 times faster.  Mr. Peterson explained that the bottom ash is utilized in western MA to be used in roads.  Selectman LaFarge said that it was his understanding that some construction companies won’t touch ash because of the liabilities.  Mr. Peterson said that back in 1992 they stopped testing for ash since the EPA reviewed it as non-hazardous.  Selectman LaFarge expressed concern about taking on liability by burying ash in the Bourne landfill.  Mr. Peterson reiterated that the ash is
non-hazardous.  Selectman LaFarge was concerned about how long SEMASS would stick around.  Mr. Peterson said SEMASS would install as many backstops as possible to make the town feel comfortable

Selectman Zuern stated that there are differences of opinions about the safety of ash.

Selectman W.T. Barlow said that the facility was put out to bid to compare it to other town operations.  The Board chose to have the Town operate it due to concerns about control and environmental concerns and corporate entities going bankrupt.  The Board put together an Advisory committee, but there’s no way would he ever go into negotiation without getting a request for proposals.  There are many other companies who would put forth a proposal for a financial gain.  He doesn’t think the Board should make a decision on a 45-day negotiation and that it would be in the worst interest of the town.  He is not even interested in voting for a committee to look at it.

Neither is Selectman Zuern.  She would like to keep negotiations open for the future to have trash from SEMASS support a composting facility.  Our landfill could be a real asset for the town and the rest of the Cape.  It’s better to keep it in the Town’s control.

Selectman LaFarge referred to letters from Lex Coates and the Andersons, who pointed out that there are other things in life besides money.  Even treated purely as a business deal, the landfill brings in host and tipping fees, which is dictated by market.  It brings in as much as it can, but it all goes to the Town of Bourne.  How does the Town make more money by bringing in a company to run the landfill?  By increasing the fees and the capacity?  With SEMASS, the Town will make the same amount of money but in a shorter amount of time.  Something would have to be lost, such as curbside pickup, recycling.  The economics don’t square with the reality.

TA Guerino expressed concern over future disposal options and how they will be funded after the landfill is closed.  This year’s proposed host tipping fee is $450,000 raised by $100,000.  He’s concerned about employees that are not being paid for by current tax levies and are being paid for their services by the enterprise and how working with SEMASS would affect the current employees.  He hasn’t heard how SEMASS would look to extend the life of the landfill.  And although SEMASS (or any company) would operate the facility, Bourne owns the permits.  If the permits were violated, it would still be Bourne’s problem. How does that get squared so the Town is comfortable?  Last, there’s no way a program could be put together in a 45-day period.

Chairman Cheli asked how SEMASS would handle the debt on Bourne’s equipment that they would be using?

Mr. Peterson said all of these things would have to be negotiated out. 

Chairman Cheli asked what would be done with the DPW that is also located at the landfill.  Would they pay for it?  Mr. Peterson said they would be moved and it would depend on the cost.  Chairman Cheli asked who would get the brown field after 50 years? SEMASS or the Town of Bourne?  Mr. Peterson said the brown field would have to be engineered along the way.

Mr. Lex Coates came forward and said he was wowed by the proposal, but SEMASS would be in-charge, not the Town of Bourne.  He referred to the letter he wrote that was handed out to the Selectmen at the beginning of the meeting.  He said if the Board wants to call a halt to this, he’s done! Otherwise his letters will go out to the Editor tomorrow.

Mr. Agrillo said SEMASS would burn 1.2 million tons and asked how damaging is the residue?  What damage can be done to our health from the residue?  He asked for literature in writing.  Mr. Peterson said the DEP could come in and speak to those concerns.  Mr. Agrillo said a lot of health liabilities would need to be shown before considering SEMASS to come into the area. 

Mr. Coates said Mr. Peterson represented his company well and had explained what they would do for the Town of Bourne, but he never said what this plan would do for them.

Mary Jane Mastrangelo looked towards the market value of the company and compared it to Enron.  If the Board considered pursuing this along any line, a committee would have to be set up to address all the issues.  She asked that it would be placed as an agenda item.

Judy Conron spoke regarding the business plan and how she would like to see it move forward.  These little dalliances put ISWM in a confusing position, she said.

Chairman Cheli said pushing for negotiations in 45 days is not something the Board wants to do.  People are now aware of what SEMASS can do for the community but they are not ready to vote.

Mr. Peterson thanked the Board for the opportunity to come before the Selectmen.

Selectman Zuern MOTIONED not to go forward with privatizing or negotiating with SEMASS at this time.  Selectman W.T. Barlow SECONDED, UNANIMOUS.

Adjourn 

Chairman Cheli MOTIONED to adjourn at 9:52 Selectman LaFarge SECONDED, UNANIMOUS.