Selectmen’s Minutes
October 10, 2006
Bourne Veterans’ Memorial Community Center
239 Main Street
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
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Attendance:
Town Administrator
Thomas M. Guerino
Board of Selectmen:
Linda M. Zuern, Chairman
Stephen F. Mealy, Vice Chairman
Jamie J. Sloniecki, Clerk
Judith W. Conron
John J. Harrington
Call the Meeting to Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Monument of Silence
Salute the Flag
Approval
of Minutes
Selectman
Mealy made a MOTION and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to
accept the minutes of August 22, 2006 as presented.
UNANIMOUS
VOTE
Selectman
Sloniecki made a MOTION and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to
accept the minutes of September 12, 2006 as presented. UNANIMOUS VOTE
Public
Comment – Non Agenda Items
Trudy Sparks:
Looking for clarification on the school vote. Administrator Guerino explained why the Special Town Meeting was
called for October 16th.
Chairman Zuern said there would be a joint meeting
tomorrow night at the Bourne High School Library to discuss the school issue.
Jim Mulvey commented on the School Vote and Special
Town Meeting on October 16th.
Donald Jacobs & Donald Ellis from the Historic
Commission would like permission to have 4 town owned buildings listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The buildings are Bourne Town Hall,
Bourne Historic Center, Coady School and Bournedale Village School House.
Chairman Zuern said we can schedule this for next week’s agenda.
Correspondence
Selectman Sloniecki reviewed the correspondence.
Item A: Sagamore Inn request for closure needs to be
an agenda item
Item F:
Administrator Guerino will be attending the Plymouth/Carver Aquifer
meetings.
Item G: Send letter to Senator Murray for her help in
receiving $500,000 for the Bourne Public Schools
Item I:
Increased rates for ISWM are commercial rates and not residential rates
Item J:
Congratulations to Airman Escobar for receiving her citizenship
Item P: MMA Annual Show in January – notify office if
attending
Item Q: Send a letter recognizing Firefighters Simpson
and Emberg for rescuing Cheryl Herwig after she
was involved in a head-on collision by an alleged drunk driver
Item X: Amendment to Bylaw have been received from
Attorney General
Item Y: Mr. Cavanagh submitted letter regarding
runoff. Administrator Guerino and Rickie Tellier viewed
site at 80-90 Old Dam Road. There is no concern as to the roadway. Will forward letter to
appropriate agencies so other issues can be addressed.
Selectmen
Goals – Sally Holmes (facilitator)
Ms.
Holmes presented a power point presentation on Strategic Goals and Objectives.
The Board discussed and prioritized critical issues facing the town. Developed
8 specific goals for the next 3-5 years and grouped into categories:
Financial:
1: Develop
& Implement long-term financial plans
v
Hire Finance Director
v
Create framework for
long-term capital plan
v
Develop ten-year
financial plan
v
Develop an efficient
budget process
2: Develop
plans for conservation and savings from renewable energy sources
v
Explore potential
savings from wind/solar energy
v
Consider implementing
renewable energy technologies for town use such as schools
Environment:
3: Develop
and implement plans for using, rejuvenating and preserving coastal resources
v
Develop a coordinated
coastal resources plan
v
Consider expanding Shore
& Harbor Committee
4: Develop and implement plans for
wastewater treatment
v
Charter and appoint
Wastewater Advisory Committee
v
Wastewater management
study
Human Services:
5: Enhance
the town’s Human Services responsiveness by establishing a food pantry
v
Develop town food pantry
site (new Food Pantry by 2008)
Economic Development:
6: Develop
collaborative and unified plans for economic development
v
Develop a town function
to oversee economic & community development
v
Develop comprehensive
site plans for growth center locations for business & industrial
development
v
Address revitalization
of Buzzards Bay and other villages (Recommendations developed and approved by
FY2009)
Town Services:
7: Develop and approve a long-range plan for
the landfill, including addressing the location of the DPW
facility
v
Charter and appoint
Landfill Working Group
v
Seek opportunities to
extend the landfill’s life, while being a position operation
v
Address location of DPW
building
v
Consider possible land
acquisition
Town Government:
8:
Develop and implement formal personnel policies and procedures
v
Establish Selectmen
Policy book
v
Establish and compile
written personnel policies
v
Implement job
descriptions
v
Implement performance
evaluation procedures (In place by FY2008)
Additional
priorities:
v
Protect water resources,
especially drinking water
v
Town beautification –
parks, litter removal etc
v
Addressing health
insurance costs
v
Develop comprehensive
zoning plans
v
Address safety and
public health issues
Next
steps:
v
Town Administrator
develops specific year one objectives
v
Present strategic plan to the public and town
employees for feedback
v
Ongoing review of
objectives & progress by Board and Town Administrator
v
Annual review of
strategic plan and objectives
Administrator
Guerino clarified that if the new Charter revisions are approved by the
legislature, the board would have to establish their goals for the upcoming
year thru April 07.
Administrator
Guerino’s list of what he thinks can be accomplished between know and April 07:
v
Have hired a Finance
Director
v
Further develop the
Long-Range Capital Equipment and Facilities Plan
v
Consolidate current
spreadsheet analysis and make easier to read, understand and more workable
v
Work with the Finance
Director, Chairman of Finance Committee and appropriate representatives of the
Department of Revenue to make sure we are on track with all applicable state
regulations regarding financial planning
v
Review investment
strategies and compare with current non-exempt debt loan
v
Engage more in the Cape
Cod Bio-Diesel Program. Will contact Cape Light Compact on programs offered for
both the schools and municipal buildings
v
Accept the DNR Review
Committee’s upcoming report as a guide
v
Acquire necessary
permits for dredging and continue the reconstruction of the Monument Beach pier
v
Work closely with the
BFDC as it relates to the Sewer Use Study and Needs.
v
Need to discuss and
renegotiate with the Town of Wareham regarding Buzzards Bay sewer system
v
Continue dialog with
Housing Assistance Corporation regarding Food Pantry and funding sources
v
Utilize current budget
funds to acquire grant writers
v
Reactivate the Private
Roads Committee
v
Continue working with
BFDC and others to coordinate community and economic development goals
v
Work with the Planning
Board and Town Planner regarding Growth Incentive Zones
v
Continue to work with
the BFDC regarding Commercial Industrial Growth Areas
v
Reconstitute an ISWM
Working Group and monitored by the Town Administrator
v
Look for possible
location for DPW facilities building
v
Create a plan for the
DPW that could include a Public Safety Complex to be added at a later date.
v
Incorporate position
descriptions for non-civil service employees
v
Look toward establishing
a Department of Human Services
v
Currently working on
Reverse 911
These
are some of the items that can be accomplished by April 2007.
Comments
from Trudy Sparks, Charlie Miller and Jim Mulvey
Cindy
Coffin said a lot of the goals have financial implementations. There are many
grants that the Town should take advantage of. Consider hiring a grant
writer/administrator.
Public
will have the opportunity to submit comments to the Town Administrator’s Office
on goals. Public hearing will be scheduled for November 21, 2006.
Board
thanked Sally Holmes for all she has done and it was a pleasure working with
her.
Licenses/Permits:
A. Scraggy
Neck Causeway
Administrator
Guerino said this is an annual agreement with Scraggy Neck Association relative
to parking on the north side of the causeway. This is an access agreement and
shall commence on September 15, 2006 and terminate on May 15, 2007.
Selectman
Conron made a MOTION and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to
approve and sign the agreement allowing people to use the causeway for
shellfishing. UNANIMOUS VOTE
Appointment:
A. Bourne
Council on Aging
Selectman Conron made a MOTION and SECONDED by Selectman
Sloniecki to approve Kathleen MacDougall to the Council on Aging for a one-year
term expiring June 30, 2007. UNANIMOUS VOTE
Discussion
of CanalSide as it relates to the L.C.P.
Wes
Ewell said the LCP Committee has not taken a position on CanalSide. As the LCP
was being designed, tried keeping it simple so it would be a working document
for all town boards. Suggest starting with Growth Management Policy to manage
growth at a rate that doesn’t threaten Bourne’s fiscal stability. May want to
consider asking the developer to sponsor a study that would be done by and for
the town. An independent consultant would manage the study.
With
Bourne’s low tax rate and a development of this size will probably not have
much of an impact of the tax rate. As a growth management issue, the Board may
want to consider bringing in an outside expert economist who can take a look at
the development and give a professional opinion. Chairman Zuern said the Board
took a vote several weeks ago to bring in an outsider to do an impact analysis.
Land
Use Policies:
1)
Strengthen and improve
established village centers so that they better serve the daily needs of their
surrounding neighborhoods for goods and service
2)
Promote design and
construction of housing, subdivisions and commercial properties that reflect
character of Cape Cod
3)
Discourage strip
commercial development in favor of village centers and planned commercial
office parks
Reviewed
project and concept is quite good and well received but couldn’t imagine a
worse location due to traffic issue. Cars are backed up into the rotary from
the Bourne Bridge, down Macarthur Blvd and on Sandwich Road most every day.
In
the LCP are policies on transportation including replacing the Bourne Bridge
rotary with a conventional interchange and to reconstruct Sandwich Road between
the canal bridges into a divided highway. Both of these ideas have been on the
Cape Cod Commissions original Transportation Plan for some time.
When
reviewing the project, make sure that nothing in the plan would preclude either
of these things happening. Leave enough
land near the rotary to future takings to replace the rotary with the
interchange and consider how this interacts with Sandwich Road. This is the area that the Board needs to
focus on.
Discussion continued on the fiscal impact with commercial development
vs. residential development and transportation.
Town
Planner Coreen Moore suggests that we need to have an independent study to see
what the impact would be. Believes that there is going to be an impact. The
developer hasn’t yet filed with the town yet so we can’t ask him to fund that
study. When the developer does come before the Planning Board, we can request
at that time to fund the study.
LCP
is a guideline but the Zoning Bylaws are the rules that the town has to go by.
LCP suggests that the Bylaw isn’t sufficient for what we want to do. Zoning
needs to be reviewed and changed with a comprehensive review. Zoning Bylaws and
Selectmen goals need to be pulled together.
LCP
– John Harrington
Selectman
Harrington proposed a policy “Local Comprehensive Plan” and read into the
record and discussion followed.
Goals
and objectives of the Selectmen should be in conjunction with the LCP. This
would bring together the LCP and be more of a living document and raise its
profile.
The
LCP hasn’t been finalized yet. There is a series of goals and policies that
were approved by Town Meeting on November 2004. Town Meeting in May 2006 also approved the standard for
evaluating development proposals and management decisions. Hope to publish the
final report by the end of the year.
Working
on getting Certification of Consistency with the Regional Policy Plan. LCP
Committee met with senior staff members of the Cape Cod Commission to determine
what they need from the LCP Committee before the plan can be certified. LPC Committee members are reluctant to make
any changes to the LCP that Town Meeting has already voted approved.
Comprehensive
plan is reviewed every 5 years but can still go to Town Meeting if changes need
to be made.
Mr.
Ewell said the LCP strongly suggest that the Administrator appoint a standing
committee to meet regularly and to monitor the progress. The committee
shouldn’t be comprised with members who have been working on the LCP.
Selectman
Harrington suggested the Town Administrator make the appointments and explained
how the Board should get away from implementation and become more policy
makers.
Chairman
Zuern said the Selectmen could establish the committee and make it accountable
to the Town Administrator. This will be placed on the agenda for October 24th.
Comments from Charlie Miller and Mary Jane Masterangelo
Discussion of procedures for the adopting policies
Selectman
Harrington read a copy of the Policy Adoption, which is somewhat the same as
the School Committee Policy Manual with changes. Discussed how the Board can
implement the policy.
Selectman
Harrington will research questions that were raised by the Board.
Formation of ISWM Working Group
Administrator Guerino said there was a comment made several weeks ago
about re-establishing the ISWM Working Group. Researched the past Working Group
and came up with a recommendation as follows:
Chairman
of the Board of Selectmen or his/her designee, the Chairman of the Finance
Committee or his/her designee, Chairman of the Board of Health, or his/her
designee, Town Administrator and the General Manager of the Integrated Solid
Waste Management Department. An additional citizen at large not involved with
nay of the above-mentioned Committee’s.
The
Working Group’s responsibility is to look at the life of the landfill, business
model of the landfill, regulatory environment, rate structures, expansion and
how it ties into the DPW facility. The Working Group will set their own
priorities that are consistent with the above areas.
Chairman
Zuern said she believes that we are giving them too much to do and explained
her reasons why.
Jim
Mulvey referred to Page 10 – Goal #7, which Chairman Zuern read. This is what
the Working Group should focus on and discussion continued.
Administrator
Guerino said we will advertise and have committees put their representatives
forward.
Town Administrator Report
v
Seawall grant has been
submitted. Thanked all who help put it together
v
Sagamore Fire Station
Open House is Sunday, 10/15 from 11-2
v
Tennis Court behind Town
Hall will be constructed within the next several weeks
v
Appointed Robert V.
Miller as DPW Mechanic and Kevin Jacobs as DPW Laborer effective this date
depending their pre-evaluation examinations. Not asking for the 15-day waiver.
Other Selectmen Business
v
There will be a Joint
Meeting tomorrow night re: Elementary School
v
If the vote fails at the
polls there would be no Town Meeting. Suggest we don’t have Town Meeting Monday
night. If there is going to be another ballot question, suggest having Town
Meeting shortly after the ballot question so there isn’t any confusion.
v
The board will not be
meeting on October 31st.
v
Selectman Harrington
said he would be willing to hold office hours
Selectman
Harrington has been asked that the Board take position on selling wine in
convenience stores. Discussion on how many licenses could be held, what type of
convenience stores would be able to sell wine and whether or not the Board
should take a stand. Will be placed on the agenda for further discussion on
October 24th.
Selectmen’s Reports
v Selectman Harrington: Pass
v
Selectman Sloniecki: Pass
v
Selectman Mealy:
Commented on goals and how each member participated in gave input. Thanked the
Board for their participation and establishment of the goals.
v
Selectman Conron:
Commented on goals and we are right on target with the LCP.
v
Chairman Zuern: Coastal
and Natural Resources was a goal that every Board felt was a great asset to the
town; BBVA is sponsoring a festival of the tree event; BBVA annual meeting
tomorrow night; attended Monument Beach Sportsmen Club ceremony to honor Robert
Barry.
Adjourn
Selectman Sloniecki made a MOTION and SECONDED by
Selectman Harrington to adjourn the meeting at 10:17 P.M. UNANIMOUS VOTE