Selectmen’s Minutes
January 23, 2007
Bourne Veterans’ Memorial Community Center
239 Main Street
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
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Attendance:
Thomas M. Guerino
Board of Selectmen:
Linda M. Zuern, Chairman
Stephen F. Mealy, Vice Chairman
Jamie J. Sloniecki, Clerk
Judith Conron
John J. Harrington
Call the Meeting to
Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Moment of
Silence/Salute the Flag
Approval of Minutes
Selectman Conron MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to approve the Minutes of January 16, 2007 as amended. VOTE 5-0.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to approve the Executive Session Minutes of December 19, 2006 as amended. VOTE 5-0.
Public Comment –
Non-Agenda Items
Boy Scouts Troop 44 from Pocasset is doing research for their Citizenship Badges. Chm. Zuern stated any comments or questions to e-mail the Board of Selectmen.
Correspondence
Selectman Sloniecki reviewed the correspondence. All correspondence is on file in the Town Administrator’s Office for review.
Comments on
Correspondence
No comment at this time.
Licenses/Permits
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Mealy to approve the Sagamore Inn, Inc.’s request for a Seasonal Common Victualer License. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED
and SECONDED by Selectman Mealy to
approve the request for the Best Buddies Bike Route on May 19, 2007, subject to
the traffic safety issues addressed by the Town of Bourne. UNANIMOUS
VOTE.
Selectman Mealy MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to approve the request of Showcase Suzuki, Inc. from a Class I license to a Class II license. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Mealy to approve the request by JD Wholesale for the exchange of second hand motor vehicles. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to approve the request of the March of Dimes 6 mile walk on April 29, 2007, subject to the stipulations of the Board of Health. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Capital Improvement
Budget Review
TA Guerino recommended the Capital Improvement Budget FY2008 after meeting with the Finance Director, the Capital Outlay Committee and Department Heads.
Added requirements are brought to the Board by 1) how Capital Expenditure fits the Board’s goals; and 2) to achieve objectives of the LTC Plan.
TA Guerino reviewed line items for the Board:
Data Processing – wireless network (a more secure network) – TA recomm. $70,000
Police Department – no net gain in vehicles – TA recomm. $143,020
Fire Department – buying ¾ ton pick up. Instead of new ambulance, go with 2nd remount instead (saving $40,000) – TA recomm. $193,500.
TA Guerino explained that the guidelines for items to be included in the Capital Budget are items that are over $10,000 and have a five (5) year shelf life.
DNR – TA recomm. - $172,000. Security cameras not recommended at this time. Replacing lights include the parking lot and the floats due to corrosion (i.e. seagull waste). With regard to ramp maintenance, Monument Beach is one area that grant funding may be available.
At this time, Chm.
Zuern explained to the Boy Scout Troop 44 that the Selectmen are reviewing the
town budget.
Bourne Public School – TA recomm. $292,000. Repairs at the Otis school and Hoxie were discussed. TA Guerino will need to meet with Superintendent Edmond LaFleur and the School Committee for a detailed assessment of the repairs.
Discussion of the purchase of a new mini bus and holding on to older one to prolong the life of others. No additional staff is required for keeping old mini bus.
Department of Public Works – TA recomm. $683,304
Sewer – added additional pick up truck – TA recomm. $45,000. A town employee’s personal truck has been used for quite some time and should use a town truck for work.
ISWM – starting residential recycling area to alleviate traffic confusion and better service to the town – TA recomm. $1.3M.
Estuaries Study – 4th installment by University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. They are under contract to review updated presentation to the town. TA recomm. $32,750.
Public Comment
Don Cunningham – inquired about the repairs at the schools, particularly the Hoxie School of $11M (Otis is $13.8M). TA Guerino noted that the School Committee will meet tomorrow night, January 24, 2007 at the Bourne Professional Library at the High School.
Boy Scout Tyler Ingrim – inquired about re-instating Dodge Ball at the school. Boy Scout Joseph Ruzzers also inquired about re-instating Dodge Ball at the school. Chm. Zuern referred the boys to the School Committee, along with the Principal of the school and that this issue was not in the Board’s scope of work.
Budget Review
Selectman Conron requested a break down of the two proposed Budgets by TA Guerino. TA Guerino reviewed both budgets. The first proposed budget General Fund total is $49M. The second proposed budget General Fund total is $48.3M with a difference of $853,366.
General government first proposed budget is $34,410. The second proposed budget is $9,410.00 with a difference of $122,307. This includes the consultancy for the Administrator’s Budget. TA Guerino noted that in Economic Development, $25,000 is used to assist BFDC.
The total Public Safety first proposed budget is $1M. The second Public Safety second proposed budget is $981,742 with a difference of $247,352. In the DNR, no major expense reductions.
The total for Bourne Public Schools first proposed budget is $20.7M. The second Bourne Public Schools second proposed budget is $20.4M with a difference of $283,774. The request of 3 ½ % increased changed to a 2 ½ % increase. The request was for 5% increase +/-.
The total for Dept. of Public Works first proposed budget is $1.6M. The second total for the Dept. of Public Works is $1.5M with a difference of $114,360.
The total of Health & Human Services first proposed budget is $717,357. The second total for the Health & Human Services is $707,474 with a difference of $7,883. This budget is minimal at best. Discussions of lifeguards teaching swimming lessons are currently free of charge. This brought up the issue of possibly charging for the lessons to bring in revenue.
TA Guerino reviewed more of the Budget (last left off at the Inspections Department).
Inspections Department – minimally funded department and very little movement.
Jake Gould’s (Civil Defense) annual fee of $5,000 discussed in Emergency Preparedness. Shelters are stocked with packaged food that has a shelf life of three (3) years.
TA Guerino tabled the DNR Department until the next meeting, due to the amount of the line items. He also noted there are about a handful of departments to still review (DNR, Culture & Recreation, Library, Human Services, Sewer, Debt and ISWM).
Public Comment
Jim Mulvey – requested the town not charge for swimming lessons.
Don Cunningham – also requested not to charge for swimming lessons.
Town Administrator’s Report
TA Guerino recommends the fee for Appealing Building Inspector’s Decision remain at $100. This fee is comparable to other towns’ fees. No formal vote by the board is required (only needed to change the fee).
Other Selectmen
Business
Selectman Zuern MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to add the language “Bourne Representative to the Cape Cod Commission or Cape Cod Commission staff member. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Conron to utilize the Superintendent of the Dept. of Public Works as one of the members of the JTPC. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Discussion of a Dept. of Works alternate be voted on at the next meeting.
V. Chm. Mealy noted that the $1M deficit should be devoted to an entire night of discussion on how to approach. This workshop session should include the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee and the Finance Committee.
TA Guerino noted that the Finance Committee meeting of last night, January 22, 2007 was a great discussion and a great starting point. TA Guerino also wanted to thank Finance Director Linda Marzelli for her efforts should be recognized. Selectman Conron noted how pleased she was with the meeting as well.
Selectmen’s Reports
Selectman Harrington noted the tour by the Buzzards Bay Village Association. He suggested inviting Tom Moccia to report to the board the findings of his questions solicited on the tour.
Selectman Sloniecki noted the National Marine Wildlife Center being very informative and suggested families to visit. He also attended the Cape Cod Regional Chamber of the Bourne Committee recognizing Barry Johnson’s Citizen of the Year Award. He said that the town is lucky to have Barry Johnson. And lastly, Selectman Sloniecki added that he will be attending the Bourne Committee Meeting at the Upper Cape Tech (UCT) tomorrow, January 24, 2007 at 8:00 am.
Selectman Conron said she was impressed with the Buzzards Bay Village Association’s tour of Buzzards Bay. She hopes that the Board can be useful in aiding the BBVA. She also added that she will be at the By-law Committee meeting tomorrow, January 24, 2007. She handed out copies of the Financial Management Policies and Guidelines for continued budget discussion to the board.
Chm. Zuern mentioned the Town of Bourne Community Emergency Response Team is holding free classes from February 6, 2007 through April 10, 2007 at the Sandwich Community School. Anyone interested is encouraged to call the David Vieira at 508 563-4320 or log on to register at www.bsheriff.net/cert.
Chm. Zuern discussed the National Marine Life Center said that by using www.goodsearch.com a penny may be donated per search to the NMLC. She also noted that there are seven (7) turtles and asked families to visit.
Chm. Zuern attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting and presented citations to Rick Carlson who received the
Ambassador Award and Barry H. Johnson who received the Citizen of the Year
Award.
Chm. Zuern talked about the Bourne Theatre Seat Drive. They are asking for a $25 donation per seat.
Chm. Zuern said that the back area in the Buzzards Bay Tour should be taken care of by the town and that the owner is willing to work with the town. A suggestion of a Flea Market was discussed and the town to take away the remaining items. TA Guerino said he will need to speak with Rickie Tellier (DPW) and Brent Goins (ISWM) to discuss the best methodology.
In summary, Chm. Zuern said that Lynda Wadsworth and others from the MMR would like to come before the Board in February to give an update of activities at the base.
Adjourn
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to adjourn. UNANIMOUS VOTE. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Groezinger, sec.