Selectmen’s Minutes
February 6, 2007
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 (excused)
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 Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Mealy to approve the Minutes of January 30, 2007 as amended. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Public Comment –
Non-Agenda Items
None at this time.
Correspondence
Selectman Sloniecki reviewed the correspondence. All correspondence is on file in the Town Administrator’s Office for review.
Comments on
Correspondence
TA Guerino notified the Board that he faxed over the letter from John Alferes regarding the documentation supporting the 55 mph speed limit to the Mass Highway Authority and relieves the town of the ten (10) commitment days.
Handy Cranberry Trust – B. Johnson
Atty. Alexander Joyce represents Brian Handy, Trustee of Handy Cranberry Trust, stating a parcel of land (1.15 acres) for sale off Ward Swift Road, Cataumet in the amount of $30,000 for the town of Bourne to have first option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase said land. This is to meet land area requirements for abutting lots 48 and 47.3, and has been approved by the Planning Board.
The Open Space Committee will meet on Monday, February 12, 2007 and will make a written recommendation to the Board at such time. The Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday, February 15, 2007 and will make a written recommendation to the Board. It is Mr. Johnson’s request that the Board wait for written recommendations from both the OSC and ConCom before voting on same.
Mr. Johnson also noted the deadline for taking out papers for the Annual Election is February 12, 2007 and asked interested parties to contact his office for nomination papers, if interested. The Board of Health (1 open position); Bourne Library Trustees (2 open positions); and the Bourne Housing Authority (1 open position) are on the ballot.
Budget and Legislative Update – Representative Perry
The Town of Bourne is meeting their Statutory Obligations. Due to the newly elected Governor Patrick, he has an extra month to put his numbers together. These numbers will be delayed until the end of February, 2007.
Revenue – more of an expense problem and has a reasonable rate of growth. Legislature is half way through revenue projections, expenses and receipts at this point.
History of Local Aid – the lottery has decreased in revenue, but Bourne is doing quite well in State funding. As far as payment of low taxes, Rep. Perry is most concerned about this area, but he and Rep. Murray are ushering the legislative process.
Universal Health Insurance – Rep. Perry was one of the two to vote against the Universal Health Insurance. This will mandate that every person must have insurance beginning July 1, 2007. There are some issues that Rep. Perry didn’t agree with, but would rather see this bill as a way for companies to buy insurance and provide to their employees.
Rep. Perry discussed the GIC system, where this bill would allow cities and towns to get into. In the situation of a financial crisis, the contribution numbers will change. This is a benefit to the town of Bourne, since the voters of Bourne determine the percentage of what employees pay.
State Unfunded Retirement –increased by 16.7% on investments, which helps put money into decreasing the unfunded pension liability.
Rep. Perry will continue to support keeping the Otis Air Force base open.
Property taxes – issue for legislative session, which allows seniors to benefit in a something similar to a reverse mortgage. This will, however, impact the revenue coming to the town.
Homeowners Insurance – insurance writers left market when Cape Cod was categorized as a Hurricane Model. Rep. Perry would like to see Auto Insurance Reform or create a catastrophic fund as two options as reform.
Expansion in Gambling – Governor Patrick is interested in increasing the expansion of gambling. Rep. Perry is in support of slots and dog tracks from a revenue point of view.
The Board thanked Rep. Perry for tonight’s opportunity for discussion.
Licenses/Permits
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to approve the Class II Dealers License as submitted. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Mealy MOVED
and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki
to approve the lease between Archives and the Bourne Historical Society as
submitted. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Mealy MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to approve the temporary easement for Verizon as submitted. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Appointments
a. Selectmen’s Task Force on Local Pollution (2 vacancies – 1 appointment). TA Guerino stated Mr. Leslie Perry’s interest on serving on the Selectmen’s Task Force on Local Pollution.
Selectman Mealy MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to approve the nomination of Leslie Perry on the Selectmen’s Task Force on Local Pollution. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Selectman Mealy MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to approve the nomination of Leslie Perry on the Selectmen’s Task Force on Local Pollution and Stormwater Management. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
b. Recreation Committee (2 vacancies – 2 appointments) – will be deferred to the next meeting.
LEPC update – Cynthia Coffin
Homeland Security is a current issue and the Citizens Corps is looking to enlist aid of the public for volunteering. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is also looking for volunteer staff for emergency sites. The purpose is to offer assistance in time of need. The LEPC hopes to start up a site in Bourne, which is currently made up of five (5) people. Jake Gould has been nominated and has accepted the position of contact person.
NIMS – Department Heads and public officials are now required to have NIMS training. These courses are offered on line.
Reverse 911 – looking to do another drill before Town Election and Annual Town Meeting. This will be done to see how long it takes before the word gets out to the public.
KI pills – are being distributed by the Board of Health during the week. Schools are supplied. Nursing Homes, Motels and private Daycare Centers are being offered the choice as to whether or not they want to take responsibility. KI pills are also being dispensed at the Mass Vaccination sites (Bourne High School and the Council on Aging building).
In summary, this is only the beginning. Exercises will need to be done. Volunteers will be needed, especially in the medical field, and bilingual translators.
Budget Review
TA Guerino noted the Finance Committee last evening. He handed out a TA 3rd budget as part of a middle ground between TA proposed budget and TA recommended budget. It is the consensus of the Board, the TA and the Finance Committee that the TA recommended budget is unsustainable and not recommended.
This TA 3rd budget shows 4.3%, what he described as the full employment budget .
In this TA 3rd budget:
a. reinstates a position eliminated in the Finance Department (economic development)
b. adds one (1) police officer
c. restores Fire Department Staff Overtime Account (for stations to remain open)
d. bring School Budget to 3.4% (the 2% was unsustainable)
e. two (2) people to the sanitation and recycling are offset by ISWM, adding no cost to the budget at this time.
f. Adds small amount of group insurance of the one (1) additional police officer
g. A net of $476,000.
TA Guerino’s recommendation will be this 3rd budget, which will get the town through the next Fiscal Year. This gives the opportunity to finish discussion of long term planning. Once this budget is in print, he will be ready with a long-term sustainable financial plan.
A la cart override discussion (very specific). Chm. Zuern stated that she will honor her commitment as far as not burdening the public with another override so soon. She does, however, support the a la cart for the next year. The consensus of the Board is to ask the pubic what they want for the town.
Town Administrator’s Report
The DNR Ad Hoc Review Committee’s final report is submitted to the board tonight. TA Guerino encourages the Board for comment. Mr. Paul Bushueff (Chairman of the DNR Ad Hoc) will make the presentation to the Board. He will also discuss a youth sailing program. TA Guerino added that the DNR Ad Hoc Review Committee put in a lot of time into the report. TA Guerino will look into putting the final report on line.
TA Guerino noted the School Building Authority nod to move forward with the revised school plan (reduce square footage at current reimbursement rates). The Superintendent, Chairman of the School Committee, Chairman of the Building Committee, the consultants all with the TA are meeting with the State Highway Department and Senator Therese Murray to discuss the access road to the new school.
The work will be out to bid in late summer 2007 and have construction start in late Fall 2007 for an occupancy permit for fall 2009.
TA Guerino noted a letter was sent to EOTC Secretary Cohen to remind him of the Commonwealth’s commitment of the Scenic Highway.
Other Selectmen
Business
V. Chm. Mealy suggested discussing a town Computer Advisory Committee, which would be a useful tool for Capital Outlay.
Selectmen’s Reports
Selectman Sloniecki noted how the Board and the Finance Committee are leaning away from the TA Recommended budget.
Selectman Sloniecki added that as far as the SBA, Rickie Tellier (who has just been sworn in) will need to formally attend to the next meeting.
Chm. Zuern noted attending the SMB meeting (last Wednesday) discussing the wind turbine to supply electricity for treatment plants, and will be aired on Channel 13.
Chm. Zuern noted the Smalls Arms Range open discussion will be at the Falmouth Holiday Inn to discuss going back to lead bullets. This is an issue as far as Otis is concerned regarding tungsten.
Chm. Zuern mentioned the Ewing Sarcoma – a rare cancer in an
area of Sandwich, and a study is being conducted by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health.
Chm. Zuern also noted a TV show regarding the three (3) private schools in Bourne: 1) Bridgeview; 2) St. Margaret’s; and 3)Waldoff. These programs will be aired on February 14, 2007 and February 16, 2007.
Lastly, Chm. Zuern added that the Fire Department is working on getting to MEMA through Bourne’s website.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to adjourn. UNANIMOUS VOTE. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Groezinger, sec.