Board of Selectmen

Meeting Notice

 

Date                        Time                        Location

Tuesday                        7:00 PM                        Bourne Veterans Memorial

February 27, 2007                                        Community Center

                                                239 Main Street                                                                                                               Buzzards Bay, MA  02532

1.                  Call to Order

 

2.                  Moment of Silence for our Troops

 

3.                  Salute the Flag

 

4.                  Approval of Minutes

 

5.                  Public Comment – Non Agenda Items

 

6.                  Correspondence

 

7.                  7:10 – 7:45

Northeast Organic Farming Association – Frank Albani

 

8.                  7:45 – 8:00

Library Trustees

 

9.         8:00 – 8:10

                    Appointments

    1. Transportation Advisory Committee

 

10.       8:10 – 8:25

            Time limit for filing annual operating budget

 

11.       8:25 – 8:45

Goals Update

 

12.       8:45 – 9:15

Voter survey

 

13.        9:15 – 9:20   

            Town Administrator’s Report

 

14.       9:20 – 9:25

            Other Selectmen business 

 

15.       9:25 – 9:30

                     Selectmen’s Reports

 

16.                Adjourn

 

Selectmen’s Minutes

February 27, 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 (excused from attendance tonight)

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

Selectmen Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Conron to approve the February 12, 2007 minutes. UNANIMOUS VOTE.

 

Minutes of February 20, 2007 will be deferred to the next meeting.

 
Public Comment

Richard Conron spoke about the Open Space Committee and encouraged citizens to attend an open hearing on the proposed Open Space Plan.  The hearing will be held on Monday March 12, at 7:00 P.M. in the Bourne High School Library.  To contact by mail send correspondence in care of the Open Space Committee, Town Hall, 24 Perry Avenue, Buzzards Bay, MA  02532.

 

Acting Police Chief Baldwin discussed the recent crimes in Bourne.  These crimes are mostly drug related.  He provided some guidance if citizens find themselves in a crime situation.

 

Acting Chief Baldwin noted an educational program to inform residents of drug use. 

 
Correspondence

Selectman Sloniecki reviewed the correspondence.  All correspondence is on file in the Town Administrator’s Office for review.

 
 
Comments on Correspondence

TA Guerino noted the pending vacancy on the Cape Cod Commission would need to be advertised prior to the Board making an appointment prior to April 24, 2007.

 

TA Guerino noted the increase of Town Counsel's fee and stated it was an extremely fair hourly rate.

 

Selectman Conron inquired about the parking lot off Sandwich Road across from the Bourne Public Library.  TA Guerino noted that he would look into other parking areas.

 

TA Guerino noted the debate on Boatyard Mooring Policies saying the Attorney General's resolution was sent to Town Counsel for review.

 

Selectman Sloniecki noted the Keyspan contract with the Cape Cod United Steel Workers of America has expired.

 

Northeast Organic Farming Association - Frank Albani

F. Albani discussed genetically engineered (GE) organisms and how it is not like classic plant breeding.  Scientists combine pieces of animals, plants, bacteria and viruses that do not naturally cross species barriers.

 

Three countries, the U.S., Canada and Argentina, grow most of the Genetically Modified crops.  The main crops are corn, soy, canola and cotton.

 

For more information, go to the www.centerforfoodsafety.org website.

 

F. Albani is looking for the town of Bourne to speak to the elected officials (State House and Federal Government) to stop these behaviors.  Resolutions are:

 

               1.  Genetic Engineering Labeling Legislation

               2.  Farmer Liability Protection Legislation

               3.  Legislation Moratorium on Genetic Engineering crops

 

It was the consensus of the Board to get more information before taking any action, and to discuss at a later date.

 

The public consensus was to have more information as well.

 

Library Trustees

Patrick Marshall, Anne-Marie Siroonian, Irene Sundquist and Don Jacobs discussed the building expansion program, including the $75M bond bill, which is expected to receive in summer 07.  They are focusing on capital gains and additional grants for support.   The library is hoping to raise $750,000 in fundraisers, such as small events the Book Fair (March 29, 2007) and the Silent Auction (March 30, 2007) to name a few.

 

 

 

TA Guerino noted that the information handed out at the previous night's Finance Committee meeting by Library Director Patrick Marshall was very helpful information and suggested it be distributed widely for the public.

 

Appointments

               a.  Transportation Advisory Committee - TA Guerino noted letters of interest from Don Cunningham, Tom Moccia, Sallie Riggs and Bob Parady.

 

D. Cunningham, T. Moccia and S. Riggs each introduced themselves to the board.

 

Chm. Zuern noted S. Riggs does not live in Bourne, although it was the consensus of the Board to have her as a voting member on the Transportation Advisory Committee. 

 

Selectman Conron MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to accept the appointments of Don Cunningham, Tom Moccia, Sallie Riggs and Bob Parady as

members of the Transportation Advisory Committee.  UNANIMOUS VOTE.

 

TA Guerino discussed Carol Tinkham as a possible at-large position candidate for the Transportation Advisory Committee and is waiting word from C. Tinkham.

 

Time Limit for filing annual operating budget

Selectmen Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectmen Harrington to ask the Board to submit warrant article as written, with the Board of Selectmen as the sponsor.  UNANIMOUS VOTE.

 

Goals Update - TA Guerino

TA noted the seawall at Monument Beach and the marina, as well as the UMass Dartmouth estuaries project as being smaller goals.

 

As far as personnel issues, contract work is being conducted by DI Jacobs Consulting helping to create the Employee Handbook, updating policies for all town employees.

 

The Fire Department issues being undertaken by Jacobs’ were including both Fire Dept. management and the President of the union.

 

Strides have been made as far as communications level with the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and the School Committee, making a change in how doing business in town.

 

ISWM Working Group is making progress.  Issues discussed were the tonnage, marketing capacity and impact on the life of the landfill.  Alternative energy will be discussed in the future.

 

Human Services Committee is working on a more formalized structure and will come before the Board in the future.  Chm. Zuern noted the Board’s their next meeting on March 13, 2007.

 

Housing Assistance with regard to the Food Panty.  TA Guerino will meet with them to formalize.

 

Voter survey

TA Guerino distributed a survey to assist the Board in their dialog as to whether to create a survey for distribution to citizens.

 

Chm. Zuern noted Town Clerk's mailing costs estimate of the survey and wondered if there was a way to cut those costs.  She suggested handing the survey out at Town Meeting when people register to start the survey process.

 

TA Guerino noted to consider a studio project with the Regional School of Planning, to develop a survey tool at the same costs.

 

Discussion held with regard to the information obtained from the survey be used for the FY2009 budget.  Variables were also discussed (name, village, etc.)

 

TA Guerino stated this survey would be a gage on how the town is providing services and gives the opportunity in a limited realm as to where the non-school side is.  This is how the Board can take cues on where to prioritize expenditures.

 

Town Administrator's Report

TA Guerino noted the Bourne Committee meeting would be held on February 28, 2007 to discuss the budget.  This will be a two-page plan for public consumption, moving

forward with the Warrant.

 

Articles are due in by the end of business on February 28, 2007.  A draft of articles will be available within the next week and ready for print by the first week in April for the Finance Committee review.

 

TA Guerino stated he handed out to the Finance Committee the Financial Policy and asked for comments by Monday, March 6, 2007.

 

Other Selectmen's Business

Selectman Conron requested the Finance Policy Discussion be on next week's agenda.

 

Selectmen's Reports

Chm. Zuern noted the Spotlight on Bourne’s February 28, 2007 presentation on the TRIAD.

 

Chm. Zuern will be attending the Alzheimer’s Fund Raiser in Sandwich at the Glass Museum on March 16, 2007.

 

Chm. Zuern stated KI Pills are still available at the Board of Health.  A total of 1,400 have been picked up thus far.

 

Chm. Zuern noted a total of 15 people signed up for the certified training course for the Emergency Planning.

 

Chm. Zuern said Jake Gould noted the State evacuation plan to prevent traffic over the bridge during the event of an emergency.

 

Adjourn

Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Harrington to adjourn.   UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lisa Groezinger, sec.