Selectmen’s Minutes
September 18, 2007
Bourne Veterans’ Memorial Community Center
239 Main Street
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
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Attendance:
Thomas M. Guerino
Board of Selectmen
Stephen F. Mealy, Chairman
Jamie J. Sloniecki, Vice Chairman
Judith Conron, Clerk
Linda M. Zuern
John A. Ford, Jr.
Call the Meeting to
Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Moment of
Silence/Salute the Flag
Minutes of August 21, 2007 will be deferred to the next meeting.
Selectman Zuern noted the Fundraiser Walk for ALS
Selectman Conron noted Cape Cod Commission Planning Committee – LCP be approved by the full committee (a Full Committee Meeting will be October 18, 2007) looking for certification upon Town Meeting approval.
Chm. Mealy noted the joint meeting between the Board, Finance Committee and School Committee will be held at the Bourne Middle School on September 25, 2007.
Jim Mulvey commented on the Conservation Restrictions document and noted the Board should have the “rewording” for comparison, as the corrections are unclear.
He also commented on Page 2, paragraph 2 “… every effort should be made to provoke conservation restriction in the Town of Bourne.” This raises a red flag in his opinion.
Mr. Mulvey further commented on the Guidelines “… reserve a window to the scene, a scenic journey.” Not appropriate to the guidelines.
Kathleen Donovan commented on agreeing with Mr. Mulvey’s comments. She also stated that all administration working with children should have CORI checks.
Selectman Conron reviewed the correspondence. All correspondence is one file in the Town Administrator’s Office for review.
Comments on Correspondence
Chm. Mealy noted not
receiving pages 1-8 of the Fiscal Impact on Mixed-Income Housing
Developments. TA Guerino will make
available.
Memorial Markers – Don Ellis
Mr. Ellis asked the board to support their request to move the memorial markers from the west rotary to Town Hall. Mr. Ellis will present a plan, if approved.
Selectman Conron MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Zuern to support the proposal of Mr. Don Ellis and the Historical Commission to move the monuments to Town Hall. VOTE 5-0.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Zuern the Board write a letter of support of Mr. Ellis and the Historical Commission’s request. VOTE 5-0.
Licenses/Permits - Escape Salon Taxes
Property owner owes
taxes. Salon Leases needs approval from
Selectmen to obtain renewed business license.
Chm. Mealy read
aloud the current bylaws to address said issue for the Board (waive penalty
without payment of taxes).
TA Guerino noted at
the Town Meeting, the Board supported the Article in April 12, 2005. On September 14, 2005 a similar incident
occurred the Board waived the penalty.
TA Guerino noted the
outstanding back taxes of principal owner (2006, 2007 and 2008) are in the
$15,238.99 effective September 6, 2007, increasing to about $5 per day.
Mr. Ray Benson requesting the Board waive the requirement of the new bylaw at 112 State Road in Sagamore Beach.
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Zuern to grant waiver of the Town Bylaw Section 3.1112 to allow Escape Salon to renew business certificate without penalty. VOTE 5-0.
Review Year-End
Financials – Linda Marzelli
Finance Director reviewed turn backs from last several months of operating expenses in an effort to know how much money can be carried into the new budget. Copies were submitted to the Board and are attached hereto.
General Fund turn back
number is $901,727.38 (check number please!!!). TA Guerino noted turning back $600,000 last year.
Discussion held. TA Guerino noted having $275,000 left over after funding four (4) months of Health Insurance, largely due to the override received a year and a half ago.
No Free Cash calculations discussed tonight.
TA Guerino indicated good working relationship between Department Heads and the Finance Director.
For 2007 Budget - $9,276,616.61 was received, indicating an increase in budget from last year. Excise Tax, Investments and State Aid also increased.
TA Guerino noted fines and forfeits were up $15,000 from
last year.
Increase in Sewer revenues, over estimated revenues. This department includes one full time employee in field, 1 part time and ¾ employee.
ISWM brought in $14M, an increase of $1.8M.
TA Guerino noted this figure
includes SEAMASS issues. The town made
$31,000 in Host Community Fee. TA
Guerino will get definite number of the exact SEAMASS figures ($400,000 range).
TA Guerino noted he and the Finance
Director will see if some issues have been completed, and if they have been
completed, they will need to be closed out.
Transportation Advisory Committee recommendations - Sally Riggs
Recommendation of one of the concepts presented to the Board on April 14, 2007. Study of Buzzards Bay Vitalization Association as part of the work of the BFDC’s Main Street Street Steering Committee in conformance with the LCP’s Scope on Main Street – Buzzards Bay.
The study conducted by Wes Ewell.
Overall study was endorsed by the Buzzards Bay Vitalization Association
Board of Directors, Bourne Financial Development Corporation Board of
Directors, the BFDC’s Main Street Steering Committee. The study is consistent with a few parts of the early concepts
developed by Santec.
Recommendations on page 47, focusing on three aspects:
· Widening the Route 25 ramps and bringing to traffic light at the intersection of Main Street and Scenic Highway.
o Include returning traffic on Belmont Circle to two-way.
· Reconfigure the intersections and Route 6 and Route 28 with Main Street with bypass at the West End of the Village.
· Re-lining the bypass to include vehicular traffic, bicycle path and access to the residential and commercial areas of Buzzards Bay.
Reasons for recommendations:
· Safety
· Reduction of traffic backups
· Reduce amount of pavement (savings in road maintenance)
· Create true gateway to Buzzards Bay Village
Action taken now – road configuration process is lengthy. Ms. Riggs asked the Board for their endorsement on the concept of reconfiguration of roads.
Comments
Selectman Zuern noted her concern of widening the bypass.
Selectman Conron had concerns of where this fits in with the other priorities already established (Bourne Rotary, Scenic Highway and Sandwich Road). Her concerns are where this Transportation Advisory Committee sits and how to get everything at the same time.
TA Guerino inquired 1) if a 3-5 year project, it may not need to have a Federal Fund Infusion; 2) if it does go to Temp or goes to Mass. Highway District V, is there an outside entity other than the Commonwealth going to be required to put up the final engineering and design plans similar to what Bourne had to do with the Scenic Highway intersection to the elementary school, as this will affect the final cost.
TA Guerino noted using an outside funding source (grant, earmark, etc.) to get the next step accomplished, provided the Board has the final determination on what happens to the entire community.
TA Guerino requested Mr. Rickie Tellier included in every meeting moving forward from this point.
Selectman Zuern requested Mass Highway Department’s suggestions of the Board in moving forward for planning purposes. TA Guerino will discuss with the Mass. State Highway Department.
Selectman Zuern MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Sloniecki to endorse the concept of reconfiguration of the roads following ideas put forth by the Buzzards Bay Village Comprehensive Transportation Plan and recommended by the Selectmen’s Transportation Advisory Committee and to authorize the Town Administrator as Chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee to proceed with study and discussions with the relevant County and State agencies and to request the Transportation Advisory Committee to make regular reports to the Board of Selectmen on the process. Also to include the minutes of the meetings be sent to the Board of Selectmen.
Chm. Mealy requested Ms. Riggs to read the two bullets into record on page 47:
Moved to endorse the concept of reconfiguring roads generally following the
ideas put forth by the BBVA’s Buzzards Bay Village Comprehensive
Transportation Plan as summarized in the first bullet on page 47 of the
report (as modified below) and recommended by the Selectmen’s Transportation
Advisory Committee, and to authorize the Town Administrator as chairman of the
Transportation Advisory Committee to proceed with both further study and discussions
with the relevant county and state agencies, and to request the Transportation
Advisory Committee to make regular reports to the Board of Selectmen on the
process including sending them minutes of each meeting.
· Reconfiguring roads along the Village will take five to 10 years to accomplish. The work will include widening the Route 25 access ramps and bring them straight to a traffic light at Main Street/Scenic Highway; reconfiguring Memorial Circle and Belmont Circle; reconfiguring the bypass; and constructing a bicycle path the length of the bypass, with a pedestrian underpass crossing the Route 25 ramp.
· Reconfiguring Memorial Circle and Belmont Circle and reconfigure the bypass and construction of bicycle path the length of the bypass with pedestrian underpass crossing on Route 25 going out. While each element of these changes could be done independently, it would make sense to combine into one project.
Town Administrator's Report - Commuter Rail
TA Guerino spoke with the Town Planner of Wareham regarding a commuter rail and if the Board had any opinion at this time. TA Guerino noted Bourne would be assessed the MBTA’s fees which occurs to abutting towns, should the commuter rail go in. He further stated the Town of Wareham is proposing the Town of Bourne be included in discussions without any commitment.
TA Guerino requests Mr. Cahir and Mr. Grabowski from MassHighway to speak before the Board on said matter.
Selectman Conron inquired of the town’s benefits of the commuter rail.
TA Guerino noted update on Conservation Restrictions. Commission will have on agenda this week. A meeting established of the Assessors and Town Planner to review. Once final draft before comes to the Board, it will pass through TA Guerino and posted on the webpage.
TA Guerino noted of Thursday this week he will be at Holy Cross on a Capital Planning & Budgeting discussion.
TA Guerino noted in the Cape Cod Times that NSTAR is requesting an 18% reduction in its natural gas costs to its citizens.
TA Guerino asked the Board to look at future agendas and will look at Police & Fire fees. Most fees were reviewed last year and raised.
TA Guerino briefly attended the Cape Tech meeting with Superintendent and would like reschedule another meeting since the cancellation of the August meeting.
TA Guerino thanked the Shore & Harbor Committee in taking care of the unkind graffiti.
Discussion on the clean up of behind the Main Street. More needs to be done, but are making progress.
Chm. Mealy suggested TA Guerino speak directly with the Building Inspector to come speak before the Board on said matter.
Other Selectmen’s Business
None at this time.
Selectmen’s Report
Selectman Zuern – attended Shellfish Working Group and discussed whether to have a Shellfish Advisory Committee.
Selectman Ford – attended the Bourne Housing Authority Cookout. He also attended the wake and funeral of Lt. Walker (38 years on the Police Department). Also attended the Train Bridge Crossing Open House.
Selectman Conron – Chm. Mealy and she attended the Cape Cod Selectmen’s and Counselor’s Association meeting regarding Group Health Insurance Programs. She also attended the Cape Cod Commission to deliver letter regarding the Local Comprehensive Plan.
Adjourn
Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Conron to adjourn. VOTE 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted
As transcribed - Lisa Groezinger,
sec.