MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009
PRESENT: Terry H. Finnegan (Chairman), Donal P. Anderson (Vice-Chairman), Hilary P. Wilson (Clerk), Arthur P. Boyle, Jr., (Selectmen), Willard J. Boulter, Jr. (Selectman), Edwin J. Thorne (Town Administrator), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), John Mattison (Cable), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Pembroke Mariner/Reporter), Dan Trabucco, James Touhey, and others.
CHANGE OF POLLING PLACES: Mary Ann Smith, Town Clerk, requested the support of the Board of Selectmen to allow her to change the voting locations to one central location at the Pembroke High School. Every household must be notified. The amount requested in the article will be reduced.
Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to allow the Town Clerk to combine the polling places to the Pembroke High School starting with the elections on May 1, 2010.
C&B ICE CREAM: Mr. Wilson, moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to approve the request of Catherine and William Pike of 405 Forest Street, Rockland, and their son David Milan, to renew their permit to operate an ice cream truck throughout the town from March through October 31, 2009, seven days per week, from 9:00 a.m. to dusk. No chimes may be played before 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. So voted unanimously in favor.
FIRST CHURCH CAR WASH: Mr. Wilson moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to grant permission to the First Church to hold a car wash on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of the Hatch Building, using water from the spigot on the Historical Society Building. So voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Wilson requested that the organizers be reminded that sign holders should not be positioned too close to the side of the roadway and should stay a distance back from the road on the property. Strict adult supervision is required.
SIGN PERMITAPPLICATIONS:
Shell Gas Station, 243 Church Street – permission was granted for three signs to replace existing signs as per application and picture submitted. No permission was granted for any balloon.
Itza Party, 10 Schoosett Street – permission was granted for a temporary sign to be displayed six times per this calendar year for seasonal holiday ads. Applicant should apply for each holiday event.
Pembroke Plaza, 14 Mattakeesett St., - Permission was granted to replace the existing standing directory sign on Mattakeesett St. and to place a second directory sign on Center Street as per application and plans submitted and previously approved by the Planning Board as part of the Center Protection District.
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MARCH 16, 2009 – PAGE TWO
SURPLUS TOWN-OWNED REAL ESTATE: Mr. Thorne presented two lists of property for the Selectmen’s review. He has given the lists to Conservation for their review and comments. Lots advertised as “buildable” will be offered with no building restrictions. Deposits could be returned if the buyer is not able to perk the land. Non-buildable lots will be advertised with a minimum bid of 60% of the assessed value. No waterfront property will be offered. Mr. Thorne will prepare an advertisement for the Board’s review at their meeting of March 30th.
ACTUARY SERVICES: The Chairman requested to have the Town Accountant attend the next Selectmen’s meeting to discuss this subject.
EDWARD DRIVE AND REBECCA ROAD: The Planning Board engineer has met with the developer and they have established plans to complete the work on the roads. The Planning Board will get an update on March 23rd. The developer, Phil Johnson, will be invited to the Selectmen’s meeting on March 30. He understands the pressure now and seems to be ready and willing to complete the work and hopefully get the streets onto the Fall town meeting for acceptance. The sinkhole is the major issue. Residents expect to see the work done by June and Mr. Trabucco, Planning Board Chairman, suggests this is a good timeline. The Selectmen will continue to follow up and expect to have information from Town Counsel as to the course of action the town could take if the work is not completed. A key resident will be the liaison between the Planning Board and other residents.
ARTICLE RECOMMENDATIONS: The Selectmen reviewed and voted recommendations on the articles in the annual and special town meeting warrants.
Article 11 regarding the designation of revenues from the sale of passports to the Capital Plan was discussed. Mr. Wilson wants to segregate the cost of postage and labor from the proceeds. Only the net amount should go to the Capital Plan. It was determined that at least four hours per week are spent processing passports and the Accountant will keep track of how much is turned over so that the net revenues can be determined. Mr. Wilson moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to recommend favorable action. So voted.
Article 12 was also a concern of Mr. Wilson’s because it diverts cell tower revenues from the general fund. He would like to put it off until the Fall. Mrs. Finnegan feels there will never be a time when there is extra money to put into the Capital Plan and it is important to be depositing money to this account whenever possible since there will always be capital items in need of funding. Mr. Thorne noted that this article will reduce the general revenues by $90,000 – $94,000 but also noted that net revenues from the GATRA reimbursement money would produce about $45,000 to go into general revenues. Mrs. Finnegan noted that she is looking for a copy of the plan from Town Accountant Buckley about the percentages to be put into each fund, such as stabilization, separation pay and capital plan, on a regular basis. Mr. Anderson moved to recommend favorable action. Seconded by Mr. Boyle and so voted unanimously in favor.
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MARCH 16, 2009 – PAGE THREE
Article 13 is an addition to the town bylaws to regulate piers, rafts and moorings. Mr. Boulter explained that the intent is to protect people and public resources. A recommendation will be made at the next meeting after the Police Chief and Conservation Commission have had chance to give input on this article.
Article 21 requests that money be set aside to use for planning the town’s 300th anniversary celebration but no amount has yet been established. There will be a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday, March 24 at the Library at 7 p.m.
Article 23 was submitted by petition to delete from the town bylaws the requirement for advertising a vacant position. The Selectmen voted indefinite postponement on this article.
Article 25 requests funding for postcards to be mailed to every household to announce a change in the polling place. The amount requested is reduced to $2600. and the Selectmen voted favorable action.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Town Web Site: Pembroke has been awarded the Massachusetts Common Cause e-Government Award for 2009. We were one of only 117 communities to receive the award out of the 351 cities and towns in the state. Deborah Wall, Library Director, was congratulated and thanked for her tireless efforts in developing our new town website and for getting so much information posted to this site for the benefit of all residents and patrons.
Mass. Municipal Assoc. House Bill #1073: Town Administrator Thorne attended the MMA Legislative meeting this week and reported the following:
The removal of exemptions from utility companies for telecommunication property on poles, wires, etc. will amount to $53,000 in revenue for the town.
A one year moratorium on charter school funding would amount to $90,903 with tuition reimbursement being $44,349.
A health insurance plan design gives cities and towns the same authority as the state regarding co-pays and deductibles up to the same level as the GIC plan.
There are some requirements to bargain over the percentage a municipality and the employer pays.
The MMA suggests these changes could about to a 4% savings which would amount to about $220,000 for Pembroke.
A local meals tax of 3% could be $270,000 in revenue and a local room tax could be increased from 4 to 6% which would result in $0 for Pembroke since we have no hotels or motels in town.
LETTER TO FIRE DEPT.: Mr. Anderson read an open letter of thanks and praise to the Pembroke Fire Dept. and Pembroke Police Dept. for their immediate and professional response to their call for help for their young son who suffered a seizure.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.