MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2009
PRESENT: Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. (Chairman), Donal P. Anderson (Vice-Chairman), Willard J. Boulter, Jr. (Clerk), Lewis W. Stone (Selectmen), Daniel W. Trabucco (Selectman), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Pembroke Mariner/Reporter), John Mattinson (Cable), and others.
The Selectmen convened an executive session meeting at 5:45 pm, prior to the regular session, to meet with members of the school committee and school department to discuss contract negotiations.
At 7:00 p.m., the Chairman called the regular session of the Selectmen’s meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ANNUAL RE-APPOINTMENTS: Chairman Boyle read the list of persons desiring reappointment to boards, committees and commissions as follows:
MEMBER: COMMITTEE: TERM EXPIRES:
Anne Marie Stanton Advisory Committee 2012
Henry Daggett Central Plymouth County
Water District Advisory Board 2010
Thomas Weinreich Commission on Disabilities 2012
Carey Day Conservation Commission 2012
Kenneth Girten Council on Aging Board of Dir. 2012
Janis Bowes Council on Aging Board of Dir. 2012
Lillian Murphy Council on Aging Board of Dir. 2012
Dottie MacInnes Cultural Council 2012
Vivian Perry Cultural Council 2012
Linda McCollum Cultural Council 2012
John F. Woods Historic District/Historical Comm. 2012
Linda Osborne Historic District/Historical Comm. 2012
James Kilcommons MBTA Advisory Board Rep. 2010
James Hannon North River Commission 2012
Alan Holbrook North River Commission 2012
Gerard Dempsey Old Colony Planning Council 2010
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JUNE 8, 2009 – PAGE TWO
Eugene Fulmine, Jr. O.C.P.C. Joint Transportation 2010
Mary Ann Flynn Recreation Commission 2012
Thomas Finnegan Recreation Commission 2012
Catherine Thurbide Town Landing Committee 2012
Edward Bursaw Veterans’ Neglected Graves Officer 2010
James Saccone Veterans’ Neglected Graves Officer 2010
Election Workers Republic Town Committee 2010
(as per list submitted by Town Clerk)
Selectman Boulter moved, seconded by Selectman Anderson, to approve reappointment of all persons as per list presented. So voted unanimously in favor.
RESIGNATION: Selectman Trabucco moved, seconded by Selectman Stone, to accept with regret the resignation of Joseph Delmonaco from the Board of Registrars, and extended wishes for improved health.
Mr. Trabucco also moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to send a letter from the Board of Selectmen to Mr. Wilson Whittaker on his resignation from the Board of Health and to thank him for his many years of service.
TOWN GOVERNMENT/TOWN MANAGER STUDY: Selectman Stone researched the process followed by the Town of Hanover in their recent Town Government Study. He reported that Hanover had 5 people on the committee chosen by the Selectmen. The Selectmen had no input and abided by the committee’s recommendations. The Town Administrator was used as a resource and public hearings were held. Mr. Stone expressed his feelings that the Selectmen should b able to participate and that a member of the Board of Selectmen should be on the committee. Mr. Boulter agreed and suggested that Mr. Stone should be the Selectmen’s representative on the committee. Mr. Anderson thinks the Board of Selectmen should be the committee with the goal to do more of a compilation of studies already done rather than a new study. Mr. Trabucco feels the Board should not take on this task without the help of a committee because of other implications from other departments if the Town Manager becomes the sole administrator over those departments. The committee should have a concise focus and the Selectmen and the public should be given the opportunity to offer input. Mr. Boyle agreed and noted that committees made up of members from the general public have brought forward many good ideas and changes. Mr. Boyle suggested a 5-7 member committee with a representative form the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Thorne as an ex-officio with no vote. Mr. Stone suggested a deadline in time for April Town Meeting. He noted that he feels it is time for a professional manager to step in. Many South Shore towns have already decided to go this way.
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Discussion was briefly suspended to entertain a visit from the Board of Assessors and the Board of Health.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS: Assessors Cindy Long, Elizabeth Bates and Mary Quill were in attendance along with Chief Assessor Maureen O’Connor. Assessor Chairman Cindy Long announced to the Selectmen that the Board of Assessors regretfully accepted the resignation and retirement notice of Maureen O’Connor effective August 31, 2009. As they are aware of the hiring freeze, the Assessors are requesting special permission to advertise and fill the expected vacancy.
Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to grant the Board of Assessors permission to circumvent the hiring freeze to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Chief Assessor Maureen O’Connor. Voted unanimously in favor by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Stone offered a sincere expression of thanks to Mrs. O’Connor and wishes for good luck in her future. This sentiment was echoed by all members of the Board of Selectmen.
Mrs. Long noted that the Board of Assessors is made up of three full-time assessors who know all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the office.
BOARD OF HEALTH: Board of Health Members Scott MacInnes and Lisa Cullity advised the Selectmen of their acceptance of the resignation of Wilson Whittaker and recommended the appointment of Elizabeth Cytrynowski.
Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to support the appointment of Elizabeth Cytrynowski to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Health. A roll call vote of the members of the Board of Health and the Board of Selectmen yielded a vote of 7-0 unanimously in favor. Mrs. Cytrynowski will serve until the next annual town election.
Board of Health Chairman Scott MacInnes formerly requested that the Selectmen arrange for a full and complete audit of the records of the Board of Health by a disinterested third party firm, and a complete forensic audit of all three computers in the Board of Health office by a disinterested third party as well, without further delay. The Selectmen will take this request under advisement.
TOWN GOVERNMENT/TOWN MANAGER STUDY, continued: Mr. Boulter made a motion to appoint a 5 member Town Government Study Committee, one being a Selectmen. Mr. Anderson seconded for discussion. He suggested that Mr. Thorne should not be an official member of the committee but rather act as an advisor. Mr. Boyle noted that Mr. Thorne’s integrity is beyond reproach. Applications should be accepted for two or three weeks through July 26th with appointments to be made at a meeting in July. Mr. Trabucco encouraged applicants with some background in this topic but should be a “disinterested party”.
POLE HEARING: Peter Ng from National Grid was present to address questions from the board relative to the joint petition of Mass Electric and Verizon to install a new pole #25S on West Elm Street, 45’ across the street from Pole #25 in order to remove a guy wire off a dead tree and to install the guy wire to the new pole. The dead tree needs to be
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removed. Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to approve the petition as submitted. Voted unanimously in favor.
OLD BUSINESS:
Town Planner – Planning Board is working on this and will meet with Selectmen in September.
Key Policy – Quotes are being solicited for changing the locks on town hall office doors.
Surplus Real Estate – Town Administrator Thorne will take another look at the list of properties that could be offered at auction.
Landfill Capping – The Selectmen would like an update on the status of this project.
Edward Rd. and Rebecca Dr. – The developer should have these roads ready for acceptance at the Fall Town Meeting.
Dock and Raft Permits – Mr. Boulter explained the need for a public hearing to get public input on the proposed bylaw to regulate the rafts and docks that are put into the
town ponds. Mr. Anderson expressed his disapproval of this bylaw. Mr. Boulter will supply copies of the proposed language for the board to review and discuss. Public hearings will be scheduled for later in the summer.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Regional Selectmen’s Meeting: The next meeting will be held at Whitman Town Hall on June 25th at 7 p.m.
Senate Bill 2045: This bill proposes that the State would take the Sheriff’s Dept. and transfer the assets to the city, but the liability would be left to the towns. This would cost Pembroke a financial liability of $145,000+ per year. South Shore communities are not in support of this bill. Rep. Dan Webster is opposed and will be voting in opposition.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to send a letter to Rep. Webster, Senate President Therese Murray, and Tom O’Brien (chairman of the Plymouth County Retirement Assoc.), to indicate that Pembroke is in opposition to House Bill 2045. Voted unanimously in favor by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Trabucco noted that he fears this act is one small piece of a larger puzzle and the State is trying to neuter the Counties. The intention seems to be to eliminate the counties.
Gov. Deval Patrick: The Governor’s Office has advised the Town Administrator that Governor Patrick will be holding a town meeting in Pembroke on Thursday, July 16th at 6:30 p.m. on the Town Green.
Fox 25 News Zip Trip: Pembroke will be featured on Channel 25 Fox News on Friday, July 24th and it will be broadcast from the Town Green.
Pembroke Center Pre-School: Permission was granted to allow the pre-school to hold their graduation ceremony on the Town Green on Friday, June 19th from 8:30 am to 1:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.