MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 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), Edwin J. Thorne, Town Administrator, Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Reporter/Mariner), John Mattinson (Cable), Denise Hawes, Christine White, Elizabeth Dever, Mary Whitman, Elizabeth Bates, Cindy Long, Matthew McNeilly, Amy Hill, Greg Hanley, and others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Marie Strothers Scholarship: Denise Hawes explained that it has been 20 years since Marie Strothers passed away and this is the first fundraiser they had to have to keep the scholarship going. Mrs. Hawes expressed thanks for the overwhelming response. Stephen Doge pulled the winning ticket for the handmade afghan and the winner was Tom Berry.
Council on Aging: The Council on Aging is in need of drivers for the Meals on Wheels program. Contact Mary Willis at 781-294-8220.
Harry Woods Bandstand: The renovations to the Bandstand are underway thanks to the services of Dan Vale, Scotia Gold Paint and New England Build and Restore.
Route 14 Corridor Project: The DPW has informed the Selectmen that there will be a public hearing on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Veteran’s Memorial Hall in the Pembroke Town Hall for a presentation on the Rte 14 Corridor Project Design by Coler and Colantonio.
MINUTES: Mr. Stone moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to approve the minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting of June 22, 2009 as written. So voted unanimously in favor.
JULY 4TH HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE: Mr. Boyle noted that the clerical union contract allows that if the holiday falls on a Saturday, the workers will be off on Friday. However, another union contract would require payment of holiday pay to those union employees if the town hall is closed. So, the town hall should be open and a non-union person can take the day off if they use a personal day or comp time.
Mr. Stone moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to open the Town Hall from 8:30 to 12:00 Noon on Friday, July 3, 2009. Vote: 4/0
Boulter, yes – Anderson, yes – Stone, yes – Boyle, yes (Mr. Trabucco was not present for this vote.)
ASK THE SELECTMEN: Mr. Stone presented the idea of having citizens send questions to town officials to have answered during a Selectmen’s meeting. Questions can be submitted by email or by letter and they must be signed. The Selectmen could answer the questions but the person’s name will not be used. The Selectmen will not address frivolous or slanderous questions. This idea would be a means of opening communication with the townspeople.
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JUNE 29, 2009 – PAGE TWO
300th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Mr. Boulter advised that the committee met on Tuesday evening in the library. Lew Stone will co-chair the committee along with Bill Boulter. A list of some of the proposed events and activities will be made available. Each event will be posted on the town’s website during the month that it will be taking place. The committee is still seeking a logo.
BOTTLE BILL DISCUSSION: A bill is before the legislature to update the Bottle Bill to include non-carbonated beverage containers. The Mass. Recycling Coalition is requesting the Selectmen’s support of this bill known as H3515 “An Act to Improve Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth”.
Mr. Trabucco expressed concerns that the money may be going to a private entity to reimburse them for funds expended and he fears that the State is not benefiting from this bill. Mr. Tabucco moved to not support the resolution to update the bottle bill. Seconded by Mr. Anderson for discussion.
Mr. Stone noted that the original bottle bill is 25 years old. A large number of plastic bottles end up in the landfill and maybe it would be a good idea to include them in the bottle bill which requires a deposit. He would like more information on the facts Mr. Trabucco raised before voting on the resolution to support the bill.
Mr. Trabucco offered to withdraw his motion to learn more information and asked for any input from the public. Libby Bates offered an explanation of the process from the perspective of a retailer.
SIGN PERMIT GUIDELINES: Mr. Trabucco requested that the Building Inspector be present when this matter is discussed at a future meeting.
SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to reappoint the Special Police Officers as per the list submitted by the Chief of Police to serve for another year from July 1, 2009 to June 20, 2010. These officers will be allowed to work details under the direction of the Chief of Police or his designee. Each officer completes required in-service and firearms training. The Special Police Officers are:
Joseph O’Reilly Robert Rice James Madden Michael Christie
Frank Nogueira Tami Rice Alan Waletkus Douglas Bailey
Frank Woods James M. Christie Robert Lane Willard J. Boulter III
James J. Christie III Willard J. Boulter, Jr.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Surplus Real Estate: Mr. Wilson requested that the Selectmen declare as surplus property a parcel of town owned land off Pelham Street in order to transfer the parcel to the Habitat for Humanity. The Selectmen would like to wait until the engineering of the large parcel is completed and the ANR plan has been signed by the Planning Board in order to properly convey only that designated portion that the Habitat will need.
Landfill Capping: Mr. Valenti will be meeting with DEP later in July and will then update the Selectmen on the status of the project.
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JUNE 29, 2009 – PAGE THREE
FY’10 Budget: Mr. Thorne informed the Selectmen that he has received some information on the FY10 budget. There is an anticipated $180,000 shortfall in revenues and an $84,000 adjustment will be needed in the Fall. There could be cuts in FY10 and the departments need to be aware of that and try to make savings where possible.
PARC GRANT APPLICATION/PUBLIC HEARING: Chairman Boyle opened a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. to invite public input for an outdoor recreation project application under the Division of conservation Services. The project includes improvements to the Mattakeesett Street Municipal Ballfields Complex. Town Administrator Thorne is preparing the grant application and described the proposed work. He said that the Conservation commission had allowed clearing and construction of three new fields. Two years ago, town meeting appropriated $160,000 to put fencing around the fields. A $500,000 grant was secured from EEOA to complete that portion of the project. The PARC grant would allow paving, lighting, landscaping, bleachers, scoreboards and handicap access. These fields will be used for regular and state events. It would be a two year project with construction to begin next July. The grant application is due on July 15th and it will be hand-delivered on the 14th.
Greg Hanley, Recreation Commissioner, told the Selectmen that this complex has been a three year project so far. He feels the goodwill of the community resources has been exhausted and is hopeful that Mr. Thorne will be successful with this grant application. He said they would also be seeking a CPA grant.
Mr. Thorne acknowledged the great efforts of Greg Hanley and Paul Mahoney. He noted that this completed project will be economically profitable for Pembroke. Mr. Trabucco also noted that the Recreation Commission has gone to great lengths to make a great plan for the town and they adequately addressed many safety concerns of the Planning board.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to support the PARC grant application for the Mattakeesett Street Municipal Ballfields Complex. Voted 5/0 unanimously in favor.
Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to adjourn this meeting to allow the Conservation Commission to use the hearing room for a public hearing on the aquatic management control project on Oldham and Furnace Ponds. So voted unanimously in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.