MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 6, 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), Matthew McNeilly, Kathy Hassey, Ben Bastienelli, Stephen Dodge (Moderator), Peter Isham, and others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Town Clerk announced that Dog Licenses and Tags are available and all dogs must be licensed by August 31st to avoid late charges.
The Conservation Commission has imposed a ban on all dogs, except service dogs, in the Thomas Redding Park at the Herring Run, effective June 29, 2009. This action was taken as a result of the disregard of pet owners to clean up after their dogs, despite the fact that refuse containers have been provided at the site.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: By a unanimous vote of the Joint Appointing Authority, Kathy Hassey and Benjamin Bastienelli were appointed to fill two of the three vacant seats on the Advisory Committee for terms to expire in June 2011.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: The Board voted to re-appoint John J. O’Connor, Jr. of Mountain Ave to continue to serve as an Alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals for another three year term.
POLICE LIEUTENANT AND SERGEANT POSITIONS: The board was advised that they might expect to hear something from the Police Chief by the end of this month regarding the appointment of a lieutenant.
MINUTES: The Board voted to approve the minutes of June 29, 2009 as written, with a correction to a typographical error.
TOWN GOVERNMENT/TOWN MANAGER COMMITTEE: The Board voted to appoint Peter Isham of Elm Street to serve on the study committee. Mr. Isham is a civics teacher and has great interest in this subject.
TOWN HALL HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE: Mr. Stone suggested that it would be more convenient and cause less confusion to give notice in advance of the dates that the Town Hall will be closed for the remainder of the holidays in 2009.
The Pembroke Town Hall will be closed on the following dates:
September 7 – Labor Day Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving
October 12 - Columbus Day Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
November 11 - Veteran’s Day Jan. 1, 2010 – New Year’s Day
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JULY 6, 2009 – PAGE TWO
BOTTLE BILL: Mr. Trabucco noted that he researched and received input from others regarding the proceeds of the bottle deposits. In 1983, money from returned bottles did not go into the state funds but that has since been amended.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to support the amended Bottle Bill submitted to the legislature as H3515 “An Act to Improve Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth”, and to sign the resolution to include water bottles and sports beverage containers in this bill. Voted 5/0 in favor.
PARC GRANT APPLICATION: Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to authorize the Town Administrator to file the PARC grant application and to accept the grant on behalf of the Board of Selectmen and the Town of Pembroke. Further, to authorize the Town Administrator to take actions necessary to carry out the grant effective upon passage. Voted 5/0 in favor.
SIGN PERMIT APPLICATION:
The Board voted unanimously in favor to approve a temporary sign for the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library, to be displayed on the town green from July 17 – July 31, as per application and sketch submitted.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Mr. Stone requested that the Board of Selectmen invite the Housing Authority come to a future Selectmen’s meeting to tell about any ideas on developing additional housing benefits. Mr. Trabucco suggested that the Affordable Housing Committee should be invited to come in on the same evening. The Chairman agreed and both parties will be invited to a future meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
300th Anniversary: Mr. Boulter informed that there are still some interested persons who would like to join the committee. He also reminds that they are still looking for a logo.
SELECTMEN’S MEETING SCHEDULE: Mr. Anderson will not be able to attend the meetings in August as scheduled and he requested that the board consider meeting on the alternate Monday evenings. The summer schedule was revised and the Selectmen will meet on Monday, Aug. 10, Aug. 24, and August 31 at 6:30 p.m.
GATRA: Mr. Hilary Wilson explained the addition to the GATRA contract to allow for a 45 day notice to terminate the Contract and to initial a change of the $5,000,000 to a $1,000,000. Unanimously voted in favor.
Mr. Stone moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to enter into a contract with GATRA on behalf of the Town of Pembroke. Voted 5/0 unanimously in favor.
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JULY 6, 2009 – PAGE THREE
MASS. MUNICIPAL MEETING: Mr. Thorne will host a legislative breakfast on October 16, 2009 at the Pembroke Public Library for the Mass. Municipal Association.
Representative Webster and Senate President Murray will be in attendance to speak to the attendees.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN: The Selectmen would like to invite George Emanuel to a Selectmen’s meeting so that he and Mr. Boulter can discuss the notification process when there is an emergency in town. Mr. Anderson was looking for a case study to recount the steps that happened to refer to when the next emergency comes up. Changes in technology are a reason to stay up to date with the procedures.
POLE HEARING: The scheduled pole hearing for the installation of a new pole on Center Street was postponed until the next Selectmen’s meeting on July 13th because the representative from National Grid was not able to attend this evening.
SIGN GUIDELINES: Draft suggestions for the regulation of signs was submitted by the building Inspector. Town Counsel suggested that the draft needs some work. Mr. Verry feels that temporary signs have to be controlled because they show up everywhere and often are neglected and fall into disrepair.
Mr. Marino suggested that sign approval and regulation should come under the Building Dept. and then any decision could be appealed to the ZBA. The current process is not conducive to efficient execution of the application. He explained that in Hanover, the Building Inspector is the Sign Officer. He would like to propose a change to the Pembroke sign bylaws. He will have something ready to bring to the Board in August so that it can be discussed before the Fall Town Meeting.
REGIONAL SELECTMEN’S MEETING: Mr. Stone attended the Regional Selectmen’s Meeting and explained to the board that they have been requested to give input on the subject of regionalizing the Police, Fire and DPW departments of some towns. Mr. Boulter reminded the Board that Pembroke’s Police and Fire Chief s had come before the Selectmen at a previous meeting to express their hesitation to enter a regionalized agreement. Their comments will be requested again as well as the comments from the DPW Director on this subject. Mr. Stone is looking for a list of items that need to be looked at to regionalize these departments. The next meeting of the Regional Selectmen will be in Abington on August 13.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.