MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
PRESENT: Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. (Chairman), Donal P. Anderson (Vice-Chairman), Willard J. Boulter, Jr. (Clerk), Lewis W. Stone (Selectman), Daniel W. Trabucco (Selectman), John Mattison (Cable), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Mariner/Reporter), Joel Bard, Bob Demarzo, Mr. & Mrs. Domaszewicz, Jim Kilcommons, Hank Daggett, Kevin Crowley, Gene Fulmine, Janet Fahey, Atty. Bob Galvin, Jr., Bob Demers, Michael Buckley, Hilary Wilson, and others.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Veterans Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
McClune Benefit: Mr. Anderson announced that a benefit concert will be held on December 4th with donations going to the care fund for Matt McClune.
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS: The DPW Commissioners were present to address the Selectmen’s concerns about the plan for the DPW to move their offices to the Glenwood Road facility. Mr. Thorne explained that there is an attempt to get all permits in order and all inspections taken care of at this building. Mr. Crowley said that the building has been in use since taking ownership and stated that the plans for this building have been talked about for years. The first permit was issued in 2005 for roof repair and $95,000 was allotted by town meeting in 2006. There is an outstanding issue of applying for site plan approval for the use of the building. Town Counsel Joel Bard explained that the pre-existing use was agricultural and the DPW is proposing to change it to municipal office use. The Commissioners argued that if that if site plan was required then it should have been brought to their attention when the Building Inspector at the time, inspected and made a list of the work to be done that was used to submit the estimate for the $95,000 to the 2006 town meeting. Mr. Crowley says that the building is now at the point of final inspection. He said the date of Dec. 1st to move into the building was never voted on by the Commissioners.
Mr. Boyle explained that the Selectmen are concerned about moving clerical employee services out of the town hall. Mr. Kilcommons insisted that most of the customer requests came by telephone with very few walk-ins. Mr. Boyle is concerned that this change in work conditions and location needs to be negotiated in the clerical contract. He noted that it is not an easy place to find and would be inconvenient for customers. There was also a question about where the DPW Commissioners would hold their public meetings. Janet Fahey said that the new contract negotiations were discussed and town hall hours were specified but not for other buildings of municipal use. Mr. Crowley said that more than half of the surrounding towns have their DPW offices outside of the town hall. Mr. Anderson talked about the anticipated shortfall in revenue when the DPW is no longer renting the offices in the town hall. Mr. Buckley advised that $5,000 is charged to the DPW for utilities and building maintenance and the use of the copy machine at the town hall.
Mr. Daggett reminded the Board that there was a previous meeting of the DPW and the Selectmen regarding this building with the idea that there would be another meeting
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to see how it would all work out. But they never got the opportunity to have the second meeting before the newspaper stories broke and made it sound like a negative situation. Mr. Crowley said this drop dead date of Dec. 1st has caused an uproar. Mr. DeMarzo noted that the people of the town have the right to know what is going on. Mr. Kilcommons said that Mr. DeMarzo has problems of his own and Mr. DeMarzo took offense.
Mr. Crowley explained that the project has been being done in small segments. Mr. Thorne noted that there has been $191,000 in article appropriations. Mr. Boulter stated that the building does look good and the workers have done a great job. He commended them for their resourcefulness in acquiring used furniture for the offices. He said that he assumed over the last five years the DPW was going to move down to Glenwood Rd., but feels there should have been better communication and update reports with the Board of Selectmen from the DPW. He noted that the DPW should have had the proper permits and will need site plan approval just as anyone else of the general public would be required to do. He encouraged everyone to take a ride down to the site. Mr. Daggett noted that the DPW hosts yearly school trips to the station where children learn how water gets through the system and to their homes.
Mr. Crowley stated that it may still be six months to a year before they are ready to make the move but he still maintains that this is not a new idea and has been talked about for at least five years. Mr. Trabucco reminded that this all comes under site plan approval which should be done before permits are pulled. Mr. Stone noted that he visited the building and got answers to many of his questions today but he still feels this is a DPW project and they should have been keeping the Selectmen updated on progress and questions could have been answered all along. He stated that he was told that questions were being asked about setting up phones and computers at the Glenwood Road location and that it was expected to be done by Dec. 1st. Mr. Daggett said that when they are ready for an occupancy permit they will meet with the Selectmen. They will talk to Mr. Buckley about the rent and will review customer services.
There was a five minute recess in order to separate the room to accommodate a space for the Planning Board hearing regarding the site plan approval for a cell tower at the Pembroke Country Club.
CALLAHAN AUTO SALES: The Building Inspector reported that improvements are being made at this site but it is not ready for sign off yet. Action tabled until next Monday.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE: Mr. Wilson asked the Selectmen to wait on doing anything with the Pelham Street property until after hearing from the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission relative to the turtles’ habitat. He noted that the School Street parcel is not really a good building parcel. Mr. Wilson wanted it to be clear that the plan for the Pelham St. property was to build only a simple 3 bedroom ranch or cape home. He would like to get it back before town meeting in the spring to see if the town would be
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receptive. He would have public hearing first for neighbors and residents to express concerns. So he is asking the Selectmen not to auction off this property right now in order to give the Affordable Housing Committee the opportunity to move forward with the project they have begun. Mr. Anderson says no problem but would want to make sure that the A-form plan is recorded as approved. He also suggested that if the turtles are found on the property, the neighbors be given the chance to bid on purchasing for privately owned open space.
Abutting neighbor to the parcel, Mike Domaczewitz, again expressed his concern that the Selectmen should put the parcel under Conservation control. He suggested that there are not only the issue of turtles on the property but there would likely be problems with water in the basement of any home built there. Steve Savoy, resident of Pelham Street, asked about the ownership of this land and how the town could sell it. Mr. Thorne explained that the land had been taken for taxes and as the Tax Title Custodian he has the authority to sell the property. Ms. Gail Clougherty of Pelham Street inquired who decides the value of the property and if there might be a conservation group who might want to purchase the land. The Assessors help to establish the value and Mr. Trabucco added that he would want to do all we could to keep the larger portion of the parcel in the town’s hands. The Selectmen will wait for a response from the State regarding the turtle habitat and the letter will be read publicly.
Mr. Wilson added that the Affordable Housing Committee is now down to four members and would encourage interested persons to volunteer.
MINUTES: Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to accept the minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting of November 16, 2009 as prepared. Vote 4-0-1 with Mr. Trabucco not voting since he was not present for that meeting.
RETIREMENT NOTICE: A letter was received from Deborah Mulrain notifying the Selectmen of her intent to retire as Town Treasurer/Collector effective January 13, 2010.
Mr. Boulter stated that it will be our loss as Ms. Mulrain has been and excellent Treasurer/Collector and he extended best wishes to her. Mr. Boyle said that if he had it to do over again, he would have appointed Deb Mulrain to be Treasurer/Collector the first time around.
Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to accept with regret the retirement notice from Deborah Mulrain as Treasurer/Collector effective January 13, 2010. So voted unanimously in favor with all good wishes for her retirement.
OLD BUSINESS:
TRAFFIC STUDY: Mr. Stone and Mr. Thorne met with Old Colony Planning Council to discuss what they want to accomplish. They will begin on Dec. 1st to count the type, number and speed of vehicles and they will evaluate the signs on Oak Street and other streets in the area.
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300TH ANNIVERSARY: Mr. Boulter informed that the committee is arranging for the set up of on-line donations on the website. Donations can also be mailed to the 300th Anniversary Committee, P.O. Box 1422, Pembroke, MA 02359.
ENERGY COMMITTEE: Mr. Anderson informed that the Energy Committee met this week and would like to review capital items before purchases are made to be sure that full benefit is taken on energy credits and rebates.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Kathleen Keegan told the Board she had a proposal to put up decorative banners for the holiday celebration. Mammouth Media could produce the banners before the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 6th. The quote was $4,285. for 20 double sided banners and mounting hardware.
Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to authorize the expenditure of $2,000 to go to the Chamber of Commerce to help with the purchase of banners and another $2,000 to go to the Food Pantry. Funds to come from the Camp Pembroke Fund which is available for community projects. So voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Boulter encouraged business owners to make donations to help with the balance of the cost. Agreements with the utility companies will be completed as required for the use of the poles.
TRASH FEES: Mr. Stone noted that the Board of Health has voted to increase the municipal user fee by $30.00. This is to take care of the deficit until2011. The Selectmen would like to invite the members of the Board of Health to attend a future Selectmen’s meeting to discuss options for trash pick up and recycling methods.
DOGS IN CEMETERIES: The Selectmen would like to invite the Cemetery Commissioners and the DPW Commissioners to a meeting to discuss a letter of concern from a resident regarding the possible ban of dog walking in the town cemeteries.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.