Selectboard
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2023
Town Hall Annex & Virtual Via GoToMeeting
Attending: Karen Cruise (KC), Robert Cumming (RC), Phil Gott (PG), Town Administrator Sherry Patch
Call to Order
Call to Order at 3:00 PM.
Approval of Minutes
KC move to approve the minutes of 9/6/2023. RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Approval of Treasury Report Warrant #6
KC moved to approve treasury warrant #6 as follows:
Payroll: $ 114,347.28
Accounts Payable: 143,680.92
Light Department: 61,191.32
Total: $ 319,219.52
RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Public Comment
Parks & Rec Director Jaime Greenland advised that Parks & Rec recently surveyed residents regarding holding Trick-or-Treat on Halloween or the last Sunday in October. Out of 396 residents responding, 64.4% would like to have trick-or-treat on Halloween. The board will take this matter up at their next meeting. COA Chair Wendy Pape and Mike Warren commented that they were here for discussion regarding the Sr Center lease renewal. Highway Superintendent Ben Metcalf updated the board on efforts to repair roads from the flooding event on September 11th. Ben advised that 15 roads suffered damage as well as several culverts. The town has received mutual aid from Holden, Rutland, Westminster, Worcester and Sterling as well assistance from MEMA and MassDOT
Appointments
No action was taken on the Highway Department Truck Driver/Laborer appointment.
No action was taken on appointments to the Solar Farm Committee. This matter was taken under advisement pending approval of the draft Committee Charge and posting of the committee formation to allow for additional applications.
KC moved to approve the Ecotourism Committee charge as amended. RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Resignation
KC move to accept the resignation of Jaime Greenland as Parks & Rec Director effective 9/30/2023. RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
New Business
Discuss Solar Farm Committee Charge
The board discussed revising the committee charge to clarify liaisons and voting and non-voting members. KC will work with Richard Chase on revisions and send them to SP for review prior to posting.
Discuss Charge for Public Safety Building Reviewers
The board discussed the draft charge for the new Public Safety Building peer plan review. Discussed adding a dispatch center. KC questioned if this is beyond the project scope as it is not part of the original plan. SP will send the state 9-1-1 dispatch requirements to the board for review. RC questioned if the location should be included. KC moved to approve the design review scope of services as amended. PG 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Approval of One Day Liquor Permit
KC moved to approve the request for a One Day Liquor License to Seven Saws Brewing on 9/23/2023. RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Discuss Sr. Center/Community Center Lease Renewal Option
Discussed renewal of Post Office Place/Sr. Center/Community Center space. KC commented that the renewal terms are generous. The town has an option for 3 additional terms of 5 years each. KC stated that she would like to have future conversations to discuss whether the building is adequate for our needs and what to do in six years. KC questioned if it is serving our mission. COA Chair Wendy Pape stated that we have already outgrown the space. KC stated that she would like to discuss partnering with other towns and the needs of our vulnerable senior population. There was some confusion regarding the timeline for the notice to exercise our lease renewal option. SP will clarify with Town Counsel and have the notice drafted.
Selection of Selectboard member for Police Union Negotiations
RC will represent the board in future Police Union negotiations.
State Special Election
KC moved to approve the Special State Primary Election Warrant on October 10, 2023. RC 2nd 2-1 PG abstained.
Correspondence/Communications
The board acknowledged receipt of a letter for the Wachusett Regional School District Committee requesting a Special Town Meeting before the end of 2023 to amend the Agreement by reducing the size of the School Committee. No action was taken on this request.
Old Business
Review Draft Flag Policy
Department Head/Selectboard Meeting
The board rescheduled the Selectboard/Department meeting to 10/18/2023 at 12:00 Noon in the Town Hall Annex
Bid Awards
No action was taken on the Cemetery Software bid award. The board will ask Cemetery Commission Chair Lynne Grettum to attend the next meeting to discuss.
Town Administrator Reports
Flood Recovery Resources are listed on the Mass.gov website
- Capital Request forms are going out next week
- Assessors Revaluation Update Value review is ongoing until 9/21. Then Values are reviewed by DOR. Public Disclosure is tentatively scheduled for 10/16-10/23. Tax Rate 1st or 2nd week of November.
- Free Cash will be submitted for Certification the first week in October. We are just waiting for any additional revenues by 9/30.
Selectboard Reports
KC would like to include adoption of a local meals tax for voter consideration at the Annual Town Meeting. PG reported that he had not met with the Police and Fire Chiefs yet to review quarterly metric data as the first quarter will end 9/30. KC would like to review and discuss the metrics that have been established. PG advised that he would have a table set up at the Princeton Day event on September 30th.
Adjournment
KC moved to adjourn. RC 2nd. Voted 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Patch
Town Administrator