MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010

PRESENT: Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. (Chairman), Donal P. Anderson (Vice-Chairman), Willard J. Boulter, Jr. (Clerk), Lewis W. Stone (Selectman), Daniel W. Trabucco (Selectman), Edwin J. Thorne (Town Administrator), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), John Mattison (Pembroke Media Broadcast), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Pembroke Mariner/Reporter), Deborah Wall and others.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 6:30 p.m. in the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Town Hall, 100 Center Street, Pembroke, MA. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

LIBRARY VACANCY: Deborah Wall requested permission to advertise and hire a replacement for the recently retired employee. This is a part-time position.

Mr. Boulter motioned to allow the Library Director to hire a replacement as requested. Mr. Anderson seconded the motion for discussion. Mr. Anderson explained that he feels it is not too late to start saving money and departments have to determine if they can get by without the services of some positions. Ms. Wall explained that there is more patronage at the library now and people need assistance with such things as writing resumes and researching jobs. Staff is always busy. Mr. Stone believes there should be enough staff to help patrons and allow the administrator to do her own job. Mr. Trabucco feels the upcoming town meeting would provide a better forum to decide if positions should be replaced or need to be cut.

The chairman called for a vote and it was voted 4-1 in favor to allow the Library Director to hire a replacement for this part-time position.

HIRING FREEZE: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone to lift the hiring freeze.

Mr. Boulter said he still likes to have the departments come in to let the Selectmen know why the positions are needed. Mr. Trabucco agreed and feels the freeze should stay. Mr. Anderson noted that all positions are already in the budgets in all cases because a new position requires a town meeting vote. The motion was lost by a vote of 3-2. Mr. Stone and Mr. Anderson were in favor. Mr. Trabucco, Mr. Boulter and Mr. Boyle want to continue to interview department heads when a vacancy comes up.

RECREATION COMMISSION: Susan Roche, Mary Ann Flynn, and Greg Hanley were present to request that the Selectmen approve the advertisement and hiring of a new Recreation Director. Sue Roche has been serving as the Interim Recreation Director since the sad passing of Pam Rowell. Mr. Hanley explained that the busy season is coming up and the acting director needs assistance. They would like to advertise for a permanent director and a permanent assistant director.

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to allow the Recreation Commission to advertise and hire a new Director. Voted 4-1 in favor with Mr. Anderson in opposition.

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to advertise and hire an Assistant Recreation Director, provided there is a need. Voted in favor 4-1 with Anderson opposed.

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JANUARY 25, 2010 – PAGE TWO

PEMBROKE CONNECTS: Sharon McNamara tried to explain to the Selectmen that it would be beneficial for each of the Selectmen to get on Facebook and log on to “Pembroke Connects”. This is a free site with almost 1500 members already. She suggests that Mr. Thorne could be the main contact point for questions to be directed to the appropriate department. She feels it is the perfect platform to communicate with residents.

LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING/PEMBROKE HOSPITALITY GROUP: Chairman Boyle opened the advertised public hearing to consider the application of Pembroke Hospitality Group, LLC for a new liquor license at the Pembroke Country Club. Kim McA’Nulty explained that she was unable to get Family Crest Catering to transfer the license to them and the agreement with Family Crest to operate at the Country Club was not continued.

In attendance was resident Rich Archibald who noted that he reserved the Country Club for his daughter’s wedding with Family Crest and is now in fear of losing his deposit. Ms. McA’Nulty assured Mr. Archibald that they will honor the contract he made with Family Crest. There were no other attendees in favor or in opposition.

Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Stone to approve the request for a Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages license for Pembroke Hospitality Group, LLC, Kim McA’Nulty, Manager, at 94 West Elm Street. So voted unanimously in favor.

RECREATION COMMISSION VACANT SEAT: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to appoint Robert Raleigh, Jr.to serve on the Recreation Commission for a term to expire in June 2012. He will fill the seat vacated by the resignation of James Forry. Voted unanimously in favor.

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor to appoint Frank Baldassini to replace the seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals vacated by the resignation of Gregory Hanley. The term will expire in 2013.

OLD BUSINESS:

300^th Anniversary: The next meeting of the committee will be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. to review the entries for a logo.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Mark Ames spoke to the Selectmen regarding the 19.5 acre plus the 5 acre parcels of land on Pelham Street. Mr. Ames encouraged that the Board of Selectmen vote to put all of this land into Conservation Commission control.

He asked if it was the Selectmen’s intent to bring this article to the town meeting. He advised that if the one acre lot that was subdivided from the 5 acre parcel were to be donated to the Habitat for Humanity, they would require front money to build. He says there is a high water table at this site and it will require a very expensive septic system. He suggested that we need to look more at public housing in town.

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Mr. Ames was advised that the Affordable Housing Committee has retracted their bid for this one acre parcel but the lot has been recorded at the Registry of Deeds. It was done specifically for Habitat but it was withdrawn when the people of the previous town meeting clearly said “no”. It will not be brought before the next town meeting. Mr. Ames asked that the Board of Selectmen honor the 2001 article and vote of the town meeting to put the parcel into Conservation. Residents Richard Iacobucci and Michael Domascewicz also encouraged this action and noted that “saving land lowers taxes”. Resident Jim McCollum also stated that residential development is not a money maker.

Mr. Iacobucci stated that he feels the town has done its share of managing affordable housing and should concentrate on business promotion to help lower taxes. Chairman Boyle assured him that the Board of Selectmen has done a good job of increasing the town’s stabilization fund account which has improved the town’s bond rating which helps to keep the taxes from greatly increasing.

Mr. Stone and Mr. Trabucco are still not satisfied that there may not be a need for this one-acre lot and noted that a good number of the parcels on the 2001 list of properties were in fact turned over to Conservation.

Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to take the 19 acres and the 4 acres minus the 1 acre subdivided lot off Pelham Street and transfer the 23 acres to Conservation Commission control. Mr. Stone stated that he did not feel action needed to be taken tonight. Mr. Boyle would like to give the DPW the opportunity to give a comment on any need by that department to keep the land available for town use.

Mr. Anderson offered an amendment to put the 23 acres into Conservation provided the DPW does not come forward to say that they need it for a well-site. Mr. Boulter accepted this friendly amendment to his original motion.

VOTE: 3-2 In favor: Boulter, Trabucco, Boyle Opposed: Stone, Anderson

SURPLUS PROPERTY LIST: The Selectmen are taking some time to look at these properties and it will be on a future agenda.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:

Open Meeting Law Seminar: Mr. Thorne asked if the Selectmen would like to have a seminar scheduled on a week night other than on a regular meeting night. The Selectmen asked him to set up a seminar with Kopelman & Paige to review the Open Meeting Law on a Wed. or Thurs. night.

Local Aid Distribution: Mr. Thorne advised that it will be level funded at $1.4 million and that the Chapter 70 money will be $1.3 million to take the place of the stimulus money. The Selectmen would like to see a flow chart and time line of where the school has made cuts in the 2010 budget.

ASK THE SELECTMEN:

Truck Traffic: Mr. Stone advised that OCPC assured him that the results of the traffic study will be send by the end of the week along with maps. He may meet with them next week to review the results.

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Pembroke Housing Authority: An state audit was done on the Pembroke Housing Authority over a 27 month period and they received an excellent review.

Graffiti on Stop Sign: A letter was received from a resident regarding graffiti on stop signs at major intersections in town. The letter will be referred to the DPW to take care of cleaning or replacing these signs.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson to go into executive session to consider and discuss two grievances.

Roll Call Vote: Stone, yes – Trabucco, yes – Anderson, yes – Boulter, yes – Boyle, yes

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.