MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 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), Ben Bastianelli, Paula Phillips, David McPhillips, Mary Whitman, William Marsh, 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.
The Executive Session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to hear a grievance was postponed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Farmer’s Market Update: A letter was received from Matt York and Christine Falk to advise that the plan for a Farmer’s Market is to hold them on Saturday mornings on the Town Green beginning July 10th until Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Celebrity Softball Fundraiser: Pembroke Youth Football & Cheerleaders are sponsoring a 2010 Celebrity Softball Fundraiser to benefit Pembroke Youth Football and Cheerleading, Pembroke Youth Hockey and Pembroke Youth Baseball. The event will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at the Mattakeesett Ballfields. The game will feature Mass. State Police All-Stars against the All-Pro Patriots Celebrity Team. They are soliciting businesses and professionals to advertise in their Event Program Guide.
Military Presentation: William Marsh, U.S. Coast Guard, presented a showcase display to the Selectmen with coins and medals that were contributed to him and an American Flag that flew over the American base in Afghanistan where he served for two tours. The showcase was accepted by our new Veterans Agent, David McPhillips, to be displayed in the Pembroke Town Hall.
MINUTES: The Selectmen unanimously voted to accept the minutes of January 11, January 25 and February 1, 2010 as printed.
ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSES:
Fasano’s Catering – Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to grant approval of the request of Fasano’s Catering to exercise a one-day liquor license at 94 West Elm St., Pembroke Country Club, on February 20, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mr. Boulter’s friendly amendment was accepted by Mr. Anderson to require that the applicant check with the Police Chief to determine if a police detail may be needed. Voted unanimously in favor with the amendment.
Pembroke Historical Society – Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to grant the request of the Pembroke Historical Society to exercise a one-day liquor license at the Historical Society Museum on Center Street on March 14, 2010 for a Pancake
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Breakfast. They will be serving Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Voted unanimously in favor.
SILVER STAR BANNER: The Selectmen would be amenable to make a proclamation of Silver Star Banner Day (May 1st) to show appreciation to the wounded and ill military veterans and to honor them publicly. A proclamation will be prepared for the Selectmen to sign at their next meeting.
SOLID WASTE/RECYCLING COMMITTEE: The following members have been appointed to serve on the newly formed Solid Waste/Recycling Study Committee:
Anne Marie Stanton Advisory Committee
Ben Bastianelli Advisory Committee
Bill Boulter Selectman
Lew Stone Selectman
Lisa Cullity Board of Health
Liz Cytronowski Board of Health
Jim McCollum Resident
Deborah Killefer Resident
It was suggested that no more than 9 members serve on this committee. This committee will look into options for recycling practices and rubbish pick up services and will prepare a plan for the Town’s solid waste removal to be presented in the form of an article to the Annual Town Meeting.
CABLE COMMITTEE: Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to appoint Matthew Dovell, of Four Winds Drive, to serve on the Pembroke Cable Advisory Committee.
PELHAM STREET PROPERTY: A letter was received from the DPW informing the Selectmen that this location is not adequate for a town well-site and they would advocate putting this property into Conservation.
EASEMENT FOR DRAINAGE AT CENTER PLAZA: Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to accept the agreement from the developer for the relocated drainage easement at the Pembroke Center Plaza off Center Street, as per plan submitted. So voted unanimously in favor.
ABINGTON/ROCKLAND WATER WORKS: Selectman Boulter reported that he received information from the DPW that starting Wed., Feb. 3, the DPW will be using a reduced salt product called “ice ban” to treat the roads in areas around the pond. This was approved by the Abington/Rockland Water Works. Mr. Boulter is still waiting for a determination of Town Counsel as to whether or not Abington/Rockland has the right to determine what can or cannot be done on the streets around the water works plant.
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FURNACE COLONY DRIVE: The DPW Commissioners requested authorization to borrow $325,000 for the Furnace Colony Project consisting of some drainage improvements and hot mix asphalt installation as voted in “Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting on October 21, 2008”. Selectman Anderson asked about the debt service on this amount and when we would have to start borrowing. He is concerned about how this would impact the town budget. The Board asked the Town Administrator to find out what the whole project is expected to cost, beyond the $325,000 requested to borrow, including the debt service. No action was taken on this request at this time.
MTBE: The DPW Commissioners requested that the Selectmen make a commitment to not support any articles at town meeting intending to use any MTBE money for anything other than a water emergency. The consensus of the Board is to try to adhere to this policy.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Open Meeting Law Seminar: Mr. Thorne will arrange for Kopelman & Paige to present an Open Meeting Law Seminar on a Thursday evening in March. Selectmen Anderson questioned that it might be a violation of the open meeting law for all Selectmen to be signed onto the Pembroke Connect link on Facebook. Mr. Thorne will check with Town Counsel on this.
School Budget: Mr. Anderson asked how the school absorbed a Chapter 70 cut by the State. Mr. Thorne explained that there were two cuts, one in April that affected all departments and another in June ’09 when the State cut $180,000 our of local aid from FY’10 and those cuts were absorbed at the Fall Town Meeting. The schools received level funding and stimulus money that was sent directly to the school. The school absorbed cuts themselves because they had the stimulus funding. Chapter 70 money comes through the Town and the school is allotted 6.9% of that.
OLD BUSINESS AND SELECTMEN CORRESPONDENCE:
Casino Cost Analysis: Mr. Stone inquired and was assured that a letter was sent to advise of the Selectmen’s agreement with the need for a cost analysis for casinos.
Pembroke Center Plaza: Selectman Stone inquired and was assured that a response was sent regarding the Board’s support of the Center Plaza’s use of bonds.
Drug Issues in Pembroke: Selectman Anderson asked if the Police Chief will be coming in to talk to the Selectmen about the drug problems in town. He wants to know what kind of money we need to deal with the drug issues before it gets worse. Mr. Boulter agrees that there is an increased workload because the drug problem is getting worse already. He feels the department could use more officers.
Traffic Studies: Selectman Stone advised that the town has received maps from the traffic studies done by OCPC. One result of the study indicated that people are driving faster than the speed limit on these streets. Mr. Stone says he still has not received the actual traffic counts.
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Pembroke Woods: A letter was received from the Planning Board advising that they informed the developer of the Pembroke Woods subdivision that his as-built will be denied until all conditions of approval have been completed.
Plain Street Complaint: Selectman Boulter requested that the Board of Health respond to a complaint of a resident of Plain Street regarding the smell of manure from their neighbor’s horses. He is curious to know if proper permits have been acquired and issued. Chester Drown was present and advised that the Board of Health had addressed this complaint at their last meeting.
There will be no meeting on Feb. 15 due to the President’s Day Holiday.
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Mr. Boyle and Mr. Stone will not be present on Feb. 22.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.