MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 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), and others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Boy Scout Popcorn Sales: Young representatives of the Boy Scout and Cub Scout Pack 105 requested permission to conduct popcorn sales again this year. Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to grant permission for the Scouts to sell popcorn as per their presentation from September 19 through October 31, 2009 during after school hours and on weekends. Voted unanimously in favor.
Board of Health Notice: The Board of Health announced their newly adopted policy to accept only checks and/or money orders over the counter in their office. They will not accept any cash over $1.00.
MINUTES: Mr. Stone moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to approve the minutes as amended. Voted unanimously in favor.
N. E. FRESHWATER MARINE: The Selectmen reviewed the request of New England Freshwater Marine, Inc. to transfer their dealer license from 520 Washington Street to 447 Washington Street and to change the license from a Class II Used Vehicle Dealer License to a Class I New Vehicle Dealer License.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to approve the license change of address subject to the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special permit. Voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to approve the change of the Class II license to a Class I license as requested. Voted unanimously in favor.
SPECIAL FALL TOWN MEETING: Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, that the Special Fall Town Meeting be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pembroke High School on Learning Lane. Further that the warrant for articles to be submitted for the Fall Town Meeting be opened from August 31 to September 23, 2009.
Voted unanimously in favor.
PEMBROKE CULTURAL COUNCIL: The Selectmen voted unanimously in favor to appoint Susan Moneypenny to serve another three year term on the Pembroke Cultural Council.
MISSION HAITI/ST. JOSEPH’S BENEFIT CONCERT: Laura Crisp, member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish Lifeteen Youth Group was granted permission to use the Town Green on Sunday, October 11, 2009 for a benefit concert to support a mission in Haiti to
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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009 – PAGE TWO
build an orphanage, school and clinic in one of the poorest areas of the island. A rain date was approved for Sunday, October 18th.
TEMPORARY TRAILER PERMIT: Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to approve the request of Michael and Janet O’Melia to place a temporary mobile home on the property located at 120 Fairwood Drive for the period of one year while the family home is rebuilt after a major fire. Voted unanimously in favor.
STREET LIGHTS: The developer of the Deerfield Subdivision off Station Street has advised that the electric company is requesting a letter from the town stating that the Town will pick up the cost of the street lighting at the intersection of the new street, Deerfield Street, and the main road, Station Street. Mr. Trabucco explained that the Planning Board has established a policy of not requiring interior street lights in new subdivisions but feels the light at the intersection is a safety issue.
Mr. Trabucco moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, to send a letter to National Grid to advise that the town will pick up the costs of the street light at the intersection of Deerfield Street and Station Street. Voted unanimously in favor.
TREASUER’S OFFICE/PRINCIPAL CLERK: Treasurer/Collector Deborah Mulrain explained to the Selectmen that she is requesting to make the Principal Clerk a permanent full-time appointment. The current seat is occupied by the employee who was the part-time Senior Clerk. Ms. Mulrain stressed that she is not requesting to fill the Senior Clerk position at this time.
Mr. Anderson motioned to deny the request in that we have a hiring freeze. The Chairman declared that the motion lost for lack of a second.
Mr. Stone moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to grant the request of the Treasurer/Collector to make the interim Principal Clerk a permanent position.
Vote: 4-1 In favor: Stone, Trabucco, Boulter, Boyle Opposed: Anderson
Former Selectmen Hilary Wilson encouraged to Board to rescind the hiring freeze noting that there is a freeze in place by way of the budget. He pointed out that it seems the department heads are doing what the Selectmen asked by conserving wherever possible. He feels the Selectmen are trying to micromanage the departments and he does not see the value of dept. heads having to come in to justify the need to keep a position filled.
Mr. Anderson wants to know what the cost savings would have been if they had not put in these positions that had been requested to be back-filled since the freeze. He cautioned that there is no money coming from the stimulus. Mr. Wilson reminded Mr. Anderson that the town would not have seen the benefit of approximately $60,000 that was brought in by filling the $17,000 position to allow the GATRA operation.
Mr. Boyle said that for the time being the hiring freeze policy will stay in place.
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SIGN APPLICATIONS:
Gulf Gas Station, 226 Church Street: approval granted for accessory and additional accessory signs as per application and plans submitted.
St. Thecla’s, 145 Washington St.: approval granted for a temporary banner to be displayed from Aug. 29 to Sept. 29, 2009 outside front door of church.
CRS Realty, 99 to 105 Mattakeesett St.: approval was granted to Commercial Realty Services to display a standing 4’ x 4’ sign of wood construction, 25’ back from the road as per application and photo submitted.
South Paws Doggie Daycare, 300 Oak Street: approval was granted for a temporary 2’ x 6’ sign constructed of corrugated board to be displayed for 20 days as per the recommendation of the Building Inspector.
99 Restaurant, 166 Church St.: The Building Inspector did not recommend approval of the application for a vinyl banner on the side of the building. Mr. Anderson was in agreement with the Building Inspector, and motioned to deny approval.
David Bradley, manager of the restaurant, explained that he has been diligent about maintaining the appearance of the banners he had been allowed to have previously. He contends that he is offering discounts to the residents and helping business in the area. He would welcome help during these economically challenging times.
George Verry, Building Inspector, explained that he feels this is going down the path of excessive. Mr. Verry is trying to do 20 day permits twice a year. He says a banner has already been up for this establishment for two 30-day periods. He is in the process of re-writing the bylaws and trying to get a majority of the signs down in that area.
Mr. Anderson’s motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Stone moved, to grant a permit for a temporary 20 day period. Mr. Boulter seconded. Vote: 4-1 with Mr. Anderson in opposition. Mr. Trabucco suggested that the applicant look into a permanent sign with changeable letters.
LANDFILL CAPPING: Michael Valenti, Recycling Supervisor, introduced Engineer Mark White from Environmental Partners. Mr. White explained that he has been working with the Board of Health for 3 or 4 months and he provided handouts and an overview of the tasks and activities for the capping and closure of the landfill. He explained that the former plan to use contaminated fill was not a favorable option. Truck traffic impact was a great concern and it would be a prolonged program and an uphill battle to get it approved. Mr. White says a straight cap and closure could be done with minor re-grading. Because of it’s age, the DEP would allow alternate soil material to be used. It has been suggested that a post-closure use could be a skateboard park. Environmental Partners will be meeting with DEP to discuss funding options. He said there are low interest loans through state revolving funds and feels the town should submit applications to the state for funding.
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Based on initial concepts for the site, the cost is about 2 ½ million dollars for 20 acre closure. The Administrative Consent Order has to be updated and a corrective action analysis should be performed. FY 12 is the goal for the actual closure. Mr. White stated
that Environmental Partners enjoys a good relationship with DEP and noted that the Pembroke Board of Health has been pro-active. He noted that DEP wants to see a plan that would be a “community asset not a community eyesore”.
Mr. Anderson inquired about the sidewalks being figured into the 2 ½ million dollars. The response from Board of Health member, Lisa Cullity, was that it will have to be addressed in the application to the state. Mr. Valenti says that the DPW has plans to extend the sidewalks and would have to dovetail that project with the closure project.
Mr. Trabucco asked if there was any prescribed closing models. Mr. White says that DEP follows particular uniform characteristics for closure. Mr. White noted that there are no excess soil gases and the water levels are good. The site may not be as large as thought with buried rubbish. Mr. Valenti suggested that there should be no problem with parking of vehicles for a skatepark as there may be some re-location of the entrance to accommodate sidewalks. He recommended a letter to be sent to DEP indicating the town’s intent of their plan of use for the landfill after capping and closure. Conservation Commission may require a Notice of Intent.
SUNOCO GAS STORAGE LICENSE: After noting the approval of the Fire Chief, Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to allow the transfer of the gas storage license from Sunoco, Inc. to Drake Petroleum Co., Inc. for the underground storage of 40,000 gallons of gasoline at 355 Washington Street. Voted unanimously in favor.
OLD BUSINESS:
300th Anniversary: Mr. Boulter informed that the school will get involved in the planning of activities.
Emergency Management: Mr. Boyle thanked the DPW and Emergency Management Personnel for their pre-emptive actions in anticipation of a large rainstorm.
Dock and Raft Permit Bylaw: A hearing was held on the proposed new bylaw. Town Counsel will be invited to attend the next meeting to respond to some of the legal questions from the public. They are looking for a free seminar on the statutes and information from other towns’ activities on the subject.
Regional Selectmen’s Meetings: The next meeting will be in Halifax on September 11th. They will be discussing the potential regionalization of a Veterans’ Agent. Mr. Boyle will continue to attend these meetings. Pembroke is already part of a 13-town consortium that shares inter-town purchase agreements.
North River Committee: Mr. Boulter attended a meeting where they discussed the North River patrol officer’s position and Mr. Boulter advised that the patrol officer should have some type of police academy courses.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Veteran’s Agent: Mr. Thorne reported that several towns are examining the Veteran’s Agent position and looking at budgets for each town to determine any savings by regionalizing.
Route 14 Design Hearing: There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Veteran’s Hall on the design of Rte 14.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and pending litigation.
Roll call vote: Anderson, yes – Boulter, yes – Stone, yes – Trabucco, yes – Boyle, yes
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.