MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

OCTOBER 5, 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), Edwin J. Thorne (Town Administrator), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), John Mattison (Cable), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Mariner/Reporter), and others.

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Veterans Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

DPW COMMISSIONERS: The DPW Commissioners had to cancel their appointment to talk to the Selectmen about the water maintenance plan this evening, due to the illness of one of their members.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and pending litigation, and upon completion of executive session to come back into regular open session to continue the meeting.

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

Executive session commenced at 6:32 and adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

MINUTES: The minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting of September 28, 2009 were approved with a typographical amendment.

WARRANT ARTICLE REVIEW: The Selectmen continued their review of the articles submitted for the Fall Special Town Meeting to be held on Nov. 3, 2009.

Discussion ensued relative to draft article 10 requesting GIS software money. Mr. Anderson thought it should be held until the annual town meeting in April. Mr. Trabucco felt this has been in the works a long time and does not want to make any decision to not recommend it this evening. This article will remain on the warrant for now.

Relative to draft article 12 regarding a sum of money to be added to the Recreation Commission wages, Mr. Anderson recommended removing this article, but the consensus was to let it remain on the warrant.

Relative to draft article 17, it was clarified that the sign bylaw is exactly the same as it is currently printed in the book except for the references to the Board of Selectmen which will be changed to Inspector of Buildings/Zoning Enforcement Officer.

Draft article 18 from the Community Preservation Committee will be entered as submitted, pending any recommended editing from town counsel.

Mr. Anderson moved to remove draft article 20 regarding the water tank on W. Elm Street submitted by the DPW Commissioners. He explained that he feels the DPW has the ability to raise the money needed for the repairs through a water rate increase. There was no second. The consensus was to wait to hear from the DPW on this.

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OCTOBER 5, 2009 – PAGE TWO

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to remove draft article 21 relative to the location of the skate park.

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

Relative to draft article #22 submitted by the Recreation Commission and seeking $80,000 for lights for the high school football field, Mr. Boulter and Mr. Stone feel that this request should have been put in the school budget because the revenue goes to the school. Mr. Boyle said he felt confident that much of the lighting equipment and labor would be donated and the town might risk losing out on these donations. Mr. Anderson moved to remove article 22, but the motion died for lack of a second. The Selectmen would like the Recreation Commission to come in to tell them about this request. It was noted that the Selectmen are not telling them “no”, just “not now”.

Mr. Anderson moved to remove draft article 24 submitted by the Town Accountant to increase longevity for non-union workers. Motion died for lack of a second.

There was a brief discussion regarding a draft article to change the Lieutenant’s pay.

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, and subsequently voted unanimously in favor to remove the space saved for a draft article for a bylaw to regulate the permits for docks and rafts in order to give residents time to understand the guidelines. Mr. Boyle is attempting to get the DEP to come in to explain these guidelines and Town Administrator Thorne will arrange for town counsel to come in to talk to the group about this permit process.

Mr. Anderson moved to remove the article submitted by the Town Administrator for the Mattakeesett Municipal Athletic Fields Complex PARC grant project. He does not support spending this money at this time in order to accept a grant. The motion died for lack of a second.

Regarding the article to replace capital items without actually waiting for them to suffer a major failure, Mr. Anderson would like to see all items listed. It was stated that a meeting of the Capital Plan Committee should be planned for this week. There was also much discussion regarding establishing a “line of credit”.

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to open the warrant to include one more article from the Board of Selectmen. Voted unanimously in favor to include the following article:

To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds and/or borrow the sum of $95,000, to be added to the amount voted under Article 1 of the December 1, 1998 Special Town Meeting, for the final payment for the construction of the North Pembroke Elementary School, or take any other action relative thereto.

VETERAN’S AGENT: Mr. Anderson proposed that the position be offered with no compensation. The consensus was that it would be the choice of the chosen applicant to decide whether to donate his time or take the allotted compensation. Interviews will be set up and a recommendation for appointment could be made at the next meeting.

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OCTOBER 5, 2009 – PAGE THREE

LANDFILL CLOSURE: The Selectmen were presented with the Administrative Consent Order from the Dept. of Environmental Protection to be signed.

Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to enter into an agreement with the DEP on a plan to cap the landfill. So voted unanimously in favor.

OLD COLONY MPO: Mr. Anderson moved, seconded by Mr. Boulter, to designate Daniel Trabucco as Signatory for the Pembroke Board of Selectmen on the Old Colony Metropolitan Planning Organization. Voted unanimously in favor.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: Mr. Thorne reminded the Selectmen that the Town of Pembroke will host an MMA Legislative Breakfast on October 16 at the Library.

ASK THE SELECTMEN: Mr. Stone acknowledged receipt of four letters as follows:

SHERIFF’S DEPT: Mr. Stone requested that the board authorize a second letter be sent to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to express the Town’s concern about transferring the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept. from the County to the Commonwealth but passing along the liability of the retirees of the Sheriff’s Dept. to the Town at a cost of about $144,000. The letter should request that retired employees be included in the State’s program and not be passed on to Plymouth County. Mr. Trabucco seconded this suggestion noting that it will just add another unfunded liability to the Town and it was so voted. Mr. Anderson suggested that all Selectmen should sign this letter.

Mr. Boulter moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. So voted.