Meeting Minutes
SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
January 22, 2018
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Chairman Harris. Present were Ms. Pitt and Mrs. Paight. Also present were Ellen Smith, Town Administrator, Library Director Kristen Readel, Library Trustees Rufus Frost III and Carl Shepardson, Tony Cavaliere, Water & Sewer System Operator and the three Budget Advisory Committee members Daniel Bellusico, Richard Hill and Jeffrey Miller.
The proposed budget for the Library was reviewed with very little comment as it is flat. Account number 01-4550-1-810 will be eliminated and the budget in that line added to 01-4550-1-692. Library Periodicals will be reduced to $ 500 as some of the 2018 renewals were paid in 2017. Library Director and Trustees left the meeting at 4:40 pm.
Mr. Cavaliere discussed the water and sewer budgets. Wages and benefits appear to have been miscalculated in 2017. 2018 budget reflect the proper allocation. The repairs and maintenance line item in the sewer budget was discussed. The over expenditure in 2017 was due to the replacement of infrastructure exposed during the road paving projects. The $ 5,000 appears to be sufficient for 2018 as there are currently no major paving projects scheduled for areas in town where there is sewer service. Two additions will be made to the sewer budget. First, add a $ 150 line for advertising as we will need to publish notices pas part of the wastewater and storm water asset management grants going before town meeting for approval. Second, add $ 100 to the uniform line for boots. In the water budget it was agreed to add additional funds for alternate heating sources for Fitch Court and School Street pump houses as they are currently heated by electricity. It was recommended that the Town discuss with the plumber who installs water meters, to set up a replacement schedule to get that project back on track. Mr. Cavaliere left the meeting at 5:10.
Mrs. Smith went over some items in the General Government Buildings budget such as utilities; there is still some work to be done to calculate these amounts. The Cemetery budget is coming in flat.
Mrs. Paight reached Chief Manning to tell him that since his budgets came in flat there was no need for him to attend tonight’s meeting.
At approximately 6:30, the Budget Advisory Committee members left the meeting and Marge Shepardson, Ira Gavin and Kevin Gordon joined the meeting.
Ms. Shepardson and Mr. Gavin were in to discuss the replacement of the streetlights in town to LED’s and present to the Board information they gathered while investigating the project. The Board recommended that Ms. Shepardson and Mr. Gavin talk to other municipalities that have undergone similar projects to get an idea of their experience and to see if they could recommend some bid language. The Board would also like them to research warranties and replacement costs.
Ms. Shepardson submitted a petition warrant article titled Offshore Wind Resolution Petition. At 7:35 pm Ms. Shepardson and Mr. Gavin left the meeting.
Mrs. Paight moved and Chairman Harris seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2018 meeting, vote to approve was unanimous.
Mrs. Paight moved and Chairman Harris seconded a motion to accept the January 25, 2018 Direct Deposit Register in the amount of $9,689.58 and Payroll Check Register in the amount of $1,413.16 and the January 22, 2018 Accounts Payable in the amount of $293,048.55, vote to approve was unanimous.
The Board will meet at 8:30 am Thursday January 25, 2018 to discuss the overall budget. The budget public hearing will be held at the Marlborough School at 7:00 pm on February 8, 2018 with a second session (if necessary) to be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday February 15, 2018. The meeing with Underwood Engineering has been rescheduled for 10:30 am Wednesday January 31, 2018.
The Board briefly discussed applicants and pay rates for the Office Assistant position.
Chairman Harris brought the Board up to date of her dealings with representatives of the Fairlane Mobil Home Park. Mrs. Paight moved and Ms. Pitt seconded a motion to authorize Chairman Harris to discuss fees and penalties with the park representatives and for her to use her judgement in representing the Board, vote to approve was unanimous.
Chairman Harris moved and Mrs. Paight seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting, vote to approve was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Smith
Town Administrator