Board of Selectmen |
June 22, 2009 |
Regular Meeting |
Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall |
Present: |
Robert P. MacKendrick, Chairman |
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Arthur J. Bourque III, Selectman |
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Al Merritt, Selectman |
Chairman MacKendrick called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Septic loan program
The Board of Selectmen heard a presentation on the SRF septic loan program. Health Agent James Nugent and Annette Gange, who assists with the administration of the local program, told the Board about the Board of Health’s proposal to obtain an additional $300,000 to be used to grant low-interest loans to property owners repairing or replacing failed septic systems and cesspools. The program is funded through the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust and administered through the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The goal is to keep septic systems operating efficiently and under Title V guidelines, said Ms. Gange. The town has previously approved two rounds of the local loan program, at $200,000 each. With the second round of loans almost complete, the Boston office of the trust suggested Lynnfield apply for $300,000 for the next round.
The program requires approval by town meeting and the issuance of a bond for the loan amount. Ms. Gange said homeowners are eager to take advantage of the low-interest loan program, and that past participants are grateful for having this program in place. She said that the demand for loans is expected to increase due to the state of the economy.
It is certainly a very worthwhile program, said Chairman MacKendrick.
Homeowners can qualify for the program if they have septic systems that have failed under Title V or have cesspools on their property. In Lynnfield, they must also show they have paid their local property and excise taxes. Applicants must also provide a federal income tax return and at least two estimates from contractors, although homeowners are not obligated to select the low bidder. The town keeps the $350 application fee paid by the homeowner, which helps offset processing of the application.
To ensure the town will recover the amount of the loan, a betterment is placed on the property at the conclusion of the work. If the owner falls into arrears on loan payments, the town may impose a municipal lien on the property and can charge interest up to 14 percent, and up to 16 percent if a property taking is required. Ms. Gange reported that the town has never had to resort to these steps on past loans made through the program.
On the motion of Selectman Bourque seconded by Selectman MacKendrick, the Board voted that the Town shall issue a bond or bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000 pursuant to MGL Chapter 29 C and 111 and that the bond be registered as a single registered security and sold to the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust at a price not less than the principal amount of the bond, less the Town’s allocated share of the cost of the issuance of the Trust’s bonds, if any; that the Treasurer is authorized to determine the date, the form and the maximum interest rate and the principal maturities of the bonds and to execute a loan agreement with the Trust with respect to the sale of the bonds, such date, form maturities and the specific interest rate or rates of the bonds to be approved by a
majority of this Board and the Treasurer, and evidenced by their execution of the bonds; and that the Treasurer and other appropriate Town officials are each hereby authorized to take any and all actions necessary and convenient to carry out the provisions of this vote, including execution and delivery of the loan agreement and the project approval certificate and regulatory agreement relating to the project.
On the motion of Selectman Bourque, seconded by Selectman Merritt, the Board voted to put on the town warrant for October an article pursuant to the previous vote.
Committee appointments
On the motion of Selectman Bourque, seconded by Selectman Merritt, the Board made the following listed reappointments to Town offices
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Town Accountant: Julianne McCarthy (2 years)
Council on Aging: Anne Hourihan, Fred Santangelo (3 years)
Board of Appeals: John Fallon Santangelo (3 years)
Building Inspector: Jack Roberto (1 year)
Town Clerk: Amy Summers (1 year)
Assistant Town Clerk: Diane Hammerbeck (1 year)
Communication Advisory Committee; Michael Carakatsane (3 years)
Conservation Commission: Nathan Rawding, Peter Scantalides (3 years)
Constable: Paul Minsky, John O’Leary, John Ruerhwhein (1 year)
Town Counsel: Thomas Mullen (2 years)
Dog Officer: Jon Procurot (1 year)
Assistant Dog Officer: Jean Procurot (1 year)
Emergency Management Director: Paul Romano (1 year)
Lock-up Keeper: Paul Romano (1 year)
Finance Committee: Jack Dahlstedt (3 years)
Gas and Plumbing Inspector: Martin Katz (1 year)
Assistant Gas and Plumbing Inspector: Donald LaConte (1 year)
Board of Health: Dr. Richard Peinert (3 years)
Historical Commission: Steven Richard (3 years)
Ipswich River Watershed Advisory Council: Jerry Pezzella (1 year)
LIFE Board of Directors: H. Joseph Maney (3 years)
Memorial Day Committee: Jack Lukas (3 years)
Special Police Officers: Hartley Boudreau, Albert Caproni, John Conley, Vincent Macchia, Gordon Pepper, Stephen Garland (1 year)
Public Works Advisory Committee: Anthony Giannetti 3
Recreation Commission: Matthew Alphen, Robert McDonald (3 years)
Recycling Committee: Eva Caldwell, Patricia Fabbri (3 years)
Board of Registrars: Janis Markakis (3 years)
Tax Collector: Christine O’Sullivan (1 year)
Pre-Tax Plan Administrator: Christine O’Sullivan (1 year)
Treasurer: Christine O’Sullivan (1 year)
Veterans Service Agent: Nicholas Secatore, Matthew LaBonte (1 year)
Wiring Inspector: Steve Furey (1 year)
Assistant Wiring Inspector: Theodore Cohen (1 year)
On the motion of Mr. Merritt, seconded by Selectman Bourque, the Board voted to appoint Carol MacKendrick to a three-year term on the Cultural Council. Chairman MacKendrick recused himself from the discussion and the vote.
Budget discussion and local aid update
Mr. Gustus provided the Board with an update on local aid.
The House and Senate conference committee reached agreement on a state budget this week, reaching a middle ground between the two houses' funding of local aid. While Lynnfield will see a reduction of 8.85 percent, or about $493,000 from the current fiscal year should Governor Deval Patrick approve this budget. The Lynnfield local aid amount will be $5,082,207.
The amount of Fiscal Year 2010 local aid Lynnfield will receive is about $240,000 less than town officials had forecast -- based on Governor Deval Patrick's original; budget proposal -- when the Fiscal Year 2010 town budget was formulated this winter and adopted this spring.
That amount almost perfectly mirrors the savings in employee health premiums that will be realized due to changes negotiated with the employees on their health insurance plan. Mr. Gustus said that those savings will total between $240,000 and $250,000 next year. e is proposing that voters ratify at the October town meeting a reduction of $240,000 in that line item. The town will have a balanced budget in time for the certification of the tax rate and the mailing of the tax bills in the fall, Mr. Gustus said, without any other changes.
Mr. Gustus said no additional cuts to the budget will be needed, although the state's local aid amount presupposes that the town will adopt a local option that will allow it to impose a local 0.75 meals tax. Adoption would require approval by the Board of Selectmen and town meeting.
Chairman MacKendrick said that he is inclined to allow voters to decide on the local option meals tax at October town meeting. I'm not enthused about it, he said, but added he did not believe it would put local food establishments at a competitive disadvantage if adopted. If adopted, that measure would go into effect in October and would bring the town about $35,000 in revenue for the fiscal year, Mr. Gustus said. He said some budget adjustment would have to be made if the town decided not to adopt the tax.
The Board credited Mr. Gustus and town employees for finding a way to cut health insurance costs. The changes, which included increasing three copayments (office visits went from $5 to $15, emergency room visits went from $25 to $50, and two copayments instead of one will be required for three-month supplies for mail-order prescriptions) will result in keeping premiums level next fiscal year for both the town and its employees.
Mr. Gustus explained that a five-percent increase in premiums was forecast and budgeted prior to the adoption of the changes. Just holding the line in terms of health insurance premiums means a lot, he said.
Selectman Bourque thanked Gustus for his role in negotiating the change and thanked the town employee unions as well. Everyone knows times are tough, he said. We're trying to give the taxpayers any relief we can give them while keeping the current level of town service within the confines of the town budget.
Mr. Gustus also noted that the town is now extending to its employees an important new benefit: a flexible spending plan that will allow them to set aside funds in pretax accounts for uses such as medical, dental, vision and childcare expenses. The funds can be set aside by employees through weekly payroll deductions, and expended through the use of a debit card issued to employees.
Mr. Gustus also noted that employee health insurance premiums will not increase.
Chairman MacKendrick said that all parties benefited from the negotiation.
The breakdown of Lynnfield’s Fiscal Year 2010 local aid is as follows:
Chapter 70 Education Funds – $4,013,888
General Government Aid – $916,325
Federal Stimulus Funds – $0
Meals Tax – $34,274 (if adopted by the town)
Hotel Tax – $0
Telecommunications Tax – $71,083
Special town meeting and vote
Moderator David Miller said that the public was confused about whether the upcoming scheduled special town meeting could be canceled in advance. He noted that town meeting may be canceled only by a vote of those attending the meeting, and said that if some voters stay away with the understanding that the meeting was canceled, a quorum could attend and conduct business, effectively disenfranchising those who believed the meeting would not go forward. He suggested the Town use the Reverse 911 phone system to alert residents of this.
Mr. Gustus said that as it is the will of the Board, the motion to adjourn the meeting sine die would be made at the outset of the meeting, even if a sufficient number of voters attended. None of the three articles would be barred from being heard at a subsequent town meeting even if voters postponed action on them at the special town meeting.
Chairman MacKendrick said the Board’s position is clear: that the Board dopes not wish to go forward with any of the three articles on the warrant. He said if a quorum arrives, the Board will move to adjourn.
Selectman Bourque said that it originally appeared the town would need to make more budget adjustments prior to the legislature’s action. He also said it seemed that the Town would be further along in considering the manner in which to proceed on the hiring of a police chief.
Fire consultant proposal
Chairman MacKendrick said that the firm of Emergency Response Systems, headed by Austin Sennett of Kingston, had presented a proposal. The firm was recommended by the vice president of the Mass. State Fire Chiefs Association and the deputy state fire marshal.
Mr. Gustus said the firm has proposed two projects: first will be evaluating the existing Fire Department, its organization, staffing, management and structure, its strengths and weaknesses, and possible alternatives to the current configuration. That process is expected to take about three months.
The second will involve developing a process through which candidates for Fire Chief will be evaluated. Mr. Gustus said the proposal drafted by Sennett calls for a very structured assessment process using a number of methods of evaluating candidates. Based on results from the first project, the consulting firm will review the responsibilities and job description of the chief, and develop an assessment tool through which a new chief will be selected. The consultant will also help the town conduct that process, set up assessment exercises, administer them and score the results, and make recommendations to the Board. This second project is expected to last about six months and should be completed in mid-spring of 2010.
Selectman Bourque agreed that Mr. Sennett seems to be well qualified, adding, I was impressed by his credentials and the way he handled himself. He noted that the consultant has been involved with the selection process for chiefs of hybrid departments such as Lynnfield's which are made up of full-time and call firefighters.
On a motion by Selectman Bourque, seconded by Selectman Merritt, the Board voted to engage the services of Emergency Response Systems for the proposed projects as outlined, at a cost not to exceed $19,500.
The Board scheduled meetings for July 13 and 20 to consider the naming of interim chiefs prior to Chief Paul Romano's departure. As Board members tried to find meeting dates that worked with their other obligations, they worried that making selection of interim chiefs as late as July 20 might not make for enough transition time.
Selectman Bourque said he fully expects the interim chiefs will come from within the departments and will be well up to speed on management issues, he said. If not, he said, they should not be the interim chiefs.
Updates on Danforth House, Beaverdam Brook
Mr. Gustus said he had spoken to Donald Lyons about securing the Danforth House on the property of the Reedy Meadow golf course as soon as weather permits, and that he had asked Dennis Roy and Charles Richter to redouble their efforts on engaging the Mosquito Control Program to perform dredging work at Beaverdam Brook.
On the motion of Selectman Bourque, seconded by Selectman Merritt, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:43 p.m.
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