TA Blog: 2012-01-23 BOS

Below is the TA's summary of what transpired at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of January 23, 2012. Questions or comments? Contact the Town Administrator. Official meeting minutes will be posted when approved by the Board.

January 23, 2012 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary

1. Organization / Read Mail

• MBTA hearing on rate increases requested for this region by local legislators, to be scheduled for Fitchburg
• Governor's Chapter 70, Local Aid figures announced - level funding for Littleton
• Nashoba Valley Tech High School proposal to add Town of Ayer to district - discussion schedued for FinCom meeting on Tue 3/6/12 at 7 PM

2. Public Input

3. Study Committee to Increase Voter Participation - Presentation - The Board heard a presentation from the Study Committee to Increase Voter Participation, whose mission is "to develop recommendations based on community input, research and other information for the Board of Selectmen to improve voter participation in the Town of Littleton.”  For the February 13, 2012 BOS meeting, the Town Administrator will prepare a list of specific implementation steps for the Selectmen to adopt for the May 7, 2012 Town Meetings, consistent with the Study Committee's preliminary report.

4. Remote Participation of Town Board Members / Open Meeting Law Regulations - The Board of Selectmen will continue to invite input from Town boards on whether and to what extent the Selectmen should vote to allow remote participation of town board members pursuant to Open Meeting Law regulations adopted by the Attorney General under 940 CMR 29.10; and will schedule a joint meeting with affected town boards during the month of February 2012.

5A. FY 2012 Fiscal Update: Operating Budget & Capital Improvements Plan - The Board reviewed the AAFB's update on Capital Improvement Plan requests for FY 2013.  Next joint meeting of the Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7 PM.

5B. FY 2013 Finance Operating Budget Requests - The Board reviewed the proposed FY 2013 budget requests for the Finance Department (Accountant, Treasurer, Collector, Assessors) submitted by the Assistant Town Administrator for Finance & Budget.

5C. Snow & Ice Budget Update - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to MGL C.44,§31D, to approve incurring expenses in excess of available appropriation for snow and ice removal for Fiscal Year 2012.

5D. Tax Title Abutter Lots Sales Program Update - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to Articles 10 and 11 of the November 14, 2011 Special Town Meeting, and in accordance with the “Tax Title Abutter Lot Sales Program” adopted on December 5, 2011, to approve the sale of the following tax title parcels and the execution by the Board of Selectmen of deeds prepared by Town Counsel:
(1) Lot U12-131, comprised of 0.0459 acres (2,000 sq. ft.) on Oak Road to abutter Kevin Fitzsimmons, 22 Pine Road, for a sale price of $1,858 plus costs;
(2) Lot U15-101, comprised of 0.0459 acres (2,000 sq.ft.) on Suffolk Drive to abutter Patricia Goddard, 16 Middlesex Drive, for a sale price of $2,000 plus costs; and
(3) Lot U17-239, comprised of 0.0964 AC (4,200 sq.ft.) on Woodland Drive to abutter Janet K. Ham, 11 Lake Drive, for a sale price of $4,200 plus costs.

• Schedule future agenda discussion on what additional tax title parcels to add to the program, and whether to amend the program guidelines as previously adopted.

6A. FY 2013 Highway Operating Budget Request - The Board reviewed the proposed FY 2013 budget request for the Highway Department submitted by the Highway Operations Manager.

6B. Highway Staffing Vacancy Review - The Board of Selectmen voted to grant the Highway Operations Manager’s request under the Staffing Vacancy Review policy to fill a full-time Highway Equipment Operator/Laborer vacancy.

6C. Private Ways - Update - The Board of Selectmen voted to schedule a public hearing for February 27, 2012 to consider amendments its August 28, 2000 policy on plowing/sanding private ways, with any changes to take effect no sooner than the winter of 2012/2013.

7A. Library: Boston Athenaeum Shareholder Representative - The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Littleton as owners of Share No. 714 in the Boston Athenaeum, revoking all previous authority to act, authorized and designated Laura Zalewski, Director of the Reuben Hoar Library to act as representative of the Board of Selectmen by holding the membership to the Athenaeum; membership to Athenaeum shall remain in force until a revocation of said membership is filed in writing with the Librarian or by transfer of ownership rights in the share. [In 1854, the Littleton Selectmen purchased a share in the Boston Athenaeum, and the long tradition has been to appoint the local Library Director as the shareholder's representative.]

7B. “Littleton Reads”program - The library will be kicking off the first ever “Littleton Reads” program on January 28 through June 27, 2012, and Library Director Laura Zalewski has requested time on the Selectmen's agenda tonight to briefly discuss the program and hand out the book selected to read, The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

8A. Council on Aging: By-law Amendment Proposal - The Board of Selectmen voted its intent to insert onto the warrant for the May 7, 2012 Annual Town Meeting a Town By-law amendment relative to the Council on Aging, as recommended by unanimous vote of the Council on Aging at its board meeting on January 9, 2012.

8B. Establish Couper Farm Preservation Committee - The Board of Selectmen voted to establish a Couper Farm Preservation Committee, to be comprised of two representatives from the Board of Selectmen; one each from the Conservation Commission, Agricultural Commission, Open Space and Recreation Plan Implementation Committee, Community Preservation Committee, Historical Commission, the Littleton Conservation Trust; and two citizens at large; and to invite applications therefor.  The Selectmen representatives shall be Alex McCurdy and Gregg Champney. 

8C. Community Innovation Challenge Grant: Shared Transportation Resources - The Board of Selectmen voted to support the Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant application submitted on January 17, 2012 by the Town of Acton as lead community with Boxborough, Littleton, Maynard, and Stow for a shared transportation resources project.

8D. Earth Removal Permit – 44 Hartwell Avenue – Written Decision - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to its vote of November 7, 2011, to adopt a decision document as drafted by Town Counsel on the application of John Durkin , 44 Hartwell Avenue pursuant to the Selectmen’s Regulations on Earth Removal adopted March 1983.