TA Blog: 2009-07-13 BOS
 |
Below is the TA's summary of what transpired at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of July 13, 2009. Questions or comments? Contact the Town Administrator. Official meeting minutes will be posted when approved by the Board. |
July 13, 2009 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary
1. Read Mail/Sign Warrant
2. Public Input
3. Coalition for Aquifer Protection - Rob Hartz of the Coalition addressed the Board regarding efforts to protect the Spectacle Pond Aquifer, and announce a public meeting to be held on July 29, 2009 at 7 PM at Ayer Town Hall, to be convened by the office of Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.
- At Congresswoman Tsongas' request, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has written to Pan Am Railways examine the environmental ramifications of its construction of the San Vel Automotive Unloading Facility in Ayer.
4A. Public Hearing: Fee Schedule: Sealer of Weights and Measures - vote to adopt the fee structure for sealer of weights and measures as proposed by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) and contained in the public hearing notice.
4B. Public Hearing: Fire Department Permits - The Board continued the public hearing until Monday, July 27, 2009 at 7:30 PM
5A. PMBC: New Police Station Construction Update - The Permanent Municipal Building Committee presented an update on the status of construction of the new police station. Target date for substantial completion is September 2009.
5B. Council on Aging Meal Site Doorway Construction - vote, pursuant to MGL C.44,§53A, to establish a special gift fund account the proceeds of which shall be used without further appropriation by the Permanent Municipal Building Committee for the construction of an outside doorway entrance to the Council on Aging Meal Site; and to receive a gift of $5,000 from the Friends of the Council on Aging for this purpose.
6A. FY 2009 Year-end Transfers - vote, pursuant to MGL C.44,§33B, to approve year-end transfers between various line items of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget totaling $47,572, subject to the further approval of the Finance Committee.
6B. FY 2010 Budget Balancing Plan - vote to accept the Administration’s revised plan for $197,215 in FY 2010 spending cuts.
- The Town's revised plan for balancing the FY 2010 budget is in light of revised Cherry Sheet figures issued by the State on 7/1/09, following the Governor’s approval of the State Budget on 6/29/09. The net impact for Littleton is the need to cut $197,215 on the Town side and $109,248 on the School side, from the amounts appropriated at the May 2009 Annual Town Meeting. On 6/29/09, the Selectmen had approved some $180,490 in Town-side cuts, with some $16,725 in cuts remaining to be made. The revised budget plan reduces an unexpended 2007 town meeting article for field maintenance from $30,000 to $13,275 to make up this difference.
7. Board of Selectmen: Preliminary Goal-Setting for FY 2010 - The Board discussed the following proposed goals, which will be further discussed at the Board's next regular meeting on Monday, July 27, 2009
Economic Development
- Littleton Common Overlay District Study - three sub-areas (A - existing Common area; B - IBM west to Beaver Brook Road, including Cisco; C - From east of Common to Powers Road).
- Identify needs and develop plans for infrastructure improvements
- Commuter rail and related issues
- Encourage and explore economic development that is a net benefit to the Town.
Town Services
- Roadway Improvement Plan implementation
- Future use of former police station at 20 Foster Street, Whitcomb Avenue Highway Barn
- Implementing Town Government Study Committee recommendations, including Facilities Manager
- Consideration of consolidation of services; regionalization
Environmental
- Transfer Station/Recycling
- Spectacle Pond Aquifer protection
- Green Initiatives
- Aggressively pursue the preservation of farmland and open space
Information/Communication
- Improve lines of communication with other local boards and committees, state officials, televise more town board meetings, increase volunteer participation
- Improve lines of communication with the business community
- Continue system-wide adoption of the Code of Conduct and Ethics
Regulatory Issues
- Sign By-law
- Nuisance By-law, Junk and debris
- Crematory
- Environmental Impact
Fiscal Management
- Completion of labor negotiations which do not require overrides, significant cuts in services, or layoffs.
- Support alternative funding activities for projects such as the Track
Exercise budget restraint; develop multi-year fiscal projections to guide strategies for budgeting and collective bargaining; increase the senior citizen property tax work-off program
8. Minutes Approval - vote to approve the minutes of June 29 2009.
9. Executive Session: MGL C.39,§23B - vote, pursuant to MGL C.39,§23B clause 3 to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation and not to convene in open session thereafter [Roll call vote: 4-0]
|