TA Blog: 2009-11-16 BOS

Below is the TA's summary of what transpired at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of November 16, 2009. Questions or comments? Contact the Town Administrator. Official meeting minutes will be posted when approved by the Board.

November 16, 2009 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary 

1. Read Mail/Sign Warrant

• Preliminary Certification of FY 2010 Property Values - The Board of Assessors has received notice of Preliminary Certification of FY 2010 Real Estate and Personal Property Values from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. See previous vs. current assessments FY 2009/FY 2010.  Read more.  Selectmen will hold tax rate classification hearing on December 7, 2009 at 7:30 PM.
• Attorney General action on May 2009 Town Meeting By-laws - The Attorney General has acted on the by-laws passed by the May 4, 2009 Annual Town Meeting. The portion of the marijuana by-law regulation consumption on public property was approved, but regulation on private property was disapproved. Read more.
• Westford Water Department - New Country Road Well #2 has a new Zone II protection due to its location, a portion of which extends into Littleton just south of Forge Pond. Review what prior notifications the Town of Littleton has received about development of this well.

2. Public Input

3A. Police Station Construction Project PMBC Update - PMBC presented a summary of all change orders for the new police headquarters construction project. The new Littleton Police Headquarters at 500 Great Road opened for business on October 28, 2009. A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2009.

3B. Police Station Gifts/ Naming Request - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to its Policy on Naming Town Facilities adopted on February 9, 2009, to receive the request of Chief of Police John M. Kelly to accept the donation by the family of the late Charles Forbes Kaye of two park benches for the front portico of the new Littleton Police Headquarters Building at 500 Great Road to be named in honor of Mr. Kaye;.and to schedule this matter for a vote at its meeting on December 7, 2009.

The Board also voted, pursuant to MGL C.44,§53A, to accept a donation of up of $14,000 from the Littleton Police Association for half the cost of gym equipment for the Littleton Police Headquarters; and to accept donations from Mammoth Fire Alarm and Easton Electronics in the amounts of $6,000 and $5,000, respectively, as discounted on their invoices for work at the Littleton Police Headquarters.

4A. Appointment - Steering Committee – Evaluate Solid Waste Options - The Board voted to appoint Derek Podgorni of 7 Lake Warren Drive as an at-large citizen member of the steering committee to evaluate solid waste options.

5. November 9, 2009 Special Town Meeting Recap - Voters approved all eight articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on Monday, November 9, 2009. Read the results.

5A. Accept Bulkeley Road Drainage Easement - The Board voted, pursuant to Article 5 of the November 9, 2009 Special Town Meeting, to accept the grant of a drainage easement upon a certain parcel of land currently owned by Jeffrey E. Chambers and Elizabeth L. Rearwin located on the easterly side of Bulkeley Road, Littleton, for the purpose of installing a drainage system on Bulkeley Road.

5B. Sleigh Ride Lane Acceptance Order of Taking - The Board voted, pursuant to Article 8 of the November 9, 2009 Special Town Meeting to direct Town Counsel to enter an order of taking for Sleigh Ride Lane as an accepted public way; and further to authorize execution of a notice of taking following the filing of said taking at the Registry of Deeds.

6A. Investment Policy - The Board of Selectmen voted to adopt an Investment Policy as drafted by the Treasurer and recommended by the Town Administrator and Assistant Town Administrator for Finance and Budget.

6B. Littleton Common Overlay District Update - The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen met again on Thursday, November 5, 2009 to continue discussions on the Littleton Common Overlay District Study with MAPC.  The next scheduled meetings with MAPC are on Thursday, December 3^rd and Thursday, December 17^th.

6C. Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Grant Application - The Board of Selectmen voted to authorize the submission of a request to the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development for technical assistance under its Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI) program for development of design guidelines for Littleton Common Overlay District study area.

6D. Growth Districts Initiative - EOHED Secretary Greg Bialecki's office has invited the tri-towns of Boxborough, Littleton, and Westford to explore designation under the State's Growth Districts Inititiative as a potential way to aid this area on infrastructure.

• The Littleton Board of Selectmen unanimously voted its support for the Growth Districts Inititiative and the inclusion therein of an area in the Town of Littleton as proposed in a draft map dated September 18, 2009, and to communicate that support to the Planning Board and to the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.
• The Board voted to request that the Town Administrator pursue infrastructure grants available from state and federal government to implement the Town's goals, and to bring back specific grant applications for submission by further vote of the Board of Selectmen [5-0].  

7. 215 Harwood Avenue Update - vote, pursuant to its Regulations on Earth Removal adopted March 1983, to schedule a public hearing for Monday, December 7, 2009 at 8:15 PM on the application of Joseph Pittorino, 215 Harwood Avenue.

• Have Building Commissioner, Conservation Commission, and Board of Health provide representation at that public hearing to update the Board on their issues affecting the property at 215 Harwood Avenue. 

8B. Minutes Approval - vote to approve the minutes of November 2 and November 9, 2009.