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TA Blog: 2010-08-02 BOS
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Below is the TA's summary of what transpired at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of August 2, 2010. Questions or comments? Contact the Town Administrator. Official meeting minutes will be posted when approved by the Board. |
August 2, 2010 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary
1. Read Mail
2. Public Input
3. The Village at Reed Meadow: Regulatory Agreement - Over 55 Housing - The Board of Selectmen voted to execute a Regulatory Agreement for the Village at Reed Meadow by and among the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and through the Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”), the Town of Littleton (the “Municipality”), and Apple Valley Homes, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation/limited partnership/limited liability company having its address at 2 Orchid Drive, Littleton, MA, and its successors and assigns (“Project Sponsor”).
- Approval under the Local Initiative Program (LIP) is required to count the three affordable housing under MGL Chapter 40B. Reed Meadow is a 12-unit subdivision for over 55 housing approved by the Planning Board on March 8, 2007. The three affordable units are all handicapped-accessible, two-bedroom, one bath, ranch-style duplex units containing 1,500 square feet of interior living space with full basements, and will be sold for $160,400 each by lottery to seniors over 55 years of age. Lottery application deadline is September 16, 2010 for a lottery drawing to be held on September 22, 2010.
4. Crematory Study Committee – Feasibility Study – Draft Scope - The Board of Selectmen voted to include a request for up to $30,000 for a crematory feasibility study in the warrant for a Fall 2010 Special Town Meeting.
- On June 7, 2010, the Crematory Study Committee reported its recommendation (7 in favor, 2 opposed) that the Board of Selectmen move ahead with a limited feasibility study through a Request for Proposals (RFP) let by the Crematory Study Committee, the scope of which would include environmental, health, and financial information. CSC also recommended that the feasibility study be followed by a non-binding referendum question. On June 7, 2010, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to instruct the Crematory Study Committee to prepare a draft scope of work for a feasibility study and report back. If the project is to proceed, the Board should identify what dollar amount is to be requested, and whether it would be requested this fall, or next spring.
5A. Treasurer: Other Post Employment Benefits Trust Policy Introduction - The Board of Selectmen voted to receive a proposed policy on Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Investments; and to schedule the adoption of said policy for the Board of Selectmen's next regular meeting on August 23, 2010.
- Article 9 of the May 3, 2010 Special Town Meeting voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 32B, Section 20 of the General Laws to establish a separate fund, to be known as an Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund, to account for appropriations made to cover the unfunded actuarial liability related to retirees’ health care and other post employment benefits. Article 4 of the May 3, 2010 Annual Town Meeting then appropriated $900,000 in Line 194 Employee/Retiree Benefits of the FY 2011 Operating Budget for “Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Fund.”
5B1. Highway: Award Vehicle Contract - The Board of Selectmen voted to award a contract for purchase of a 4x4 Utility Truck with plow system for the Littleton Highway Department to Liberty Chevrolet of Wakefield Mass at its low bid of $28,274.
- Article 8 Item I of the May 3, 2010 Annual Town Meeting had appropriated “$48,495 to be expended by the Highway Department for the purpose of purchasing a new 1-ton vehicle with plow as a replacement for an existing 2002 vehicle with mileage in excess of 100,000."
5B2. Pay-As-You-Throw Update - The Highway Department presented a plan showing the current and proposed layout of the Transfer Station to accomodated the Board of Selectmen's June 21, 2010 policy decision to support the “pay-as-you-throw” (PAYT) option for solid waste disposal as presented by the Solid Waste Options Steering Committee on May 25, 2010. On July 12, 2010, the Board held a public hearing and voted to amend the regulations and fees of the Littleton Transfer Station to implement PAYT effective October 1, 2010.
6A. Board of Selectmen's Proposed Goals for FY 2011: schedule public hearing - The Board of Selectmen reviewed draft goals proposed by members of the Board, and voted to schedule for August 23, 2010 at 7:30 PM a public hearing on the adoption of the following proposed goals for FY 2011:
- Economic Development - Complete work with the Planning Board on Littleton Common Overlay District Area C - from east of Common to Powers Road; - Continue to encourage and explore Economic Development in designated areas; - Area C: Continue to work with the Planning Board to develop a model that the town will accept at town meeting; - Continue rezoning effort on Area C with joint meetings with land owners and planning board; - Village/Farms on the Common.
- Identify needs and develop plans for infrastructure improvements in Areas A, B, and C such as walkways, lighting, parking, sewer, etc.; -Sewer Study: monitor and encourage; - Initiate a sewer feasibility study for the common area and make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and Town
- Continue work on Foster Street commuter rail station, especially parking issues; - Encourage use & development in the Foster -Taylor Street areas including near the Commuter rail; -- Commuter rail issues including station, parking, traffic, bus routes-Begin to look at economic development and possibly an overlay discussion for the Foster and Taylor Street business areas. Linkage to commuter rail project; - Educate and promote the commuter rail expansion project. That includes the development of the open parcel next to the existing station.-
- Encourage and explore economic development that is a net benefit to the Town including development of the Cisco Property and encouraging small shops and restaurants to locate in Littleton.
- Town Services - Roadway Improvement Plan implementation, and consider next steps when initial plan completed; - Road Plan – continue on our plan – do we need to examine if the schedule should be changed due to road conditions; - Re-evaluate and update the road repair strategies, priorities and timelines - are we still making the right choices?; - Road Plan - Continue to monitor and make necessary changes based on the overall conditions of our town roads; - Update road plan. Redevelop plan for the next 5 years to include engineering updates
-Create 10-year-building plan to consider long-term projects such as use of former police station at 20 Foster Street, new library building, recreation department needs, Town Hall space, Council on Aging facilities, etc.---Develop a municipal building maintenance strategy plan.-Look at the re-use of the old police station
-- Crematory - monitor and encourage---
---Complete the septic project for 20 Foster Street
- Organizational - Create a plan to develop a Department of Public Works to manage and maintain all of Littleton’s facilities; - Town Facilities Manager – look into how to bring this about – should this include the combining of Departments - in the meantime examine the maintenance of buildings and grounds (one example is the new Police Station – how maintains the grounds); - Look at consolidation or regional possibilities to include typical DPW and Cemetery functions; - Explore the possibility of creating a public facilities manager position. This position would be responsible for the maintenance of any town owned building; - Develop a plan to include an operational budget for a DPW engineer/facilities manager with an organization chart
-- Continue to implement TGSC recommendations staying within the parameters set by the committee and Town Meeting; -- Organizational study of Permitting Boards and Departments
- Environmental- Create educational program related to the new pay-per-bag recycling program; - Transfer Station - monitor and encourage; --Continue to implement and educate “pay as you throw” trash and recycling at the transfer station
- Encourage participation in Green Communities Initiatives ----
- Continue to pursue the preservation of farmland and open space; - Open Space – continue with current program – make sure we stay within the confines of available financing - examine the use of cell tower funds (if technology changes and the towers the cell tower revenues decrease do we then have to use other town finances for the purchase of land); --Complete the acquisition of the Cobb property.-
-- Work with the MBTA to develop a small park at the Old Depot RR Station
- Information/ Communication - Improve lines of communication with other local boards to make sure that we work in concert on behalf of Littleton --Continue to find ways to share information strengthen transparency and cull improved citizen involvement and knowledge-Continue to strengthen town board communications and adhere to the new open meeting laws.-
- Improve lines of communication with the business community and our legislators ----
- Town Boards - Initiate the Tercentennial efforts and get the committee up and running---
--- Update and revise the Code of Conduct and continue to encourage compliance town wide
- Regulatory Issues - Complete Sign By-law revisions-Sign by – law - monitor and encourage---
-- Quarry Study - monitor and encourage; - Continue to work with Aggregate Industries to develop the quarry closure plan.-
-- Nuisance/junk---
- Fiscal Management - Gain better understanding of Littleton’s debt, expenditures, and receipts in order to create a comprehensive 10-year economic plan; Budget restraint; Continue to work hard to prevent tax increases. Make cuts where necessary and find new ways to generate revenue for our town.-
- Create 10-year capital plan which includes on-going maintenance of facilities and equipment as well as new building projects--Involve the Selectmen more in preliminary capital projects and priority discussions.- Develop a capital improvement priority list.- Work to create a 5 year capital expenditure plan for all departments
6B. Schedule Joint Boards Meeting re: Infrastructure - The Board of Selectmen voted to create a Board of the chairs of elected boards and relevant committees with the first charge to be creating a process for the development of two 10-year infrastructure plans, one for maintenance, the other for new development. Maintenance plans could include the Town Hall, Fire Station, the track, etc. The new development plan could include the library, recreation department, COA, etc.
7A. Town Board Application Policy - Amendments - The Board of Selectmen voted to receive proposed amendments regarding posting of vacancies to the revised policy and procedure relative to Town Board appointments; and to schedule the adoption of said amendments for the Board of Selectmen's next regular meeting on August 23, 2010.
7B. Proclamations – Proposed Policy/Procedure - The Board of Selectmen voted to receive a proposed policy on Recognitions / Proclamations to become effective July 1, 2010; and to schedule the adoption of said policy for the Board of Selectmen's next regular meeting on August 23, 2010.
8A1. Indian Hill Music: One day Beer & Wine License Requests - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to MGL C.138,§14 to issue special one-day beer and wine licenses to Indian Hill Music, 36 King Street, Littleton, for events to be held at the following dates and times, with issuance subject to the applicant’s first obtaining host liquor liability insurance coverage: In 2010: Wednesday, September 22th from 5 to 9 PM; Friday, October 1st from 6 to 10 PM; Saturday, October 23rd from 5 to 8 PM; Saturday, November 13th from 6 to 10 PM; In 2011: Saturday, February 19th from 5 to 8 PM; Saturday, March 12th from 5 to 8 PM; Saturday, April 9th from 5 to 8 PM.
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