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TA Blog: 2010-08-23 BOS
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Below is the TA's summary of what transpired at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of August 23, 2010. Questions or comments? Contact the Town Administrator. Official meeting minutes will be posted when approved by the Board. |
August 23, 2010 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary
1. Read Mail
- National Night Out - Letter of thanks from the Littleton Police Department for the National Night Out event held on August 3, 2010. The Town Administrator was in the dunk tank from 5:30 to 6:00 PM.
- Houghton Memorial Building - The Littleton Historical Society has submitted a letter notifying the Town of its intent to install new, freestanding flagpole on the lawn near the front entrance to the Houghton Memorial Building. Under the terms of the Town's 99-year lease with the Society, non-structural changes to be made by the Society require 30 days' written notice to the Town.
- Municipal Early Retirement Incentive Program - PERAC (Public Employee Retirement Administration) memo regarding the Municipal Early Retirement Incentive Program, which was included in Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2010. The Town's finance officials will make a presentation about this at the Board of Selectmen September 13, 2010 meeting.
2. Public Input
3A. School Building Committee – Russell Street School Repairs - The Board of Selectmen voted pursuant to Article 4 of the May 4, 2009 Special Town Meeting, and as chief executive official and “eligible applicant” under 963 CMR 2.02, to accept the August 4 and 18, 2010 recommendations of the School Building Committee and approve, respectively, Change Order #13 in the amount of $59,565 and Change Order #14 in the amount of $38,221 both with Colantonio, Inc. of Holliston, MA for repairs to the Russell Street Elementary School.
3B1. Pay-As-You-Throw Implementation Update - The Board heard an update from the Solid Waste Steering Committee about the new Pay-As-You-Throw system, which becomes effective October 1, 2010. More information is online at www.littletonma.org/payt
3B2. Highway: Salt Contract - The Board of Selectmen voted to award the following contracts for the Littleton Highway Department for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011: (1) to low bidder, Eastern Minerals, Inc of Lowell, MA in the amount of $56.97 per ton delivered for sodium chloride; and (b) to low bidder, Innovative Surface Solutions, Inc of Glenmont, NY in the amount of $1.14 per gallon delivered for liquid magnesium chloride.
4. Public Hearing: Board of Selectmen’s Proposed Goals for FY 2011 - The Board of Selectmen voted to adopt goals for FY 2011, as set forth in the public hearing notice posted at the Town website, as amended, and to schedule a discussion for prioritzation of goals at a future date:
- 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.-
-- Historic Preservation -- 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.
5A. FY 2011 Budget Update - Assistant Town Administrator for Finance & Budget Bonnie Holston presented update on FY 2011 operating budget and capital improvement plan. The final estimates for School State Aid have been received and show an increase of $548,406 for FY2011 as “net school state aid” which would allow the School Department to deliver its current program levels without dipping into its reserves, as was originally planned. For the municipal side, there is $42,237.39 available for additional appropriation within the Town Budget.
- Have the Fire Chief obtain formal cost estimates for refurbishing Fire Engine 1, for the Selectmen's review on September 13, 2010.
- Invite the School Department to the Selectmen's September 13, 2010 meeting to discuss any update on the moisture problems with the vinyl composite tile (VCT) flooring at Littleton High School.
5B. Planning for Fall 2010 Special Town Meeting The Board will schedule an agenda item at its next regular meeting to call a Special Town Meeting, with a tentative date set of Monday, November 8, 2010.
6A. Police Chief – Rules/Regulations for Police Department – MGL C.41,s.97A - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to MGL C.41,§97A, to approve the rules and regulations for the Littleton Police Department as submitted by Chief of Police John M. Kelly on July 26, 2010, as revised on August 16, 2010.
6B. Treasurer - Other Post Employment Benefits Trust Policy Adoption - The Board of Selectmen voted to adopt a policy on Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Investments.
7A. Town Boards Appointments Policy - Amendments - Adoption - The Board of Selectmen voted to adopt amendments regarding posting of vacancies to the revised policy and procedure relative to Town Board appointments. Notices for current vacancies were posted in accordance with this proposed policy.
7B. Recognition/Proclamations Policy – Adoption - The Board of Selectmen voted to adopt a policy on Recognitions and Proclamations, with an effective date of July 1, 2010.
7C. EEO/Discrimination/Sexual Harassment Policy – Introduction - The Board of Selectmen voted to receive a proposed policy on Equal Employment Opportunity, Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment, and to schedule the adoption of said policy for the Board of Selectmen's next regular meeting on September 13, 2010.
8A1. Request: Relocation of Flagpole to Newtown/Nagog Hill Road - The Board voted to approve the relocaton of a flagpole to the Town-owned property at the intersection of Newtown Road and Nagog Hill Road, as requested by Thomas Clancy. LELWD indicates it will pay for any and all ancillary costs to undertake this project, which will include illumination of the flag as it flies at night.
8A2. Schedule of Selectmen’s Meetings for Fall 2010 - The Board of Selectmen voted to schedule the following Board of Selectmen’s meetings for the dates indicated at 7 p.m. in Room 103 Shattuck Street Building: August 26, 2010 special meeting at 7:30 PM at LHS for NVTHS appointment; September 13 and 20, 2010 regular meeting; October 4 and 18, 2010 regular meetings; November 1 and 15, 2010 regular meetings; and December 6 & 13, 2010 regular meetings.
8B. Minutes Approval - The Board voted to approve the minutes of July 29, 2010.
9B. Executive Session: Purchase/Value of Land - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to MGL C.30A,§21, subsection (a), clause 6 to convene in executive session to discuss the purchase or value of real property, since an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the board; and to convene in open session thereafter [Roll call vote: 5-0]
9A. Executive Session:Collective Bargaining Strategy - The Board of Selectmen voted, pursuant to MGL C.30A,§21, subsection (a), clause 3 to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining, since an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the board; and not to convene in open session thereafter [Roll call vote: 5-0]
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