BOARD OF SELECTMEN 

MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 14, 2005

McAULIFFE HEARING ROOM

 

Present:  Chairman William Christensen, Chair; Roger Challen, Bonnie Phanuef, Janice Conlin, Town Administrator.

 

Meeting Convened at 7 p.m.  The Board conducted the following interviews for Committee appointments:

 

Interviews for Conservation

 

John Leeds stated that he was appointed in 1990 and has been Chairman since 1994. His responsibilities include chairing meetings, interacting with staff daily, responding to applicants’ concerns and questions and interfaces with DEP on oversight issues.  He works with Town Counsel and engineers on technical and legal aspects of projects.  He has been very involved in the Breakneck Hill Land management plan. He assisted in applying for Forest Management grants for restoration of both the meadows and the forests on this property.

 

Challenge for Conservation is dealing with marginal property that folks want to develop.  That is mostly all that is left in Southborough.  He feels that there is a good mix of skills now on the Commission; legal, former Selectmen and Construction manager.  If we could us any new expertise, we could use a scientist or a botanist.  If we need expert in this field now, we hire someone as often as 3-4 times a year.  

 

The Commissions relationship with DEP was at first an uphill climb, but now we have a good relationship with regular communication.  The role of the Conservation Commission in the ownership of the Beals’ Property should be to enforce the conservation restriction, probably in an oversight capacity.  It is difficult to speculate.  He feels his most valuable asset is working with people. 

 

Richard Upjohn, a current member that was appointed in 1977.  He was and has continued to be very interested in conservation because of his love of outdoors and nature.  He had a lot to do with adoption of local by-law.  He is a semi-retired teacher who has the time to view every site before a hearing.  His strength is his ability to visit and evaluate sites.

He feels the challenges for the Commission will be the oversight of the Beals’ Property and Town Orchard.  He agrees that they will be reviewing more marginal properties.  That is all that is left to develop in Southborough.  He feels that the Conservation will be involved in the overview of the Beals Property if the Town purchases the development rights.

 

Edward Estella has lived in Southborough since 1978.  He became a member of MACC 5 yrs ago to educate himself on Wetlands regulations.  He is a member of SHOPC and Stormwater II committees. He has attended seminars presented by the Army corps of engineers on wetlands issues.  He collected 100 signatures at transfer station in just two hours last Saturday endorsing his appointment.  He feels that those who signed the petition want a change in the membership on the Commission. He believes that there is not a level playing field at meetings. He believes that the preservation of the Beals’ property is very important to the Town.  Conservation’s role would be to oversee and enforce the conservation restriction on the property.  He believes that he has an excellent understanding of rules and regulations.  His best characteristic is his dedication.  He would like a chance to prove himself and bring a new perspective to the Commission.

 

Albena Phillipo grew up in Southborough and recently returned to Town from California.  She was dismayed at the lack of conservation in California. She works in hazardous waste reclaiming industry.  She is used to dealing with and understanding regulations. She is adept at computers and doing research.  She would like to give something back to the Town.  She feels that the Conservation Commission should be involved in oversight of the Beals’ property.

Her best characteristic is that she is good at research and knows how to deal with regulations.  She has not attended conservation commission meetings.  She would like to see Southborough remain quaint, preserve its wetlands and open space.  She is concerned that large industries will wipe out what she likes about the community.

 

Read into the record was Mark Possemato’s letter.  Mr. Possemato was unable to attend the meeting due to a business commitment.  The Board will interview Mr. Possemato if he is available on June 21 at 7:30 pm.

 

The Board then listened to comments on the candidates from Town Officials and residents.

 

Selectmen Challen moved to appoint Mr. Leeds and Mr. Upjohn and hold the third position open to give Mr. Possemato an opportunity to be interviewed.  Motion was seconded by Chairman Christensen.  Ms. Phaneuf stated that she would prefer to appoint all candidates in the same evening and not appoint anyone this evening.  Selectmen Challen stated that he has spent a lot of time talking to folks with information on these candidates in order to decide what is best for the Town.  He believes in his best judgement that nothing would change his mind on Leeds and Upjohn.  The Motion passed unanimously.

 

Interviews for Open Space

Lisa Braccio is a 4 year Resident that feels Open Space issues are important.

She is from a small town in Michigan.  She moved to Southborough because of its rural atmosphere.  She has attended Open Space meetings in the last year.  Beals’ property is very important issue.  She is very interested in and enjoys doing research.  It was noted that two of the present members on the Commission also live in the same neighborhood as Ms. Braccio.  She stated that she will represent what is best for the whole community and not just her neighborhood. 

 

Andrew Mills worked for an environmental research company for two years in high school.

He has lived 9 yrs in Town.  He has showed interest in several committees (Open Space, Recreation and Recycling) and he is willing to let the Board decide where he is needed.  He works for Fidelity in Marlborough.  He grew up in Southbridge.  He was very active in sports.  He has attended no meetings.

 

Mrs. Phaneuf move to appoint Mr. Mills on the Open Space Commission.  Seconded by Mr. Christensen. Challen & Phaneuf voted Yes, Christensen voted No because he feels that Mr. Mills with his financial background would be better suited to the Community Preservation Committee.

A motion was made to reconsider the motion.

Passed unanimously.

Challen move to appoint Mr. Mills to Open Space

Motion failed unanimously.

Motion was made to appoint Andrew Mills to CPA for a term ending 6/30/08; passed unanimously.

 

There was a motion that passed unanimously to continue to search for the Open Space vacancy.

  

Interview for Trust Fund committee

Susan Krivanec did not appear to be interviewed.

 

Interviews for Recreation Commission

Anne-Marie Angus is a physical educations teacher in the Southborough schools.  Ms. Angus feels that the Recreation Commission provides many options for mainstream athletics but does not provide for alternatives to mainstream sports, i.e. skateboarding. 

Motion to appoint Anne-Marie Angus to Recreation Commission for a term ending 6/30 /05.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Interview for Recycling Committee

Since Albena Phillipo was not appointed to the Conservation Commission, the Board voted unanimously to appoint her to the Recycling Committee.  She agreed to be a member of that committee

 

Recreation After School Program.

Kathryn Garcia and John Lithgow went over the memo dated June 9, 2005 regarding the After School Program.  They talked about the revenues to the Town will decrease with the hiring of two 19.5 employees rather than funding a 30 hour position in the budget as voted by Town Meeting.   They indicated that they will not be able to offer as many programs as this year due to the fact that the present After School employee will have to spend time training the new employee.  It was argued that they would have an additional 8 hours per week with the two part time employees to offset the training time and time spent overcoming the inefficiencies due to two rather than one employee.  Members of the Board encouraged the Recreation Commission to strive to maintain the number of programs offered. 

The Recreation Commission also inquired about the additional space and equipment they will need for the additional employee.  The Town Administrator reported that an air quality test was conducted at Fayville Hall in response to the Recreation Employees concern.  The results of that test will be available by the week of June 20th.  Once the results are received, the Facilities Manager will then cost out the options; Fayville Hall, Cordaville Hall or one individual moving to Neary School.  

 

 

Regular Business

Appointments

Appointment was approved unanimously.

 

Other Business

 

WARRANTS

349

$63,281.01

6/17/05

TOWN PAYABLES

350

$784.43

6/17/05

NEXTEL

351

$2,118.27

6/17/05

VERIZON-VERIZON SELECT

352

$222,910.31

6/17/05

SCHOOL PAYABLES

353

$92,940.20

6/17/05

DEDUCTION REPORT

354

$24,098.31

6/17/05

FIRE DEPT. PAYROLL

355

$88,059.84

6/17/05

TOWN PAYROLL

356

$383,062.31

6/17/05

SCHOOL PAYROLL

357

$93,859.24

6/17/05

SCHOOL BLDG. PROJECT

TOTAL

$971,113.92

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 a.m.

 

 

Janice C. Conlin, Town Administrator