Board of Selectmen, May 1, 2013
HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES
MAY 1, 2013
5:30PM Starbard Building
Present: Chairman Anthony Renzoni, Robert Lavigne, Kenneth Lipka,
Mark Ferguson, Jeremy Kurtz
Others Present: Jacquie Kelly, Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Renzoni called the meeting to order at 5:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Board Discussion and Action to be Taken – Reorganization
A motion by Sel. Ferguson was seconded by Sel. Lavigne to discuss the nomination of Sel. Lipka as the Chairman.
Sel. Ferguson spoke in favor of nomination of Sel. Lipka as Chairman. He said that Sel. Lipka had served on the Board for two years.
Sel. Lavigne said he felt that Sel. Lipka’s brother, as a department head, was a potential conflict of interest. Sel. Lipka could not participate in the Town Manager’s contract negotiation process because of this conflict and the Chairman must be able to interact at the highest level with the Town Manager.
Chairman Renzoni said he would not support the motion for the reasons that Sel. Lavigne mentioned. However, he said he would support the nomination of Sel. Lipka as Vice-Chair.
Sel. Ferguson suggested that this nomination process was pre-planned. Chairman Renzoni gaveled Sel. Ferguson and said the comment was out of order and that there was no need to make accusations and charges as the Board was just trying to vote on the Chair.
Sel. Lipka said he would like to move the motion.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was VOTED 2-3 WITH 3 OPPOSED TO NOMINATE SEL. LIPKA AS CHAIRMAN. (OPPOSED: LAVIGNE, KURTZ, RENZONI.)
The motion failed.
A motion by Sel. Kurtz was seconded by Sel. Lipka to discuss the nomination of Sel. Lavigne as Chair.
Sel. Kurtz spoke to Sel. Lavigne’s experience on the Board. Sel. Lipka asked that the Board show unity and as a sign of support vote to appoint Sel. Lavigne as Chair.
Motion by Sel. Kurtz, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO NOMINATE SEL. LAVIGNE AS CHAIRMAN. (OPPOSED: FERGUSON.)
Sel. Lavigne took over the meeting as Chairman.
A motion by Sel. Renzoni was seconded by Sel. Kurtz to discuss the nomination of Sel. Lipka as Vice Chairman.
Sel. Renzoni said he did not vote for Sel. Lipka as Chairman because he wanted to keep him away from the process; as Vice Chairman he will not have direct contact with the Town Manager and will avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
Sel. Ferguson said that Sel. Lipka should have been Chairman. Mr. Lipka said he would be happy to serve as Vice-Chairman.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Kurtz, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NOMINATE SEL. LIPKA AS VICE CHAIRMAN.
Sel. Renzoni said it was past precedent to nominate the newly elected Selectman as Clerk.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NOMINATE SEL. KURTZ AS CLERK.
Sel. Ferguson spoke to the upcoming Town Meeting and the need to sell the site of the former Police Station. This must be a priority for the Town.
Chairman Lavigne said that he hoped that the new Board could act cordially and work together to lead the Town.
- Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Kurtz, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 5:48PM.