Board of Selectmen, November 16, 2015
HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 16, 2015
6:36PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Jeremy Kurtz, Anthony Renzoni, Tim Ethier, Kenneth O’Brien Robert Lavigne
Others Present: Jacquelyn Kelly, Town Manager
Peter Lukes, Assistant Town Manager
Liz Fotos, Town Recorder
Chairman Kurtz called the meeting to order at 6:36PM. The Board stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Kurtz told the public that the Selectmen were coming into the regular session Selectmen meeting from executive session.
- Appointments, Licenses, Permits
There were no appointments, licenses or permits to be approved.
Ms. Kelly stated that this was the last meeting before the Winter Festival and asked the Board to give her authorization to approve any permits that come in prior to the festival.
Motion by Sel. Lavigne, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD TO APPROVE ANY PERMITS PERTAINING TO THE WINTER FESTIVAL.
- Vote to Refer By-Law Petition to Planning Board
Chairman Kurtz asked the Town Manager if the petition signatures had been validated so the Board could discuss referring the petition to amend the zoning bylaw to prohibit buses from parking overnight in residential driveways to the Planning Board.
Ms. Kelly verified they had been validated.
A motion was made by Sel. Renzoni and seconded by Sel. Ethier.
Sel. Renzoni stated that this was pretty standard. He stated the Board was presented a citizen petition and he felt it was the Boards obligation to see the petition forwarded to the Planning Board. He asked if the Planning Board did not intend to bring this issue forward at Town Meeting, could the Selectmen take it up themselves.
Chairman Kurtz asked Ms. Kelly to explain the process.
Ms. Kelly stated that once the Town received the petition and the signatures were verified, the Board of Selectmen send it to the Planning Board and the Planning Board posts and holds a public hearing regarding an amendment to the bylaw. Ms. Kelly stated that the Planning Board is required to hold the public hearing within six months of Town Meeting. She stated once the Planning Board holds the hearing they will send the petition to Town Meeting.
Sel. Ethier asked if the Planning Board decided not to amend the bylaw if the Selectmen could bring it to Town Meeting themselves.
Ms. Kelly replied yes and stated that it went to the Planning Board in order for the Public Hearing to occur.
Sel. Ethier asked if the people who signed the petition should go to the Public Hearing.
Ms. Kelly replied that they could.
Sel. Ethier thanked Sel. Renzoni for making this motion. He stated that he believes the Town should remove the exemption to the bylaw and he appreciated the Selectmen moving this forward.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ethier, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REFER THE BY-LAW PETITION TO THE PLANNING BOARD.
- Town Manager Update
- Fall 2015 Composting and Brush Chipping: The following is a schedule for Town Saturday composting and brush chipping activities:
Saturday, November 21
Saturday, December 5
Hours of operation are 8AM to 2:30PM, weather permitting. Composting takes place at the site of the former landfill at 560 River Street. Brush should be brought to the Adams Road DPW facility due to limitation of the Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB) area. Further information is available on the Town’s website and in the local media.
b) Winter Festival/ Santa’s Arrival: The Winter Festival Committee is once again planning a fun day of family activities on Saturday, December 5, 2015. The festival precedes Santa’s arrival later in the day along with caroling and merriment.
Ms. Kelly added a few items to her update.
Ms. Kelly told the Board that the RT 31 Bridge traffic lights would be removed on Friday and the bridge would be open to two-way traffic. She stated they will remove the lights and move the equipment and vehicles in order to prepare for winter. She stated they will be back in the spring to complete the punch list items.
Ms. Kelly stated that the sidewalks on Shrewsbury Street will be completed this week and that the road was paved about a week ago. She stated that there are a few items that still need to be completed such as loaming and seeding, but that this project was essentially done.
Ms. Kelly told the Board that the road line painting was mostly completed. She stated there was some handwork that still needed to be done and that the vendor would be back after Thanksgiving to complete the work.
Ms. Kelly also thanked the Board and the Town for voting for her as The Landmark’s Readers’ Choice as “Best Town Official.”
The Board congratulated the Town Manager.
- Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Renzoni thanked everyone on behalf of the Veterans Advisory Committee. He thanked the Selectmen, the Scouts, the veterans, police chief and others who came to the dedication. He stated that the committee’s next focus will be on the Memorial Day Parade and that they will be reaching back out to Chairman Kurtz and the old Memorial Day Parade Committee to ensure a smooth transition.
Sel. Renzoni stated that the Community Garden group met last week and is getting ready to break ground on an educational garden. He stated that it is next to the parking lot of the Davis Hill School and they are putting in a 50x70 plot, all wood chipped with raised beds as needed. He stated that they are partnering with Davis Hill School and that the school is excited. Sel. Renzoni stated that the next meeting is on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 7:15PM in the Selectmen Room and everyone was invited.
Sel. Renzoni stated that the Committee is going through seedmoney.org which allowed them to qualify for a matching grant. He stated that all donations were appreciated and that the information could be found though the Davis Hill PTA or Community Garden Facebook page. Sel. Renzoni stated that the group is trying to do the entire project outside of the Town budget and that any donations were appreciated.
Sel. Renzoni stated that the Water/ Sewer Advisory Committee had met but had not requested his presence at the meeting.
Sel. Renzoni stated that Chairman Kurtz had asked him to serve as the liaison to the Finance Committee and that he is looking forward to working with the Fin Com and Chairman White going forward.
Chairman Kurtz stated that he had made the decision to ask Sel. Renzoni to represent the Board of Selectmen as the ex-officio for the Finance Committee. He stated that Sel. Renzoni had accepted and he thanked him. Chairman Kurtz stated that he felt it was important to have a seat at the table with Fin Com.
Sel. Lavigne stated that the Winter Festival was scheduled for December 5, 2015 from 1PM to 6PM. He stated that the Committee was meeting every Friday until the event and that activities included Santa’s arrival, ice skating, story time with Mrs. Claus, ice sculpting, tree lighting, and arts and crafts. He stated that the Boy Scouts would be accepting donations, but that this was a free event and he invited everyone to join in.
Chairman Kurtz asked if the information for the Winter Festival would be on the electronic sign.
Sel. Lavigne stated that he believed that it would be, and that flyers were going to be printed and put into the school children’s backpacks and that it was on Facebook as well.
Sel. Ethier stated that he thinks it was a good idea to appoint Sel. Renzoni as the ex-officio for Fin Com.
Sel. Ethier stated that Ag Com had not met and would be meeting November 17, 2015.
Sel. Ethier stated that the IIF was meeting at same time as the Selectmen. He stated that he believes it is important to sit with them to get information from them. He asked if they always meet when the Selectmen do.
Ms. Kelly replied that they do not have a regular schedule for meetings.
Sel. O’Brien stated that the Municipal Power Advisory Board was meeting November 17, 2015 to discuss the budget.
Sel. Kurtz stated that the 275th Committee continues to meet and is meeting November 17, 2015 and if anyone is interested in attending the Committee is still looking for ideas. He stated that they will soon have some information for sale items as well.
- Selectmen Minutes
None
- Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien stated that he continued to have discussion with building inspectors in particular in order to get feedback on abandoned properties and adopting a town bylaw. He stated he is working on gathering the information and will bring it forward as a bylaw change to the Planning Board.
Sel. Ethier asked if a motion is needed at this point.
Sel. O’Brien stated that he would like to see it as a future agenda item.
Chairman Kurtz replied that it would be added as a future agenda item.
Sel. Ethier had no Selectmen Miscellaneous.
Sel. Lavigne stated that to go along with Sel. O’Brien, there was an article entitled “Zombie Foreclosures” regarding how a New Jersey town went about addressing this item. He stated that he would forward the link to the Selectmen.
Sel. Renzoni stated that without exception he would like to pass along a “Congratulations” to the Chief of Police regarding a horrific accident in town. He stated that the Holden First Responders were impressive and that the communication platform where would was done looked great.
Ms. Kelly verified that she would pass that along.
Chairman Kurtz thanked Sel. Renzoni for his efforts on the Veterans Day accident; he stated that he was one of the first people on the scene.
Sel. Renzoni replied that he was glad to be there and able to help. He stated that it was chaotic and anything that he could do to help anytime he would.
Chairman Kurtz thanked the Veterans Day Committee for a nice ceremony; he stated it was well attended and he had her lots of positive feedback regarding the event.
- Citizens Address
No Citizens wished to speak.
- Follow-Up on Citizens Address
None
Next Meeting: Monday, December 7, 2015
Motion by Sel. Ethier, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 16, 2015 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING AT 7:01PM.
APPROVED: ___December 7, 2015________________________