Board of Selectmen Minutes 10/20/2007
At the meeting of the Randolph Board of Selectmen held Saturday, October 20, 2007, the following were present: Chairman Paul Connors, Vice Chairman Richard Wells, William Alexopoulos, James Burgess, Jr., Maureen Kenney, Brian P. Howard and Kristin McDonald. Meeting opened by Mr. Connors at 9:20 am. Also present, Assessor Richard Brown, Accountant Stephen Toomey, Finance Committee Chair Arthur Goldstein.
Started the meeting with the warrant.
Mr. Howard explained to the Selectmen that they would like to have two warrants instead of one; one for finances and one for everything else. This would make it easier for town offices to complete the necessary processes after town meeting. Mr. Burgess and Mr. Connors liked idea.
Article 1-Additional traffic supervisors- Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors voted 4-0. Mr. Wells arrived later in the meeting.
Article 2- Money for water and wastewater systems improvements- Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 4-0. Mr. Wells arrived later in the meeting.
Article 3- Lining and striping- Mr. Connors feels this article can wait until the spring, striping can’t be done during the winter anyway. Mr. Connors motioned not to include article in the warrant, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 3-1, with Mr. Alexopoulos in support of the article being on the warrant. Mr. Wells arrived and voted in support as well; final vote 3-2, article not included in the warrant.
Article 4- Zoning amendments- Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant. He noted that the Town, various individuals and Town Counsel have been meeting on this issue. Money from 40R projects would be tied in to this. 40B would also be included in this project, 100 units. Second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 5-0. Mr. Wells arrived during this discussion.
Article 5- Zoning Amendments- Great Pond Commerce Center Smart Growth Overlay District. Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors; voted 5-0.
Article 6- Non-Union, Elected Officials COLA- Mr. Burgess motion not to include article in the warrant, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 3-2; article failed to be included in the warrant. Mr. Wells and Mr. Alexopoulos voted in favor of inclusion.
Article 7- Report of the Community Preservation Committee- Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 5-0.
Article 8- Creating a Recycling Coordinator- Mr. Connors feels this should be done at the Annual Town Meeting, not the Special. Mr. Connors motioned not to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 4-1, article failed to be included. Mr. Alexopoulos voted to include.
Article 9- SEIU- Longevity Increments for one, full-time employee in the Building Dept., Mr. Burgess motioned not to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 3-2, article failed to be included in the warrant. Mr. Connors and Mr. Alexopoulos voted to include in the warrant.
Article 10- duplicate of # 13, Enhanced Longevity Compensation Program- Mr. Burgess motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 4-1. Mr. Connors voted in opposition of including this in the warrant. Board revisited after voting on Article 13, since this is a duplicate. Board re-voted 5-0 not to include this article in the warrant.
Article 11- Longevity increments and to purchase new code books for the Wiring Dept.- Discussion held regarding whether or not they already approved the funding of the new books. Mr. Burgess motioned not to include article in the warrant, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 4-1, article failed to be included in warrant. Mr. Connors voted in favor of including this article in the warrant.
Article 12- Committee members from out of town- Mr. Toomey thinks there are instances that non-residents should be allowed to be on boards. 100 signatures received the Board doesn’t need to vote.
Article 13- Building Department Salaries- Mr. Toomey informed the Board that $8,167 was the result of a mistake in the formula; the right numbers were input into the computer, but they were not added up correctly. The Department assumed the computer added it up correctly, but it didn’t. Mr. Wells motioned to include article in the warrant, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 4-1 to include. Mr. Burgess voted not to include this article in the warrant.
The Board decided to go back and remove Article 10, since it is a duplicate of this Article- Mr. Burgess motioned to remove Article 10, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 5-0.
Article 14- Funding for the Wiring Dept.- this is the same as Article 11. Mr. Burgess motioned not to include article in the warrant, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 4-1, the article failed to be included. Mr. Connors voted in favor of including this article in the warrant.
Article 15- Funding for Animal Control Dept.- Mr. Burgess motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 5-0 to include article in the warrant.
Article 16- Funding operation of the Youth Commission- Mr. Connors motioned not to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 4-1, article failed to be included in the warrant. Mr. Alexopoulos voted in favor of this article being included in the warrant.
Article 17- Veteran’s Agent funding- this article restores the Veteran’s Agent to full-time for the rest of the fiscal year- Mr. Wells motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Ms. Kenney; voted 4-1 to include in the warrant. Mr. Alexopoulos voted in opposition of including this article in the warrant.
Article 18a- Personnel Board Funding- Mr. Wells motioned not to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 4-1, article failed to be included in the warrant. Mr. Burgess voted in favor of including this article in the warrant.
Article 18b- Unpaid bills- Mr. Alexopoulos motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 5-0 to include article in the warrant.
Article 19- Computer maintenance- Mr. Brown explained that he had to add components they were not aware of due to this being the first use of the system; it took the first year to gage the support costs. Thought it was going to be around $32,000, but they needed an extra $13,000. Mr. Burke asked if the Town can use CPA funding to help pay for this. Mr. Alexopoulos motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 5-0 to include in the warrant.
Article 20- Professional Development Program- Ms. Kenney motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 3-2 to include in the warrant. Mr. Connors and Mr. Alexopoulos voted in opposition.
Article 21- Pay increases for non-union employees- Ms. Kenney asked if there are any performance evaluations done. Mr. Burgess asked why they are increasing vacant positions. Mr. Burgess would only like to include the beginning of the article; they can add the list of positions later at Town Meeting. The Board voted to amend the article so it will end with the words, “by collective bargaining agreements with the town.” Mr. Burgess motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors; voted 4-1 to include in the warrant. Ms. Kenney voted in opposition to this article being included in the warrant.
Article 22- Stabilization Fund- Mr. Wells motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 5-0 to include in the warrant.
Article 23- School Maintenance- various schools need roof repairs, back in 2005, borrowed the money to do the Young School roof, but it was never done. Money is for the engineering and design of the roofs and boilers. Discussion as to whether this project was done, Mr. Wells motioned not to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 4-1, article failed to be included in the warrant. Ms. Kenney voted in favor of the article being included in the warrant. Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Toomey to provide a list of moneys borrowed for funding roofs, and boilers for the past 5 years.
Article 24- Recreation Board- only voting on transferring within the Recreation Department budget; wording will be updated for Town Meeting. Mr. Burgess motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 5-0 to include in the warrant.
Article 25- School Maintenance- this is a duplicate of Article 23. Mr. Alexopoulos motioned not to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors; voted 5-0 article failed to be included in the warrant.
Article 26- Time Limit for Roadside Memorials- Mr. Wells motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 5-0 to include in the warrant.
Article 27- Youth Commission- This is a duplicate of Article16. Mr. Burgess motioned not to include in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors; voted 4-1, article failed to be included in the warrant. Mr. Alexopoulos voted in favor of this article being on the warrant.
Article 28- Government Study Committee- This article had enough signatures, The Board doesn’t need to vote, Board wanted to vote anyway. Mr. Connors motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Wells; voted 4-1, with Mr. Alexopoulos in opposition.
Article 29- All-Terrain Vehicles- This article did not have enough signatures, it was asked to be included by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Burgess motioned to include this article in the warrant, second by Mr. Connors; voted 3-2 to include in the warrant. Mr. Wells and Mr. Alexopoulos voted in opposition of this article being included in the warrant.
Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Howard to contact those affected by Article 29.
Discussion held regarding the splitting of the warrant into financial and non financial articles. Mr. Connors motioned to split the warrant into two types of articles, second by Mr. Burgess; voted 5-0 to split the warrant.
Mr. Howard is looking to begin Town Meeting on December 3rd; Hanukkah begins the December 4th at sundown. If the Special Town Meeting is on the 3rd, the classification could be on the 10th. Voted 5-0 to have Town Meeting on Dec. 3rd, time TBA, maybe a 6:30 pm start.
Mr. Goldstein had to leave but wanted to give his recommendations. He felt that Recreation and Youth, (articles 6 & 9) should have included the money in their budgets. He is opposed to articles 11, 14, 16, 17. He stated that on Article 13 they were aware of the issue; he is opposed to 18a regarding the Personnel Board. Article 21 he is opposed to in theory; he would like to give those at the top of their step a one time bonus that doesn’t change their scale; In Article 24, he feels there is a problem opening the budget up; He is opposed to Article 27 as well.
Back into regular session at 11:35 am.
There is already a meeting scheduled for 5pm, Monday, October 22nd, in Selectmen’s Meeting Room to release the decision in the Estrella case.
Mr. Connors explained they are reopening the warrant to include the four articles pertaining to the contracts for the SEIU, police, fire and traffic unions.
Also the Board of Recreation basketball program is starting up; the CORI forms are being processed, but they would like to hire the employees, based on the results of the CORI returns. Mr. Burgess motioned to accept the applications, Second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 5-0.
Motion by Mr. Burgess to adjourn at 11:38 am, second by Mr. Alexopoulos; voted 5-0.
_________________________________-Clerk of the Board
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