The live reporting posts for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday 5/6/09 can be found here
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Live reporting - Town Admin, and closing comments
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Jeff read the listing of the sponsors of the recent Earth Day, huge success
remind folks to pick up litter as you go to help keep the town clean
May 17th, HMEA 5K roadrace
Update of fiscal policies in councilor packets
Beautification Day - May 16th 8:00 AM at the bridge
FINCOM did finish their budget hearings on Tuesday
Not sure if we will make the schedule that we have set thus far
Budget as proposed eliminates 11 municipal jobs, only 1.25 people will actually be laid off due to other changes
School Committee budget hearing on May 26th
L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - listing of street resurfacing?
Nutting - had to re-bid the hot-top so that should be coming, within the next 30 days we should be ready
Vallee - What is status of Walgreens?
Nutting - we should be ready to close on June 30th
Bartlett - get the listing of street out on the web site so the residents can see
Nutting - yes
McGann - how do we arrive at the street listing?
Nutting - anytime there is a water line, we do the paving the next year. we have a master listing of streets, part art and part science. We do have a huge listing of work that needs to be done. We don't appropriate any money for road improvements.
M. NEW BUSINESS
Vallee - After listening to the Financial Planning Committee, Milford operating under Chapter 121a
Nutting - this is similar to the TIF which we do provide
Nutting - part of it is zoning, big box stores are not allowed, from a tax structure, we have a very low rate. We have given out TIF's with your approval. We are trying to get folks here to fill our warehouses.
Vallee - we should be more proactive in trying to create jobs
Nutting - we are about to begin to update the master plan to look at those issues, rezoning from residential to commercial is not easy
Vallee - I'd like to request that the Planning Dept do the research on Chap 121a
Taberner - we should look at more rezaoning, we have to do it for the greater good
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Whalen - would like to take this time to comment on the stand off between the teachers and the School Committee. Addressing teachers directly. 7 unions made the concession for the Town to avoid layoffs.
Mason - echoes Whalen's comments and wishes a speedy resolution to the issue
Zollo - I find it hard to believe that the majority of the teachers are actually supporting their leadership.
McGann - I too believe it is not the whole union that represented, it is a small group, they are very selfish and one sided. It is only a handful.
Congratulations to Mr Fahey for his work in the veterans area.
Doak - I would like to endorse Councilor Whalen's eloquent comments. I don't claim to know all the details. If these concessions don't go through, we will lose more teachers and that is not good.
Pfeffer - I would like to see the art of compromise
Feeley - I find it difficult to believe that the whole number of teachers are behind this. The School Committee conceded the three items for the one year (Editor note: This is not correct, the School Committee conceded only 2 of the 3 items) this shows an attempt to reach an agreement.
Jeff read the listing of the sponsors of the recent Earth Day, huge success
remind folks to pick up litter as you go to help keep the town clean
May 17th, HMEA 5K roadrace
Update of fiscal policies in councilor packets
Beautification Day - May 16th 8:00 AM at the bridge
FINCOM did finish their budget hearings on Tuesday
Not sure if we will make the schedule that we have set thus far
Budget as proposed eliminates 11 municipal jobs, only 1.25 people will actually be laid off due to other changes
School Committee budget hearing on May 26th
L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - listing of street resurfacing?
Nutting - had to re-bid the hot-top so that should be coming, within the next 30 days we should be ready
Vallee - What is status of Walgreens?
Nutting - we should be ready to close on June 30th
Bartlett - get the listing of street out on the web site so the residents can see
Nutting - yes
McGann - how do we arrive at the street listing?
Nutting - anytime there is a water line, we do the paving the next year. we have a master listing of streets, part art and part science. We do have a huge listing of work that needs to be done. We don't appropriate any money for road improvements.
M. NEW BUSINESS
Vallee - After listening to the Financial Planning Committee, Milford operating under Chapter 121a
Nutting - this is similar to the TIF which we do provide
Nutting - part of it is zoning, big box stores are not allowed, from a tax structure, we have a very low rate. We have given out TIF's with your approval. We are trying to get folks here to fill our warehouses.
Vallee - we should be more proactive in trying to create jobs
Nutting - we are about to begin to update the master plan to look at those issues, rezoning from residential to commercial is not easy
Vallee - I'd like to request that the Planning Dept do the research on Chap 121a
Taberner - we should look at more rezaoning, we have to do it for the greater good
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Whalen - would like to take this time to comment on the stand off between the teachers and the School Committee. Addressing teachers directly. 7 unions made the concession for the Town to avoid layoffs.
Mason - echoes Whalen's comments and wishes a speedy resolution to the issue
Zollo - I find it hard to believe that the majority of the teachers are actually supporting their leadership.
McGann - I too believe it is not the whole union that represented, it is a small group, they are very selfish and one sided. It is only a handful.
Congratulations to Mr Fahey for his work in the veterans area.
Doak - I would like to endorse Councilor Whalen's eloquent comments. I don't claim to know all the details. If these concessions don't go through, we will lose more teachers and that is not good.
Pfeffer - I would like to see the art of compromise
Feeley - I find it difficult to believe that the whole number of teachers are behind this. The School Committee conceded the three items for the one year (Editor note: This is not correct, the School Committee conceded only 2 of the 3 items) this shows an attempt to reach an agreement.
Live reporting - legislation for action
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1 - Land was taken in 1986 from the US Government and should not have been, they finally discovered the error and have asked us to correct it. The easement for sewer through wetlands hasn't chnaged.
2 - Conservation Commission worked on this to prepare the proposal and reduce the cost of the drafting required.
Chris Botchis
Andy Tolland
Ray Willis
Nick Alferi
Nutting
We don't know how much it will cost. Depending upon what it does cost, we could put it into the capital budget, or bond it, or look for grants to help cover it.
Tolland
Purpose of this aspect of the study is to focus on the three options and figure out what the least cost options would be. We need tight cost estimates. Everything has been based from a far, this would be a closer study.
Probably along the lines of 6-9 months to do the study, no more than a year.
Based upon what they have said, it could fail but it unlikely to. We are not looking at loss of life or property. The ponds remove nutrients from the storm water before it gets to the Charles River. It is helpful as we are overall being charged with reducing phosphorous from the Charles River.
We are looking for partial dam removals or full dam replacements.
Nutting
It is our responsibility, it is town owned property.
Mason
I am not inclined to approve this given the circumstance
Unless there is a real crisis, I don't see the need for this at this time
Pfeffer
I think we need to do this, Mr Delcorte provided this land, there is a lot of water, we are liable for it
- Resolution 09-26: Acknowledgment of Invalidity of Order of Taking Directed to Land of United States of America approved 9-0
- Resolution 09-27: Appropriation – DelCarte Open Space Dam Repair/Removal approved 8-1 (Mason voted no)
- Resolution 09-28: Appropriation – Veterans’ Benefits approved 8-0 (Vallee stepped out momentarily)
- Resolution 09-29: Appropriation – Snow & Ice approved 9-0
1 - Land was taken in 1986 from the US Government and should not have been, they finally discovered the error and have asked us to correct it. The easement for sewer through wetlands hasn't chnaged.
2 - Conservation Commission worked on this to prepare the proposal and reduce the cost of the drafting required.
Chris Botchis
Andy Tolland
Ray Willis
Nick Alferi
Nutting
We don't know how much it will cost. Depending upon what it does cost, we could put it into the capital budget, or bond it, or look for grants to help cover it.
Tolland
Purpose of this aspect of the study is to focus on the three options and figure out what the least cost options would be. We need tight cost estimates. Everything has been based from a far, this would be a closer study.
Probably along the lines of 6-9 months to do the study, no more than a year.
Based upon what they have said, it could fail but it unlikely to. We are not looking at loss of life or property. The ponds remove nutrients from the storm water before it gets to the Charles River. It is helpful as we are overall being charged with reducing phosphorous from the Charles River.
We are looking for partial dam removals or full dam replacements.
Nutting
It is our responsibility, it is town owned property.
Mason
I am not inclined to approve this given the circumstance
Unless there is a real crisis, I don't see the need for this at this time
Pfeffer
I think we need to do this, Mr Delcorte provided this land, there is a lot of water, we are liable for it
Live reporting - Bylaw
Zollo - arrives late
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
Pfeffer
Question on how it would apply to someone who teaches piano lessons a single student at a time
Taberner
If you have 2 or more at a time, then there are additional requirements
Just places limitations on what you can do to operate a business from a residence
Cerel
Current definition of present uses is loose and needs to be tightened up
Bartlett
I'd like to see what our current bylaw is to compare this to
I'd like to hear about what the problems are that drove this
Dahlstrom
The use of a residence for a catering business, parking vehicles for a construction business
Bartlett
Question on defining "objections"
McGann
What about entities that are already operating
They would be grandfathered
Doak
What are the other bylaws that we are trying to be consistent with?
Feeley
question on E2a
Alfieri
Refers to the # of vehicles parked in an auxiliary parking area on the land
Not the personal vehicles being used but those being stored
Cerel
section - D1a provides additional detail in answer to Councilor Bartlett's question
Building Commissioner would be required to have an objective standard
Feeley
this should go through the normal process
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
- Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 185-39. Uses accessory to dwellings.
Pfeffer
Question on how it would apply to someone who teaches piano lessons a single student at a time
Taberner
If you have 2 or more at a time, then there are additional requirements
Just places limitations on what you can do to operate a business from a residence
Cerel
Current definition of present uses is loose and needs to be tightened up
Bartlett
I'd like to see what our current bylaw is to compare this to
I'd like to hear about what the problems are that drove this
Dahlstrom
The use of a residence for a catering business, parking vehicles for a construction business
Bartlett
Question on defining "objections"
McGann
What about entities that are already operating
They would be grandfathered
Doak
What are the other bylaws that we are trying to be consistent with?
Feeley
question on E2a
Alfieri
Refers to the # of vehicles parked in an auxiliary parking area on the land
Not the personal vehicles being used but those being stored
Cerel
section - D1a provides additional detail in answer to Councilor Bartlett's question
Building Commissioner would be required to have an objective standard
Feeley
this should go through the normal process
Live reporting - License transactions
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant - approved 8-0
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant - approved 8-0
Live reporting - Town Council - 5/6/09
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, McGann, Doak, Zollo (late)
Missing:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 1, 2009
motion to approve - passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
schedule change for June
June 3, 10, 11, if req'd special meeting on Jun 24th
10, 11 will be the budget hearings
Dedication of new monument on Memorial Day
WMRC - 1490 AM
free lunch for 1st 300 people
at Senior Center
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS
Missing:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 1, 2009
motion to approve - passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
schedule change for June
June 3, 10, 11, if req'd special meeting on Jun 24th
10, 11 will be the budget hearings
Dedication of new monument on Memorial Day
WMRC - 1490 AM
free lunch for 1st 300 people
at Senior Center
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS
- Cultural Council - Kathy Stankard - approved 8-0
- Council on Aging - Paul J O'Connell - approved 8-0
- Charles River Pollution Control District - William J Goode - approved 8-0
Strategic Planning Survey Available
Strategic Planning survey announced previously is now available.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input online here
What is the survey about? This slide cast will explain:
Please take a few minutes to provide your input online here
What is the survey about? This slide cast will explain:
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