Westport News

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

 

Members Present:                 Richard M. Spirlet, Chairman

                                                                Craig J. Dutra, Vice Chairman

                                                Steven J. Ouellette

                        Antone C. Vieira Jr.

                        James W. Coyne, Clerk

Also present:                          John F. Healey, Interim Town Administrator

 

Chairman Spirlet called the Board of Selectmen meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Westport Town Hall, 816 Main Road, Westport, MA with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by all present.

 

Citation - RE: Presentation to Dr. Callen

The Board issued a citation to Dr. Callen and Prima Care for supplying to the Town Nurse 360 doses of flu vaccine that were cut from the state allotment. Dr. Callen was present to accept.

 

Public Hearing – Fee Increase request from the Fire Department

The public hearing was opened at 6:04 PM.  Fire Chief Brian Legendre was present.  Chief Legendre stated the request was for an increase of eight base rates for Ambulance Fees; all increases are $100.00 over what the present fee is.  This fee is for transports.  Chief Legendre stated this increase would put Westport inline with neighboring communities.  The fees collected go into the General Fund once the Enterprise Fund reaches $110,000.00.

Motion made by Mr. Dutra to approve the fee increase request as submitted by Chief Legendre.  Second by Mr. Vieira.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

The hearing is closed at 6:08 PM.

 

At this time, Ms. Sybil Burba recognized the Westport Fire Department for their service to the community.

 

Westport Land Trust – RE: Conservation Restriction – Keefe Property – Pine Hill Road

Present:  Chris Detwiller and Lucy Keefe.  Ms. Keefe stated the area to be accepted is the central upland section of the former Boy Scout Camp Noquochoke.  Ms. Keefe then read an excerpt from “From the woods to the water”. Ms. Keefe stated that by accepting this restriction it will ensure future generations an opportunity to bond with nature.  Mr. Detwiller stated there is a public benefit in the protection of water quality, open space and recreational plans with critical natural landscapes for special protection of certain species.  Mr. Vieira asked why not include public access all at once since Ms. Keefe is comfortable with this.  Ms. Keefe stated that she was holding on that idea due to tax purposes.  Mr. Spirlet asked if this had been reviewed by Town Counsel.  Mr. Detwiller stated no because the holders of the Conservation Restriction is the owners of the property and not the Land Trust.  Mr. Coyne stated that no funding from the Town is being used on this.  Ms. Keefe stated that she has no objections to its use as long as there are no motorized vehicles; hikers are always welcomed.  Mr. Vieira stated that initially, the tax benefits are to the owner and then it is up to the owner to file an abatement with the Assessors; eventually, in most cases, it is signed over to the Land Trust and then the property will be off the tax roles.  Over time, the taxes on the property will be reduced until there are no more taxes.

Motion made by Mr. Vieira to support the Conservation Restriction and also to request that the landowner and the trustees of the Land Trust, within six months or so, come back to the Board with a committed plan for public use of the property. Second by Mr. Coyne.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

 

Ponds Committee – RE: Report on the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife report

Present were Claude Ledoux, William Burns and William Gifford.  Mr. Ledoux gave a recap of the letter submitted on October 28, 2011.  Mr. Ledoux stated the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife have offered the assistance of their biologists and now the Ponds Committee is asking the Board of Selectmen to consider accepting this assistance. Mr. Ouellette stated he was waiting for the report from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.  Mr. Ledoux stated it was submitted by email to the BOS Office; the help being offered is at no cost and this will help in deciding if the Mill Pond proposal is feasible.  Mr. Ouellette stated he would like an onsite with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Ponds Committee, the Estuaries Committee and the Selectmen in order to view what is being proposed.  Mr. Dutra stated another piece of this puzzle is the Estuaries Report.  Mr. Dutra agreed with Mr. Ouellette, once we are given this report, the more we will understand this and then we can take the offer of the Division of Wildlife and Fisheries. 

Motion made by Mr. Vieira to move forward with this request.  No second was received.

Mr. Gifford stated in order for the Board of Selectmen to make a decision, all of the information needs to be put together from the Ponds and Estuaries Committees and the facts need to be reviewed before making a decision. 

Motion made by Mr. Ouellette that an onsite be conducted by the BOS along with the Ponds and Estuaries Committees and the Division of Wildlife and Fisheries to view what is being proposed. Second by Mr. Dutra.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Ledoux stated he would contact the DWF and make arrangements for a date and time. This meeting will continue again once an onsite is completed.

 

Personnel Board – RE: Appointment compliance letters and Certification Status of Data Base

Eileen Sheehan was present.  The Board reviewed the letters of appointment to committee appointees and letters to employees regarding the compliance with the Open Meeting Law and the Conflict of Interest Law. The letters also provide instructions on how and when this needs to be done and it reminds the appointees that they must be sworn in by the Town Clerk.  Ms. Sheehan thanked Denise Bouchard for providing the list of employees and non-employees.  Mr. Dutra stated the Town needs to take responsibility for distributing the materials to the appointees; while being sworn in, the Town Clerk can supply the material.  Mr. Spirlet stated that the appointee is now forced to go online and read all the information before getting the certificate; once they have the certificate they must sign it and file it with the Selectmen’s Office and then while they are here, they can be sworn in by the Town Clerk. 

Ms. Sheehan stated that back on May 16^th, the Personnel Board asked for goals and objectives to be issued to them.  Ms. Sheehan stated she would like to come back before the Board for further direction.  Ms. Sheehan will contact the office for a date and time.

 

Question and Answer Period

1.      Wayne Sunderland asked what is the status of any solutions to the East Beach Road storm problems.  Mr. Spirlet stated the Federal was going to pay xxx amount of dollars but all the information is being transferred to the State because this area is under their jurisdiction.  Mr. Vieira stated the Planning Board is in the process of laying out the road.  Mr. Spirlet stated that Coastal Zone Management and the DEP are working on this.

2.      Elaine Ostroff asked what is the status of the timing of renewal of Charter Cable contract. Mr. Spirlet stated the contract is almost done and we are continuing to move forward.  Mr. Ouellette stated that a tentative date for a public hearing is January 17, 2012.  It will be advertised once the date is set.

 

Correspondence Requiring Action and / or Reading

1.      Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to appoint Alan W. Powers to the Westport Cultural Council.  Second by Mr. Dutra.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

2.      Motion made by Mr. Vieira to forward a copy of a letter of appreciation from Richmond Pond Drive to the Conservation Commission and the Highway Department.  Second by Mr. Coyne.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

3.      No action taken.

4.      Motion made by Mr. Coyne to send letters to Senators Kerry and Brown requesting no lapse of the National Flood Insurance Program.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

5.      Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to send letters of support of Bill S.145 “An Act Regulating Secondary Metals Dealing” to the state legislators.  Second by Mr. Dutra.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

6.      No action was taken. It was noted that a lot of work was conducted by Michael Sullivan, Jim Whitin and Sarah Raposa on this proposal.

7.      No action was taken. A copy of this letter received from Lighthouse Assembly of God offering free labor will be kept on file and a copy will be forwarded to the Recreation Commission, Highway Department and Police Department.

 

Town Administrator’s Report

1.      Motion made by Mr. Dutra to lift the hiring freeze and advertise the position for the Cemetery Department.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor. It was noted that Wes Norman was present to explain the need.

2.      Motion made by Mr. Vieira to adopt the Town Administrator’s recommendation in regards to the Housing Rehab Advisory Committee Close-Out Recommendations.  Second by Mr. Dutra.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.  (see attached).

 

Consider / Reconsider

1.      Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to remove the murals at the Town Hall Annex with the condition that they are photographed for possible display in the Annex or Town Hall with a description of how they were created.  Second by Mr. Coyne.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

2.      The Board requested that Mr. Rebello be invited to their next meeting for an interview regarding his request for appointment to the Long Term Planning Town Building Evaluation Committee.

3.      Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to appoint Bernadette Oliver as Wellness Coordinator of the Southeastern Mass. Health Group.  Second by Mr. Dutra.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

4.      Motion made by Mr. Dutra to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of 10-17-11. Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

      Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of 10-21-11.  

      Second by Mr. Coyne.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

 

Other Issues

1.      Mr. Ouellette sent a thank-you to all those who attended the Veterans Ceremony and congratulations to the new Veterans’ Agent who did a good job.  Mr. Spirlet noted that Mr. Coyne was the lead speaker for the ceremony and did a good job also.

2.      Mr. Spirlet requested on the next agenda to be discussed, a letter received from the ABCC regarding recent violations by licensed businesses.

3.      Motion made by Mr. Dutra to give the half-day off before Thanksgiving to the non-union employees also.  Second by Mr. Vieira.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

 

Executive Session – 7:53 PM

Motion made by Mr. Dutra to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21 to discuss the agreement of the Central Village Sidewalk/Lees and to approve Executive Session Minutes.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

 

Roll Call Vote:  Mr. Dutra-aye.  Mr. Ouellette-aye.  Mr. Vieira-aye.  Mr. Coyne-aye. 

Mr. Spirlet-aye.

 

Mr. Spirlet announced the Board would return to Open Session in order to adjourn. 

 

Open Session – 8:15 PM

Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to adjourn the Board of Selectmen meeting at 8:30 PM.  Second by Mr. Coyne.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

 

Adjournment.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                                                   

                                                            Diane Pelland, Confidential Clerk

                                                            To the Board of Selectmen

 

 

                                    APPROVED:                                                                          

                                                            James W. Coyne Jr., Clerk