Stoneham Board of Selectmen – Minutes of Meeting of August 22, 2006
Vice Chairman John F. DePinto called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Also present were Selectmen Anthony C. Kennedy, R. Paul Rotondi, George E. Seibold, Town Administrator Ronald J. Florino, and Town Counsel William H. Solomon. Chairman Robert W. Sweeney was unable to attend.
Pledge of Allegiance
Commendations/Police Dept
Chief Moore read the letter from Lt. Fletcher of the State Police to Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent, concerning the attempted rescue of a drowning victim at the High Service Water Supply, Woodland Road, Stoneham, in which he recommends that the civilian be commended by the Superintendent and be nominated for the Distinguished Service Award and that Sgt. Kranefuss, Sgt. Stefanelli, Off. Thistle, and Trooper McCarthy be commended by the Superintendent and nominated for the Medal of Valor. The Board of Selectmen presented Sgt. Kranefuss with a commendation for diving repeatedly in water almost 40 feet deep to attempt to rescue a drowning victim and to Sgt. Stefanelli for repeatedly diving and eventually diving to a depth of forty feet and attaching a rescue rope to the victim.
Approve Minutes
Selectman Rotondi moved approval of the 7/25/06 minutes, seconded by Selectman Kennedy. Motion was unanimously voted (4-0). Selectman Seibold moved approval of the 7/25/06 executive session minutes and not to release them. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted (4-0). Selectman Kennedy moved approval of the 8/1/06 minutes. Motion was seconded, and voting was 2-0-2, with Selectmen Kennedy and Seibold abstaining. Motion carried. Selectman Rotondi moved approval of the 8/1/06 executive session minutes, to remain confidential, seconded by Selectman Kennedy. Voting was 2-0-2, with Selectmen Kennedy and Seibold abstaining. Motion carried.
Request for Street Permit for Town Day/Chamber of Commerce
Selectman Seibold read the letter from Sharon Iovanni. Selectman Seibold moved approval of the request to close the north side and south side Town Common parking lots, Central Street from Pleasant to Main, Emerson from Pine to Central and the two Town Hall parking lots, for the exclusive use of Town Day participants from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on 9/16/06, and also the closure of Common Street from Main to Pine for purposes of conducting the Road Race. Motion was seconded by Selectman Kennedy and unanimously voted (4-0).
Liquor Licensing Authority
Selectman Seibold moved to go into Liquor Licensing Authority, seconded by Selectman Rotondi, who added they will return as the Board of Selectmen. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Seibold
Selectman Kennedy
Selectman Rotondi
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Vice Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Meeting recessed at 7:24 p.m. to go into Liquor Licensing Authority.
Meeting reconvened at 7:31 p.m.
New Street Signs/DPW
Bob Grover, DPW Director, showed samples of street signs. He said the Town can use $20,000 of Chapter 90 money for the year one program. Selectman Seibold moved acceptance to do 300 of the blue sign, high intensity, with the white seal and black lettering, seconded by Selectman Kennedy. Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Pay as You Throw Committee
Richard Gregorio reviewed the handout from the PAYT. There were 6 options. Selectman Rotondi asked if they had talked to residents. Mr. Gregorio said they wanted to get parameters from the Selectmen and then set up meetings at the Senior Center and PTOs. He said they want to implement this by January 1st. Selectman Rotondi asked if they had talked to any communities. Carolyn Dannis, DEP employee on loan to Stoneham, said she has interviewed a lot of people. She said there are people who say it works. She said some resent that they have to think about it. She said all of the towns who have PAYT are thrilled with it. She said residents seem to understand it and view it ultimately as fair. Selectman Seibold asked if there would be a weekly recycling
pickup. Mr. Grover said the Town would have to sit down with its hauler and work out a new contract to do that. Selectman Kennedy asked if the bag price will go down in two years. Mr. Gregorio said that is why they are recommending an Enterprise Fund. Selectman Kennedy asked if they ever saw a price reduction. Ms. Dannis said in Wrentham the fixed fee dropped by $40. Mr. Gregorio said they are not asking for a final vote. He said they will hear the Committee’s recommendations from people. Selectman Kennedy asked if they are recommending to fully fund trash or the other alternative. Mr. Gregorio said the Committee believes it should be fully funded with Model B, which is an $80 flat fee plus $2 for a large bag and $1 for a small bag. He said the senior discount would be 20% of the flat fee.
Selectman Rotondi said he wants to make it clear that they are talking about three issues. He said he believes Town services should be funded by taxes. He doesn’t agree with fees. He said the second point is they can increase recycling through public education. He said the third thing is enforcement. He said this Town has no enforcement on anything. He said he doesn’t have a problem with the Committee going forward and having their meeting but he is opposed to it and will be opposed to it. He said he is not criticizing the Committee. He told them he thinks they did a wonderful job.
It was decided to place the PAYT on the 9/26/06 agenda and Mr. Gregorio will provide feedback from their meetings with voters. Selectman Kennedy moved to let the Pay as You Throw Committee continue on and report back to the Board on 9/26/06, seconded by Selectman Seibold. Selectman Seibold said he would rather do a flat fee. He said he thinks this is a lot more. Selectman DePinto said the Committee might come back and say the residents don’t want it. A roll call vote was taken.
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Voting in favor:
Selectman Seibold
Selectman Kennedy
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Sign Warrant for State Primary
Selectman Rotondi moved to sign the State Primary Warrant, seconded by Selectman Kennedy. Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Set Date for October Special Town Meeting and Set Dates for Opening and Closing of Warrant
Selectman Kennedy moved to establish the Special Town Meeting for 10/23/06 and open the warrant on 8/22/06 and close it on Monday, 9/25/06 at 4:00 p.m. Motion was seconded by Selectman Rotondi and unanimously voted (4-0).
Accept Donations
Selectman Seibold read the list of donors to the Stoneham Recreation Department. Selectman Rotondi moved to accept the donations from New England Over the Hill Soccer League, Joseph Lawrence Gresci, Stoneham Youth Softball, Domenic Colucci, and Stoneham Youth Sports/David Harrington. Motion was seconded by Selectman Kennedy and unanimously voted (4-0).
Approve Block Parties/Hancock St/Philips Rd
Selectman Kennedy moved approval of a Block Party on 8/26 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Hancock Street from the corner of Pine Street to Summer Street. Motion was seconded by Selectman Rotondi and unanimously voted (4-0).
Selectman Kennedy moved approval of a Block Party on 9/16 from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. on Philips Road, with a rain date of 9/17. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted (4-0).
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Selectman Rotondi noted the letter from Eugene Passaro requesting appointment to the Operations Committee. Selectman Rotondi moved to appoint Eugene Passaro to the Operations Committee, seconded by Selectman Kennedy. Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Selectman Rotondi said he felt that the $2,500 cost for the Police Academy could come out of drug money. Selectman Seibold agreed that can be used in the Police budget. Selectman Rotondi asked if this money is in a bank account, trust fund or a safe in the Police Department. Town Administrator Florino said they have $40,000 in a checking account and that a substantial amount is still in the safes. He said they are not sure if the Town has complete authority over using that money. Selectman Rotondi asked why the
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money can’t go into an interest-bearing account, until they get an answer. Selectman Rotondi said there should be an approved process and an account of how it was spent. Mr. Florino said he believes the Chief has total control. Selectman Rotondi suggested the Town Administrator could have a policy that he has to know about it. Town Administrator Florino said he will look into getting the money into an account.
Selectman Rotondi asked for a list of what the costs are of Town vehicles and who drives them. He also asked for a list for the last fiscal year of how much gas was spent for each gas card. Selectman DePinto added he would like to know if it is by contract for everyone who has a vehicle. Selectman Rotondi said Andover is putting the Town seal on cars.
Selectman Kennedy noted the letter from Edie Previdi about increasing rates at the Arena. The Board discussed rates.
Town Administrator Reports
Town Administrator Florino said RCN did their volunteer program on Saturday. He thanked RCN for their help in working on the cemetery.
Mr. Florino showed the Board an ID card for Town employees and officials. The Board liked the idea.
Executive Session
Selectman Seibold moved to go into executive session and not return as the Board of Selectmen, for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining, contract negotiations, and litigation, pursuant to Chapter 39, section 23B. Motion was seconded by Selectman Rotondi, and a roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Seibold
Selectman Kennedy
Selectman Rotondi
Vice Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted (4-0).
Meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Doherty
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