Stoneham Board of Selectmen –Minutes of Meeting of November 17, 2009
Chairman John F. DePinto called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Also present were Selectmen Richard S. Gregorio, R. Paul Rotondi, Robert W. Sweeney, Frank Vallarelli, Town Administrator David Ragucci, and Town Counsel William H. Solomon.
Pledge of Allegiance
Whip Hill Donation/Dan Towse
Dan Towse, Trustee of the Whip Hill Trust, presented the Board with a $10,950 check to take care of the maintenance costs for Whip Hill for this year.
Tax Rate/Public Hearing
Selectman Vallarelli read the Notice of Hearing that was published in the Stoneham Independent on 10/28/09. Director of Assessing Brian Macdonald said the Board of Assessors recommended a shift of 1.53 with the corresponding 0.9305 residential factor. He said the tax rate would be $11.49 Residential and $18.86 Commercial. He said the Board of Assessors is not recommending a residential exemption or a commercial exemption. Selectman Rotondi moved to do the 0.9305 factor, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Chairman DePinto opened the hearing t the public. Chamber Executive Director Sharon Iovanni asked that they revert back to no shift. She also asked them to consider a small commercial exemption, perhaps just for a year. She asked them to consider lowering the shift or consider
the exemption. Selectman Vallarelli asked if there were an estimate of how many industrial properties would pick it up. Mr. Macdonald said they have 20 of them. Selectman Rotondi said they have one big industrial property to develop and they would have to tell them they will pay more taxes. Secondly, he said, if they have 12 employees they might lay off two to qualify. He said he appreciates Ms. Iovanni’s concern, but he doesn’t think it’s a wise thing to do in these times. Assessor Dick Mangerian said Selectman Rotondi’s remarks are completely in order. He said if a developer looks at the shift, if they vote it, he doesn’t think it would be an incentive. Mr. Macdonald said it would be granted to the property owner who would not be required to pass on any savings to the business. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted.
Executive Session
Selectman Rotondi moved to go into executive session for purposes of discussing litigation and return as the Board of Selectmen to finish the agenda. Selectman Sweeney noted they have residents here on the agenda at 7:50 p.m. He said he thinks they can let the lawyers wait. He said they will probably be done with the agenda in a half hour, and if the litigation is so important he wouldn’t want to rush it. Selectman Rotondi withdrew his motion.
November 17, 2009 – Page (2)
Appoint Members to Committees
Selectman Rotondi moved to appoint Robert Conway and Ellen McBride to the Conservation Commission, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman Vallarelli moved to appoint David LeBlanc and Nathan Cramer to the Historical Commission, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman Sweeney moved to appoint Josh Portman as an associate member of the Conservation Commission, seconded by Selectman Vallarelli. Motion was unanimously voted.
11 Gould St LLC/9-11-13 Gould St/Site Plan Extension
Atty. Houghton was present to represent 11 Gould St LLC in its request for a one-year site plan extension. Selectman Rotondi moved to extend the site plan at 9-11-13 Gould Street for one year, seconded by Selectman Gregorio. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted.
9-11-13 Gould St/Request for Change of Address
Selectman Sweeney moved to approve the change of address form 9-11-13 Gould Street to 11 Gould Street, if there is no problem with the Board of Assessors and DPW. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted.
Sign Development Agreement and Mitigation Covenant/Langwood Commons and Stoneham Executive Center
Selectman Rotondi moved to sign the mitigation agreement in front of them tonight, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
2 Lynn Fells Parkway/Site Plan Extension
Atty. Houghton was present to represent Cafua Management Company in its request for a one-year extension on the site plan at 2 Lynn Fells Parkway. Selectman Vallarelli moved to approve a one-year extension on the site plan at 2 Lynn Fells parkway, seconded by Selectman Rotondi. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted.
November 17, 2009 – Page (3)
Sign Development Agreement and Mitigation Covenant/Langwood Commons and Stoneham Executive Center/Continued
Selectman Rotondi moved to amend his previous motion to approve signing the Development agreement and the Mitigation Covenant for Langwood Commons and Stoneham Executive Center. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted.
MBTA Bus Service/Ken Pruitt
Ken Pruitt, 9 Everett Street, and several other T riders were present to discuss the service Stoneham is receiving from the T. Mr. Pruitt said they pay fares but that all taxpayers in Stoneham pay over $430,000 a year. He said they have some expectation of a certain frequency and timeliness of service. He said it is common for the bus to be late 0 to 15 minutes and once or twice a week the bus doesn’t show. The bus runs every half hour, which could mean a 45 minute wait. He said in pouring rain or freezing temperatures that is simply unacceptable. He said timeliness is simply a matter of supervision. He said buses are jam-packed. He said if there were three buses an hour instead of two, there wouldn’t be as much of an impact if a bus broke down. Dennis
Boyd, 107 Marble St #4, said he waited 3 ½ hours at Malden Station for a bus. He said it runs every hour during the day and there is no service for seniors. Ms. Ford, a therapist, spoke about service for seniors and citizens with limited mobility. She said waiting a ½ hour for someone with a disability is impossible. She said they also need to know the bus will run frequently so they can sit down. Another woman said the 8:00 bus is too unreliable so she now takes the 7:30 a.m. bus, which gets her to work very early. Selectman Gregorio recommended a subcommittee of Selectmen and these people meet with the Representatives and Senator and have them convey this to the T. Selectmen Sweeney and Vallarelli said they would like to be involved. Sharon Iovanni asked if they needed someone from the business committee. Selectman Gregorio said that was a good idea.
Approve Minutes
Selectman Rotondi moved approval of the 9/22/09 minutes. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted. Selectman Gregorio moved approval of the 10/26/09 minutes, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Selectman Sweeney noted the correspondence from DCR concerning South Street extension. He said he contacted Mary Zatta and gave her a copy. He said the neighborhood was agreeable to what was proposed. He asked if the Town would accept it as a private way.
Town Counsel Solomon said he wanted to close on the two parcels of land at the Town Hall parking lot on 11/24. Selectman Gregorio moved to accept signing of both documents, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
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Cable
Selectman Sweeney moved to authorize the Chairman to sign two letters, one to Comcast initiating the formal licensing process and a compliance letter to RCN. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted.
Tree Warden of the Year Nomination
Selectman Sweeney nominated Jim Previte Tree Warden of the Year, seconded by Selectman Rotondi. Motion was unanimously voted. Chairman DePinto asked Town Administrator Ragucci to take care of the application.
Town Administrator Report
Mr. Ragucci said he will be purchasing a Senior Center van from Stoneham Ford. He said StonehamBank and Stoneham Ford will each pay $7,500 toward the cost.
Mr. Ragucci said he is drafting an intermunicipal agreement with Melrose sharing the Building Inspector in January of next year.
Selectman Rotondi asked about the letter to Redstone about sidewalks. Mr. Ragucci said he will send it out this week. Selectman Gregorio asked if anything on the public meeting with the bikepath. Mr. Ragucci said he will have an update. Selectman Rotondi said the Planning Board has to send a letter to Redstone. He said to send Gus Niewenhous the same letter the Board sends.
Executive Session
Selectman Sweeney moved to go into executive session for litigation strategy and to adjourn and not come back as the Board of Selectmen. Motion was seconded, and a roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman DePinto
Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Doherty
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