Stoneham Board of Selectmen – Minutes of Meeting of June 15, 2010
Chairman R. Paul Rotondi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Also present were Selectmen John F. DePinto, Richard S. Gregorio, Robert W. Sweeney, Frank Vallarelli, Town Administrator David Ragucci, and Town Counsel William H. Solomon.
Pledge of Allegiance
Accept Redmen Donation
Tom O'Connor presented a $200 gift to the Council on Aging from the Redmen Club.
Approve Minutes
Selectman Sweeney moved approval of the 5/18/10 minutes, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman DePinto moved approval of the 10/13/09 executive session minutes and not to publish, seconded by Selectman Gregorio. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman Gregorio moved approval of the 2/16/10 executive session minutes and not to release, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman DePinto moved approval of the 5/18/10 executive session minutes and not to release, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
Historical Commission Presentation
Stephen Rotondi, Historical Commission Chairman, presented an historical plaque for the Fire Station to Captain Marshall. Mr. Rotondi also presented the Board of Selectmen with an historical plaque for the Town Hall.
SHS 1982 Beautification Fund/Chris Oneschuk
Chris Oneschuk requested permission to cut a swath of the brick at Buckley Memorial Park in order to install irrigation in the area where there is none. Selectman Sweeney moved approval of the request, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Selectman Gregorio added to make sure the Police Chief is okay with it. Ms. Oneschuk asked if they could also rip out the juniper. The Board agreed and the motion was unanimously voted.
Dissolving Certain Selectmen-appointed Committees
Chairman DePinto said that the committees that he started are not active anymore – Land and Building Use Committee, Business Climate Committee, State Relations Committee, and Town Operations/Structure Committee. Selectman DePinto moved to dissolve those committees, seconded by Selectman Vallarelli. Motion was unanimously voted.
Request for Site Plan Extension/95 Maple Street Limited Partnership/95 Maple St
Atty. Mark Vaughan was present to represent 95 Maple Street Limited Partnership in their request to extend the site plan approval of July 2008 for 95 Maple Street. Selectman Vallarelli moved to extend it for two years, seconded by Selectman Gregorio. A roll call vote was taken.
June 15, 2010 – Page (2)
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Rotondi
Motion was unanimously voted.
Approve MEPA Plan
Selectman DePinto moved to vote to adopt the MEPA Plan, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
KENO/Public Meeting
Selectman Sweeney said the State has been giving out applications to restaurants in town for Keno. He said the restaurants were asking for some direction on applying for it. He said that especially now, with the meals tax going to be on the table eventually, it could be a good idea to give them the opportunity, if they choose. It was decided to discuss a Keno policy at the next meeting.
Petition for Act and Resolve Regarding Recreation Park Field House/Town Counsel
Town Counsel Solomon asked for a vote authorizing to send a proposed special act into the legislature for leasing Recreation Park Field House. Selectman DePinto so moved, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
Sale of Emerald Court/Town Counsel
Town Counsel Solomon said they are going to close on Emerald Court on Thursday. He asked for a vote. Selectman Gregorio moved to approve the sale of Emerald Court and authorize the Town Administrator to make any changes to the final document, subject to there being no substantial change. Motion was seconded by Selectman Sweeney and unanimously voted.
Addendum
Selectman DePinto moved to go to the addendum, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman DePinto moved to postpone Items 15 and 18 to the next meeting. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted.
Recycling Fees and Policy/Chairman Rotondi
Chairman Rotondi said the Board needs to vote to raise the fee to $30 a year. He said when they had a meeting the Board said people who just want to bring white goods didn't have to buy a sticker. He said people have been charged an extra $10 fee and he wants the Board to set policy on that. He said he believed the Board said if someone was registered in Florida or New Hampshire they could still get a sticker if they show their real estate bill. He said one other issue is the proration issue. He asked if people buy the sticker in June, do they get June free. Selectman Gregorio said when they make a
June 15, 2010 – Page (3)
decision he would like to see something from the Town Administrator to the Chairman or the Chairman to the Town Administrator on what they decided. Selectman Gregorio said the only way to get a sticker is DPW. He asked if an office in Town Hall could supplement DPW. Selectman Sweeney moved to support the changes and make it a policy what Chairman Rotondi just mentioned, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Selectman Gregorio clarified that one month is free and prorate monthly. Chairman Rotondi added that if they just want to dispose of white goods they only have to pay the fee for white goods. Selectman Gregorio said Town Counsel and Muriel had put together a schedule of Liquor License fees. He said they need one on all fees. Motion on the four changes was unanimously voted.
Chairman Rotondi said the Selectmen's policies were last updated in 1994. He proposed that maybe every meeting they do one policy. Selectman Gregorio said he would like to see them on the website, once updated. Selectman DePinto moved that the Chairman and Selectman Gregorio work on one policy a month starting with July, seconded by Selectman Gregorio. Motion was unanimously voted.
Liquor Licensing Authority
Selectman DePinto moved to go into Liquor Licensing Authority and return as Board of Selectmen, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Rotondi
Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting recessed at 7:45 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 7:47 p.m.
NStar/Continued
Annmarie Walsh and Mike Sweeney were present from NStar. Chairman Rotondi said the question is what are they going to do in the area at Fieldstone Drive. He said the last meeting they said they were going to take out the numbers on the street. He said they painted them and they look worse. Mr. Sweeney said they tried two methods to remove the paint. He said the paint is supposed to stay there for 90 days. He said Verizon will have to repaint the whole street anyway. He said a resident called him to remove the paint, and he will try to do it. He said that, with regard to the pavement, they started this project in August or September of 2009. He said they intended to go out there with directional drilling. He said they said they were hitting ledge. NStar
ordered them to stop. He said the only way to do it was open trench. He said they spoke to Bob Grover. Chairman Rotondi asked if he talked to Verizon. Mr. Sweeney said Bob Grover didn't want him to do any paving because he was unsure of Verizon's timetable. He said a gentleman on Rustic Road told him Verizon was not going to do any work. Town Counsel said they could have Verizon in in July. The Board agreed. A resident of Macone Circle said Macone Circle is way newer than Citation. She said they went up the center and then decided to go up the side. Mr. Sweeney apologized. He said he will look
June 15, 2010 – Page (4)
at Macone Circle. He said they spent $300,000 on ledge. He said the Town was the one that mentioned Citation. He said he will look at Macone but that dialogue didn't come up when he met with the Town.
Employment Agreement for Town Administrator
Selectman DePinto moved to move this Item #14 from executive session to the regular meeting, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Town Counsel Solomon reviewed the Town Administrator's contract. He said salary is currently $119,123 and proposed is $120,910 and car allowance was $150 a month and now is $200 a month. There are 5 additional earned leave days. His insurance was a 25% contribution and is now 15%, the same as other full-time employees. Chairman Rotondi clarified that in FY10 he didn't get a raise and in FY11 they are giving him
1 ½%. He said the only two changes from FY10 to FY11 are the 1 ½% raise and getting the 5 days leave. He said the car allowance was done in FY10. Selectman DePinto moved approval, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Chairman Rotondi personally thanked Mr. Ragucci and said he thinks he is doing a great job.
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Selectman Vallarelli noted the letter from Maureen Buckley thanking the Board and said he wanted to thank her and he thanked Dan Connolly and Kevin Dockery for getting the cemetery ready for Memorial Day. He said one is a former employee and one is the Superintendent for Lindenwood Cemetery. Selectman DePinto thanked Selectman Sweeney for representing the Board and Chairman Rotondi thanked Selectman Sweeney, also. Chairman Rotondi noted the letter from Mr. Laskey of the MWRA thanking all water emergency people. Selectmen Gregorio and Sweeney asked if anything was happening with the Cottage Street resolution. Mr. Ragucci said Mr. Laskey seemed not to have a problem with the Town's request for a bypass.
Town Administrator Reports
Mr. Ragucci asked the Board to vote to approve the School Building Feasibility Study Agreement. Selectman DePinto moved approval, seconded by Selectman Gregorio. Motion was unanimously voted. Mr. Ragucci said the trash disposal contract with Covanta is extended to 2015. He said they froze the cost for FY11. Mr. Ragucci said Town Meeting voted to approve a 1 ½% increase for FY11. He said the non-union took a 0% in FY10. He asked the Board to grant 1 ½% for non-union salaried employees effective 7/1. Selectman DePinto moved this, seconded by Selectman Vallarelli. Motion was unanimously voted. Chairman Rotondi asked for the results of the consolidation of dispatching. Mr. Ragucci said it would cost Stoneham $190,000 more if they were to
join with the present consortium.
Executive Session
Selectman DePinto moved to go into executive session for Stockwell and litigation and a contract issue, under Chapter 39, section 23B. Motion was seconded by Selectman Vallarelli, and a roll call vote was taken.
June 15, 2010 – Page (5)
Voting in favor:
Selectman Gregorio
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Rotondi
Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Doherty
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