BoS 8/20 minutes

Meeting Minutes
August 20, 2013
draft

PRESENT: Selectmen Fisher, Peterson, DeSorgher; Town Administrator Sullivan; Assistant Town
Administration Trierweiler; Administrative Assistant Clarke

The meeting convened at 7:00 PM in the Chenery Meeting Room.
Chairman Fisher announced this meeting is being recorded. He asked for a moment of appreciation for our brave servicemen and women serving in Afghanistan

ACTION
A letter was received from the Town of Walpole Selectmen regarding Department of Development Services’ RFP for construction of a group home in a Walpole neighborhood.  Walpole was not aware of the construction proposal prior to receiving a building permit application and inquired if we have had a similar situation. Mr. Sullivan mentioned that the Governor’s plan is to consolidate all housing authorities into six regional zones and the state has proposed 10,000 affordable homes to be built. We have to be careful they do not take over our own housing authority. The Selectmen agreed and advised Sullivan to respond to Walpole Selectmen’s letter.

Notice received from Metropolitan Area Planning Council regarding the annual Municipal elections. Ms. Trierweiler advised that Town Planner Sarah Raposa is a member of the Three Rivers Inter-local Council representing Medfield.

MINUTES
VOTED unanimously to approve the July 16 and August 6, 2013 meeting minutes with revisions

LICENSES & PERMITS
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion, seconded by Selectman DeSorgher to grant permission for the Morse Drive neighborhood to hold a Block Party on Saturday September 28, 2-7PM; rain date September 29,2013. Vote was unanimous

PENDING ITEMS
Annual committee appointments. As Ms. Trierweiler just returned from vacation she requested the Selectmen table until their September 3rO meeting.

Mission Statement for the Economic Development Committee; hold for next meeting. Noted that the committee is planning to meet on Thursday September 12th

Selectmen’s goals; a few changes to be made. Table for next meeting
Good Neighbor Policy. Mr. DeSorgher feels that there should be good effort on the part of the Town to better inform the citizens about work to be done in their neighborhood. Mr. Sullivan remarked that there needs to be a reasonable timeframe and flexibility to any schedule of work.

MEDFIELD STATE HOSPITAL STATUS UPDATE
It was mentioned that DCAM has not yet come through with a price for the hospital site, however, Westborough was given a purchase price from the state of $2.2 million with 0% interest rate.  Ms. Trierweiler remarked that there will be a meeting on September 9th at 3:30PM with John O’Donnell regarding the settlement agreement. It was agreed that the Mediation Committee should continue to exist. She mentioned that the tentative date for Special Town Meeting is October th. Discussion ensued regarding Medfield’s by laws. The Selectmen feel that perhaps ” a sub-“committee sho”uld be established to research the bylaws pertaining to the hospital property as the bylaw review committee may need theirtime for the review of the town charter and bylaws which in itself is overwhelming.

SELECTMEN REPORT
Mr. Peterson attended the Town By law and Charter Review Committee meeting and commented they will next meet on August 2th. He mentioned that the Water and Sewer Board member Willis Peligian put together a very impressive tool when he created a budget planning and rate setting procedure. At the Energy Committee meeting they discussed Medfield becoming a Green Community, highlighting that the town has saved 28-29% since 2008 and also discussed a “solar farm” behind the Wheelock School.

Mr. DeSorgher feels that as we are behind in meeting with some committees, departments, we will need to reschedule those for the first Tuesday meeting in December. He reported that resident Michael Quinlan will host the first mini Town Hall meeting on September 26th for the Pondview Road neighborhood and asked Mrs. Clarke to assist him in sending out the invitations. DeSorgher appreciates the very quick action of our new Nstar Rep Jack Lopes addressing some of the issues the Town has with Nstar. Mr. Lopes is going to put together a time line for the removal of the double poles in Town focusing on the downtown area, Main Street and Route 27.
Selectman DeSorgher sent out birthday greetings to Barbara Leighton as she celebrates her 95th birthday today. He mentioned the overgrown bushes along Sidewalks, Ice House Road is one area, to which Sullivan said that he talked with Superintendent Feeney who will have his crew take care of the matter. There are a few street signs missing; Wight Street and Harding Street, country Lane at Wood End and South and Spring Street; also dead trees at 92 South Street and the one at 18 Spring Street not sure if it is public or private. Sullivan said Ed Hinkley will look at them. Mr. DeSorgher will meet with Jack Peterson at the cable station this Friday; he extended appreciation to Kyle Andrulonis and Kabir Thatte who did good things for the Town as summer interns. He thanked Treasurer Georgia Colivas for her time with him to learn town finances 101. DeSorgher attends the Tuesday morning meetings regarding the construction ofthe new garage and is happy to report that there is good initial progress being made.

Mr. Fisher said that the Thursday evening concerts at the Gazebo have ended for this summer and it was a great time enjoyed by many through the weeks. The Woodland Theatre Company will be performing Les Miserables October 4 to 6 at the high school and encourages everyone to attend as they are very, very good. A reminder that Medfield Day this year will be held on Saturday September 21st •

INFORMATIONAL
Mr. Sullivan met with Jean Mineo ofthe Cultural Council who reported that they have a few ideas under consideration; hoping to be able to get a few utility poles from Nstar that will be used to create a pergola next to Royal Pizza; plan to put up a chalkboard for people to give opinions as to their ideas for the pocket park (erect chalkboard on the site). Sullivan attended a meeting earlier today regarding actuarial study done on OPEB, unfunded liability. There will be an insurance advisory committee meeting on September 11th;  committee member Joanne Schmidt has left Medfield for a job in another town.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion made and seconded at 8:30 PM to adjourn the meeting. Vote was unanimous.