Meeting Minutes
September 17,2013 draft
PRESENT: Selectmen Fisher, Peterson, DeSorgher; Assistant Town Administrator Trierweiler; Town Counsel Mark Cerel; Administrative Assistant Clarke; Mr. Sullivan, absent
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.
MUNICIPAL BONDS, TOWN GARAGE
Treasurer Georgia Colivas reported to the Board that on Thursday September 12, 1013, the Town along with its financial advisor, First Southwest accepted nine competitive bids from bond underwriters for $9.5M general obligation municipal purpose bonds. This 20 year issue includes the $9.5M in new bonds to finance the construction of the new town garage. The bid was awarded to Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. with an interest rate of 3.2% The bond proceeds amount to $9,546.199.50; 46,199.50 is the bond premium which will be used to pay the bond’s borrowing costs. All of the material has been reviewed by Edwards Wildman our legal counsel. Ms. Colivas feels that this interest rate of 3.2% is excellent and said that as our bonds are regarded as high quality, the Town maintaining a very low credit risk and our healthy financial position Moody’s affirmed the town’s AAl rating.
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion, seconded by Selectman DeSorgher to award the sale of $9.5M Town of Medfield general obligation garage bonds to Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., at the price of $9,546,199.50 and accrued interest, if any, be hereby approved and confirmed. The bonds shall be payable on September 15th for the next 20 years. Vote was unanimous
Ms. Colivas outlined the many items that require the Selectmen signatures; a certification of the vote taken, a certification that the bonds were issued pursuant to statutes and votes of the Town and approval of the bonds; a certificate for continuing disclosure which means that the Town must provide an annual report and audited financial statements to all national and state repositories; a tax certificate detailing the use ofthe bond proceeds and that the bonds are qualified tax exempt obligation and the actual bonds amounting to $9.5M.
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion, seconded by Selectmen DeSorgher to approve the bonds in accordance with what the Treasurer/Collector Georgia Colivas has read above .
Vote was unanimous
The Selectmen appreciate all the hard work done by Ms. Colivas regarding the bond issuances.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Present: Frank Perry, Tom Sweeney and Ed Beard; Tax Assessor Stan Bergeron.
Mr. Bergeron began his presentation by explaining the process for property revaluation highlighting that a full review is completed every three years. Each year there is a review of the properties that have been sold to see if it requires an adjustment of land values. He went on to say that property values have not changed much in Medfield and we recovered more quickly from the recession compared to other areas.
Bergeron said that he had heard the idea of raising the tax work off program from $500 to $1,000. The Board of Assessors are not in favor of this change as it would require having less people involved in the program and the possibility of having to tax it on a W2 as income.’ He reported that this is for seniors to take advantage of; veterans do not qualify for this program, however, we are in the process of offering a work-off program for veterans.
Another topic discussed is the motor vehicle excise program. This will be a new version of collect pro that will go live on October 1. Bergeron said that we had to insert three years of back records; Kathy Mills did a great amount of the work. The Board was appreciative to hear this update.
SWAP AREA
Ms. Trierweiler remarked that the group of people involved at the SWAP area will work through some of the issues before coming before the Selectmen.
SPECIAL ELECTION
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion, seconded by Selectman DeSorgher to call a October 21, 2013 Special Election regarding the Red Gate Farm acquisition.
Vote was unanimous
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion, seconded by Selectman DeSorgher to sign the October 7, 2013 Warrant and to close the Warrant at the end ofthe September 17, 2013 Board of Selectmen meeting. Vote was unanimous
It was noted that the last day to register for the Special Town Meeting is September 27 and last day to register to be eligible to vote in the October 2151 Special Town Election is October 1, 2013
CONSERVATION RESTRICTION
The Board is requested to sign a Conservation Restriction for property at 60 Harding Street (formerly known as the Beehive). Town Counsel supports the acceptance
VOTE: Selectman Peterson made a motion to sign the Conservation Restriction pertaining to property located at 60 Harding Street. Selectman DeSorgher seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous
MEETING MINUTES
VOTED to approve the September 3,2013 meeting minutes with revisions
LICENSES & PERMITS
VOTED unanimously to grant the Zullo Gallery a one-day wine and malt beverage permit for First Thursdays: October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2013 6-10:30 PM
Chairman Fisher noted that the Zullo Gallery will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary on October 3, 2013
VOTED unanimously to grant permission to Medfield Youth Lacrosse to place signs announcing registration for the Spring 2014 season. Signs in place November 1 through November 15, 2013
VOTED unanimously to grant Medfield Youth Soccer permission to place signs announcing the annual3 v 3 Soccer Tournament on October 6 at the Wheelock School fields. Signs in place September 18 through September 29, 2013
Voted unanimously to grant permission to the Medfield Lions Club to display signs from October 21 to November 3 promoting the annual Chowder Fest on November 2 at the CENTER and further grant permission to use the Town’s VMS sign at the transfer Station
to advertise the event
MEDFIELD STATE HOSPITAL STATUS UPDATE
Ms. Trierweiler remarked that the first joint coordination meeting was held last week. With these meetings we are hoping to keep everyone informed as to what is happening in terms of the remediation. Also there will be working groups setup to keep the project moving forward. The next Joint Coordination meeting will be held on October 21 at 3:00 PM. The Negotiating Committee will meet this Thursday September 19 in Town Hall at 7:00 PM Ms. Trierweiler pointed out that next Tuesday September 24 the state Hospital Advisory Committee, Mediation and Environmental Review Committees will attend the Selectmen’s meeting for discussion. The Negotiating Committee requests they meet with the Selectmen in Executive Session.
SELECTMEN REPORT
Mr. Peterson reported that he held “Office Hour” at the CENTER on September 6; November 13 he is designated to attend the Mini Town Hall meeting for the Hearthstone Drive neighborhood. The Medfield Foundation will host the annual Angel Run on December 8. This year the Foundation is instituting an all on-line registration for the Run. He mentioned that nominations are open for the 2014 Volunteer of the Year award.
Mr. DeSorgher met with Town Accountant Joy Ricciuto and appreciates her time with him. From what he has seen it is terrific how well the people in Town Hall work together. He attended the meeting together with other Town Hall officials, with the proponents of a medical marijuana cultivation facility. They talked about the security they would install using video cameras; it does entail high water usage and a ventilation system for the strong odor; there will be no tax revenue from the sales. The facility would be opened 24 hours each day.
The AesthetiCS Committee met and discussed types of trees for this area and they would like to see cement sidewalks with the brick strip, the same sidewalk recently constructed on Pound Street. He attended the Energy committee meeting listening to a presentation about the town of Norfolk’s solar photo vatic system. They have had a savings of 250,000 due to rate reduction. The Economic Development Committee held their first meeting and would like to have one additional member. Lyme Disease Study Committee is moving forward with the 2013 bow hunting program.
Mr. DeSorgher attended the Norfolk Hunt Club Polo Game over the weekend. About 1,200 people attended; their many acres on North Street are controlled as open space. The Hunt Club is a great organization and their profits go to preserving open space in Medfield and other towns. He met this afternoon with Nancy Kelly and Kristine to brainstorm ideas about how to use the Lord’s sign. We came up with no definitive plan and concluded that the sign will come down and be stored atthe Kelly’s. CVS Engineer let him know that a new design for the parking lot area has been completed. CVS will need to go before the Planning Board for their input. At Loeffler Lane and South Street the telephone box on the utility pole needs to be taken care of. Still pending is the street sign at Scott Road and Country Way as well as the town path near the Scribner property on Harding Street. Mr. DeSorgher received a telephone call regarding the parking at McCarthy Park. The cars park facing forward to the playing fields, which can pose a serious problem. He will have conversation with Jim Snyder at Park & Rec. This weekend will be busy in Medfield; Saturday is Medfield Day and Sunday is the Water wheel dedication at the Grist Mill. Attendees may park at St Edward parking lot and the COA mini bus will transport people to the Grist Mill. Medway is celebrating their 300th with a parade on Saturday.
Mr. Fisher encourages Medfield residents and neighbors to come to Medfield Day this Saturday. Come and meet up with old friends; it should be a great day. On October 17 Mr. Fisher will be at home ofthe Sweeney’s for a mini town hall meeting in the Indian Hill neighborhood. He hopes that neighbors will attend the Woodland Theatre production of Les Miserables as it will be fabulous. Some other productions that they are planning are Fiddler On The Roof and Spelling Bee.
INFORMATIONAL
Town Counsel Cerel noted that he is willing to attend the Town Charter and Bylaw Review Committee meeting for discussion on the bylaws and how they will pertain to state hospital property.
The Selectmen clarified that the fourth Tuesday meeting will focus on special groups, not a regular selectmen’s meeting.
Ms. Trierweiler addressed the mini library house on display in the back ofthe room. It was suggested that it be placed in the area to be known as the pocket park for Medfield Day, however, she thinks that the sidewalk area would be best. The project ofthe library house and
its theme “Leave One, Take One” was completed by Mare Parker-O’Toole who by the way will be leaving her job at our library to work for Wheelock College.
ADJOURNMENT
Selectman Peterson made a motion at 8:00 PM to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman
DeSorgher. Vote was unanimous.
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