The Board of Selectmen met this evening with Chairman Jeffrey Tufts presiding. In attendance were William Hardin, Frederick Clark, Patricia Hunt, Patricia Webster and Town Adm. Kevin Paicos.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to approve General Minutes dated 3/2/98.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hunt, the Board voted unanimously to approve General Minutes dated 3/9/98, as amended.

Tufts read the Proclamation.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to approve and support the Proclamation for Rabbi Paul Levenson.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to support the Payroll Oath Listing, dated 3/23/98.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously by roll-call, to appoint Carol Mandeville to the Council on Aging to fulfill the unexpired term of Anthony Ferragamo, which will expire on 6/30/99.

Tufts read the request.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously by roll-call, to appoint Harvey Blackman as Deputy Warden of Precinct 6.

Chairman John Kent, Gloria Stafford, Robert Hicks, Allen Barron, Christopher D’Arpino, David Brown in attendance.

Kent noted that the FinCom had asked him, as Chair, to express the disappointment of the Committee that the Selectmen denied the request for a referendum question that was submitted by the FinCom.

Hunt expressed concern that the Joint Hearing was advertised on the budget, not on other issues and if other issues are discussed, she will have to step off the discussion.

Kent noted that the Selectmen’s Budget and the School’s Budget are the only budgets the Committee haven’t voted on to date. He noted that the Committee is waiting for the Selectmen to act on their own budget first. Kent noted this has been a very productive and successful year for the Committee. Kent noted the Committee is already half way through the ATM Warrant review.

Tufts noted that the Selectmen have three more meetings to do the remaining budgets and warrant articles. Tufts noted that the Board has discussed its budget but there has been no vote taken due to the changes proposed by the Town Adm.

Paicos noted that the FinCom has done an exemplary job reviewing the budget this year. Paicos noted the terrific job done with the budget reviews and that the budget discussions proved very helpful.

Clark asked the Chair of the FinCom to express the Committee’s views. Clark questioned if there were any major differences between the Selectmen and the Committee’s recommendations. Kent stated no.

Barron noted that during the months of budget review by the Committee, there has been much discussion. Hardin questioned if the FinCom had discussed the vehicle replacement policy, in particular Police vehicles. Kent noted that the Committee did discuss this issue with Department Heads and the Town Adm., but not the set policy. Brown noted that the Committee has not discussed the Capital articles yet which include vehicle replacement.

Hardin noted that if additional funds are available he would want the FinCom to look at the issue of vehicle replacement again, in order to return to the replacement policy that has been followed for years, in particular RE: police cruisers. Brown noted that he is the FinCom rep on the Capital Planning Comm., and that the Capital Planning Comm. feels that replacement of police vehicles should be in the operating budget.

Hunt questioned if the FinCom discussed using more private contractors for plowing and sanding vs buying more DPW vehicles. Kent noted that no policy discussion on this issue has been discussed.

Hicks noted that there has been no action on the capital articles by the FinCom, or on any policy issues.

Clark questioned if the Capital Planning Comm. actually inspects the vehicles. Brown stated that this does not happen as a joint body.

At this point in the meeting Tufts opened the meeting up to public input. There was no one from the public present.

At 7:35PM, Tufts closed the Joint Hearing.

Hunt noted that all she wanted to know was how many employees work in data processing departments in comparable communities. Hunt noted that if the person who drafted the recent memo to the Board had just included this information instead of the in-depth memo, she would already have the information needed to vote on this budget. Hunt stated she can’t vote on this budget yet, until this information is received.

G. Marsan, A. Bundy, D. Richman, J. Thomas, G. Stafford in attendance.

Paicos gave a brief explanation of this Budget and his recommendation.

Bundy noted that the greatest need is in salaries. Bundy noted salaries are below in both the professional and non-professional positions. She noted she is losing employees to other communities because of this. Bundy noted that a plus is that she can now offer health insurance, but the salaries are still prohibitive.

Bundy gave a brief explanation of the line items in the budget.

Hunt noted this budget recommendation is a great compromise and congratulated the Town Adm.

Hunt’s motion, seconded by Hardin, to recommend approval of the Library Budget in the amount of $360,177 was not voted at this time.

Hunt congratulated the Library on the Endowment received and expressed her hope that in the future this endowment money will offer some relief RE: the Library Operating Budget.

There was some discussion RE: what information is offered currently on CD ROM.

ARTICLE 14 - No Board of Health representative was present.

Hunt expressed concern with the makeup of the committee being proposed and noted opposition to proposed membership. Hunt noted she would rather have a committee comprised of citizens, not existing committee members already serving on Town boards and committees.

Tufts’ motion, seconded by Clark, to recommend approval of Article 14, but to amend by striking the second sentence which reads "The members of the Study Committee shall include, but not be limited to; one member of the Board of Selectmen, one member of the Board of Health, one member of the Conservation Commission, one member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and one citizen at large", was voted 3-2. Hunt, Hardin opposed.

ARTICLE 20 - M. White in attendance and gave a brief explanation. White noted that the State wants all funds appropriated at this time.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of Article 20.

ARTICLE 21 - M. White in attendance and gave a brief explanation. Paicos noted that DEP had issued a letter in 1996 stating that this project would not be permittable. Webster stated she was unaware of such a letter and requested a copy of it. Paicos will obtain a copy of the letter and submit a copy to the Board.

Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, to recommend Article 21, did not pass with a 2-3 vote. Clark, Hardin in favor.

ARTICLE 60 - M. White in attendance and gave a brief explanation.

Paicos suggested the Board pass this article, and wait for more specific information from DEP, noting that the Board has final say prior to implementation. Paicos noted that the motion at the ATM will not include the word "appropriate".

After much discussion, Hunt’s motion, seconded by Clark, to get Town Counsel’s opinion RE: whether this will allow the Town to levy a betterment, and if the Town can charge interest on the lien amount, and must the Town adopt this, per information on attached sheet as bullets #7 and #13, was voted unanimously.

ARTICLE 10 - J. Linehan in attendance and gave a brief explanation.

On Hardin’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of Article 10.

ARTICLE 46 - J. Linehan in attendance.

On Hardin’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board vote 3-2 to recommend approval of Article 46. Hunt, Clark opposed.

It was agreed that there will be 4 copies made, 2 for the Selectmen’s Office and 2 for Town Clerk’s Office.

ARTICLE 32 - Paicos noted that Chief Blye was unable to attend the meeting and asked that this article be held.

At this point in the meeting Selectman Hardin left during discussion and voting.

ARTICLE 11 - Paicos gave a brief explanation.

On Tufts’ motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously, of those present and voting, to recommend approval of Article 11.

At this point in the meeting Selectman Hardin returned.

ARTICLE 12 - Paicos gave a brief explanation.

Hunt’s motion, seconded by Clark, to recommend dismissal of Article 12, did not pass with a 2-3 vote. Hunt, Clark in favor.

Webster’s motion, seconded by Hardin, to recommend approval of Article 12, was voted 3-2. Clark, Hunt opposed.

ARTICLE 13 - After some discussion, Hardin’s motion, seconded by Tufts, to recommend approval of Article 13, and amend by striking the words "sell or", was amended by Hunt, seconded by Webster, to table Article 13, and to ask Town Counsel if the Town already has the right to lease Town-owned land and what are the parameters of that, i.e. does the Town have to comply with zoning by-laws RE: celltowers.

ARTICLE 15 - On Tufts’ motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to recommend dismissal of Article 15.

ARTICLE 16 - On Tufts’ motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to recommend dismissal of Article 16.

ARTICLE 17 - No action taken at this time.

ARTICLE 18 - On Hardin’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to recommend dismissal of Article 18.

ARTICLE 26 - After some discussion, Tufts asked that the Board get an annual report on the account which includes: income received; amount paid to the officers; amount of the 10% surcharge for the Town, and how many bad debts are signed off, and by who. On Hunt’s motion, seconded by Clark, the Board voted 3-2 to table Article 26, to get a copy of the Town Meeting vote that approved this fund originally. Hardin, Tufts opposed. Tufts expressed concern with tabling too many items with only a few meetings left before the Annual Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 27 - On Hardin’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of Article 27 in the amount of $6,500.

ARTICLE 50 - On Hunt’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of Article 50.

SELECTMEN’S BUDGET - Paicos noted Budget Change Memo #2. There was much discussion RE: the Grant Writer position vs the full-time planner and full-time secretary for Planning Board.

Hunt’s motion to explore the upgrade of the planner to a senior position and to downgrade the secretary position for the Planning Board’s budget, did not receive a second. It was agreed this would be discussed during the review of the Planning Board’s budget.

Hardin’s motion, seconded by Tufts, to recommend approval of the Selectmen’s Budget in the amount of $297,462, was amended by Webster, seconded by Hunt, to reduce the Goals & Objectives line by $1,000.

After much discussion, on Hunt’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted 4-1 to move the question. Hardin opposed.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUDGET - Paicos gave a brief explanation of this Budget.

Hunt left the meeting at this point.

After some discussion, on Clark’s motion, seconded by Webster, the Board voted unanimously, of those present and voting, to have, in the future, items effected by grants to be listed in the budgets and to note what money is generated by departments. This information should be listed on Form #5. Hunt not present for this vote.

Hunt returned to the meeting at this point.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Building Department Budget in the amount of $101,643.

SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL SCHOOL BUDGET - On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted 3-2 to recommend approval of the Southeastern Regional School Budget in the amount of $347,397. Hunt, Tufts opposed.

TOWN CLERK BUDGET - Paicos gave a brief explanation of the recent change.

On Clark’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Town Clerk Budget in the new amount of $160,606.

UNCLASSIFIED BUDGET - Paicos gave a brief explanation.

Hardin’s motion, seconded by Tufts, to recommend approval of the Unclassified Budget in the amount of $3,941,939, was amended by Hunt, seconded by Webster to delete the Self-Help line in the amount of $4,000.

It was agreed to have a representative from Self Help come to a meeting to discuss their programs.

At this point in the meeting, in preparation for reviewing the Planning and Zoning Budget, on Hunt’s motion, seconded by Tufts, the Board voted unanimously to have the Town Administrator get information on options for a Senior Planner and on having either a 1/2 time, 2/3 time or full-time secretary, and the impacts on the budget to see if money can be found in the total budget elsewhere to resolve this.

None due to the late hour.

SELECTMEN’S NOTES

Hardin noted that the Pre-Construction Conference for the Main Street project is scheduled for 4/2/98.

Webster questioned the status of road repairs on Depot Street. Paicos noted this is part of the STP grant program and he will get information for the Board on projected times for repairs.

At 12:10AM on Webster’s motion, seconded by Hardin, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn.

APPROVED________________________________

DATED_________________________________