BOARD OF SELECTMEN & SEWER COMMISSIONERS’
MEETING AGENDA

REGULAR AND EXECUTIVE SESSION
Room 204 Town Hall
March 5, 2009
7:00 PM

I. CITIZENS’ CONCERNS
IL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPOINTMENTS
None
III. SELECTMEN’S BUSINESS
1. PRIORITY DISCUSSION, ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROJECTS
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
2. DISCUSS FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE ON FINANCE COMMITTEE RESERVE POLICY
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
3. FINANCE COMMITTEE 3 YEAR PLAN, BOARD ADVICE TO ACTON LEADERSHIP GROUP
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
4. BOARD GUIDANCE ON VOTING LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP ACT AND TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
5. ACCEPT MINUTES, BOARD OF SELECTMEN, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
6. ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE, ST. ELIZABETH’S FUND RAISER Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration
7. APPOINTMENT OF BRENT REAGOR TO THE ACTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION, AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2009.
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
8. APPOINTMENT OF CORRINA ROMAN-KREUZE, TO THE ACTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION AS A AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2009
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration.
9. CHAIRMAN ROSENZWEIG, LETTER TO THE BEACON, FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION
Enclosed please find materials in the subject regard, for Board consideration
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
There will be a need for Executive Discussion to discuss Litigation, WR Grace Settlement
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Enclosed please find additional correspondence that is strictly informational and requires no Board action.
FUTURE AGENDAS
To facilitate scheduling for interested parties, the following items are scheduled for discussion on future agendas. This is not a complete agenda.
March 9 and 23 April 2 Pre Town Meeting
April 6 Start of Town Meeting
MINUTES PENDING VOTES
Feb 7, 9, 18, 23, 2009 March 4, 2009
PENDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Carl Campagna, Commission on Disability, Council on Aging and Cable Advisory Committee; and his application is at VCC for processing. (This is a Town Manager Appointment)
Elizabeth J. Payne, Volunteer Coordinating Committee (VCC), her materials have been forwarded to VCC for processing.
Ilia A. Kurenkov, (Alex), VCC has interviewed him for several boards he is interested in. He will visit the various boards and committees; he called with interest in the Historical Commission.
Connor Nagle, Design Review Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Appeals and Board of Health; his application has been forwarded to the VCC for an interview to be scheduled.
Margaret Busse, Economic Development Committee, Planning Board and Board of Appeals; her application has been forwarded to the VCC for an interview to be scheduled.
Jennifer Patenaude, Acton Community Housing, Historic District Commission and Outdoor Lighting and Education Committee; her application has been forwarded to the VCC for an interview to be scheduled
Brent Reagor, Acton Community Housing Corporation, his application is being reviewed by BOS Liaison (Berry) for appointment.
Corrina Roman-Krueze, Acton Community Housing Corporation, application at VCC for interview.
Charles Aaronson, Council on Aging, application at VCC for interview

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BOARD OF SELECTMEN & SEWER COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING
MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
Room 204 Town Hall
March 5, 2009
7:00 PM

Present: Chairman Rosenzweig, Selectmen Knibbe, Magee, Berry and Friedrichs, Town Manager Steven Ledoux, and Recording Secretary Maryjane Kenney

The Chair gave her condolences to the family of Leo Hayes a firefighter who died in an accident this week and wished a speedy recovery to Firefighter Rautenberg.

Selectman Friedrichs handed out extra information to members of the audience.

CITIZENS’ CONCERNS
None

PUBLIC HEARINGS ANDAPPOINTMENTS
None

SELECTMEN’S BUSINESS
1. PRIORITY DISCUSSION, ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROJECTS
The Chairman read the initial list discussed by Selectman. Selectman Friedrichs said it was not her list. Tonight’s goal is to prioritize the Board’s list to present to our legislature. Selectman Knibbe stated the main categories are Transportation, Energy and Municipal Projects. Paulina Knibbe will copy to the Board details of municipal Projects. Steve Ledoux described a letter received today on clean water projects which needs a response by August 1st stating we will need to have all the bonding done to submit for money regarding the Town’s sewer project. Further all documentation for a schedule is due by March 13, 2009. Selectman Magee noted it is interesting how unknown and little unified this stimulus package is. We need to focus on our priorities, not how to apply at this point. Not being certain of her priorities Selectman Friedrichs wants to know ahead of time the method by which the Board plans to vote on priorities, like whether it’s top 5, or whether there are categories each of which get top 3. It is difficult to reprioritize on the fly without any guidance ahead of time. She would like to have our high priorities be the items which we already have a commitment to maintain, such as bridges and town-owned buildings that are already in great need of repair, as opposed to new buildings, which we aren’t sure we need. She suggested that the Finance Committee is in agreement and has the opinion that they would like to provide for projects that have been waiting for a long time, too. She does want to be aware of deadlines; and made decisions in this way, capital list promised to staff and then whether things can pass Town Meeting.

Terra Friedrichs
1. Senior Center that is really a community center with ambulance bay and shelter room
2. Bridges repair
3. Heating system renovation
4. Fire station renovation
5. Windsor Building

Peter Berry
Stay with the same 5 he had proposed previously.

Andy Magee
1. Stick with the rail trails
2. Sewer projects have to stay on the list
3. Fire Station in North Acton
4. Senior Center
5. Transportation projects

Paulina Knibbe
1. Rail Trail would like to distinguish between Acton and regional trail, so take Bruce Freeman off her list. Keep Assabet River Rail Trail, which will increase train use.
2. Sewers, couple the project with west Acton Sewers. It is one of the most common requests to the state for funding.
3. Senior Center very important
4. Transportation projects.
5. Towne Building

Lauren Rosenzweig
1. Bruce Freeman Rail Trail - lots of public support. Reduce car use and carbon footprint and stay fit and access for the handicapped. Assabet River Rail Trail
2. Sewers in the West Acton I Tuttle Flint
3. Senior Center
4. Towne School Project - people are waiting for it to be finished.
5. Historic Projects Bridges... .energy solar farm
6. North Acton Fire Station

Selectmen Magee would like to send a general letter to our legislature. We don’t need more time to discuss this: all 5 say the Senior Center, all 5 said Transportation project, and 4 wanted sewers. There is enough consensus, 3 wanted Rail Trails etc. We can make a decision, let’s get the letter out and get the conversation going. Selectman Friedrichs said we should fill each category with one of our projects. Selectman Knibbe agrees and for example: Energy - heating system and solar farm, Municipal - Jamie Eldridge’s group-Public safety and senior center, water and sewer treatment, (continue with the rest of Jamie’s list) Transportation - so that is all our bridges and road repair.

Andy Monroe from Acton sewer committee is concerned that Spencer Road be included. Wayne Friedrichs from Windsor Ave is a supporter of Sewers but has grave concerns about the village, more information about impacts is required. He is afraid that unintended consequences will adversary affect to the village. A Lothrop Road resident asked if we have looked at all the affordable solutions for sewers.

Selectman Friedrichs made a motion to put renovations of the Fire Station on the list that

Selectman Knibbe will finalize. Selectman Magee is not in agreement, we need a new station don’t spend money on renovations on a station that may be closed. Terra moved not to add the Fire Station to the list. Three voted not in favor and Chairman Rosenzweig abstained.

Chairman Rosenzweig made a motion to draft a letter to the legislature to support the following projects for the recommendation to our state and local representatives.

BFRT Acton, Westford Carlisle Portion/ARRT
Sewers, West Acton and Tuttle/Flint
Transportation, Town Road and Bridge Repairs
Heating systems Fire Stations - Energy
Municipal Building- Senior Center
Towne Building (Affordable Housing/Reuse of Historical Building)

Selectman Magee seconds, Selectman Knibbe questioned if we should add the Towne School as it has a funding source. Selectman Berry said that is not an accurate analysis of the project; it is designed and ready but held back because they can’t get funding. Mr. Ledoux added that the town has extended for a year the cycle to try to get funding. The decision was to keep the Towne Building on the list. Selectman Friedrichs made a friendly amendment to exclude West Acton sewers. No one seconded the motion.

Chairman Rosenzweig asked for a vote and the approval of the list was unanimous.

2. DISCUSS FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE ON FINANCE COMMITTEE RESERVE POLICY
Selectman Magee stated that the policy was well put together and made a motion to support the Reserve Policy as described by Finance Committee. Selectman Knibbe stated the policy was a prudent policy regarding reserves. Selectmen Berry seconded, 4 voted in favor, Selectman Friedrichs abstained.

3. FINANCE COMMITTEE 3 YEAR PLAN, BOARD ADVICE TO ACTON LEADERSHIP GROUP
Steve Noon gave a background of how the 3 year plan was formulated; which is a description of the assumptions for the reserves. $2M will be adjusted for growth. The town will need to find a way to maintain a stable level of reserves while operating within our budget. Finance Committee is looking for the Board to go back to ALG and give a vote of general agreement of the concept. Fincom still needs to detail the plan more and refine the numbers. Ann Chang stated that this plan is predicated on a list of cost savings which must be explained in the warrant and makes assumptions about union negotiations. Steve Noone stated it is not completely dependent upon union negotiations. Selectmen Magee supports the effort but not voting total agreement; it is definitely a plan in the right direction. 3 abstentions and 2 yeses

4. BOARD GUIDANCE ON VOTING LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP ACT AND TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION
As it was too late for discussion the Chairman asked to have it pulled for Monday’s meeting

Selectman Knibbe made the motion Selectman Magee seconded.

CONSENT AGENDA- Selectman Friedrichs held #5, she did not have time to review the minutes. Selectmen Magee moves to approve all other consent and Selectmen Knibbe seconds. # 5 was pulled to a later date.

5. ACCEPT MINUTES, BOARD OF SELECTMEN, FEBRUARY 18,2009

6. ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE, ST. ELIZABETH’S FUND RAISER

7. APPOINTMENT OF BRENT REAGOR TO THE ACTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION, AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER, TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2009.

8. APPOINTMENT OF CORRINA ROMAN-KREUZE, TO THE ACTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION, ASSOCIATE MEMBER, TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2009

9. CHAIRMAN ROSENZWEIG, LETTER TO THE BEACON REGARDING TOWN MEETING, FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION.
There will be a need for Executive Discussion to discuss Litigation/mediation - WR Grace Settlement. A roll call vote was taken to go into Executive Session and go back into regular session only for the purpose to adjourn; all ayes were given.
Recording Secretary Andrew D. Magee, Clerk

Maryjane Kenney