September 28, 2011
Present was James M. Tomaszewski, James C. Lehan, Robert J. Garrity, Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator, and Marian Harrington, Executive Assistant.
The meeting was held in Room 124, Town Hall. Jim Tomaszewski announced that this meeting will be audio and video taped.
Jim Tomaszewski called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Jack Hathaway read the agenda contents.
BOB BULLOCK – BUILDING FEES
Bob said that he wanted to review fees, and the Code has been redone as well. He mentioned sheet metal code. This prompted him to go through the entire fee structure. He presented the Board with a handout regarding the fees.
Bob said tonight he wants to just review this with the Board and hopes they will make recommendations regarding the sheet metal. The rest of it they can look at and discuss.
Bob reviewed the sheet metal code with the Board. Bob said he followed this from Mansfield and Wrentham, who already have this in place. This sheet metal went into effect February 4th, but Bob didn’t enforce it until August 15th. Anything prior to February 4th was grandfathered.
The Board asked Bob questions about the building fees in general. Bob explained some of the projects he’s on, and what the fees include.
Bob said that if someone needs a reinspection, there is a second reinspection fee. Second time there is no fee, but third time there is.
Rob would support sheet metal fee. Rob Garrity moved to set a residential minimum sheet metal permit fee at $50; HVAC system at $150; metal roof work at $5 per 100 square foot; and residential kitchen hood at $50. Commercial minimum sheet metal permit fee is $100; HVAC system is plus 2% of contract and commercial kitchen hood system is 2% of contract work. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
The Board discussed the process and not the number. Should they go to a square foot method? Jim L. was trying to get to a cleaner system to avoid debate or confusion. If we change, we need to be sure we are covering our costs.
Bob didn’t feel any of the fees were going to be a problem with the developers. Bob said they all will cover costs. Right now they are just barely covering costs.
The Board questioned the signs, but only because it was higher than most towns. Bob said it really isn’t. He just couldn’t write in everything the towns charged.
Jim L. supports the fees. Rob prefers to sleep on it because of the economy – hates to raise fees now. Jim L. agrees because of the economy too, but last year we fell short and we haven’t raised fees in a long time. Also, they are doing more work with the same amount of staff. Jim L. said he doesn’t mind not doing it tonight, but we need to take some favorable action. Jim T. also agreed to table it until next meeting.
The Board thanked Bob for all the effort he put into this.
SCOTT BRAGDON, HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR
Scott Bragdon, 12 Fredrickson Road present.
Jack introduced Scott Bragdon as our brand new Human Resource Director. He is a town resident and former member of our Personnel Board. Jack said he has already helped out and we will hear about it in executive session.
Jim L. thanked him for the volunteer work he has given to the town the past few years. Rob said he was the one causing a stir with this position, and said he saw him working on bylaws today and is glad he is jumping in and doing other things besides personnel matters. Jim T. also agreed to have him here. Jack said he is helping out with health insurance reform.
COLE BUSHNELL – FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief Bushnell relayed an emergency on Friday at MCI. They were advised when they arrived that they lost 1 million gallons of water. The problem began around 3 p.m. on Thursday. Norfolk notified the EPA, DEP and health board. They provided potable water. Jack and Cole relayed to the MCI Commissioner Lou Spencer who was a former MCI Norfolk Supt., the concern of water for fire services and a huge concern of lack of communication on their part.
Cole said they discussed fining them, but decided it isn’t worth the effort. Cole personally does not feel they are good neighbors and feels the lack of communication was part of the problem. There are other unresolved issues there, too.
Cole said a third party should come in and do samplings of Stop River for contamination and said we have requested that.
Cole said there were 1583 inmates. Cole said they are looking at how they are going to respond to calls there. They will no longer bring the ladder truck and will bring water with them. He will revise the mutual aid contracts with Wrentham and Walpole and have them bring water as well.
Jim L. said that is the type of event that could have caused rioting and a major incident. There could easily have been fires and chaos. Is there a plan in place to address this if it happened? Cole said things have happened in the past few years that has made his staff very hesitant and are on guard about entering the yard. They are seeing more fights inside the walls. Younger population now. They deal with all three facilities.
Rob would like continued discussion with Rep. Winslow and Sen. Ross to discuss the MCI situations with Norfolk.
Jack announced that with Chief Bushnell, Chief Stone and Lt. Carroll’s work, we were awarded a grant to construct a regional dispatch center with Wrentham, Plainville, and Franklin. He congratulated Chief Bushnell, Chief Stone. and Lt. Carroll for being the driving force behind this. Cole said Lt. Carroll did yeoman’s work in making this happen.
We will have a cost savings on personnel, but also having a state of the art dispatch center that can handle a crisis like Hurricane Irene or our explosion. We can have two or three personnel handling a crisis which will be key in whatever crisis is happening.
TOWN WARRANT REVIEW
Rob suggested a committee to get ideas of uses for the old town hall property. This could be put on the spring town meeting.
Rob Garrity moved to include the article for Gump’s and the Library and then to close the warrant. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Action Items
Jim Lehan moved to issue a Proclamation to send to the State House for United Nations Day and to declare October 24, 2011 as United Nations Day in Norfolk. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to approve the proposed rates for snow removal for the 2011/2012 winter season per the attached rates by Bob McGhee, DPW Director. Rob Garrity seconded. Jim T. questioned if the large jumps from 2007 to present are all fuel related. Jack said yes. It was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to award the bid for joint salt with the Town of Medfield to Eastern Minerals, Inc. of Lowell, CC delivered - $47.20/ton, with an alternate supplier of International Salt Co., LLC of Clark Summit, PA – CC delivered - $52.90/ton. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Thomas Gilbert to the unexpired term on the Board of Health which would be until May 1, 2012. This appointment is joint with the Board of Health. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Board of Registrars
Jack said that regarding the Board of Registrars, going forward we appoint per MGL and we get nominations from the Committees. The Board is comfortable with the makeup of Registrars as we have them now. Carol Greene is up this year, and under the rules it is not appropriate to appoint her. To keep it level, we need to appoint a Democrat. Under statutes, it’s a spring appointment. Jack will provide the Board with the names, and they can decide if they want to interview them.
9/11 Committee
Jim T. stated that there was a 9/11 ceremony on Sept. 11th on Town Hill. Over 300 people attended and it was a tremendous ceremony. It will now be played on cable. Jim T. wanted to thank the committee who put in a lot of time and effort to put this on. He acknowledged their efforts.
Jack said it was a very moving ceremony. Several touching speeches and recommends people watch it.
Miller/Myrtle Street Intersection
Jack said we need to go through Town Counsel to institute what Town Meeting authorized us to do and that is the easement. He said they tried to give the homeowner one last chance, and he’s done nothing. We need to follow through.
Multi-Board Meeting
Jack said we are going forward with this meeting. He said that he and Jim T. met with the EDC and emphasized that the bridge is the priority here. We are going forward on all facets of this.
NEW BUSINESS
Jack discussed the detention basin at Fern Ridge and issues with the Board of Health. They have had discussions with the developer and the agent regarding this. This is a condition of the Board of Health permit. Ambiguity of the permit is the subject of debate.
We need to update our subsidized housing list. The Zoning Board of Appeals received this, and Jack wondered who wanted to do it. Jim L. said the Muncipal Housing Trust could handle this and have their Agent do it. Jim will take it to them and suggest they handle it.
Jack said the condo owners in the center of town were having a meeting to review this. Rob said ZBA has authority over the Comprehensive Permit. Jim T. will share the list with the Board.
Jack met with Bob Bullock and Cheryl Kelley to discuss scheduling the auction for the sale of the house on Boardman Street. They are trying to do this in early December. We need to do some clean up there, and Jack is hoping he can get the DPW do some heavy lifting jobs, but then also involve local groups like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. and have everyone help. He will need a whole bunch of hands.
Jim T. suggested the Leo’s that are part of the KP organization. They are a large group that could probably assist. Churches also have organizations that can help.
The Board needs to decide if it should be unrestricted. Jack said it’s 5 or 8 acres. Jim L. would like to go back to the Trust with this decision, because they will want it. Jim L. said he can see both sides, and the Town needs the revenue. The Board agreed (Jim T. and Rob) that it will be unrestricted. Jim L. said he is recusing himself because he wears both hats.
Rep. Winslow told Jack the State has a $460 million dollar rainy day fund to distribute among towns. Norfolk should be getting some money. They will close out the books and give the towns the money.
Jack met with Joe Fernandes, Town Administrator from Plainville to discuss a consortium for municipal light department formation. They said they fared much better during the hurricane. Sen. Ross is trying to organize more meetings to discuss this. Jack said he is hard pressed to recommend we build our own light system, but he is willing to look into it. Power companies here did not allow town departments to trim trees, and then when there were strong storms like the hurricane, all the limbs came down. Jack said Norfolk hasn’t told the power companies they can’t cut; they just don’t cut.
Rob discussed Boston magazine listing high schools and KP was 61. He said information needs to be improved on. Our drop out rate is really 3%. He was disappointed by comments on NorfolkNet that our high school needs improvement. Rob said we need to look at the support we give our school. Jim L. agreed that they have done this before and have bad information.
At 9:12 p.m., Rob Garrity moved to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body, and the chair so declares. DPW Union; Clerical Union. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Rob Garrity, aye; Jim Lehan, aye; and Jim Tomaszewski, aye.
The Board will only return to regular session to adjourn the meeting.
At 9:30 p.m., being no further business, Jim Lehan moved to adjourn the meeting. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of September 28, 2011.
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Robert J. Garrity, Clerk
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