SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
6:30 p.m. Starbard Meeting Room
Present: Chairman James Jumonville, and Selectmen Kimberly Ferguson,
Joseph Sullivan and David White
Absent: Selectman O’Brien
Also present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager
Jacquelyn Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Chairman Jumonville called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Selectmen FY2009 goals. Selectmen Ferguson presented her list of goals:
· Budget – stay under 2 ½ levy limit without fee or rate increases
· Long Term: DPW/Public Safety Facilities – Develop plan for facilities and budget for needed maintenance items
· Cable TV – plan for funding of study recommendations
· Senior Van – continue program funding
· Sidewalk/ Road Resurfacing Program
· Memorial Day Parade – on-going budget support
· Long Term: Eagle Lake – Develop long term plan to expand recreational use of Lake area
· Conservation agent – look at need and budget for part-time agent
· Mario’s Beauty Shop property – study possible acquisition for use as green space or in conjunction with bandstand and senior center activities
· IT Funding – continue budget support for IT needs
Selectman White discussed his goals as follows:
· Budget – develop FY 09 budget that taxes less than Prop. 2 ½ limit; aim to bring in at 2 ¼
· Roadside gardens – develop perpetual care plan for Main Street mini-parks, islands, etc, and along town roadsides
· Sewer Division – budget for a new vacuum truck
· Dawson Pool – budget to extend closing date to Sunday (rather than Friday)
· Ambulance – appoint a committee to study the Chief’s recommendations for taking the ambulance service in-house
· CATV – budget for recommendations and implications resulting from the CATV study
· Electronic news boards – acquire 1 or 2 electronic message boards for Main Street
· Employee appreciation – increase funding for employee appreciation to host a coffee hour near the holidays
· Memorial Day – include town funding in the budget to support Memorial Day events
· Last year’s goal: Newsletter – create an electronic newsletter
Ms. Kelly briefly discussed the possibility of writing a weekly town Web log (Blog) as a means of informing the public with timely information.
· Last year’s goal: Succession planning – establish succession plans for key departments and HMLD
· Last year’s goal: Personnel – establish routine employee exit interviews to be shared with the Board of Selectmen
Selectman Sullivan reviewed the following goals:
· Budget – develop FY09 town budget with a goal of taxing under the limits of Proposition 2 ½ ; maintain and stabilize the historic split between town/school
· IT/Web site – Support IT and further develop interactivity of town Web site
· Excess Levy – use/budget any excess levy capacity only for municipal services
· GASB 45 – continue to implement GASB 45; monitor town employee health insurance costs and state health insurance program options
· Utility bills – continue to simplify and clarify utility bill format
· Recycling education – develop and implement a District K – 5 recycling education program
· Sewer transport rate
· Sewer trunk line
· Signs – monitor temporary signs and enforce town sign bylaws
· Abandoned/ Junk cars – control abandoned and junk cars through enforcement
· Reverse 911 – fix problems with messaging system; develop policy for use
· Pedestrian safety/ Crosswalks
· Traffic – continue enforcement of traffic speeding laws, especially on Main Street and Rte. 31
· Bandstand – assist Committee to support summer concert series
Chairman Jumonville suggested the following:
· Budget – manage municipal services; control education spending; stay under Proposition 2 ½ limits
· Memorial Day – support continued funding and town resources for parade
· Library hours – study opening the library one Sunday each month
· Sewer transport rate – revisit rate issues with regional group
· Sewer trunk line
Chairman Jumonville asked for a future update on the oil spill clean up at the Central District Office, Jefferson school.
There being no further business, on a motion by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. White it was unanimously voted to adjourn the special meeting at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Prepared by:
Jacquelyn M. Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Approved: September 17, 2007 as amended
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