January 29, 2008 BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Chairman John Donahue called the regular meeting of the Raynham Board of Selectmen to order at 7:06pm.
Present were John Donahue, Donald L. McKinnon and Joseph R. Pacheco.
Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to accept the minutes of January 2, 2008 meeting as printed. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. Donahue informed all that the Board was returning from an Executive Session regarding litigation.
Chief Pacheco was present and informed the Board that the Department has 26 full-time officers, 8 dispatchers, 6 part-time officers and 30 special police officers. He also said that the Department had 1700 recorded accidents and 300 traffic stops with a total of $82,000 in citations. Chief Pacheco requested the Board’s approval to conduct the Deputy Chief exam. Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to approve the Deputy Chief exam. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Mrs. Smith and Mr. Wheeler from the Finance Committee were present. Mrs. Smith said that the Committee had researched the proposed article for the purchase of vehicles for the Highway Department. Mr. Wheeler stated that he met with Mr. Stolte and the article approved by the Town Meeting was for infrastructure not equipment.
7:13pm- Public Hearing, Presentation by the Assessor’s Office
Mr. Luciano, Mr. Lalli and Mr. Lewis were present from the Assessor’s Office. Mr. Luciano distributed Classification Packages along with the worksheet to the Board. Mr. Luciano recapped properties in Raynham and their average value. Mr. Luciano said that the debt exclusion was $2,994,733 this year which has remained level and the override amount was $874,351; therefore, the amounts $1.45 and $ 0.42 were related to the debt exclusion and override. Mr. Luciano stated that if the shift would remain the same as last year, the average tax bill would be $3,895, with a total of $547 towards the debt and $158 for the over ride. A slide presentation explaining the classification package was presented. Mr. Luciano stated that the Board of Assessors unanimously agreed at a meeting last week
to suggest moving towards a flat tax rate over time. Mr. Ghelfi, resident, was present and asked if the suggestion of a flat tax rate was to attract businesses. Mr. Lewis said that Middleboro has many large businesses and they have decided to move towards a flat tax rate. Steven Donohue, resident, was present and mentioned a couple of newspaper articles regarding the shift in different communities. Mrs. Gallagher, resident, was present and asked for the figures for a 122% shift. Mr. Luciano stated that for an average home in 2007 at a 122% shift, the tax rate would be $3,936 and a 125% shift would be $3,895. Mr. Donahue said that he was concerned with the trend which was not enticing to incoming businesses. Mr. Lalli suggested that if the Town is looking for new growth, adding the shift sent mix signals to new businesses. Mr. Wheeler questioned if the TIF program is attracting new businesses. Mr. Lewis said that the #1 thing for
Raynham with a TIF is employment and the State tax breaks that go along with it. Mr. Luciano stated that a TIF continues to attract new and different businesses to Raynham. Mr. Pacheco discussed surrounding communities and their tax rate and expressed how family-owned businesses in Raynham do not mind giving to the Town in the form of taxes especially to aid items such as schools. Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to continue the hearing until February 5, 2008 at 7:00pm. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Mr. Buckner’s Town Administrator’s Report was reviewed.
Board members thanked Mr. Buckner for the research on Gilmore Hall and the use of Bristol/Plymouth Technical High School to perform the labor for the installations of windows.
Mr. Pacheco said that the main door at the Town Hall remained an issue and requested that Mr. Buckner look into. Mr. Pacheco stated that the Lottery decrease is a concern and recently he received a handout regarding the lottery and local aid.
Mr. Pacheco said that a while back, Mr. Gillis of the School Committee, requested approval for the naming the new Bridgewater/Raynham High School Auditorium as the Veterans Memorial .
Mr. McKinnon asked if correspondence was sent to the Raynham’s American Legion. Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to forward correspondence to the School Committee in favor of the naming. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Mr. Pacheco informed that he attended a meeting last week regarding the casino. Mr. Pacheco requested the Board’s permission to attend future meetings of the Resort Advisory Committee in the Town of Middleboro and to open dialogue regarding the casino. Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Donahue seconded to approve opening communications with the Town of Middleboro regarding the casino. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. Donahue informed everyone that he and Mr. Pacheco attended the presentation on Saturday by Mr. McCarthy regarding a proposed bike/walking path project for Elm Street East. Mr. Pacheco commended Mr. McCarthy on the presentation.
Correspondence – The Board received from Mass Department of Revenue the approval for the use of $400,000 from the collection of mitigation received December 31, 2007 as free cash.
Correspondence - The Board received from Raynham King Philips Lion Club a request of a one-day all alcoholic permit for a Chili Contest on March 2, 2008 between 1-4pm. Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to approve the one-day all alcoholic permit for the Raynham King Philips Lion Club. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Correspondence – The Board received information from Comcast regarding the completion of their renovations at 440 Myles Standish Industrial Park, Taunton.
Correspondence – The Board received information from the MMA entitled Governor Patrick Releases FY2009 Budget Proposal.
Correspondence - The Board received request for Tag Days as follows Girl Scouts Troop 1018 from Norton for March 1, 2008 and Cub Scouts Pack 87 and Boy Scouts Pack 79 for November 1 & 2, 2008. Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to approve the Tag Days as listed. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
9:02pm – Mr. Pacheco motioned and Mr. McKinnon seconded to adjourn for the performance of administrative duties, signing Bills with no business to be conducted afterwards. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn M. Caradonna,
Recording Secretary
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