February 19, 2008 BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Chairmen John Donahue called the regular meeting of the Raynham Board of Selectmen to order at 7:13pm.
Present were John Donahue, Donald L. McKinnon and Joseph R. Pacheco.
Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Pacheco seconded to accept the minutes of February 12, 2008 meeting as printed. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. Donahue informed all that the Board was returning from an Executive Session regarding initial interviews for the future Fire Chief position.
7:15pm – Public Hearing – Raynham Corp. Gravel Permit renewal off Gardiner Street.
Dave Wluka from Raynham Corp. was present and presented the renewal bond to Mr. Buckner and confirmed that all abutting residents were notified of the hearing. Mr. Wluka presented the Board with a plan outlining the area in which the company was working and stated that they were continuing to fill in the area. He said that the Town is scheduled to perform a soil sampling in early spring. Mr. Buckner confirmed that soil testing would take place sometime in March. Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Pacheco seconded to approve the renewal permit for Raynham Corp. pending soil testing completion. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Mr. Palmer, Building Commissioner, was present and updated the Board on building permits. Mr. Palmer stated that the residential applications for permits have fallen off from 2007, although commercial applications for permits remain active. Mr. Palmer stated that the combined permits for January 2008 were $882,000, with approximately $600,000 for commercial permits; where as in January 2007 a combined total for permits were $1,635,000. Mr. Palmer stated that his Department is presently revisiting establishments to inspect for safety and that the plumbing inspector is also visiting schools and familiarizing himself with the buildings. Mr. Palmer also stated that the Department’s budget for FY09 is complete and has been forwarded to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Donahue thanked Mr. Palmer and his Department in aiding in the process recently for ElectroChem in expediting permits.
Mr. McCarthy, Town Planner, was present to update the Board. Mr. McCarthy said there was a project pending for an extended stay hotel on Rt. 138 but it was dependent on the traffic light. He stated that the Rt. 138 traffic light project was to be advertised for a spring start date. He also stated that he will be meeting with SRPEDD for their suggestions on the Elm Street East Project and that he is applying for a grant through the River Watershed Alliance to update the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. Mr. McCarthy also informed the Board that the Rt. 138 Committee has had challenges on working on items to help service Rt. 138 and is currently working on re-zoning different areas along Rt. 138. Mr. Donahue asked if there was any additional information regarding the Wal Mart project
on Rt. 138. Mr. McCarthy said that the trial had ended and the court’s decision was due in the spring. He also mentioned a meeting scheduled on Monday at 5:30pm on Expedited Permitting.
Brian Giovanoni, Middleboro Resort Advisory Committee, was present. Mr. Giovanoni informed all that the Middleboro Board of Selectmen appointed his Committee. He said that he understood Raynham’s concerns about the proposed project and that Middleboro had similar concerns. He said that a list of impacts compiled by his Committee has been forwarded to the Governor. He also stated
that the Committee was planning for the casino rather than not being prepared for it. Mr. Donahue asked if the Committee was planning for the casino due to the Town’s approval and asked if there were conceptual plans for the project. Mr. Giovanoni said that the Town was planning for the project rather than not and that there were conceptual plans. Mr. Donahue asked if an environmental review had been performed. Mr. Giovanoni stated that at present there was none, but said that it did not mean that the Wampanoag Tribe had not performed their own. Chief Pacheco asked if there were plans to improve Rt. 44. Mr. Giovanoni stated that the present plans were for Rt. 495 east to Rt. 58, which would widen the road to four lanes. Chief Pacheco stated that with the traffic numbers
increasing though Raynham on Rt. 44 the issue would also need to be addressed west of Rt. 495. Mr. Giovanoni stated that impacts on the region should be forwarded to the Governor to be addressed in any agreement with the Tribe and suggested the Town arrange a package to be presented to the Tribe. Mr. Pacheco stated that he spoke to Selectman Rogers in Middleboro and that the Tribe and the Town of Middleboro are willing to work with surrounding communities. Present was Mary Tufts of Bridgewater who asked for the dates on which the Board voted to oppose the casino in Raynham. Ms. Tufts was informed that the dates were during the past year. The Board answered questions from the press.
Mr. Buckner’s Town Administrator’s Report was reviewed.
Mr. Pacheco informed that the Casino Task Force asked for clarification regarding the casino from Board Members. Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Donahue seconded to take no position on a vote regarding the decision of Middleboro for the casino. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Donahue seconded to take no position on a casino site in Southeastern Massachusetts. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Donahue seconded to take no position on a casino in Massachusetts. The vote made it unanimous.
Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Donahue seconded to endorse a plan set by the Governor rather than a Tribal Plan for a proposed project. The vote made it unanimous.
Correspondence – The Board received from the MA Highway Department a letter informing of the advertised date for the Rt. 138/Rt. 495 project.
Correspondence – The Board received from Michael Levinson a letter of interest in the vacant position on Conservation Commission. Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Pacheco seconded to forward the correspondence to Conservation for a recommendation. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Correspondence – The Board received a determination regarding the resignation of a Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee member. Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Pacheco seconded to place the vacancy on the Town election warrant. Mr. Donahue made it unanimous.
Correspondence – The Board received information regarding a series of meetings related the search for a new superintendent of schools for Bridgewater-Raynham.
8:48pm – Mr. McKinnon motioned and Mr. Pacheco 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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