Selectmens Meeting Minutes 09/03/2019
Board of Selectmen September 3, 2019
Chairman Joseph Pacheco called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal meeting room at Veterans’ Memorial Town Hall, 558 South Main Street. In addition to Chairman Pacheco, Selectmen Marie Smith and Patricia Riley were in attendance.
Ms. Riley made a motion to enter into Executive Session in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, to investigate charges of criminal misconduct or to consider filing of criminal complaints, and to approve Executive Session minutes. On a roll call vote, Chairman Pacheco and Selectmen Riley and Smith voted in the affirmative to enter into Executive Session.
Chairman Joseph Pacheco called the open meeting to order at 7:01 p.m., also in the meeting room at Veterans’ Memorial Town Hall, 558 South Main Street. In addition to Chairman Pacheco, Selectmen Marie Smith and Patricia Riley were in attendance. Chairman Pacheco announced that the Board was returning from Executive Session with nothing to report at this time.
Ms. Riley led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and Chairman Pacheco informed everyone that the meeting was being recorded live by RayCAM.
Acceptance of the Minutes
Ms. Riley made a motion to approve the minutes as printed of the regular meeting held on August 20, 2019, Mrs. Smith seconded and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Department Heads and Committees
Mr. Matt Tanis, Health Agent, was present with an update on EEE and West Nile Virus. He stated that the second round of aerial spraying has been completed to reduce the threat of EEE. Residents, however, should continue to use insect repellant, and the dusk to dawn restrictions will continue to be in place until the first hard frost. Bristol County Mosquito Control will end routine ground spraying on September 13th, because nighttime temperatures generally drop below the 58 degree mark and the spraying is no longer effective. They will honor spraying requests after September 13th, by request only, and that will be in the evening, not overnight, to ensure that the temperatures are warm enough for the spraying to be effective. Mr. Tanis said that although mosquitos can bite during the day, they are most active from dusk to dawn. He noted that insect repellant is also effective against ticks, which is another concern.
Town Moderator John Donahue was unable to attend the meeting to report on the Screening Committee for the Town Administrator’s position. In his absence, Interim Town Administrator Gordon Luciano, who served on the Screening Committee, discussed the Committee’s efforts. He explained that the search for a permanent Town Administrator began in April when the acting Town Administrator resigned. The first step was to have the Government Study Committee upgrade the job description for the Town Administrator’s position, which the Board of Selectmen approved. The next step was to take a four-page job description and reduce it to a one-page job posting, which the Board also approved. The Board then asked the Town Moderator to form a Screening Committee to begin the screening and interviewing process. Mr. Luciano continued, “We advertised the job posting in multiple areas including the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s website and Trade Journal and the Town website. We know it was also picked up by some national journals because several applications were received from other states.” Mr. Luciano explained that there were a number of other towns looking for a Town Administrator during the same time period. He continued, “Of the 24 candidates who applied, the Screening Committee narrowed it down to seven to be interviewed by the Committee. Of those seven, the Committee felt very strongly that they would recommend two finalists to the Board based on their extensive managerial and government experience. One candidate is Graham Waters of Charlestown, Massachusetts, who was formerly the Town Manager of Coventry, Rhode Island. The other candidate is William McKinney of Dedham, Mass., who currently is the Governor’s appointment as Director for the Department of Labor and Standards for the Commonwealth. Both candidates have master’s degrees. They have very different backgrounds, but both have much to offer.” Screening Committee members Linda Demello and Richard Schiavo were also in attendance. Mrs. Demello stated that she had nothing to add because Mr. Luciano had covered it well. Mr. Schiavo stated, “It was my privilege to serve on the Committee. It was a very balanced Committee and there was a lot of deliberations as the duties have really increased. The candidates that are being presented to the Board are both very qualified in different ways and I think it’s going to be very challenging to pick a finalist.” Mr. Pacheco stated, “The Board has been given the applicants’ information for the two proposed finalists and I want to thank the Committee, Mr. Donahue and Mr. Luciano. I think it’s one of the best committees that I’ve seen assembled in terms of collective talent and we appreciate you coming together during the summer to put this together from 24 applicants and narrowing it now down to two. My recommendation to the Board is to take these two proposals and put them on the Agenda for next Tuesday for interviews and then establish a time frame on how we want to proceed after the interviews.” Mrs. Smith said “I would move to do so.” Ms. Riley seconded and asked if those two were the unanimous choice of the Screening Committee. Mr. Luciano stated, “That is correct.” Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous. Mr. Luciano asked, “If either or both cannot make Tuesday, would the Board be amenable to a special meeting for Wednesday just for interviews?” The Board agreed to a special Wednesday meeting if needed.
Appointments
Ms. Eden Fergusson was nominated as an Ex-Officio Associate Member of the Historical Commission. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
New Business
Mr. Pacheco discussed the Master Plan Assistance Contract with SRPEDD. Mr. Luciano added, “It’s a proposed contract between the Town of Raynham and SRPEDD, with SRPEDD being the Contract Agent for the preparation of the Master Plan. It shows the steps that they will take to create the Master Plan and the breakdown of costs, taking the $70,000 that the Town Meeting appropriated with any additional costs covered by SRPEDD through different grants, so that the cost to the town would not exceed $70,000. They have done an extensive number of Master Plans for other communities.” Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
A letter from SITEC was received requesting acceptance for Nina’s Way in George Estates. Mr. Pacheco recommended forwarding the request to the Highway Superintendent for review. Ms. Riley made the motion, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
A Tag Day request was received from Hope for Children International for the following dates: Oct. 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
A contract proposal was received from Patriot Energy for a three-year fixed rate gas supply for the Town. Selectmen’s Executive Assistant Deb Dooney was present to expand on the information. She explained that the proposed contract will guarantee a lower fixed rate no matter what the season. Mr. Luciano thanked Mrs. Dooney for her extensive work on the matter. Mrs. Smith made a motion to accept, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Luciano presented his report as Interim Town Administrator He reported that the free cash for FY2020 was certified on August 21st by the Department of Revenue. He stated, “I believe this is the earliest in a new fiscal year we have ever obtained that certification.” Mr. Luciano thanked Treasurer Michael King and Town Accountant David Grab for all their hard work on this achievement.
The Fiscal Year 2019 Audit is currently underway with a goal for completion by November 1st. Once again this is one of the earliest dates that the Town commenced the audit and, similarly, it is one of the earliest possible completion dates. Mr. Luciano thanked the Town’s Finance team for their work compiling and completing all the required documents in a timely manner for this process to begin.
Mr. Luciano also reported that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation held the Route 138 Design Public Hearing on August 27th. For anyone who missed the meeting but would like to watch it, it is currently being re-shown every night on the Raynham cable government channel at 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. It is also on Youtube.
There will be a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and the Capital Planning Committee on Monday, September 9th at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall for a presentation of the feasibility study conducted by the Fire Station Renovation group.
The Fall Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Raynham Middle School. The meeting will be primarily focused on capital expenditures. All articles to be considered for placement on the warrant must be submitted to the Selectmen’s office no later than Friday, September 6th by 11:45 a.m., and there will be no exceptions.
Upcoming Meetings
In his report, Mr. Luciano also noted that the next Selectmen’s scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall when the Board will return to a weekly meeting schedule.
The next scheduled meeting for the Fire Station Building Committee will be held on Thursday, September 5th at 2:00 p.m. at the Town Hall meeting room.
The Capital Planning Committee will begin the process of reviewing articles for the Fall Town Meeting on Wednesday, September 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall conference room.
Selectmen’s Report
Mrs. Smith wished all of those beginning a new school year good luck for a wonderful year.
Ms. Riley wanted to remind everyone of the Mass DOT’s ramp closures and roadblocks relative to the work being done on the Rt. 44 over Rt. 24 bridge. She also attended the Mass DOT’s public hearing last week for work to be done on Rt. 138 from just north of the King Philip Street intersection to just south of the Route 495 overpass. She stated that she shared the frustration of those who questioned the logic of proposing bicycle lanes for the narrow, heavily-traveled roadway. It was also noted at the public hearing that although the Center Street intersection is scheduled for reconstruction next spring, it is a separate project from the larger Route 138 project and, as such, there is no coordination between the two projects, which is unfortunate.
Ms. Riley also wished the school administrators, faculty, parents and students good luck for a wonderful new school year. She noted that the Raynham Association of Volunteers for Education, (R.A.V.E.), is beginning its 38th year of providing volunteers and volunteer programs in the Raynham Schools, and its first project involves volunteers riding the school buses with the kindergarten children during their first week of school. She thanked R.A.V.E. Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca George and R.A.V.E.’s Kindergarten Reception Chairperson Cara Peters for organizing the event and all of the volunteers who will assist by riding those morning and afternoon buses. She also noted that Lisa McCoy is continuing as R.A.V.E. President for the 2019-2020 school year with Lynda Teixeira as Vice President, Robin Burns as Treasurer, and Mrs. George as Volunteer Coordinator. She also noted that R.A.V.E.’s 2019 Shoshanah Garshick Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Mrs. McCoy and R.A.V.E.’s Award for Exceptional Dedication and Commitment to the Children of Raynham was awarded to Mrs. Smith for many years of supporting the Raynham Schools and R.A.V.E’s efforts.
Correspondence
Correspondence was received from Gienah Feldman and Angel Barraco requesting a streetlight in front of their house at 505 North Main Street. Mr. Pacheco recommended referring the matter to Highway Superintendent Ed Buckley. Mrs. Smith made the motion, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Adjournment
At 7: 33 p.m., Mrs. Smith motioned, and Ms. Riley seconded, to adjourn for the performance of administrative duties, signing of Bills and Warrants, with no business to be conducted afterwards. Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Murphy
Recording Secretary