Selectmens Meeting Minutes 09/24/2019
Board of Selectmen September 24, 2019
Chairman Joseph Pacheco called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 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
Ms. Riley made a motion to enter into Executive Session in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating positon of the public body and the chair so declares. Mrs. Smith seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, Chairman Pacheco and Selectmen Smith and Riley voted in the affirmative to enter into Executive Session.
Chairman Joseph Pacheco called the open meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 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 Mr. Pacheco informed everyone that the meeting was being recorded live by RayCAM.
Acceptance of the Minutes
Ms. Riley made a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting held on September 17, 2019, as printed, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
New Business
The Board reviewed the Executive Assistant’s employment contract. Mrs. Smith made a motion to go forward with it, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Mr. Pacheco stated that there is a vacancy in the Highway Department and Superintendent Ed Buckley has submitted a job posting for approval. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve the job description as submitted for the Public Works Specialist for the Highway Department and to post the position beginning on Wednesday. Ms. Riley seconded the motion and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
A request was received from Police Chief James Donovan to accept the donations made in memory of Brian Shepley for the purchase of a K9 vest for the department. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
A Tag Day request was received from Taunton Pop Warner Football for the following dates: Oct. 7th and 9th. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Town Administrator’s Report
Interim Town Administrator Gordon Luciano reviewed his report.
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. The Capital Planning Committee has finished their work and recommendations and has forwarded the financial articles to the Finance Committee for their review. The warrant will be on the October 1st Selectmen’s meeting agenda for approval. A draft warrant will be provided to the Board prior to that date for approval. Once the warrant is approved and signed next Tuesday, Mr. Luciano will forward it to the printer to prepare a draft for review. Once that step is completed, the warrant will be printed in booklet form and mailed out to each resident box holder.
The Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded the Raynham Police Department a grant in the amount of $7,400 as part of their bullet-proof Vest Partnership. Mr. Luciano expressed his thanks to Pam Silva of the Police Department for all her efforts in obtaining this grant on behalf of the town.
Regarding the Assessor Overlay Surplus, as part of the process in identifying funding sources for the Fall Town Meeting articles, Mr. Luciano placed a letter in correspondence for the Board’s review. If approved, he will send it to the Board of Assessors.
Mr. Luciano reported that “Town Counsel has offered his opinion on whether the Town can pay the full cost of a sewer stub for a hookup as requested by the American Legion for the second lot that they own and donate to youth organizations to utilize. Unfortunately, the answer is no as there is no exception to the 75/25 rule, which means that the Town pays 75% and the lot owner pays 25% of the cost. If you were to put an article before Town Meeting to cover the costs, the result would be that the residents would have to pay more.”
Mr. Luciano also reported that “The Park & Recreation Department has put out their fall activity and special events flyer. Copies are available at the Town Hall, the Park & Recreation Department office at Borden Colony and on their website. There is an outstanding list of activities and events right through December and beyond. There is something for everyone.” Mr. Luciano thanked Director Tim McRae and his staff for their work planning and coordinating the programs and events. More information is available by calling the Park and Recreation Department office directly at 508-824-2743.
Upcoming Meetings
In his report, Mr. Luciano noted that the next scheduled Selectmen’s Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.
The Fire Station Building Committee will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. The three new members from the Police Department will be attending the meeting.
The Finance Committee will meet this Thursday, September 26th at 6:00 p.m. in the William Sullivan Conference Room to review and make recommendations on the financial articles submitted for the Fall Town Meeting.
Selectmen’s Report
Ms. Riley reported that Bridgewater-Raynham School Superintendent Derek Swenson appeared on the “B-R Connection” on the Raynham Channel to review some of the positive developments in the District including the appointment of a new Curriculum Coordinator, which was a position that was eliminated for budgetary reasons several years ago, and the installation of a new security system at all of the District schools whereby al adults entering the buildings are screened through the RAPTOR Technology System. Mr. Swenson thanked the towns for supporting the budget to allow the District to address some of the social-emotional issues facing schools. Ms. Riley attended an event at the District Center for the Arts on Court Street and noted that the former courthouse has been beautifully renovated and now has handicapped accessibility. She also attended the Early Childhood Parents’ Organization’s meeting and offered thanks to the ECPO, as well as the LaLiberte Parents’ Organization, and the Raynham Middle School Parents’ Organization for doing so much to support our Raynham Schools.
Correspondence
Correspondence was forwarded to Michael Lalli, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, from the Board of Selectmen to release $835,423 from Overlay Surplus for use at the Special Town Meeting on October 21, 2019. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Correspondence was received from Mr. Matt Tanis, Health Agent, advising the Board that Governor Baker has declared a four -month temporary ban on the sale of vaping products. Mr. Tanis will send notices out to those Raynham establishments that hold tobacco permits once he receives the guidance documents.
A flyer was received from Chris Buckley with information on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall, which will be on exhibit September 26th – 30th at Highland Park located at 199 Mechanic Street in Attleboro. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Correspondence was received from Bernadette Hilton, Executive Director of the Raynham Housing Authority, notifying the Board that Sharon Shum has resigned from her position on the Board due to health reasons.
Correspondence was received from the Raynham Council on Aging notifying the Board that Peggy Evers, Outreach Worker, will retire effective October 1st, after over 20 years of serving in the position. In the correspondence, Mrs. Evers stated, “I wish to thank the Board members, Elizabeth Moura, Yvonne Quinlan and the Town of Raynham for these extended happy years of meaningful work.” Ms. Riley made a motion to send a letter of congratulations for her many years of service, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous. Mr. Luciano added that the Council has split the Outreach Worker’s position, which is funded by a grant, into two part-time positions. The same number of hours will be involved but two Outreach Workers will split the time. The job description is posted on the Town website.
Adjournment
At 7:13 p.m., Mrs. Smith motioned and Ms. Riley seconded to adjourn the meeting 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