Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 11/26/2019
Board of Selectmen November 26, 2019
Chairman Joseph Pacheco called the open meeting to order at 7:00 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 led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and Mr. Pacheco informed everyone that the meeting is being recorded by RayCAM for replay at a later date. He stated, “We are hoping to return to our live meeting next week.”
Acceptance of the Minutes
Ms. Riley made a motion to approve as printed the minutes of the meeting held on November 19, 2019. Mrs. Smith seconded and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Department Heads & Committees
Mr. Bob Iafrate, Building Commissioner, was present to give his monthly report. The Building Department continues to stay busy with ongoing projects and activities. To date, the number of building permits totals 543, electrical permits - 349, plumbing - 533, sheet metal - 69 and trenches – 36. Total fees collected for the year are at $487,436. Residential home building is going strong. Bassett Knoll is at 63 houses out of 70 and phase 4 will be 27 more. There are some going up on Pine Street and off King Street, five off Forest Street and three lots off King Philip Street. There have been 17 houses completed on Pine Street on the Raynham side over the last two years. The old house at 113 South Main Street is slated to come down and will be rebuilt as a new structure in the next couple of months. Commercially, there is the new hotel at 5 Commerce Drive, which should be completed in February. There will be an Italian take-out restaurant that will occupy a portion of the old Honey Baked Ham building. Mr. Iafrate said he is waiting for an application for the trucking facility at Paramount Drive. Inspections of liquor license holders will be starting next week. The generator at Town Hall will be installed within about two weeks. The pad has already been poured for it. There have been three new openings, including the new Gulf Station and Dunkin Donuts and also Barrels & Boards. Mr. Iafrate said that SRPEDD will start the Master Plan process in the next couple of months. The Planning Board approved the application of Bayberry Estates at the last meeting and there is an ongoing application for Cumberland Farms at the China Garden location on Broadway.
Mr. Ed Buckley, Highway Superintendent, was present to give his monthly report. He discussed recent roadway projects. King Street is complete. The road paving on White Street has been completed and the sidewalk should be completed next week. They’re working on the pavement markings and that project should be completed soon. There was some paving work done on Hewett, Lounsbury and Diniz Drives. The salt shed is complete, and the department did some paving around the building. The first salt delivery took place this morning. The department also put in the Veterans’ benches around the memorial at Town Hall.
Appointments
Police Chief Jim Donovan was present to request the appointment of Amanda Wong as a new Police Officer. She has completed her field training. A graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham, she holds a Master’s Degree from Curry College in criminal justice. She previously worked as a part-time Police Officer in Mansfield, and then she worked as a security officer at Stonehill College as a supervisor. Ms. Wong thanked Chief Donovan and the Police Department for the opportunity to work in Raynham. The Board welcomed her to the Department. Marsha Silvia, Town Clerk, was present to swear her in.
A request was received from Stacey Chisholm, Chairman of the Raynham Cultural Council, to appoint Kim Mahoney to the Board. Mrs. Smith made a motion to appoint, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
New Business
Mr. Pacheco discussed the Agenda item for the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the High Point Treatment Center and the Town of Raynham. He said, “My understanding is that High Point was going to be present, but it doesn’t look like they are in the audience, and there is nobody here from the School District. So, my recommendation to the Board would be to take it under advisement and forward it to Town Counsel for review. I don’t know that any of us had an understanding or awareness that there was going to be a grant applied for on behalf of the Town of Raynham.” Ms. Riley made that motion, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous. Town Administrator Graham Waters pointed out that Town Counsel did review the MOU and had some concerns regarding HIPPA and there were some back and forth emails about that. Mr. Pacheco stated that Town Counsel should look not only at the MOU, but also review the entire grant application and agreement. The School District will be notified.
Mr. Pacheco asked about the Agenda item regarding the land acquisition for the proposed Public Safety Building. Mr. Waters said that he will discuss that in his report.
Mr. Pacheco then proposed the holiday meeting schedule. He stated, “Christmas Eve is a Tuesday, and New Year’s Eve is a Tuesday, so I propose a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23rd for the purpose of signing bills and warrants with no other business. We would be off on the 24th and the 31st and reconvene on January 2nd for our regular meeting. Ms. Riley made that motion, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Old Business
Mrs. Smith wanted to thank the Highway Department for the benches they installed outside at Town Hall. She stated, “They look beautiful.”
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Waters reviewed the Town Administrator’s Report.
Mr. Waters said, “The Public Safety Building Committee met on Monday, November 25th. An update was provided on the RFP for the Project Manager. That has been advertised and we have started receiving inquiries and a selection will be made on December 4th. There was also a brief discussion about the process of conducting a land swap at Borden Colony with a representative from Senator Pacheco’s office. There has also been some discussion about alternate land to be used for the swap. More information will come forward once that decision has been made.” Mr. Waters also explained that an advertisement will come out in the Taunton Daily Gazette, soliciting land proposals. The Town is asking for proposals from any landowners in Town who might want to have the Town consider their property for purchase. It would have to be 6 or more acres. He continued, “This will be ongoing until the next committee meeting on December 17th. The information will be presented to the Building Committee and we will be moving forward on a decision on where the building should be built.”
Mr. Waters reported that the position of Health Inspector is still posted; applications have been slow coming in.
Mr. Waters also reported that Michael King, Treasurer/Collector, has been working on preparing for a bond rating call for phase seven of the Town’s sewer project, which is expected to take place in the next month or two. The process for filling the Senior Clerk opening is still on-going.
Upcoming Meetings
In his report, Mr. Waters also noted that the next scheduled Selectmen’s Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd, at Town Hall in the Don McKinnon Meeting Room.
Town Hall offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The offices will reopen under a normal schedule on Monday, December 2nd.
Selectmen’s Report
Ms. Riley wanted to remind everyone that on Saturday, there will be a craft fair fundraiser from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of Sarah Jayne Meyer.
The Raynham Public Library has many ongoing projects, and details can be seen on their webpage. They will even be holding a “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration for children on December 31st.
The Selectmen wished everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!
Correspondence
A Tag Day request was received from the Raynham Fire Fighters Local 2894 for the following date: November 29th. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Adjournment
At 7:21 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