Selectmens Meeting Minutes
Board of Selectmen July 10th, 2018
Chairman Marie Smith called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. after returning from an Executive Session held under Mass. Gen. Law Chap. 30A, Sec. 21, “to discuss strategy with respect to, or in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel” and “to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body.” Ms. Riley stated that there was nothing to report from the Executive Session at this time.
Present were Joseph Pacheco, Marie Smith and Patricia Riley.
Mrs. Smith opened the meeting with our Pledge of Allegiance.
Acceptance of the Minutes
Ms. Riley made a motion to accept the minutes of the June 26th meeting as printed, Mr. Pacheco seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Department Heads & Committees
Fire Chief Jim Januse was present to give his Activity Report for the month of June. Fire incidents including fires, motor vehicle accidents and public assists totaled 155 calls. Ambulance calls including medical emergencies, MVAs and public assists totaled 153. Miscellaneous calls including inspections, fire alarm work and other items of note totaled 119. Mutual Aid calls including fire and ambulance totaled five as follows: ambulance given-1, ambulance received–1, fire given-2, and fire received-1. There were a total of 1,440 calls for June of 2018, which is 66 more than June of last year. Chief Januse updated the Board on several employees who have been out on extended sick leave. He also reported on the incident at the Industrial Park, where 2 chemicals were mixed and caused the area to become hazardous. All employees were evacuated. The Tier One and Tier Two Hazmat Teams responded, and the Chief believes that there was adequate response.
Mr. Kevin Moreira, Program Coordinator of the Raynham CERT, was present to give his annual report. This is the fourth year of the program and CERT recently received a grant from MEMA for $2,500, which will be used for equipment. Seven individuals were trained through the FEMA endorsed CERT Class; 25 high school students were trained through the FEMA endorsed Teen CERT Class. A total of 32 individuals were trained and certified in CPR and AED. There are 25 current CERT members in Raynham. In all, the volunteer hours offered through Raynham CERT totaled 1,413, including training hours and details at a variety of events. Mr. Pacheco thanked him and said he would like to see the program expanded. He would also like to sit down with him and Chief Januse to brainstorm and then offer a presentation to the Board. Ms. Riley thanked him for the great job the CERT volunteers are doing and said the Memorial Day Parade ran so much more smoothly with their assistance.
Police Chief Jim Donovan was present to give his report for approximately a six-week period. The department logged 2,211 incidents and booked 66 people. There were 8 nonfatal overdoes during that time. The department also spent a lot of time working with the school district planning for emergencies at the schools. There were several break-ins that took place in Raynham and in surrounding towns. They were resolved by the great work of Det. Berry. The Speed Camp is running Monday – Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 11:00. Recently in Bridgewater there was an attempted abduction and Dispatcher Heather Correia took the partial plate number and was able to figure out the rest of the plate to ultimately help solve the incident.
Mr. Ed Buckley, Highway Superintendent, was present to give his monthly report. They are completing the street sweeping and have cleaned up the sidewalks and also done brush cutting. They have addressed work orders from residents and installed flags for the last two holidays. They currently have two trucks out of service that are being replaced. The Parks & Grounds division has completed the painting of the new basketball court. They also removed the old playground at the North School. The Hazardous Waste Day will be held on Saturday, July 14th from 8:00 a.m. until noon, accepting residential waste only. There is a list on the Town’s website of what will be accepted. Mr. Buckley submitted a letter of recommendation to fill a vacant position in the Parks and Grounds division by hiring Shawn O’Neil of 137 Center Street in Raynham. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to appoint, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Micaila Britto, Veterans’ Agent, was present to give her report. She recently attended a Veterans Service conference in Yarmouth and learned about some additional state and federal legislation. She will partner with a couple of new organizations that will be coming to Raynham to help her implement new programs for our veterans. She thanked the Raynham Lions Club for their generous donation of $1,000, which will help with the new Purple Heart Community signs. Additionally, she was asked by Sec. Urena of the Dept. of Mass. Veterans Services to be a part of bringing home the remains of WWII Veteran John McDonald. She will also assist in bringing home to be laid to rest a second Veteran from Taunton. The Purple Heart Community dedication will be held on Wednesday, August 8th at 6:30 p.m.at the South School.
Appointments
The Board discussed the yearly appointments. Mr. Pacheco said, “The only thing that I would add is that the North School Committee is missing a few members on the list that I received, but outside of that I have no objection.” Mrs. Smith said it’s because of the term. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve and noted that if the names that are missing need to be added, that can be taken up at the next meeting, Ms. Riley seconded and thanked all of those who are appointed to serve the Town in various capacities. Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
An application for reappointment of Ian Dailey as Constable was received. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
New Business
The Board discussed the Fire Chief’s contract. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
The Board discussed the Police Chief’s contract. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mr. Pacheco abstained, and Mrs. Smith seconded. It was approved with two votes in favor and one abstaining.
Attorney Bill August was present as special Cable Counsel to the Town for negotiations. The existing Comcast license will expire in July of 2019. The Cable Commission is currently in informal negotiations to renew the license, and Attorney August believes they are going well. He presented the Board with a copy of the Cable Television Ascertainment Report for approval. Comcast wants to see that the needs of the Town are valid needs. With annual funding of the local channels, managed by the non-profit, Raynham Community Access Media, Inc., there has been a dramatic growth of activity at the local studio and on the channels. Accordingly, Comcast has agreed to expand, as part of the license renewal, the current two local channels to three. The Cable Commission has also requested an increase in the annual funding from the current 4% of gross revenues to 5%. Comcast has informally agreed and upgrades are anticipated with the increase. Atty. August asked the Selectmen to approve the report, which could then be signed by the Town Administrator. Michael Heylin, RayCAM director and liaison to the Cable Commission, said RayCAM has put about $200,000 into improvements in the South School. Additional funding would be used to continue with the rehab and hire additional staff. Mr. Pacheco said, “The only thing I would like to add is the Senior discount. I think that it is important that we continue to make that request” Atty. August said Verizon has never agreed to it, but Comcast has agreed to put it in a side letter for income eligible seniors. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve the Ascertainment Report, Mr. Pacheco seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Completion of Old Business
Mr. Pacheco said, “I would like us to move forward to fill the position of Health Agent and I think that Matt Tanis is immensely qualified and an appropriate addition to the Town. It would also allow Mr. Flaherty, for the first time, to be able to be the Town Administrator and only be the Town Administrator. With the fact that I think that our Health Department needs a full-time agent, I would make a motion, pending successful contract negotiation, to appoint Mr. Tanis as Health Agent.” Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Selectmen’s Report
Mr. Pacheco brought up the subject of the lack of space at the Fire Department, stating that there has been some conversation in the past regarding a feasibility study for the expansion of the department, and “I believe that at Town Meeting we had allocated some money for that and we could move forward on that to do some architectural renderings.” Mrs. Smith said they were talking about sleeping quarters and things of that nature. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to have this on the Agenda and have the Chief come in to discuss it. He added, “I believe that it is a project that we could afford to fully fund through free cash as opposed to a debt exclusion.” Mrs. Smith said, “I have no problem with that. I believe we gave them $50,000 to do the feasibility study. I would like to see what that report consists of and what the recommendation is before we put any more money into it, not knowing what the ultimate cost is going to be.” Ms. Riley seconded. Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Ms. Riley wanted to remind everyone that the Town will be holding a Special Election in two weeks for a debt exclusion for a continuation of the sewer expansion. Also, she would like to see on the next Agenda goals and objectives for the new fiscal year.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Flaherty reviewed the Town Administrator’s Report.
The Archive Room at the North School is done and the bathroom floor needs to be painted.
Mr. Flaherty, as Acting Health Agent, followed up on two Chapter II Housing complaints, performed one Title 5 system inspection and processed three Title 5 permits for construction. There has been no EEE in MA, but 8 West Nile Virus samples were found in Norfolk County.
ACO updates: A dangerous dog that was being held in the Lakeville facility was claimed by the owner.
Regarding the dog complaint recently discussed, Mr. Flaherty noted that the electric fence was installed but the existing fence still needs attention. There was an issue with dogs and cats on Michael Road. They were surrendered, cleaned up and adopted out.
Mr. Flaherty is requesting feedback on the ACO vehicle as proposed.
RayCAM needs another Board Member. Please contact Kevin Ellis if interested. The Raynham Historical Commission needs 2 more members. Please contact Pat Riley through the Selectmen’s Office.
There will be online training for the Conflict of Interest Law offered over the next two weeks to all board and commission members and Town employees who are required to take the training every two years.
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be held on July 24th at 7:00 p.m. in keeping with the summer schedule.
The next Dept. Head Meeting will be held on July 19th at 9:30 a.m.
The next MEHA meeting will be held on July 16th in Dedham.
The SMHG Meeting will be held on July 26th in Seekonk.
The next SERSG meeting will be held on September 12th at 9:00 a.m. in Mansfield.
Mr. Flaherty will be on vacation from August 9th and will return August 20th.
Mr. Pacheco said I think we should give Dave the go ahead on the ACO vehicle. Mrs. Smith noted that it had already been approved.
Correspondence
Correspondence was received from the Environmental Planner regarding the scope of work to be done on Rt. 138 from King Philip Street to the Easton Town line. Mr. Pacheco added that the project will be started in 2021.
Correspondence was received from Maria Gomes, County Administrator, of an Advisory Board meeting to be held on July 19th at 6:00 p.m. at Taunton Superior Courthouse.
Correspondence was received from Nicholas Patenaude, who will be a Senior at Coyle Cassidy and is looking to earn his Eagle Scout badge. He is requesting permission to hold a food drive at Market Basket on August 1, 2, 11, & 12. This will benefit an organization called Taunton Area Community Table. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Correspondence was received from Town Accountant David Grab, who requested the Board designate one member authorized to sign approval of the transfer of funds within the town budget.. Mrs. Smith said that she will do that. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Adjournment
8:00 p.m. Ms. Riley motioned, and Mr. Pacheco seconded to adjourn for the performance of administrative duties, signing of Bills and Warrants with no business to be conducted afterwards. Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Respectively submitted,
Janet Murphy
Recording Secretary