Selectmens Minutes 03/12/2019
Board of Selectmen March 12, 2019
Chairman Marie Smith called the open meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and stated that there was no Executive Session held this evening. Present were Chairman Smith and Selectmen Joseph Pacheco and Patricia Riley.
Mrs. Smith led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and reminded everyone that the meeting is being recorded live by RayCAM.
Acceptance of the Minutes
Mr. Pacheco made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 5th meeting as printed, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Department Heads
Fire Chief Jim Januse was present to update the Board on the Activity Report for the month of February. Calls related to fires, fire incidents, motor vehicle accident investigations, and public assists totaled 69. Ambulance calls for medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents and public assists totaled 143. Miscellaneous calls for inspections, fire alarm work and other items of note totaled 71. Fire and ambulance-related mutual aid calls were as follows: 0 ambulance given, 1 ambulance received, 1-fire given, 0 fire received for a total of 2. There was a total of 445 calls for February 2019, which is 5 more than February last year. Chief Januse updated the Board on several employees who have been out on extended sick leave.
New Business
The Board discussed the permanent Civil Service employees. Mr. Pacheco explained, “Every year we have to certify the list for the Police Department with the State.” He made a motion to accept as printed, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Completion of Old Business
The Board discussed the appointment of an Advisory Committee. Ms. Riley made a motion, in accordance with Article 45 of the 2003 Annual Town Meeting, to ask the Town Moderator to go forward with the article to establish an Advisory Committee, whose purpose will be to review resumes, interview applicants, and make recommendations of the filling of the Fire Chief’s position since Chief Januse will be retiring in July. Mr. Pacheco seconded for discussion. Ms. Riley stated that she checked with Town Counsel as did Mr. Pacheco Attorney Pietnik indicated that it was approved at Town Meeting and would strictly be advisory. The Selectmen are the appointing authority and would be under no obligation to accept any recommendations. Mr. Pacheco said, “I would agree, Ms. Riley. I also talked to Town Counsel as well and, strictly for discussion purposes, we’ll go forward with that. I would ask the Board to consider that in speaking with Moderator Donahue, who said the genesis for this was for receiving 20 – 30 applicants, that, perhaps, we change the language in a subsequent Town Meeting to say if you have over X amount of applications and where it’s an internal position and the number of candidates is most likely going to be limited, it might not always be prudent to go through this step or feasible to get people to volunteer. At least we give some consideration to that for subsequent hiring.” Ms. Riley said, “I would consider that. I think it’s strictly advisory, and even if there are only three applicants and the screening committee said all three of the applicants would make a great choice, it still just opens up the process. I don’t see how it hurts. I think it creates a greater confidence in the public that it’s open and a fair process and that committee would include appropriate town staff, members of relevant Boards and Committees and one citizen at large who could offer some insight that the three members of this Board might not have.” Mr. Pacheco said, “Perhaps in the instance where we have an internal position, we may not get the amount of interest to serve following the stipulations that we have for the composition of the committee and the ability to fill those positions, not that it shouldn’t happen.”
Mrs. Smith said, “It was voted at Town Meeting. We haven’t been doing it and we should be doing it and an amendment to that could be presented at the next Town Meeting, but, for now, this is on the books.” Mrs. Smith then called for the vote and joined Ms. Riley and Mr. Pacheco in voting yes on the motion.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Flaherty reviewed the Town Administrator’s Report.
South School was evaluated by the Building Inspector, Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Costa of RMC Construction. Estimates will be forthcoming for the repair and remediation work.
The Architect will have diagrammed options for the Town Hall entranceway by the end of the week.
The invitation for bids has been published for the siding on the Council on Aging’s Senior Center. The bids should be back by the end of this month and construction will start by the beginning of May.
Painting is being done this week on the second floor at Gilmore Hall.
The Town Budgets for FY2020 are being examined by Chairman Alegi and the members of the Finance Committee.
The Annual Town Meeting is set for May 20th and all articles for the warrant are due no later than March 30th.
The Health Inspector has been selected from the three applicants who applied. She will start the second week of April.
The Raynham Historical Commission still needs one new member.
The next Selectmen’s Meeting with be March 19th at 7:00 p.m.
The next SRSG Meeting will be held on March 20th at 9:30 a.m. in Mansfield.
The next SMHG Meeting will be held on March 13th at 9:00 a.m. in Seekonk.
The next Department Head meeting will be March 21st at 9:30 a.m.
Selectmen’s Report
Mr. Pacheco thanked Ms. Riley and the Raynham Association of Volunteers for Education for the invitation to participate in the Read Across America celebration. Ms. Riley said she heard that Mr. Pacheco gave the first-grade class that he visited an interesting lesson on Town Government. She thanked everyone who volunteered including all of the VIP guest visitors and all of the RAVE volunteers who served as hostesses and especially RAVE Volunteer Coordinator Becky George and RAVE’s Read Across America Co-C-hairs Becky Mello and Kate Dyer.
Ms. Riley reminded everyone that the Public Hearing for the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District budget for fiscal year 2020 will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. at the high school.
Correspondence
Correspondence was received from the Lyons Club for a One-Day Liquor License for Sunday, May 19th for their clam boil, and Friday June 6th for their annual Golf Tournament. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
An application was received for a transfer of license for Christopher’s Restaurant on Broadway for alterations of the premises and to transfer the license to Barrows and Boards, Inc., David Lagetto, Manager. Mrs. Smith asked to have the Police Department notified, so the department can do the required background check. Mr. Pacheco made a motion to set a Public Hearing for March 26th, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
A Tag Day permit application was received from Taunton High School Cheerleading for the following days: 7/26 -7/28.
A Tag Day permit application was received from Maya Hebert for the following days: 5/31, 6/14, 6/21 & 6/28.
A Tag Day permit application was received from Sacred Heart Church for the following days: 4/15 & 4/16.
A Tag Day permit application was received from House of Hope for the following days: 3/11, 3/12, 3/13, 3/14, 3/18 through 3/29.
Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve all of the permit requests, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous. Ms. Riley asked if there is a form used to apply for Tag Day permits and to verify that the applicant is a non-profit. Mr. Flaherty replied in the affirmative.
The Raynham Board of Appeals will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, March 20th, at Town Hall to consider a petition for Richard Carlson of Elm Street East for a variance of the zoning by-law.
Correspondence was received from MassDOT regarding the Chapter 90 funding statewide and thanking the Town for its efforts to make the Commonwealth a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Adjournment
At 7:30 p.m., Mr. Pacheco 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Murphy
Recording Secretary