Selectmens Minutes 04/23/2019

Board of Selectmen                                                                                                     April 23, 2019

Chairman Marie Smith 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 Smith, Selectmen Joseph Pacheco and Patricia Riley were in attendance. 

Mrs. Smith led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and she informed everyone that the meeting is being recorded live by RayCAM. 

Acceptance of the Minutes

Mr. Pacheco made a motion to accept the amended minutes of the April 16th meeting as printed, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.   

Department Heads

Police Chief Jim Donovan requested to reschedule his monthly report.  Mrs. Smith asked Acting Town Administrator Gordon Luciano to put him on the Agenda for next week. 

Marsha Silvia, Town Clerk, was present to discuss the election that will be held this Saturday, April 27th, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Raynham Middle School and absentee ballots, which will be available until 12:00 noon on Friday.  She is also requesting direction from the Board.  She received a public records request for copies of the Town surveys. She stated, “I am the Records Access Officer as well, and I don’t have them.” Ms. Riley said, “I emailed copies to members of the Board. You didn’t receive a copy?”  Mrs. Silvia said, “No, the surveys.”  Ms. Riley said, “Sure, no problem.”  Mrs. Silvia asked, “Am I going to be the one to keep them?”  Ms. Riley said, “Sure, if you’re the records keeper, that would make sense.”  Mrs. Silvia said, “I also got a request for the minutes of the meetings as well, the minutes of the Government Study Committee meetings. Do you have those as well? You are the secretary?” Ms. Riley said, “I have been doing that on a volunteer basis so far.”  Mrs. Smith said, “I don’t have the surveys. Pat, you have them because you were doing the surveys.”  Ms. Riley said, “Exactly, the summary copies and all of the comments were transcribed and those are in the Selectmen’s Office, I believe. You want the actual surveys, the paper copies? There were 400 done online.”  Mrs. Silvia said, “The paper copies. This is not my request. This is a public records request.”  Ms. Riley said, “The paper copies I have, yes.”  Mrs. Silvia said, “I usually get the originals.”  Ms. Riley explained that the paper copies she referred to are the originals. “You will get the originals,” she stated. Mrs. Silvia said, “So, I will estimate what it will cost to copy them because someone wants copies.  So, from now on they will be kept in my office?”   Mrs. Smith said, “If you could, please make a file for them.” 

Public Hearing – Raynham Package Store, Change of Manager

Mr. Michael Arieta was present to address the Board as the new Manager.  Mrs. Smith said, “These papers are not completely in order, so we are going to have to table this for this evening and set up another hearing date for you.”  Mr. Pacheco said, “Just to clarify, we are supposed to have a Police Report for any change of Manager, and this hasn’t come in yet.” Mr. Pacheco made a motion to table it for one week and hold the public hearing next Tuesday, April 30th, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.  Mr. Pacheco made a motion to adjourn the hearing, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous. 

Town Administrator’s Report

Mr. Luciano reviewed the Town Administrator’s Report. 

The Annual Town Meeting is set for Monday, May 20th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Raynham Middle School.  The Pre-Town Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th, at 7:00 here at Town Hall.  The draft warrant is back for review.  Mr. Luciano has forwarded copies to the Moderator and Finance Committee for their review as well.  He has made a couple of alterations.  If there are no other alterations, it will be signed off on and mailed. 

The Special Town Meeting will also be held on May 20th, at 6:45 p.m. at the Raynham Middle School prior to the Annual Town Meeting.  The warrant for this meeting closes at 11:45 a.m., Friday, May 3rd. 

Mr. Luciano will be meeting with the Town’s insurance agent in the next week to review the policy which is up for renewal on July 1st.  He stated, “We will be paying special attention in making sure our vehicle count is 100% accurate.” 

Mr. Luciano has included the FY2020 State Cherry Sheet Local Aid budget estimates in the Selectmen’s packets for the Governor’s proposal as well as the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee proposal.  The process currently resides in the full House as they are debating some of the 1,370 amendments that have been filed.  Once the full House votes out a budget, it moves on to the Senate. 

The renewal contract for the Community Video program expires on June 6th for the Town of Raynham web site.  There is no charge, but Mr. Luciano would like to write a letter stating how the Town likes the service. 

The next Selectmen’s Meeting with be April 30th, at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

Union Negotiations are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th, at 5:00 p.m. for the Highway Dept. 

The Fire Chief Screening Committee meeting is scheduled to be held Wednesday, April 24th, at 1:00 p.m. at Town Hall. 

The Government Study Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 24th, at 6:30 p.m. at the South School. 

Mr. Pacheco and the Board welcomed Mr. Luciano and said they appreciated everything he has done and his willingness to step up and support the Town during the transition. 

Selectmen’s Report

Ms. Riley said, “We’ve had our first organizational meeting for our Memorial Day Parade. We had a good turn-out. Some of our key people were there.  I have the formal parade request to put on the Agenda. The date has been set for Saturday, May 25th, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Laliberte and Merrill Schools and ending with a ceremony at Gazebo Park.”  Ms. Riley said they have received two large donations recently, one from American Legion Post 405 and the other from the Raynham Lions Club.  The next Parade Committee meeting will be held May 6th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Merrill School.  Ms. Riley and R.A.V.E. Volunteer Coordinator Becky George were guests this afternoon on Raynham Veterans Services Officer Micaila Britto’s radio show to discuss RAVE and its “Salute To Veterans” efforts.  RAVE has also received two additional donations for flags.  Mrs. Smith asked if any bands had responded yet for the parade.  Ms. Riley said the Brass Band will be there, the Brockton Fife and Drum Corp and the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School Marching Band.  Mr. Luciano said he will put the request on the Agenda next week for approval. 

Correspondence

A Tag Day request was received from the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 57, for the following dates:  September 13th and 14th.  Mr. Pacheco made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous. 

Correspondence was received from Harry’s La Casa Mia for a Change of Manager.  A Public Hearing date was set for Tuesday, May 7th.   Mr. Pacheco made a motion to set the date for the Public Hearing and forward the information to the Police Department for their review, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous. 

A notice for a Public Hearing from the Conservation Commission was received for Wednesday, May 1st,, at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall for a request for determination for applicability for 107 Broadway, filed by Columbia Gas. 

Adjournment 

At 7: 27 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.  Mrs. Smith made it unanimous. 

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Murphy

Recording Secretary