Selectmens Minutes 07/09/2019
Board of Selectmen July 9, 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 conduct strategy sessions with respect to, or in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, to discuss strategy with respect to co0llective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares, and to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices or strategies with respect thereto. On a roll call vote, Chairman Pacheco and Selectmen Riley and Smith 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 reported that the Board was returning from Executive Session and matters discussed would be voted on under the New Business portion of the agenda.
Chairman Pacheco called for a moment of silence for two individuals: former Selectman Donald McKinnon and Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter, who both recently passed away. Mr. Pacheco said the Board will miss Don and the passion he brought to the position of Selectman.
Ms. Riley led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and Mr. Pacheco informed everyone that the meeting is being recorded live by RayCAM.
New Business
Under New Business, Chairman Pacheco reported that an Employment Agreement had been reached between the Town of Raynham and Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita. He stated that it was a good agreement, covering three-years with 2% annual .increases. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Chairman Pacheco also announced that a Collective Bargaining Agreement had been reached with the Highway Department Union. He stated that it was also a good agreement, covering three years beginning July 1, 2019. The first year and the second year have a zero increase and the third year has a one percent increase. In lieu of the salary increases in the first and second years, steps will be added to the salary schedule in keeping with the practice with other unions in Town. Mrs. Smith made a motion to approve, Ms. Riley seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Appointments
Chairman Pacheco said there is a request for the annual appointments of Special Police Officers effective July 1, 2019. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve the list as presented, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Acceptance of the Minutes
Ms. Riley made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 25, 2019 meeting as printed, Mr. Pacheco seconded, and Mrs. Smith made it unanimous.
Department Heads and Committees
Highway Superintendent Ed Buckley was present to give his monthly report. He reported that his department provided some pre-July 4th holiday preparations and is continuing to do street sweeping, roadside mowing and liter removal. He has had some equipment breakdowns which have hindered the department. Other efforts have included cleaning up the site in preparation for the new salt shed and continuing with the engineering for the new White Street foot bridge and the future Mill Street project. His new mechanic is working out well. Parks & Grounds are doing general maintenance for recreational areas. Ms. Riley wanted to thank Mr. Buckley for all of his department’s efforts setting up the flags for the 4th of July holiday.
Citizen & Community Input
Melinda Castle of 333 South Street East was present to voice her concerns about a proposed dog park at South School. She believes that the area is too small, that it will attract many people from outside of Raynham, and may become a drug deal location. Interim Town Administrator Gordon Luciano stated that the Park & Recreation Department and Commission would like to hold an informational meeting at Town Hall on July 23rd to give their presentation and answer questions and all the neighbors are invited. He explained that notices to abutters will be sent out shortly and he emphasized that no decisions have been made. It will be a public informational meeting for a proposed dog park. Allie Alphonso of 93 Pine Tree Lane was also present to speak about the proposed dog park. She asked if this was discussed back in 2017. Mr. Pacheco replied that it was and that Town Meeting voted to allocate funds for it, but no location was ever finalized. She asked if other locations were mentioned but taken off the list for one reason or another. Mr. Pacheco replied that was true and that the Park and Recreation Department is taking the lead on this. He explained that the Selectmen will host the informational meeting at the Selectmen’s meeting in two weeks, “but we are not sponsoring it, Park & Rec is, as it falls under recreation, so I can’t tell you if they have any other locations.” Kevin Ellis of 272 South Street East was present to discuss his opposition to the proposed dog park. He stated that he saw the notice on the Raynham Channel and he let his neighbors know. He believes that the area behind the South School is much too small for a dog park because there should be six separate areas for different types of dogs, large and small, aggressive and non-aggressive. Mr. Luciano stated, “I want to emphasize that this is a Park & Rec issue, not a Board of Selectmen’s issue. All they are doing at my request is offering the meeting room and the ability to notify people. Ms. Riley suggested that there should be notification sent to abutters.” Michael Heylin, Executive Director of the Raynham Channel, was present to say that Park and Recreation Director Tim McRae had given him the flyer to put on the Raynham Channel. On another matter, Mr. Kevin Ellis requested permission to hold Raynham Pride Day in September. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Public Hearing – Cable License Renewal Hearing
Mr. Pacheco called the Public Hearing to order at 7:20 p.m. Mr. Kevin Ellis of the Cable Advisory Board was present and said his Board has been working with Atty. William August and the members highly support the agreement as proposed with Comcast. He said currently Raynham has two channels, but the agreement will add a third channel which will come directly from the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School and a fourth channel which will be Raynham’s first-ever high definition channel. Atty. August was present and provided the Board with a document showing the highlights of the agreement. Comcast will increase its annual franchise fee payments to the Town from 4% to 5% of Comcast gross annual revenues for PEG access community studio operational purposes. In addition, capital payments to the Town for Town PEG access equipment and facilities purposes will be an additional $180,000, payable in the amount of $18,000 per year for studio equipment and facilities. Atty. August said that Raynham will likely have the first high definition channel in the State, although Comcast has up to 3 years to activate it. The High School channel will be activated within 6 months. Atty. August brought the license renewal document for finalizing and signatures, including the Memorandum of Understanding with Comcast to be signed by the Selectmen on behalf of the Town and the MOU with RayCAM to be signed by the Selectmen on behalf of the Town. Atty. August said one change is in the last paragraph which refers to the pending FCC rule that proposes changing the way payment obligations of cable companies are to be calculated in the future. He stated that if it receives final approval from the FCC, cable companies can count in-kind benefits such as courtesy service to schools and the value of the access channels as offsets to the payments due to the Town. Ms. Riley wanted to thank everyone for all their hard work. Mr. Pacheco asked if the FCC’s possible new ruling would impact this contract or future contracts. Atty. August said it would impact this contract. Mr. Pacheco asked if there were any other comments. There were no other comments. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous. The Public Hearing was adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Old Business
The Board discussed the proposed job posting for the new Town Administrator. Ms. Riley and Mr. Luciano worked on the previously-approved job description to condense it for advertisement purposes. Ms. Riley stated that as proposed, it retained the main points in the longer job description and referenced that the full job description would be available on the Town’s website. Mr. Pacheco said the deadline for applications will be Friday, August 16th at 11:45 a.m. He asked the Board for a motion to finalize it and go forward with posting and advertising the position. Ms. Riley made the motion, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Luciano reviewed his report as Interim Town Administrator.
There is one committee opening for the Zoning Board of Appeals for an Associate Member for a one-year term.
There will be a power point presentation by the Park and Recreation Department at the next Selectmen’s meeting on July 23rd on a proposed site location and layout for a dog park. This will be an informational presentation only as the final decision and vote of approval rests with the Park and Recreation Commission.
Prior to the presentation, the Director will give updates on the Park and Rec Department.
Executive Director of the Council on Aging Elizabeth Moura will be present at the August 6th Selectmen’s meeting to update the Board and Town on the wonderful programs and activities going on at the Senior Center.
The Selectmen’s Office is receiving quotes for various upkeep projects at Town Hall to be completed over the summer.
Upcoming Meetings
The next Selectmen’s scheduled meetings will be held on July 23rd, August 6th and August 20th at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall, as the Board is now on an every-other week summer meeting schedule until the week of Labor Day.
Selectmen’s Report
Ms. Riley said that there will be a concert series beginning tomorrow night at 7:00 at the Stone Church. The Historical Society will be holding a beer and wine fundraising event on July 24th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Debucas Wine & Liquors to benefit the Hannant House. Ms. Riley also wanted to remember Mr. McKinnon and all that he accomplished for the Town. She also wanted to set the record straight, noting that on June 3rd she received a call from the State Ethics Commission about a complaint received that she used her volunteer position on the RayCAM Board of Directors to advance her election bid in 2018. She said that she was dumbfounded by the accusation “because in the first place it was one year ago and even more to the point the incumbent withdrew from the race and made a statement to the news media that she supported me for the positon, and, most importantly, because the mere thought of me using any position that I have ever held, volunteer, appointed, or elected, to benefit myself personally is so totally repugnant to me.” She stated that it had to be one of the quickest investigations in State Ethics Commission history because she subsequently received a letter dated June 4th, that the Special Investigator had already concluded in less than 24 hours that ‘this matter does not require any action on our part.” Ms. Riley concluded, “I hope the motivation of the individual who contacted the Ethics Commission was honorable, but if the intent was to intimidate me into giving up this seat, it’s not going to happen.” Mrs. Smith added that she thinks that some of the comments of a critical nature that are made on social media are unfair and that anyone who has a problem with any member of the Board should bring their complaint to the meeting instead of hiding behind FaceBook.
Correspondence
A Tag Day request was received from South Shore Cheer Boosters for the following dates: July 29th, 30th, & 31st, and also August 1st & 2nd. Ms. Riley made a motion to approve, Mrs. Smith seconded, and Mr. Pacheco made it unanimous.
Adjournment
At 7: 47 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