Westport News

Members Present:        Veronica F. Beaulieu, Chairman
                                  J. Duncan Albert, Vice Chairman
                                  Steven J. Ouellette
                                  Robert P. Rebello
                                  Gary E. Mauk, Clerk

Also Present:                 Michael Coughlin, Town Administrator
                                
Ms. Beaulieu called the Board of Selectmen meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. in the Westport Town Hall, 816 Main Road, Westport, MA with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by all present.

Ms. Beaulieu noted that the Executive Session was to hear two grievances, one from the Fire Department and one from the Police Department.  At this time, the Police Department grievance will be rescheduled to March 10, 2008 due to the Police out serving warrants and with the Fire Department having been called out to a fire, the Board would go into Executive Session in order to approve Executive Session Minutes, resume to Open Session and return to Executive Session when the Fire Department arrived.

Executive Session-5:00 P.M.
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 39, Section 23B to hear a grievance from the Fire Department and to approve Executive Session Minutes.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted 4 in favor, 1-absent (Ouellette).

Roll Call Vote:  Mr. Mauk-aye.  Mr. Rebello-aye.  Mr. Albert-aye.  Ms. Beaulieu-aye.
                           *Note:  Mr. Ouellette arrived at 5:05 P.M.

Open Session – 5:11 P.M.
The following meeting schedule was set for the Board of Selectmen:
Monday – March 10, 2008 – 5:00 P.M.
Monday – March 24, 2008 – 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday – April 9, 2008 – 6:00 P.M.
Monday – April 21, 2008 – 6:00 P.M.
Monday – May 5, 2008 – 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday – May 6th, 7th and 8th – 7:00 P.M.  (Town Meeting)
Monday – May 19, 2008 – 6:00 P.M.

Executive Session – 5:20 P.M.
Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to reconvene the Executive Session.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
Ms. Beaulieu recused herself from Executive Session.

Open Session – 5:50 P.M.

Council on Aging
Present were Ted Lang-Interim Director COA and Lorraine Roy, COA Clerk
1. Approval to hire a Transportation Clerk.
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to appoint on the recommendation of Mr. Lang, Council on Aging Director, Laurie Amman as part-time Transportation Clerk.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. Approval of $2.00 per hour increase for Van Drivers.
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to approve the $2.00 per hour increase for Council on Aging Van Drivers, with the money coming from grants, to the end of this fiscal year.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted 3 in favor, 2-opposed (Ouellette, Beaulieu).
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to open the ATM warrant to add an article for the ratification of van driver’s increase.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
It was noted that a copy of the Van Drivers Job Description would be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen’s Office for approval.
3.   Fee Increase for Social Day Program.
Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to approve the increased fee for the Social Day Program to $35.00 per day to begin on March 17, 2008, allowing for the circulation notice of available scholarships for private-pay clients.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
4. Advertisement for the Council on Aging Director.
During discussion the following revisions were made to the advertisement.
A) Insert the language “and staff supervision” in first line after leadership.
B) Delete $43,008.00 and insert “negotiable”
C) Insert the language “by March 20, 2008 or until position is filled” for a deadline.
Motion made by Mr. Albert to approve the revised advertisement and permit the Town Administrator to advertise the COA Director position a.s.a.p.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
It was noted that the advertisement should be posted on the MCOA and the MMA websites.
5. Council on Aging Budget
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to approve Budget #541 – Council on Aging in the amount of $196,356.00.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Revocation Hearings
Ms. Beaulieu noted the scheduled Revocation Hearings for Norwest Auto Sales, Inc. and Carvalho’s Bargain Motors have been rescheduled to March 10, 2008.

Zoning Board of Appeals RE: Alternate Members
Zoning Board Chairman Clayton Harrison and Vice Chairman Gerald Coutinho were present.
Mr. Coutinho presented to the Board of Selectmen, a list of proposed activities to recruit ZBA Associate Members.
Ms. Beaulieu stated the positions have been posted on the cable scroll, the Town’s website and the bulletin boards in Town Hall.
Mr. Coutinho stated the Town of Dartmouth recently took out an advertisement in order to recruit volunteers for their zoning board.  Mr. Coutinho felt it necessary to make people aware of the serious consequences to the Town by not having associate members. Mr. Coutinho explained that the Zoning Board of Appeals was under time guidelines in which to handle petitions for variances or special permits.  Mr. Coutinho asked the Board of Selectmen to consider people and personally ask them if they would be interested in serving.  Mr. Coutinho said there are costly consequences to not having enough Associate Members on the Board.
Mr. Mauk asked what would happen if someone applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals and could not be heard.
Mr. Coutinho stated that after the allotted timeframe, the application would be granted.
Mr. Harrison explained the duties of the members.  Mr. Harrison then stated that he was here tonight to plead the Zoning Board of Appeal’s case before they get into a bind.  Mr. Harrison stated the Board of Selectmen is the appointing authority but Zoning members would like to be involved in the interview process.
Ms. Elaine Ostroff offered that new residents may not know about the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Perhaps, after the next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, a question and answer period could be held to inform interested people.
Ms. Beaulieu thanked the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals for coming in.

Proposed Article 18 – Adult Entertainment Bylaw
Mr. John Montano, Chairman of the Planning Board stated the members of the Planning Board have not had a chance to review the revised bylaw but are in favor of this article. Mr. Montano stated this bylaw was still a draft and could still be revised.  Mr. Harrison, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals stated that his members supported this article also.
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to open the Annual Town Meeting warrant for inclusion of the article for the Adult Entertainment Bylaw; the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board will sponsor the article.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

SRPEDD – Nancy Durfee RE:  Priority Protection and Priority Development, Land Use Study.
Ms. Nancy Durfee, Comprehensive Planner for SRPEDD was present.  Ms. Durfee spoke about the land use study conducted by the Executive Office of Transportation and the South Coast Rail.  Ms. Durfee spoke about Priority Development and Priority Protection.  Ms. Durfee stated SRPEDD would be using both the Master Plan and Open Space Plan that the Town of Westport has in order to create maps to help identify the priority areas.  Also, SRPEDD will be giving the Town 50 hours of technical assistance, which can be used by the Town under the conditions of the Smart Growth Plan.
Planning Board member James Whittin stated the Planning Board has voted to sponsor and support this program.
Mr. Mauk stated that he was really concerned about the rail coming and the Planning Board should be our lead in this area, enlisting help from different boards.  
Mr. Ouellette noted that a PDA area could even be about the size of one acre.
Mr. Montano said the Planning Board would be able to use the tools that will come out of this program.  The Town needs to be prepared for when the rail does come.
Ms. Durfee stated that with the rail the Town must plan for secondary growth.
Mr. Ouellette felt that SRPEDD had the best planning in the State and would prepare the Town for the rail.
Ms. Durfee stated that SRPEDD conducted a mapping exercise in Somerset and it started communications between departments that did not exist before.
Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to allow the Planning Board to move forward with the Priority Planning and Development plan with SRPEDD and to support the program.  Second by Mr. Mauk.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Question and Answer Period
1. Mr. Brian Valcourt asked what jurisdiction does the Town have as to whether or not to pay the Conservation Commission’s legal fees, if so ordered by the court.
Mr. Coughlin, Town Administrator, stated that if the court order is to pay their fees, then the Town is obligated to pay or appeal the decision.
2. Mr. Richard Botelho wrote that he had comments on and questions about alternatives explored – involving adult entertainment location.
Ms. Beaulieu stated that all alternatives are being looked at.

Correspondence
1. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to have the Town Administrator contact Mr. Turcotte regarding Song Bird Estates and to take the appropriate steps in handling this matter with the DHCD.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. No action was taken regarding an invitation received to the Annual Meeting of the Westport River Watershed Alliance.
3. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to appoint Theodore Rich as the Conservation Commission Representative to the Stormwater Management Committee.  Second by Mr. Albert.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Town Administrator’s Report
1. Posted meetings were reviewed.
2. Mr. Coughlin stated the Finance Committee would be hosting a Budget Benchmarking presentation on Tuesday, February 26, 2008.  Mr. Coughlin stated that the final report is still in the making and should be finalized around early April.

Consider / Reconsider
1. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to sign the petition from National Grid for underground service to 25 Fairway Drive.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to open the Town Meeting warrant in order to include an article for the “Child Safety Zone Bylaw”.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
3. Motion made by Mr. Albert to forward a copy of the petition received from residents regarding “Negotiations with Charter Communications” to Mr. Tom Cohan as a follow-up to last week’s meeting, showing the dissatisfaction within the Town regarding cable service.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
Ms. Beaulieu noted that the Town advertises for bidders for cable service, but if no one bids, there is not much the Town can do.  Ms. Beaulieu welcomed all companies to bid on the service for Westport.  
Motion made by Mr. Albert to send a letter to all other Cable TV Service Provider Representatives asking them to come to a Board of Selectmen’s meeting in order to explain why their companies would or would not want to come into Westport, including Verizon, Cox and Comcast and perhaps in talking they may be willing to do certain parts of the Town.  This will be an informal request to discuss any proposals.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Other Issues
1. Mr. Ouellette extended “Good Luck” to the Westport Basketball Teams in the upcoming tournament.
2. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to reinstate the hiring freeze immediately for the Town of Westport.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
3. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to bring back the Fire Chief and have a serious conversation regarding the Fire Department Budget, along with inviting the Finance Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman to the same meeting.  No second was received.
4. Mr. Albert asked for information regarding the Beach Parking Overlay District in order to close this matter.  Mr. Coughlin stated that this could be addressed at the next meeting.
5. Mr. Mauk questioned whether the requested information regarding the responsibilities of the Commission of Trust Funds has been received from Town Counsel.
Mr. Coughlin stated that he would look into this matter.

Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to adjourn the Board of Selectmen meeting at 8:30 P.M.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,
Diane Pelland, Confidential Clerk
to the Board of Selectmen


APPROVED: Gary E. Mauk, Clerk