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.

Executive Session 5:08 P.M.
Motion made by Mr. Rebello to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 39, Section 23B to hear a Police Department grievance.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted 4 in favor, 1-opposed (Mauk).

Mr. Mauk stated he felt this subject was not worthy of an Executive Session.

Roll Call Vote:   Mr. Rebello-aye.  Mr. Ouellette–aye.  Mr. Albert–aye.  Mr. Mauk–aye.   Ms. Beaulieu–aye.

Ms. Beaulieu stated that the Board of Selectmen would resume to Open Session following the Executive Session.

Open Session  6:00 P.M.

Police Department – RE: Budget FY ’09
Police Chief Keith Pelletier was present and reviewed the Police Budget # 210.  Chief Pelletier stated public safety increases when there is a decline in the economy.  Chief Pelletier stated he included in his budget a line item for the addition of a full time custodian for the department; which was due to the outbreak of MRSA.  Chief Pelletier did however state that if given the choice of adding another officer in place of the custodian, he would be willing to do so.  Chief Pelletier said the department was shuffling right now in order to decrease the amount of overtime.  

Motion made by Mr. Rebello to approve Budget # 210 – Police Department at $2,803,722.00.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted 4 in favor, 1-opposed (Mauk).

Shellfish Constable Gary Sherman – RE: Job Description
Gary Sherman, Shellfish Constable was present to discuss the job description that was adopted by the Massachusetts Shellfish Officers Association.  Mr. Sherman stated the State’s Shellfish Officer job description has not been changed since 1970.  Mr. Sherman said the new description will not change the Town’s description, it would only bring it more in line with the State’s description.

Motion made by Mr. Mauk to direct Mr. Sherman to go to the Personnel Board with the description and to have the Personnel Board forward a response back to the Board of Selectmen.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Sherman also mentioned the fact that the Town received 2 ¼” of rain over the weekend and the Clamboil Ticket sales were progressing.  The Event will be on held March 31, 2008 at LePage’s Seafood, it is eat-in or take-out and tickets are $25.00 each.

Question & Answer Period
None.

Correspondence Requiring Action and / or Reading
1. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to forward the (3) letters of interest received for Associate Members to the Zoning Board of Appeals, along with any other letters received by 3/14/08 to the Zoning Board of Appeals for review and recommendation.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. Mr. Coughlin will be contacting and setting up a joint meeting of the Selectmen with the Board of Health, Health Agent and Building Inspector to review the upcoming beach trailer permits.
3. No action was taken.
4. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to grant permission for use of East Beach for a wedding ceremony on Friday, March 14, 2008 to Heather Bonnett.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Ouellette noted that he was not so concerned about police details because of the time of the year.

Town Administrator’s Report
1. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to designate the North and South Parking lots of East Beach and Cherry & Webb Town Beach as Special Beach Parking areas and to increase the fine for violations from $25.00 to $50.00, effective immediately.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to place a separate article on the Town Meeting Warrant for follow-up Environmental Maintenance Work at the Town Hall.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
At this time, Ms. Beaulieu asked if the numbers on the warrant article should be renumbered.  Mr. Mauk stated the Stabilization Article should remain as the last article.
Motion made by Mr. Mauk to open the Town Meeting Warrant and remove the article for a $2.00 increase per hour for COA Van Drivers and insert the article for Environmental Maintenance Work at the Town Hall. Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Ouellette mentioned whether the Board should consider an article for a debt exclusion for the shortfall that the Town is facing, because he didn’t believe an override would pass.    No response was received.
3. Motion made by Mr. Mauk for the Board of Selectmen to sign the Warrant for the Annual Town Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2008.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Consider / Reconsider
1. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to return the revised Van Driver job description to the Council on Aging for better descriptions of the proposed changes, to go before the Personnel Board for approval and then to return to the Board of Selectmen.  Second by Mr. Rebello.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
2. Motion made by Mr. Mauk to dedicate the Annual Town Report to the deceased employees over the last year, according to the list that has been given to the Board members.  Second by Mr. Ouellette.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
3. Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to approve the pictures for the front and back cover of the Annual Town Report.  The front cover will feature a tractor plowing a field during summer and the back will depict winter in Westport.  Second by Mr. Mauk.  
The Board voted unanimously in favor.
4. Motion made by Mr. Rebello to accept the minutes of February 11, 2008.  Second by Mr. Albert.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.
5. Motion made by Mr. Rebello to accept the minutes of February 25, 2008.  Second by Mr. Albert.  The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Other Issues
1. Mr. Ouellette asked if the Planning Board would be affected by the hiring freeze being put back into place.  The answer was they came in before the hiring freeze was reinstated.

Motion made by Mr. Ouellette to adjourn the Board of Selectmen Meeting at 7:00 P.M.  Second by Mr. Rebello.   The Board voted unanimously in favor.

Adjournment.
Respectfully admitted,
Diane Pelland, Confidential Clerk
to the Board of Selectmen

APPROVED:  Gary M. Mauk, Clerk