Westport News

Present:    Bob McCarthy (BM), Warren Messier (WM), Tony Vieira (TV), Hugh Morton (HM), Tracy Priestner (TP), Jack Baughan (JB), Charles Baron (CB), John Miller (JM)
Absent:    Lisa Arnold (LA)

1.    TV, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the traditional salute to the flag.

2.    Planning Board:    John Montano, Chairman, was in attendance to discuss Articles 7 & 8 on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.  He started by saying that the Town Planner, Gale Nigrelli, is not returning to work.  She has retired.  Article 7 is to move $20,000 from the Personnel Services line to Professional Services in order to hire consultants to assist in some of the work Gale would have been doing, for example, updating the zoning by-laws to make them more effective and less outdated.   Article 8 is to clean up the inclusionary housing zoning by-law due to problems that have arisen from the current by-law.  JB made a motion to recommend Article 7.  CB seconded the motion and the vote was 6-1 in favor with 2 members absent. (WM came in after 8pm)  TV decided to table the vote on Article 8 in order for everyone to see the public hearing of October 8th regarding this by-law.  Valerie Bain, Cable Access Coordinator, will forward the airing schedule to the members of when they can watch the hearing.

3.    Town Farm:    Jennifer Holske from the Trustees of Reservations was in attendance to discuss Article 6, 99-year lease of Town Farm by TTOR.  She gave a brief presentation as to the history of Town Farm and the lease.  TTOR is slated to invest $1.3 million to running and improving Town Farm.  Currently, Town Farm produces 2300 pounds of produce that is donated through community farming.  The members asked Jennifer to supply the committee with a complete package of the materials submitted to the BOS before they made their decision to enter into this lease.  JB made a motion to not recommend Article 6.  WM seconded the motion and the vote was 4-2 with 2 abstaining and 1 absent.

4.    Richard Lafrance:    Mr. Lafrance, owner and operator of White’s of Westport, Hampton Inn and Bittersweet Farms, was in attendance to speak against Articles 2 and 3.  He gave a brief presentation as to the effect the increase in meal tax and hotel tax would have to his business.   He feels that the hotel tax singles him out because he is the only hotel in town and that if Article 3 passes, it would significantly have an effect on his business and the taxes he already gives the town.  He also feels that if the meal tax stays the same, that town restaurants will have a competitive edge over other towns that have already adopted the additional tax and that patrons will come in to Westport to not pay the additional taxes.  BM made a motion to not recommend Article 2.  HM seconded the motion and the vote was 6 in favor and 2 abstaining with 1 absent.  BM then made a motion to not recommend Article 3.  JB seconded the motion and the vote was 7 in favor with 1 abstaining and 1 absent.

5.    Minutes:    The minutes of 9/15 were presented for approval.  JM made a motion and TP seconded the motion to approve the minutes as amended.  The vote was unanimous in favor.
6.    Special Town Meeting:    Article 1:    This article is to amend the school budget for FY10 to adjust for the cuts in Chapter 70 monies from the state.  JM made a motion to recommend Article 1.  BM seconded the motion and all were in favor with 1 absent.
Article 4:    This article is to pay three invoices that were presented to payment after FY09 was closed and they were not encumbered.  JB made a motion to not recommend Article 4.  JM seconded the motion and all were in favor with 1 absent.
Article 5:    This article is to move $23,000 from CPC undesignated funds to an item for additional engineering costs associated with the Central Village Sidewalk project.  JM made a motion to recommend Article 5.  JB seconded the motion and the vote was 7-1 in favor with 1 absent.

7.    Town Accountant:    Terry Provencal, Town Accountant, was in attendance to discuss an email received from the state certifying free cash.  The number was -$39,045.  This means that we are going to begin the FY11 budgeting process with a shortfall not including FY10 snow and ice.  BM made a motion that we send a letter to the media and all elected officials of how bad the finances are with these numbers.  JB seconded the motion.  BM amended the motion to send the press release to all.  The vote was 4-3 to send the press release. TV said he wanted to wait until the BOS meets on Oct 19th to give them the opportunity to act on the bad news.  TP then made a motion to wait until the state releases some numbers on Oct 15th.  BM seconded the motion and all were in favor.   BM asked that we invite the BOS to our meeting on October 20th.  BM then amended his original motion to send the press release after the meeting on October 20th.  BB seconded the motion and all were in favor.

8.    Other:    TV reminded everyone that the Annual Meeting is on October 24th and everyone is encouraged to attend.
        A bill was presented for payroll for the clerk.  BM made a motion to pay it.  TP seconded the motion and all were in favor.
        An invoice from ABC Disposal was presented to the chair regarding the BOH claim that the COA went to the Transfer Station.  The COA contracts with ABC to pick their garbage up at the center.
        A letter was presented to the board from Jack Sisson, Highway Surveyor, regarding the payment of his legal bills.  TV said there really isn’t anything this board can do.
        JM informed everyone that he is on the BOS agenda for October 19th regarding the Audit Committee if anyone would like to attend.
                            
 Adjournment and next meeting: There being no further business to come before this meeting, TP moved and CB seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:34pm.  The vote in favor was unanimous.   The next meeting will be October 20th at 6:00 p.m.
                            
Respectfully submitted,
Nicole Botelho, Recording Secretary