Westport News

Members Present:        

                         Steven J. Ouellette, Chairman
                         Brian T. Valcourt, Vice Chairman
                         Gary Earl Mauk
                         Paul A. Schmid, III
                         Craig J. Dutra, Clerk

Also present:      

                Michael Coughlin, Town Administrator
                David Jenkins, Town Counsel
                Steven Fors, Town Moderator
                Elizabeth Collins, Westport Housing Authority
                Ronald Costa, Westport Housing Authority
                Marjorie Holden, Westport Housing Authority
                Veronica Beaulieu
                Catherine Williams

Chairman Ouellette called the Board of Selectmen meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. in the Westport High School cafeteria, 19 Main Road, Westport, MA.


Special Town Meeting Warrant
Article 3 - Selectman Mauk made a motion to authorize Chairman Ouellette, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, to motion that Town Meeting pass over Article 3.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Valcourt and was voted unanimously.

Article 1 - Selectman Valcourt motioned that the Board of Selectmen would not pay the legal bills for the Highway Surveyor.  Selectman Mauk seconded the motion.  The role call vote was Chairman Ouellette - yes, Selectman Valcourt - yes, Selectman Mauk - yes, Selectman Schmid - yes, and Selectman Dutra - yes.

Moderator Steven Fors joined the discussion concerning Article 1.  He stated that after much thought, he had decided that he would not accept a motion for approval of Article 1.  Mr. Fors noted that the issue was who decides whether the money is no longer needed for the purpose that it was approved for.  He said that he would call any motion on that article out of order.  The Moderator went on to say if it had been listed on the warrant when posted then that would have been enough notification.

Selectman Mauk then made a motion to authorize Chairman Ouellette, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, to motion that Town Meeting pass over Article 1.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Valcourt and was voted unanimously.


Appointment of Westport Housing Authority Member
Elizabeth Collins, Chairwoman of the Westport Housing Authority, noted that the two boards were jointly meeting to appoint a new member of the Westport Housing Authority, which was necessary due to the death of Donald Maynard.  She stated that the appointment would expire at the April Town Election.  Ms. Collins wanted the Selectmen to know that at the last Housing Authority meeting they had only received one letter of application from Veronica Beaulieu, who had also attended the meeting.  The Housing Authority had voted to appoint Ms. Beaulieu.

The boards asked the two applicants, Veronica Beaulieu and Catherine Williams, if they had anything to say.  Ms. Beaulieu said that she would like to serve the Town of Westport again and, if appointed, would run for the unexpired term.  Ms. Williams then stated that after some research, she felt that her skills and background would be more suitable for the Affordable Housing Trust so she withdrew her name from consideration.  On a motion by Selectman Valcourt, which was seconded by Selectman Schmid, the Board voted unanimously to accept her withdrawal.  Ms. Collins said that she hoped that Ms. Williams would consider running for the Housing Authority another time.  Selectman Schmid then made a motion to appoint Ms. Beaulieu to the Westport Housing Authority.  The motion, which was seconded by Selectman Mauk, was voted unanimously.


The Special Town Meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.


Adjournment.
Respectfully submitted,                                 APPROVED:                        
Denise Bouchard                                          Craig J. Dutra, Clerk
Secretary to the Board of Selectmen