Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
November 26, 2007
Present: Selectmen; Bill Martell, Ed Martin and Rich Hall, Administrative Assistant Kim Leahey, Peter and Peggy Hepler, Ed Fleury, John Trickey, Dave G., Mary Carey of the Gazette, a representative from Kestrel Trust and one or two other members of the general public.

Meeting called to order by Chairperson Richard Hall at 6 p.m.

Motion to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2007 meeting was made by Edward Martin and seconded by William Martel. Motion passed.

LIAISON REPORTS
School Committee – Selectman Martin will be attending the meeting scheduled for the 13th of December.

Library – Martin reports that the previous BOS meeting where issues of a fiscal nature were discussed with the Library Trustees “left an impression” on the new Library director, Adam Novitt.

Department of Public Works – Hall reports that the DPW crew has been out sanding the roads in recent days.

Fire Department – Hall reports that the new exhaust system has been installed and that $7000 was “left over” from the Federal grant after all bills were paid, the granting authorities gave the Department permission to spend out the remaining monies. Therefore, $5000 will be used to purchase equipment and the remaining $2000 will be spent for Fire Prevention education.

Police Department – Nothing to report.

Town Offices – Kim pointed out that several office machines had been removed from her area and replaced with one multi-function unit. She further reported that the fax capability of the new machine would be operational by week’s end. After a short discussion regarding the ‘old’ machines, Selectman Hall requested that Kim send out a memo to all departments offering the machines for their use and asking them to please respond by the next meeting on December 17.

HEPLER CONSERVATION RESTRICTION
The board met with Peter and Peggy Hepler of North Valley Road regarding their intention to ‘donate’ the development rights for 37 of their 40 acres to the Kestrel Trust. As explained by the Heplers; the land will be encumbered in perpetuity by a “no build” deed restriction. They are retaining an approximately 3 acre plot upon which their home is located.

Kim reported that the proposed restriction had been forwarded to Town Counsel for review and comment. As of the start of the meeting there had been no response from Atty. Connolly. After discussion, Selectman Martin motioned to sign the document only after hearing from Connolly and if she has no objections, Selectman Martell seconded, the motion passed unanimously.

ROUNDTABLE MEETING
A date for the Roundtable Meeting was set. The meeting will be held on January 14, 2008 at 6 pm with a Selectmen’s meeting immediately afterward. Chairman Hall directed Administrative Assistant Leahey to send out notices to all departments regarding the meeting.

OLD BUSINESS
Selectman Martell handed out copies of a listing of the utility costs for the Community Building. The Library Trustees had asked for it at the last BOS meeting. The total for the 06-07 Fiscal year was $35,804. Selectmen and Finance Committee member John Trickey discussed an anticipated $7000 increase in utility costs for the building and also discussed possible options for money-saving measures.

Website: Kim showed the Selectmen three design options that have been provided to her by Winans Creative, the firm handling the website re-design. Selectmen assured Kim that her choice would be agreeable to them.

NEW BUSINESS
Finance Committee member John Trickey asked if Administrative Assistant Kim Leahey could devote some time to researching the comparison of the Town’s current medical insurance carrier to that of the State policy. Leahey said that she would make every effort to begin that process.

Ed Martin made a motion to adjourn the meeting, motion passed, meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Kim Leahey