TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN - BOARD OF SELECTMEN

 

  REGULAR MEETING - MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008

 

   JUDGE WELSH HEARING ROOM


Chairman Mary-Jo Avellar convened the meeting at 6:00 PM noting the following Board of Selectmen attending: Mary-Jo Avellar, Michele Couture, Austin Knight, Pam Parmakian, Lynne Davies

 

Other attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Asst. Town Manager David Gardner, Municipal Finance Director Alix Heilala

 

Recorder: David Gardner

 

The following are meeting minutes, in brief: 

 

1A       PUBLIC HEARING – FIREHOUSE #2 – 189 COMMERCIAL STREET

           

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to instruct the Town Manager to move forward with crafting an RFP for a bid to begin renovations for existing fire station as described in the outline; with construction to begin after Women’s Week in October.

 

            Motion by:  Pam Parmakian     Seconded by: Michele Couture             Yea  5    Nay  0 

 

1B       PUBLIC HEARING: FORMER FREEMAN LIBRARY – 330 COMMERCIAL ST.

               

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to draft a lease with terms described at the March 10, 2008 meeting to occupy the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Freeman Building located at 330 Commercial Street. Furthermore, to instruct the Town Manager to explore other options for future occupancy of the 1st floor to be presented by Mid-April.

 

            Motion by:  Pam Parmakian     Seconded by: Lynne Davies                   Yea  5    Nay  0 

                   

1C       PROVINCETOWN PUBLIC PIER CORPORATION

               

            Open discussion ensued.  No motions made.

 

  1D       COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

            Joint Meeting with Board of Selectmen

           

            Open discussion ensued.  No motions made.

 

2.         PUBLIC STATEMENTS

 

Richard Wood – Commercial aspect of Pier is important and is limited.

 

 

Candace Nagle – Dissolving the Pier would provide financial support to the town. 

 

Dennis Minsky – Conservation Comm.  Did not take a position on the Beach Rake todate.

 

Larry Mahan – Seeks a vote to be placed on the May ballot to close the High School.

 

Celine Gandolfo – Land Bank Article.  BOS was premature in submitting the articles without

board input.  Land Bank has been very productive. Eel grass contributes to be valuable habitat and should not be removed without permission.

 

Michael Rogovsky – Question regarding closing the High School should be placed on the ballot. Tax money going towards affordable housing.  We need work force housing and tax relief for seniors.

 

David McGloughlin – Tone and discourse within the community.  School referendum should only be considered on its merits, and not used as a divisive issue within the community.

 

Teresa Nelson –  Disagreed with previous speakers on closing of  School.

 

Terry Roso- Parent with child in the school system, what price can we place on our school?

 

Rick Murray – Spoke on Town Hall rental fee. Affordable Housing. Sewer betterment fee rebate.

 

Deb Travato – Parent on School Committee, and disagrees with previous speakers in trying to close the school.

 

Alex Brown – Parent in school.  School is part of the community.

 

Patrick Patrick – We should be proud of our school system.

 

Kerry Adams – Family is emotionally tied to the school system.

 

Jessica Waugh – The Town needs to be working together to solve our problems.

 

Marcine Marcoux – we need to look at the future of the school.  Land Bank needs much                  greater discussion within the community. 

 

Clarence Walker – Establishment of a group to consider the future of the school system.  Gulls Nest issue regarding the sewer issue. 

 

Chad Edwards – 2007 graduate of the high school. 

 

3.         SELECTMEN STATEMENTS

 

Austin Knight

 

Conservation Commission should be consulted on the beach rake, criteria should be established.

 

Board of Selectmen to schedule conversation regarding the betterment of town owned buildings. 

 

Michele Couture

 

CPC funds for the Gulls Nest for the sewer.   David Gardner – Pursuant to the grant agreement.  The developers fully funded an ACO from their own funds releasing the issue of Title 5 compliant – reviewed by Town Counsel.  Developers recently paid $732K based on construction invoices.  The full $64K is currently in the ACO escrow account held by the new owners.

 

In response to Michael Rogovsky – You spoke on high taxes and evaluations and you put them all together.  The tax rate for Provincetown is probably one of the lowest on the Cape. Evaluations we can’t do anything about.  We do have some tax incentives for the elderly.  The town has come together on Affordable Housing and it has been one of the main goals of the Board of Selectmen. And one of the reasons for getting rid of the Land Bank is to give the taxpayers a break.

 

To Mr. Mahan – I will not vote or support any ballot that proposed to recommend closure of the High School.  I will support the school always. 

 

Pam Parmakian

 

Request the School Committee to meet with the BOS regarding discussing the future of the school.

 

                Lynne Davies

               

Consider options for tax relief.

 

            Sewer betterment fees of town owned buildings.

 

                Mary-Jo Avellar

 

Pam Hudson has been doing a wonderful job in Vernon’s absence.

 

Ray Martan Wells 100 year birthday letter 3-16-08.

 

Reminder of Executive Session regarding Union negotiations – Thursday at 12:30 pm.

 

4          APPOINTMENTS

 

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Bill Schneider as a Regular Member of the Town Scholarship Committee with a term to expire December 31, 2009.

 

            Motion by: Michele Couture       Seconded by: Austin Knight           Yea  5    Nay  0 

           

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Bill Schneider as a regular member to the John Anderson Francis Family Scholarship Committee with a term to expire December 31, 2009.

 

            Motion by: Michele Couture       Seconded by: Austin Knight            Yea  5    Nay  0 

 

5A1      TREASURER’S TRANSFER – Town Scholarship Fund

 

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote, as Commissioners of the Scholarship Funds, to approve the payment of $1,500.00 from the Town Scholarship Fund for payment of the 2007 Town Scholarship.

 

            Motion by: Michele Couture        Seconded by: Pam Parmakian          Yea  5    Nay  0 

 

 

 

 

5B       MASSACHUSETTS WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT TRUST

            Loan Agreement: $511,676 at 1.46%

               

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote, pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, to authorize and confirm Loan Agreement No: CW-07-01-A with the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust in the amount of $511, 676.00 at an interest rate of 1.46%.

 

            Motion by: Michele Couture        Seconded by: Pam Parmakian           Yea  5   Nay  0 

 

5C       HARBOR COMMITTEE

            Purchase of Beach Rake and Tractor

 

Open discussion ensued.  Need more information.  Committee will have to come back.

 

 

6A       PAMET LENS OVERSIGHT GROUP - UPDATE

 

Open discussion ensued.  No motions made.  

 

6B       TOWN BUILDINGS – ADA COMPLIANCE

 

Open discussion ensued.  No motions made.

 

6C       APPROVE ORDER OF WARRANT ARTICLES FOR APRIL TOWN MEETING.

 

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the order of the Warrant Articles for April 2008 Town Meeting as printed.

 

Motion by:  Michele Couture               Seconded by: Lynne Davies             Yea  5   Nay  0

 

6D       NEW ENGLAND FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

            Re-appointment of Chairman

 

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to send a letter to Governor Deval Patrick supporting the reappointment of the current Chairman of the New England Fishery Management Council John Pappalardo to a third term as Chairman.

 

Motion by:  Michele Couture               Seconded by: Pam Parmakian           Yea  5   Nay  0

             

6E        LOAN OF ARTWORK FROM TOWN COLLECTION – GROTON SCHOOL

 

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to authorize the Town Manager to execute an agreement with the Groton School, P.O. Box 991 Groton, MA 01450,  for the loan of artwork to be displayed at the de Menil Gallery on the Groton School grounds; pending an insurance appraisal.

 

Motion by:  Michele Couture                Seconded by: Lynne Davies           Yea  5   Nay  0

           

7.         MINUTES OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN‘S MEETINGS

 

None at this time.

 

 

 

8.         CLOSING STATEMENTS

 

Lynne Davies - None            

 

Austin Knight  - Would a cell tower at the Wastewater Treatment Facility prohibit the placement of a wind turbine at the same site?         

 

Pam Parmakian  -  None        Mary-Jo Avellar  - None       Michele Couture –  None

 

            Motion to adjourn by Michele Couture at  10:40 PM.

 

Minutes transcribed by:  Vernon G. Porter, Secretary to Board of Selectmen

                                        April 28, 2008