TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Chairman Michele Couture convened the meeting at 6:05 PM noting the
following Board of Selectmen attending: Michele Couture, Elaine
Anderson, Mary-Jo Avellar, Austin Knight, David Bedard
Other attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Assistant Town Manager David Gardner, Town Accountant Alix Heilala
Recorder: David Gardner
The following are meeting minutes, in brief:
1.
PUBLIC HEARING: PUBLIC WORKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT
Michele Couture read
Public Hearing into record.
Sandy Turner, Russell H. Kleekamp, EIT,
Project Engineer, GHD - Stearns & Wheler, LLC
gave an overview of the purpose of this pubic
hearing, and the back-up material contained in this agenda item.
Open discussion and
comments ensued.
Barbara Rushmore: Very much in favor of the project to pave
Commercial Street. Approves of the town looking at pervious paving to provide
the storm water improvement. Would
support a wider work area as the east end and west end of Commercial Street is
in dire need of repair.
Rick Murray: Should meet with downtown business owners to
avoid disruption to businesses during construction.
Rob Tosner: Supports commercial street paving. Has been a goal of the VSB to pave Commercial
Street. Concerned about the cut off of
the area at Johnson Street and Court Street.
Austin Knight: Should have figures to present to the Town
that would extend the improvement area.
Streetscape improvements could include solar lighting or solar power
trash receptacles.
Elaine Anderson: Very supportive, and is glad that the storm
water drainage improvements are included.
Supportive of the solar power trash receptacles.
David Bedard: Does not want to see any wastewater project
tear up the road after paving.
Mary-Jo Avellar: Concerned about the surface materials
especially on the sidewalks.
Michelle Couture: Coordinate with businesses to limit impact
during construction. Likes the idea of
using a pervious paving material.
MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote and sign attached letter to
hereby designate the Department of Public Works as the lead department for the
proposed project, and fully support and authorize the submission of this Public
Work Economic Development (PWED) Grant and further;
Motion by: Mary-Jo Avellar Seconded
by: Elaine Anderson Yea
5 Nay 0
MOTION: Move
that the Board of Selectmen vote the expenditure of $16,488 for Stearns &
Wheler for professional services to develop the formal application for the
fiscal year 2009 PWED Grant in the amount of 1,000,000,00 to help fund the
paving, sidewalks, curbing, drainage and storm water for an area of Commercial
Street. To be funded by ATM 2006 Art#
7-4 with uncommitted funds in the amount of $40,411.67 which sum shall be
verified by the Town Manger and Finance Director.
Motion by: Mary-Jo Avellar Seconded by: Elaine Anderson Yea
5 Nay 0
1B STATE REPRESENTATIVE
SARAH PEAKE
Update on Happenings
Home Rule bill to collect unpaid water bills was signed
by the Governor.
Home Rule bill regarding High Pole Hill and the Malicoat
Easement were both approved.
Home Rule bill for the Community Housing Council was
approved.
Re-filed the
bill regarding Term Limits and the Bill to extend the room occupancy tax to
short term rentals, and are pending before committee.
Room Occupancy Tax Expansion Omnibus Bill has been
filed, and will let the town know if it progresses.
Concerned about the Governor’s Budget and his
formula for returning money to the communities. Also concerned about the Governor’s gas tax
proposal.
Chapter 91 bills support parking as a water
dependent use on Fishermen’s Pier, as well as the former Flagship Restaurant
property’s request for perpendicular access to the waterfront.
Michelle Couture: Concerned about the Governor’s meals tax
proposal vs. the local option meals tax, which goes back to the community. Regionalization meetings are ongoing and
looking toward the state to support the local efforts at facilitating
regionalization of services.
Austin Knight: Status of the Home Insurance Fair Plan? Response: Market is correcting itself slightly,
however, a bill has been filed to set up a state-wide Catastrophic Fund, and to
revise the makeup of the Fair Insurance Plan Group to ensure there is public
participation.
Mary-Jo Avellar: Concerned about the lottery formula the state
uses for local aid. Interested in wind
energy and what the state can do to help the town obtain renewable energy
resources of their own.
1C VISITOR
SERVICES BOARD
Proposed
Five-Year Plan for Tourism Fund Expenditures
MOTION: Move
that the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the Visitor Services Board’s recommended
Five-Year Financial Plan – Executive Summary for Tourism Fund Expenditures for
FY 2010-FY 2014 as presented.
Motion by: Mary-Jo Avellar Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea
5 Nay 0
1D VISITOR
SERVICES BOARD
Tourism
Fund Expenditures
MOTION: Move
that the Board of Selectmen vote to insert an article on the April Town Meeting
Warrant to appropriate $77,000 from the Tourism Fund to fund the FY2010 budget.
Motion by: Michelle Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea
3 Nay 2
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Candace Nagle – MC criticized me in a public forum. Met with personal insults and harassment on the local blog. My findings are in the best interest of the town. PPPC has begun to look at some of my issues.
Rick Murray - empathize with the budget difficulties. BOS should be grateful to VSB/ PPPC/ CHC for stepping up to the plate. Will support the $77,000 at Town Meeting.
Barbara Rushmore – thank the administration for their service. Boards that control money think that it is their money; it is taxpayer money. Thinks that VSB money should go more to the town. Community Center & Grace Gouveia building are benefits to the Senior Center. Shuttle funds not fair – look at all expenses you take over. 1% Real Estate transfer fee will solve some of our problems. Think of other ways to raise revenue.
3. SELECTMEN STATEMENTS
Mary-Jo
Avellar Real Estate Transfer fee – shouldn’t have to
be penalized if I sell my home. Could
support the VSB amount of 77k, does thank them for their donation. NSTAR – haven’t had an update. Also update from Comcast – Mary O’Keefe. And Verizon FIOS. Austin Knight –
meeting in April in Orleans Comcast & Verizon will update. Firehouse #2; BOS wants to wait, and there
was an ad in the banner re-advertising –SL - still in the queue and not pulled
in time. Formal vote was not taken
previously.
MOTION: Move
that the Board of Selectmen vote to ask the TM to contact Jeff Luce to find
out about the problem on Winslow Street
Motion by: Mary-Jo
Avellar Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea
5 Nay 0
MOTION: Move
that the Board of Selectmen vote to set the bids for Firehouse # 2 to be
advertised in end of July.
Motion by: Austin
Knight Seconded by: Elaine Anderson Yea 5 Nay
0
David
Bedard - Appreciate all the
public speakers. Sometimes the locations are not accurate with times and dates
of the BOS meetings. Also the web site
has the incorrect information. Attending
the FinCom Meetings – thanks to staff and FinCom for the job that they are
doing. School Committee – the chair will
decide what meetings will be taped by PTV.
Upset about the outburst.
Elaine
Anderson - Commend the
community for its reaction to the economic challenge we face. Thank Candace Nagle for her diligence and the
hard work that she has done, and hopes that the discourse will be civil going
forward. School Committee could rise to
the occasion and invite the community to their meetings (via PTV).
Austin
Knight - Cape Cod Times “pick
your favorite Cape Cod spot” online.
Several places in Provincetown were mentioned. Need to look to the future for green trash
barrels. School Committee – last year
during the budget process they promised to have PTV televise the meetings;
disappointed that this has not happened.
Michele
Couture - School Committee – I
have contacted all parties to have the meetings filmed. Filming of meetings is very helpful to the
public. Harbor Committee will vote on
supporting. Congratulations to Chief
Jaran as being selected as one of 24 chiefs across the country to the Violence
Against Women Conference. Candace – I
didn’t mean any disparagement to you, and would like to meet with you
personally to discuss. Thank you for raising these issues, but there needs to
be a better way of doing this, so as not to lose your effectiveness.
MOTION:
Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to send a letter of thanks to Sandy Turner for the work she has done to
secure the $1,000,000 grant for Commercial Street.
Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Mary-Jo Avellar Yea
5 Nay 0
4. APPOINTMENTS - None at this time
5A PROVINCETOWN PUBLIC
LIBRARY FAÇADE
Award Base Bid on Facade
MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to
execute a contract in the amount of $216,435 with Campbell Construction Group,
LLC, of 21 Caller St., Suite 4, Peabody, MA, for the base bid on the façade
(main gable and lantern) at the Provincetown Public Library, 356 Commercial
Street, Provincetown, MA 02657.
Motion by: Austin Knight Seconded by: Mary-Jo Avellar Yea
5 Nay 0
6A REGIONALIZATION UPDATE
Discussion on regionalizing transfer
station services to see if some are open certain days of the week. Procurement opportunities with Barnstable
County – ordering in bulk.
MOTION: Move that the Board
of Selectmen vote to meet on March 4, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Wellfleet Council
on Aging with the three other boards.
Motion by: Austin Knight Seconded by: Mary-Jo Avellar Yea
5 Nay 0
6B APRIL 6, 2009 ANNUAL & SPECIAL
TOWN MEETINGS
Set Dates for Opening and Closing of
Warrants
MOTION: Move that the
Board of Selectmen vote to open the Monday, April 6, 2009 Annual and Special
Town Meeting warrants on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 8:00 AM and to close
them on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 5:00 pm, in accordance with Charter §2-1-7.
Motion by: Austin Knight Seconded by: Mary-Jo Avellar Yea
5 Nay 0
6C TOWN
MANAGER FOLLOW-UP / OTHER
Coastal
Engineering will look at the drainage by the corner of Jerome Smith Parking lot
regarding the ponding.
Mary-Jo wants hard copies of e-mails - Vernon. Town Hall progressing, CPC toured the building last week.
7. CLOSING STATEMENTS
Mary-Jo Avellar – None
David Bedard – Would the Board of Selectmen be interested
in forming a fund raising committee for Town Hall?
Elaine Anderson – Thank Town Manager for the town hall tour;
dog park alive and well; note from George
Bryant about the regional office.
Austin Knight – Historic Committee voted in favor of the
color scheme for Town Hall. Any town boards
that have a favorable report should weigh in.
MJA – asked Sal Del Deo about the colors; he thought it was great. 400th Celebration
Michele Couture – thank Sharon
& Alix for hard work during this time.
8. BARGAIN STRATEGY
MGL C. 39, §23B, cl. 3
MOTION:
Move that the Board of Selectmen vote,
pursuant to MGL C. 39, §23B, clause 3 to go into
executive session for the purpose of discussing litigation; and not to convene
in open session thereafter. [Roll Call Vote]
Mary-Jo Avellar – Yes Austin Knight – Yes David Bedard – Yes
Elaine
Anderson – Yes Michele
Couture – Yes
Motion by: Austin Knight Seconded by: Mary-Jo Avellar
Yea 5
Nay 0 - Motion Passes -
The Board adjourned to go into Executive Session at 9:30 PM.
Minutes transcribed by: Vernon G. Porter, Secretary to Board of Selectmen
March 18, 2009