Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Otis Town Hall
Conference Room
Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 7:00 PM
This meeting is being conducted remotely through Zoom. You must check back within 24 hours of the start time for a link to join.
Pursuant to the Governor’s March 12, 2020 order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, Sec 18, this meeting is being held via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Every effort is being made to ensure that any member of the public may access the meeting in real time, via technological means. Agendas will be amended to show the link and participation code to access the meeting no sooner than 48 hours before. Recordings and/or draft proceedings of the meeting will be available on our website as soon as possible.
Topic: Selectboard April 27, 2021
Time: Apr 27, 2021 06:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
NOTE *Joint Finance & BOS 6:45 pm
Selectboard, regular meeting 7:00 pm
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Attendance: Chair Bill Hiller, Larry Southard, Gary Thomas, Brandi Page, 15165190366, 15165261102, Aaron Sturges, ann odonnell, Annette’s ipad pro, Arlene Tolopko, Bea Pace, Benjamin Fligelman, Bill Sturges, BJ OBrien (Lyn’s iPhone), Bob Mitchell, Cathy Cormier-Cleaveland, Cindy, Cody Gallup, Diane Provenz, Don Goss, Donna Gaylord, Donna Salwocki (Zoom user), Donna Thomas, Don’t do it please and thank you very much!:) (Aaron Sturges), Doreen Hoddinott, Edward Herbst, Elaine Downing Hunter (Elaine & Dan Hunter), Elizabeth N, Ellen Beck (ellen), Emily R, Erika Nardi, Frank, Fred Ryon, Geoffrey Geane, Hal Kobrin, Heidi Johnstone, Hugh Page, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Larry, Irene Gilman, James R. Adams, Jamesshirley, Janice Gallup Hills (Janice), Janna Deveny (iPad), Jarrod Orszulak, Jeff Mitchell, Jeffrey Dressler, Jeffrey Lamanna, Jill Sweeney, Jim Crandall, Joanne Russell, John, John stone, John Weldon, John’s iPhone, Kait, Kait Gallup, Karen Robb, katherine wippert, Kathleen Duffy, Kelly Taylor, Kenneth E Taylor, Keristucenski, Kristen Kaiser, Larry Gould, Lauren Cushing, Lauren Harrison, Lawrence Parnass, Linda Cox, Lyn’s iPhone, Lynn Huber, Marc Mazza, Mark Lamanna, Matt, Matt Lussier, Melva Eidelberg, Micaela Shove, michelle and jim rider, Mike Sturges, Paige, Pam Henry, Pam P, Pampace, Patricia Rizzo, Patricia Strauch, Patty Strauch, Phil Magovern, R Bliven, Ralph Huber, Rick Lawlor, Robert Fischer, Robert Lopatkin, Robin Peterson, Sam Rider, Shari, Sharon Baird’s iPhone, Sonia, Susan Forgasch, Suzanne Smiley, Therese’s iPad, Tim, Tim Nardi (Tim), Town of Otis, Will Garrison, Will Salwocki and Zoom user.
Call to Order:
7:00 PM
Approval of Minutes:
The BOS minutes from April 13, 2021 were discussed. Unanimously approved with one amendment.
Fire Truck Bids: Brandi Page, Rick Phair and Chris Bouchard were present to open the bids. We had four packages. Fleetmasters submitted a letter saying they were not submitting. Allegiance came in at $443,776.00 with trade. New England came in at $454,486.00 with trade and prepayment. Bulldog came in at $503,572.96 with trade. Chris and Rick will review the specs submitted and report back to the Board on May 11th. They recommend awarding the radio bid to Procom for the $49,680.47 amount. The specs met our expectations and also included the latest technology. There is roughly 39,000 left in the capital account for the 2 way radios. The department will make up the additional 10,000 needed.
Appointments: We had one applicant for the part time transfer station attendant. The Board unanimously appointed Eric Rowlands to the position for the summer.
Alcohol Sales on Sunday: The Board unanimously voted to allow establishments to begin serving alcohol at 10:00 am on Sundays. Retail establishments already can sell at 10:00 am.
Forest Plan: Scott Shove from New England Woodland Management was in attendance to answer questions about logging on the 100 acre park according to our forest management plan. We have low grade stock and are looking at roughly $5,000-10,000 in timber sales and roughly $2,000-3,000 in preparation costs. NEWM handles everything and the timber sales are done through a closed bidding process. Possible timeline of marking in the next couple months and logging in winter. Sonia asked us to keep a road bond in mind incase the large trucks cause damage. Hal asked the type of cutting. It was clarified it’s to enhance timber crop at this point as part of our plan. The Board unanimously voted to move ahead.
Tannery Road Layout: The Board voted to move forward with the layout of Tannery Road as a public way according to the submitted plan. They then recommend the matter to the Planning Board for review.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant: Diane asked to speak and was very upset about the citizen’s petition that had been submitted. A great deal of work has been done fundraising and she was upset the signers of the petition did not reach out to her in advance to discuss. Bill stated he submitted the petition. Larry Southard was surprised about the petition. He was just returning from a few days away and was trying to catch up. He did state that the Board spends and enormous amount of time on this issue and there has to be a better way. Gary had no comment. The Board voted unanimously to approve the warrant as drafted.
Cell Tower: Bill asked the Board if they were open to scheduling a separate meeting the following week for the cell tower issue. Perhaps Tue the 4th at 6:00? Gary felt the Board has a good understanding of the group’s concerns and isn’t sure how much more needs to be said. Larry agreed. Bill said he is willing to put aside the time to let the group speak. Larry Gould is hoping to get the pictures of the balloon float up on the website tomorrow. He has been out straight with an issue at the wind turbine that took priority. The Board voted to meet next week, May 4th at 6:00 pm via zoom solely for the cell tower.
Not Anticipated: Dan was requesting we place an ad for two part time officers. Two of our current officers are leaving for other work commitments. The Board unanimously agreed to place the ad and start the process of filling the positions.
Review and Approval of Warrants:
On the Selectboard table for review and signing.
Adjournment:
7:58 PM