Select Board Meeting Minutes 04/14/2020

By Otis Town ClerkBoard of Selectmen Minutes
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Select Board Meeting Minutes

Remotely through Zoom

April 14, 2020

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.

  1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:03

Present: Garry Thomas, Bill Hiller, Larry Southard, Larry Gould, Lyn O’Brien, Bob Rosen, James Crandall, Rich Phair, Rona Knight, Roberta, Brandi Page, Heather Morgan and Terry Gould.

 

  1. Approve minutes from 3/10/20,3/12/20, 3/24/20, & 4/2/2020.

The board unanimously voted to approve the minutes from 3/10/2020,3/12/20, 3/24/2020, and 4/2/2020.

 

  1. Appoint Temporary Maintenance Position

James Crandall had one official application and one that was not on the normal form for the temporary transfer station employee position.  James proposed that they use the same individual as they did last year, Eric Rowlands.  The Board voted to re-hire Eric Rowlands. He will be starting on the 18th of April.  Eric will be working 16 hours a week, Saturday and Sunday.  There will be two employees at the Transfer Station on the weekends.

 

  1. Vote to set Caucus date, vote to move/set date for Town Election Caucus.

Lyn proposed May 20th for the caucus with the election being held on June 30th, which is the latest the town can hold the election.  Everyone elected will remain elected until June 30th.  The state would like towns to have reduced polling hours with a minimum of four hours.  Lyn proposed election hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  The Select Board is concerned with fewer hours more people will come in at one time creating a larger group.  The state is also encouraging early elections and absentee ballots through the mail.  It was proposed to have the Caucus on May 20th and the Election on June 30th with normal polling hours of 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved to set the date of May 20th for the Caucus with the Election being held on June 30th,10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. A notice will go up on the website and a robocall will go out informing residents.

 

  1.   Vote to accept local options to extend due dates, extend exemption applications dates, and waive interest and penalties.

There are three local options to consider from the Department of Revenue in response to the Virus Emergency.  Option one is to extend the due date of real estate and personal property taxes until June 1st.  The second option extends the due date of exemptions until June 1st and the third waves the interest and penalties on bills that are paid before June 30th.  A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to adopt all three local options. A notice to taxpayers will go up on the website and a robocall will go out informing residents.

  1. Compensation for the EMTs.

It was recommended there was one EMT who suffered lost wages on behalf on exposure to the virus.  The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to compensate the EMT $960.

 

  1. MaWarn, WWTP coverage

The document was proposed by Keith O’Neil and its purpose is to provide wastewater coverage.  It is a contract between town and other WWTP employees.  Otis can opt out at any time. Jeremiah looked over the contract and thought it looked good.  It was felt that it is a good program that does not cost anything.  The Select Board unanimously voted to go ahead with the program.

  1. Warrant Articles

The Warrant for St. Paul’s church was discussed.  Concern was expressed regarding putting all of the property into historic preservation.  The article is for grant money and to put the church on the historic register.  There is no dollar amount attached.  It was decided that some of the language of the document needed to be changed.  Brandi will edit the draft, send it back to Jeramiah, and bring it back the Board of Selectmen for approval.

  1. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:43.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Heather Morgan

Selectmen’s Secretary, Town of Otis