SELECTMEN’S MEETING

December 20, 2016

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to accept the Agenda as presented. The motion passed 2-0.

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of December 13, 2016 was tabled.

3. DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES

A. Road Committee Meeting: Jennifer Roux reported that a Road Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

 

4. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Emergency Closure Policy: Mrs. Roux noted that the Town hall was closed on the previous Saturday due to inclement weather and that she received a call from a person who was upset by the closure. Elise Miller explained that closing the Town hall and Transfer Station is based on input from several people and closures don’t only occur because employees can’t get to work. The primary reason for closing the Town’s services is so that drivers aren’t on the road allowing road crews, law enforcement and emergency services to do their jobs more effectively. Mrs. Miller noted that Town services closures are reported in several ways: website, cable TV, etc and she always recommends calling ahead in bad weather.

B. Removal of Old Sand/Salt Shed: Mrs. Roux reported that she contacted CIA, who was the lowest bidder of the project, to see if they would be willing to hold the quote until after Town Meeting. The CAI Representative asked for time to speak with other people in the company to make a decision.

5. NEW BUSINESS

A. Excise Exemption Policy: Mrs. Roux reviewed the current Town of Acton Excise Exemption Policy; there are currently two situations in which someone may be exempt: one is when the owner has been issued Purple Heart license plates and the other is when the owner receives 100% service related disability and has a DV plate. This policy is in line with the State’s exemption; the $35 State fee is waived for these exemptions. She stated that an individual currently in the military requested that the Board of Selectmen consider extending the exemption to active duty personnel. Elise Miller stated that the topic should be considered but she requested further information: how many Town’s people might be eligible for the exemption, what the fiscal impact would be, etc. The topic was tabled pending further information.

B. 247-004 After The Fact Fees: Mrs. Roux reported that the property owner is a long time resident who was repairing water damage and actually proceeded further than expected with the project without first getting the required permits. The property owner has been cooperative with the Code Enforcement Officer having to remove some of the sheetrock to allow for final inspection. Typically an after-the-fact fee is assessed at four times the original fee.

Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to reduce the after-the-fact fee for this property owner to two times the original fee. The motion passed 2-0.

6. PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments were offered.

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A. 2017 Dog Licenses Now Available – due by the end of the year.

B. Transfer Station/Town Hall Closed 1 p.m. December 21st

C. Town Hall Closed December 23rd

D. Transfer Station Closed December 24th

8. MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Shields, Elise Miller

9. OTHERS PRESENT: Eric Dawalga, Rollin Waterhouse, Paul Poyant, William Williams, Jim Driscoll Jennifer Roux