SELECTMEN’S MEETING
August 19, 2020

6:00pm

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

It was noted that Selectmen David Winchell was not in attendance tonight because he was attending an Elective Official Workshop.

2. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY UPDATE

• The Town Administrator reminded Selectmen Ed Walsh that there was a meeting Friday, August 21, 2020 on Assessing.

• The Town Administrator updated the Board that taxes will be committed next week.

• A card was received and read aloud from the Langley family.

• A payment from Three Rivers for the Goat Hill Contractor deposit was made.

• The Article 43 review process is underway; September 1, 2020 the Road Committee will meet, make recommendations and then on September 2, 2020 the Board of Selectmen will review.

• The Town Administrator updated the Board as an FYI that Milton Free pond will be receiving an herbicide treatment.

• The Town Administrator laid out the following status of the following committees and appointments:

  • Capital Improvement Committee – the Board is moving forward on developing a policy or putting a plan in place.

  • Mary Grant will meet next week; appointments to be done at that time.

  • Recreation Committee – there are two members interested. Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn reiterated the school will be contacted and be asked if they would advertise Recreation Committee openings on their website.

  • Planning Board Committee – there is an interested party that the Town Administrator will email the name of to the Board to review.

  • A special town meeting is needed for elected committee members; this will postponed until the Board can see where the Town stands financially once the October 15 taxes due come in.
    
    All decisions will await a full Board; these items will be revisited on next week’s agenda.

• Absentee ballots are not yet available; however they can be requested and will be sent out when they become available.

3. WARRANTS/BILLS

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion was made by Selectmen Ed Walsh to approve the agenda as written; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn.  No discussion. All in favor.

5. MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS
A motion was made by Selectmen Ed Walsh to approve the minutes from August 12, 2020 and August 17, 2020; seconded by Selectmen Kimberley Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.

6. DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES  - NONE

7. OLD BUSINESS - None

8. NEW BUSINESS

A) Open Fire Truck Bids
The Town Administrator opened the following sealed bids for the Fire-Rescue Replacement Tanker Bid:

• Midwest Fire - $385,102

• HME Ahearns - $471,990

• Rosenbauer - $389,036

• Marion - $479,350

These bids will be scanned and sent to the Board of Selectmen and Fire Chief for review. Selectmen Ed Walsh will assist Fire Chief Rick Smith disseminate the bids and compare them. The loan process will be started and a recommendation from the Fire Chief will be forthcoming.

B) Fixed Asset Approval Letter – this letter permits the Auditor to continue to produce and maintain the Tow of Acton’s Fixed Asset list. A motion is needed to permit the Treasurer to sign the letter permitting the Auditor to do this and pay the $250 fee.

A motion was made by Selectmen Ed Walsh to approve the fixed asset list and give the Treasurer approval to sign; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All in favor.

C) RHR Smith Letters

The Town Administrator presented two letters for the Chairman of the Board to sign inviting the Town’s Attorneys Joseph V. Lenkowski and Brad Morin to provide consent to furnish to the auditors all the information requested.

D) Snow/Ice Control Training

The Town Administrator presented to the Board regarding in-person Municipal Training to be provided with regarding Snow and Ice Control. The Board had no issues with what was proposed. The Town Administrator will respond by deadline.

E) The Town Administrator read aloud the School’s Superintendent’s letter sent to parents with regards to school reopening in September.

9. PUBLIC COMMENT: The floor was open to Public Comment.

• Leslie Berlan commented on her perception of the Planning Board committee member departures from the committee inciting fallacies in the Board of Selectmen’s policies and practices. The Board responded that the Planning Board members quit of their own accord (they were not forced out). The Board further noted no one who left deemed it necessary to come to the Board first to discuss and their resignation letters clearly stated their opinions and intents. Selectmen Ed Walsh commented that Mrs. Berlin’s comments regarding the Board and staff were out of line and as it is her style to throw things out and see how they stick will no further be discussed.
  
  
  

• Joyce Bakshi approached the Board to ask if the use of the Town Hall for a private event was scheduled for August or September. Response was it was scheduled in August, but the event’s date is in September. The Governor’s Executive Orders when proceeding with COVID protocols are being followed as dictated.

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please check the website.

11. MEMBERS PRESENT

Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn, Selectmen Ed Walsh, and Town Administrator Jennifer Roux; Selectmen David Winchell was absent.

12. ATTENDANCE (screen names as designated on Zoom)

Dan Krampetz, Rollin’s iPad, Rich Hart, Susan Meehan, K105, Joyce Bakshi, iPhone, Yoli, Arnie, Leslie Berlan, Shannon Winchell, Joan Nass, Deb Anderson, Nathan Tapscott, Bob Anderson and Dan Drisko (Cheryl).

A motion was made by Selectmen Ed Walsh to adjourn at 6:45 pm; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All in favor.