Board of Selectmen
January 2, 2008
Minutes
Members present: William Cavanaugh, Doug Walter
John Murray-absent
Others Present: Richard Furlong, Colleen O’Connor, Kathryn Darrow
7:03 PM Meeting opened. Selectmen reviewed minutes. Doug motioned to accept minutes of December 19, 2007, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
The Selectmen reviewed monthly report of the Ambulance Department.
Public Input: Colleen O’Connor asked what was happening with the Becket General Store. Richard advised that he has heard rumors that the Lussier’s have backed out but he does not believe that is true. He explained that there is grant money available through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to do the soil testing but they needed to go out to bid and that takes time to complete. Colleen heard that the Becket Country Store & Café was sold and she was not sure if the new owners would close the store to do renovations. If they did decide to close then she was concerned that the residents would have no store to go to. Briefly discussed the liquor license transfer for the Becket Country Store.
Any other business: Richard advised that Bill Elovirta submitted a letter today regarding a horse issue. A resident on Wade Inn Road has a couple of horses and these horses keep getting out of their fenced in area. There have been many complaints called in to the Police Department from motorists concerned about their safety because the horses are in the middle of the road and also by residents who have had damage done to their yards from the horses. The Police Department and Animal Control Officer have told the owner to put up a more durable fence but she claims that she does not have the money to do so. Because there is no law that the police department can cite her with, Bill is asking the Selectmen to call her before a public hearing and give her a time limit to remedy the problem on a permanent
basis or get rid of the horses. Richard advised that he would need to check with Sally Bell to see if the Selectmen have the authority to order her to do anything with her horses.
Richard advised that the Building Inspector is on vacation until January 14, 2008. Gary Danko will be coming in a couple of hours a day to cover the office while Bill Girard is gone.
The Town Clerk has given the Selectmen the warrant for the presidential primary to sign. Doug motioned to sign the warrant for the Presidential Primary to be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Becket Town Hall, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Briefly discussed the sand and road materials issue. Richard needs to check with Sally Bell to see if the Town could give the Sherwood Forest Road District a piece of property to store their road materials on. Richard will set up a meeting with the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Sherwood Forest Road District and the Selectmen to see if they could come to some conclusion with this issue.
Richard advised that the Finance Committee is meeting tomorrow with the school superintendent and the Selectmen are welcome to join this meeting.
Richard advised that he is starting to work on the budget. Briefly discussed the winter roads account. Richard advised that the winter roads account has been hit pretty hard so far with all the storms that we have had. He also advised that truck five has been having transmission problems again. This truck has had transmission work done on it about three times now. Lenny Tisdale does not want to have it repaired because the truck is not big enough to handle a big sander and plow and that is why it keeps having transmission problems.
Reviewed correspondence.
7:35 PM Doug motioned to adjourn, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Reviewed payroll/expense warrants.
Respectfully submitted, _______________________________
Nina Weiler, Secretary William F. Cavanaugh, Chairman
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