Board of Selectmen
April 2, 2008
Minutes
Members present: William Cavanaugh, Doug Walter, John Murray
Others Present: Richard Furlong, Mike Falk, Beth Van Ness, Madeleine Swindlehurst, Colleen O’Connor, Kathy Vsetecka
7:00 PM Meeting opened. Reviewed minutes. Doug motioned to accept minutes of March 19, 2008, John seconded. All in favor.
John motioned to award the bid for Brooker Hill Road Slope Repair and Related Work to D.R. Billings in the amount of $357,320.00, Doug seconded. All in favor. Briefly discussed this project.
Public Input: Colleen O’Connor asked why they are trying to open the Becket General Store when there is petroleum in the wells on the properties surrounding the store. Richard advised that no one has come forward to say that their well is contaminated with petroleum. She cannot understand why licenses were given out before the site was ready and is disturbed by this. Bill advised that nothing can be done until the DEP clears the site. He feels that it is a good thing that someone is interested in opening the store because the building will be in use again instead of just sitting there deteriorating.
The Selectmen reviewed the warrants for the Special Town Meeting and the Annual Town Meeting. John motioned to recommend all of the articles on the Special Town Meeting, Doug seconded. All favor. John motioned to recommend Articles 1 through 7 of the Annual Town Meeting, Doug seconded. All in favor. Doug motioned to recommend the Finance Committee’s recommendations on Article 8, John seconded. All in favor. Doug motioned to recommend Articles 9, 10 and 11, John seconded. All in favor. John motioned to recommend Article 12, Doug seconded. All in favor.
The Selectmen reviewed the letter from the Historical Commission to the Massachusetts Historical Commission regarding culvert replacement on McNerney Road. Briefly discussed the letter. This culvert is close to the Shaker Mill Brook Fulling Mill Site.
John motioned to appoint Alice Briggs to the Conservation Commission term to expire June 30, 2010, Doug seconded. All in favor.
The Selectmen reviewed a request from Linda Bacon for a one-day permit to serve alcohol at Canterbury Farms on August 16, 2008. John motioned to grant a one-day permit to serve alcohol at Canterbury Farms on August 16, 2008, Doug seconded. All in favor.
Doug motioned to sign letters to the Democratic and Republican State Committees requesting lists of enrolled members who desire appointment as election workers, John seconded. All in favor.
The Selectmen reviewed the monthly report of the Ambulance Department. Richard advised that since AMR is no longer running an ambulance service, our ambulance is going to others towns more often.
Any other business: Doug had spoken to Rep. Denis Guyer about the McNerney Road culvert and found out that he was upset because he worked very hard with the State to have a temporary bridge put there but the Selectmen decided they did not want that. Doug explained that the Selectmen did not want to pay for the temporary bridge and then pay for the permanent structure. The Selectmen felt that if a temporary bridge was installed then it would take years for the State to fix this permanently. They did not want the inconvenience of having to close the road for the temporary bridge installation and then have to close it again for the permanent bridge installation. Rep. Guyer will start telling people that the bridge will be repaired.
Reviewed correspondence.
8:25 PM Doug motioned to adjourn, John seconded. All in favor.
Reviewed payroll/expense warrants.
Respectfully submitted, _______________________________
Nina Weiler, Secretary William F. Cavanaugh, Chairman
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