Meeting called to order at 6:02 P.M. at Town Hall.
Present: Elizabeth A. Gorski and William H. Darke, Chairman.
Moment of Silence
Chairman Darke requested a moment of silence for fellow Board member Barbara A. Sheehan who passed away on Saturday, August 19th, 2006 following her battle with cancer. Mrs. Sheehan was in her 14th year of service and had served on a number of other town committees such as the Road Committee, Pines Recreation and Friends of the Council on Aging, and was a supporter for acquiring the Veasey Park property. Selectman Gorski noted it is very hard to sum up someone giving 13 years of public service and doing them proper justice. Selectmen Darke and Gorski both acknowledged that Selectman Sheehan will be missed and extended their deepest sympathies to her family. Chairman Darke and Gorski voted to lower town flags to half mast until September 19th.
Darke and Gorski both agreed to wait until the 2007 Annual Town Election to fill Mrs. Sheehan’s position on the Board.
Meeting in Boston on Bridge Project
Finance Director informed the Board that Senator Tarr notified him that a meeting will be held at Mass Highway in Boston on September 11th at 2:00 P.M. The Board authorized Labrecque attending on their behalf and asked that he notify Bridge Committee Chairman Greg Stark so that he may also attend if he is available to do so.
Public Hearing
At 6:15 P.M. Chairman Darke read aloud legal advertisement for a public hearing requested by Verizon for placing 25 feet of underground conduit on Washington Street near the Groveland/Boxford town line. Attending for Verizon was Cathy Fraiser who explained the service was for the homes being built by Robert Messina. All abutters had been notified and none were present at the hearing.
There being no objections heard, moved Gorski, seconded Darke, and it was
VOTED: To grant permission to Verizon to place approximately 25 feet
of underground conduit on Washington Street near the Groveland/
Boxford town line to allow telephone service to the Robert Messina
Development.
Acceptance of Minutes
Moved Gorski, seconded Darke, and it was
VOTED: To accept the Minutes of the meeting of
August 7, 2006, as presented.
Warrants
Moved Gorski, seconded Darke, and it was
VOTED: To approve bi-weekly Warrants #07-06A, #07-07 and #07-08.
Conservation Commission Chairman
ConComm Chairman Michael Dempsey reported to the Board on the Commission’s meeting with Haverhill resident Manganiello and his request for a parking restrictions at Johnson Pond. Dempsey told the Board that he informed Manganiello that only the Selectmen can order parking restrictions.
2006 Annual Appointments of Boards/Committees
Moved Gorski, seconded Darke, and it was
VOTED: To re-appoint all individuals, board and committee members
listed on the attached Annual Appointment Listing for July 1,
2006 through June 30, 2007.
Groveland’s School Committee Representatives
The Board had asked the town’s representatives on the Pentucket Regional School Committee to meet with them so they could talk about the Board’s concern with where the school budget is at, about the increases to the budget even though there are no new pay raises contracted and future requests for increases. Present were Carol Grazio, Maria Piccolomini, Doreen Blades and Robert Fournier. Chairman Darke told the contingent that the town cannot afford to cut $1,000,000 from the town government side of its budget and that the town cannot afford to pay a $3million increase every year. Darke told the representatives that he and many others feels we have a runaway train situation with the school budget and something needs to change. Finance Director Labrecque told the school contingent that
they have to control some costs; that the town needs their help because another budget year like this and there no longer will be a town. School committee members told the Selectmen that they know their committee needs to do things differently because the taxpayers can’t afford these large increases. Doreen Blades asked the Finance Director to provide the committee with a written memo of the concerns he stated to them during the meeting. School Committee members and Selectmen and Finance Board members acknowledged their pleasure with the work to date of new Business Manager George Collins.
Chairman Darke and Selectman Gorski thanked the members for meeting with them and suggested they plan to meet on a quarterly basis so they can be sure they are all working together for the good of the town and the district. The committee members stated they would be willing to meet quarterly.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Board, moved Gorski, seconded Darke, and it was
VOTED: To adjourn at 8:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________________________
Nancy Lewandowski, Administrative Assistant
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