BOARD OF SELECTMEN
February 28, 2006
Minutes
The Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 in the Town Hall Clark Room.
Selectmen Douglas A.G. Stevenson, Richard A. Allison, Timothy F. Hult, William R. Tice, Jr., and
John D. Williams were present for this meeting. Town Administrator Madonna J. McKenzie was
also present.
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Mr. Stevenson.
Executive Session
Mr. Stevenson announced that the meeting would begin with an Executive Session. On a motion
made by Mr. Hult and seconded by Mr. Tice the following roll call vote was taken to go into
Executive Session for the purpose of discussing potential litigation; with the intent to return to open
session: Stevenson – aye; Allison – aye; Hult – aye; Tice – aye; and Williams – aye.
Open Session – 7:25 p.m.
Town Administrator Report
The Site Plan Review Public Hearing on the Banta Davis Fields Phase II will be held on March 14th.
A Proclamation for the soon to be Eagle Scout Jason Louis Drinkwater was presented for the Board to
sign. Mrs. McKenzie noted that the ceremony for Jason will be held on May 7th at the Carlisle
Public School at 1:00 p.m. On a motion made by Mr. Tice and seconded by Mr. Hult it was
unanimously VOTED to approve the Proclamation (read by Mr. Tice and attached hereto).
In regard to the Vivian Chaput Memorial Fund, Mrs. McKenzie said that as the Board discussed at a
previous meeting, there is need to combine the Vivian Chaput Memorial Fund and the Vivian
Chaput Scholarship Fund. On a motion made by Mr. Hult and seconded by Mr. Tice, it was
unanimously VOTED to establish the Vivian Chaput Memorial and Scholarship Fund. On a motion
made by Mr. Hult and seconded by Mr. Williams, it was unanimously VOTED to transfer $750
from the Vivian Chaput Scholarship Fund to the Vivian Chaput Memorial and Scholarship and
further that the Vivian Chaput Scholarship Fund be closed.
Virtual Town Hall Mr. Tice and Mrs. McKenzie spoke to the Board about their discussions with the
representative from Virtual Town Hall. They explained their services as well as provided a sheet
that listed prices and various options for same. After questions and discussion the Board was
enthusiastic about the Website. On a motion made by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Hult, it
was unanimously VOTED to engage into an agreement with VIRTUALTOWNHALL.net to
develop a web –site for the Town of Carlisle per the agreement dated February 28, 2006.
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February 28, 2006
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Mrs. McKenzie said that in regard to the Bruce Freeman Trail, she will be meeting with Deb Belanger
and Alan Cameron after she receives more information from the Town of Acton.
The Board has received a letter of complaint from residents on Heald Road about some loud noises
and vibrating sounds that are annoying and distracting. The Board, on a motion made by Mr. Tice
and seconded by Mr. Williams, VOTED unanimously to ask the Building Inspector to look into the
noise complaint on Heald Road.
Mrs. McKenzie said that she received a letter from Freedom’s Way Heritage Association, Inc. informing
the Board that there is a round of applications open for consultant advise to assist the Town in
doing an inventory of it’s heritage areas this spring. The Board was not interested in doing the
inventory this year.
Mrs. McKenzie informed the Board that Representative Cory Atkins has written to the Board on
behalf of Neil Kilpeck, Superintendent Bureau of State Office Buildings. This letter was in regard to
the Great Hall of Flags. Rep. Atkins said that currently 298 out of 351 communities are represented
by flags. Carlisle is not one of them. There was a discussion over various ways to get the
community involved in creating a flag, such as an Old Home Day event or contest.
Senator Fargo has requested a budget priority list for Carlisle that she may take before the Senate Ways
& Means Committee.
Wireless By-law Presentation
Brian Larson, Kent Gonzales, [Bill Tice] and Wendell Sykes were present from the Wireless Bylaw
review committee. Consultant David Maxson (Broadcast Signal Labs) as well as Planning Board
members David Freedman and Louise Hara were also present. Mr. Larson gave an interesting and
informative presentation of the proposed revisions to the by-law.
He spoke as he gave his presentation. Mr. Larson said that the purpose for the committee, or rather
their charter was to: clean up the language in the by-law, work on the 900 foot set-back, which, he
referred to as the courts phrase “giant setback”, and reduce the amount of potential lawsuits against
the Town. There were some things that would stay the same in the by-law. He pointed out that the
Town would still have appropriate control over the placement and design of their personal wireless
facilities. Mr. Larson then went on to talk about the things that they proposed to change. First, he
spoke about a waiver to the 900 foot set back for ‘low impact’ facilities. He said that these are
intended for antennas to be placed inside or on structures and for concealed antenna monopoles of
limited height. He spoke about the criteria for these types of low impact facilities. He pointed out
that the set back is the only major change; the rest of the bylaw would have to be followed to the
limit. Mr. Gonzales said that in reviewing the by-law, they took out about 400 words. Mr. Larson
showed various pictures of other communities and how these low impact facilities had been
concealed. Mr. Larsen said that he and his colleagues were recommending that the Board of
Selectmen support the low-impact facilities. The Board was very pleased with the presentation and
they asked questions of both Mr. Maxson and the committee members. Mr. Hult was concerned
whether an attorney had reviewed the revisions in the by-law. The By-law will be reviewed by Town
Counsel before it is placed on the Warrant.
Personnel /Problem Resolution Process
Pam Harron and Steve Mack were present for this discussion. Mr. Stevenson said that the Board of
Selectmen was continuing to follow the Personnel Policy 12.0 Personnel Resolution Procedure. Mr.
Stevenson asked Ms. Harron if she had any new information she would like to offer to the Board
before they made a determination on her matter. She did not. The Board did not have anything
further to comments. Mr. Stevenson said that he was inclined to support the decision of the
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Personnel Board*. On a motion made by Mr. Tice and seconded by Mr. Williams, it was
unanimously VOTED to support the Personnel Board’s decision on this matter.
Ms. Harron said that her lawyer advised her to not to say anything, but she added that she
voluntarily resigned from a full-time position, and what happened to her was wrong, it was illegal,
she said she didn’t do anything, and the Board will hear from her lawyer.
(*The Personnel Board voted that when Pam Harron, a temporary employee, was not reappointed
as of July 1, 2005 for the following fiscal year, the Communication Department acted within its
rights as the managing authority.)
Pedestrian and Bike Safety Committee
Deb Belanger spoke to the Board about footpath maintenance. She said that they have been looking
for alternative surfaces. She asked if the Board wanted the Pathway committee to give a report on
alternative pathway substances at Town Meeting. Ms. Belanger said that they could put together
some numbers and work up some rough estimates. She explained the amount of work that has been
spent up until now from the money they request lasted.
Mr. Hult referred back to the original pathway, and suggested putting a nicer coverage in the
Historic district and then put the asphalt on other areas. Mr. Stevenson said that the Board did not
want to ask the Town for more money now for alternative surface for the rest of the pathway until
the $150,000 had been bonded and expended in the best possible way that will benefit the Town.
Grant of Non-Exclusive Pathway Easement – Ms. Belanger asked the Board to send a letter to the
Archdiocese, requesting that they grant an easement to the Town of Carlisle for the purpose of
constructing a public pedestrian footpath along East Street. On a motion made by Mr. Hult and
seconded by Mr. Williams, it was unanimously VOTED to send a letter to the Archdiocese in
Boston related to an Easement on the property of St. Irene’s Catholic Church for the purpose of a
pathway.
Bond
Treasure Larry Barton was present for this discussion. He distributed a different document (than
previously presented) regarding the bonding of the Benfield purchase. Caren Ponty from the
Community Preservation Committee was also present for this discussion. He said that after the last
meeting he went back to bond counsel and tried to work out a different schedule. There was a
discussion over the payment schedule Mr. Barton presented and the Board agreed that it was in line
with the Letter of Understanding. On a motion made by Mr. Allison and seconded by Mr. Tice, it
was unanimously VOTED to instruct the Town Treasurer to move forward with bonding Three
million Five hundred thirty thousand ($3,530,000)for the Town of Carlisle in a General Obligation
Bond with a repayment schedule outlined in the prospectus provided March 2, 2006.
Finance Committee/LTCRC/Community Preservation Committee
This was the second co-ordination meeting with the FinCom and Long Term Caps. Thornton Ash
was present and he passed out some new documents – FY07 Budget Review Summary
He went over the proposed list of budget increases, which totaled approximately $555,000 over the
levy limit. As he went down the list, he made references to various requests, such as which ones
were requested in prior years, or just expanding more on their needs.
Thornton said that capital exclusions and debt exclusions were not included in the guideline budget.
The Board then asked Don Rober about Long Term Capital Requests. He said that in regard to
Banta Davis, it is still an open question and when we have a solid number then we will discuss it.
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Mr. Rober said that the Concord Carlisle High School’s latest proposal includes a $10million- 5-year
capital plan and it is still an open issue. Mr. Rober said that Carlisle’s portion this year would be
$360,000.
Mr. Rober reviewed the list of requests from the departments and gave brief explanations for some
as to their importance. That list totaled approximately $157,010. There was a discussion over the
boiler, fire engine, and fire cisterns and placing them into three separate debt exclusions. Then the
shed roof and the DPW truck would be one-time capital exclusions. Mr. Stevenson asked if the
others were comfortable were the above framework of debt exclusions and capital exclusions? They
agreed with him.
Caron Ponty from the Community Preservation Committee spoke about the requests that they have
received. So far she has one for Accessory apartments at $90,000, another for a Historical Survey at
$40,000, a Foss Farm Usage/Plan application, and one for the Housing Authority – Housing Trust.
Mrs. McKenzie presented a draft of the warrant. There was a discussion over placing the amount for
CCHS on an override. Mr. Allison said he did not agree with this and would not support it. His
main reason was because it would not pass.
Town Common Committee
Tim Jensen, Alan Cameron, Jen Bush, Jack O’Connor were present from the Committee. Rev.
Jensen spoke on behalf of the Committee about a landscape artist and the overhead wires. On the
over head wires he said that Alan Cameron looked into this project. Alan found out that it could be
paid by the homeowners or it could be paid by the utility companies then come back to the
homeowners as a surcharge. The cost for this is more likely about $15,000 per house. The entire
project will cost about $2million. Rev. Jensen showed some before and after pictures, that is with
and without the wires, and the latter was quite impressive. He provided the next steps. Rev. Jensen
said that they would like to hire a design engineer, develop a financing plan and then address lighting
issues. Mr. Cameron said that most of the cost could be paid for through the utility bills but he put
exception to the engineering, which he said was a good idea to keep separate.
Appointments/Resignations
On a motion made by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Hult, it was unanimously VOTED to
appoint Peter Stuart to the Historical Commission until June 30, 2006.
On a motion made by Mr. Tice and seconded by Mr. Williams, it was unanimously VOTED to
accept the resignation of Patrolman Michael Burgess from the Carlisle Police Department.
On a motion made by Mr. Hult and seconded by Mr. Williams, it was unanimously VOTED to
appoint Ronald Holsinger as a Patrolman on the Carlisle Police force.
Executive Session
At 10:50 p.m. a motion was made by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Tice, to go into Executive
Session, for the purpose of considering the purchase, exchange, taking or leasing of real property,
not to return to open session. The following roll call vote was taken: Stevenson – aye; Allison – aye;
Hult – aye; Tice – aye; and Williams – aye.
Respectfully submitted by Margaret de Mare
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