Special Meeting, June 28, 2005
The Town Council meeting was called to order by Robert Doyon, Chair at 7 p.m.
Members present: Joseph Commendatore, Robert Doyon, Douglas Merriman, Edward Miller, Dominick Mirabelle, Dominic Moschella and Theresa Graveline (arrived during executive session)
Members absent: Patricia Geary and Frederick Harkins
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Chatfield informed the Council that the Town Auditor, Michael Batista, had to be reappointed.
Motion made by D. Merriman to appoint Michael Batiste as the Town Auditor. Motion seconded by D. Moschella. Unanimous
Motion made by D. Merriman to move into executive session, including Mayor Chatfield, regarding the Anthem Settlement. Motion seconded by J. Commendatore. Unanimous
The Council went into executive session at 7:03 p.m.
Motion made by D. Mirabelle to come out of executive session. Motion seconded by D. Moschella. Unanimous Executive session concluded at 7:28 p.m. (Theresa Graveline arrived during executive session)
Chair’s Report: none
Guests: none
Public Participation: none
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the June 7, 2005 minutes. Motion seconded by D. Moschella. Motion discussed.
The following corrections were made:
D. Merriman and D. Moschella removed the motion to approve the minutes of June 7, 2005.
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the June 7, 2005 minutes as amended. D. Moschella seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the June 14, 2005 minutes with clarifications to the mill rate computation. (see approved June 14, 2005 minutes) Motion seconded by D. Mirabelle. Discussion followed pertaining to the format of the revenue sheet within the minutes.
T. Graveline requested the clerk to submit a copy of the revised format to the Mayor for future use.
R. Doyon, D. Merriman, D. Mirabelle and D. Moschella approve. J. Commendatore, T. Graveline and E. Miller abstain. Motion carries.
Correspondence:
Government Product News
Letter from Mayor Chatfield (schedule B)
Motion made by D. Mirabelle to place Mayor Chatfield’s letter on file. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Unanimous
New Business:
A request for tax refunds from Diane Lauber totaling $2,594.28 was reviewed.
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the tax refunds totaling $2,594.28. Motion seconded by T. Graveline 2nd. Unanimous
No appointments or resignations were received.
Old Business:
D. Moschella stated he has given consideration to P. Geary’s comment regarding the need for a plan to be in place for the waterline.
Discussion followed.
T. Graveline stated she agrees there needs to be a plan to extend the waterline throughout the town, but this is not a job for the Mayor alone and she would like to be a part of the decision making. There are several issues that need to be considered pertaining to the location of the waterline extension. Which areas in town need it first, is it through grant money, is there a health issue. No plan exists at this time and she feels one should be in place.
J. Commendatore feels the Council should be more involved in the planning.
Motion made by D. Merriman to form a waterline subcommittee consisting of D. Merriman, T. Graveline, D. Mirabelle and D. Moschella. Motion seconded by J. Commendatore. Unanimous
Motion made by D. Moschella to encourage the Mayor to continue his plan that he began in 1978 to continue the waterline throughout the town. He is to continue to pursue all possible avenues of funding, state, federal, and private grants including town funding. The Mayor will work closely with the waterline subcommittee of the Town Council. Motion seconded by D. Merriman. Unanimous
Prospect Plan of Conservation and Development – no action
Subcommittee Reports: D. Moschella has no update at this time regarding the Street Excavations ordinance that was sent to the attorney for his review.
D. Mirabelle submitted a copy of a letter that he sent to Mayor Chatfield (schedule C) regarding his question to Attorney Yarbrough concerning proper procedures for distribution of explanatory text of a local proposal or question submitted to those authorized to vote at a Town Meeting adjourned to a machine vote. Also, D. Mirabelle stated that no where in the charter does it state that a council member cannot contact the attorney.
R. Doyon stated that Roberts Rules state that all letters must go through the Chair.
D. Mirabelle stated the Council should have their own attorney.
T. Graveline stated that the Council should have been informed of the correct procedure to notify the public of an upcoming referendum in order to get the information out to the public prior to the vote.
D. Mirabelle feels the attorney should have notified the Council, not the Mayor, that we did something wrong and he would like an interpretation of the statutes as a town council member.
D. Merriman and J. Commendatore excused themselves from the meeting at 8:38 p.m.
Motion made by D. Moschella to adjourn. Motion seconded by D. Mirabelle. Unanimous
This meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert E. Doyon, Chair