November 20, 2008

TOWN OF ACTON

 

SELECTMEN'S MEETING

 

NOVEMBER 20, 2008

 

            1. SALUTE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG

 

2. APROVAL OF AGENDA: Approved as written.

 

3. APROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST TWO MEETINGS: On a motion by Mike the November 7 minutes were accepted as written and on a motion by Tony the November13 minutes were accepted as written.

 

4. WARRANT: Approved and signed.

 

5. OLD BUSINESS:

 

            (a) ASSESSING: Joe Lessard will be in the office on December 5. Appointments are required.

 

            6.  NEW BUSINESS:

 

            (A) DATES CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS:  On a motion by Mike the following holiday schedule for closing was approved. Wednesday, December 24 all municipal offices will closed at   noon. Offices will be closed December 25, 26, & 27. Selectmen will meet on Tuesday,   December 23 and Tuesday, December 30 at 7 pm.  On Wednesday, December 31, municipal offices will close at noon. Municipal Offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1 and will be open on Friday and Saturday, January 2 & 3.

 

            (B)  TAX ACQUIRED PROPERTY: Vicki sent a memo to Selectmen stating the auditor recommends that             Town owned tax acquired properties remain on the tax rolls to accumulate a tax liability record. At the present time the only property that should be carried is the Remick property on 13^th Street. Selectmen plan to offer this property for sale by the bid process after the first of the year.

 

            (C) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST: Tony read a request from Patrick Hannon which will       require a great deal of information to be gathered. Selectmen requested that Lorraine email Hannon asking him to come in to the office and get a copy of Acton’s Freedom of Information Policy and letting him know that there is a $50 deposit required to cover cost of retrieving extensive information.

 

            (D) APPOINTMENT: On a motion by Mike, Elise Miller was appointed to the Comp Plan Imp. Committee.

 

Some discussion from the public followed questioning the legality of the signs at Hannon's place of business. CEO Ken Paul was called into the meeting.  He said that be believed that Hannon was allowed 2 signs per use, or 4 signs. Ken said our ordinance isn't clearly defined relative to signage. He will do some research on this matter.

 

Nancy reported she had attended the Twelve Town Group meeting on Monday.  It was noted that the jail is $700,000 over budget. Transfer tax revenues are down and it has been suggested that staff at the Registry of Deeds may be reduced.

 

Ann Germon noted there is a meeting at the school on December 2 and she hopes the Selectmen will attend.

 

7.   Adjournment: Adjourned at 8:15 pm

 

8.      Members Present: Nancy Ruma, Mike  Conway, Tony Cogliandro

 

9.      Others Present: Ann Germon, Barbara Seckar, Karl Hodgdon,  Virginia Deboer, Roger Roy, Pam McAlinden, Dennis Long, Richard Michaud, Alan Peterson, Patti and Desserrae Dutil, Chip Venell, Vicki Ridlon, Lorraine Yeaton

 

STAFF MEETING 8 AM December 12

 

WARRANT & FINANCE COMMITTEE MEET DEC. 3, 7 PM

 

AUDIT REPORT & FINANCE WORKSHOP DEC. 18, 6PM