11 – 16 - 09
At the meeting of the Randolph Board of Selectmen held Monday, November 16, 2009, the following were Present: Chairman Paul Connors, Vice Chairman James Burgess, William Alexopoulos, Paul Fernandes, Executive Secretary David Murphy and Recording Secretary Cheryl Sass. Not present: Maureen C. Kenney. Meeting opened by Mr. Connors at 7:07 pm.
Mr. Burgess said the prayer and Mr. Fernandes led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moment of silence on behalf of Robert Nelson, retired Randolph Police Officer Frank Thorne, Retired Highway Dept.
Mr. Connors acknowledged Gerald Kaplan, and offered him the chance to speak as Public Comments would be later in the meeting. Mr. Kaplan asked the Board to look into the issues he is having at 5305 Chestnut West and the harassment he is experiencing. .
Crawford Square PWED Presentation
Michelle Tyler, Chris Spears, Sharon Swain and Yvonne Watson on behalf of Streetscape Committee. Concerns raised include the number and size of the trees, snow removal changes, handicap parking, a request for a crosswalk from Burger King to T stop on North Street, and speed limits. Mr. Connors encouraged Ms. Tyler to visit the Randolph Savings Bank and Rockland Trust to see if they would accommodate a few handicap spaces.
The next step is to go 75% design completion with The Cecil Group. The Goal for 75% design phase is the end of January, 2010, followed by 100% design phase at the end of February, 2010, before going out to bid. Depending on bid conditions, a contract could be awarded in April for the construction phase. The Streetscape will be coordinated with the underground utilities project.
Mr. Fernandes made a motion to authorize the Streetscape Committee to continue on to the 75% design phase with the Cecil Group. Seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0.
Mr. Connors thanked the Search Committee and the Moderator for appointing the committee members. Because she was in attendance, he personally thanked Michelle Tyler, and thanked each member individually: Claritza Abreu, Dori Burke, Roz Vineberg, Patricia Cedeno-Zaor, Larry Azer, Michelle Carson and Bob Gass. Mr. Connors stated that the Search Committee remains in existence until final vote is taken.
Transfer Station Presentation
Michael Yunits, Town Administrator, Selectman McGahey for the Town of Holbrook. The Developer of the property will be present at a future meeting in December.
Location is after the tracks on Union Street at the Holbrook Line. Go right after tracks, abuts Baird McGuire site. Holbrook took the site in 2005. The Town is exempt from cleanup while looking for a developer. Solvents, pesticides, lead on site. Estimates have been in the million dollar range to clean up the contaminants. Property was appraised at $1.00 due to contamination. The entire industrial area is in desperate need of development. Holbrook residents gave support to the project in the form of two town meeting votes and the passing of a ballot question where 77% of the voters were in favor. Residents have been through the raising of water and sewer rates, trash fees, and had to purchase trash bags. Holbrook is limited since there is no highway access.
The transfer station will be a state of the art site – everything will be shrink-wrapped and loaded onto train cars. All meetings have been advertised and Randolph has been well represented by Planning Aboard and Conservation Commission. Mr. Yunitz stated that the transfer station is necessary for the survival of the Town of Holbrook. The site will be permitted for a maximum of 1,000 tons per day. A normal trash truck carries 10 tons, meaning approximately 100 trucks per day. There will be 7 truck trips an hour, of which 4 will head toward Randolph. It will be a clean operating facility with state of the art ventilation and no incinerator. There will be mist systems inside the building to keep dust down and for odor filtration. The Building height will be 40
feet, and the lease will be for 20 years.
Hours of Operation: Train to facility will come in mid-day between 12 – 2 p.m. Box cars will be loaded on site. Hours of operation to be six days a week 7:00 – 6:00 p.m. Traffic limited to trucks that pick up trash at homes and trailers, however, construction or demolition will not be allowed.
Specific routes have not yet been worked out. The trucks bringing the trash will go inside, the trash will be dumped onto floor, loaded into a grinder and shrink wrapped. Trash will not be left exposed over night.
Mr. Yunitz stated that the machine was developed in Germany, and that TransLoad America is an international company. He believes they operate a facility in New Jersey, but he is not sure. The clean up is the responsibility of the Developer. The DEP will not grant permission unless it is properly cleaned up.
Mr. Yunitz stated that Randolph could possibly negotiate a tipping fee with the facility that would be beneficial to the town by saving costs in contract with the current hauler. An arrangement such as this has the potential to take 2 trash trucks off the road, which could save up to $500,000 a year.
Mr. Connors stated that a meeting with TransLoad will take place before the end of the year so residents will have an opportunity to speak at a public hearing in a larger venue. Board to visit a transfer station to see the effects on surrounding neighborhoods.
Correspondence
- Invitation from Massachusetts Fire Training Council to graduation exercises for the 185th Recruit Fire Training Program on November 20, 2009.
Notice from Cherry Darche re: Change in Officers for SEIU 888.
- Copy of letter from the Town of Holbrook to Mayor of Braintree, Joseph Sullivan re: Water usage rates.
- Copy of letter from the Town of Holbrook to Inspector General Gregory Sullivan re: legislation for the construction and operation of a new water treatment plant to serve Braintree, Randolph and Holbrook.
- Copy of letter from Letter from Town of Holbrook to Executive Director of MWRA Frederick Laskey re: MWRA option.
Mr. Connors asked Mr. Murphy for a summary on where the Tri Town Project is going: Mr. Murphy stated that at this point, it is difficult to predict. Working to create a modern treatment plan with the town of Holbrook continues. The Tri Town Water Board is working through the issues that Holbrook has raised. Mr. Murphy stated that the Town Council and the Town Manager will have to look at the issue very closely and very soon after being sworn in. They will need to take action quickly. The new form of government will also bring a representative change on Tri Town water board. The Town Council’s appointment will have to be made quickly with Holbrook v. Randolph and Braintree. It is time to consider all of the options available to the Town of Randolph.
- Letter from Comcast re: channel changes.
- Letter to State Senators from Executive Secretary endorsing Senate Bill 282, an Act to establish a program of instruction of the flag of the U.S.
- Invitation to the 20th Annual Firefighter of the Year Ceremony at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on December 3rd.
- Letter re: Restoration of Monuments outside of Stetson Hall.
Requests
- Poll worker request. Motion to approve Garry Depestre made by Mr. Alexopoulos, seconded by Mr. Fernandes. Voted 4-0.
- Letter from Showcase Cinemas re: midnight showing of Avatar on Thursday December 17, 2009 Motion to allow midnight showing made by Mr. Alexopoulos, seconded by Mr. Fernandes. Voted 4-0.
- Beano request at Lombardos for Milton Foundation for Education on November 21, 2009 from 6:00 pm to Midnight. Motion to approve request made by Mr. Alexopoulos, seconded by Mr. Fernandes. Voted 4-0.
- Request by Joseph Mulligan for a one day beer and wine license at Stetson Hall on December 31st from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Motion to approve request made by Mr. Alexopoulos, seconded by Mr. Fernandes. Voted 4-0.
Public Comments
Jeanne Gately – member of the Conservation Commission. Re: Holbrook Transfer Station. She stated that Randolph is not officially a part of the draft plan and that information concerning the Transfer Station should be more accessible, and that the public should have the ability to read the information and be informed. A request was put in writing to Craig Black from Woodward & Curran to extend the public comment period.
Dan Clifford – Braintree Councillor – Member of the Braintree, Randolph Holbrook Civic Group. There is no answer to whether or not there can be 100 trucks. Any truck can be brought in not completely full. The Braintree transfer station has 160 trucks and the same 1,000 ton maximum. He stated that there are over 70 transfer stations in Massachusetts that are not full, and therefore, no need for another. He asked that residents visit the website: www.bhrcivicgroup.com .
Judy Gangel – asked that the Board of Selectmen and Town Councillors-Elect support the Expansion of the Bottle Bill.
Selectmen’s Office Report:
Request for Energy Performance Contract. Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is offering a grant program funded by Federal Stimulus Money. Mr. Murphy requested approval of the Board to submit an application in the amount of $2M to the Department of Energy Resources. Motion to approve application made by Mr. Fernandes, seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0.
Mr. Murphy requested that any residents with news clips or memorabilia from Town Meeting be forwarded to Brian Howard and Kevin Reilly so that a montage for final town meeting can be created. Discussion re: possible conflict with Ceremonial Town Meeting date. After discussion, it was determined that the date would not be change.
Motion to open December 15th Warrant for Town Meeting for the purpose of Collective Bargaining made by Mr. Alexopoulos. Seconded by Mr. Burgess.
Motion to close December 15th Warrant made by Mr. Burgess, seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0.
Motion to open December 16th Town Meeting Warrant for the purpose of Dissolving Town Meeting made by Mr. Burgess, seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0.
Motion to close Warrant of December 16th made by Mr. Burgess, seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0.
Mr. Murphy publicly thanked the members of the Council-Elect for their support. He stated that he is humbled, honored and excited to work with Council and about making history together.
Mr. Alexopoulos thanked the Search Committee for their hard work.
Mr. Connors thanked Patricia Zamor as the co-chair of the Search Committee.
Motion to enter into executive session, not to reconvene made by Mr. Fernandes, seconded by Mr. Alexopoulos. Voted 4-0. A roll call vote was taken, with each of the 4 members present voting in the affirmative.
At 8:47 p.m. Mr. Burgess made a motion to adjourn seconded by Mr. Fernandes. Voted 4-0.
Clerk of the Board
| 
