BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
March 31, 2004

The Board met in Regular Session at 7:30 p.m. in its meeting room at Abbot Hall.
Present (constituting a quorum):
Jeffrey N. Shribman, Chairman
William M. Purdin William L. Woodfin, II
Judith R. Jacobi Harry C. Christensen
Anthony M. Sasso, Town Administrator

MINUTES. Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of March 24, 2004. All in favor.

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION. Muncipal Ballot. Motion made and seconded to bring the following matter (adjourned from last week) to the table for purposes of discussion.
Patricia B. Warnock, 2 Pond Street and Kenneth S. MacAskill, 6 Redstone Lane appeared to request that a non-binding question be placed on the May 10, 2004 municipal ballot in the event that a general proposition 2 _ override is placed on the ballot by Town Meeting. The question to the voters appearing on the ballot shall be presented in the following format:

• Option 1: All supplemental budget items shall be presented to the voters in the form of a single question and a single dollar amount.
• Option 2. All supplemental budget items shall be presented in a menu style format with their corresponding expenses being voted separately with individual questions.
Ms Laura Ward, 139 Jersey Street, spoke in opposition to this proposed addition to the ballot.
Motion made and seconded to approve the request of Ms. Warnock and Mr. MacAskill. Motion failed 4-1. Mr. Christensen in favor.

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION. Municipal Ballot. The following matter (adjourned from last week) was brought back to the table:

Bradford N. Freeman, Jr., 34 Willow Road, appeared to request that a non-binding question be placed on the May 10, 2004 municipal ballot as to whether the residents of the town will consider the purchase of vacant land in Marblehead. Motion made and seconded to form a committee of five, comprised of Mr. Freeman, two additional residents of the town, one Selectman, or its designee, and a member of the Conservancy Committee, for purposes of reviewing the prospective purchase of vacant land in the future. All in favor.

LICENSING. Rio Grande Café. Ms. Jeannine Camarda (owner of 12 School Street – the former location of the Rio Grande Café), appeared before the board to give an updated status report of the sale of the business and leasing of the building, in light of the closure of this restaurant. Ms. Camarda advised that she has made a decision to proceed with one of the proposed purchasers that had previously expressed interest in the purchase of the business, inclusive of the existing all alcoholic beverages license as a common victualer, and that the preparation of a purchase and sale agreement is underway. Ms. Camarda also expressed that the principals of the former Rio Grande Café have been diligent in preserving the alcohol license by not declaring bankruptcy. Ms. Camarda is scheduled to appear before the board on Wednesday, April 28 (or on May 19 if necessary) at 7:35 p.m. to update the Selectmen further.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Contracts. Anthony M. Sasso advised that the members of the Fire Union have voluntarily consented to forego the 3% cost of living (COLA) increase effective July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 at no cost impact to the town. The representatives of the Fire Union that appeared in connection with this decision was Fire Chief Barry Dixey; Jason Gilliland, Union President; Charles Cerrutti, Union Vice President; Doug Knowles, Union Secretary and John Tobey, Union Treasurer. Motion made and seconded to send a letter of appreciation to the union members c/o the leaders. All in favor.

Bill Kelley, 9 Knight’s Hill Road, spoke in favor of the union members’ decision and asked for the audience to applaud the members to commend them for their selfless gesture. So done.

Mr. Sasso also advised that IUE/1776 union members have reached a similar decision. Ms. Sudha Newman appeared on behalf of Union IUE/1776. Motion made and seconded to send a letter of appreciation to the union members c/o the leaders. All in favor.

Motion made and seconded to authorize Anthony M. Sasso, Town Administrator to execute the Memorandum of Understanding to effect the decisions of each respective union. All in favor.

Additionally, Mr. Sasso advised that all (town) administrators (included in the town's general government administrative pay schedule) have reached the same decision to forgo the COLA increase. Motion made and seconded to send a letter of appreciation to all administrators. All in favor.CONTRACTS. Ambulance Service. Fire Chief Barry Dixey appeared in connection with the recent proposals of current vendors North Shore Ambulance and Action Ambulance to provide ambulance service to the town. Both vendors have proposed the same offer of a zero subsidy requirement over seven years. The current subsidy is $90,000 and this would amount to savings of $630,000. Town Administrator asked the board for one week before he would request that they make a decision on which vendor to choose. Any savings would go into the fire department’s budget and that the aggregate of the savings for the COLAs not to be paid for fiscal term July 1 to June 30, 2005, the savings on the new ambulance contract and contributions from the retirement budget will go toward full funding of the Fire Department budget. .

BUDGETS. Fire Department. In light of the above discussion, a motion was made and seconded to reconsider the fire department budget to a figure of $2,304,860 (line item 068). All in favor.

HISTORICAL COMMISSION. Preservation of Historic Artifact. The Town Administrator announced that Wayne Butler, commission member, delivered the original deed to the town from the Naumkeag Indians, to the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA for evaluation. Mr. Butler will report back to the Selectmen with the results of the evaluation i.e. what the cost and time-frame will be for the deed to be properly preserved.

CONTRACT. Fiber-Optic Cable. In furtherance of last week’s request made by Bart Snow, Finance Director, Dr. George Gearhardt, Assistant School Superintendent and Jeffrey Bickford, Technology Director, for the approval of awarding a contract to Comtract for the sum of $94,221.13 which was approved by the board subject to the Town Administrator’s confirmation that the funds available for the project are specifically designated therefore and may not be used for any other purpose, Mr. Sasso advised that he confirmed that the funds are specifically so designated.

CONDOLENCES. The passing of Marblehead residents Frank Chandler, Ruth Sinclair, Philip Polansky and Arthur D. Hogan were noted with regret. Motion made and seconded to send a letter of sympathy to the family of each decedent. All in favor.
ANNOUNCEMENT. Lecture. Mr. Christensen announced that the VFW Post #2005, 321 West Shore Drive will host part three of a five part lecture series on the Beryl Atherton murder on May 7. The cost per person is $10.00 with proceeds to be donated to the Marblehead Web Site Development Fund.

ANNOUNCEMENT. Parking Ban. Motion made and seconded to lift the current overnight parking ban effective 7:00 a.m. on Friday, April 2. All in favor.

ANNOUNCEMENT. Exhibit. The Council of Aging will host a photography exhibit of Bob Sinclair’s students, on Sunday, April 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant Street.

INVITATION. Friends of Council on Aging Exposition. Mrs. Jacobi announced that the town was invited to set up a booth, free of charge, at this exposition which is specially designed for senior citizens. The Selectmen will be in charge of the booth and commission members are also asked to participate. The exposition is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 15 at the Community Center and will include lectures on matters and entertainment. Motion made and seconded to accept the invitation. All in favor.

PERMISSION. Disposal Container. Letter from Robert Picone, of RMJ Construction, requesting permission to place a 30 yard disposal container curbside at l5A Sewall Street (property of Robin Taliesin and Marianne E. Murphy), from Friday, April 2 through Tuesday, April 6. Motion made and seconded to approve subject to receipt of the requisite insurance, police and fire department approvals. All in favor.

PERMISSION. Banner. Letter from Maggie Smist, President of Marblehead Festival of Arts, requesting permission to hang a banner across Pleasant Street from Monday, June 28 through Monday, July 5 to promote this year’s Festival of Arts. Motion made and seconded to approve. All in favor.

PERMISSION. Banner. Sandwich Boards. Letter from Peggy Wyman, Marblehead Little Theatre Recording Secretary, requesting permission to hang a banner across Pleasant Street from Wednesday, May 5 to Monday, May 10 to promote this theatre’s performance of Cinderella at the Salem State Theatre in Salem. Ms. Wyman also requested permission to place boards to promote this event at the Chamber of Commerce; Tedesco and Humphrey; Beach and Ocean; and Atlantic at Seaview approved locations from Monday, May 3 to Monday, May 10 and at Gatchell Green (Lafayette and Maple) from Monday, May 17 to Monday, May 24. Motion made and seconded to approve the placement of the banner and boards. All in favor.

It was noted that the League of Women Voters of Marblehead’s Election Banner would be hung on Monday, May 3 and removed on May 5.

PERMISSION. Banner. Sandwich Boards. Letter from Don Morgan and Gene Jacobi requesting permission to place a banner and boards to promote the Farmers’ Market that will be held every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting June 12 and running through October 23 at the Middle School. Motion made and seconded to hang a banner across Pleasant Street from July 12 to July 19 and for placement of boards mid-day on every Friday (to be picked-up on Saturdays) during the Farmer’s Market season at the following approved locations: : Lafayette and Maple; Lafayette and Humphrey; Pleasant and Essex; Tedesco and Humphrey; Beach and Ocean and Atlantic at Seaview.

PERMISSION. Banner. Sandwich Boards. Letter from Eileen Perry, on behalf of the North Shore Junior Badminton Association. Requesting permission to hang a banner across Pleasant Street and place boards to promote the 2004 United States Junior Nationals in Marblehead to be held from June 29 to July 3. Motion made and seconded to approve the hanging of the banner and for the placement of the boards at the following approved locations: Pleasant and Essex; Atlantic at Seaview and Humphrey and Lafayette from Monday, June 21 to Monday, June 28. All in favor.

PERMISSION. Sandwich Boards. Letter from William D. Coolidge on behalf of The Rotary Club of Marblehead, requesting permission to place boards to promote the Rotary’s annual lobster raffle to raise money for scholarships and camper ships to young people living in Marblehead, scheduled for Thursday, July 8. Motion made and seconded to approve the placement of the boards at the following approved locations: Lafayette and Maple; Lafayette and Humphrey; Pleasant and Essex and Atlantic at Seaview from Monday, June 28 to Monday, July 5. All in favor.

PERMISSION. Bell ringing. Letter from Reverend Donald L. Orne, Jr.. Coordinator of World Peace Day/Winter Solstice and East Coast NPD Coordinator, requesting permission to ring the bell at Abbot Hall on Thursday, May 6 for National Day of Prayer. The bell will ring for five minutes after it tolls twelve noon and will coordinate with other bells in town and across the nation. Motion made and seconded to approve. All in favor.

CONTRACT. Bituminous Concrete. Motion made and seconded to approve the request of Rebecca Curran, Town Planner to award the contract for the furnishing, delivering and applying of bituminous concrete and asphalt cold planning for resurfacing of roadways to the lowest and responsible bidder Aggregate Industries Northeast Region Inc. of Saugus, MA in the amount of $982,250. and a unit price of $36.95 per ton for bituminous concrete and $2.34 per square yard for cold planning and authorize the chairman to sign on behalf of the Board. All in favor.

ABBOT HALL USAGE COMMITTEE. Abbot Hall Rules and Regulations. Motion made and seconded to approve the new rules and regulations drafted by the Abbot Hall Usage Committee. All in favor. |

PERMISSION. Use of Abbot Hall. The following matter (adjourned from last week) was brought back to the table: Letter from Bonnie Strong, President-Elect of Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor requesting permission to use Abbot Hall on December 11 from 7:00 to approximately 10:00 p.m. for the annual Holiday Pops traditional champagne reception and holiday concert hosted by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and the Marblehead/Swampscott VNA. Motion made and seconded to approve subject to the new rules and regulations for the use of Abbot Hall. All in favor.

Motion made and seconded to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. All in favor.

Ursula M. Kretschman