BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Natick Town Hall
September 20, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Chair Gloff called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. She explained that Kristine VanAmsterdam was recuperating from a back injury and was not expected to attend.
PRESENT: Carol A. Gloff, Charles M. Hughes, Joshua Ostroff, John Ciccariello. Absent: Kristine Van Amsterdam
ALSO PRESENT: Martha White, Town Administrator
TCAN: REQUEST TO USE THE SIDEWALK
Sherry Sandoval spoke on behalf of The Center For Arts, whose request to occupy the sidewalk for an event at TCAN on Saturday, October 13 had been tabled from the previous Selectmen’s meeting on September 17.
The issues before the Board concerned building permits, Police safety concerns, and Fire Dept approval for the propane heaters.
They had received approval from the Building Department and have a permit for the tent.
Regarding pedestrian safety, a representative of TCAN spoke to Sergeant Brian Lauzon to clarify that while the tent will cover the width of the sidewalk, the parking spaces next to the affected sidewalk would be roped off to provide safe passage. Based on this discussion Sergeant Lauzon is OK with this request, and TCAN will pick up safety cones prior to the event and return them afterwards.
TCAN has provided the flammability rating of the tent to the Fire Department, and verified that the propane heaters are UL-approved.
Mr. Hughes moved approval. Mr. Ciccariello seconded the motion for discussion, and confirmed that the applicant understood the need for propane tanks to be subject to approval from the Fire Department.
Unanimously voted.
NATICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY – REQUEST TO OCCUPY TOWN COMMON
Jennifer Hence appeared on behalf of the Natick Historical Society, whose request to occupy Town Common for a Civil War Encampment on Saturday, October 13 was approved at the previous Selectmen’s meeting on September 17, but whose request to discharge firearms was tabled to clarify certain concerns.
Ms. Hence had sent an email to Sergeant Lauzon that three rounds using black power and no shells would be fired. She had not heard back. The Board had correspondence from Chief Mannix recommending approval but that they would be in contact to review the type(s) of weapons that were proposed.
Reference was made to a memorandum from Recreation and Parks Superintendent Dick Cugini about the timing, as he was concerned that weapons should not be discharged during the Farmer’s Market which ran until 1:00 or 1:30 PM.
Mr. Hughes moved approval subject to a permit being issued to store black powder if so required, and subject to not firing until after 1:00 PM.
Mr. Ciccariello seconded the motion if Mr. Hughes was in agreement that the applicant would contact the police chief, and the time was moved to 1:30 PM. Amended and unanimously voted.
BOARD CORRESPONDENCE
Ms Gloff advised that the draft Capital Plan had been distributed to members as it was being presented to the Finance Committee tonight. Attention was called to correspondence that Ms. Challis had distributed. Regarding a food business at the Natick Mall that had been operating without a Common Victualer’s License, their application had been filed by 5:00 PM today and they would be before the Board at the next meeting.
At 7:15 PM, Ms. White left for the Finance Committee Meeting.
NATICK 360 – DISCUSSION OF STRATEGIC PLAN
Phillip Blackerby and Elizabeth Reuthe from Blackerby Associates were present, along with Craig Ross and David Parish from the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee.
Ms. Reuthe offered some initial comments about the conference call on Friday 9/14 regarding the results of the recent Community Survey fielded by ETC Communications. She reported that Chris Tatham of ETC was very favorably impressed by Natick. Mr. Tatham said that most towns they survey are “broken” – but nothing about Natick is broken. People like Natick, there is lots of cooperation and participation, etc. He was saying this because people often look at the glass as half empty. Ms. Reuthe stated that her positive feelings towards the community of Natick have been validated by the results of this survey.
Subsequently, Board Members were given time to complete a form that identified key strategic goals. Breaking into two groups of two, members than consolidated goals into thematic areas, then in a group of four members agreed upon eight thematic areas, and in ensuing discussion developed strategy statements for each goal. Consensus was established around eight strategies for finances, housing, transportation, public safety, education, communication, infrastructure, and the well-being of residents. The specific strategies agreed to by the Selectmen would be presented in a subsequent report that also included similar actions by other sponsoring Boards.
Mr. Ross described the next steps for strategic plan development over the coming weeks, with the expectation that the sponsoring Boards would vote on a Strategic Plan in November.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Ostroff moved adjournment, seconded by Ms. Gloff and unanimously voted at 8:55 PM.
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Joshua Ostroff, Clerk
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