Westminster Board of Selectmen
Monday, December 18, 2006
Compiled By Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Top Story:

Selectmen invited town department heads into their Monday, December 18, meeting to discuss guidelines for setting their FY08 budgets.

Selectman Lorraine Emerson stressed that the deadline dates will be strictly followed this year, because of the confusion and the backtracking for repairs on Forbush Memorial Library.

Selectmen let the article, which appropriated money for repairs to the library, slip onto the Annual Town Meeting warrant at the last minute and the proper procedure was not followed. The May Annual Town Meeting vote became null, and was voted down in November when residents were asked to reaffirm their decision.

Selectmen don’t want to see this happen again next year.

Emerson also asked that department heads who want to include salary re-grading in their budget wait, because the board is looking into hiring a professional to evaluate the whole town matrix. The salaries for town employees are based on a system — or grading — that is dependent on the job description, skills and education required for each position.

Capital Planning Commission members, who attended the selectmen’s meeting, warned department heads that they would be looking very closely at the budgets, so advised they be submitted with lots of details.

In other news:

• Selectmen approved a two-article warrant for a special town meeting to be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 10, at the Westminster Elementary School.

The first article asks voters to appropriate money to hire a new architect for the Forbush Memorial Library repair project. The original architect was fired this month. The building committee will issue a request for proposals from architectural firms in time for the January 10 town meeting. The results of the RFP will determine the cost.

The second article would appropriate money to hire a consultant to facilitate a study of the potential impact of allowing retail stores larger than 25,000 square feet in Westminster. Selectmen expect the consultant to cost $5,000-$6,000.

Emerson repeated an earlier for residents to become part of a volunteer group that will study the retail stores issue.

• Selectmen approved an updated list of fines for parking violations.

Police Chief Salvatore Albert recommended the fine for illegally parking in a handicap parking spot be raised from $125 to $300, the maximum penalty in Massachusetts. Minimum penalty is $100.

Emerson disagreed with raising the fine to $300, concerned it would add too much additional work for Town Coordinator Karen Murphy. Murphy handles parking ticket appeals. Emerson said raising the fine so significantly would lead to a lot more people appealing their tickets.

Selectmen John Fairbanks and Thomas O’Toole suggested a compromise, raising the fine to $200 — the amount eventually accepted by selectmen.

Albert said the change would go into effect once tickets with the new fine amount are printed. He estimated 30 days.

• The town’s tax rate was set at $11.73, one cent higher than the previous year.