Meeting Matters
Westminster Board of Selectmen Monday, Jan. 29, 2007
Compiled By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

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Selectmen voted to appoint 15 members to the Economic Development Study Committee.

The committee will work with a consultant hired to try to determine what types of commercial businesses the town should seek out and where they could be located.

The committee will include representatives from a number of town boards and committees: Andrew Sears will represent the Planning Board; Robert Cudak, the Industrial Development Committee; Don Frigoletto, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and Thomas O'Toole, the Board of Selectmen. A representative from the Historical Commission will be appointed.

Resident representatives to the committee will include Phil D'Entremont, Andrew Hertel, Mike Morin, James Quill Jr., John Rowland Jr., Brian Ruland, Nancy Sampson, Joseph Serio, Linda Wiest and M. Clare Mara.

The candidates were chosen from a number of residents who were interviewed at the board's Jan. 15 meeting.

In other news: + Selectmen voted to sign a letter agreeing to meet the federal National Incident Management System rules and regulations to the "best of their ability."

"I still have a level of concern," said Emerson, who proposed signing the agreement.

Emerson said she, Town Coordinator Karen Murphy as well as representatives of the police and fire departments met with state officials in December. She said during that conversation the local officials were told that the "hard core structuring" of the program was being revised.

The system is to make sure local, state and federal organizations have a strong ability to communicate during a crisis situation.

Selectmen had voted in July not to comply with the NIMS recommendation because of Fire Chief Brenton MacAloney's concern about increaseed regulations and being unable to meet all of the requirements.

+ State Rep. Lew Evangelidis met with selectmen about the FY08 state budget. Gov. Deval Patrick will release his version of the budget in mid-February.

Evangelidis said he does not think there will be any cuts in local aid and school funding, but doesn't see any significant increases.

"I think you'll be looking at a status quo budget," he said.

He said he wasn't sure if a revision to Proposition 2 1/2 would be passed in time for Westminster and Ashburnham to be allowed to do capital exclusions in FY08.

+ Selectmen approved a job description for the town accountant's position. The Personnel Board will review the description before it is posted in mid- February.

The job is being filled due to the retirement of Stephen Roomian this year. The selectmen hope to have a new person on board before the annual town meeting at the beginning of May, so that they are up to date on the FY08 budget.

+ Selectmen expressed concern that the Crocker Pond Development Committee has approved a robotics competition at the recreation area for some area high schools.

The board members were concerned because they want to be the only ones who can approve non-Westminster residents using the area. They also expressed concerns because there are no motorized boats allowed on the water.