Selectmen appoint four to energy and economic devlopment committees
The Selectmen appointed members to the Energy Advisory Committee (EAC) and to the Economic Development Committee (EDC). EAC member Eric Broadbent told the Selectmen that Bromfield student Sophia Catalini had approached EAC to say she was interested in looking at the school’s energy use. The committee, which hasn’t had a student member in several years, is delighted by her interest. Broadbent recommended Bill Codner, who works at National Grid, as an asset to the committee and able to provide a communication link with that company. The Selectmen unanimously approved both appointments, Catalini as a student member and Codner as a voting member.
Before moving to the EDC appointment, the Board of Selectmen, which sets the membership of town boards, voted unanimously to increase the number of members on that board from five to seven, at the request of EDC’s current members. The Selectmen and representatives from the Planning Board voted unanimously to extend the term of current member Peter Warren to 2016 and to appoint three-year resident Chris Sintros, whose enthusiasm and managerial skills were praised by the Selectmen, to a term that expires in June 2014.
Selectmen report progress on goals
Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported progress on the goal of auditing town departments. He has located an organization, with no special interests, that will review all town boards. The Selectmen agreed that it would make sense to review one department each year, starting with the largest, the Department of Public Works. The BOS would set guidelines and ask for actionable items. Bragan will secure a sample audit report from the company for the board to review. Selectman Stu Sklar is working on a plan for better communication among boards on town projects. Possibilities are a facilities manager and/or a standing building committee. Chairwoman Marie Sobalvaro and Selectwoman Lucy Wallace had no update on the goal of clarifying procedures, policies, and communication. Leo Blair has been attending JBOS meetings and said that it is often tough to get a quorum. Selectman Ron Ricci said that according to the memo of understanding, a town may have one JBOS member and one alternate, both with voting power but having only one vote at a meeting. Wallace urged the board to re-establish that they want to be active in JBOS and they voted unanimously to be so. Blair said that his suggested approach will be to review an overlay district, which he proposed in 2009. Wallace commented that the BOS should work closely with the Planning Board, as the Devens issue is chief among their concerns.
