Selectmen Get Far Ahead of Schedule, Snow Plowing Begins Immediately on Rome Drive

7:30 p.m. – The meeting convened. Selectman Jim Sullivan was absent.

No members of the public had any comments in the open forum section of the meeting, leading to a request from residents of the Rome Drive extension to have their street snow plowed.

Rome Drive resident Janice Ferguson asked for the plowing due to recent improvements, and the board unanimously approved the request.

Town Manager Jodi Ross told Ferguson she would text Highway Department superintendent Chip Barrett requesting that his department plow the street immediately.

7:32 p.m. – The board skipped to “Old/New Business”.

Selectman Kelly Ross talked about a request for comment from Ellen Harde regarding licenses at car dealerships.

Harde’s comment to Ross was that some car dealership were violating town bylaws and Harde asked Ross to mention this during the meeting, as she could not attend.

Board of Selectmen chairwoman Andrea Peraner-Sweet said the matter should be referred to the Planning Board if any car dealerships were violating the terms of their site plan acceptances.

Selectman Val Wormell asked about boundaries on car dealership lots and how many cars can be put on a lot, with secretary Patty Dube indicating the licenses for car dealerships are very spelled out, and these can be checked.

Peraner-Sweet discussed the license at Boch Honda West following up on earlier comments, also citing that parking was not indicated in the license.

Wormell asked the board if a letter could be sent to car dealerships reviewing the conditions of their licenses.

This was approved.

The board unanimously approved all other licenses.

7:37 p.m. – The board then went to a request for Keno to Go at Westford Wine and Spirits at Cornerstone Square. Town Manger Ross indicated that the request came in late.

No action was taken.

7:38 p.m. – Then the board went to a request to transfer a parcel on Briarwood Drive. It was taken for taxes in 2007. The Tax Possession Sale Committee decided not to sell the property due to a fire cistern on the property, saying the best route due to that cistern is to transfer to the Selectmen.

Selectman Ross asked why the parcel would be sent to the Selectmen and not the Conservation Commission.

Assistant Town Manager John Mangiaratti said that the Conservation Commission could be asked, although the parcel would be for general municipal use.

Efforts to see if other committees wanted the land were not made due to the small size of the land (.017 acres.)

7:41 p.m. – Bob Fesmire was appointed to the Communications Advisory Committee unanimously. Mark Matthews was appointed unanimously to the Economic Advisory Committee.

7:42 p.m. – A request from the East Boston Camps/Stepinski Parcel’s Naming Committee to use $800 for a survey to be mailed with the census was requsted.

Selectman Scott Hazelton discussed the request, with Town Manager Ross indicating that Selectmen’s funds would be used for the request.

The motion was unanimously approved.

7:43 p.m. – A request to disband the Unaccepted Roads Committee was approved unanimously. Peraner-Sweet wanted to thank them for their work.

Wormell thanked Town Engineer Paul Starratt, indicating that there are now only three unaccepted roads down from 18 several years ago, thanks largely to Starratt’s work.

7:45 p.m. – Selectman Ross indicated he would like to volunteer to be the Selectmen’s liaison to the School Committee Collective Bargaining Negotiation Team.

Ross had served for the past several years, Peraner-Sweet agreed to be the alternate.

The motion was unanimously approved.

7:46 p.m. – Peraner-Sweet delayed discussion on the charge and membership of the Hunting Committee due to how far ahead of schedule the board was, requesting people at home watching on television come on down.

7:47 p.m. – A vote to open the Spring Town Meeting warrant was approved and the discussion  shifted to reaffirm the vote taken on the town’s tax rate which was confirmed unanimously.