February 12, 2018

“Ms. Pine moved that they approve the short term borrowing for another year as presented by the Treasurer. Mr. Petropoulos seconded the motion. Ms. Manugian asked what the annual amount they were spending was and how much was coming out of free cash. Mr. Haddad said that the total annual amount was $479,757 of which $272K was coming out of free cash. He said they rest was budgeted for in the operating budget within the levy. Mr. Robertson said they had many discussions about this and to save $1M doing this was the right way to do it as long as they had free cash. Ms. Manugian said she was not clear that this plan was clear to the voters. Mr. Degen said it was presented to the voters at the fall town meeting. Mr. Petropoulos said they didn't return money to the voters but thought they had met their obligation to be clear to the voters. Ms. Pine said that paying less in interest was important to her. Roll Call Vote: Petropoulos-aye; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Pease-aye; Manugian-abstain. Motion carried 4-0-1..” (Motion: Pine, second: Petropoulos)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

“He said that because the Chief could not be there, he offered the following motion: Mr. Petropoulos moved that the Board request and require from their Chief of Police an opinion on what, if any, illegal activity would be likely to accompany approval of marijuana sales and or cultivation in the Town of Groton. If associated activity is projected, the Chief should further provide his best assessment of the scope, volume and associated cost to the Town. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Mr. Petropoulos said that the purpose of this was to give voters a professional prospective on potential risks if this was allowed. Ms. Manugian said she agreed it was important to hear what the Chief thought but added he had been involved with the subcommittee looking researching this topic. She said both Chiefs had expressed concerns with what would be legalized household cultivation. She didn't see the need for a formal motion and thought it seemed out of the usual to request such a formal request from them. Mr. Degen said he saw no harm in this motion. Roll Call Vote: Petropoulos-aye; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Pease-no; Manugian-no. Motion carried 3-2..” (Motion: Petropoulos, second: Pine)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

“Mr. Petropoulos move we allow leasing team to negotiate a lease with the Friends of Prescott that defines the needed town funds and continue retention of Prescott as a town asset and that the Town Manager be authorized to place that amount of funds in the operating budget for FY19. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Mr. Pease said that based on that they were changing their guidance for level serviced. Mr. Degen said it was what the motion seemed to dictate. Ms. Pine did not agree adding level services meant something different to her. Mr. Pease asked if there was currently a line item in the budget for supporting Prescott School. Mr. Degen said that because they would not be leasing to the School District after this summer because of their plans to move their offices, they had to assume some costs of that building. He said that had an obligation to include this in their budget. Mr. Petropoulos said they were not increasing services. Roll Call Vote: Petropoulos-aye; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Pease-no; Manugian-no. Motion carried 3-2 in favor..” (Motion: Petropoulos, second: Pine)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

“Mr. Petropoulos moved that they establish a gift fund for the Duck Pond Restoration project. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Petropoulos-aye; Pine-aye; Degen-aye; Pease-aye; Manugian-aye. Motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Petropoulos, second: Pine)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

“Pease-aye; Degen-aye. The motion carried 4-1 in favor..” (Motion: Degen, second: Petropoulos)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

“Mr. Petropoulos moved that they at the Spring Town Meeting remove from consideration the proposals for expanding Police, Fire and EMS services, as well as the proposal to regionalize EMS services, and to focus entirely in the budget resulting from the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee's guidance of level services and 3% growth and bring forward to the Fall Town Meeting a recommendation by a task force created at the conclusion of the Spring Town Meeting. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. Mr. Haddad asked if they could please agree that he met the budget guidance. Mr. Degen said he agreed. Roll Call: Petropoulos-aye; Pine-aye; Manugian-no; Degen-aye; Pease-aye. The motion carried 4-1..” (Motion: Petropoulos, second: Pine)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)