MassVoter.com← Stoughton Select BoardStoughton Select Board · 2018–2019 Board · Regular meeting
July 17, 2018
11 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Robert O'Regan, Michael Sullivan, Stephen Cavey, Christine Howe
Absent: Richard Hill
Every vote, in order
Reopen the public hearing
Mr. Sullivan motioned to reopen the public hearing. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to reopen the public hearing. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Howe)
Close the public hearing
Mr. Sullivan motioned to close the public hearing. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to close the public hearing. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Cavey)
Approve the new application for 1262 Washington Street for a Class II license
Ms. Howe motioned to approve the new application for 1262 Washington Street for a Class II license. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Howe motioned to approve the new application for 1262 Washington Street for a Class II license. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Howe, second: Sullivan)
Increase water rates by 1% across the board
Mr. Sullivan motioned to increase water rates by 1% across the board. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Ms. Howe said she is in agreement to keeping the increase low but she believes they need to keep in mind that the water capital fund that has been paying for this will be going away soon. Ms. Howe said having incremental increases over the next few years would be better than having one large increase in a few years. Mr. Cavey said he agrees with this. Mr. Cavey would like to be transparent in why the rates go up. Mr. O'Regan said he was leaning towards 1.5% increase. Mr. O'Regan said the difference in 1 and 1.5% a quarter is about 50 cents. Mr. Sullivan amended his motion to 1.5%. Mr. Cavey agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to increase water rates by 1% across the board. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Ms. Howe said she is in agreement to keeping the increase low but she believes they need to keep in mind that the water capital fund that has been paying for this will be going away soon. Ms. Howe said having incremental increases over the next few years would be better than having one large increase in a few years. Mr. Cavey said he agrees with this. Mr. Cavey would like to be transparent in why the rates go up. Mr. O'Regan said he was leaning towards 1.5% increase. Mr. O'Regan said the difference in 1 and 1.5% a quarter is about 50 cents. Mr. Sullivan amended his motion to 1.5%. Mr. Cavey agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Cavey)
Transfer $1,000,000.00 from the MWRA Capital Infrastructure Fund to the Water Enterprise Fund to supplement the FY2019 revenues in accordance with MGL Chapter 106 of the Acts of 2006 as emended by
Ms. Howe motioned to transfer $1,000,000.00 from the MWRA Capital Infrastructure Fund to the Water Enterprise Fund to supplement the FY2019 revenues in accordance with MGL Chapter 106 of the Acts of 2006 as emended by Chapter 21 of the Acts if 2018. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Mr. Cavey said he is concerned because there is a sizable retained earnings for a utility, and its not a bad idea to have a cushion but the cushion keeps going up year over year. Mr. Cavey said he does not know if it is sustainable or wise to not use that money in the budget. Ms. Howe amended her motion to transfer $825,000.00. Mr. Sullivan agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Ms. Howe motioned to transfer $1,000,000.00 from the MWRA Capital Infrastructure Fund to the Water Enterprise Fund to supplement the FY2019 revenues in accordance with MGL Chapter 106 of the Acts of 2006 as emended by Chapter 21 of the Acts if 2018. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Mr. Cavey said he is concerned because there is a sizable retained earnings for a utility, and its not a bad idea to have a cushion but the cushion keeps going up year over year. Mr. Cavey said he does not know if it is sustainable or wise to not use that money in the budget. Ms. Howe amended her motion to transfer $825,000.00. Mr. Sullivan agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Howe, second: Sullivan)
Increase sewer rates by 1.5% for the next year
Mr. Sullivan motioned to increase sewer rates by 1.5% for the next year. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Mr. Sullivan amended his motion to increase the sewer rates by 1.5% for the rate users and have no increase for the flat rate users. Mr. Cavey agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to increase sewer rates by 1.5% for the next year. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Mr. Sullivan amended his motion to increase the sewer rates by 1.5% for the rate users and have no increase for the flat rate users. Mr. Cavey agreed to the amendment. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Cavey)
Increase the trash fee by $1.00 per quarter for the basic quarterly fee and 75 cents increase for the senior rate
Mr. Cavey motioned to increase the trash fee by $1.00 per quarter for the basic quarterly fee and 75 cents increase for the senior rate. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Cavey motioned to increase the trash fee by $1.00 per quarter for the basic quarterly fee and 75 cents increase for the senior rate. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Cavey, second: Sullivan)
Appoint Jess Miner, David Billo, Joseph Baeta, Marilyn Haussmann and J. Keith Motley to the Town Manager Screening Committee
Mr. Sullivan motioned to appoint Jess Miner, David Billo, Joseph Baeta, Marilyn Haussmann and J. Keith Motley to the Town Manager Screening Committee. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to appoint Jess Miner, David Billo, Joseph Baeta, Marilyn Haussmann and J. Keith Motley to the Town Manager Screening Committee. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Howe)
Approve the consent agenda with removing the minutes from July 10, 2018
Mr. Sullivan motioned to approve the consent agenda with removing the minutes from July 10, 2018. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to approve the consent agenda with removing the minutes from July 10, 2018. Mr. Cavey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Cavey)
Submit the letter to Mr. Higgins as drafted
Mr. Sullivan motioned to submit the letter to Mr. Higgins as drafted. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to submit the letter to Mr. Higgins as drafted. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously 4-0..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Howe)
Adjourn the meeting
Mr. Sullivan motioned to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
From the minutes
“Mr. Sullivan motioned to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Howe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously..” (Motion: Sullivan, second: Howe)
From the Stoughton Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Select Board member photos: video stills from Stoughton Media Access Corporation (SMAC, Stoughton’s local cable TV), each from a program that names the member on screen: Joseph Mokrisky from “Community Forum - Joe Mokrisky - Chairman of Select Board” (2021); Debra Roberts from “Stoughton Politics with...This Guy: Talking with Debra Roberts” (2025); Stephen Cavey from “Stoughton Politics with... This Guy: Interview with Select Board Chair Stephen Cavey” (2025); Scott Carrara from “Community Forum - Scott Carrara - Running for Stoughton Board of Selectmen” (2021); Lori Jacques from “A Lioness & You on the Watch: Interview with Select Board Candidate Lori Jacques” (2026). Former members show initials.
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