The Board of Selectmen is pleased to present to the residents of Boylston its Annual Report for the year 2008. The Board has issued all necessary permits and licenses as required by the Statutes. All state and federal certificates were filed as required and the necessary appointments were made. All business that came before the Board was handled in the best interest of the Town and its residents.
The composition of the Board remained unchanged in the year 2008. In May, Selectman James Stanton ran unopposed for re-election. After the election, the board was reorganized. Mr. Stanton was nominated and voted unanimously to serve as Chair of the Board. Also voted unanimously by the Board was Mr. Sydow to serve as Vice Chairman, and Mr. Deal to serve as Clerk.
The Selectmen would like to welcome Nancy Colbert Puff as Boylston’s new Town Administrator, who started on December 15, 2008. She replaces Sue Olsen, who retired as the full time Town Administrator in July. Interim Administrator Joseph Connelly (former School Superintendent) stepped into the full time role in August while the Board searched for a permanent replacement. Nancy was previously the Director of Planning and Development in Newburyport, and currently resides in Methuen.
Very early in 2008, the Board worked as usual to prepare not only for the Annual Town Meeting, but for what turned out to be two additional Special Town Meetings in March and April. The primary purpose of these meetings was for residents to consider articles that would allow tax incentive programs and expedited permitting to attract new businesses to Town. Residents supported the changes, and because the expedited permitting regulation was accepted, the Town received grant money to assist with consultants and studies to put the process in place. One study that will result from this grant is a comprehensive traffic study for Route 140, so the Town will be ready when future projects are proposed along that corridor. Another article at the March meeting, requesting a Proposition 2 ? debt exclusion to support a new
library, was defeated by voters.
The FY09 budget was the subject of another Special Town Meeting in June 2008. After voters opposed a $624,000 override vote, the Board worked together with the Finance Committee and School Committees to make cuts and transfers to arrive at a balanced budget that was voted in favor at the June 30, 2008 meeting. Looking ahead, and in our current economy, FY10 proves to be at least an equally challenging budget year.
The now infamous Asian Longhorned Beetles (‘ALB’) have unfortunately become a part of our vocabulary when they were discovered in the Worcester area in August 2008. The effect on Boylston has been that we are included in the ALB Regulated Area; this means that although there has not been any evidence of infested trees in Boylston, areas of the Town are within a 1 ? mile radius of infested trees. This infestation could have devastating effects on landscapes, so the Board urges residents to stay informed on how to prevent the spread of this pest and what signs to look for. All information can be found on our website at www.boylston-ma.gov, where updates are posted regularly.
The Board of Selectmen meets every other Monday at 6:30 PM, (unless otherwise specified), with the exception of holidays and the posted summer schedule. The Selectmen are here to serve your needs and welcome your attendance and inquiries and meetings.
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s office at 508-869-2093.
The Board of Selectmen held twenty-nine (29) regular meetings, nineteen (19) executive sessions and ten (10) special/emergency meetings in the year 2008 and their attendance was recorded as follows:
James Stanton: 29 of 29 regular meetings
19 of 19 executive sessions
10 of 10 special meetings
Roger Deal: 26 of 29 regular meetings
17 of 19 executive sessions
10 of 10 special meetings
Ken Sydow 27 of 29 regular meetings
19 of 19 executive sessions
10 of 10 special meetings
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