HomeMy Public PortalAbout20090421 - Select Board - Meeting Minutes 1
TOWN OF HOPKINTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MEETING
April 21, 2009
A meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at
Town Hall, Hopkinton Massachusetts. Selectmen present: Brian Herr, Mary Pratt,
Matthew Zettek and Michael Shepard. Selectman Dourney was absent. Administrative
personnel in attendance: Geri Holland; Executive Assistant to the Town Manager. Other
local officials in attendance: Dr. John Duffy; Board of Assessors, Police Chief Tom Irvin
and DPW Director J. T. Gaucher.
CALL TO ORDER/EXECUTIVE SESSION: The meeting was called to order at
6:30PM in Room 205. Chairman Herr entertained a motion to move into Executive
Session for the sole purpose of discussing contract negotiations, and then move back into
the public session to continue the public meeting. So MOVED by Mr. Shepard and
SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. ROLL CALL: Chairman Herr-Yes, Mrs. Pratt-Yes,
Mr. Zettek-Yes, Mr. Shepard-Yes. VOTE: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
PUBLIC SESSION RESUMES: Chairman Herr reopened the public meeting at
7:00PM in Room 215 with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM: There were no citizen comments.
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS: MOTION by Mr. Zettek to accept $25.00 for the
Ambulance Gift Account from Mary Pratt in memory of Corinne Rogers SECONDED
by Mr. Shepard. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
MOTION by Mr. Zettek to accept a $100.00 gift in memory of Jack Morrissey from Jim,
Laurie, Betsy and Dick Buma and a $50.00 gift from Claire Wright SECONDED by
Mrs. Pratt. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
APPOINTMENTS: Marathon Committee – Alex Danahy (3-Year Term)
As liaison to the Marathon Committee, Mr. Shepard said he enthusiastically endorses the
appointment of Alex Danahy as a full member of the Committee in recognition of his
efforts over the years. He commended the Committee for executing a very successful
event on April 20. Board members agreed that Mr. Danahy will be an asset to the
Marathon Committee and that the group does an outstanding job. Ms. Dorothy Ferriter
said that Mr. Danahy has earned a seat on the Committee and that it will be an honor to
have him. She also acknowledged the efforts of the Town’s public safety officials, the
DPW, Parks & Recreation, the Highway Department and others. MOTION by Mr.
Shepard to increase the number of at-large members of the Marathon Committee from 10
to 11 SECONDED by Mrs. Pratt. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
MOTION by Mr. Shepard to appoint Alex Danahy to the open at-large seat on the
Marathon Committee SECONDED by Mrs. Pratt. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0,
Absent-1.
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HEARINGS: Transfer of License/Change of Manager – Dynasty Restaurant: 7:15PM
MOTION by Mrs. Pratt to re-open the public hearing to transfer the license and change
management for P&L, Inc., dba the Dynasty Restaurant located at 77 West Main Street
SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. Attorney
John Nealon represented the proposed new managers of the Dynasty Restaurant,Yun P.
Liang and Wen Shen Wu. He cited their 20 years of experience in the restaurant business
and said Mr. Liang will oversee the kitchen while Ms. Shen Wu will manage the dining
room and bar. Ms. Shen Wu has been the assistant manager of the restaurant for four
years and is very familiar with alcohol service regulations. The proposed new owners
confirmed that all six part-time bartenders will have their TIPS alcohol training
certification in 30 to 60 days. Police Chief Tom Irvin said there have been no
compliance violations at the restaurant and he has no objection to the license transfer.
Chairman Herr noted that another Hopkinton business which sold alcohol to an
intoxicated person had its license to serve suspended by the Board of Selectmen.
MOTION by Mrs. Pratt to close the public hearing SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE
to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. MOTION by Mrs. Pratt to approve the transfer of
license/change in management of the Dynasty Restaurant from Liang Enterprises,
Inc.(Ching Y. Liang) to P&L, Inc., (Yun P,. Liang and Wen Shen Wu) SECONDED by
Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
Alteration of Premises-Dynasty Restaurant
MOTION by Mrs. Pratt to re-open the public hearing to alter the premises of P&L, Inc.,
dba the Dynasty Restaurant located at 77 West Main Street SECONDED by Mr. Zettek.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. Mr. Nealon said his clients seek to add a
sushi bar in the restaurant. This addition would reduce by ten the number of seats in the
restaurant. The Building Inspector and Board of Health have approved the proposed
change. Mr. Shepard said approval is contingent upon the receipt of a certificate of
occupancy. Chairman Herr said he is not certain if the banner in front of the restaurant
complies with current signage bylaws. MOTION by Mr. Shepard to close the public
hearing SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
MOTION by Mr. Shepard to approve the alteration of premises contingent upon the
receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Inspector SECONDED by Mr.
Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. None of the listed abutters was
present for either hearing.
DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS: Mass. DCR-Acquisition on 90 Acres on Pond
Street: The Department of Conservation and Recreation submitted a formal request for
an announcement to be made at a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen of the State’s
interest in acquiring the parcel. A Certificate of Announcement has been prepared by
Mrs. Holland and will be submitted to the DCR. The parcel is mostly wetlands and
undevelopable.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES: It was agreed that, for the
public’s information, the Board of Selectmen will either support or take no position on all
articles, regardless of the articles’ sponsors. Unless otherwise indicated, the support for
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the following articles was unanimous among Board members present; The Board of
Selectmen SUPPORTS Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22 (one dissension), 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 (one recusal), 29, 30, 31 (Selectman
Dourney’s previous statement that he does not support Article 31 regarding Room
Occupancy Tax was acknowledged.), 33, 34, 35, 36 (one dissension), 39, 40, 41, 42 (one
dissension), 44, 45, 46, 47 (one dissension), 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52. The Board of
Selectmen will take NO ACTION on Articles 27, 32, 37, and 38. Consideration of
Article 43 was TABLED until the April 28 meeting.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES: The Board of Selectmen
SUPPORTS Articles 2, 3, 4, and 7 (one dissension). The Board of Selectmen will take
NO ACTION on Articles 4 and 6, with one vote in support for each. Consideration of
Articles 5 and 8 was TABLED until the April 28 meeting. MOTION by Mr. Zettek to
sign the Special Town Meeting Warrant SECONDED by Mr. Shepard. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: ►Mrs. Holland announced that proclamations would be
issued to winners of the Marathon Art Contest held throughout the schools at the April 28
meeting. ►The Board will also recognize three Hopkinton Girl Scouts who have
completed the program’s highest achievement. ►Mr. Shepard requested that a
presentation by the Planning Department on the status Host Community Agreement be
placed on a future agenda. Mr. Zettek stepped off the Board and returned following a
brief discussion on the request.
SELECTMEN COMMENTS: Mr. Shepard commended Mrs. Holland for her efforts in
developing the Annual Town Report.
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mr. Shepard to adjourn SECONDED by Mr. Zettek.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. Meeting adjourned at 8:51PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Aghababian, Recording Secretary