Town of Warwick
Selectboard
December 28, 2009
Minutes 
Members present: Rick Abbott, Nick Arguimbau; Absent: Patricia Lemon 

Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, Tax Collector and Treasurer Terry Kemerer, Dawn
Magi, Jon Calcari

Call to Order 

Chair Arguimbau called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Warwick
Free Public Library.

Minutes

Abbott MOVED to approve the minutes of December 14, 2009 as written.
Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

Presentations/Discussions

1.	Adoption of Local Option Law Extending Deadline to Mail Final Tax
Bills -- Young recommended that the town accept the provisions of MGL
59:57C which extends the deadline for mailing tax bills. Usually tax
bills mailed in December are due April 1st; adoption of this local
option law would allow the bills to be mailed in January with payment
due April 1st. Tax Collector Terry Kemerer was in support of this
because of cash flow implications and the avoidance of borrowing.

Abbott MOVED that Warwick adopt the provisions of MGL 59:57C, local
option legislation that extends the time for mailing fiscal year 2010
actual tax bills in communities that have accepted the quarterly tax
payment system, or semi-annual preliminary tax payment system. Arguimbau
SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

Forest Committee-- Young explained that the Forest Committee has
requested permission to erect a steel gate in the Town Forest at the
juncture of Hockanum and Wendell Road. There have been problems to
prevent unauthorized entry. Young noted that neighboring property owners
are in favor of the proposed gate placement. Arguimbau inquired if the
Open Space Committee had an opinion on this issue, to which Young
answered Mary Williamson is a member of both the Forest and Open Space
Committees and no concerns had been expressed.

Arguimbau MOVED to grant the Town Forest Committee permission to erect a
gate at the entry of the woods road located across from the intersection
of Hockanum and Wendell Road. Abbott SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote
of 2-0-0.

Young introduced the second matter involving the Town Forest Committee,
which was the sale of timber on the same lot previously discussed. He
noted that an early sign of stress, such as thinning of the tree tops,
similar to the trees at the picnic grounds, is occurring on the west
side of Wendell Road. Certain areas, such as those with a vernal pool,
have been excluded from the proposed cutting, which will take place in
the winter to minimize potential damage to the land. The estimated
revenue from the sale is around $10,000.00, less the consulting forester
expenses and the cost of the gate. Ross has asked for a cut-to-length
harvest. Arguimbau said that he liked the email Ross sent with comments
on what should be included in the timber harvest plan. Both Abbott and
Arguimbau deferred to the expertise of the Committee.

Abbott MOVED to authorize a timber harvest in the Town Forest as
recommended by the Town Forest Committee. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion
carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

3.	Selectboard Reports -- None.

4.	Town Coordinator Report -- Arguimbau commented on the buckthorn
problem on town lands. He asked Young if there might be leftover funds
from the Forest Committee to address this problem as soon a possible. He
also inquired if the Open Space, Conservation or Town Forest Committees
had any ideas about controlling buckthorn, including creating a town
ordinance to make buckthorn a public nuisance.

Arguimbau also asked Young about any potential liability the Town might
incur for broadband subscribers who violate copyright laws. Young stated
that the Town is not liable. Young said that if the Town were given a
lawful court order to turn over names of violators, we would do so.
Young noted that the court case with Mr. Shaw was dismissed and the
trailer has left town. Arguimbau congratulated Young on a job well done
in the Shaw matter.

A letter from the Board in support of the updated Open Space Plan was
discussed.

Arguimbau MOVED to authorize the Chair to sign a letter on behalf of the
Selectboard in support of the Open Space Plan. Abbott SECONDED. Motion
carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

The Chapter 90 draft plan was presented. It includes pavement for White,
Leland Hill, Flower Hill and Quarry Roads, plus crumb rubber sealing for
Hockanum Road. The proposed project leaves $94,000.00 unallocated at the
end of FY 11, and assumes a level funded Chapter 90 for that fiscal
year. Young said that level funding of Chapter 90 funds appears to be a
realistic expectation.

5.  New and Other Business -- None.

IV.	Public Comment None.

V. 	Adjournment

Abbott MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm. Arguimbau SECONDED.
Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari