1998-07-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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61-196 Selectmen’s Meeting – July 20, 1998 Establish Selectmen’s Gift Account Mr. White received an application from World Com for Metropolitan Fiber Systems/McCourt, Inc. to expand their fiber optic network that caters to business and the high-speed transmission of data. As you may recall, we had three other applications: two by MFS/McCourt and one by Teleport in which each of the three cases we were able to successfully negotiate a fee for the installation relying on Chapter 166, Section 21, around the Town’s right to be compensated for being incommoded. MFS/McCourt expressed some concerns about equity in terms of its treatment and wanted a policy being set. Through a series of negotiations Mr. White was able to reduce their request to a staff administrative directive. A copy was passed out to the Board. It is still being revised, but has been reviewed by counsel. MFS/McCourt wants to be guaranteed that the staff will make recommendations based on the same set of policies from company to company. Although we were able to show them documentation that we had done that, they wanted, considering their investment, a guarantee. The administrative directive is not meant to preclude the Board from waiving a fee; it just sets in stone a set of criteria for the staff to establish a prolinear fee as it relates to Chapter 166, Section 21 and sets a process guaranteeing future applications either by World Com or someone else. Any application that met all the engineering standards and other issues raised by public works, police or fire or other departments and met this criteria would receive a positive recommendation from the staff, but it does not preclude the board from establishing another standard or waiving the fee, or increasing a prospective fee, based on data they have. It only guarantees the applicant that there is an even playing field and everyone gets treated the same way. Mr. White asked the Board to review the administrative directive over the next week and give Mr. White a call with any questions or suggestions. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish a Selectmen’s Gift Account in the amount of $60,000 to be used for Conservation Brook Studies, the Last Night Celebration, and Strategic Planning. Approve Acting Town Manager Appointment Mr. White will be attending the ICMA conference from October 23 through 29 and will be on vacation from October 30 through November 7. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Town Manager’s appointment of Linda Crew Vine as Acting Town Manager during his absence from Thursday, October 22 through November 7, 1998. Selectmen Liaison Reports Strategic Planning Process At the Goal Setting Session the Board agreed that Mr. White and Mr. Enrich would come back this evening with a draft of a charge for initiating a Strategic Planning Process. That has not