Minutes of the Palmer Town Council meeting of December 14, 2009
1. The meeting was called to order by the Council President, Mike Magiera, at 7:04 PM
2. The councilors present were, Backus, Burns, DiNuovo, Duguay, Hebert,Magiera and
3. Remillard. Councilor excused, Barry and absent Williams.
4. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the consent of the agenda was moved by Mr. DiNuovo,
5. second by Mr. Backus and approved by a unanimous vote, 7-0-0.
6. Ms. Sue North and Maryellen Blanchette gave an update on the pool and the high
7. school swim team. There are 32 swimmers on the team. Cost to fix the robot was
8. one thousand five hundred and eighty-one dollars ($1,581), which they would like the town
9. to help with. Mr. DiNuovo commented that he felt that all properties and facilities that are
10. community applications (such as Legion Field, tennis courts, basketball courts, pool etc.
11. should be the responsibility of the town to maintain, taking the problems and cost out of
12. the school department. He hoped that when the recreation director was on board that she/he
13. will have that responsibility.
14. There were no minutes to approve or old business to take care of so President Magiera
15. opened new business with a hearing on the tax rate classification at 7:14 PM. After a brief
16. explanation by the Assessor, Ms. Morin-Lizak, Mr. Burns moved and Mr. Backus seconded
17. a factor of 1, (not a split rate) the council voted unanimously (7-0-0) in agreement.
18. Ms. Morin-Lizak indicated that the new tax rate would be 15.01 per thousand which would
19. mean an annual tax increase of approximately $46.00 per average valued home ($188,950).
20. Ms. Morin-Lizak also indicated the average home in Palmer lost approximately $10,000 in
21. value over the year from the last tax classification hearing.
22. In keeping with Ms. Morin-Lizak’s recommendation there were a unanimous vote (7-0-0)
23. moved by Mr. Burns, second by Mr. Hebert, for no discount for open land; Moved by Mr.
24. Burns, second by Mr. Backus, that there not be a residential exemption, unanimous vote
25. (7-0-0) and moved by Mr. Burns, second by Mr. Backus, that there not be a small business
26. exemption unanimously accepted 7-0-0.
27. Each Fire district was present during the hearing and voted the same way as the Town
28. Council. The hearing concluded at 7:21 PM.
29. Mr. Backus mentioned to Ms. Morin-Lizak that he would have liked to have seen
30. businesses assume a bigger piece of the tax burden and had a split rate. Ms. Morin-Lizak
31. indicated that could be done but that the process must start at least six months prior to
32. the tax rate hearing.
33. Mr. Streeter, the Town Manager, gave an explanation and background to resolution 2010-19
34. regarding the transfer of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) from the Sewer Surplus
35. Fund Balance Revenue Account #244-32900 to the Sewer Reserves for Expenditures
36. Account # 244-32400. Motion to approve made by Mr. Duguay, second by Mr. Backus,
37. vote unanimous (7-0-0).
38. A petition for a zone change was received from Mr. Mark Beglane. A motion was made by
39. Mr. Backus, second by Mr. Burns to refer to the planning Board. Voted unanimously to do so
40. 7-0-0.
41. Mr. Duguay gave an update on the Council Charter Review Committee and that was the only
42. committee report.
43. Mr. Streeter went over the highlights of his manager’s report.
44. Each councilor spoke at the round table then a motion was made by Mr. Burns, second by
45. Mr. Backus to adjourn the meeting. There was a unanimous vote to adjourn 7-0-0
46. Meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.
47.
Respectively submitted, John DiNuovo, Acting Recording Secretary
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