Webster selectmen welcome new library director,

hold stormwater hearing,
consider cost for additional policemen

by Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER - The Board’s first order of business at its October 9 meeting was to welcome Amanda Grenier as the new Chester C. Corbin Library Director. Ms. Grenier has been with the library since 2005 and has 12 years of library experience. She thanked the town administrator and board for their welcome and looked forward to her new responsibilities.

The next order of business was a review of local road improvements and the repainting of the water storage facility located off Tower Street. DPW Director, J.T. Gaucher, advised the Board that “the Town saved $50,000 of the original budget allocation by using the Webster highway crews, who did a great job.” Mr. Gaucher described the infrared-plating procedure used on the local roads, which included the use of propane heaters, micro-surfacing, and cement-infused emulsions. He stated that “the Third Street project was an amazing process and the surface was incredible vs. conventional milling that was twice the cost. Our procedure gave the same road z life of 8-12 years.”

A National Grid spokesperson also came before the Board to present an update on the Wawela Park light pole relocation, which would prevent an aerial trespass between two homes.

Additionally, Town Administrator John McAuliffe gave his updated report of events that included the need for a debt exclusion and appropriation to fund the newly-passed Bay Path Renovation Project.

Mr. McAuliffe reminded the public that the Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 15, at 7 p.pm. in the Bartlett High School auditorium. He then briefed the Board on the recent Price Chopper Market ground-breaking and also publicly thanked Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki of St. Joseph’s Basilica, Webster, for including the Selectmen in the Basilica’s 125^th Anniversary Celebration held on October 6.

The Board’s discussion of the Town’s need for three additional Community Action police officers included the projected costs associated with the new officers including salaries, benefits, and training. Administrator McAuliffe stated that projected funds required would be in the $190,000-216,000 range with an estimated annual taxpayer cost of $33 based on a $220,000 home valuation.

Selectman Mark Dowgiewicz then remarked that “this is a no-brainer, the public should support this. If we don’t do it, who will?” He further indicated that “the three new officers would be designated as a Community Action Team only and that this would be their sole responsibility. We want townspeople to know that these new officers will be visible and holding zero tolerance for crime during evening and early morning hours.”

Selectwoman  Deborah Keefe added that the Police Chief should put together an informational package for voters so all facts would be known. Backfilling positions of current officers applying for the positions would also be a consideration. A vote to request Administrator McAuliffe to go forward with the initial process of officer procurement was agreed to by Board members Dowgiewicz and Chairman Donald Bourque, with member Keefe indicating that she wanted more information from the Police Chief about the procedures before proceeding.

A presentation on the new Stormwater Management Bylaw was given by Michael Schrader, Project Manager of Tighe & Bond, environmental engineers. Mr. Schrader advised the Board that multiple Webster town departments had been meeting monthly (Selectmen, Building Inspection, Highway, Planning, Health, etc.) to review the Stormwater Management & Erosion Control article for the upcoming October 15^th Town Meeting. He stated that “basically, it is keeping sewerage in the sewage system and stormwater in the stormwater system. The bylaw is required by the EPA and Webster’s bylaw is tailored specifically for the Town’s needs.” Part of the presentation materials included the goal of the program “which is to minimize the impacts to water resources (e.g., Webster Lake) from municipally-owned stormwater systems, which include storm drains, catch basins, detention ponds, and outfalls. The Webster Stormwater Committee has created a bylaw that addresses Webster’s needs in addition to the legal federal requirements.” New construction projects of 10,000 sq.ft. or more will be affected. Exempted are typical home improvement projects such as patios, gardens, additions, and pools.

Mr. Howard Eddy, the owner of Hank’s Liquors, 94 East Main St., Webster, appeared before the Board to discuss the expanded liquor license for the new Price Chopper Market. The license expansion request appears on the Oct. 15 Town Meeting Warrant as Article 21 and will be voted on at that time. Mr. Eddy’s concerns about the market’s expanded liquor license request and how it would affect the local liquor store owners were addressed by the Board with their comments that the Article will be controlled by the voters present at the upcoming Town Meeting on Monday night.

Additional agenda items included a 1-day liquor license approval for Flower Garden and discussion of Class II vehicle license renewals. The three members of the Board discussed the importance of background checks for those vendors selling vehicles to local townspeople. Administrator McAuliffe was requested to put together background (CORI) checking information for future review.

The Webster Compost Facility closing date of Saturday, November 17^th, was also noted.

Mr. McAuliffe then advised the public of this Saturday’s Annual Fire Dept. Open House from 12noon-4pm; the Harrington Fundraiser for the Hubbard Emergency Department at Indian Ranch on 10/14, Webster; the Webster Health Fair to be held on Thurs., 10/25, from 3-6pm in the Webster Town Hall Auditorium which includes raffles, health screenings, physical fitness, and flu shots; the Halloween Trick-or-Treat schedule to be held in tandem with Dudley on Wed., 10/31, from 5:30-7:30pm; and a Webster Lake Assoc. slide presentation entitled “Tour of the Lake on the Steamer, City of Webster.” The PowerPoint demonstration will be held at the Corbin Library on Thurs., 11/8, at 6:30pm and is no charge & open to the Public.

Board members present were: Mark Dowgiewicz, Donald Bourque, and Deborah Keefe. Absent were: Jeffrey Duggan and Robert Miller. Also present was Courtney Friedland, Executive Secretary to the Board.