5 Things You Missed at Last Night's Selectmen Meeting

1.  Chelmsford was one of nine towns recognized by MIIA Insurance for excellence in loss prevention.  Town Manager Paul Cohen said the town has done safety training to prevent claims. As a result, the town received $33,000 in insurance premium credits.

 2.  The town’s boards and committees have the following vacancies: two seats on the Cultural Council, two on the Holiday Decorating Committee, two on the Housing Advisory Committee, one on the Recycling Committee, and one on the Sign Advisory Committee. Anyone interested in joining these committees can fill out an application on the town’s Web site.

 3.  Permanent Building Committee Co-Chairman Pat Maloney answered questions from residents about why Chelmsford’s proposed fire station costs $9.1 million as opposed to a proposed fire station in Pelham, N.H. for $3.7 million. Maloney said the number is higher Pelham is more rural and not bisected by two highways, rivers, and lakes. Maloney said the Pelham fire station will have roomier bays, while the Chelmsford station will have more room for the firefighters quarters and administration. Also, Maloney said New Hampshire does not have to pay state prevailing wage, there is no owner project manager requirement, and the state has less stringent building codes and energy codes. Pelham also does not have to pay for the replacement of softball fields on the proposed fire station spot, said Maloney.

 4.  With selectmen support, Town Manager Paul Cohen will put an article on the spring Town Meeting warrant that would require all residents to shovel snow from the sidewalks in front of their houses by 24 hours after a snow storm. The bylaw would also allow, if Town Meeting chooses, to require only residents who live on main arterial roads to shovel sidewalks 24 hours after a snowstorm. The bylaw would include a list of defined main roads. Cohen said with both options on the warrant, Town Meeting can choose to adopt whichever one it prefers. The warrant artucle comes as many parents have called and complained about student having to wait for the bus in the middle of busy streets because sidewalks are not shoveled.  Elderly people and the disabled are also having a hard time getting through on sidewalks, Cohen said. The town does not have the resources to do all the sidewalks, Cohen said.

 5. Selectmen appointed Kevin Whippen as a deputy constable for 2011.