Webster BOS must work with DEP to amend Webster Lake articles

By Thomas D’Agostino
Patriot Correspondent.

WEBSTER - Monday night’s Board of Selectmen Meeting was short and calm except for one item on the agenda that made a big splash with residents along Webster Lake. Articles 9 and 10 from the December 5 Town Meeting were passed, but the regulations are not binding, as the lake is state property and therefore governed by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Police rules and regulations.

The Massachusetts Attorney General sent a report to the town with a recommendation that if the town wishes to amend the rules and regulations for Webster Lake, they must petition the Department of Environmental Police.

Article 9: To see if the town will vote to amend Article 3 of the Webster Lake Rules and Regulations to add boat size restrictions to read, “Boat size restrictions for any vessel: No vessel shall operate on the lake which exceeds 40 feet in length.”

Article 10 was to rescind Article 16 of the October 16, 2011 meeting and replace it with, “No person shall operate a commercial vessel between sunset and sunrise…”

The Attorney General disapproved both of these articles.

Judy Keegan and Antoinette Dobosz, representing the Concerned Citizens for Webster, addressed the board with a request to move forward with the DEP to amend the rules and regulations. There was a group of citizens on hand for moral support on the issue. The board voted unanimously to begin the process.

The board also voted to restrict the size of boats entering Memorial Beach property to 40 feet or less. The beach is town property and therefore subject to town regulations.

The school committee came before the board to formally post a vacancy in the committee. The vacancy will be posted and applicants have until May 31, 4 p.m. to apply.

A request for outdoor seating by Coney Island 1950 hot dog stand was also granted, pending approval by the building inspector and the Board of Health. The plan calls for four 24-inch tables with eight single seats in front and two along Davis Street. The hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The tables would be brought back into the establishment or secured.

The Garg property will be coming down soon according to Town Administrator, John McAuliffe.

The Memorial Day Parade is May 28 at 11 a.m. and will run from Mt. Zion and St. Anthony’s Cemetery to the Town Hall. See town website, www.webster-ma.gov/ for more details.

The issue of a peddlers and hawker’s license came up again. Selectman Deborah Keefe reviewed several local town laws and found Sturbridge to have a simple no-frills set of regulations in regard to their permits. The board will read all of the regulations and come up with a viable set of rules and regulations in regard to a town license. This would be a bylaw change, as the town has no present bylaw for governing such activities. For now, a state license must be obtained to peddle or hawk on the streets of Webster.

Board Secretary Jeffrey Duggan was appointed as the Board of Selectmen Appointee to the School Committee.

The Town Clerk contract was ratified and approved by the board.

The board and Town Administrator also asked for feedback on the new audio setup for the meetings. You may post your comments on facebook or go to the website.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission sent a certificate recognizing that Webster Municipal buildings are in the Historic District. They were accepted on March 27, 2012, and are now in the National Register of Historic Places.

There will be a special election on Monday, June 25, 2012 at 7 p.m. to vote on the payment of bonds issued in order to cover costs for the Park Avenue Elementary School. The election will be held in the auditorium at 350 Main Street. All polls close at 8 p.m.