Members present: Mark Karlberg, William Cavanaugh, George Fuller
Others Present: Craig Kleman, George Roberts, Bill & Maddy Elovirta, Robert Ronzio, Colleen O’Connor, Beth VanNess, Jeanne Pryor, Gale LaBelle, Madeleine Swindlehurst, Gene Pike, Adrienne Metcalf, Josh Schwartzbach, John Amato, Scott Gagnon, Ann Spadafora, Jim Russell-Berkshire Record
6:05 PM Meeting opened.
George asked if anyone from the audience was recording this meeting. No one is audio taping the meeting.
The Town Clerk gave the Selectmen two possible versions of the Special Caucus and Special Election. The first version would have the Special Caucus on August 10, 2011 and the Special Election on September 17, 2011. The second version would have the Special Caucus on August 17, 2011 and the Special Election on September 24, 2011. Bill feels that the second version would be better so it would give the public more time to come forward to add their name if they wish and it would give more time to get the caucus and election in the newspaper. Mark motioned to accept draft version number 2 and call the Special Caucus on August 17, 2011 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM and the Special Election on September 24, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Bill seconded. All in favor. George asked the town clerk to
make sure this gets in the newspaper as soon as possible. George R. asked if the Selectmen wanted it in the paper as a legal notice because it is quite expensive and he does not have it in his budget to cover it. George wants the public to know that the August 6, 2011 election was cancelled. George R. stated that he could give the information to all of the newspapers but he will not be guaranteed that it would appear in the papers. Jeanne Pryor advised that she just had the Berkshire Eagle post the election information in the Community News section of the paper and gave the information to the Country Journal and then had the warrants posted at the seven locations and on the town’s website. Bob Ronzio asked about the fire truck debt exclusion question appearing on the warrant. This was not on the original election warrant and he wanted to make sure this appears on the Special Election warrant. George advised that the fire truck ballot
question is on the warrant to be posted. Madeleine Swindlehurst asked about the Finance Committee position that was not on the ballot for the May 21, 2011 election. Charles Andrews was appointed to fill this position until the next election and she asked if he would have to run for the position at the Special Election. George R. advised that he would need to check with the elections division to see if this could be included in the Special Election. John Amato advised that if they vote to include the finance committee position on the election if it is legal then they would not need to hold another meeting. Mark motioned to amend the previous motion to include the Finance Committee position on the Special Caucus and Special Election if it is found to be legal, Bill seconded. All in favor. Mark motioned to accept draft version number 2 and call the Special Caucus on August 17, 2011 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM and the Special Election on
September 24, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and to include the finance committee position on the warrants if it is found to be legal to do so, Bill seconded. All in favor. Bill wants to make sure that the warrants get posted at all seven locations like they always have in past years.
Craig explained all the transfers that need to be done to end the fiscal year. Bill motioned to accept the following transfers: $200.28 from Treasurer Expenses to Legal Expenses; $739.95 from Audit Expenses to Public Safety Inspections; $1,050.00 from Fire Department Expenses to Firefighter Stipends; $241.08 from Highway Department Salaries to Highway Vacations; $400.00 from Selectmen Expenses, Finance Committee Expenses and Treasurer Expenses to Energy Grant Match; $53.26 from Outside Payroll Expenses to Town Accountant Salaries; $500.00 from Treasurer Expenses and Outside Payroll Expenses to Municipal Building Expenses; $6,476.44 from Highway Department Salaries and Assessor Expenses to Highway General Maintenance; $2,136.50 from Assessor Expenses and Assistant Tax Collector Salaries to Tax Title Expenses, Mark
seconded. All in favor.
Mark motioned to appoint Howard Lerner as the associate member to the Planning Board term to expire June 30, 2012 and Jeffrey Wilkinson as alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals term to expire June 30, 2012, Bill seconded. All in favor.
Craig explained the excavator lease. This Chapter 90 Project Request is for the second installment of a four-year contract agreement for the 9-ton excavator for the highway department. Mark motioned to sign the Chapter 90 Project Request in the amount of $22,527.95, Bill seconded. All in favor.
Any other business: Craig advised that he wrote up the testimony for the Special Legislation For Chief William Elovirta Home Rule Petition that will be sent to Boston for the hearing on July 19, 2011. The Selectmen reviewed the testimony. Mark motioned to sign off on the testimony for the Special Legislation for Chief William Elovirta as presented, Bill seconded. All in favor.
Josh Schwartzbach, Adrienne Metcalf and Scott Gagnon addressed the Board regarding the condition of the Becket Historical Quarry. They advised that there is a mountain of trash that keeps getting bigger and bigger and nothing is being done about it. They also advised that there are people speeding up and down the road and then turning down Gould Road and driving on Scott Gagnon’s property because they miss the Quarry parking area. Adrienne feels that some signs could be put up that shows that the quarry is coming up and a dead end sign at the end of Gould Road to prevent people from driving down then turning around on Mr. Gagnon’s property. She gave the Selectmen some photos of the trash strewn all over the place. She feels that this gives the impression that anything goes and she
is thankful that no one has gotten hurt up there. She also feels that the Becket Land Trust should have someone up there especially during the weekend to make sure the people going up to the Quarry abides by the rules. It was also brought up that the large boulder has been moved so people are driving their vehicles up to the quarry. George asked Craig if he could contact the BLT and see if they could come to next week’s Selectmen’s Meeting. He asked if Adrienne, Josh and Scott could attend the meeting too. Scott also advised that his wife rides horses up at the quarry and the trash will attract bear which could be dangerous not only to his wife but to others. Briefly discussed blocking off the road that leads to the quarry because vehicles should not be going up there. Bill Elovirta feels that the Becket Land Trust should take care of these issues and should have someone up there to prevent problems from happening.
Madeleine Swindlehurst advised that when she closed her store in 1989, she took everything that was in her cash register and put it in a big envelope and stored it away. She recently went through this envelope and found another envelope with a one dollar bill in it that belongs to the Historical Commission. She asked Nina to make sure the Historical Commission gets this envelope. She also found two Historical Tour books that she did not sell so she returned those to the town.
George asked Bill Elovirta if he could contact the contractors that are building homes off of Leonhardt Road because he has heard complaints about speeders on Leonhardt Road and he thinks it is the contractors that are speeding.
6:56 PM Mark motioned to adjourn, Bill seconded. All in favor.
Reviewed payroll/expense warrants.
Respectfully submitted, _______________________________
Nina Weiler, Secretary George Fuller, Chairman
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