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Board of Selectmen Minutes 04/01/2011
Date of Meeting:        Friday, April 1, 2011
Location:               Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time:                   10:00 AM – 12:40 PM
Members Present:         James Stanton, Chairman; Members Roger Deal and Kenneth Sydow
Others Present: Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen; others as noted on sign-in sheet.

10:00 AM  Hearing – Road Opening, Ricciardi Bros:  Present:  Jim Ricciardi;  requesting road opening permit for 260 Shrewsbury Street – 328 Shrewsbury Street water main extension (from Dragon 88 Restaurant to the former Mobil Station).
  • Plans by Graves Engineering were presented.  Scott McCubrey (Supt., Water District) recommends approval for the road opening permit; he has reviewed the plan several times.
  • Pipe is to come into Rte. 140, cut back into shoulder and run the length of Rte. 140 up to the former Mobil station.
  • Two hydrants are to be installed.
  • Boylston Water District approved the plan.
  • It will take approximately four weeks to complete.  It depends upon what they run into for rock.  They will try to remove rock with hammer rather than blast.  Borings are run up the road.
  • Signs are to be set up on Rte. 140 in both directions notifying of road construction.  They will only be working in the breakdown lane and might start after the morning traffic passes.  One lane will be open in each direction at all times.
  • Once past DiPilato’s and into the shoulder of the road, they will be in the breakdown lane only.
  • The start date is dependent upon one more septic approval.  Once the system redesign is approved by the Board of Health, they can begin.   They are meeting today (owner/lessee).  They were originally hoping for this Monday, April 4; might now be April 11.
  • Roger asked if any residents are to be tied into the water line.  Mr. Ricciardi said no, he didn’t receive any requests.
  • Ken Sydow asked if they are using ten inch pipe.  Scott McCubrey said “yes.”  It will be sufficient for future commercial use.
  • Ken asked since Graves created the plan, who would inspect the work on behalf of the Town.  Jim said the Water Department would.
  • Jim Stanton asked how they will repair the roadway in front of DiPilato’s (mid-road).   Mr. Ricciardi said they will reconstruct it to existing conditions.
  • Ken said that Police Chief Sahagian’s report states two detail officers are needed if work is in the roadway of a business opening.  Hours are to be after 9:00 AM.  Mr. Ricciardi asked if they are keeping two lanes open at all times, can they use one officer?  Jim Stanton and Ken Sydow agree that is how it is interpreted from the Chief’s memo.  Mr. Ricciardi agreed, stating there was no problem using two at the gas station or in front of Dunkin’ Donuts.
  • Don Parker asked if the openings will be plated.  Mr. Ricciarid responded yes.
  • Jim Stanton asked how the hydrants were located.  Mr. Ricciardi said it was determined by the Water District and also the Fire Department.
  • Irene Symonds (resident, 429 School St) said she is concerned with the water table on School Street.  If they do blasting, it could be a serious problem.  Who would handle that?  Mr. Ricciardi said the law states they need to have a pre-blast survey of any house within 250 feet.  He’d likely go farther out than required by law.  Notice would be sent to the homeowner; they would videotape the home for cracks, etc.  Any wells would also be checked pre-blasting.  Any problems would be covered by insurance.
  • Irene said they currently have problems with their well due to the Mobil Station.  Mr. Ricciardi said any issues with Mobil will remain with Mobil.  He asked how close her home is to the proposed work.  Irene said across the street on the east side (over 1,000 feet).  Mr. Ricciardi explained if blasting is necessary, it will be very controlled.  There would be minimal noise, vibrations; it is State regulated and in any event he does not anticipate blasting unless a last resort.
  • Donna DiPilato (resident, 281 Shrewsbury Street) said she is very close to the work and is concerned if blasting would change anything with their well status.  Mr. Ricciardi said it is possible, but he can’t answer definitively.  They will avoid blasting, if possible.
  • Robert Branca (Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner) asked what the new project to be built is. Mr. Ricciardi said it is a Shell Station.  Mr. Branca asked if they will serve coffee; Mr. Ricciardi is not sure.
  • Mr. Branca said they had a tough winter and lost sales.  Now that the weather is better, they are getting business back.  He is concerned about Dunkin’ Donuts suffering business losses during this project.  He inquired about more signage to indicate that they are still open for business, traffic direction assistance, etc.  Mr. Ricciardi is not sure about signage, but said he is also concerned about safety, which is why he is starting work at 9:00 AM.  Hopefully that will minimize business loss as well.  Mr. Branca asked about the Colonial Drive intersection.  Mr. Ricciardi said they are not going up that far.
  • Jim Stanton asked Chief Sahagian (now present) to clarify the need for two details versus one.  The Chief said two are required to keep the lanes open.  They can work with one detail when working in the breakdown lane.
  • Irene Symonds said the sign in Shrewsbury is 50 mph coming into Boylston; that speed needs to be reduced.  The Board has no control over signs and speed limit in Shrewsbury.
  • Ken Sydow said if there are safety-related issues and the Chief requires two details, he has the authority and final say.  Mr. Ricciardi said he has no issue with that.
Motion was made to approve the road-opening permit, with a suggested Graves Engineering bond amount.  Motion seconded and voted all in favor.


New Police Cruiser:   Chief Sahagian was present to discuss his request for cruiser replacement and the budget.
  • Jim Stanton said there is $30K in the warrant for a cruiser; he would like to discuss the possibility of leasing versus buying; one versus two, etc.
  • Tony said he would need two this year, and then would need only one in 2014.
  • Car 6 is a 2003 Crown Vic with 110,000 miles.  Engine idling miles put it above that, at well over 200,000.
  • Car 1 is a 2007 with 85,000 miles (the Chief’s car), purchased in March 2007.   It has plus 65,000 on the engine.
Trade-in value of Car 6 is $400; trade-in value of Car 1 is $1,200, if traded before it hits 90,000 miles.
  • Life expectancy of a cruiser is two to four years.  Mileage to turn over averages 90,000 to 100,000 miles.
  • The last year Crown Victoria models are being produced is 2011.  After that, all will be first-year-produced vehicles; something which we want to avoid until the kinks and problems are worked out.  There will also be a projected additional $2,000 cost per vehicle; they will be uni-body vehicles.  Also, H bars, cages and console equipment will not transfer to new, first-year vehicles.  We would need to purchase new equipment if we wait.
  • Chief Sahagian said we need two vehicles, even if one is leased.  The Chief gave the numbers to Nancy Puff for various lease options.  Car 1 could go on a four year lease; Car 6 could not.
  • Jim Stanton asked if the Chief can afford to purchase one out of his budget; we would then buy one out of free cash.   Possibly lease one year, out of the Police Department operating budget then pay off the next year with free cash.  (One year lease payments = $7K.)
  • The Chief said if he were allowed to use dispatch expense, as well as Police Department supply expense, he could absorb a one-year of lease payments (at a four-year lease rate).
  • Jim asked if his maintenance budget would go down. Chief Sahagian said it is not likely, due to rising gas prices.
  • The cost of Vehicle 6 is $27,940; anything not spent out of the line item will go back to the Town.
  • Ken Sydow said uni-body vehicles are also more expensive to fix (more so than the Crown Vic).  His concern is where the money will come from after this year for the lease.  Also, we have six vehicles now, with two people per shift (and the Chief during the day).  Can’t we get by with four cars (excluding the Chief’s), versus five?
  • The Chief explained line cars versus line officers.  Of our six,, the Explorer, the Chief’s and the Sergeant’s car don’t count, due to special vehicles.   We would then be left with three line cars for seven officers.  Acceptable is two officers per line cruiser.  Technically, we are short a car, even though the Chief would not ever ask for or support a request for an additional car.  They need an extra car if one goes down; rotate vehicles, etc.
  • The Chief said when he started, he was charged with having two officers on duty 24/7; the Town bought an additional car then to support additional personnel (purchased with grant money).  The Town has not had to purchase a car since 2003, due to grant money.  Last year the grant was cut in half and is now gone.
  • Tony asked if he can use the extra money in the existing year’s budget from Dispatch for the lease payment.  Jim said no, we anticipate the FY2012 budget to be adjusted, so $7K can be in the lease line item.   Lease the car after July 1.
  • The Town Administrator said they need Town Meeting approval for a multi-year contract.
  • Roger asked why there is so much discussion over this but no discussion regarding the $15K lawn tractor requested for Hillside.
  • Jim stated this is not an insignificant amount; a $60K commitment in total.
  • The Board is in agreement of one purchase and a one year lease.  An adjustment to the budget and warrant to be made accordingly.    The Board will consider paying the lease in full if free cash allows next year.
Building Inspector (Tony Zahariadis):
  • Roger Deal feels we should be paying on an as-needed basis and his hours should be accounted for.
  • Ken Sydow asked about his status with Clinton.  Nancy Colbert Puff said Clinton approved a trial basis for three months, until July 1, 2011.  They want us to reimburse them for his use of the Clinton vehicle.  Nancy Puff suggested $200 per month.  
  • Nancy Puff would like to offer $24.76/hour, as needed.  He will track his hours.  However, for a permanent position, the Building Inspector should be a salaried employee, based on other positions and personnel schedule.
  • Jim agrees to $25/hour at 18 hours per week.
  • Nancy Puff said that in talking to Tony, he requested we hire someone else to cover the Tahanto school building project.  He doesn’t feel he would have the time to do it with his Clinton hours.
  • Proposed office hours for the Building Inspector:  Monday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Thursday afternoon from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.  Roger proposed 6:00 to 9:00 PM on Monday nights and 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Thursdays.  Roger said, in his personal opinion, if he were running this as a business, he would suggest having accountable hours.  Ken asked how he would do it.  Roger said he would hire someone giving them written expectations of the job and then pay by the hour per timesheet turned in.  For example, our attorney is paid hourly and is accountable for his time.
  • Ken said we would need to make it work for him; we need to provide flexibility and treat him as a professional.  This is a chance for a trial basis and if it doesn’t work for Tony, Clinton and Boylston, we won’t have any choice.
  • Ken said he should have a minimum of five public hours a week posted.  Same analysis of time spent.
Motion was made to have the Town Administrator hire Tony Zahariadis at $25/hour, 18 hours/week.  We will reimburse Clinton $200/month for use of their vehicle.  The Board will review the situation at the end of June.   Jim seconded the motion and it was voted:  Jim, Yes; Ken, Yes; Roger, Opposed

Wiring Inspector:
  • Nancy Puff said our Assistant Inspector, Tom O’Connor, is interested in the primary inspector position.  He is retired from the Town of Shrewsbury and has been acting Wiring Inspector since March 2.  
  • Ms. Puff has also received calls from others interested in the position.  She asked if the Board wants to consider them or advertise the assistant position as available.  Roger said if he’s fully qualified and doing a good job, he would like to hire him after the meeting.
  • It was decided to post both positions.
Motion was made to appoint Mr. O’Connor as Interim Wiring Inspector, retroactive to March 7, until the position is filled.  Motion seconded and voted all in favor.

At 12:00 PM, on a motion made by Selectman Kenneth Sydow and seconded by Roger Deal, the following roll call vote was recorded to go into Executive Session under MGL c. 39 §23B ¶3 to discuss contract negotiations:  James Stanton – yes; Roger Deal – yes; Ken Sydow – yes.  The Board agreed they would reconvene in open session only to adjourn.

Meeting adjourned at 12:40 PM

        
Respectfully Submitted,

Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant