Memorial Town Hall, 1 Library Street, Georgetown, MA 01833
Ph. (978) 352-5755 style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;color:#000000;">Memorial Town Hall
Third Floor Meeting Room
8/22/11
7:00 PM
Selectmen Present: C. David Surface, Chairman; Gary Fowler, Clerk; Philip Trapani;
Others Present: Michael Farrell, Town Administrator; Janet Pantano, Administrative Assistant
Absent: Stephen Smith; Stuart M. Egenberg
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Call to Order
Mr. Surface called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.
Pledge of Allegiance
Warrant & Minutes
Warrant to be signed
Mr. Trapani moved to approve the Minutes of August 15, 2011. Mr. Fowler seconded the motion and the motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Correspondence
9/11 Events
Mr. Surface read a letter from Juliette Rec, Park & Rec regarding the 8:00AM 9/11 event in the center of town. He stated that this is a silent memorial with moments of silence with church bells and taps at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37, 9:59, 10:02 and 10:29AM.
Fire Chief Beardsley stated the Police and Fire will hold a service at 4PM at the First Congregational church with a procession to the Public Safety Building.
Letters from the Police Chief regarding the Four Wheel Drive Unit and a back up Reserve Patrol Officer
Police Chief Mulligan read the letter regarding the four wheel drive unit to the Selectmen. He explained why they need a four wheel vehicle, winter weather, difficult areas to reach in winter. Discussion on vehicle
Chief Mulligan stated he would look at a lease and a smaller V6 vehicle for gas mileage. He stated that it would cost about $11,904 for a three year lease. Mr. Surface asked what a new patrol vehicle would cost under a lease. Chief Mulligan stated $14,000 for new vehicle and that Town would own for a $1 at the end of the lease.
Mr. Fowler asked if we need a Fall STM. Mr. Farrell stated that if we have an agreement on the negotiations then we will need a STM.
Mr. Fowler stated that it would help him to be in favor of this request with a smaller greener vehicle.
Mr. Trapani stated that the decision to take the vehicle off the warrant was because they did not want to layoff an employee and they did not know if the override would pass. Chief Mulligan stated that he was not notified of the removal of the article and would have appreciated being informed and that this was the only article removed.
Chief Mulligan read his letter on his request for a back up Reserve Patrol Officer. He stated that he requests an article on the Fall Town meeting warrant for a part time officer on a 5PM-1AM or 6PM-2AM shift. He stated he feels the public would support the article from Free Cash. Mr. Surface stated that this would cause a void in the budget next year. Chief Mulligan stated that he is looking for a grant that will cover this position. He explained his staffing and why he is here with the concern. Mr. Surface stated if he received the grant then this article would go away. Chief Mulligan stated that is correct. He stated that this is a federal grant and hopes this will be Georgetown’s year to receive the grant and that it will just be a band aid. He stated that with the
grant in the 4th year the Town would have to pick up the salary.
Mr. Fowler asked for a list of the unfunded mandates cost to the Police Department. Chief Mulligan stated he would get the information for him.
Board Business
Authorize the Chair to sign the Contract for the Ambulance Billing Service
Richard Martin, Jeffrey Tassi, from Comstar, and Fire Chief Beardsley were present
Chief Beardsley stated that K & P sent some changes to the contract so they do not have a sign able contract tonight. Mr. Farrell stated that the board can authorize him or the Chair to sign once the final changes are made. Mr. Farrell stated that the changes are not unusual changes and that K & P has worked with Comstar in other towns and this is a similar contract. Mr. Surface asked if the contract could wait until their next meeting September 12. Chief Beardsley stated that it will take a few weeks to set up the Medicaid contract for billing and they would like to get that started right away. Mr. Fowler asked how we are set up to handle the billing, etc so it will not be an overload to the town. Mr. Martin stated that all checks/payments will come to Comstar and that Medicaid
does electronic payments to the Town. He stated that they do the billing and receivables for the Town. Mr. Surface asked about the waiving of fees. Mr. Martin stated that the only fees that are waived are if there is a hardship. He stated that they do not waive any fees as this will be a town ambulance. Mr. Surface asked the Fire Chief if he has an SOP on collections. Chief Beardsley stated that this is something that he is looking at what other towns have. Mr. Farrell stated that in Towns he has worked in the Board of Selectmen has worked as the final arbitrator. He stated that a list of bad debts would come to the Board and then the board would decide either to send to collection or waive. Mr. Surface stated that he hoped that they would have some leeway with any hardship and he would expect these to be far and few between. Mr. Fowler stated that he feels there should be a full board to vote on this contract as he was
not in favor of the ambulances. Mr. Trapani stated that K & P has the expertise to put a contract together and they are familiar with this company. He stated that he would be comfortable with Surface and/or Mr. Farrell to sign. Mr. Farrell stated that there are two forms were missing from the contract and he read the letter from K & P regarding the changes they are requesting. He stated that the changes are not major changes and gave Mr. Surface a copy of the changes. Mr. Surface stated not any major changes and he is okay with the changes.
Mr. Trapani moved to allow the Chair to approve and sign the two Comstar Agreements for the ambulance billing on final review by Town Counsel. Mr. Fowler seconded the motion.
Mr. Fowler stated he seconded the motion as he did not want to hold up the process but is not in favor of the ambulance.
The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Surface stated that he will follow up with the Fire Dept on the billing SOP’s. He asked when they will see the first call go out. Chief Beardsley stated that they are filing for the license and then the Insurance Acct numbers and Medicare Insurance numbers. He stated he hopes all will be in place for a November 1st start.
Town Boundaries
Mr. Surface wanted to thank Mr. Fowler for doing the border walk with Rowley. Mr. Fowler stated that it took about a 1 hour and they did the boundary with Rowley. He stated that there were two missing bounds that have to be look into. He stated that he will be contacting the other towns soon.
Mr. Surface reminded all that the Fire Chief review is due back to him by August 30th.
Selectmen Goals for 2012
Mr. Surface stated that he would like to have a workshop open to the public to go over the goals of each member.
Authorize the Chair to sign the Architect Contract for Penn Brook School
Mr. Farrell stated to save a tree there was only one copy of the contract made. He stated that MSAB will not allow any changes to the contract. He stated that the contract is for Architect services of Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc.
Mr. Trapani moved to approve the Chair to sign the Architect contract with MSBA as presented. Mr. Fowler seconded the motion.
Mr. Fowler stated that he would like to be kept abreast of the process on this project. Mr. Surface stated that he is attending the meetings and they are moving quickly and a timeline was given out. Mr. Farrell stated that he is also on the committee and that a meeting will be held on Sept 17th for the general public and on September 7th with Town Departments. Mr. Surface stated that they can ask the School Building Committee to give quarterly reports to the board.
The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Fall Schedule
Fall Meeting Schedule: October 3, 17; November 7, 21; December 5, 19, 2011
Jen Solis, reporter for the Daily News asked what the reason was for the Executive Session. Mr. Farrell stated exemption number three to discuss collective bargaining or litigation.
Mr. Fowler asked if we heard back on the ConCom appointment. Mr. Farrell stated that the chairman and applicant have not been able to meet.
Next meeting will be Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:00PM, Town Hall, 3rd Floor meeting room.
Mr. Trapani moved to adjourn. Mr. Fowler seconded the motion and the motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55PM.
Minutes transcribed by J. Pantano.
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