HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 14, 2006
6:30 PM Senior Center
Present: Chairman David J. White, James M. Jumonville, Kenneth OBrien, Kimberly N. Ferguson, Joseph G. Sullivan
Others Present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman White re-opened the meeting at 6:40 PM. He explained that the Board had been in Executive Session to discuss a potential real estate transaction. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Licenses and Permits
Motion by Sel. Jumonville, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO WAIVE THE COMMON VICTUALER LICENSE FEE AND APPROVE A COMMON VICTUALER LICENSE TO C. SKEELS THOMPSON ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1180 MAIN STREET, FOR HOLDEN DAYS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2006 FROM 11:30AM-3PM.
Motion by Sel. Jumonville, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPOINT ELIZABETH A. HELDER TO THE HOLDEN CULTURAL COUNCIL TO FILL A TERM EXPIRING 6/30/08.
Town Managers Miscellaneous
a. The Board reviewed the final list of 21 tax title foreclosure properties that the town will auction off this fall. The Manager said that a 72 acre parcel located near Bullard Street, an 11.65 acre parcel off Meadow Wood Drive, and a Nelson Street parcel of 1.28 acres has been removed from the list. The Manager said that the process of soliciting proposals for auctioneer services was ongoing.
b. The Manager reported that according to Jean Berg, Treasurer/Collector, July was the best month ever for on-line payments: 268 tax payments and 460 utility payments were made via the on-line payment service Uni-Pay. Thanks to Jean and her staff for coordinating this convenience to our customers. Effective August 1st, the Town Clerks Office began accepting on-line applications for birth, death, and marriage certificates.
c. The Manager reported that the Holden PD and the West Boylston PD have teamed up to patrol the 3-mile stretch of the Mass. Central Rail Trail on mountain bikes.
d. The Board reviewed the list of Selectmen Follow-Up and Pending Items from July.
e. The Manager provided the Board with an update on the ongoing Recreation Programs run by the Recreation Department. Denise Morano, Recreation Director, reports that out of the 42 classes offered, 33 sold out. 526 children participated in these programs. Additional 30,462 visits were made to the Holden Pool during the month of July. This is an increase of 2,580 (9.2%) visits from July 2005. The Holden Harpoons swim team competed in the championship meet in Westborough, MA on August 4th. The team finished 4th out of a total of 16 teams competing. Congratulations to the Recreation Department and the Harpoons! Sel. Sullivan requested that the town continue to investigate a long-term plan including capacity, utilization and parking options for the Dawson Pool area.
f. The Manager provided the Board with an update on the towns negotiations with the Department of Conservation and Recreation regarding the acquisition of the Dawson Recreation Area. Since the 20 year lease expired in July 2006, the DCR has issued a Temporary Access Permit for town use during the negotiation process. This acquisition process is expected to take eighteen months to two years to complete.
g. The Board reviewed a thank you letter to the Holden Police Department from Thomas J. Oetinger, Chief of Police in Laconia, NH to extend his appreciation to the Holden PD for their assistance during Motorcycle Week 2006.
h. Work along Main Street to repair the 19 defective manholes began August 14th. The Light Department will assume the estimated $14,000 cost of the project.
i. The Manager and the Board thanked all town employees for their dedicated and professional response during the recent storm damage caused by the microburst on August 2, 2006.
Citizens Address
Ms. Maureen Floryan, Sterling Road, congratulated town departments on their prompt response to the damage caused by the August 2, 2006 storm.
Acceptance of Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AND HOLD THE EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 29, 2006.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 29, 2006.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 17, 2006.
Reports of Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Holden Tomorrow: Announced the completion of the Holden Tomorrow brochure. Committee continues to meet and will have a table at Holden Days.
Affordable Housing Committee: Have not met.
Sel. OBrien: EDC: Will met August 22nd.
WRSD Collective Bargaining: Have not met.
Sel. Jumonville: Open Space/Recreation: Nothing to report.
Phased Growth Bylaw: Nothing to report.
Trash/Recycle: Will meet August 21st at 4PM.
Memorial Day Committee: Will have a table at Holden Days.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital/UMASS: Continues to participate in ongoing negotiations.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Inquired about the status of the RFP for legal services. The Manager said that he was currently reviewing a draft of the RFP.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Inquired about sewer hook-ups in Rutland in regards to sewer capacity and its effect on the Town of Holden. The Town of Holden has an ongoing Inflow and Infiltration study to help increase the towns current sewer capacity. He said he would brief the Board on the status of Rutlands sewer capacity in September. The Board will also meet with the Water/Sewer Advisory Board in September to discuss the current status of the towns water sewer capacity.
2. Requested an update on the Anna Maria trunk line project.
Sel. Miscellaneous was interrupted at 7:15 PM to proceed with Agenda Item 7.
MMWEC Special Project 2006A: New Public Power Generating Unit
The Manager introduced Mike Flagg, General Foreman of the HMLD and Diane Mero, Utility Specialist, HMLD. The Manager reviewed the MMWEC sponsored Special Project 2006A 280MW, a local, dual fuel power-generating source. The Manager outlined the three phases of the project. Phase I, preliminary analysis, has been completed. Phase II, work completed prior to construction, is about to begin. Phase III is plant construction and start-up. The Manager recommended that the town proceed with the Phase II activities at a 5MW level. Phase III, construction, is estimated to last approximately 24 months. Holdens share of the 200M+ project would be approximately 4M. Mr. Kevin Wright, MMWEC Trading Representative, answered Board questions regarding the project.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO GIVE THE MANAGER THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT WITH MMWEC TO COMPLETE PHASE II OF SPECIAL PROJECT 2006A UP TO $140,000.
Selectmen Miscellaneous (cont.)
Sel. OBrien: 1. Inquired how much money the town contributes to the State MBTA subsidy? The town is paying to subsidize service when the town receives little to no service. The Manager said that the money is deducted from the Cherry Sheet payments it is not money we pay, it is money we dont get.
Sel. White: 1. Announced that the Steve Drawbridge Golf Tournament will be held September 8th.
2. The next Regional Selectmens Meeting is September 7th at 7PM in Rutland at the Library.
3. Received the Annual Report from the Wachusett Regional School District. The Managers office will distribute.
4. Garden parks along Main Street/Shrewsbury Street are being cleaned up. Different types of benches are being evaluated for installation. Clean up of weeds along Holden Street and Main Street is ongoing.
5. Thanked the town employees for their dedication during the August 2nd storm clean up.
6. Announced that the town is evaluating the disposition of Rice School. Further developments will be announced in late September.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Reviewed correspondence to a resident regarding her preliminary tax bill.
2. Announced that vacancies exist on the Recreation Committee.
3. The Manager said he had not received a response from the Developer to the Boards concerns regarding the potential development at the Verizon/Love Realty site.
4. Attended the Massachusetts Selectmens Association Regional Meeting on August 2nd. Items discussed included Education Reform, the projected slow growth of Lottery Aid, MMA pushing for 40% of state revenues dedicated to local aid, GASB 45 (accounting formula), health insurance as part of a municipal budget, and senior property tax relief as a State funded formula. Next meeting is scheduled for October 14th.
5. Requested that the Manager schedule a review of the Open Meeting Law on the agenda for September.
6. Asked that Selectmen respect each other and remain party neutral during the upcoming election process.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE AUGUST 14, 2006 MEETING AT 8:05.
Approved: September 5, 2006 as amended
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