Holden Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2006
6:30 PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Joseph G. Sullivan, Kimberly N. Ferguson, James M. Jumonville, David J. White, Kenneth OBrien (arrived 6:35PM)
Others Present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Sullivan opened the meeting at 6:30 PM.
Town Managers 20th Anniversary Presentation
The Chairman announced that Mr. Brian Bullock was celebrating his 20th anniversary with the town as the Town Manager. Mr. Bullock was recognized for his vision, service and dedication to improving the lives of the residents of the Town of Holden. He was presented with a letters of commendation, congratulations, plaques, poems, mementos, stories and memories from the Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Congressman McGovern, Senator Chandler, Representative Evangelidis, former Selectmen Mike Wronski, Fred Misilo, Bill Hale, Roy Fraser, Tim Ethier, Finance Committee Chair Paul Challenger, former Finance Committee Chair Joe Giotta, Town Counsel Robert Martin, Worcester County Retirement Director Mike Donoghue, Executive Director of The Holden Area Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Stanovich, former Holden Town Manager Bill Kennedy,
School District Superintendent Dr. Pandiscio, Attorney D. Moschos from Mirick OConnell, Mary Jane McKenna, Mary Zona, and current Selectmen Ferguson, White, OBrien, Jumonville and Sullivan. The Board presented the Town Manager with his 20-year pin. The Manager thanked his family and the talented excellence of his staff and department heads that make his job easier.
The Board recessed the meeting from 7:30-7:50 PM for coffee and cake.
Citizens Address
Mr. Charlie Brewer and Mr. Warren Stowell, members of the American Legion Post presented a commemorative Vietnam Plaque to Town Manager Bullock. The plaque will be displayed in Memorial Hall.
Mr. Stowell encouraged all veterans to attend a Veterans Meeting every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Old Colony.
Mr. Michael Cave, Wachusett Street, spoke to the need for a new Public Safety facility. He said that he felt that a new facility to support the Police and Fire employees should be built at whatever the cost.
Ms. Margaret Watson, Doyle Road, made comments about Citizens Address. She said that Citizens Address was a part of the democratic process. Individuals may voice concerns or issues that are important to them during this open forum. Board members are elected officials who represent the community and must listen to these concerns and take them under advisement.
Reports of Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Nothing to report.
Sel. Jumonville: Open Space/Recreation: Nothing to report.
Phased Growth Bylaw: Nothing to report.
Sel. OBrien: Economic Development: The Committee met in January and recently toured the Reed Rico facility.
WRSD Municipal Representative: Nothing to report.
Sel. White: Affordable Housing: The next meeting will be held on February 16th. A Public Hearing will be held to discuss the Winterberry Hollow project. Sel. White said that he would be unable to attend the meeting. Sel. Ferguson agreed to sit in his place as a representative from the Board.
High School Building Committee: Continues to participate as a citizen non-voting member.
Public Safety Committee: Next meeting scheduled for 2/7 at 6:30PM in the Starbard Building Meeting Room.
Sel. OBrien inquired about site development and demolition costs of the project. Chairman Sullivan said that he did not have a todays dollar value of these costs. He said that the previous cost estimates were from 2004. In 2004, approximately 7.2% of the 11M budget had been set-aside for demolition and resurfacing. He said that increases in steel, inflation, and petroleum would increase the cost of the project today. He added that an architect would have to be hired in order to generate a new building budget. Sel. OBrien asked questions regarding the siting of facility. He suggested that the Damon House might be an appropriate site for a facility. Chairman Sullivan said that twenty-three potential sites had been evaluated in town, and based on population density, it was determined that an expansion of the current Fire Station site would best
serve the residents. The Chairman said that egress and access to the Damon House property posed many problems when placing one or both facilities on that site. Sel. White added that the High School houses the largest day-time population and it was determined that it made the most safety sense to locate the combined safety facility across the street from the school.
Sel. Sullivan: Public Safety Building:
Holden Hospital: Negotiations with UMASS continue.
Public Hearing - Establishment of Seasonal Parking Dawson Recreation Area
The Manager read the notice of the Public Hearing into record.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:24PM.
The Manager reviewed a memo from Denise Morano, Recreation Director outlining a plan to implement resident permit parking during the summer at the Dawson Recreation Area. In the memo, Ms. Morano noted that seasonal permit bumper stickers would be sold to residents at a cost of $8.00 each. This fee would offset costs associated with the purchase of the stickers, the salaries of parking attendants and the cost to have a sign made and posted at the entrance to the parking area. The sign would state that violators would be ticketed. The cost of the violation will be $20.00.
Letters from residents Catherine A. Roberts, Marie Clemente and Cynthia Maki were entered into the record. These residents stated their opposition to the proposed parking permits.
Sel. White said that it was never his intention to implement a fee in order to restrict parking to residents only. The restriction was meant to reward taxpayers whose tax money paid for the pool. He said his proposal was just meant as preferential parking for residents. Ms. Morano reported that the sale of non-resident pool passes generates 37K, which is approximately 1/3 of the revenue for the Recreation Department.
The Chairman opened the discussion to the public.
Ms. Lucy Banks, Chair of the Recreation Committee, addressed the Board. She said she did not feel that there were any parking issues at the pool. She commented that there was adequate parking across the street at Dawson School. She felt that residents did not want to pay to park at their pool. The Recreation Committee had discussed the issue at their meeting and were opposed to implementing a parking fee to. They did not taken an official vote to record this opposition.
Ms. Mary Jude Pigsley, Newell Road, spoke in support of paying for a parking sticker. She asked that the issue not be sent to a committee for review but approve the fee based sticker program.
Chairman Sullivan read emails from several residents in opposition to the non-residential parking sticker restriction.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:55PM.
Ms. Morano said that the current non-resident pool pass could not exceed double the amount of a resident pool pass. This rule must be followed in order for the Town to apply for recreational grant money. If grant money is applied for and awarded, the facilities it will support must be available to everyone whether they are a resident or not.
Sel. White said that he was disappointed that the issue had come before the Recreation Committee just last week. He said that they only dedicated one meeting discussing the proposal. He said that he never meant for a fee to be generated from the proposal. This program does not need a fee-based sticker or an attendant to monitor the policy. He suggested that a flyer be given to residents and non-residents notifying them of the restriction to the parking lot when a pool pass is purchased. The police can ticket as they see fit. Sel. OBrien said that he was in support of a parking restriction as long as it does not involve the implementation of a fee. Sel. Ferguson reiterated that she was not interested in a fee-based restriction. She did suggest that if recreation employees parked in the Dawson School parking lot, it would free up more spaces
for residents to park. Sel. Sullivan said that the town should look into the towns relationship with the DRC in regards to selling pool passes to non-residents and perhaps place a restriction on the amount of non-resident passes sold per season.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. OBrien, it was VOTED 2-3 WITH 3 OPPOSED THAT BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 1 PARKING AT THE DAWSON RECREATION PARKING LOT BE RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE ISSUED A NON-FEE BASED PARKING PASS. (Opposed: Sel. Jumonville, Sullivan, Ferguson.)
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ASK THE RECREATION COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PARKING AT THE POOL AND DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Discussed uncapping Lottery proceeds. It was agreed that the Board would send a letter to Senator Chandler and Representative Evangelidis to encourage the uncapping of the Lottery proceeds. The Board agreed to carbon copy the letter to the Town of Kingston.
2. Discussed the FY07 budget schedule.
3. Discussed a potential snow removal deficit in the budget.
Sel. OBrien: 1. Discussed Roger Hatchs Ch. 70 Aid reform proposal. The Board agreed to schedule discussion on the subject on the agenda at a future meeting. It was agreed to extend an invitation to the Holden School Representatives to attend this discussion.
2. Discussed the possibility for the town to develop an in-house ambulance service. He said that there are residents who cannot afford to pay for ambulance service and felt that this might be a way that the town could offer some relief to these residents. The Manager commented that it is Fire Chief Starks opinion that an in-house service would not be beneficial or cost effective to the town. The town cannot afford the level of ALS ambulance service that it currently receives if it was brought in-house. Sel. White encouraged those residents to work with their primary care physician to apply for special services or contact representatives at the Senior Center for alternative transportation or financial aid.
3. Encouraged people to attend the Stand for Children Rally in Boston on April 26th.
4. Announced that Deval Patrick and Jim McGovern recently toured the towns public safety facilities. Chairman Sullivan reminded all Selectmen to notify the Chair if they are attending a political function as a Selectman.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Discussed the Master Plan Steering Committee. The Manager provided an update to the Board. Some discussion was held regarding to whom management of the Committee belonged. The Committee reports to the Town Manager.
2. Discussed resource profile budgeting for school spending.
3. Announced that an update on the status of Rice School would be discussed in an Executive Session.
4. Reported that large amounts of snow were piled up on the sidewalks at Honey Farms and Sunnyside Motors.
5. Reported that the stoplight at Big Y is too high and the Stop Sign is faded. There is a big pot hole at Wachusett and Malden Street. The Manager said that the DPW would investigate.
Sel. White: 1. Announced upcoming workshops that will be offered at the Senior Center at 10:00 AM: Monday, March 13, 2006: Taking Charge of your Health, Monday, April 3, 2006: Aging, Memory Loss and Osteoporosis and, Monday, April 24, 2006: Managing your Diabetes. Bonnie White, RN will conduct the presentations.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Reported that Town Counsel is reviewing Automobile Retail Sales legislation information.
2. Attended a seminar where Jeff Wulfson of the Department of Education made Regional School Caucus/DOE comments intimating that due to future loss of school populations, towns will be forming more regional schools.
3. Announced that a Joint meeting with Wachusett Regional Business and Finance Committee will be held on February 23rd at 6:30PM in the Senior Center.
4. Announced that the Finance Committee will discuss an Asset Management Fund.
5. Read a letter from a resident praising the quick response of the Police and Fire emergency services in the aid of his wife in December.
Town Manager Miscellaneous
The Board reviewed the FY07 Finance Committee Budget, Election Schedule, and Town Meeting dates.
The Manager informed the Board that the Woodmeister Corporation in the Industrial Park has proposed to designate the private drive entrance to its new facility as Woodmeister Way. The Board agreed to recognize the private drive as an additional means of welcoming the Woodmeister Corporation to town.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NAME THE PRIVATE DRIVE ENTRANCE AT THE WOODMEISTER CORPORATION WOODMEISTER WAY.
The Manager said that representatives from Woodmeister will attend a future Board meeting.
The Board reviewed the reconciliation of the Lloyd Starbard Scholarship Fund. Sel. OBrien volunteered to represent the Board.
The Manager said that the Administration has received positive feedback on the recently distributed Blue Flier announcing important town events and dates for 2006.
The Board reviewed the year-to-date Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the period ending December 2005.
The Board reviewed the Selectmens Follow-Up and Pending Items through January 2006. Sel. OBrien commented on the need for the town to receive DARP status with the DEP.
The Board reviewed an updated Town of Holden brochure that outlines town Animal Control Rules and Regulations. The Manager said that a new section had been added under Restraint of Dogs reminding owners to clean up after their pets.
The Manager shared a note of thanks from LTC Jeffrey P. Kelly, Battalion Commander in the US Armed Forces, 101st Airborne Division to the Holden Police Association. The note extends appreciation for the donations of gifts and care packages to the Soldiers of the 426th Brigade Support Battalion, serving in Iraq.
The Manager informed the Board that all six abatement applicants who received a non-approval letter from the Board have requested a meeting with the Selectmen. The Board agreed to meet with these residents in a special meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd prior to the Resource Profile meeting with the Finance Committee.
The Manager updated Selectmen on sewer extension permits based on a recently completed capacity study conducted by Weston & Sampson. The Manager said that the policy would be submitted to the Water/Sewer Advisory Board in the next month for review and comment prior to its transmittal to the Selectmen.
The Board reviewed a memo from DPW Director Larry Galkowski with information on what the Town of Holden is currently paying in sewer transportation charges and how those charges are calculated. Sel. Ferguson requested that this item be placed on the next meeting agenda for discussion.
The Manager announced that The Friends of the Council on Aging will hold their annual cookie sale on February 10, 2006 from 10AM-2PM at the Senior Center. All proceeds benefit the Senior Center.
Acceptance of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. OBrien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 17, 2006.
Executive Session
Motion by Sel. Jumonville, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AT 10:10PM AND RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY. ROLL CALL: Sel. Sullivan: yes; Sel. Jumonville: yes; Sel. OBrien: yes; Sel. Ferguson: yes; Sel. White: yes.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE FEBRUARY 6, 2006 MEETING AT 10:41PM.
Approved: March 6, 2006 as amended
| 
