HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2006
Present: Chairman David J. White, James Jumonville, Kenneth O’Brien
Kimberly N. Ferguson, Joseph G. Sullivan
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager
Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Robert Martin, Town Counsel
Liz Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman White opened the meeting at 6:30 PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Nothing to report.
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Will meet on November 30th at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
Holden Tomorrow: Held a visioning session with the senior’s at the Senior Center on November 20th. Next meeting is Nov 21st and next round table discussion is on December 7th at the Senior Center.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital: Will have an update soon.
Sel. Jumonville: Trash/Recycle: Will meet November 29th at 4 PM.
Memorial Day Parade: Next meeting: December 7th at the Starbard Building at 7 PM.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: Held a kickoff meeting on November 15th. The committee will meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Town Manager Miscellaneous
The Board reviewed the Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the period ending October 2006.
The Board reviewed a survey currently being circulated by the Holden Police Department with the assistance of students from Assumption College. The Manager added that in addition to general information to guide the direction of the Department, the survey will provide information regarding the public’s view on a new Public Safety Building. The Manager said that he would report back how the survey was distributed.
The Board agreed to host the next Regional Selectmen’s Meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 7PM at the Senior Center. Refreshments will be served.
The Manager reported that a flu shot clinic will be held on November 27, 2006 from 1-4 PM at the Senior Center. Flu shots are available to senior citizens and town employees.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Inquired about recent power outages in town. The Manager replied that two of the outages occurred on the National Grid main line. An outage to a HMLD line occurred due to a tree limb. The Manager said he will investigate using the Reverse 911 system to notify residents of lengthy power outages.
2. Inquired about work occurring at the back of the Grove Cemetery. The Manager said that the back of the property was used for material storage and composting.
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Informed the Board that he would like to forward the results of ballot question number 4 from the recent State elections to State Senators Kennedy and Kerry. Sel. Jumonville, Sullivan, Ferguson and White commented that they felt that it was not the duty of the Board to report the results of a citizen’s petition and become involved in a Federal issue. The Board’s job is to deal with local politicians and local issues. Sel. O’Brien said that he would forward the information on to Senators Kerry and Kennedy as a private citizen.
2. Requested that several banners on Main Street be relocated away from competitors’ businesses.
3. Announced that the Art Ride event held on November 18th and 19th was a success.
4. Attended Fire Chief Starks’ retirement party.
5. Announced that the YAHOO group was losing its storage space at the Rice School. Additionally, the group is in need of parental supervision.
6. Informed the Board that that he has not set a date for his senior citizen fuel assistance fundraiser.
Selectmen Miscellaneous was interrupted for Citizens’ Address.
Citizens’ Address
Ms. Maureen Floryan, Sterling Road, stated that a member of the Board recently misrepresented a comment about the privacy of confidentiality when filing complaints and the rights of a private citizen to petition the government.
Mr. Ed Meyer, Fort Sumter Drive, spoke in response to Ms. Floryan’s comments. He said that the residents who wrote and filed the complaint with the OCPF would be sued for making inflammatory comments.
Auction of Town-owned Property – December 6, 2006 – Paul T. Zekos, The Zekos Group
Mr. Paul Zekos, Principal of The Zekos Group, reviewed the December 6, 2006 auction of town-owned property. He said that his company was in the process of advertising and marketing the sale. All abutters will be notified. The Manager commented that the sale of these land parcels would generate income and return the properties to the tax roster.
Selectmen Miscellaneous (cont.)
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Announced that the town has received a grant for local waste reduction.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Asked for an update on the enforcement of temporary signs along Main Street. The Manager responded that enforcement was an ongoing process.
2. Requested that the Administration review the condition of the sidewalk on Salisbury Street from Main to Twinbrook Drive during the upcoming budget process.
3. Inquired about the status of the WRSDC Strategic Plan meeting group. Sel. Jumonville reported that he, the Manager and FinCom member Al Berg attended the meeting. A facilitator gathered the information generated at the meeting and he will generate a report.
4. Inquired about further information on the proposed Walgreen’s development. The Manager reported that the proposed development would have an impact on a property on the National Historic Register. He added that the town will have an opportunity to comment and review the proposal and its reflection on the character of the community.
Sel. White: 1. The Manager provided recent developments on a piece of land on Salisbury Street that is affected by the town-owned property sale on December 6, 2006.
2. Requested an update on the repair of manholes on Main Street by Charter Communications. The Manager said that he had been in contact with Charter and the repairs have been scheduled for the spring of ‘07.
3. The Board agreed to schedule an Executive Session in December to discuss unresolved contracts.
4. The Board reviewed a letter written by the Chair to Sheriff Glodis. The letter gives thanks for repair work at Checkerberry Village conducted by the Sheriff’s Community Service Program.
Acceptance of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6, 2006 WITH AN AMENDMENT TO ADD THE WORDS “HOLDEN HISTORIC DISTRICT” ON PAGE FOUR, ITEM FOUR OF SEL. SULLIVAN’S MISCELLANEOUS.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 20, 2006 MEETING AT 7:50 PM.
Approved: December 4, 2006 as amended
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