HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
7:00 PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman David J. White, James M. Jumonville, Kenneth OBrien, Joseph G. Sullivan, Kimberly N. Ferguson (arrived 7:50 PM)
Others Present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman White opened the meeting at 7:00 PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chairman announced that Sel. Ferguson had been delayed and would join the meeting in progress.
Holden Postmaster
The Chairman announced the passing of Holden Postmaster Paul Bateman. The Board observed a moment of silence in honor of Mr. Batemans memory and his dedicated service to the town.
Citizens Address
No one addressed the Board.
Selectmen Licenses
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE A COMMON VICTUALER CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP LICENSE TO SHAMROCKS PUB AND EATERY UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2006 PENDING FINAL APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE A PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TO SHAMROCKS PUB AND EATERY UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2006 PENDING FINAL APPROVAL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Primary Election Warrant
The Manager announced that the Primary Election will be held on September 19, 2006.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO SET THE PRIMARY ELECTION WARRANT FOR SEPTEMBER 19, 2006.
Acceptance of Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE AND HOLD THE EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 2006 AND TO ADD THE SENTENCE SEL. SULLIVAN REMINDED THE BOARD THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE MINUTES ARE RELEASED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 2006 AND TO CHANGE THE LAST SENTENCE IN (e.) OF THE MANAGERS MISCELLANEOUS TO READ SEL. SULLIVAN REQUESTED THAT THE TOWN CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE A LONG-TERM PLAN INCLUDING CAPACITY, UTILIZATION AND PARKING OPTIONS FOR THE DAWSON POOL AREA.
Town Managers Miscellaneous
a. The Manager informed the Board that Officer Gregg B. Sculthrope has been selected by the American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts as a Local Hero. The award recognizes those in a community who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character. Officer Sculthrope was nominated for this award by Police Chief Sherrill for Officer Sculthropes ability to help others who have suffered a tragic loss to rebuild their lives, in the wake of his own heart-breaking personal experience. The Board congratulated Officer Sculthrope on this award and agreed to present him with a letter of congratulations at the honoree breakfast at Holy Cross at 7:30 AM on September 11, 2006.
b. The Manager reported that an agreement has been reached between the Leominster Court Probation Department and the Holden Police Department to provide services at Wachusett Regional High School. Probation Officer Diane Massouh has been assigned to work together with Officer Dave Armstrong on a weekly basis at the School beginning in September. This collaboration will help support communication between the School Administration, Police Department, District Court, and students. The Probation Department oversees students aged 17 and over that are on probation or otherwise involved with the court system.
c. The Board reviewed an end-of-the-season update about the closing of the pool and the Friday Night at the Movies series from Denise Morano, Recreation Director. The Board congratulated Ms. Morano and her staff for another successful summer.
d. The Manager reported that according to Kathleen Peterson, Town Clerk, the staff members in the Town Clerks Office have received gubernatorial appointments as Commissioners to Qualify Public Officers. The Commissioners administer oaths of office to appointed public officials such as notary public, justice of the peace or state office. The Board congratulated Ms. Peterson and her staff.
e. The Board reviewed end-of-the-year expenditure and revenue reports for the period ending June 2006, the end of fiscal year 2006.
f. The Board reviewed a list of the follow-up items from August 2006.
MMWEC Demand Response
The Manager explained that the New England ISO sponsors a variety of demand response programs, where large electric consumers (over 100W) are asked to either shut down or use their own generation to mitigate costs and system overburdening during peak demand periods. From December 2005 March 2006, the ISO initiated a special program called Winter Supplemental Demand Response. Under this program, large electric customers of the Holden Municipal Light Department agreed to participate and would be paid for their potential capacity whether or not they were called to operate their generator during a peak demand period. The City of Worcester Water Treatment Plant, a customer of the HMLD, agreed to participate in this program. During this program, the Plant was not requested to defer their load other than for a test of capacity availability.
However, as a result of the Plants participation during this time frame, the HMLD received a credit of $8,094 on its ISO billing. The Manager explained that the HMLD would retain a portion of the credit (equipment costs and administrative fees), and pass the remainder along to the City of Worcester in the amount of $6,144.75. The Board presented the check to Mr. Robert Hoyt, Water Filtration Plant Manager and Konstantin Eliadi, Director of Water and Sewer Operations for their cooperation and participation in a worthwhile program that helps ensure that the New England region can respond to shortages of capacity and maintain system integrity.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. OBrien: EDC: Will meet 9/6.
WRSD Collective Bargaining: Have not met.
Sel. Jumonville: Trash/Recycle: Met 9/1. Food Pantry and schools have begun recycling efforts. Town is in the process of negotiating a new 3-5 year contract. There is one more year left on the current contract. Next meeting: 9/27 at 4PM in Memorial Hall. Sel. Sullivan suggested the possi-bility of discussing a regional recycling contract at the next Regional Selectmens Meeting on September 7th.
Phased Growth Bylaw: Nothing to report.
Open Space/Recreation: Nothing to report.
Memorial Day Committee: Next meeting 9/28 at 7 PM in the Selectmens Room.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital/UMASS: Continues to participate in ongoing negotiations.
Sel. Ferguson arrived at 7:50 PM.
Sel. Ferguson: Holden Tomorrow: Had a great day at Holden Days and received positive feed-back from residents. Next potential meeting dates 9/19 and 10/3 (Charette).
Affordable Housing Committee:
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Attended the Senior Center Picnic held on 9/2 at Trout Brook.
2. Reverse 911 black bear siting calls were not made to Board members. The Manager said it was a glitch and that the procedure had been corrected. In the future, Board members will be contacted.
3. Reported that Checkerberry Village is experiencing a lack of funding for repairs/ maintenance from the State/Federal level. Sel. Ferguson reported that Senator Chandler and Rep. Evangelidis were aware of the situation and a potential meeting will be held on 9/12 with Rep. Evangelidis to try to correct the situation.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Raised concerns regarding a letter from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance about the Holden Associated Taxpayers. He inquired how much time, money and other resources of the General Government budget were used towards the issue. He asked if there was a voted Board position on the issue before the written complaint was filed? The Manager said he would forward any costs associated with the response to the Board. Sel. Jumonville said he was dismayed that a member of the Board had participated in filing the complaint.
2. Inquired about traffic concerns in Precinct 3.
3. Commended Jen Stanovich, Chamber of Commerce Director, on the success of Holden Days. The Board agreed to invite Ms. Stanovich to a future meeting to offer their congratulations.
Sel. OBrien: 1. Additional signs at the entrances/exits to town will be discussed at the Selectmens Budget Goals meeting.
2. The Manager confirmed that a DPW vehicle was involved in a small accident. No damage occurred to the town vehicle.
3. Expressed interest in initiating a change to the current subdivision control bylaw where all new subdivisions would include an affordable housing component in their plans. The Board directed Sel. OBrien to discuss the idea with Sel. Ferguson who serves on the Affordable Housing Committee.
4. Inquired about a Fire Department staffing plan. The Manager said that the new Fire Chief would develop a staffing plan. The Manager commented that the town was currently in the third round of interviews to fill the position.
5. Stated that he would like to revisit the idea of issuing free parking stickers on a residents only basis for parking at the Dawson Recreation parking lot. He said he would like to discuss this during the upcoming budget goals discussion. Sel. Sullivan commented that the long-term use of the pool program and its facilities as a whole need to be re-evaluated. The Manager said that results of a summer-long survey were being evaluated and that a final report would be available soon.
6. Inquired about the results of the sewer capacity study. The Manager said that his office was in the process of setting a date for a joint Selectmen/Water/Sewer Advisory Board meeting.
7. Inquired about staffing a new Public Safety Building Committee. The Manager said that he was in the process of gathering names.
8. Requested that the recent debates between the candidates for Lt. Governor be televised on Holden Cable Access/Ch. 11. The Manager said that Sel. OBrien should speak to Program Director Johnny Suire to make that request.
Sel. White: 1. Commented that the press was interested in the towns Reverse 911 system.
2. Stated that there was some confusion regarding water/sewer billing cycles among residents. The Manager said that implementation of the new drive by process for water/sewer and electric meters has begun and the department is working out some reading glitches. He explained that the reading process was in the process of being fine-tuned and some customers will see partial readings spread out over several billing periods.
3. Thanked the Buildings and Grounds crew for the clean up of the gardens along Main Street.
4. Thanked the forestry crew for the clean up of tree damage incurred at Mountview School during the recent microburst of inclement weather the town experienced in August. Letters of appreciation were sent to the towns of Boylston and Paxton to thank them for their mutual aid from that storm.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Inquired about the status of manhole cover repairs. He thanked the Manager for the inclusion of the repair of the manhole at Lovell Road. The Manager stated that all 18 man-holes had been repaired and the project was complete. There are several manholes owned by Charter Communications that are in need of repair, but they have not responded to the towns request to repair them. The Board directed the Manager to send a letter requesting the repair of these manholes. The State is responsible for clearing a block in the drain at the intersection of Main Street and Rt. 31.
2. Requested an update on the Walgreens proposal. The Manager reported that there has been no response from the Development Company to a letter sent by the Board expressing concerns about the project.
3. Requested that the Board send a letter of congratulations to Lt. Col. Marian McGovern on her recent State Police appointment as the highest-ranking woman in the State Police.
4. Spoke to the critical need for volunteers and donations for the Wachusett Food Pantry. Food sorting takes place on Fridays from 9AM-10AM; food set-up takes place on the third Friday from 10AM-12PM; and food distribution takes place on the third Saturday. The Food Pantry is located at the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Holden. Interested parties may call Karen Halley at 829-2749 for more information.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 5, 2006 MEETING AT 8:30 PM.
Approved: Sept. 18, 2006
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