HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 2007
6:47 PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman James Jumonville, Kimberly N. Ferguson, David J. White, Joseph G. Sullivan, Kenneth O’Brien
Others Present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Robert Martin, Town Counsel
Liz Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Jumonville opened the meeting at 6:47PM. Chairman Jumonville explained that the Town Manager had been in a meeting with the Infrastructure Investment Fund Committee. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Appointments
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CONFIRM THE MANAGER’S APPOINTMENT OF LEONARD ANDERSON TO THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND CHARLES SKILLINGS TO THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
There is currently one vacancy on the Historical Commission.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPOINT ALAN R. TWICHELL, PETER V. BRENNAN, AND SUSAN M. KOWALCZYK TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION.
The Historic District Commission currently has three vacancies.
WRTA Funding Formula
The Board reviewed a letter from Steve O’Neil, Administrator at the WRTA, to request the Board’s support of a resolution for increased funding of the WRTA at the State level.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT THE WRTA RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Has not met.
Holden Tomorrow: Has not met. Will continue to meet after the New Year.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital: Sel. Sullivan and the Manager are expected to meet on 12/19 with representatives of UMASS.
EMS: Meet every Wednesday in the Training Room at the Fire Station. Currently reviewing costs associated with running the department.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: A date for a Special Town Meeting is currently being determined for 2008. Sel. White suggested that the Board meet jointly with the Committee and the Architect at a meeting separate from a regular Board meeting to discuss the status of the proposal. An update of the meeting will be reported at a future televised Board meeting. Sel. Ferguson requested that the Board receive a “fact sheet” outlining important details of the proposed plan prior to the meeting. The Manager suggested a meeting date of December 27th.
Sel. Jumonville: Trash/Recycle:
Open Space/Recreation:
Memorial Day Parade: 12/13 was cancelled due to poor weather. Next meeting: January 2008.
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Has not met.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
Employee Appreciation
The Manager reported that the employees who could not attend the Employee Appreciation Ceremony on December 3, 2007 due to the need to work during a storm could not attend this evening’s ceremony because of the same reason. The ceremony has been postponed until January 2008.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
The Manager announced that the DPW will offer a Christmas Tree Chipping Service on Saturday, January 5, 2008 and Saturday, January 12, 2008 between the hours of 8AM-4PM. This service is only available to residents of Holden and is located at the Adams Road Garage location.
The Board reviewed a memo from Larry Galkowski, Director of Public Works, outlining further contacts and follow-up actions with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) relative to the former landfill site. The Quinapoxet Model Flying Club, after completion of a “post closure use permit” will be allowed to use the site for their club meetings. The “woody growth” noted on the site report was determined to be growing in an area that is not included in the landfill site. Finally, based on previous sampling rounds, the suspected leachate discharge was determined not harmful once in the river. The Town will prepare a “Focused Stage I Environmental Screening” of the site. It is anticipated that upon receipt of this report and subsequent review by the DEP, no further action
will be necessary. The Manager noted that the cost of the screening report is anticipated to cost $4,200.00. The current budget for the landfill closure will fund the work.
The Manager discussed the upcoming Municipal Electric Power Advisory Board budget review meeting on December 18, 2007. Sel. Sullivan said that due to a conflict he would not attend the meeting. The final 2008 budget will be discussed at the Selectmen’s meeting on January 7, 2008.
The Manager informed the Board that prior to the Board meeting he met with the IIF to request funding allocation in the amount of five million dollars to support the proposed Public Safety Building. Based on the projected cost of the building, the tax rate calculation impact for the average taxpayer is anticipated to be $120.00.
The Manager announced that an extra week of recycling has been added during the Christmas holidays. Based on this addition, the town will receive recycling services during weeks 12/17, 12/24, and 12/31. Residents are encouraged to recycle wrapping paper and boxes during the holiday season. Several Selectmen mentioned that the Town’s successful transition to single stream recycling was the “hot topic” at the recent Regional Selectmen’s Meeting. Sel. White requested that an Agenda Item be added to a January meeting so the Board can discuss offering residents an “amnesty period” in ’08 to allow residents who opted out of the town program to rejoin for free. The Manager said he would also provide a trash/recycle update at a meeting in January ’08. Sel. Sullivan
encouraged residents to go to the www.townofholden.net/departmentofgrowth management/solidwaste to print out a list of eligible recycling items. He reminded residents that packing peanuts are not recyclable.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Encouraged residents to shovel out fire hydrants in their neighborhoods.
Sel. White: 1. Town Offices will be closed on Monday, December 24, 2007. Wished all Town Employees a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Requested an update on the use of Ch. 90 money.
2. When were paving bids submitted? He said that these items were submitted at the November 15th mtg.
3. What is the status of replacement of mailboxes damaged by Town vehicles during storms? Report any damages to the Department of Public Works.
4. Sel. O’Brien requested that the Board consider scheduling a green community initiative discussion on an Agenda in ’08. This would help to improve the town’s energy efficiency. After some discussion, the Board charged the Manager to develop a committee in order to examine this issue in depth and report back to the Board.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Encouraged residents to clean leaves from culverts and drains.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Discussed the Board’s policy of notifying the Manager prior to meetings with topics for discussion under Selectmen’s Miscellaneous. This policy helps the flow of Sel. Miscellaneous and keeps the Manager from being surprised. Sel. Sullivan commented that the Board seems to be straying from the policy and asked if the Board would like to revisit the policy to discontinue the practice.
2. Sel. Sullivan requested that the following two items be placed on the January 7, 2008 Agenda: 1. Discussion of the return of 450M in lottery aid by the State for local aid and 2. Karen Polito’s Sex Offender Bylaw.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 19, 2007 AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 2007 AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AND RELEASE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 2007 AS PRESENTED.
Public Hearing – Change of Manager – Stow Acres Golf Properties, Inc.
The Manager read the notice of Public Hearing into record.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:35PM.
Mr. Jeff Bailey, Assistant Pro Manager addressed the Board on behalf of owner Roger Kane. The application for Change of Manager is to appoint Roger K. Kane as the Manager on the Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License at Stow Acres Golf Properties. Sel. Sullivan said that typically the Manager on the liquor license is on site. Will Mr. Kane be on site as the licensee? Mr. Bailey responded that Mr. Kane is on site 40-50 hours a week. Mr. Bailey said that he, Mr. Kane and the Chef were recently TIPS trained. The Manager said that there were no objections from the HPD.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:43PM.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE CHANGE OF MANAGER AT STOW ACRES GOLF PROPERTIES TO ROGER KANE AS PRESENTED.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was VOTED TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 17, 2007 MEETING AT 7:45PM.
Approved: January 7, 2008
| 
