HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 2, 2007
6:30 PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman David J. White, Kimberly N. Ferguson, Kenneth O’Brien, Joseph G. Sullivan, James Jumonville (arrived 7 PM)
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 6:30PM. The Chairman said that Sel. Jumonville would arrive late to the meeting. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Board observed a moment of silence in honor of former President of the United States, Gerald Ford.
Selectmen Appointments
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REAPPOINT NANCY ROCHELEAU TO THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING 12/31/09.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Nothing to report.
School Building Project: Attended the last meeting.
Public Property:
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Next meeting in late January.
Holden Tomorrow: Next meeting in late January. Next public meeting will be scheduled for March 2007.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital: Nothing to report.
Public Property:
Sel. Jumonville: Trash/Recycle: Next Meeting January 10th at 5PM. Committee has vacancies.
Open Space/Recreation:
Memorial Day Parade: Committee needs a Parade Director. Next Meeting: January 25th at 7:00PM.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: Kaestle Boos Associates will remain as the architectural firm. Committee named Mr. Chris Lucchesi as Chair and Mr. Hal Lane as Vice-Chair. Committee recognizes the need to stay connected to the public and the Chairman will attend the next Board meeting to provide an update on the Committee’s activities. Committee is working on the development of a vision statement.
Town Manager Miscellaneous
The Manager announced that the DPW will offer chipping services for Christmas trees. The Adams Road DPW parking lot will be open on Saturday, January 6th and Saturday, January 13th from 8AM-3PM.
The Manager announced that the Board will attend the MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show on January 11-13, 2007.
The Manager announced that according to Police Chief Sherrill, the Holden Police Department received a FY2007 Community Policing Grant in the amount of $18,024. These funds will be used by the Department to continue programs that address community needs, crime, fear of crime, and issues that detract from overall quality of life.
The Manager announced that the Holden Police Department has been awarded a $7,000 Traffic Enforcement Grant for their participation in the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau campaign for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Sel. Sullivan reminded residents to exert caution and courtesy to pedestrians along Main Street. Sel. Ferguson requested that the town update the information on the “town sign” by the bank at the intersection of Main and Shrewsbury Streets. The Board directed the Manager to look into the costs associated with a tasteful electronic sign for this location.
The Board reviewed the Town Manager’s Executive Action to establish the Memorial Day Parade Committee.
Special Town Meeting – January 29, 2007
The Manager announced that the town will hold a Special Town Meeting on January 29, 2007 at 7PM at Mountview School. The Manager and the Board reviewed the articles.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO OPEN THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO SET WARRANT ARTICLES ONE AND TWO FOR THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED.
Sel. Jumonville arrived at 7PM.
Sel. O’Brien commented that he felt that the timing to open and close the warrant was poor and did not allow for public comment. Sel. Sullivan commented that placing the items on the warrant was a clerical/housekeeping issue. The Chairman said that there would be time for public comment prior to and during the Special Town Meeting. The Manager commented that the Administration had been discussing holding a Special Town Meeting since September.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SET WARRANT ARTICLE THREE FOR THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SET WARRANT ARTICLE FOUR FOR THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SET WARRANT ARTICLE FIVE AS A PLACEHOLDER ONLY FOR THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED.
Sel. O’Brien said that he felt that the warrant should be left open to allow residents to file a petition to fully fund the School Resource Police Officer at Mountview School. The Manager commented that the Town Meeting was being scheduled to address one-time operational costs for the town and not for on-going expenditures. Sel. O’Brien said that he would not support closing the warrant tonight. The Chairman said that as a Selectman, Sel. O’Brien could request that a warrant article be added and set for the funding of the Police Officer. However, no funding mechanism currently exists for the position. Sel. Sullivan said that the town needs to focus politically on finding a solution for the current unbearable safety and space issues of our public safety officials. He
said that he would not support keeping the warrant open or adding any further warrants.
A motion was made by Sel. O’Brien to place a warrant article on the January 29, 2007 Special Town Meeting Warrant to fund the School Resource Police Officer at the Mountview School from January – June 2007. Sel. White seconded the motion for discussion purposes.
Sel. White requested that Sel. O’Brien work with the School Administration and the Town Manager’s office to find a funding source for this warrant request. The Board will then review the article and decide whether to endorse it or not. The Manager commented that the District has, in the past, refused to fund the position. The Manager said that placing the warrant article sends a message to the District that the town will find the funding and that the automatic default would fall on the town. He inquired why residents haven’t called the Superintendent’s office to request funding from the District? The Board discussed the possibility that if the town were able to negotiate a joint funding of the position with the District, there would not be the need for a warrant
article.
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED 1-4 WITH 4 OPPOSED TO PLACE A WARRANT ARTICLE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT TO FUND THE SCHOOL RESOURCE POLICE OFFICER AT THE MOUNTVIEW SCHOOL FROM JANUARY – JUNE 2007. (Opposed: Sel. Ferguson, Sullivan, Jumonville, White.) The motion failed.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO CLOSE THE JANUARY 29, 2007 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT AS PRESENTED. (Opposed: Sel. O’Brien.)
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
HMLD 2007 Operating and Capital Budget
The Manager introduced staff from the Holden Municipal Light Department: Mike Flagg, General Foreman, Diane Mero, Director of Financial Operations, Margaret Donaldson, Office Manager, and Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager. They presented the HMLD 2007 Operating and Capital Budget.
The Manager answered questions regarding vehicle maintenance, fuel efficiency, and legal expenses.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE HMLD 2007 OPERATING AND CAPTIAL BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Requested that the Board send a letter to the District detailing the amount of revenue developed by fees associated with playing sports. Sel. Jumonville said that most schools charge fees for any club – not just sports. Additionally, Sel. Jumonville said that the District wide fee policy was voted by the School Committee and suggested that Sel. O’Brien contact one of the town’s eight school reps.
2. Requested that the Manager send a letter to Charter Communications regarding the repair/replacement of the manhole cover located by Leominster Credit Union. The Manager said he would call Charter to facilitate a repair.
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Intersection of Main and Malden Street has seen an increase of accidents.
2. Requested dates when P&S agreements for the town owned properties would be sent out.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Thanked the Administration for the continued enforcement of temporary signs along Main Street.
2. What is the status of the letter to the WRSDC inviting them to support advisory vote in May on downsizing the School Committee? The Manager will add the item to the January Regional Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda.
3. The Manager will forward to the Board a Walgreen’s web site where their policy on cooperative development partnership with communities may be reviewed.
4. Board members will email to the Manager their preferences for MMA Workshop assignments.
Sel. White: 1. Attended 1st Night in Worcester.
Acceptance of Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 4, 2006.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AND RELEASE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 4, 2006 WITH THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE “COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS WERE MADE BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.”
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 18, 2006 WITH THE FOLLOWING CORRECTION MADE TO THE VOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE “MOTION BY SEL. FERGUSON, SECONDED BY SEL. SULLIVAN …”.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE JANUARY 2, 2007 MEETING AT 9:20PM.
Approved: January 16, 2007
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