HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 16, 2007
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman David J. White, Kimberly N. Ferguson, James Jumonville (arrived 7:05PM), Joseph G. Sullivan
Absent: Kenneth O’Brien
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 and that Sel. O’Brien would be absent. The board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Appointments
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPOINT MICHAEL S. TAYLOR TO THE HOLDEN HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING 12/31/10.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE AN ANNUAL COMMON VICTUALER LICENSE TO MICHAEL CARRIGAN d/b/a SWEETS-N-JAVA, INC. MONDAY-FRIDAY 6AM-6PM AND SATURDAY-SUNDAY 7AM-3PM PENDING FINAL APPROVAL OF BUILDING AND WIRE INSPECTIONS.
Town Manager Miscellaneous
The Manager informed the Board that the lot of town owned property, Map 221, Parcel 15, located at 554 Salisbury Street, was recently auctioned and sold to Mr. Rick Sampson. The Manager said that the sewer assessment on the parcel needed to be abated in order to clear up town records. Mr. Sampson or the future developer of the parcel will be charged a sewer connection fee at the time of construction.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE A SEWER BETTERMENT ABATEMENT TO MAP 221, PARCEL 15 LOCATED AT SALISBURY STREET, HOLDEN.
The Board reviewed the 2007 Political Calendar prepared by Kathleen Peterson, Town Clerk. A “Save the Date” flyer outlining important events and their deadlines will be sent to residents in a mailing in their utility bills.
The Board reviewed the reconciliation of the Lloyd Starbard Scholarship fund as of December 31, 2006. The Board requested that the administration start the process to advertise the availability of the scholarship as soon as possible.
The Board reviewed a memo from Denise Morano, Recreation Director outlining the Recreation Committee's recommendation to adjust the price of recreation passes, and a sketch of the planned expansion of green space near the pool. The Manager advised the Board to set a public hearing on the recreation pass fee increases.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 5, 2007 AT 7:30PM TO ADJUST THE PRICE OF RECREATION PASSES.
The Board reviewed the mid-year Revenue and Expenditure reports.
Chief George Sherrill – NY Port Authority 9/11 Memorial
Police Chief Sherrill presented a commemorative plaque from the Chief of the New York Port Authority Police representing a memorial to 9/11. The signed plaque contains a piece of the marble flooring from Tower 1 from the World Trade Center and is currently on display at the Gale Free Library.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing:
Holden Tomorrow: Holdentomorrow.net web site contains all of the consultant’s reports. Next public meeting will be scheduled for March 2007.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital: Nothing new to report.
Public Property Displays: First meeting will be held on February 6th.
Sel. Jumonville: Trash/Recycle: Committee has vacancies.
Open Space/Recreation:
Memorial Day Parade: Committee needs a Parade Director.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: Building Committee Chairman Chris Lucchesi to present information regarding the upcoming Special Town Meeting on January 29, 2007.
Sel. White said that he had recently spoken with Jeff Hardin, incoming President of the MSA about the possibility of Holden hosting a regional MSA. The Board encouraged Sel. White to set a date for the regional meeting.
Citizens’ Address
Mrs. Kathy Diehl, Laurelwood Road, spoke as the Co-President of the Mountview School PTA in favor of continuing the School Resource Officer position at the school. Mrs. Diehl asked that the town consider funding Officer Himmer for the remainder of the school year.
Acceptance of Minutes
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 2, 2007.
Sel. Jumonville arrived at 7:05PM.
Public Safety Building Committee – Special Town Meeting
Mr. Chris Lucchesi, Chairman of the Public Safety Building Committee presented an overview of the committee’s progress to date. He announced that the Committee has decided to continue to retain the architectural services of Kaestle Boos to work on a final architectural plan. The Committee will meet next on January 17th at 6:30PM at the HMLD meeting room. The Committee is currently analyzing the services that our public safety professionals provide to the community, the needs of the public safety professionals and volunteers, location(s), facility(s), size and cost. Mr. Lucchesi informed the Board that the Committee had established the web site psbc@townofholden.net. Mr. Lucchesi said that the committee would request $50,000 for needs
assessment, site selection, building design and project budget development; $25,000 for site evaluation; and $5,000 for informational services (total: $80,000) at the January 29th Special Town Meeting. If this request does not pass at town meeting, there will be no project. Mr. Lucchesi said that several members of the committee were seeking reassurance/recognition that the Selectmen were in support of finding a solution to the Public Safety Building process. The Board said that they recognized the need to find a solution for the Public Safety Building facilities. Mr. Lucchesi requested that the Board unanimously support the committee’s request for funding.
The Manager said that it was the administration’s recommendation that the funding source would come from free cash. He said that the Finance Committee had voted to support the request for $80,000 and support the proposed funding source.
Warrant Article Discussion
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO SUPPORT WARRANT ARTICLE ONE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT.
Finance Committee Chairman Paul Challenger addressed the Board. He said that the FINCOM had recently voted to support the $80,000 request from the Public Safety Building Committee. Additionally, the FINCOM voted to recommend not more than $28,000 for repairs to the Police Station and voted to recommend not more than $30,700 for repairs to the Fire Station.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR A SOLUTION TO THE INADEQUATE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND THEREFORE REQUEST SUPPORT OF WARRANT ARTICLE TWO ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT.
Police Chief Sherrill and Fire Chief Chandler provided the Board with an overview of building repairs necessary to the Fire and Police Departments. Proposed improvements will improve safety and function, boost morale and help with officer/employee retention. The Chairman said that he opposed using one- time monies to repair items that should have been covered in the towns’ operational budget and maintained properly in the first place. The Manager acknowledged that some of these repairs should have been carried in the towns’ operating budget in previous years but were postponed due to budget constraints or in the hopes that a new facility would be constructed. Chairman White said that he would not support a motion for all of the repairs at the Police Station because he felt that some of
the repairs should have been funded from the towns’ operational budget as basic maintenance.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 3-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO SUPPORT $37,739.19 FOR REPAIRS AT THE HOLDEN POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER WARRANT ARTICLE THREE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT. (Opposed: White.)
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO SUPPORT $30,700.00 FOR THE SECOND BATHROOM AND THE MEETING ROOM AT THE HOLDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT UNDER WARRANT ARTICLE THREE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT.
A motion made by Sel. Sullivan to amend the motion to add $21,000 for the construction of the Fire Prevention Office failed for lack of a second.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 3-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF $68,439.19 TO SUPPORT WARRANT ARTICLE THREE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT. (Opposed: White.)
A motion made by Sel. White to amend the motion and reduce the amount of funding to $59,200.00, the amount approved by the Finance Committee, failed for lack of a second.
The Manager requested that the Board hold off on voting to support article four until the night of town meeting.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was VOTED 4-0 TO SUPPORT WARRANT ARTICLE FIVE ON THE JANUARY 29, 2007 WARRANT.
The Board made motion assignments. It was agreed that Sel. White would speak to Article 2; Sel. Ferguson would speak to Article 3; Sel. Jumonville would speak to Article 4; and Sel. Sullivan would speak to Article 5.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Spoke at the Center Neighborhood’s January meeting.
2. Asked that the town continue to enforce temporary signs along Main Street.
Sel. Ferguson: 1. A water bill issue with a resident was forwarded to the Town Manager.
2. Requested an impact of recent contract negotiations with the District and the Towns and how they will affect the budget.
Sel. White: 1. Will schedule an update on the MMA conference for a meeting in February.
2. Wants to continue to try to resolve the issue of the Resource Officer at the Mountview School for the remainder of the school year. Sel. Ferguson said she was interested in working out a resolution for the rest of the school year. However, beyond June, the District needs to look into fully staffing the position. Sel. Sullivan said that he was interested in balancing the difference as long as it did not place a strain on the towns’ budget or the safety of the public. The Chairman said that he would continue negotiations with Chairman Watson of the School District Committee.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Requested any and all information regarding the purchase and sale and the lease of the Jefferson School and its property from the town to the District.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0 TO ADJOURN THE JANUARY 16, 2007 MEETING AT 9:25PM.
Approved: February 5, 2007
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