HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 2007
6:30 PM Senior Center
Present: Chairman James Jumonville, Kimberly N. Ferguson, David J. White
Kenneth O’Brien (arrived 6:35 PM) Joseph G. Sullivan
Others Present: Brian J. Bullock, Town Manager
Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Robert J. Martin, Town Counsel
Peter Hennessey, ICMA Exchange Program
Liz Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Jumonville opened the meeting at 6:30 PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chairman introduced Mr. Peter Hennessey, the Manager from the Western District Bay of Plenty in Tauranga, New Zealand. Mr. Hennessey is participating in an international managerial exchange program.
Representative Lew Evangelidis
Representative Evangelidis addressed several concerns. He announced that the House and Senate had restored the $150K for monetary aid to the Jefferson School oil spill. Governor Patrick had previously vetoed this money from the budget. The Board thanked Mr. Evangelidis for his efforts to secure this money. A bond bill sponsored by Senator Chandler and Rep. Evangelidis to allow the District to borrow and repay money to help clean up the spill over a 15-year period has been passed in the Senate and was sent to the House on October 1st.
Sel. O’Brien arrived at 6:35 PM.
Sel. White raised concern regarding potential toll increases to the Mass Pike. Rep. Evangelidis said that bond money coming due this year could potentially increase rates on tolls in Western Massachusetts. Rep. Evangelidis said that other reforms and inefficiencies in the system need to be addressed before the state should seek to increase tolls. Rep. Evangelidis said that these concerns have been made to Secretary Cohen. Sel. O’Brien asked if tolls for roads in the North and South of Boston would be increased to help offset costs? Rep. Evangelidis said he felt there was a need to share the burden across the State. Rep. Evangelidis invited Sel. O’Brien to address any questions regarding the recent Marriage vote after the meeting.
Discussion was held regarding the DCR Trunk Line/MRWA Trunk Line. Mr. Evangelidis commented that he felt that the towns don’t want to take over the trunk lines. Rep. Evangelidis said that he has been meeting with other local legislators regarding the future of the trunk line. He said that other water projects have to be completed in Worcester before this issue can be addressed. What should a community do in the mean time? Some communities are building their own waste/water treatment plants or building their own trunk lines.
Selectmen Appointments – Holden Housing Authority
The Manager informed the Board that the Holden Housing Authority interviewed and voted to appoint Ms. Claire Zukowski to the HHA. The Manager said the HHA bylaw requests a roll call vote.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPOINT MS. CLAIRE ZUKOWSKI TO THE HOLDEN HOUSING AUTHORITY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOLDEN HOUSING AUTHORITY. ROLL CALL VOTE: Jumonville: yes; Ferguson: yes; White: yes; Sullivan: yes; O’Brien: yes.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Has not met. Sel. Ferguson will attend a 40B Workshop on October 26th.
Holden Tomorrow: Met 9/19 to work on editing final draft of plan.
District Member Collective Bargaining: The Town of Paxton has appointed Sel. Quinlivan of Paxton to serve on this committee.
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Met on 9/25. Discussed a potential 40R project that will require a special zoning designation. Committee voted to send the project to the Board of Selectmen for their review. Sel. Sullivan cautioned that this type of incentive project is not being funded by the State. Sel. Ferguson commented that the project needs to be reviewed with an open mind and there will be ample opportunity for public input.
Public Use of Town Spaces: Will meet 10/18 at 6:30PM.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital: Nothing to report.
Public Use of Town Spaces: Will meet 10/18 at 6:30PM.
Central Mass Regional Planning Commission: Reelected Joe O’Brien of Princeton to serve as the regional representative.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
Selectmen Subcommittees cont.
The Board continued discussion of the 40R project. Town planning staff will develop information to present to the Board at a future meeting. Board members should submit questions to the Manager prior to this meeting.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: Deferred his Committee report to a presentation that will be made by PSC Chairman Lucchesi later in the meeting.
Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Parade: Met on 9/25. Future meeting dates: 10/10 and 11/14 at Town Hall at 7PM.
Conservation Restriction – Eagle Lake Area Property/White Oak
Mr. George Dresser, Attorney for White Oak Land Conservation Society, informed the Board that the money had been raised for the joint Mass Audubon/White Oak purchase of the Lundquist property. Mr. Dresser requested that the Board approve an amendment to a conservation restriction that White Oak has held on the property since 1979. He added that the property is scheduled to close in 10 days.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CONSERVATION RESTRICTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSERVATION AND PASSIVE RECREATION BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ABOUT 157 ACRES OF LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF KENDALL ROAD, INCLUDING THE LAND SUBJECT TO THE CONSERVATION RESTRICTION AND THE LAND SUBJECT TO A CONSERVATION RESTRIC-TION CONVEYED BY WEYMAN LUNDQUIST AND JOAN SWENSON TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION IN 2002.
Sel. O’Brien left the meeting at 7:15PM.
Manager’s Miscellaneous
Town Manager Bullock introduced Mr. Peter Hennessey, the Manager from the Western District Bay of Plenty in Tauranga, New Zealand. Mr. Hennessey is participating in an international managerial exchange program. Mr. Bullock added that he looked forward to participating in the exchange program sometime in 2008.
The Manager announced that the Board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 6:30 PM in the Starbard Building to discuss and prioritize the Selectmen’s FY ‘09 goals.
The Board reviewed a memorandum prepared by Dennis Lipka, Director of Growth Management, announcing changes to the trash collection routes for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The changes in the routes are to reduce the number of households to approximately 1,200 per day for these two routes. The changes to the routes will begin on October 8, 2007 and affected residents have been informed of the changes.
Sel. O’Brien returned to the meeting at 7:18PM.
The Manager reviewed a memo from Ann Barrett of the US Department of State regarding the processing and issuance of passports. The Holden Town Clerk’s office has seen a substantial increase in passport applications over the past several years.
The Board reviewed a report from Larry Galkowski, DPW Director, regarding traffic along the Main Street corridor. Mr. Galkowski reports that his staff met with Mass Highway personnel to review issues with traffic speed through intersections, and lane merging, etc. Mass Highway will review accident information and current conditions and will report back with their findings and recommended modifications.
The Manager announced that the Holden Police and Fire Department will hold Public Safety Day on Sunday, October 14, 2007 from Noon to 4PM.
The Manager announced that the American Public Power Association has designated the week of October 1, 2007 as Public Power Week. The Holden Municipal Light Department has scheduled a luncheon at the Senior Center on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 12 Noon and later that day, will conduct a brief ceremony to open the new Bullard Street Substation at 4PM. Selectmen are invited to attend both events.
The Board reviewed a draft executive action creating a Holden Emergency Medical Response Services Study Committee. The Committee will look into a town EMR system that would be implemented in two phases: Basic Life Support (BLS) would become effective July 1, 2008; Advanced Life Support (ALS) would be implemented July 1, 2009. The Town is required to operate a full year at the BLS level prior to advancing to the ALS service. Residents interested in serving on the Committee should contact the Manager’s office for further information.
The Manager asked the Board to consider implementing “summer hours” year-round. Instead of operating on regular business hours of 8:30AM to 4:30PM staff at the Starbard Building, Town Hall and other administrative offices would work 8:00AM to 4:00PM all year long. The Manager added that this request comes from staff interested in continuing these hours all year long. Sel. Ferguson suggested extending office hours one-day a week to accommodate those residents who work.
The Manager announced that as the courts have ruled that a Christmas Tree and a Menorah, as a display, are secular, they would both be included in a town holiday display. Both displays will be lit simultaneously. The Light Department will install wreaths along Main Street as their schedule allows.
Liquor License Alteration of Premises – Val’s Restaurant
The Manager read the notice of Public Hearing into record.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:35PM.
Attorney Gates, representing the applicant Ms. Valerie James, addressed the Board. The application is to extend the liquor license to the new addition currently under construction.
No one from the public came forward to address the Board.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:38PM.
The Board interviewed Ms. James and congratulated her on her success in the community.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE RESTAURANT ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES LICENSE BY ALTERING THE PREMISES TO INCLUDE AN ADDITION OF APPROXIMATELY 2,340 SQ. FT. LOCATED AT 75 RESERVOIR STREET HOLDEN, MA.
Public Safety Building Committee Update
Mr. Chris Lucchesi, Chairman of the Public Safety Building Committee, provided the Board with an update on the Committee’s progress.
The Committee has endorsed a combined facility at the current fire station site. Estimated construction costs for the combined facility: $11,144,500. Chairman Lucchesi reviewed the design schematics. Information regarding the building project can be found at www.holdenpsbc.org or
psbc@townofholden.net. The Committee continues to meet first and third Wednesdays of each month. Sel. Ferguson thanked Mr. Lucchesi for the thoroughness of the plans and his presentation. Sel. Sullivan said that he would be interested in including EMS in-house with the new facility.
Peter Hennessey of New Zealand - ICMA Exchange Program
Mr. Hennessey, Manager with the Western District Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, New Zealand, provided the Board with an overview of economics, lifestyle, and the game of rugby in New Zealand.
GIS Demonstration
Mr. Larry Galkowski, DPW Director, and Mr. Jason Brennan, with Camp, Dresser and McKee demonstrated updates to the town’s Geographical Information System.
Holden-Rutland Sewer Trunk Line
The Board and the Manager discussed the regional agreement, operation, and maintenance of the Holden-Rutland Trunk Line. The Board expressed an interest in pursuing an assessment of the line’s current condition. The Manager said that this line is critical to the future of the town.
Sel. Sullivan made a motion that the Board of Selectmen was extremely concerned about local ownership of the trunk line and requested a measured analysis of the condition and capacity of the sewer trunk line with a full evaluation and disclosure being sent to all interested parties, was seconded by Sel. Ferguson for discussion.
The Manager said that he would seek to have the MRWA pay for the analysis and evaluation of the line. Mr. Galkowski said that the line was recently scoped with a TV line and that the tapes were available. Sel. O’Brien asked what “local ownership” in the motion meant. He said he felt it was a mistake to seek ownership before having an assessment or another regional meeting to discuss joint ownership of the line.
Sel. Ferguson asked that the Board discuss the response from the DCR to Chairman Jumonville’s letter in regards to sewer capacity at their next meeting. Sel. O’Brien asked the Board to also discuss its position on sewer capacity as it relates to growth. The Manager also suggested that Holden Tomorrow Committee discuss this issue as well. Sel. White said that there are better tools to use besides sewer capacity to control growth in town.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED THAT THE HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN BEING EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUNK LINE REQUESTS A MEASURED ANALYSIS OF ITS CONDITION AND CAPACITY WITH A FULL EVALUATION AND DISCLOSURE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES. (Opposed: Sel. O’Brien.)
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Announced that the money had been raised to purchase the Mass Audubon/Lundquist land acquisition.
2. Inquired if there was Board interest in creating a mechanism similar to the PCA at the Light Department for the Water/Sewer Account? The Manager said he would evaluate the feasibility of such a mechanism.
3. Crossing Guard was struck at Mountview School last week. Inquired if it would be possible to increase police presence during peak traffic hours? The Manager said that neither the school nor the Chief of Police felt that increased police presence was necessary. Sel. O’Brien continued to discuss the need for increased police presence at the school. Sel. Sullivan said that the discussion was complete and that Sel. O’Brien should make a motion to the issue if he wanted to continue the discussion any further. Sel. O’Brien commented that he did not think that motion making was allowed under Sel. Miscellaneous. Sel. White told Sel. O’Brien that just because the Board doesn’t feel that increased police presence was necessary at the school, doesn’t mean that the Board does not
feel that the safety of children in the community was not a priority. Sel. Sullivan asked that the Board move on from the discussion. A heated discussion by Sel. O’Brien continued. Chairman Jumonville gaveled Sel. O’Brien several times and asked that the discussion end. Sel. Sullivan asked that the Board adjourn the meeting.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED TO ADJOURN THE OCTOBER 1, 2007 MEETING AT 10:15 PM.
Approved: October 15, 2007
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