HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman James Jumonville, Kimberly N. Ferguson,
Kenneth O’Brien (arrived 6:33PM), Joseph G. Sullivan, David J. White
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager
Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Liz Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Jumonville opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Will not meet until the fall.
Holden Tomorrow: Met 9/11 to work on editing final draft of plan. Next meeting is 9/19 at 6:30PM.
Selectman O’Brien arrived at the meeting at 6:33PM.
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Will meet on 9/25 in the Selectmen’s Room.
Public Use of Town Spaces: See Selectmen Sullivan’s report.
Sel. Sullivan: Holden Hospital:
Public Use of Town Spaces: Committee will meet in the fall to review Town Counsel’s recommendations. Sel. White asked if the Menorah would be on display again this year. The Manager responded that the Menorah is now a part of the holiday illumination displayed by the town.
Sel. White: Public Safety Committee: The Committee has voted to endorse building a combined facility on the site of the existing Fire Station. The Chairman of the committee will attend a Board meeting in October to provide an update on the Committee’s accomplishments. Next meeting on 9/19 is to discuss the composition of the building (building materials). The Committee is considering the inclusion of EMS in the program. However, the administration needs to determine that this option is cost effective for the town. Sel. Sullivan said that he is interested in keeping capital costs reasonable without affecting the composition of the building. Sel. O’Brien commented that he is in support of bringing EMS in-house. Sel. Ferguson inquired about the future of substations in town.
Sel. White said that the growth of the fire department would be through substations. This combined facility has not been designed to grow bigger.
DCR Acquisition of Property Near Eagle Lake
The Manager announced that the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is considering the acquisition of an interest in approximately 6.1 acres in the Town of Holden. The current owners of the property currently use the property as forest and recreation land. If acquired by the DCR, the land will be used for water supply protection and management purposes. The DCR requested that the Board waive the 120-day notice period as required by the Town in order to expedite the acquisition. The Manager informed the Board that the intended property bordered Eagle Lake. Sel. Sullivan said he would support the acquisition as long as it would not affect the town’s usage of Eagle Lake in the future.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO WAIVE THE 120-DAY NOTICE PERIOD AS REQUIRED AS TO THE PARCEL OF LAND “EXHIBIT A” OF APPROXIMATELY 6.1 ACRES IN THE TOWN OF HOLDEN IN WHICH THE DCR IS CONSIDERING ACQUIRING AN INTEREST.
Manager’s Miscellaneous
The Board reviewed the updated FY 2009 Selectmen’s Goals Chart. Sel. O’Brien apologized for missing the September 10th Selectmen Budget Goals Special Meeting and said that he had forwarded his goals to the Manager. The Board agreed to prioritize their goals and objectives for the Manager and meet on the Tuesday after Columbus Day to review these priorities with the Manager.
Manager’s Miscellaneous was suspended at 7PM for Citizen’s Address.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
Manager’s Miscellaneous cont.
The Board reviewed a memorandum prepared by Jean Berg, Town Treasurer/Collector regarding the MA Health Care Reform Law.
The Manager informed the Board that the Nashua River Watershed Association requested to meet with the Board on October 15, 2007 at 6PM.
The Board reviewed a letter from School Committee Member John Nunnari, Chair of the Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to Review the Regional Agreement. In the letter, Mr. Nunnari announced that the WRSD has begun a 5-year review of the WRSD Agreement and as part of the review process, has scheduled public hearings in each of the Member towns. The public hearing in Holden will be held on 9/20 at 6:30PM at Davis Hill Elementary School. The first portion of the hearing will focus on gathering input from the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Nunnari requested that the Board put their comments in writing, if possible.
Sel. Ferguson said that she would like the Ad-Hoc Committee to review Sec. 1 1.1/Structure/Size of the Committee and specifically address the need to downsize and Sec. 14 14.2/Amendments and the Member towns inability to introduce amendments to the Regional Agreement.
Sel. White concurred with Sel. Ferguson and added that he would like a review of Sec. 17/Repairs to Buildings specifically that Member towns should not have to pay for repairs to school buildings in other Member towns.
A motion to support the Holden Board of Selectmen’s three issues and changes to the language in the Wachusett School District Regional Agreement was seconded by Sel. Jumonville for discussion.
Sel. O’Brien said that he intended to attend the 9/20 public hearing and speak as a single selectman.
Sel. Jumonville said that he would like the towns to have access to the school gyms. Sel. Sullivan said that this concern was part of the lease agreement with the District and not part of the Regional Agreement. Sel. Jumonville added that he does not want the WRSD to be able to ask for open-ended borrowing in the future. Sel. Sullivan commented that the request was not part of his original motion. Sel. Sullivan amended his own motion to reflect that the letter from the Board show who supported the motion.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S THREE ISSUES AND CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE IN THE WACHUSETT SCHOOL DISTRICT REGIONAL AGREEMENT. (Opposed: O’Brien.)
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE RESTAURANT ALL ALCOHOL BEVERAGES LICENSE BY ALTERING THE PREMISES BY APPROXIMATELY 2,340 SQ. FT. FROM VAL’S RESTAURANT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2007 AT 7:30PM.
The Manager announced that the Holden Police and Fire Department would hold Public Safety Day on Sunday, October 14, 2007 from Noon to 4PM.
The Manager presented the Board with a booklet regarding Senior Center Policies, Procedures, Services, and Programs. The booklet was developed by the Council on Aging and the Senior Center Staff to outline the programs and guidelines of the Holden Senior Center. The booklet was printed using a grant from the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs and will be available at all of the municipal buildings.
The Board reviewed the Y-T-D Revenue and Expenditure Reports for July and August 2007. Sel. O’Brien requested a water/sewer account update with the Water/Sewer Advisory Board.
The Board reviewed a note of thanks from Louise Charbonneau, Senior Services Coordinator for the help provided by members of the DPW at the Senior Picnic held on August 30th.
The Board reviewed a brochure from the First Baptist Church containing a list of events to celebrate their 200 years of ministry.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Announced that he would hold a fundraiser to the Mass Audubon/Lundquist land acquisition at his home on Sunday, September 23rd from 6PM-8PM.
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Requested an update on the success of the new trash/recycle programs. The Manager said that residents might request a second recycling toter. Sel. O’Brien said that he would like to see some of the upcoming marketing campaign aimed at the elderly. Sel. White asked the Manager to consider an “amnesty” period where homeowners who opted out of the town’s trash system may rejoin without paying the $100 fee.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Thanked the DPW for their assistance at the Senior Citizen Picnic.
2. Inquired about a letter regarding John Scannell and the Sewer Trunk Line.
Sel. White: 1. Inquired about the progress on the cable TV evaluation. The Manager said he expected a report from the consultant by the end-of-the-year.
2. Inquired about plantings for the new sub-station on Bullard Street. The Manager said that the appropriate size plants had been installed.
3. Inquired about the vacancy on the Planning Board. The Manager said that he was in the process of interviewing two candidates for the vacancy.
4. Commented that the DPW work on Newell Road is an improvement. The Manager agreed and said that stripping and signage along with the new paving will improve traffic flow and alleviate traffic confusion.
Acceptance of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was VOTED 4-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTENTION TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 MEETING MINUTES TO INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT BY SEL. SULLIVAN TO CHANGE THE LAST SENTENCE ON PAGE ONE TO READ “ Sel. White commented that he supported this project, just like he supported the first.” AND AN AMENDMENT BY SEL. FERGUSON TO ADD THE WORDS “and DPW Water/Sewer Division” TO NUMBER TWO UNDER HER MISCELLANEOUS ON PAGE 4. (Abstained: Jumonville.)
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTENTION TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES TO INLCUDE THE AMENDMENT BY SEL. SULLIVAN TO INCLUDE “ABSENT: Kenneth O’Brien” IN THE MINUTES. (Abstained: O’Brien.)
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED TO ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 MEETING AT 7:55PM.
Approved: October 15, 2007
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