HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 21, 2009
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Kimberly Ferguson, James Jumonville (arrived 7:05PM), Anthony Renzoni, David White, Kenneth O’Brien
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Robert Martin, Town Counsel, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Ferguson reopened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Licenses, Permits, and Appointments
Chairman Ferguson announced that the Selectmen interviewed Mr. James Deignan for a reappointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals prior to the meeting. At that meeting, the Board unanimously voted to reappoint Mr. Deignan to the ZBA for a period of three years.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE AN AGENT’S LICENSE TO GEORGE LUDDY FOR GEORGE LUDDY CHEVROLET, INC., 512 MAIN STREET.
The Manager informed the Board that Howe’s Farm located at 2443 Main Street, Holden was not in compliance and therefore would not be granted a Common Victualer license for 2010.
The Manager informed the Board that Democrat Kerri Knorring submitted her resignation to the Board of Registrars of Voters effective November 16, 2009. According to Town Clerk Kathleen Peterson, Cynthia Bazinet, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee nominated Azim Rawji, One Avery Road and Robin VanLiew, One Avery Road in order of preference for appointment to the position.
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF AZIM RAWJI, ONE AVERY ROAD TO THE HOLDEN BOARD OF REGISTRARS.
Special State Election Warrant – 1/19/10
The Manager read the notice of the Special State Election of January 19, 2010 into record. The Board signed the warrant into record.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
The Board reviewed Year-To-Date Revenue and Expense Reports for November 2009. The Manager handed out a corrected copy of the November 2009 report.
The Board reviewed a packet of information concerning Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009, the recently enacted Ethics Reform Law. The Law imposes new mandatory education and training requirements on all public employees and is administered by the State Ethics Commission. The statutory definitions of who is a municipal employee for purposes of the Conflict of Interest Law are very broad and include all elected, appointed, and paid employees of the Town. Every municipal employee must be given a summary of the Conflict of Interest Law prepared by the Ethics Commission; every recipient must complete an acknowledgment form and return it to the Town Manager’s Office; and every municipal employee must complete an online training program prepared by the Commission.
The Manager reminded the Selectmen that they had previously voted to allow town business office to close at 12PM on December 24, 2009 and at 4PM on December 22, 2009. Offices will reopen for business on Monday, December 28, 2009 and will again be closed for New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2010.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was VOTED 4-0 TO CLOSE TOWN BUSINESS OFFICES AT 4PM ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2009.
Sel. Jumonville arrived at 7:05PM.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Renzoni: Master Plan/Implementation: Will meet in February 2010 with the new Town Manager.
Sel. O’Brien: Water/Sewer: Summarized his notes from the December 6, 2009 W/S meeting and forwarded to Chairman Ferguson for disbursement to the Board. Sel. Renzoni inquired if the DPW would be color-coding the fire hydrants in Town. The Manager said he would check with DPW Director Shuris. Sel. O’Brien requested that the Board schedule a discussion regarding the leachfields at the ECC facility for the New Year.
EDC: Has not met.
Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Parade: Will begin double meetings in January 2010.
Civil Service: Will schedule one more meeting in January to finish the final report. Committee anticipates making a report to the Board in February.
Sel. White: PSBC: The December 16th meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Has not met.
5. Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
CERT Update
Fire Chief Jack Chandler introduced members of CERT: Rebecca Evanoff, Andrea Crete (Holden Board of Health Agent) and Dr. Waite (Memorial Hospital). CERT will run an H1N1 Flu Shot clinic on January 9, 2010 at Davis Hill School in Holden in conjunction with Wachusett Regional School District. Registration for the clinic may be obtained at www.wrds.net.
Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Renzoni: 1. Inquired about the Town’s policy on sewer capacity. The Board agreed to discuss this issue at its joint meeting with the Water/Sewer Advisory Board in January 2010.
2. Inquired about how frequently the Open Space Committee meets. The Manager said that the Open Space Committee meets every five years to update the plan. He will forward a list of Committee members to Sel. Renzoni.
3. Inquired if the Town has a short or long-term capital plan. The Manager said the Town has a five-year capital plan for capital expenditures. The trustees of the IIF monitor the capital development of the community.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Initiated discussion regarding sewer capacity in Rutland; town is supposed to be frozen, yet they continue to give out permits. The Board directed the Manager to initiate a meeting between the Board and DCR and interested parties. The Selectmen will also discuss a sewer capacity policy at its meeting in January 2010 with the Water/Sewer Advisory Board.
Sel. White: 1. Requested an update on the vault/meter issue on West Mountain Street. The Manager said that there is a problem with the vault and that it will have to be moved to the sidewalk in the spring.
2. Request an update on water/sewer revenue and expenses. The Manager said the November report was just issued. He said the account is under revenued not overexpended.
3. The Board agreed to forward questions concerning the Light Department budget to the Town Manager for Mr. Robinson. Sel. O’Brien questioned why the new Light Department Manager was getting a car as part of his contract. Sel. O’Brien said he would not support the Light Department budget with the car as part of the package. He also said he had concerns about hiring a second employee at the Light Department. Chairman Ferguson suggested that Sel. O’Brien meet with Mr. Robinson and the Town Manager to discuss his concerns prior to the presentation of the Light Department budget in January 2010. The Manager commented that former Light Department manager’s all had a car included in their compensation package.
4. Sel. White said that he, Sel. Renzoni and Sel. O’Brien met with Holden School Committee Representatives on December 17, 2009 to discuss the upcoming District and municipal budget process. Each group outlined its revenue losses and how to share limited resources equitably. A motion for the Board to present on the floor of the MMA in January is being drafted to address loss of Chapter 71 (transportation funding) and Circuit Breaker (special education) funding.
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Stated that the sidewalk was not plowed to the Fox Hill neighborhood along Salisbury Street. The Manager said he would check the status of sidewalk plowing.
2. Attended the Eagle Scout ceremony of John LeBreck.
3. Announced that the District Union Negotiations Representative position is vacant and would like to represent the Town of Holden. The next meeting is January 28, 2010 at the District Central Office.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPOINT KEN O’BRIEN AS THE HOLDEN REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO ATTEND THE DISTRICT UNION NEGOTIATIONS MEETING ON JANUARY 28, 2010.
Selectmen Minutes
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7, 2009 AS PRESENTED.
Executive Session
The Chairman requested the Selectmen vote to move into Executive Session to discuss non-union contract negotiations.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:05PM TO DISCUSS NON-UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY. ROLL CALL VOTE: Renzoni: yes; Jumonville: yes; O’Brien: yes; White: yes; Ferguson: yes.
10. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 21, 2009 MEETING AT 9:26PM.
APPROVED: January 19, 2010
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