Holden Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2009
7PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Kim Ferguson, Ken O’Brien, Anthony Renzoni, David White
Absent: James Jumonville
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Ferguson opened the meeting at 7PM.
Town Manager Search Discussion
Chairman Ferguson updated the Board regarding preparations being made by the Search Consultant Mark Morse to proceed with the hiring of the new Town Manager. Mr. Morse recommends that the Board support a hiring salary range of $130,000-$140,000. Mr. Morse asked that the Board endorse this recommended range. Chairman Ferguson added that this salary range is just a range and is not set in stone. However, this range will hire the caliber of manager that the Town needs to run the Town. The Manager said that one possibility would be to hire in a lower range and build/set performance benchmarks into the contract to get a candidate to a higher compensation level.
A motion made by Sel. Renzoni and seconded by Sel. White to advertise the Town Manager position at a $130,000-$140,000 salary range was discussed by the Board.
Sel. White said that the Board must fill the Town Manager’s position and the Light Department Manager’s position and will still have an Assistant Town Manager on staff. The Town Manager job position/description has changed so why should the Town have to recruit at a higher salary level. This position will no longer be responsible for managing the Light Department. Sel. Ferguson said that this position is similar to hiring a CEO of a company and this is the expected salary range for this type of position. This is a standard salary range for a Town the size of Holden. Sel. White countered that in an economy with a 10% unemployment rate, people should expect to be paid less. Sel. Renzoni concurred with Sel. Ferguson’s assessment of the salary range. Sel. Renzoni said that Mr. Morse
informed him that a candidate who knows that they are worth $130,000 is not going to respond to an advertisement with a salary range starting at $110,000.
Sel. White suggested making an amendment to the motion to change the salary range from $120,000-$140,000. Sel. Renzoni agreed to the amendment.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was VOTED 4-0 TO AMEND THE MOTION TO CHANGE THE SALARY RANGE FROM $120,000-$140,000.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED 4-0 TO ADVERTISE THE TOWN MANAGER POSITION AT A SALARY RANGE OF $120,000-$140,000.
The Board discussed whether a residency requirement would be preferred for the position. The Manager said he would check the Town Charter for a guideline ruling.
The Board discussed the size of the Search Committee. The MMA has ruled that Mr. Bullock cannot sit on the committee due to an ethical conflict. Sel. O’Brien said he would like to see a representative from each Town Department to serve on this committee. Sel. O’Brien expressed concerns regarding Planning/Zoning representation on the committee. He said he wants the process to be open.
Chairman Ferguson said that both Mr. Morse and Labor Counsel Moschos have recommended that the committee size not exceed 6 people. It is very difficult to schedule interviews for a committee of 12 people. Additionally, confidentiality can become compromised. Sel. White recommended that a memo be circulated to Department Heads asking them for 5 or 6 questions that they would like the search committee to ask the respective candidates.
Recess to Finance Committee Meeting
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. White, it was VOTED 4-0 TO RECESS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AT 7:32PM.
Finance Committee Meeting
The Board joined members of the Finance Committee, Andy Miller and Tom Morgan with Camp, Dresser & McKee, and Dennis D’Amore with D’Amore Associates to discuss the potential land acquisition/development of the ECC land site as a water source and a reserve fund transfer request.
The Manager addressed the Finance Committee and explained the possibility of acquiring the 17-acre ECC site located in Jefferson, MA as a future source of water for the Town. The property abuts the Spring Street well field and could also be used as a site for a DPW facility. However, contamination does exist on the site from its use as a former plating manufacturing company. The Manager explained that the Administration was seeking a reserve fund transfer from the Finance Committee to conduct further tests on the site to determine its feasibility as a water source for the Town.
DPW Director Jim Shuris discussed the need for the exploratory money. He added that the Town will not be required to pay DEP fees which will eliminate approx. $10,000 from the proposed budget. Mr. Shuris said that if the site proves viable, the water would require a treatment facility and a transportation/ distribution system. Future use of the water from the site will not eliminate the need for Worcester water; however, it will provide the town with the ability to supplement its system and lessen its dependency for water from the City of Worcester. A best case scenario would save the town approximately $551,000/year in water purchases from Worcester. Additionally, there are opportunities for 0% interest loans.
Mr. Dennis D’Amore, D’Amore Associates, reviewed his environmental involvement with the ECC site over the last 15-years. Chlorinated solvents exist in the groundwater. However, chlorinated solvents are the easiest of pollutants to treat through carbon filtration. The two wells on site have been dormant since 2005 and contamination is migrating towards Spring Street well fields. The treatment facility could be housed in one of the buildings currently on site. He said he is scheduled to walk the site with the DEP on September 9th and more answers will be available after that date.
The Manager said that if the Town does not pursue the water treatment option, the Town will eventually own the property whether a well site is developed or not due to outstanding liens against the property. Additionally, the Town will need to address the migrating contamination from the wells to the Spring Street well fields. There will be costs associated with this treatment. He said that while he could not give definitive answers right now, he would not allow this project to become another Poor Farm Brook project.
Mr. Andy Miller with CDM discussed costs associated with transporting potential water from the ECC site. He said that in order to determine whether the ECC site is a viable water supply, CDM would need to run a feasibility assessment. The study would include running a simulation model to determine the distribution and hydraulic needs, treatment costs, power and the possibility of combining both the ECC and Spring Street sites.
Chairman Ferguson reminded members of the Finance Committee that the Selectmen voted a week ago to proceed with exploring water resource options at the ECC site. They are in unanimous agreement that it is worth the cost of the testing process to reduce Holden’s reliance on Worcester water. She said that the Board does not want another Poor Farm Brook.
Mr. Tom Morgan with CDM said there are many technical options/questions that the feasibility study will answer; there is a possibility of moving potential well fields closer to Spring Street wells to avoid contaminated areas. He added that the Spring Street well might also need treatment because its high magnesium levels lower the water production capabilities.
Chairman Ferguson left the meeting at 8:47PM.
Finance Committee Chairman Berg said that there is no compelling reason that the Town has to take over the ECC site. However, something may have to be done to protect the Spring Street site.
The Manager said that estimated costs to determine the feasibility of the site are $120,000-$150,000. No money is needed until the meeting with the DEP on 9/9. He requested that the Finance Committee front the reserve fund money which can be returned if not spent. MTBE settlement money can be used to offset this transfer.
The Finance Committee agreed to revisit the issue after 9/9.
After some discussion, the majority of the Finance Committee agreed that while the project may be worth pursuing, it should not be funded through a reserve fund transfer.
Sel. White requested that the Board schedule a discussion of the issue at it’s September 8th meeting to discuss a holding of a Special Town Meeting at the end of September.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was VOTED 3-0 TO ADJOURN THE AUGUST 26, 2009 MEETING AT 9:20PM.
APPROVED: September 8, 2009
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