HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2009
6:30PM Senior Center
Present: Chairman David White, Kimberly Ferguson, James Jumonville, Joseph Sullivan, Kenneth O’Brien
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman White opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectmen Appointments
The Manager excused himself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.
The Assistant Town Manager presented a request from Democratic Town Committee Chairman Cynthia Bazinet for the reappointment of Ms. Kerri Knorring to the Committee.
Sel. Sullivan explained that Ms. Knorring was the Town Manager’s daughter.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REAPPOINT MS. KERRI KNORRING TO THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE TO A THREE YEAR TERM EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2012.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: AHC: nothing to report.
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Sel. O’Brien reported that the Committee had not met. He said he has a call into Dennis Lipka.
Water/Sewer: Inquired if the Committee would meet prior to Town Meeting in May to make a recommendation on future capital improvements to the Water/Sewer Commissioners. The Manager reported he is currently reviewing all deficit accounts. The FY10 budget includes a request to paint the Highland Street Tank, and other capital items. The Manager said he assumed the Board, acting as Water/Sewer Commissioners, would meet prior to Town Meeting to discuss open items. The Board agreed to send a letter to the representative in Boston responsible for the dispersal of the Federal stimulus package. The letter will reconfirm previous correspondence to outline the town’s prioritized list of capital improvements that was submitted for the stimulus money. Sel. Sullivan requested that the Administration post
the Board for the next Water/Sewer Advisory Committee. He suggested that Sel. O’Brien contact the Chairman of the Water/Sewer Advisory Committee to inquire when the next meeting will be held.
Sel. White: PSBC: Committee held a meeting on February 12, 2009 to review its current budget and bring into line spending appropriations. The project has gone out to bid. Bids will be opened in late March.
Regional Selectmen’s Meeting: Attended the Regional Selectmen’s Meeting on February 5th. Discussion focused on the municipal and school budgets. The next meeting will be held in March in the Town of Sterling. The date will be forwarded to the Board.
Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Committee: Next meeting: February 24th at 7PM. Announced the Committee will tape a show for cable TV, which will be shown in March. Sel. Ferguson inquired if any emergency vehicles will be used in the parade. She said that the children enjoy seeing the fire and police vehicles.
Reappointment to the Historic District Commission
The Board interviewed Dr. Steven D’Aquila, a candidate for reappointment to the Historic District Commission. Dr. D’Aquila said he was interested in continuing to serve the town as a volunteer in order to give back to the community. He currently serves as the Chairman to the Commission. Sel. Sullivan inquired how the Commission works to preserve historic integrity while working with today’s modern materials. Dr. D’Aquila said that the bylaws clearly state that vinyl is strictly forbidden when used in a historic district. He said he supports the need to review each application individually. The Committee is bound by guidelines set by the State. History is part of what the Commission supports. He encouraged applicants to come and have a dialogue with the 5 Commission members. Sel. Sullivan commented that The First Congregational Church was recently clad in vinyl. Dr. D’Aquila said that a previous Commission approved the use of vinyl at the church based on hardship. Sel.
White commented that the Commission should be respective of its past practices and decisions, as these set precedents. The Committee cannot treat one application one way and another application another way and use the excuse of former Committee members for the decisions that were made.
Sel. O’Brien said that he felt the Board members were grilling Dr. D’Aquila and dictating potential members’ positions that might not be appropriate. The Board interviews other Committee and Commission candidates off camera. Dr. D’Aquila said he could only attend an interview session during a regular meeting on camera. Dr. D’Aquila encouraged members of the public and the Board of Selectmen to attend a future Historic District Commission meeting to have any questions answered.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Sullivan, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REAPPOINT DR. STEVEN D’AQUILA TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION TO A THREE-YEAR TERM.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
1st Battalion 181st Infantry Certificate
The Manager announced that the Town had received a Certificate of Appreciation from the First Battalion, 181st Infantry, Massachusetts National Guard for the support and assistance the Town provided to their soldiers during the December 2008 Ice Storm. The Board agreed to send a letter of gratitude to the Commander of the First Battalion 181st Infantry.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
The Manager informed the Selectmen that Mass Highway would hold a design public hearing to replace the River Street Bridge on March 3, 2009 at 7PM at Memorial Hall. James Shuris, DPW Director will attend on behalf of the town.
The Manager informed the Board that over the past six months, Town business offices at the Starbard Building, Town Hall, and Light Department have been open on Tuesdays until 7PM and have closed at Noon on Fridays. He reported that the town has received positive feedback from residents and many of the offices affected by the extended hours. He requested that the Board vote to make the added service and extended hour’s permanent.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO SET THE EXTENDED TOWN BUSINESS HOURS AT THE STARBARD BUILDING, TOWN HALL AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT ON TUESDAYS UNTIL 7PM AND CLOSE AT NOON ON FRIDAYS AS PERMANENT BUSINESS HOURS. (OPPOSED: O’BRIEN.)
The Manager provided the Board with a proposed Master Plan Monitoring Committee draft to review. The Manager said that several vacancies exist on the Committee.
The Board received a Budget Message Letter, a Resource Profile, and memo outlining a FY09 Deficit Funding Plan as prepared by the Town Manager. The Board agreed to review the materials and discuss them in depth at a later date. The Chairman asked the Manager to read the FY09 Deficit Funding Plan into record. The Manager also detailed what he and the Board will discuss at the “kickoff” meeting to the budget season, which is also called the Resource Profile meeting. The Resource Profile meeting will be held on February 23, 2009. The Board discussed the use of Light Department Depreciation Fund money. The Manager said that the HMLD Depreciation Fund has less use for new, unanticipated funding, and was better used for long term debt. The Manager said he was fortunate to be able to use money borrowed for
the Public Safety project to immediately pay bills incurred by the storm. The Town of Princeton had to borrow, and that debt must be paid off on an accelerated plan within two years. The proposed surcharge outlined in the FY09 Deficit Funding Plan to pay the Town’s storm related debt will show ratepayers that there is an end to the debt. Sel. Ferguson said she was pleased to see the plan to pay for the debris clean up is considerate to taxpayers. The Chairman commented that residents are paying tree contractors to clear debris damage and the contractors. These contractors are leaving very large amounts of tree trunks/debris on the properties for the Town to haul away. Extra amounts of tree debris will increase the Town’s costs. Sel. Jumonville suggested that the Town consider permitting tree workers who work in town. The Manager thought that this was a very gray area. A monitoring system will cost money. Sel. Sullivan
inquired who would be responsible for clearing the sewer trunk lines for the MWRA properties. It was suggested that the Town meet with Rutland and Princeton to discuss potential maintenance and eventually ownership to these lines
The Board reviewed the Year-To-Date Revenue and Expenditure Report for the period ending December 2008 and January 2009 as prepared by Lori Rose, Town Accountant.
The Board reviewed the FY2010 Budget Calendar/Election Schedule.
Sel. Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Expressed continued concern about dog curbing issues at Trout Brook. People need to manage their pets. He proposed signage, and doggie bag dispensers from the DCR are installed at Trout Brook. He also said the Town should consider patrols to implement fines to owners who disregard the rules. Sel. Ferguson encouraged the use of curbing mechanisms. She questioned who would monitor the patrols.
2. Sel. O’Brien commented that members of the Army Corps of Engineers have provided clean up in other communities (Rutland) for free. Will they provided this type of service to Holden? The Town Manager said the ACE did create brush/debris estimates in Rutland. An ACE representative did spend some time in Holden, but not to the extent of Rutland. The Manager added that trying to estimate the brush removal with snow on the ground was a wasted effort. FEMA will be sending help to scout the Town and train the Tree Warden.
3. Good Neighbor Award will be presented to Eric and Lois Johansen and Larry and Lori Altobelli on March 19th at 7PM at the Senior Center.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Nothing to report.
Sel. White: 1. Town Manager’s Evaluation cumulative report draft will be available to Board members soon. Sel. White and Ferguson will meet with the Town Manager to review the evaluation results. Each Board member will receive a copy of each Selectmen’s evaluation.
2. Street signs facing south/southwest along Main Street have had the Town Seal washed/faded out by the sun. He asked the Manager to investigate.
A MMA wrap-up discussion will be schedule for the next meeting.
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Ice Storm Feedback session on February 24th at 7PM at the Light Department. Board to meet at 5:30PM prior to the meeting.
2. Requested a timeline for repair on the water meter.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. February 17, 2009 is the first day to take out nomination papers for elected town positions.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTENTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 2, 2009 AS PRESENTED. (Abstained: Sullivan.)
Executive Session
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:17PM FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY. ROLL CALL: Sullivan: yes; O’Brien: yes; Jumonville: yes: Ferguson: yes; White: yes.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE FEBRUARY 17, 2009 MEETING AT 9PM.
Approved: March 2, 2009
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