HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 2, 2009
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Vice-Chair Kimberly Ferguson, James Jumonville, Joseph Sullivan, Kenneth O’Brien (arrived 6:39PM)
Absent: Chairman David White
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Vice-Chair Ferguson opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Vice-Chair Ferguson announced that Chairman White would not attend the March 2, 2009 meeting.
Dennis Rindone
Vice-Chair Ferguson announced the unexpected passing of Dennis Rindone, Princeton’s Town Administrator on Sunday, March 1, 2009. The Board and the Administration expressed their condolences to Mr. Rindone’s family and observed a moment of silence in his honor. Sel. Sullivan spoke on behalf of the Board in remembrance of Mr. Rindone and his life’s accomplishments. The Board agreed to send its condolences and a donation to Mr. Rindone’s family.
MMA Conference Follow-Up
Sel. O’Brien arrived at the meeting at 6:39PM.
The Board summarized their activities during the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Annual Conference and the annual Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association Meeting in January 2009. Sel. Sullivan provided a summary on the two workshops he attended during the conference: Massachusetts Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities and New Horizons for Ed Reform. Sel. Jumonville attended Sex Offender’s Residency Bylaw: The Changing Landscape, School Building Authority Update, and Municipal Law Update. Sel. Jumonville passed out handout materials from the seminars he attended. Sel. O’Brien attended Health Care Plan Design and The Rainy Day Fund (establishing municipal stabilization funds). Vice-Chair Ferguson said she attended Crises Communication and Crises Skill Building and Recreation
Opportunities for Your Town.
Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Ferguson: AHC: nothing to report.
Sel. O’Brien: EDC: Will meet March 24th at 8AM at the Starbard Building.
Water/Sewer: Will meet March 10th at 7PM at the Starbard Building.
Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Committee: Next meetings: March 10 at 7PM at the Senior Center and March 24 at the Starbard Building.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
The Manager reported that according to Jane Dutton, Library Director, out of ninety-one libraries in Central, MA, Holden had the fourth highest use of items going out on delivery. This includes all the items that patrons from Holden borrow from other libraries and that other towns borrow from the Gale Free Library.
The Manager said that the Administration is in the process of preparing the 2008 Town Report. He explained that the Town dedicates the report to an important individual or group who has contributed to the quality of the lives of Holden residents. The Manager will include a paragraph on the Town’s success at lobbying for educational funding in the Town Report. Selectmen suggestions for a dedication for the Town Report should be forwarded directly to the Town Manager.
The Manager spoke about the passing of Princeton’s Town Administrator Dennis Rindone.
The Manager said that Casella trash town-wide pick up has been delayed one day due to the
March 2, 2009 snow event.
Storm Response Update
The Manager informed the Board that the FEMA reimbursement reporting deadline is March 26th. The Town’s FEMA representative must leave her duties to the Town before that date, and so the Town is internally preparing its paperwork to be finished prior to March 26th. The Manager added that should the Town require additional time to prepare its paperwork, there is an opportunity to file for an extension. The Manager said that Jeff Daly with the DCR has been cooperative regarding planning for brush/debris pick-up. However, the weather has not been cooperating. The Manager said that no pick-up dates have been scheduled because of the continued snowstorms. Residents who are interested in applying for a burn permit should contact the Fire Department. The Manager said he would check to
make sure fees are still being waived for burn permits. The Board agreed to add an Ice Storm Update to future Board Agendas. Sel. O’Brien suggested that residents could participate in a storm fundraising effort by splitting ice storm trees into firewood to be sold. The Manager said that he thought that most people do not have the skills to operate a chainsaw, and that this idea was very dangerous. Vice-Chair Ferguson informed the audience that the Board had conducted a public ice storm feedback meeting on February 24, 2009.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
Starbard Scholarship
Vice-Chair Ferguson announced it was time for the Board to award the Starbard Scholarship. The scholarship is available to any college student with a major or minor in Government. The Manager said his office would advertise the availability of the scholarship.
Sel. Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. The Democratic Town Committee will present its Good Neighbor Award at a ceremony on March 19th at 7PM at the Senior Center. Sel. O’Brien will forward personal information regarding the recipients for proclamation purposes to the Town Manager’s office.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Gave the Manager a picture of the Board from the MMA. At the next meeting, the Board will take an updated group photo for the Town Report.
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Provided an updated on the progress of the Town Manager’s Evaluation. She said that she and Sel. White are waiting for feedback from the Manager and from the rest of the Board. Comments are due to Sel. Ferguson by March 6, 2009.
Sel. Sullivan: 1. Discussed the Sel. Miscellaneous policy. Items to be included under Sel. Miscellaneous are required to be forwarded to the Town Manager the Thursday prior to the next Monday meeting to afford the Manager the opportunity to research an answer. Sel. Sullivan commented that the Board seems to have strayed from this policy and needs to return to the guidelines of the policy.
2. Discussed the upcoming FY10 budget season and Educational Reform. Other Towns are having extreme difficulty balancing their budgets this year. The Town of Holden however, is in a good position. He asked that Board members approach the upcoming budget season positively.
3. Announced that the Town’s local government needs volunteers. He also announced the local election status. Vacancies exist on the Conservation Commission. The Manager added that he was still seeking volunteers to the Holden Tomorrow Implementation Committee. The Manager will provide an update on current committee/commission vacancies at the next meeting.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE AND RELEASE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 2009 AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 2009 AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE RESOURCE PROFILE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 23, 2009 AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was VOTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE ICE STORM MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 24, 2009 AS PRESENTED.
Representative Lew Evangelidis
Commented on the passing of Dennis Rindone. He reported that the State House is in the process of finalizing the State budget. He said he would continue to update the Board regarding the status of MEMA reimbursement, as information is available.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Sullivan, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE MARCH 2, 2009 MEETING AT 7:40PM.
Approved: March 16, 2009
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