HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN MEETING MINUTES
MAY 18, 2009
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Kimberly Ferguson, James Jumonville, Kenneth O’Brien, Anthony Renzoni, David White
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager, Robert Martin, Town Counsel, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Ferguson opened the meeting at 6:00PM. She introduced herself as the new Chair of the Holden Board of Selectmen.
Vote on Warrant Article 31
The Board discussed Warrant Article 31 (Removal of Police Chief from Civil Service). The Board unanimously agreed that it was important to gather more information regarding the subject prior to putting the article before Town Meeting. The Board directed the Manager to create a study committee comprised of members from the Board of Selectmen, Police Department and legal representation to bring a recommendation back to a future Town Meeting. The Board agreed to take no action on Warrant Article 31. Sel. Jumonville volunteered to speak to the motion on the Town Meeting floor.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED THAT THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN RECOMMEND TO TAKE NO ACTION ON WARRANT ARTICLE 31 AT THE MAY 18, 2009 TOWN MEETING.
Vote on Water/Sewer Budget
The Board discussed Warrant Article 6-5 (Water/Sewer Budget). Sel. O’Brien requested that the administration restructure rates to benefit those who conserve water and sewer usage and address fixed costs. Sel. O’Brien said he would push forward a joint meeting between the Selectmen and the Water/Sewer Advisory Board.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT WARRANT ARICLE 6-5 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE MAY 18, 2009 TOWN MEETING.
Vote to Hold Public Hearing on Water and Trash Rates
The Board requested that the administration provide information on trash and unaccounted for water prior to the June 1, 2009 Board meeting.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND TRASH RATES ON JUNE 1, 2009.
Employee Picnic
The Board agreed to hold the annual employee picnic on Thursday, June 18th at Trout Brook.
Vote on Revolving Funds
The Board discussed Warrant Articles 14, 15, and 16 (Revolving Funds).
Finance Committee Chair Alan Berg joined the meeting. He informed the Board that the Finance Committee voted to change the language of these revolving funds to restrict the maximum spending of the accounts and reduce the amount of money to fund them. He said that Finance Committee expressed concern regarding money being appropriated by the Recreation Committee to build a skate park without having any definite plans for construction. These departments should have to live within their budget. The Finance Committee allowed each fund a cost of living increase.
Sel. White commented that the allocation in the Recreation Revolving Fund was for a skate-park requested by the Selectmen. This money was to be used for a potential park design. He commented that none of the Revolving Funds in question have ever been mismanaged and feels that the Finance Committee is micro-managing the Town Budget and stretching its authority.
Sel. O’Brien commented that Recreation Director Denise Morano is fiscally conservative. He encouraged the Town to seek a fiscal commitment from residents to help offset costs to build the park. However, he said that he would support the Finance Committee’s recommendation to place a restriction on the Inspection Revolving Fund.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED THAT THE SELECTMEN SUPPORT THE STATUATORY LIMIT FOR WARRANT ARTICLE 14 (RECREATION REVOLVING FUND) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
The Manager commented that the administration has never had a problem with the way that the funds are managed. He requested that the Board vote and take a consistent approach to the Cable TV and Inspection Revolving Funds (WA 15 & 16).
Sel. Renzoni questioned why the Administration funded the Inspection Fund at the Statutory Limit when the budget amount request was 67K less?
Mr. Berg said that this was one of the concerns that the Finance Committee faced when reviewing these funds. He said it was good fiscal management to place limits on all three accounts.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED THAT THE SELECTMEN SUPPORT THE STATUATORY LIMIT FOR WARRANT ARTICLES 15 & 16 (CABLE TV AND INSPECTION REVOLVING FUNDS) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. (Opposed: O’Brien).
The Board and the Manager reviewed the alternative language for Warrant Articles 14, 15, and 16.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT WARRANT ARTICLES 13 AND 19 (CREATE WATER/SEWER STABILIZATION FUND AND BALANCE FY09 WATER/SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Assistant Town Manager Kelly said that the Town Treasurer and Collector requested that the Board vote to take no action/support or fund Warrant Article 30 (Accept H 5148 Healthcare Retiree Trust Fund) until further information becomes available.
The Manager commented that the Town has no choice; the fund is a state mandated fund that must be approved. He recommended that the Board maintain their original vote to support the creation of the fund: just don’t put any money in it.
Recess to Town Meeting
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RECESS TO TOWN MEETING AT 6:55PM AND RECONVENE AT THE END OF TOWN MEETING FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE MAY 18, 2009 MEETING AT 9:15 PM.
APPROVED: June 1, 2009
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