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12/20/10
HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2010

6:30PM                                                                                  Memorial Hall

Present:                
Chairman David White, Anthony Renzoni, Robert Lavigne,
James Jumonville, Kimberly Ferguson

Others Present: 
Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Robert Martin, Town Counsel
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary

Chairman White opened the meeting at 6:30PM.  The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Selectmen Appointments

The Manager said that all of the establishments presented on the green paper were in compliance for their annual license renewals.

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE ALL ANNUAL TOWN LICENSES PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE GREEN PAPER.

Town Manager’s Miscellaneous

Chairman White informed the Town Manager that he had appointed Sel. Renzoni and Sel. Lavigne to serve on the Town Charter Advisory Committee.  

The Town Manager informed the Board that the Town would sponsor a free flu clinic on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 4:30PM-6:30PM at the Senior Center.  The vaccine will be available for all Holden residents 9 years and older.  Appointments are not required.  Participants are asked to bring their insurance card.  Questions can be addressed to the Board of Health at 508-829-0254.

The Manager reminded the Board that Town offices would be closed on Friday, December 24, 2010.  All offices will be open regular business hours on Friday, December 31, 2010.

The Manager informed the Board that since the week between Christmas and New Years is a recycling week, there would not be any requirement for extra recycling pick-ups.  Residents can learn more about recycling during the holiday season at www.townofholden.net.  Residents are asked during inclement weather months to check the town’s web site to make sure the trash pick up schedule has not been changed.  The Manager added that due to the recent success of the Town’s first Personal Document Shredding Day, another event has been schedule for April 9, 2011 from 8AM-12PM at the Senior Center.  Proof of residency will be required to participate in the event.

The Manager announced the DPW would hold its Christmas Tree Chipping Program from 8AM-2:30PM on Saturday, January 8, 2011 and Saturday, January 15th.  The program will be located at the DPW Garage on Adams Road and is open to residents of Holden.

The Board reviewed the Selectmen’s meeting schedule for January through July 2011.

Selectmen Subcommittees

Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Parade Committee: Committee will meet on January 12th.
Skate Park: Committee will meet on January 11th.

Sel. Renzoni: Master Plan: Nothing to report.
Water/Sewer: Nothing to report.

Sel. Lavigne: EDC: Nothing to report.
Open Space Committee: The 12/9 meeting was cancelled.

Sel. White: Public Safety Building Committee: Committee met on 12/15.  Punch list checklist is ongoing.  The bid schedule for renovations to the old fire station will be reviewed in January 2011.  Renovations to the building include a new roof, doors, and windows, which are outdated and leak.  All budget projections were included in the original PSB warrant article.

Mountview Building Committee Study Committee: Committee met on 12/16 and chose Gary Kaczmarek as the Owners Project Manager.  The Committee will conduct a feasibility study over the next year taking into consideration the academic requirements from the District.

Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Nothing to report.

Selectmen Miscellaneous

Sel. White: 1. Sel. White responded to a recent headline in the Landmark indicating that the Town Manager had received a score of 68 on her recent six-month performance evaluation.  Sel. White rebuked the headline explaining that the way the evaluation is scored is not conducive to converting the scores to a grade point average.  He said the misinformation presented in the headline was a disservice to the Manager who is well qualified to lead the Town, and to the Board of Selectmen.  

Sel. Ferguson: 1. Sel. Ferguson commented that the FY12 budget process would begin in January 2011.  The Manager said that Department heads have already submitted their budget requests.  The budget be prepared and submitted to the Finance Committee on February 15, 2011.  Resource Profile meetings will occur each Wednesday until the budget is presented at Town Meeting in May.  The Manager said that she anticipates a decrease in State aide and has already taken steps to reduce the budget by 10%.

Acceptance of Previous Minutes

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 ABSTAINED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 15, 2010 MEETING MINUTES.  (ABSTAINED: FERGUSON.)

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 WITH AMENDMENTS BY SEL. FERGUSON TO INCLUDE A CHANGE TO HER SEL. MISCELLANEOUS TO INCLUDE THE PHRASE “IT WILL BE PURCHASED IN CY11.” AND TO INCLUDE THE SENTENCE IN THE TOWN MANAGER’S EVALUATION DISCUSSION “ SEL. FERGUSON SAID THAT SOME CRITERIA ON THE EVALUATION WERE NOT RATED DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOWN MANAGER GALKOWSKI HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB SIX MONTHS.”

The Selectmen recessed the meeting at 6:50PM and agreed to reconvene the meeting at 7PM to proceed with Citizens’ Address.

Certificates of Recognition

The Selectmen presented E.J. Johannsen and Bill Rand, two members of the WachusettEarthDay Inc. for their work with local residents as well as local and state agencies to encourage recycling and reuse. Mr. Johannsen and Mr. Rand along with other Board members and 60 volunteers protect the Wachusett Watershed by operating the Wachusett Regional Recycling Center in West Boylston.

Additionally, The Board presented a Certificate of Recognition to Colleen Abrams, President of WachusettEarthday Inc. for her dedication and tireless efforts to open the Wachusett Watershed Regional Recycling Center in December 2009.

7.   Citizens’ Address

No one came forward to address the Board.

8.   Public Hearing – Holden Trap Rock

The Manager read the notice of Public Hearing into record.

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:15PM.

Mr. John Lavin, President of Earthworks Engineering submitted an application for the modification of the existing license to store combustible/flammable materials in above ground storage tanks on behalf of Holden Trap Rock.  Mr. Andrew Forest, President of Holden Trap Rock was also in attendance.  Mr. Lavin said that the modifications to the existing storage license of liquid asphalt mixtures (wax, latex, and liquid asphalt) are due to changes in the Federal Transportation Highway Laws.  The 2, 30,000 proposed storage tanks can not be viewed from the roadway and are buffered from abutters.  The storage tanks are intended to hold more liquid asphalt, which will require fewer tanker refills.

Mr. Tim Kelly, 425 Causeway Street, addressed the Board as an abutter to the property.  He asked if the expansion on the property would cause an increase in the noxious fumes from the site.  He asked how air quality was monitored and if the upgrades included air-monitoring equipment.  

Mr. Lavin and Mr. Forest said that environmental regulations including air quality are monitored by the DEP.  The site has an air permit from MA DEP who frequently visit the site to conduct testing.

Town Manager Galkowski read a letter from abutter Marilyn Foley into record.  Ms. Foley’s letter raised concerns about the fumes that come from the site and said she opposed the increase in the storage tanks.

No one else from the public came forward to address the Board.

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:30PM.

Dep. Fire Chief Alex Belisle informed the Board that he had reviewed the proposed expansion plans and felt that the upgrades were contained properly.  He said that the material being stored was considered a class 3 material and was not considered a fire hazard.  He said the plans had quality containment to ensure safe storage.  He said that in his career with the Town, he could not recall the fire department being called to the HTR site.

A motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson to approve the application as presented was discussed.

Sel. Jumonville inquired about the odor issues raised by the abutters.  Mr. Forest said he would investigate the odor issue but doubted it was coming from the current storage tanks.  He said the odor occurs when product is made.  The State tests emissions out of the furnace stack not storage tanks.  He said the facility had always been within State requirements.  He said that abutters were always encouraged to contact Holden Trap Rock with concerns.

Sel. Renzoni inquired if an increase in raw material on site would mean an increase in production?  Mr. Forest said that the economy drives production.  The increase in storage will allow HTR to meet more just in time deliveries with fewer tanker refills to the site.  Liquid asphalt is solid at 70 degrees F and if the tanks were punctured, the contents would spread slowly, if at all.  Containment of the material would not be a problem.

Sel. Ferguson commented that HTR is a good business in Town and was comfortable with the information presented during the hearing.

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR A PROPOSED MODIFICATION FOR ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANK LICENSE FOR HOLDEN TRAP ROCK AS PRESENTED.

9. Adjournment

Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 20, 2010 MEETING AT 8:05PM.

APPROVED: February 7, 2011