Holden Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2010
6:30 p.m. Memorial Hall-Town Hall
Present: Chairman David White, Kimberly Ferguson, Robert Lavigne and James Jumonville. Anthony Renzoni was absent
Others Present: Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Robin Harned-Burke, Recording Secretary
Chairman White called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman White announced that Sel. Anthony Renzoni would not be attending the meeting.
1 Selectmen Licenses/Appointments
Appointment of Warren A. Stowell, 1106 Wachusett St., Jefferson, as constable. Mr. Stowell’s application had been reviewed by the police chief, said Town Manager Nancy Galkowski.
- Sel. Ferguson made the motion: move that Warren Stowell be recommended for appointment as constable. Sel. Jumonville seconded. The Board supported the appointment, 4-0.
2 Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. James Jumonville: Skateboard Park Committee: next meeting 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 12 at the Starbard Building.
Memorial Day Parade Committee: next meeting 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 13 at Town Hall.
Sel. Kimberly Ferguson: none of her subcommittees met since the board’s last meeting
Sel. Robert Lavigne: Open Space Committee: Tuesday, October 5.
Chairman David White: Public Safety Building Committee: work on the new Public Safety Building continues, looking for a completion date for the beginning of November. Phone and technology systems have been settled. Some new concrete work had been ripped out due to shrinkage cracks. The work had to be redone.
Not quite 7 p.m., the Board skipped Citizens’ Address and moved onto the next topic.
3 Set Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, October 31, 2010
- Sel. Ferguson motioned to set Halloween Trick-or-Treat hours from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.Sel. Lavigne seconded.
- Sel. Ferguson reminded drivers to exercise caution on the road that afternoon/evening.
- Chairman White asked if the temporary electronic sign board could be placed in front of the Industrial Park to remind motorists of the Halloween hours and to be cautious.
- Selectmen supported the motion, 4-0.
4 Town Manager Miscellaneous
a. Change in PCA Rate – The Manager announced that the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) rate effective for the quarter beginning October 1, 2010 will be revised downward. The new rate will reduce the average residential customer’s bill by $1.50 or 1.6 % from last quarter. Since March, the average customer’s monthly bill has been reduced by 12.3 % or $11.45. The change was due to the continued lower cost of power in the wholesale markets and the energy sales exceeding the 2010 budget estimates.
- Chairman White asked the Manager to pass along the Board’s appreciation to the Holden Municipal Light Department staff for all its good work. The Manager said she would.
b. Free Cash - The Manager notified the Board that the state has certified the town’s Free Cash as of July 1, 2010 at $1,196,281. The Manager said most of the Free Cash came back in the reduction of expenditures and conservation on the part of the department heads. With the money now available, the Manager said she would come up with a plan on how to use it, in light of some of the goals the Board has set.
- Chairman White asked if the Board could get a report on how the Town did on revenue this past year. The Manager said yes.
c. Holiday Schedule - Christmas and New Years Day holidays fall on Saturdays this year. The Manager recommended that Town offices be closed Friday, December 24, 2010. Those offices which work a half day would have a half day floating holiday to be used prior to June 30, 2011. The Town would remain open on December 31, 2010 on a regular schedule and New Years Day would be a floating holiday for Town employees, which must be taken prior to June 30, 2011.
The Manager recommended that the Board consider giving the day after Thanksgiving as a day off for all employees.
- Sel. Ferguson made the motion that Town offices be closed on December 24, 2010 and that the employees have the half floating holiday to be used prior to June 30, 2011. Sel. Lavigne seconded. The Board supported the motion, 4-0.
The Manager said the Board did not have to vote on the New Years holiday recommendation since it’s in the town bylaws. Selectmen concurred that Town offices would remain open on December 31, 2010 on a regular schedule and New Years Day would be a floating holiday for Town employees, which must be taken prior to June 30, 2011.
- Sel. Ferguson motioned that the Board give the day after Thanksgiving off as a holiday for all employees. Sel. Lavigne seconded. Selectmen supported the motion, 4-0.
5 Water Management Permit
The Manager notified the Board that the Town received its Water Management Permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection. She said the Town went through its annual review and the permit goes through to 2014.
The Manager noted Special Condition 3 (Ground Water Supply Protection). The Manager said the condition is being worked on by the Planning Department in conjunction with Engineering. It is anticipated that the bylaw changes will be brought to the Annual Town Meeting in May 2011.
The Manager reviewed Special Condition No. 6 (Seasonal Limits on Nonessential Outdoor Water Use) calendar triggered restrictions, which will limit daily “nonessential” outdoor use from May 1 through September 30, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., commencing in 2011 through February 28, 2014. There was some discussion on what defines “nonessential” outdoor water uses subject to mandatory restrictions, what water uses may be allowed and the water uses not subject to mandatory restrictions.
The Manager said that the public will be notified of the restrictions before April 1, and that they are required under the water permit issued by the state.
- Sel. Lavigne inquired about the rational for not following the stream-flow trigger. The Manager said it’s more difficult to do under the stream-flow trigger and confusion would be a concern
- Sel. Lavigne inquired about the cost of a leak detection survey. The Manager said she’d look into a cost
- Some discussion with Sel. Jumonville about people’s businesses and how the restrictions might or might not affect them
- Sel. Ferguson inquired whether the board would see an enforcement protocol first. The Manager said yes
- Sel. Ferguson said she’d like to have more discussion with the Manager and the DPW director about the calendar trigger and stream flow trigger. The Manager said she could have DPW Director Jim Shuris come in and talk to the Board about the advantages and disadvantages of each
- Chairman White inquired whether the Board had the ability to challenge this and ask “why?” He said he felt the town was being mandated not by lack of water supply and not by a documented overuse or abuse, but by rule. He said he did not think it was right and finds the policy to be arbitrary. He said the town should be questioning why the regulations are being put into place when the state couldn’t get the restrictions into legislation three years ago to reduce the gallons per day that each individual could use
- Sel. Ferguson said residents have been putting forth a good effort to conserve water. As this time period comes forward, the conservation issue needs to be stressed, if it’s conservation driven. Sel. Ferguson said she’d like to talk to the DPW director about the report
6 Citizens Address
There were no speakers
7 Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Jumonville - No miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson
- Attended the dedication of Porcupine Hill on Rte. 31 on Sunday, October 3. This land, about 50 acres, was obtained by the White Oak Land Conservation Society. The event was well attended and included guest speakers. Gave Sel. White some trail mix from the event.
- Announced that she attended the Public Power Luncheon at the Senior Center earlier in the day. More than 130 people attended. Folks from the Holden Municipal Light Department and Senior Center worked together to do the luncheon. A presentation was made to seniors on how they could save and conserve energy. It was a well-attended event.
Sel. Lavigne - No miscellaneous
Chairman White
- Progress on fire hydrant painting? The Manager said that since July, 170 additional hydrants have been painted. Painting in the Rte. 31 to Main Street to Shrewsbury Street areas has been completed. Work is now in progress in the Jefferson area, from Main Street to Quinapoxet Street.
- Response from NSTAR Gas on the sidewalks they damaged and need to be replaced? The Manager said they are looking at the one on Holden Street and will be replacing that before the end of the construction season.
- Inquired how work on the island in the Shrewsbury Street jug-handle was coming along. The Manager said work has been slower than anticipated, but staff will put the cobblestones in when they can. Work is slow because of the method, she said, and cannot commence in rain. It is also subject to when staffing allows. There is hope to have community service assist in this project. Vegetation will be planted in the spring.
- Inquired about message board updates. The Manager said it is still in progress and will hopefully go out to bid in the next two weeks
8 Follow up on Citizens Address: There were no speakers
9 Selectmen Minutes
- Sel. Ferguson moved to have the September 7, 2010 minutes accepted. Sel. Lavigne seconded. The Board voted 4-0 to accept the September 7, 2010 minutes.
- Sel. Ferguson moved to have the September 20, 2010 minutes accepted. Sel. Lavigne seconded. The Board voted 4-0 to accept the September 20, 2010 minutes.
10 Executive Session : There was no Executive Session
11 Adjournment : Sel. Lavigne motioned. Sel. Ferguson seconded. Board voted 4-0 to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVED__October 18, 2010_____________
| 
