HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 3, 2011
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.
Recognition of Ambulance Crew
Mrs. Melissa Staiti presented a plaque to Paramedic/Firefighter Rob Nickerson and EMT/Firefighter Sean Smith who delivered Mrs. Staiti’s baby in their ambulance at 6:16AM on August 24. It was Mrs. Staiti’s second son and the first delivery for Mr. Nickerson and Mr. Smith.
Regional Planning Grant for Board of Health Services
The Town Manager explained that there is an interest in providing regional Board of Health services. The goal is to provide better health services to the community in a more cost-effective manner. The State recently issued guidelines for planning grants for regionalizing health services. The State expects to distribute grant funding to eight groups throughout the Commonwealth. The Manager informed the Board that she would like the Town to participate in the planning grant process to determine if it would be in the Town’s best interest to further pursue regional Board of Health Services. The Board encouraged the Manager to pursuing the planning process.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
1. The Manager announced that she had promoted internal candidate Jack Cross as the Supervisor of Operations at the DPW. Mr. Cross has over 30-years work experience with the Town. The Board congratulated Mr. Cross on his promotion.
2. The Manager reported that it would be necessary to remove a plate in the road at the intersection of Holden Street/Brentwood Drive/Frederikson Ave/ on the Worcester/Holden line. Work on correcting the deficit in the road will disrupt water service to homeowners in this area. Residents are asked to shut off water service inside their homes during the construction.
3. The Manager reported a water main break occurred on December 26th at the intersection of 122A and Rt. 31. DPW crews worked very hard to repair the damage prior to and during the Nor’easter that occurred during this time period. The DPW will continue to make temporary repairs to the broken water main on January 4th. A permanent repair will be made in the spring. Costs associated to the repair of the water main are unknown at this time.
4. The Manager reviewed the snow removal budget to date. In a memo from DPW Director Jim Shuris, as of 1/3/11, approximately $139,000 has been expended/committed from the FY11 Snow & Ice Budget of $325,000, leaving $186,000 for the remainder of the winter season.
4. Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Jumonville: Memorial Day Parade Committee: Committee will meet on January 12th.
Skate Park: Public Hearing on January 5th.
Sel. Lavigne: EDC: Have not met.
Open Space Committee: Have not met.
Sel. Renzoni: Master Plan: Have not met.
Water/Sewer: Next meeting January 27.
Charter Review: Serving on the Committee with Sel. Lavigne. They requested a copy of the Town Charter to begin the review process.
Sel. White: Public Safety Building Committee: Next Meeting January 5th. Estimated costs for total renovation of the old fire station are $400,000. Structural changes to the building are part of the funding mechanism.
Mountview Building Committee Study Committee: Committee is scheduled to meet on 1/11 at the Mountview Library at 7PM.
Sel. Ferguson: Affordable Housing: Have not met.
5. Selectmen Miscellaneous
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Discussed the efforts of the DPW and Water/Sewer personnel who went above and beyond the call of duty in repairing the water main break on 12/26 in the face of the impending Nor’easter. The Board concurred with Sel. Ferguson and praised the dedication of the Town employees.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. Requested a copy of the course schedule for the upcoming MMA Conference. Chairman White said the schedule had been published in The Beacon. The Board should review the schedule and be prepared to discuss seminar assignments at the January 18th BOS meeting.
Sel. Lavigne: 1. Inquired if the Town had a way to use the reverse 911 system to alert residents to issues in certain neighborhoods similar to the emergency water main break in December. The Manager replied that the Town did implement the reverse-911 system during the water emergency. However, with only seven dedicated phone lines, it took several hours for all residents who were impacted by the issue to receive the information. She said a previously created subcommittee of town employees was looking into upgrading this system. New services are Internet based and have greater technology capabilities and faster response times. The cost to upgrade to this type of system would be approximately $10-$15 thousand dollars. Sel. Ferguson commented that all Selectmen should also receive these reverse-911
calls. The Manager apologized and said that while the Selectmen are always included in the reverse-911 calls, a glitch in the system this time prevented the Board from receiving the update. Chairman White commented that an upgrade of this system is crucial to the emergency preparedness plan being studied and created by the Administration at this time.
Sel. White: 1. Announced the Holden Reporter Dan Castro, who frequently reports on Selectmen meetings, had received a reporting award from The Central Mass Register for his coverage of local soccer events. Congratulations Dan!
6. Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
7. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE JANUARY 3, 2011 MEETING AT 7:10PM.
APPROVED: February 7, 2011
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