HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Vice Chairman Kenneth O’Brien, Kenneth Lipka,
Anthony Renzoni, James Jumonville
Absent: Chairman Robert Lavigne
Others Present: Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Others Absent: Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Vice Chairman O’Brien opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. Vice Chairman O’Brien reported that Chairman Lavigne was travelling for work and that Town Manager Galkowski was attending an ICMA conference. Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager would serve as Acting Town Manager in her absence.
Selectmen Appointments, Licenses and Permits
Motion by Sel., Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AN ANNUAL COMMON VICTUALER LICENSE TO MARK E. BIRCH ON BEHALF OF MCDONALD’S CORPORATION FROM 4:30AM – 12AM FOR A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP EXPIRING DECEMBER 31, 2011 AS RECOMMENDED.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE A PARADE PERMIT TO KATHERINE MILLS ON BEHALF OF HOLDEN CROP WALK FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 FROM 1PM-5PM PENDING APPROVAL WITH POLICE DETAILS AS RECOMMENDED.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE A COMMON VICTUALER LICENSE TO BECKY SULLIVAN ON BEHALF OF CUB SCOUT PACK 46 FOR SATURDAYS FROM SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 TO OCTOBER 29, 2011 AS RECOMMENDED.
Daniel Kelleher, Postmaster of Holden Post Office
Acting Town Manager Kelly introduced Mr. Daniel Kelleher, a 15-year resident of Holden and 25 year employee of the Postal Service to the Board. She announced that Mr. Kelleher had been appointed as Postmaster of Holden in July. Mr. Kelleher previously held the position of Postmaster in Holliston, MA and was a financial services supervisor and internal control analyst with the postal service. He said he would operate an open door policy as the new Postmaster.
Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
Ms. Kelly reminded the Board that the Town Manager was attending the ICMA (International City/County Management Association Conference from September 16 through September 22, 2011.
Ms. Kelly informed the Board that the Police and Fire Departments would host Public Safety Day on Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 12PM – 4PM at the Public Safety Building, 1370 Main Street. The public is invited to tour the public safety facility and fire apparatus and police vehicles.
Ms. Kelly updated the Board on the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission’s (CMRPC) HUD Grant Application for Regional Sustainability Planning. Ms. Kelly said that the CMRPC requested the support of Holden in their efforts to obtain a $5 million grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development for deployment of sustainable planning and development in the Worcester and 39 surrounding communities. The proposal requests that the Town devote in-kind services of approximately 1 hour per week. Ms. Kelly said the administration requested the Board support the grant proposal.
Vice Chairman O’Brien said that after review of the CMRPC document, he had several questions regarding the grant; specifically, he said he would like clarification to determine how the grant will benefit the Town.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE DISCUSSION OF THE CMRPC HUD GRANT APPLICATION UNTIL THE OCTOBER 3, 2011 MEETING.
Ms. Kelly encouraged residents to sign up for the new reverse 911 emergency communications system CodeRed. The CodeRed system will allow residents to receive emergency communications notifications on cell phones, work phones, text messages or emails. Residents can visit holdenma.gov and opt into the service by clicking on the CodeRed icon at the top of the page.
Ms. Kelly informed the Board that the DPW worked on many roadway projects during the 2011 summer months. Improvements have been made to Highland Street, Bullard Street and Fisher Road. Longmeadow Ave., Pinecroft Ave., Larkspur Road, Sagewood Circle, Sheffield Way and Osgood Ave. are undergoing the final paving process.
Assistant Manager Kelly announced that the drainage on Quinapoxet Street from Windsor Circle to Bull Run needs to be replaced after the DPW experienced several failures over the summer. The Roadway will be closed for 10 working days to allow for extensive drainage repairs and pipe replacement beginning September 19, 2011. Quinapoxet Street will be closed to through traffic and school buses, but will remain open for local traffic. Ms. Kelly said the Town appreciated the patience of the residents during the repair work. The Board requested signs on Chapel Street to alert traffic to the detour.
The Board reviewed the draft re-stated Board of Selectmen FY2012-2013 Budget goals.
Ms. Kelly said that Department of Growth Manager Director Dennis Lipka is currently preparing to install the electronic sign at the intersection of Main Street and Shrewsbury Street. A trench is currently being constructed to install electric conduit and fiber optic cables.
Ms. Kelly reported that the Town employees lost to the Chamber of Commerce employees at the Annual Town Softball game.
Help at H.O.M.E. Update
Karen Halley, Vice Chairman of Help at H.O.M.E. and Jim Robinson, Manager HMLD, provided a condensed Annual Report for the Help at H.O.M.E. fund. Ms. Halley reported that over $16,000 was raised for the Welcome Aldrich Fund and was distributed to 41 households.
The Help at H.O.M.E committee will meet on September 26th at 4PM at the Light Department. Interested volunteers are invited to attend. More information is available at www.holdenma.gov.
Sel. Subcommittees
Sel. O’Brien: MSBC: Meeting on Sept 13th was cancelled
Open Space: Have not met.
Sel. Jumonville: Skate Park: Met September 13th. Next meeting October 11th at 5:30PM. Holden youth are encouraged to attend meetings to help with the design plan. New committee members are being sought to actively participate. Committee and residential enthusiasm has waned. If the youth of Holden want this park, they need to step up and become more active. More information is available at www.holdenma.gov. Money exists for the design phase but fundraising needs to occur in order to build
the park. Sel. Renzoni expressed concern that that if no skateboarders from Holden are attending meetings that perhaps there was not enough interest to building a facility. He suggested that Town assets are being allocated to a cause that resident’s are not interested in? Sel. Lipka said that a timeline for fundraising should be established.
Memorial Day Parade: Have not met.
Sel. Renzoni: W/S Advisory: Have not met. Will meet in September.
Master Plan: Have not met since July. Will meet in the Fall.
Sel. Lipka: Electric Power Advisory: Anticipate to meet Sept. 12th, 13th, or 14th
Affordable Housing Authority: Have not met.
Citizens’ Address
No one came forward to address the Board.
Sel. Miscellaneous
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Inquired about the sale of cigarettes and underage sales at the convenience store across from the High School. A resident made a complaint to the police department but was told that it was not their jurisdiction. Sel. Renzoni said that he had also received several calls regarding this issue. Sel. O’Brien said that youths are also loitering in front of the mini mall in order to smoke off the school campus. Ms. Kelly said she would look into what agency monitors the sales and the smoking and loitering issues.
2. Inquired if the Administration could provide the Board with an update on what steps the Town is taking to control its health care costs. Ms. Kelly said that a committee comprised of town employees is looking into health care cost savings measures.
3. Sterling Repertory Theater is running the production of Anne of Green Gables September 23, 24, 25.
Sel. Renzoni: 1. Said he would like to send a second letter to the Redistricting Committee to reiterate the Town’s desire to stay in the 3rd Congressional District.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SEND ANOTHER LETTER TO THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE TO REITERATE THAT THE TOWN OF HOLDEN WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN IN THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was VOTED 3-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTAINED TO APPROVE THE INTERVIEW MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 AS PRESENTED. (ABSTAINED: Jumonville.)
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 MEETING MINUTES WITH AN AMENDMENT BY SEL. O’BRIEN TO CHANGE THE VOTE ON PAGE TWO TO 4-0.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was VOTED 3-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTAINED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET GOALS MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS BY SEL. O’BRIEN TO: 1. REMOVE THE WORD “TAKING” AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE AND ADD THE WORDS “WORKING WITH THE STATE TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION OF SPRING STREET WELLFIELDS FROM THE ECC PROPERTY.”; 2. ADD THE WORDS “IN COMPLIANCE WITH MGL 115 AND IF NECESSARY” TO THE VETERAN’S AGENT GOAL ON PAGE THREE; AND 3. REMOVE THE WORDS “HAS TAKEN” FROM SEL. O’BRIEN’S INQUIRY REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC SIGN ON PAGE FOUR AND INSERT THE WORDS “WAITING FOR” INSTEAD.
8. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 MEETING AT 7:17PM.
APPROVED: October 3, 2011 as amended
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