HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 5, 2012
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Robert Lavigne, Kenneth O’Brien (arrived 6:33PM), Anthony Renzoni,
Kenneth Lipka, James Jumonville
Others Present: Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Lavigne opened the meeting at 6:30PM.
- Town Manager’s Miscellaneous
- The Manager presented the Board with a list of 2012 roadway projects scheduled for the upcoming construction season, financing permitted. The projects will be posted on the town’s website. All utility companies have been notified. Sel. O’Brien inquired if a sidewalk could be installed to connect Mark Circle to Cranbrook Drive. The Manager said she would have the DPW Director investigate the request. However, she was unsure if there was enough money in the budget or time to conduct the engineering studies necessary to complete the request. Chairman Lavigne requested that if possible, the town engineers ensure that the water/sewer lines are stable in these areas.
- Recreation Half-Day Fee Increase Discussion and Vote
The Manager reviewed the structure of the current half-day recreation program offered by the town at the Holden Pool during the summer. The current charge for the half-day program is $88 for a two week session. Broken down, the participant pays $8.80 daily for a four-hour program which includes swimming and tennis lessons, arts and crafts, drama, playground, and sports. Each activity has an instructor and the participants enrolled in each program are escorted from one activity to another. If each participant were to enroll in each activity separately, the cost would be $140.00 for the same two week period. The Manager said that in order to make the program more self-supporting, she recommended that an additional $25.00 be added to the cost, which would bring the total cost of the two-week program to
$113.
A motion by Sel. Renzoni was seconded by Sel. Lipka to discuss an increase to the half-day recreation program by $25.00 to a total of $113.00 for a two week program.
Sel. Renzoni thanked the Manager for reducing the initial proposed increase from $40.00 per two week period to $25.00.
Sel. O’Brien said that he would like to see the impact of the revenue that this increase will generate. He said he did not think any increase to recreation programs was justified while there was a surplus in the recreation revolving fund. He felt that families with small children are struggling in this economy. He said he would not support the motion because he had not received information to justify the increase.
The Manager said that none of the recreation programs have seen a fee increase in the last ten years. She said the Town has been eating into the Recreation Revolving Fund since she assumed leadership of the Town. She said the 10th anniversary of the pool was in 2013 and that money should be set aside for maintenance of the property. Residents should expect to see an increase in pool passes within the next year.
Sel. Renzoni said that the town should not subsidize any of the programs by eating into its reserves. It is a responsible rate hike that will cost the town more down the road if postponed for another year. He said the town has compromised and the Board should support the Town Manager. He said he would stay on top of the Recreation Revolving account through the budget season.
Chairman Lavigne said his frustration with the increase was that why did the town wait so long to ask for a rate increase. He said the timing of the request was poor; with program enrollment weeks away when families have already budgeted for their summer activities. He asked what other towns charge for the same service? Additionally, families should also expect to see increases in program and pool pass fees next year as well.
Sel. Lipka said the timing on any rate increase was never good. However, these recreation programs are a lot cheaper than putting a child in a daycare situation. Everything is more expensive these days and he said he intended to support the motion.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was VOTED 3-2 WITH TWO OPPOSED TO INCREASE THE HALF-DAY RECREATION PROGRAM BY $25.00 TO $113.00 FOR A TWO WEEK PROGRAM. (OPPOSED: O’BRIEN, LAVIGNE.)
No one came forward to address the Board.
- Police Station Reuse/Sale Discussion
The Manager reviewed her recommendation to proceed with the sale of the old police station. Additionally, she recommended that the Board place a warrant article on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant to request a change in zoning for the site so that a potential sale for commercial use is available and that a second article be placed as a placeholder to change the Town Meeting vote if no viable offers are received. Several scenarios were discussed for the Creamer property, which currently houses the Recreation Department. If the property was sold as a residential subdivision, where would the Recreation Department go? Town offices and buildings are at capacity. The Manager said she had a lot of ideas for the Recreation Department, but they all cost money. Sel. Renzoni said the property was in disrepair
and continued problems were going to sneak up on the town and cost money.
Sel. O’Brien said he was not interested in selling the Creamer property calling it an asset to that area of town. He suggested that absent of selling the old police station, it could be converted into a youth center. He suggested tasking Gary Kaczmarek with renovating the old Police Station with a small budget. The Manager said the Town must comply with State law, bid out the work, and pay prevailing wage. There is a difference between public and private construction; public must pay prevailing wage. Despite that, Sel. O’Brien said that he felt there was still a cheaper solution to renovating the building. He said it should be looked at as a bare bones renovation.
The Chairman thanked the Manager for the due diligence in her recommendations on the disposition of the building. Sel. Renzoni concurred with the Chair. He said the Town did not have the money to invest in reconditioning the building into usable municipal space. He was encouraged to see the zoning change and asked why is had not been considered before.
The Board was in agreement to direct the Manager to sell the old police station, as well as place the warrant articles, as previously voted at Town Meeting. The money from the sale will go directly to the IIF.
The Chairman invited Zack Mandel, a 6th grader at Mountview Middle School to speak with the Board. Zack said he was in attendance at the meeting in pursuit of his Communication Merit Badge with Boy Scout Troop 182. He said he was in support of turning the old station into a skate park.
Sel. O’Brien: MSBC: Committee met on February 28th to review bids for design services for the feasibility study. Ten architectural firms submitted proposals. The proposals will be sent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority on March 8th. The MSBA Design Panel will meet with Committee representatives on March 27th. The MSBA will rank order the top three and then the Committee will negotiate in order with those selections.
Open Space: Have not met.
Sel. Jumonville: Skate Park:
Memorial Day Parade: Next meeting is March 14th at 7PM.
Sel. Renzoni: Water/Sewer: Have not met.
Master Plan: Have not met.
Sel. Lipka: Municipal Electric Advisory: Have not met.
Affordable Housing: Have not met.
Sel. Lavigne: PSBC: Next meeting is scheduled for March 14, 2012.
- Selectmen’s Miscellaneous
Sel. Renzoni: 1. Presidential Primary will be held on March 6th.
Sel. Jumonville: 1. The Regional Select Board will be on March 8th. The Board is posted. Sel. Renzoni said he would attend.
Sel. O’Brien: 1. Payment in lieu of taxes. He said he would like to see some type of pilot funding program for the in lieu of taxes with the city of Worcester. The Manager said this type of action would require legislative change across the State.
2. Said he will attend all the Finance Committee Budget meetings. He encouraged residents to attend the meetings. All meetings are posted on the town’s website and on cable channel 11.
Sel. Lavigne: 1. Has been invited to participate in a meals on wheels delivery program on March 15th. He will be out of town on business and invited any Selectman to attend in his place. Sel. O’Brien commented that the meals on wheels programs are always looking for delivery drivers.
2. Will call for a Regional “Super-Meeting” on April 3rd will local Senators and Representatives, Selectmen, for discussion regarding a collaborative, positive approach to the District’s budget proposal – what can all afford and make it beneficial for the kids and sustainable to the towns? The Town will host the meeting at the Senior Center.
- Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2012.
8. Executive Session
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:36PM TO DISCUSS THE TOWN MANAGER’S CONTRACT FOR NEGOTIATION PURPOSES AND RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY. Roll Call: Renzoni; yes: O’Brien: yes; Lipka: yes; Jumonville: yes; Lavigne: yes.
9. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE MARCH 5, 2012 MEETING AT 9:35PM.
APPROVED: April 2, 2012
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