HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Robert Lavigne, Kenneth Lipka, Anthony Renzoni,
Mark Ferguson, Jeremy Kurtz
Others Present: Jacquie Kelly, Town Manager
Peter Lukes, Assistant Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Lavigne opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Licenses – Appointments – Permits
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE A PARADE PERMIT TO KATHERINE MILLS ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDEN CROP WALK FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013 FROM 1:30 – 4:30PM AS PRESENTED.
- Introduction of New Assistant Town Manager
Town Manager Jacquie Kelly introduced Peter Lukes, Esq. who started as the new Assistant Town Manager on September 16, 2013. Mr. Lukes’ professional career includes work at the state and local government level, working as legal counsel and legislative liaison for a state agency, as the chief administrator of a county court system, and as an attorney/mediator in private practice. More recently, Mr. Lukes taught as adjunct faculty at New England colleges with a focus on state/local government, political science and at the graduate level in public administration. Mr. Lukes will be responsible for management, policy implementation, budget and town-wide planning activities. He will serve as the Town’s Human Services Director and Town Purchasing official, as well as overseeing the Town’s Information
Technology Division and Senior Center. The Board welcomed Mr. Lukes to the Town.
- Town Manager Miscellaneous
- Ms. Kelly reminded the Board that the Gale Free Library will hold a Gala on September 21, 2013 at Val’s Restaurant from 7-10PM to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Library. All proceeds will benefit the 125th Endowment Fund. Tickets may be purchased at the Library Circulation Desk or by calling 508-829-5460.
- The Town Manager announced that a Community Shredding Day will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 9AM-Noon at the Holden Senior Center. Residents are encouraged to bring their materials for shredding. Also, on Saturday, September 21st from 8AM-2:30PM, Holden residents can bring their leaves to compost at the former site of the landfill on River Street. Brush and small limbs can be brought to the Adams Road DPW for chipping. The Wachusett Earthday Recycling Center is open every Tuesday from 9AM-11AM and Wednesday from 2:30PM-4:30PM while also being open on the third Saturday of each month. On Saturday, September 21st, the Center will accept regular recyclable items and there will be a special paint and chemicals collection as well. More information and details
on the collections can be found at www.wachusettearthday.org or via the Town’s website www.holdenma.gov.
- The Board reviewed participation data from the Recreation Department’s Summer activities. The total number of visitors to the pool was 45,342, with the highest daily count on July 15th with 1,814. 1,097 children participated in the day programs including 82 children on the Swim Team. Total revenue for 2013 was $273,578, down $10,000 from last year and slightly higher than 2011. The Manager said the decrease in revenue was due to a decrease in enrollment. The Manager also noted that a contractor recently sealed the caulking around the lap pool. After this work has been completed, the pools will be winterized.
- The Town Manager and the Selectmen reviewed the monthly reports for the HMLD for July and August 2013 as prepared by James Robinson, Light Manager.
- Ms. Kelly informed the Board that the RFP for the sale of the former police station was ready for publication. In preparation for the sale, the building and land were reappraised at $460,000. Additionally, the property has been rezoned to Business-Office-Professional, an underground storage tank was removed and it was determined that no hazardous waste was present. As required by Ch. 30B, the Town will advertise in the Central Register for at least 30 days and the Town will also advertise in newspapers at least once a week for two consecutive weeks before opening the proposals with the last publication occurring at least eight days before the proposal opening. In addition, the RFP will be sent to prospective buyers including banks. Advertisements will also take place in the Banker and Tradesman and the Boston Globe real estate section in an effort to spread the word to a wider regional market. The proposals will be due on Wednesday, November 30, 2013. Further information will
be available at the Town Manager’s office and at www.holdenma.gov.
- The Manager informed the Board that the Town and Light Department have been making plans to erect an array of solar panels on the Fire Annex Building. Similar arrays already exist at the Light Department garage bay and the Senior Center. Preliminary plans are to install 48 modules on the south-facing roof; the panels will be rack mounted. The installation will have the capacity to generate 13.44 kW of electric power. Sel. Renzoni requested the current electric usage at the Fire Station. Ms. Kelly said she would forward the building’s annual power use/costs to the Board. Sel. Ferguson asked if the Town intended to buy back the energy produced by the arrays or does the money stay with the Town. He said he wanted the HMLD to be reimbursed for the energy and the costs to install the panels. The Town cannot give away free electricity. Ms. Kelly explained that the power generated from the panels would be used at the Public Safety Building; any leftover power will be returned to
the grid for energy credits. If the panels don’t generate enough power, the PSB will be billed for energy it uses. She added that the principle is the same at the Senior Center. Chairman Lavigne said that the solar panels would give the townspeople better use of their money than going to market to buy power. Sel. Ferguson disagreed; the HMLD is in the business of selling electricity and taking money from one cost center and giving it to another was like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Sel. Lipka said that less money used to purchase electricity at the PSB means that money is returned to the town budget.
- Ms. Kelly updated the Board on efforts to complete the gas conversion at the Starbard Building and Town Hall. A contractor has been selected to replace the boiler/burner at the Starbard Building with a natural gas unit. The gas connection to Town Hall is currently being installed and the boiler will be replaced next. Gas connections to the Hendricks House and the Damon House are also planned. Sel. Ferguson thanked the Town Manager for an outstanding job in the conversion of these town-owned buildings to natural gas.
Chairman Lavigne interrupted Town Manager’s Miscellaneous for Citizens’ Address at 7PM.
No one came forward to address the Board.
3. Town Manager’s Miscellaneous (reopened)
- Ms. Kelly presented plans to re-landscape the area immediately adjacent to the flag pole in front of Town Hall. The area has become overgrown and unsightly. The Board reviewed plans designed by the Buildings and Grounds Department to remove the existing shrubs, install new granite pavers and two new benches, and clean up the multiple electric boxes and wires. New energy efficient lighting will also be installed. The War Memorial sign will be refurbished and reinstalled. The plan has been submitted to and approved by the Historic District Commission. Sel. Renzoni asked that the Johnny Harkins War Memorial be rededicated when the project is completed.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT THE PLANS TO RELANDSCAPE THE AREA IN FRONT OF TOWN HALL AS PRESENTED.
Sel. Lavigne: Winter Festival Committee: Committee continues to look at timing and corporate sponsorship and meets every Friday at 9AM at the Starbard Building. Committee membership is complete. The Festival will be held on first Saturday in December from 1PM – 6PM.
EDC: Worcester Business Expo will attend on October 2nd. Last meeting did not have a quorum.
Sel. Renzoni: Water/Sewer: Has not met.
Veteran’s Committee: Has not met.
Sel. Lipka: Municipal Light Department Advisory Board: Will meet week of September 23rd.
Sel. Ferguson: Not currently serving on a Committee.
Sel. Kurtz: EDC: Preparing for the Business Expo in October.
- Discussion - Representative to the WRSD Superintendent Screening Committee
The Board discussed the District’s intention to create a Superintendent Screening Committee to hire a new Superintendent. Ms. Kelly reviewed the list of nominees from each District Town. Sel. Lipka has volunteered to act as the nominee from the Town of Holden.
Sel. Ferguson said that with Holden representing 43% of the voting percentage, and as the host of the high school and district Offices that Holden deserves the seat on the Committee. Sel. Renzoni said that while he cannot argue with Sel. Ferguson’s points, it is not a Holden committee. He called for a Regional Selectmen’s Meeting to determine which representative from which town will serve on the Committee. It will also benefit the Town to discuss the District’s expectations of the Screening Committee at the District meeting.
Chairman Lavigne reminded the Selectmen that this is just a Screening Committee and not the Search Committee.
Sel. Ferguson said he was not interested in holding a Regional Selectboard meeting. He said that perhaps two Selectmen should serve on the Committee: one from Holden and one from another town.
After some discussion, the Board agreed to ask the Manager to schedule a Regional Selectboard Meeting and invite School Committee Chairman Harris and Superintendent Gasbarro to the meeting.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO MOVE THAT THE TOWN SCHEDULE A REGIONAL SELECTBOARD MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO DISCUSS A DISTRICT APPOINTMENT TO THE DISTRICT’S SUPERINTENDENT SCREENING COMMITTEE AND INVITE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HARRIS AND SUPERINTENDENT GASBARRO TO THE MEETING.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Kurtz, it was VOTED 4-0-1 WITH 1 ABSTAINED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 AS PRESENTED. (Abstained: Lavigne.)
Sel. Ferguson: 1. Continued discussion on unaccounted for water in Town. He expressed the need to rectify any unaccounted for water issues within the next 6-weeks (before winter). Otherwise, the Town will live with the unaccounted for water problems and loss of money until spring.
2. Discussed the implementation of One-Stop Permitting in Town. The Town Manager said that the Department of Growth Management staff offers large commercial developers the ability to come and meet with as many of the Town’s departments and work with these developers to explain the development process in Holden. She said that many times, it is up to the developer to take advantage of this opportunity. Sel. Lavigne said that this is a subject that the EDC is working on encouraging in town. Ms. Kelly said that the Department of Growth Management is also working on having all permits and applications available in a packet to prospective developers.
Sel. Renzoni: 1. Thanked the administration for following up and resolving an issue with a donation collection box in the Jefferson area.
2. Thanked the Sherriff’s office for cleaning up the CRA property.
3. Staff is in discussion with representatives with the CRA regarding some type of town ownership of the property.
Sel. Lavigne: 1. GFL Gala will be held on September 21st.
2. Discussed the potential reimbursement from the School District. The Town Manager said it will be minimal and not have any effect on the Town’s contribution.
3. Local efforts are being made to control speed and ensure safety along Rt. 31 in the Davis Hill School District. Sel. Lavigne said he had a discussion with State Rep. Kim Ferguson regarding involving the State in the safety discussions and how the State can contribute to these efforts.
4. Discussion on when to meet to discuss Town Manager’s Goals. Selectmen agreed to meet at 5:30PM on October 7th, prior to the regular meeting. Selectmen should send their goals to the Town Manager.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Kurtz, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 MEETING AT 7:34PM.
Approved: October 7, 2013
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