Town of Holden MA - 05/02/2007

05/02/2007


	Public Safety Building Committee Meeting Minutes May 2, 2007 7:00 PM Holden Light Department Present: Chris Lucchesi, Jack Chandler, Mary Ryan, Bob Beck, Karl Makela, Rick Bates, George Sherrill, Hal Lane Absent: Peter Liddy, Brian Forts Late: David White, arrived 8:25 PM Others Present: Dave Ellis, Karin Green, Louise Hugo (Also others who did not sign in.) 7:05 – Meeting called to order Approved minutes of April 4, 2007. Motion Rick Bates, second Karl Makela. Unanimously approved. 7:08 – Public Comments Louise Hugo: Grew up in Holden and moved back to town. No interest in paying outrageous taxes and fees. Experience and common sense say it is crazy to change the character of the town. To remove Damon House is sinful. The new Police Department is absolutely necessary but this location is bad (too small, building will be obsolete, doesn’t want a multi-story Police Department). Doing on the cheap is one thing. Consider the consequences. The Police Department at Damon may be cheaper but does not serve well in the long run. The Police Department does not need another obstacle. Hope we can do/plan what is right. The original plan combined building could be modified and phased in. Ideal: take Caswell King Property by eminent domain for people planning to stay here (in town). Don’t want the town to go to the highest bidder. Any facility should be built right. Hope and pray the PSBC will do it right. Updates from Chairman: Some feedback from BOS Presentation > style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;">We are leading down a path where we are going to get drawn into the politics of the issues. Need to follow mission statement and ask ourselves if we will move forward with our best recommendations even if not inline with or senior elected officials. We said we wanted their approval, but what if we don’t get their support. We need to decide if we want to go ahead with the proposal. Hal Lane: BOS shouldn’t be commenting until we are done. Karl Makela: Don’t put all BOS in same basket as the one who spoke last night. Mary Ryan: We should do what the committee agrees to, even if it is not unanimous. Police Facility Design Chris Lucchesi met with George, Michael McKeon and Peter Brooks. Not as big as Fire Department. Designed around Damon property. Michael to walk us though the design. Site is small, but works as a two-story solution iewed design by program area. oman" size="+1" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;">New Business Chris Lucchessi: How do we move forward from here? See handouts. There was a discussion around the schedule. Discussion on Add/Alternates and change orders. Discussion on estimates Chris Lucchesi: Looking for a member to submit a letter to the LandMark on the program to date for the Committee. Public Comments Karen Green: Concerned about public buildings with a known shortage of parking which doesn’t even meet the town by-law. Why did we abandon Bateman property? Have we discussed Damon Site with the Historic Commission? Could we put an article on May warrant to buy the Caswell King property? Louis Hugo: Damon Site is on Historic Register and some other register. This makes a mockery of what people are doing to try and preserve what we are trying to do in town. A lot of traffic is already at the intersection. Could we put the Police Department Damon idea at the Fire Department? Motion by Karl, second by David White to go into executive session. David White stated that the committee would adjourn the meeting after the executive session. Voted to do so: Mary Ryan Yes Karl Makela Yes Bob Beck Yes Rick Bates Yes Hal Lane Yes Chris Lucchesi Yes David White Yes Executive session minutes were taken separately. 9:25 PM. Executive Session ended and motion made by David White and seconded by Bob Beck to adjourn the regular meeting.