SELECT BOARD MINUTES FOR MEETING
Tuesday January 5, 2016 7 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Lawrence Mandell, Chair
Elias Gillen, Member
Andrew Harhay, Member
Kelli Robbins, Executive Secretary
Mr. Mandell called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm
Motion 010516-1 Mr. Mandell to waive the reading the minutes of December 15th and December 22nd and accept ask written. 2nd Mr. Gillen. So voted
Mr. Mandell began by asking Ms. Deborah Boyd, Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance for Tantasqua-Union 61, to step forward. The agenda will be done out of order to accommodate the guests invited to speak at this meeting.
Appointments with the Select Board:
Ms. Deborah Boyd, Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance attended the meeting to discuss a request from the Union 61 to incur debt in the amount of 2.1 million dollars for astro turf, press box & track renovations and to answer any questions from the Select Board. Ms. Boyd distributed copies of the capital plan to the Select Board. The district will be taking on all the debt with none of the payments going out to the five district towns in assessments. The School Committee voted to use current funds for the engineering study and to use School Choice funds to make the loan payments. One need is to bring into compliance with the ADA the press box including a ramp and lift. Also, the track needs to be resurfaced and 2 of the fields will be converted to astro turf. Ms. Boyd explained in depth the proposed financing using current revenues, recycling debt payments, school choice money and summer camp profits.
Mr. Mandell asked some clarifying questions regarding the financing and how comfortable the school is with projected cost.
Mr. Harhay asked if this project is similar to the project 8 years ago. Ms. Boyd stated that it was similar but because of the passage of time the project then would have covered 4 fields but now it will only do 2.
Mr. Mandell stated he was comfortable with the presentation by Ms. Boyd. There was some discussion regarding the past project and how the district towns reacted at that time.
Mr. Gillen complimented the district on finding a creative way to finance the project without placing a burden on the Towns.
Mr. Mandell asked what the timing would need to be if it was determined that there needed to be a Special Town Meeting called. Ms. Robbins explained that based on the statutory cut-off date to vote a decision to hold a special town meeting would need to be made by next Tuesday January 12th.
Motion 010516-2 Mr. Mandell, to take no action with respect to Tantasqua Regional School District to incur debt of $2.1 million. All in favor.
Mr. Dennis Allard, Chair, Planning Board: The Planning Board was invited to attend to discuss possible changes in the Zoning bylaws. Discussion ensued regarding the vast number of lots in Holland that are non-conforming due to an increase in lot size several years back, causing the Holland to have the largest lot requirements second to only one other town in Massachusetts.
Mr. Allard explained the timing for review of the master plan with Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) at which time changes may be recommended by PVPC. It was agreed to wait on further discussion of this issue until after the meeting with PVPC on January 26, 2016. Mr. Allard encouraged the members of the Select Board to attend.
Ms. Lynn Arnold, Chair, Lake Oversight Committee Discussion ensued regarding the recommendations of the Lake Oversight Committee (LOC) for adding additional funds to different departmental budgets for care of Hamilton Reservoir.
1. Recommended individual line items for various lake needs, to ensure that funds would be available for lake care.
2. Recommended doing an RFP for dam inspection along with inspection of Fisherman’s Warf on the North side of the reservoir. There is an RFP ready that will be sent to the Select Board office.
3. Recommended changing two separate accounts/line items for dam repair and regular maintenance.
4. Concern was expressed for the deterioration of Fisherman’s Warf. Ms. Arnold stated she has a copy of the agreement between the town and the State and that she would get a copy over to the Select Board Office.
5. Concern was expressed, again, about the town not having access to the South Basin. Mr. Mandel went through the town’s options;
a) Owner may be willing to donate the land to the town
b) Town may wish to purchase the land
c) Town may wish to acquire through adverse possession
d) Town may wish to acquire through eminent domain
Regardless of the process, the town must vote to acquire the land at a town meeting before any action can be taken.
6. Discussion of other possible town owned land being used for access. No conclusions.
Mr. Mandell explained that the Hazard Mitigation Plan has been edited to include the Dam Hazard Plan. Because this language was included, the Select Board approves the plan draft.
The town replacing the Police Boat for the lake is moving forward. Chief Haughey will be
getting quotes for the next meeting.
Bylaw changes are being discussed by several boards. The Select Board will be looking at the following areas for possible updating;
a) Bylaw Committee
b) Capital Planning Committee
c) Select Board/Finance Board in relation to budget responsibilities.
Mr. Harhay discussed the Community Compact agreement the Select Board has been working on for the town. The four categories of preference in addition to long range financial practices are;
a) Housing because the town is already exploring Senior Housing.
b) Technical assistance
i. Business continuity, ie protecting, data offsite storage
ii. Transparency such as more information on the website, meetings, dissemination of information to the public
c) Financial Policies leading to more transparency
Motion 010516-3 Mr. Gillen, to move forward with the Long Range Financial practices to be submitted for the Community Compact agreement. 2nd Mr. Harhay. So voted.
Mr. Mandell asked to schedule a department head meeting. Several dated were proposed. The meeting will be scheduled for February 11th at 7pm.
Appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals
Motion 010516-4 Mr. Mandell, to appoint current alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals as a full member for the remainder of Mr. Beaulieu’s term. 2nd Mr. Harhay. So voted.
Legal update:
Title work for Vinton Road land gift – $171
Discussion with Dave Kowalski and final
Work on Dana Manning v Sharon Ashleigh et als $210
Total $381.00
Public Access
Ernie Fancy – Expressed concerns regarding astro turf on the Tantasqua fields. Mr. Fancy is concerned that if school choice money is used to fund the turf that it will negatively impact the local budgets and that there may be health hazards involved with the turf material.
Lynn Arnold
* Stated the LOC has been discussing other budgets for the lake, Board of Health and
Highway.
* Expressed concern regarding the state of the current police boat and the impact the weather is having on it.
* Suggested updating the non-criminal disposition bylaws as to who is responsible for enforcement.
Peter Frei
* Concerned that Select Board has not announced the outcome of an Ethics Commission decision that is posted on the state Ethics website.
* Wanted to know if the Select Board announced the outcome of a private law suit involving Mr. Frei
Motion 010516-5 Mr. Mandell to adjourn, 2nd Mr. Gillen. So voted 8:06 PM
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