SELECT BOARD MINUTES FOR MEETING
Tuesday May 3, 2016 - 7 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Lawrence Mandell, Chair
Elias Gillen, Member
Andrew Harhay, Member
Kelli A. Robbins, Esq., Executive Secretary
Call to Order:
Mr. Mandell called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
Approval of Minutes
None
Old Business
Update on Over the Top Road Project and the East Brimfield Road project
Mr. Mandell explained the Over the Top Road project is on track for beginning in June of this year.
Mr. Mandell explained the East Brimfield Road project is in limbo. The Town followed the requirements set out for the project as initially required. Now the project needs to comply with the “Complete Streets” requirements and will need to be redone to go forward. The Highway department is scheduling a meeting between the Select Board, Highway and State to address this issue. A letter from Senator Anne Gobi and Representative Todd Smola asking for an exemption from the Complete Streets requirement for this project was sent to the DOT on behalf of Holland. The intent is to get an exemption from the “Complete Street” requirement.
New Business
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting
Mr. Mandell stated he would read out the warrant article numbers. Anyone of the board members who would like to discuss any article should put a hold on that article. Articles numbers were read. Holds placed on the following articles, #28, #30 and #46-48.
Motion 050316-1 Mr. Gillen, to approve all articles not on hold. Mr. Harhay, 2nd. So voted.
Motion 050316-2 Mr. Gillen, to strike article #28 until next Town Meeting to allow for time to review for consistency. Mr. Harhay, 2nd. So voted.
Mr. Mandell would like to amend article 30 to be an ongoing permission to update scrivener errors in the bylaws. Ms. Robbins explained that she spoke with the Attorney General’s Bylaw division. The end result is that each individual scrivener error must go before Town Meeting for correction.
Announcements
The Select Board had the formal signing of the Community Compact agreement with Lieutenant Governor at the Sturbridge Town Hall on April 26, 2016. Mr. Mandell thanks Mr. Harhay for all the work did to get the Town involved in the program.
Mr. Mandell asked Mr. Harhay if there was any news regarding the IT Grant for the Community Compact cities and towns. Mr. Harhay stated the State is anticipating a decision sometime in May.
Triathlon Sunday, June 5th, registration pickup starts at 6:30
Holland Annual 5k Road Race-Saturday, May 21, 2016, 10AM
2nd~Annual Carl Bean Softball Game, Police v. Fire, Saturday June 18th, 2pm~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public Access
Marianne Martone – Ms. Martone wanted to bring missing street signs and missing house numbers to the attention of the Select Board.
Ms. Martone also wanted to make the Select Board aware that her street sign was hidden so she asked someone from the Highway department if they could possibly clear away in front of it or do something to make it visible. The sign was moved to a visible position within 48 hours of her asking. Ms. Martone stated she was impressed with the response and that it was “excellent.”
Ms. Martone inquired about possible mosquito spraying by the Board of Health.
Mr. Harhay noted that ABC news has information that external spraying is not effective on the mosquitoes that carry the health issues.
Appointments to Address the Board:
7:30 William Haggerty, Vice Chair of the Tantasqua School Committee and Dr. Erin Nosek, Superintendent of Tantasqua Regional School District, Union 61
Discussion of proposed contract changes to the Union 61 District contract
Mr. Haggerty explained the primary impetus of the change was the dated language. The current contract deals with establishing the district. Some of the laws have changed and therefore warrant an update of language. Mr. Haggerty gave some of the history of the contract. Mr. Haggerty stated the Tantasqua School Committee approved the changes unanimously and the Secretary of Education has approved the proposed changes.
Mr. Mandell noted that the current proposed contract changes do not change the Towns’ representation.
Ms. Robbins noted that there is a new section pertaining to location of schools within the district is new. “Section II – Configuration and Location of Schools
The grade configuration and the location of the schools of the District shall be established by the Committee, although said location will be within the member towns. The school buildings may either be owned by the District or leased under terms and conditions that will be expressed in lease agreements.” Ms. Robbins noted the language implies any new school within the district would need to have the location approved by the Committee. Dr. Nosek stated that it only applies to the regional schools, not all the schools in the district.
Ms. Robbins noted the difference in the language for the calculation of operating cost assessments. Ms. Robbins asked what the practical effect of this would be. The current language is,
on the basis of their respective enrollment in the Regional District School on October 1 of the preceding year, or, in the even that enrollment in the Regional District School has not been accomplished by said date, on the pupil enrollment in grades 7 through 12 in each Participating Towns as of October 1 of the preceding year.
The proposed language is,
will be the sum of the following: (a) the member’s required local contribution to the District as determined by the Commissioner and (b) the member’s share of that portion of the District’s spending that exceeds the total of the required local contributions for all members. A member’s share of (b) will be calculated on the basis of “foundation enrollment” as defined in G.L. Chapter 70 section 2.
Dr. Nosek believes there is no practical difference between the two sections. The intent is that there be no difference but, she would get a definitive answer and email it to Ms. Robbins.
Motion 050316-3 Mr. Gillen, to accept remaining articles on the warrant. Mr. Harhay 2nd. So voted.
Motion 050316-4 Mr. Gillen, to adjourn. Mr. Harhay 2nd. So voted.
Meeting closed 7:56 PM
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