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SELECT BOARD MINUTES FOR MEETING
Tuesday May 5, 2015 7 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Lynn Arnold, Larry Mandell
Ms. Arnold called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm
Mr. Mandell, motion to waive reading of the minutes of April 1, 2015 and April 21, 2015, and accept as written. 2nd Ms. Arnold. Voted to accept as written.
Old Business
- Mr. Mandell spoke on the Special Election for the empty selectmen seat and the recently vacated Tantasqua School representative position.
Mr. Mandell, motion to set the dates for the following;
Candidate night for regular election – Wednesday May 20, 2015, 7 pm tbd
Special election Caucus Tuesday, June 16, 2015, 8 pm HES
Special election candidate night – Wednesday July 22, 2015 at 7:15 pm tbd
Special election Monday, August 10, 2015 Community Center
Ms. Arnold 2nd, so voted.
- Lynn Arnold read the language of the new participation policy as follows;
Public participation policy – Select Board
- Meetings shall be conducted following OPEN MEETING LAW 30A, § 20
- Appointments with the Board will automatically be allotted 10 minutes each to address the issue
- If you feel you will need more time to make your statement please contact the office to make an appropriate time adjustment at least 24 hours in advance.
- During the Public Access portion;
- Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per topic, per person.
- no questions will be answered directly at the meeting by the Board nor will any deep discussion be broached.
- questions posed will be addressed at a future meeting when the topic can be properly posted and an answer can be provided once proper research has been done.
- Proper polite respectful behavior will be required of all participants. If at any time voices are raised, that party will be asked to leave the room.
Ms. Arnold moved to accept policy effective immediately, as read. Mr. Mandell 2nd, so voted.
Mr. Mandell explained the reason for the policy is to keep the meetings open to public participation while setting rules for that participation and to keep within the open meeting law.
- Cable issue: Mr. Mandell spoke with Representative Todd Smola and Ms. Arnold spoke with Senator Anne Gobi. Mr. Mandell composed a letter to go to both seeking assistance with Cox removing stations from the Town of Holland services. Mr. Mandell read the letter. Ms. Arnold motion to send letter, 2nd Mr. Mandell. So voted to send letter, copy of Cox contract and copy of resident petition for return of station. Select Board signed letters.
- Ms. Arnold signed further paperwork with the MassDOT to further the application of funds for road issues.
- Hearing for Heer Convenience, Inc., d/b/a as New Holland Market for change of manager, new officer/director, a transfer of stock, new stockholder, of the previous evening had to be cancelled and carried over to tonight’s meeting due to a lack of quorum.
Kelli Robbins read the prepared statement of Attorney Arthur Pearlman, who represents the interests of Heer Convenience, Inc. d/b/a as New Holland Market.
Ms. Arnold motion to sign Form 43 Local Licensing Authority, Mr. Mandell 2nd, so voted.
New Business
- Paula Bak spoke on the need to have another Senior Tax Abatement position for the Community Center. This would bring the total available positions for the Community Center from 7, up to 8. Discussion. Ms. Arnold moved to close discussion, Mr. Mandell 2nd, so voted.
Ms. Bak asked if the position could be effective immediately. Mr. Mandell said the Board would check and get back to Ms. Bak.
Mr. Mandell motion to approve additional position for the Community Center, Ms. Arnold 2nd, so voted.
- Ms. Arnold motion to renew with MIIA, Mr. Mandell 2nd, so voted. Ms. Arnold signed renewal form.
- Letter from Veteran’s Agent Mark Avis. VA Avis is not seeking reappointment. Mr. Mandell motion to post the position, Ms. Arnold 2nd. So voted. The intent is to post immediately for a 2 week time frame with a decision on a replacement by May 31st.
- Brimfield Ambulance contract – tabled
- Ms. Arnold read the warrant. Voted to remove Article #9. Renumber 9-12, insert article #13 for the purchase of tanker fire truck. Read remaining articles up to proposed bylaw changes.
Mr. Mandell motion to approve warrant as written with the following exceptions, deletion of article #9 and inclusion of fire truck article #13 pending town counsel approval, 2nd Ms. Arnold. So voted.
- Mr. Mandell discussed the Government Studied Committee has incurred expenses for the townwide meeting held recently. Since the Government Studies Committee is created by the Select Board and is an unfunded committee it is appropriate for the expense to be covered by the select board’s account. Mr. Mandell motion to pay for or reimburse for, government studies committee expenses from Select Board account “Selectmen Services”. 2nd Ms. Arnold. So voted.
Announcements
- Anne Gobi’s aid Tyler will be here at the town hall community room on May 19th from 1:30 to 2:30.
- Chapter 90 money slated for Holland in FY 2016 is in the amount of $156,585
- Letter from Superintendent of Union 61 Schools commending Brian Johnson and the highway department for a job well done during the winter.
Appointments to speak with Select Board - none
Public Access
Kimberly Hermanson – asked when the warrant would be available to the public.
Mr. Mandell motion to adjourn, seconded Ms. Arnold. So voted at 7:55 pm.
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