August 23, 2011 7:10 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________
Present: Board of Selectmen: Chairman E. Bernard Plante, Francis B. King, Kenneth I. Schold, Brian W. Stowell, Brian M. Ashmankas; Town Manager Spain, Finance Director Brian Turbitt, Tom Riley, Edd Cote, and concerned citizens.
Vice Chairman King asked for a moment of silence for Richard Plante and Ray Ledoux.
Chairman Plante wanted to thank the Police Department for their support and all the Firefighters for what they did for his family.
Brian Turbitt-Finance Director: spoke regarding the Health Insurance Law under Ch. 21 Section 32B which means municipalities can make certain changes to health care without collective bargaining. There is no requirement to accept the law; the Selectmen have the purview to do this. The law covers plan design changes including co-pays and deductibles. They are putting together an analysis of cost savings to find out if it is a good thing for the Town to do. There will also be a mitigation fund established with 25% of the total savings to help those who can’t afford the changes. We will not be accepting it tonight as there are some things we need to straighten out first. Mr. Spain thinks it is a well written law and it gives the Town some tools to help
control costs.
Year End Update: There is a program that we applied for to benefit early retirees on our health insurance and we have been approved for some type of reimbursement. The credit card terminal at the treasurer/collector window is up and running but not being utilized because there is a 3% charge. The online option is being used more often. The Audit will begin September 19th and it looks like we are on the right track. Millbury has historically done a good job collecting property taxes and personal property taxes. We collect 98% of the taxes owes. Personal property taxes we collected 99.7%. Local estimated receipts we took in $5,009,000 which is $234,000 above benchmark. But $150,000 of that were one time collections or 64%. Yearend
expenditures we turned back $641,000 in the general fund budget which is consistent with prior years. Police turned back about $88,000. Overall the year turned out very well, everyone was very diligent in handling their budget that was given out at Town Meeting.
DPW Director Rob McNeil: Discuss some new rules and regulations for street openings and any excavation activity that occurs. The utilities cut into the roadways and if not handled properly the roads deteriorate more quickly. He has sent a draft to the Roadway Advisory Committee as well. We are looking to eliminate the use of coldpatch and utilize a new material that holds up better in the cold weather. He would also like to discuss a new mailbox policy. We have a tremendous amount of mailbox claims for the winter whether it is during plowing or cleanup. Mailboxes are in the right of way a lot more now because the mailmen do not get out of their trucks anymore. He does not believe it is the Town’s responsibility to replace the mailbox if it is in the Town’s right of way. We can require collective mailboxes for new subdivisions, making mailboxes strong enough to withstand snow removal or portable for snow removal and plowing operations. He is looking for direction from the
Board on how to answer phone calls regarding this and have a policy in place by the next meeting. Selectman Stowell directed the Manager to look into the Post Office policy on this and revisit this issue in a month.
Mosquito Control will be doing the work on Millbury Ave next Tuesday, August 30th.
Chairman Plante got phone calls regarding potholes on Auburn Road. The culvert on the corner of McCracken Rd and Greenwood St will be addressed soon. Selectman Stowell wants to know if there is an update on Greenwood Street Bridge. MA Dot was addressing the potholes and trying to find out if they can do an overlay before winter. Update on the Elm Street bricks-they met with the ADA and the engineer. The plans are now finalized. It will be much more disruptive than he imagined. But they will be removing the brink and putting in concrete. They are trying to get it done before winter. They are moving to get the street lines done. Selectman Schold asked about the poison ivy spraying. Our vegetation management plan expired in 2009. We are not
spraying until that plan is in place. There is a new policy on tree removal by the town; the wood will no longer be left behind. Selectman King wants to know if we have moved at all on getting the design money for McCracken Road. Rob, Laurie and Bob met with WS Development looking for money two weeks ago and they want to use their engineer. The people we met with are willing to break it into smaller more manageable pieces. Selectman Schold said that Dorothy Pond Dam the sign is down and the rocks were moved; he thinks they need more permanent type barriers.
One Day Liquor License-Creedon & Company-Asa Waters Mansion September 1, 2011
Motion to approve the one day license made by Selectman Schold, seconded by Selectman Stowell.
Motion carried unanimously.
One Day Liquor License-Loaves & Fishes-Asa Waters Mansion September 10, 2011
Motion to approve the one day license made by Selectman Schold, seconded by Selectman Stowell.
Motion carried unanimously.
Previous Minutes
July 26, 2011- Motion made by Selectman Ashmankas to approve the minutes, seconded by Selectman King.
Motion carried unanimously.
Town Manager Report
Scott Crocket as a Constable contingent upon obtaining a bond.
Motion to concur with the appointment made by Selectman Schold, seconded by Selectman Stowell.
Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Spain is appointing Sandra Quinn as a part time library page.
Motion to concur with the appointment made by Selectman Ashmankas, seconded by Selectman Stowell.
Motion carried unanimously.
Carpenter School projects: Station 5 siding to finish part of the building, and some flooring improvements in the police station,
Motion to approve the projects made by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Ashmankas.
Mr. Spain wanted to thank the Carpenter School helping out with projects.
The Wheelabrator monies were off and they are sending an additional check for $1,485.00. We ended up with $11,733.24 for the tonnage not used at the transfer station.
Surplus vehicles and equipment will be sold September 16th.
Joyce Ostrowski and Mr. Spain have been certified by MCPPO as purchasing officers. It takes three different courses in Boston and it is not too easy to do. We have learned a lot about the procurement laws and are trying to get everyone up to par on how to do contracts legally and try to comply with the laws. We try to use the state bid list as much as possible.
Cell tower lease was returned by the attorney with pretty extensive rewrites and sent back to Bay Communications for their approval. They will start building as soon as they get one tenant.
The Met tower is supposed to go up this week.
Selectman King mentioned that he heard that the House might be allowing Towns to pay for dam repairs without going through Proposition 2 ½.
On a Good Note
Congratulations and thank you to Janet Clawson who recently retired from Millbury Adult Day Care. We are sorry to see her go.
Millbury Field Day-August 27th 11- 4. Tim Cluett spoke regarding the 5th year. It is held at Shaw and parking is at Elmwood Street School and Dicks Sporting. There are shuttle buses. There will be fun for all ages.
Special thanks to Tim Cluett for his tireless efforts.
Executive Session
Motion made by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Schold to move into Executive Session at 8:40 p.m. under Chapter 39, Section 23B, Paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 7.
Selectman King - Yes
Selectman Schold - Yes
Selectman Stowell - Yes
Selectman Ashmankas -Yes
Chairman Plante -Yes
Chairman Plante announced the Board would return only to adjourn.
Adjournment
Motion made by Selectman Stowell, seconded by Selectman Schold to adjourn at 9:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Tish Hayes, Secretary
E. Bernard Plante __________________________
Francis B. King __________________________
Kenneth I. Schold __________________________
Brian W. Stowell __________________________
Brian M. Ashmankas __________________________
Board of Selectmen
| 
