MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 110 Main Street. In attendance were Richard E. Guertin, James R. Manning and Kathleen C. Norbut. Also present were the Town Administrator and the Media. Town Counsel did not attend this meeting.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of August 27, 2003, Open and Executive sessions. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
A hearing commenced at 7:05 p.m. for pole petition #7847 – Cote Road – for the installation of one new J. O. pole. Ms. Norbut read the petition into the record. There was no public comment or input. The Highway and Water/Sewer Departments expressed no objection to the pole location.
John Morrell, the Highway Surveyor, approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Morrell stated he has no objection with this pole location. He just wanted to inform the Board of Selectmen of the fact that Massachusetts Electric is good with changing lines over to new poles that been installed and always cooperate. Verizon New England, the telephone company, is better than they have been and are now pretty good at changing lines over. His problem is with Comcast, the cable provider in town and the fact that they are slow in transferring lines.
On August 4th, Mr. Morrell said he wrote to Mass. Electric and thirty days prior to that, he notified Tony Sasur verbally, that the Highway Department was going to be doing some construction work on Waid Road. Two utility poles were going to need to be moved away from the road. Mass. Electric responded and had to blast for one of the poles due to ledge. They did it and the new poles are up. Mr. Morrell gave something in writing to Mass. Electric to pass onto the other utilities to notify them that the poles have been moved and they can now transfer their wires so Mass. Electric can come back and remove the old poles. Mr. Morrell also said the cable company is next to change their lines over and Verizon, the telephone company can’t do anything until the cable is done. Mr. Morrell spoke with Verizon on
Wednesday of last week and they said as soon as the cable company moved their wires they would be up there to move theirs, in a timely manner. Mr. Morrell said he called Comcast on Wednesday at the regular telephone number. He called a total of six times. The first two times he got two different people who answered the phone and neither one knew who he needed to speak with in regards to moving the lines. The next two times he was disconnected while they were transferring him to someone who might know and the next time he called, he asked for a gentleman whose name appears on the upper corner of the pole petition, Brian Lee. Mr. Guertin said this is an abutter who has just purchased land on Maxwell Road and this is why his name appears on the petition. Mr. Morrell said this would be the reason no one at Comcast knew who Mr. Lee was. The last call Mr. Morrell made, the man refused to give him Brian Lee’s number, but said he would contact him through e-mail and have him get back
to him. Mr. Guertin said the man Mr. Morrell needs to speak with is Dan Glanville. Ms. Neggers said she will give Mr. Morrell the telephone number in the morning and that she would call Mr. Glanville as well. Mr. Morrell added, when poles are on a public way, they have a responsibility to the town.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7847 as presented. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
A hearing commenced at 7:05 p.m. for pole petition #7848 – Maxwell Road – for the installation of one new J. O. pole. Ms. Norbut read the petition into the record. There was no public comment or input. The Highway and Water/Sewer Departments expressed no objection to the pole location. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7848 as presented. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
The next item on the agenda was a discussion with the Acting Treasurer, Betty Sloope, regarding the Treasurer’s position. Mr. Guertin explained that it was announced at an earlier meeting that Michael Pasterczyk, the Treasurer, had resigned after several years. Mr. Guertin added the Board of Selectmen are considering changing the organizational structure of the Treasurers’ Department. Up until now the Treasurer’s position was a part-time position supported by a full-time person. The Selectmen are now looking at switching this to have a full-time Treasurer, supported by a part-time person. Ms. Sloope has been in the position as the part-time person. Ms. Sloope approached the Board of Selectmen regarding the potential possibility of taking on the position of the full-time Treasurer for the Town. Mr.
Guertin said Ms. Sloope has expressed her interest in assuming this roll. Ms. Sloope said she has been with the town for almost ten years. She started as a payroll clerk in 1994 and was promoted to the Assistant Treasurer in 1997 and has held this position since that time. She has worked under Mr. Pasterczyk for the last ten years and he has taught her quite a bit. She has also been attending Mass. Treasurer and Collector Association’s training classes at U-Mass during the year to learn a little more about the position. Ms. Sloope said she feels the Treasurer’s Office has been running smoothly for the last ten to eleven years that Mr. Pasterczyk has been there. She would like to step into this position to continue having the office run just as smoothly, since she knows so much about it, and then get a part-time clerk to help her.
Mr. Guertin asked Ms. Sloope what strengths she brings to the job and what she would need to work on developing. Ms. Sloope said her strengths are that she does the entire payroll for the town and has been doing payroll for many years prior to coming here. She does the cash receipts and since Mr. Pasterczyk has been here, they have become more computerized, and she is fluent in this area. The only weakness she finds is more on the financial end. She does have a lot of back up people she can call on to help her in this area for any questions or problems that may arise. Ms. Sloope has the support of other Town Treasurers and the banks they deal with.
Mr. Manning asked Ms. Sloope if she was working toward her certification. Ms. Sloope stated she is. She has been going to the Mass. Treasurer and Collector Association’s training classes at U-Mass for a course every year, with the exception of this last year. She has been taking different courses and wanted to take the exam but wasn’t able to be here for it. Ms. Sloope is hoping to take the exam next year to become certified.
Mr. Guertin said the Board of Selectmen have received letters of recommendation from both the Town Accountant and the Town Collector in support of Ms. Sloope in this position. Ms. Norbut stated a letter of support was also received from the Assessors Office.
Ms. Norbut asked Ms. Sloope about the percentage of duties to the payroll, EAP, investments, etc. Ms. Sloope said this would be 75 to 80 percent of the duties. The financial end of it usually only comes in bits and pieces such as the turnovers. This is the only portion she is still unsure of, but knows she can get the backup if needed. Ms. Sloope said the majority of her job consists of the payroll and cash receipts.
Mr. Guertin said if this restructuring were done, getting some help for Ms. Sloope would take priority. Ms. Sloope said since Mr. Pasterczyk resigned, she has been sorting out what he left as well as doing her job, until someone is hired. Ms. Sloope said she doesn’t want to get too far behind, as she is just finishing up the fiscal years’ end. If she gets behind, it also effects the Town Accountant, auditors and others. This is her main concern in catching up and taking care of the reconciliation of the bank statements.
Ms. Norbut asked Ms. Sloope if she currently belongs to any associations where she attends seminars and/or conferences. Ms. Sloope said she belongs to the Mass. Collectors and Treasurers Association and occasionally does attend their seminars when they have something she feels she needs.
Mr. Manning stated he has all the confidence in the world in Ms. Sloope and that he has known her since she started working for the Town.
Ms. Neggers said she spoke with the union regarding the part-time position. She has also spoken with Jerry Haley, the Financial Advisor at Eastern Bank and he has offered total support and confidence. Ms. Neggers also said Ms. Sloope has her support as well as she has a true dedication and attention in getting things done. Ms. Sloope has been instrumental in creating the Wellness Program, working with the insurance company, meeting with the Insurance Advisory Committee in trying to sort through some of the conflicts on insurance issues, etc.
Ms. Norbut added she has enjoyed working with Ms. Sloope up to this point and feels she has a wonderful combination of efficiency in the work Ms. Neggers just stated, but also the warmth she brings to her position.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Betty Sloope as the full-time Treasurer for the Town effective immediately through June 30, 2004. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
The last item on the agenda was the approval of the proposed speed regulations for Reimers Road, Stebbins Road and Silver Street. Mr. Guertin said the study has been received from the state and the Board of Selectmen have reviewed this report. Mr. Manning added this report has been done in response to the various letters received by the Selectmen from citizens on these roads.
Mr. Guertin stated a total of 1.32 miles of Stebbins Road will be effected, beginning at the junction of Reimers Road and ending at the junction of Upper Palmer Road. In an easterly direction .28 miles of the road would be posted at 30 mph. The middle portion of .80 miles of road would be posted at 35 mph and the remaining portion of .24 miles of road will be posted at 25 mph.
Reimers Road will be posted at 30 mph for the distance of .42 miles beginning from the junction of Stebbins Road and ending at the junction of Wilbraham Road.
Silver Street, beginning at the Wilbraham/Monson Town Line, will be posted for 30 mph for 1.42 miles, 25 mph for .43 miles of road and 30 miles mph for the remaining distance of 1.71 miles ending at the junction of Wilbraham Road for a total of 3.56 miles of roadway.
Mr. Manning stated this is quite a lengthy process as this study has taken approximately one year to complete.
Mr. Manning made a motion the Board of Selectmen accept and approve this recommendation. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers said the next step shouldn’t be too lengthy of a process. First the Board of Selectmen will sign this. It will then go to the State Highway Department and their Traffic Engineer. The Registry of Motor Vehicles will also sign off on this.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Norbut mentioned the Fire Department will be holding a brief September 11th Remembrance Day Ceremony in which the public is invited. This ceremony will be held at the Fire Station on Thursday, September 11th at 9:55 a.m.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:40 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn the meeting from Open session to go into Executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and collective bargaining/AFSCME, not to return to Open session. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Kathleen C. Norbut, Clerk
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