BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2004
The regular meeting of the Monson Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Richard E. Guertin, James R. Manning and Kathleen C. Norbut. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media. Town Counsel was not present.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the minutes of January 27, 2004 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
A hearing convened at 7:05 p.m. for pole petition #7925 – Hovey Road – for the installation of one new pole. Ms. Norbut read the petition into the record. There was no public comment or input. The Water/Sewer and Highway Departments expressed no objection to the pole location. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7925 as presented. Mr. Manning seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief McKenzie and Officer Daryl Buley approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief McKenzie had requested Officer Buley be appointed as a full-time Police Officer to fill the vacancy left by the untimely death of Officer Michael Bolaske. Mr. Manning made a motion to appoint Daryl Buley as a full-time Police Officer effective immediately through June 30, 2004. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers gave an update on the Fiscal 2005 budget process. Ms. Neggers stated the Finance Committee has been meeting weekly working on the Fiscal ’05 budget. There is a 12% increase in the Health Insurance, 17% increase in pensions and an increase in FICA. There is a $232,000.00 increase in mandatory accounts. There is a significant increase in Chapter 70 funds, school aid. Everything else within the local aid category has been level funded. Ms. Neggers added Monson is expecting an increase in revenue on the state level based on the Cherry Sheet and Chapter 70. There is also some increase in our local revenue, particularly our 2½% of the tax levy, which will be calculated into the budget. Also the new growth has been running steadily in Monson with the new residential construction. There has also been an
increase in motor vehicle excise collections based on the first commitment made this year. Ms. Neggers said the Finance Committee isn’t anticipating any growth in any services, but should be able to maintain the services as they currently are. The snow and ice deficit is being carefully monitored. Mr. Morrell has told Ms. Neggers he has been working to submit the reimbursements to MEMA for the December storm. The projected reimbursement to the town for the Highway Department portion is approximately $27,000.00. Ms. Neggers gave Mr. Morrell a lot of credit for doing this. There are concerns regarding Capital needs for the town and what will be done on a long-term basis. Also, the town is using reserves, free cash, for part of the funding for recurring expenditures. Ms. Neggers and Ms. Mahar, the Town Accountant, are working together to try to come up with some kind of method to wean the town off of them as this is a structural deficit within our budget. Ms. Mahar and Ms.
Neggers have also talked briefly about creating multiple stabilization funds. This would be brought forward to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration for inclusion on the Annual Town Meeting warrant in the future.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Norbut said through grant funding, there will be a theatrical production titled “The Laramie Project”. The production will be held on Friday February 13th and Saturday February 14th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday February 15th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. The actors are residents of the community. This is an off spring of the Community Relations Committee. The Laramie Project is the story of a hate crime that took place in Laramie, Wisconsin involving Matthew Shepherd and how the community dealt with it.
Ms. Neggers gave an update on the towns web site and stated Dot Jenkins and David Royce have both been instrumental in putting the web site together, working with the vendor, helping to set it up, making sure the departments are getting the assistance they need and making sure they know how to use it. It is a work in progress. The web site is scheduled to go live by the end of this week (February 13th). The address to access this site is monson-ma.gov. This is a superior web site with a lot of information. All of the town departments are participating. There are also a lot of links to connect people with other sites. People will also be able to download forms. Ms. Neggers said she is working on placing the Annual Town Report on the web site. A program has been purchased which will convert documents
into PBS format. Mr. Guertin added the Master Plan would be posted as well, once it is approved.
Ms. Norbut noted a Blood Drive will be held tomorrow, February 11th, at the Monson Developmental Center. Also, tomorrow is the last day to register for the Presidential Primary or to change parties.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:30 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of contractual discussions, 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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