BOARD OF SELECTMEN
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
The regular meeting of the Monson Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Richard E. Guertin and Kathleen C. Norbut. James R. Manning was absent. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media. Town Counsel was not present.
Ms. Norbut noted a change in the meeting minutes of February 10th with the spelling of NEMA, which should have been FEMA on page one. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of February 10, 2004 – open session as amended. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
A hearing convened at 7:05 p.m. for pole petition #7930 – Pineview Drive – for the installation of three new poles. Ms. Norbut read the petition into the record. There was no public comment or input. The Water/Sewer Department expressed no objection to the pole locations. The Highway Department advised this is a private way and not a public way owned by the town. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7930 as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
A hearing convened at 7:07 p.m. for pole petition #7931 – Stafford Road – for the installation of two new poles. Ms. Norbut read the petition into the record. There was no public comment or input. The Water/Sewer Department expressed no objection to the pole locations. The Highway Department advised this is a State Highway and not a public way owned by the town of Monson. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7931 as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief McKenzie and Ethan Hillman approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief McKenzie had requested Mr. Hillman be appointed as a Reserve Police Officer to fill a vacancy. Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Ethan Hillman as a Reserve Police Officer in the Town of Monson effective immediately through June 30, 2004. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Jean Bailey and Sara Scrivner, on behalf of the Rotary Club, approached the Board of Selectmen with a request for a one-day liquor license along with the use of Memorial Hall on March 13th for a “Men Who Cook Night”. This event, which is a repeat of last years’ event, will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Rotary Club has provided proof of insurance. Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the one-day liquor license and the use of Memorial Hall on March 13th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a “Men Who Cook Night”. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. Ms. Norbut encouraged the public to attend this great event.
Michael Norton approached the Board of Selectmen to discuss his request to hold a bike race in town. This year the date has changed from a Sunday to a Saturday and will be held on April 24th. Also, this year Mr. Norton will be asking for two police cruisers, one in front of each pack, to escort the riders due to faster oncoming traffic. Mr. Norton said by doing this, hopefully the cruisers would slow down oncoming traffic and move them to the side of the road. Chief McKenzie stated last year there were several complaints from residents who said the lead cars were very aggressive. Chief McKenzie and Mr. Norton agreed last year that more of a uniform police presence would help alleviate this type of thing from happening. Mr. Norton also agreed at that time, to advise the pace cars that the rules of the road will
be enforced for anyone driving on the wrong side of the road or in a reckless manner. Chief McKenzie said Saturday is a heavier traffic day as compared to Sunday. Mr. Norton said twenty Blue Knights (police on motorcycles) will also be brought in. Ten of these motorcycles will be placed behind each police cruiser in a “v” shape for the safety of the racers and the cars. Banners, 4 X 8, will be posted in different locations to notify drivers of the bike race. Mr. Guertin read the proposed racecourse into the record. The race will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is the eighth or ninth year Mr. Norton has held this race. Last year they had 600 participants. Ms. Norbut suggested possibly having the Scouts volunteer to help out with this event, as Mr. Norton said volunteers are always welcome. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept Mr. Norton’s proposal to hold a bike race on Saturday, April 24, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so
VOTED.
Ms. Neggers gave an up-date on the town’s new web site www.monson-ma.gov, which was developed in conjunction with a company by the name of Virtual Town Hall. Virtual Town Hall has developed municipal web sites in states across the country as well as having a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Approximately 150 municipal web sites are set up in Massachusetts through this company. Ms. Neggers said all the town departments are participating in one way or another and
each department is responsible for the information placed on their web pages at this web site. The site contains facts about Monson and links to other sites and local organizations. Forms can be downloaded, printed and used. Officially posted meetings are posted as are community meetings and events. Minutes of meetings are posted. Agendas can be subscribed to. The Zoning Bylaws can be found on the web site for the Building Inspectors Office. The Assessors Office has property values posted by streets at their site. Ms. Neggers said the town is just trying to get all the information out there for residents to have ready easy access to. There is a comment page and feedback is welcomed, so the needs of the residents can be met.
The next item on the agenda was to approve the Computer, Electronic Mail and Internet Use Policy. This has been taken from the Personnel Policy and has been prepared by the MMA Consulting Group for MIIA, the towns insurance company. This policy includes everything that a technology policy should include in order to reduce the towns’ liability, and to respond to any legal issues. The Selectmen agreed to table this decision until their next meeting, allowing Ms. Norbut the opportunity to review the proposed policy.
Mr. Guertin said on Monday, February 23rd, the Finance Committee approved an additional $50,000.00 to be designated to the Snow and Ice deficit spending. The FEMA reimbursement of $30,000.00 plus that Mr. Morrell filed for will be placed back into this account, when received, to help replenish this deficit. Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the additional appropriation in the amount of $50,000.00 for snow and ice removal. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
The Annual Town Meeting will be held on May 10th. Ms. Norbut made a motion to have all the departments submit their warrant articles to the Board of Selectmen by March 19th to be discussed at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting of March 23rd and to close the warrants on April 13th. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. The warrants will be posted on the towns new web site.
In other business to come before the Board, Ms. Norbut made three public announcements. The first is announcing a program, which is collaboration between the Monson Schools and the Monson Free Library. It is a series of workshops that will be held at the Library on March 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2004, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. entitled “Parenting of Teens”. Anyone interested in attending may contact Ruth DiCristoforo, who is the Family and Community Involvement Coordinator, at 267-4153 ext. 1005. This program is free and open to the public.
The second announcement, Ms. Norbut said representatives from the Monson Fire Department, Monson Police Department and the Local Emergency Planning Committee met with Monson Developmental Center Administrators. Ms. Norbut added there is a good collaboration developing between the Developmental Center and the town. They are articulating types of safety and coordinating services in the event of an emergency for the residents living in our community and the residents residing at the Developmental Center. Ms. Norbut also said the State has consolidated their administrative offices by moving the office from Central Mass. and the office from Western Mass. into the Monson Developmental Center.
The third announcement is that the Monson Developmental Center will hold an art show on March 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., which is open to all members of the community. Art done by residents will be displayed. Anyone who wants to have his or her art displayed may contact Denise Donovan at the Monson Developmental Center.
At 7:55 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
__________________________________
Kathleen C. Norbut, Clerk
| 
