BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2004
Open session convened at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Guertin made a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing litigation. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. The Board returned to open session at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were James R. Manning, Kathleen C. Norbut and Richard E. Guertin. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media. Town Counsel was not present.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 20, 2004 and April 27, 2004 – open session. Ms. Norbut noted one change in the meeting minutes of April 20th on page four in the second paragraph by inserting the word “using” in the first sentence so it would state “not in favor of using the stabilization fund”. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Manning thanked the 606 residents who showed up at the Annual Town Meeting last night, Monday May 10th, for their supporting the decisions made by the towns’ financial team, which includes the Finance Committee, the Town Administrator, Town Collector, Town Accountant, Assessor, Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Manning added he is real pleased the voters showed their confidence in this group to make the right decision.
Cemetery Commissioners Julian Szarlan and Robert Pease along with Albert Wilcox approached the Board of Selectmen for a joint meeting to appoint Mr. Wilcox to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Herman Hasenjager who has served on the Commission for a very long time. Mr. Manning explained the position has been advertised with one application being received, that of Mr. Wilcox. Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Albert Wilcox as the interim Cemetery Commissioner until the next Town election. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. A roll call vote was taken.
Roll Call – Robert E. Pease – agreed
Julian E. Szarlan – agreed
James R. Manning – agreed
Kathleen C. Norbut – agreed
Richard E. Guertin – agreed
The next item on the agenda was a request from Chief McKenzie to appoint a part-time Emergency Dispatcher and a second part-time Emergency Dispatcher/Reserve Officer. Chief McKenzie and John Turcotte approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief McKenzie said both positions were advertised in both the Republican and the Journal Register. Numerous resumes were received and interviews were conducted with background checks done. The two people selected have had previous experience. Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Linda J. Ely as a part-time Emergency Dispatcher and John Turcotte as a part-time Emergency Dispatcher/Reserve Police Officer effective immediately through June 30, 2004. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
The next item on the agenda was an up-date presented by the Summerfest Committee. Scott Walker, Steve Slozak and James Basile owner of C & J Amusements approached the Board of Selectmen, to continue a discussion that was started at the previous meeting. Mr. Walker stated over the last week he has had meetings with the Police Chief, Fire Chief and the Parks & Recreation Commission. The Summerfest Committee is now ready for the final go ahead from the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Walker said the Police Chief has requested a uniform officer to be at the carnival. The Fire Chief has requested leaving enough room to get a fire truck and/or ambulance through the gate. In regards to the parking issue, Mr. Walker said Cushman Field could accommodate fifty cars easily. They will also have parking on one side of Washington
Street. Ms. Neggers questioned parking on Washington Street, as there are a couple of hairdressing businesses there that require available spaces for their customers. Ms. Neggers also suggested the Summerfest representatives speak with them as well. Mr. Basile said they supply a dumpster and bring a half dozen barrels and bags. They will come back the day after the carnival closes to make sure they have picked everything up. Mr. Basile also stated some of the personnel might elect to stay on the site in the bunkhouse and cook on a small grill. His father stays on the site as well to keep everything under control. He said there would be no more than a dozen employees staying on the site. It was noted that this response
was different from that of his father at the last meeting who stated only one security person would be on the site 24 hours. Mr. Basile said some of the employees don’t have any means of transportation. Ms. Norbut added she didn’t feel comfortable with having them stay on the site, as it is a residential area. Mr. Basile said he hasn’t had any problems and could give references.
Chief McKenzie said if there are any complaints regarding disturbances and/or noise, the carnival would be shut down at an earlier time. Mr. Guertin said this is a carnival and there is going to be noise. His concern was with the noise after it is shut down at night. The owner said he does have portable generators, but doesn’t need to run them. Ms. Neggers added she felt any anticipated concerns would be resolved by the Summerfest representatives going and speaking with the neighbors, so they are aware of what will be happening. Mr. Manning said he wants to make sure Ms. Neggers receives a copy of the certificate of insurance. Ms. Neggers said she needs a copy of the certificate of insurance for the Summerfest and will just look for the copy from C & J Amusements when the Summerfest submit theirs.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to allow C & J Amusements to operate a carnival for five days on Cushman Field from July 1st to July 5th to encompass the Summerfest festivities. They will operate from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Thursday July 1st; from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Friday July 2nd; from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday July 3rd; from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday July 4th and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday July 5th, contingent upon receipt of the certificate of insurance. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Walker said the Summerfest Committee would write up a letter this week notifying the residents.
Denise Morgan and Dot Jenkins approached the Board of Selectmen to continue the request from last week from the Monson Tourism Committee for a Town wide Clean up. Ms. Morgan stated the town wide clean up would be held on Saturday June 19th starting at 8:00 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the gazebo to pick up trash bags and gloves. To promote this, the Tourism Committee would like to hang a 2’ X 8’ banner on the gazebo that day. Ms. Morgan also said the cans and bottles picked up that day will go into a separate bag and could be turned into the can and bottle drive that will be held at the gazebo by Kate’s Dance Company. As the trash bags get filled up, they will be left by the side of the road. When the volunteers report back to the gazebo by 2:00 p.m., they will state where the bags were left
and just how many. The Highway Department has offered to pick the trash bags up on Monday. The Tourism Committee has contacted BFI and they will be donating a dumpster for that day. It will be delivered on the 20th and placed behind the House of Art solely for this purpose. A company out of Marlborough has agreed to incinerate any items requiring incineration free of charge. Ms. Jenkins said last year; this project was a real success with a tremendous amount of trash picked up.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve placing a banner on the gazebo for the day on June 19th from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. rain or shine and for a can and bottle drive held by Kate’s Dance Company at the gazebo on the same day for the same hours. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. Contact information is posted all over town and will be posted on the town web site as well.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Neggers read to the listening public information on the Annual Health Fair as requested by the Monson Board of Health. The Health Fair will be held on Saturday June 12th at the Town Office Building at 110 Main Street from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. There will be free screenings, demonstrations, child I.D.’s and other information presented. The Monson Bellmen will also have a truck on the site to view. For more information, the Monson Board of Health can be contacted at 267-4100. Everyone is encouraged to attend as there is a lot of useful information and services being provided at no cost, and a lot of fun things happening as well.
Ms. Norbut also mentioned this Thursday, May 13th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Monson Free Library, there will be a Childhood Asthma program with guest speaker Dr. Salva, M.D. Ph. D, Board Certified Pediatric Pulmonologist. Anyone from the community interested is welcome to attend this free program brought by the Family and Community Involvement Program of Monson Public Schools. For more information and RSVP, contact Ruth Dicristoforo at 267-4153 ext. 1005
Ms. Norbut mentioned the idea at a prior meeting of possibly asking the scouts to come in to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the Selectmen’s meetings and asked what the other Board members thought now that they have had time to think it over. Mr. Manning and Mr. Guertin agreed they had no problem with this. Ms. Norbut said she would speak with the scouts.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:50 p.m., Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
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