BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2004
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 James R. Manning, Kathleen C. Norbut and Richard E. Guertin. Also present was the media. The Town Administrator and Town Counsel were not present.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of May 25, 2004 – open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Andrew Norton, the owner of Cook’s Cornerstone, located at 130 Palmer Road, approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Norton had submitted an application for an on-premise beer and wine license. The Town’s Attorney, Mr. Albano, has also reviewed the application and stated everything is in order. Mr. Norton has attended a bartender’s certification school and is Barcode Certified, which Mr. Manning said was more in-depth than the TIPS course. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and from 11a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Mr. Norton will be managing as well as overseeing everything and the person behind the counter will be the server. Mr. Guertin added the servers must be able to make some kind of judgement and this is something to be careful of, especially if Mr.
Norton isn’t going to be around. It was suggested that the people serving should attend a course as well so they will have the education and have knowledge of the legal requirements.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the application for the Common Victualer for a wine and malt license at 130 Palmer Road under the name of Andrew Norton d/b/a Cook’s Cornerstone. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
The right of first refusal was regarding 1.75 acres of land on Munn Road. A memo was received from both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board stating that at their meetings it was voted unanimously not to exercise their right of first refusal for the property. Mr. Guertin made a motion to not exercise the right of first refusal for the property on Munn Road, Book 6382, page 349. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Dot Jenkins and Jean Bailey of the Monson Tourism Association/Committee approached the Board of Selectmen for a general up-date and with a request to proceed with improvements to Dave Grieve Park. Ms. Bailey said the Tourism Association/Committee would like the gazebo left open for public use. The police will now patrol Dave Grieve Park regularly. Ms. Bailey said they want to install new signage with rules for the Park. There will also be new timed lighting installed, as the old lighting was literally ripped out and destroyed by vandals. A surveillance camera will also be installed. The Tourism Association/Committee is taking up a collection for the new light fixture, which will be flush with the ceiling with the wires hidden. The light will be on a timer to go on at dusk and off at dawn. Ms. Bailey said they are
requesting a donation from the Gifts to the Town Account to help cover the cost of the light and for Arborvitae bushes. They need approximately eight of the bushes to plant in an “L” shape to connect to the fence. Ms. Bailey added that Tim Pascale, the Parks and Recreation Superintendent and his crew are going to remove the dead shrubs and stuff from that corner and landscape it out and hopefully plant the shrubs. There is a car in the parking lot that has a “for sale” sign in the window. The Police have contacted the owner with no results. Chief McKenzie said the next step is to summons the last owner to court for abandoning a vehicle on public property. The vehicle could possibly be towed at the owner’s expense as well. There is a Rotary concert scheduled at the park for Tuesday, June 15th, and they would like the car gone by then. Ms. Bailey said John Morrell is going to sweep the parking lot and repair a couple of holes along with
straightening a couple of granite curbs. Mr. Morrell is also going to place a large piece of granite in the corner that will be cleaned out by the Parks and Recreation Department for decorative purposes. Chip mulch will be put along the fence and a patriotic bunting has been purchased to go around the gazebo for the 4th of July weekend. Six hanging baskets have also been donated, which will hang inside the gazebo. The Monson Tourism Association/Committee will maintain all the watering and pruning of the plants.
Ms. Bailey said the signage will state the rules of the park, which would include “scoop the poop”, as bags
will be available for this. Mr. Manning wasn’t sure this was the right wording to be used and requested a draft of the sign before it is actually made up to see just what it is going to say. Ms. Bailey said they will also work with Chief McKenzie on the sign. The Tourism Association/Committee would like to keep skateboards, bikes, roller-skates and scooters out of the park. They would also like no overnight parking during the spring, summer and fall seasons. If someone is parked there they want the police department to ticket the cars without permits. One ticket would be issued per car per night. Chief McKenzie said vehicles would not be towed. Mr. Manning said it was passed prior that there would be no overnight parking without a permit in the winter and no restrictions for anytime other than that and that would be
something the Tourism Association/Committee would have to check on with Ms. Neggers. The parking stickers are issued through the Selectmen’s office for winter parking. Ms. Jenkins said the parking tickets are paid through her office and she wouldn’t mind handling the permits as well.
Ms. Norbut made a motion the Board of Selectmen donate $500.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to the Monson Tourism Association/Committee for the purposes of continuing the beautification project that will include lighting installed at Dave Grieve Park, bushes in that area and a hose and sign. Also approved was the bunting for the gazebo. The sign will be detailed at the next meeting as well as review of the parking issue. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion the gazebo be left open for public use and not locked as requested by the Monson Tourism Association/Committee. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Jenkins thanked everyone involved with the placement of the park benches. Mr. Guertin also complimented them and added it is a team effort and he is amazed at everything this group has accomplished.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Norbut reported that ten Monson residents, consisting of Chief McKenzie, herself, the Superintendent of the Schools, a couple members of the faculty, Mrs. Guertin, one of the student actors, Stephanie Lazarz, Hope Bodwell of the Library and Mr. Harrison, went into Boston today to the Anti-Defamation Leagues “No Place For Hate” re-certification ceremony and participated in panel discussions. Monson was highlighted for the ongoing commitment to bring in programs that promote our diversity, our understanding and tolerance of different cultures and lifestyles. Monson was one town out of eleven with four consecutive year in a row participating in the “No Place for Hate” program. This group has been continually committed to this
program.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:45 p.m. Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
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