Town of Monson, MA - Meeting of 2004-07/13

Meeting of 2004-07/13

MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 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 were the Town Administrator and the Media. Town Counsel was not present.

Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of June 22, 2004 - open session and June 17, 2004 – executive session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Mr. Guertin said the executive session for June 22^nd was not complete, requiring more detail, and it was agreed this would be discussed further in executive session.

Pole petition #7986 – Silver Street - for the relocation of one pole. Mr. Guertin 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 relocation. Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept pole petition #7986 as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Pole petition #7989 – Childs Road – for the installation of one new pole. Mr. Guertin 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 #7989 as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Craig Jalbert approached the Board of Selectmen in regards to a United States Department of Agriculture loan authorization for the Water Department. Mr. Jalbert explained briefly that the Water Department had applied for a $500,000.00 emergency water assistance grant through the USDA. Due to the interest in this grant, there wasn’t enough money to go around to everyone. Monson received a $200,000.00 grant in addition to the availability of a $300,000.00 low interest loan through the USDA. Mr. Jalbert said this project would allow the Water Department to do the work at both, the Bunyan Road and Palmer Road stations, to get both wells up to capacity. Mr. Jalbert said this project was started about two and a half years ago with the help of many people. Ms. Norbut asked about the flexibility of the payment if it were shifted or would any penalties be applied for an early payoff. Mr. Jalbert said this is extremely flexible. Mr. Guertin made a motion to authorize the Town of Monson to enter into a loan agreement with the Untied States Department of Agriculture for the purposes of providing a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, enlarging, improving and extending Monson’s water system. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Denise Morgan submitted a request for the 5^th annual Town Wide Tag Sale. Mr. Guertin read the request into the record which, stated it will be held on Saturday, September 4^th. Ms. Morgan also requested the use of the gazebo starting at approximately 7:00 a.m. and going all day, and requested a banner be hung two weeks prior to the September 4^th Town Wide Tag Sale along with progressive signs in sets of three at each major entrance into town. They would like to allow the Boy Scouts to sell hotdogs, chili and soda, and the Girl Scouts to hold a bake sale. Ms. Norbut suggested the banner for the Town Wide Tag Sale go up after the Road Race has been held. Ms. Neggers asked if Chief McKenzie or Ms. Morgan could possibly restrict parking to one side of the road as the parking does get really jammed up in some areas if there is more than one tag sale in an area. Ms. Neggers thought maybe the Town Wide Tag Sale group could give a list to Chief McKenzie prior to the tag sale event allowing him to evaluate the traffic flow. The Board of Selectmen agreed to this. Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the Town Wide Tag Sale as read from the request submitted by Ms. Morgan with a couple modifications. The first modification is that the banner does not go up until after the Road Race. The second modification is that Chief McKenzie be supplied with a listing in advance, of where the tag sales are going to be, allowing him to make an assessment as to whether or not those streets should be limited to parking on one side. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Jean Bailey and Dot Jenkins of the Monson Tourism Committee approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Bailey explained there is a small piece of land at Dave Grieve Park at the end of the fence by the old Post Office owned by the town. Ms. Bailey handed the Board of Selectmen a diagram showing this. Ms. Bailey explained the Monson Tourism Committee would like permission to create a Memorial Garden in this area in honor of Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Piwcio and Police Officer Michael Bolaske. Both the Police and Fire Departments have given donations toward this. The Tourism Committee would like to plant trees, install cobblestone and place chip mulch. John Morrell has agreed to donate a piece of granite, which will be engraved. The Tourism Committee has collected $630.00 of the approximately $800.00 need for this project. Ms. Bailey asked the Board of Selectmen for a donation from the Gifts to the Town Account to make up the remaining balance of $170.00. The dedication ceremony should be sometime in the middle of August. Ms. Norbut suggested coordinating this dedication with the Road Race on August 14^th. Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the Memorial Garden that has been proposed and for the gift of $170.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to help make this project happen. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Kathy J. Carr as the Assistant Town Collector for the period from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Ms. Neggers said an e-mail has been received from Edward Harrison recommending the dissolution and restructuring of the Local Partnership for Economic Development, however there is a desire and a need for the Cable Advisory Committee to continue as they monitor the Cable Contract. The town turns to this committee when there is a need for a contractual interpretation. The Cable Advisory Committee doesn’t meet regularly, but they are there for any significant contractual problems, as they know the contract. Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Edward Harrison, Barbara Keffer, Nancy Morrell and Richard Solomon to the Cable Advisory Committee for the period of July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Ms. Norbut read and made a motion to appoint the people on the attached list to the Fire Department from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Hope Bodwell and Chief McKenzie, representing the Community Relations Committee, approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Norbut explained the Community Relations Committee has two requests they would like to propose to the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Norbut said the Community Relations Committee develops positive community based programs, such as the Remembrance Ceremony for September 11^th. They have also been very active in the “No Place for Hate” campaign and have obtained a banner they would like to display from time to time in the community when an event is planned. The banner is yellow and states “The Town of Monson is a “No Place for Hate” Community”. Chief McKenzie showed the banner, which was obtained through a grant for Community Policing. The second item the Community Relations Committee wanted to bring before the Board of Selectmen was the possibility of developing a “Monson Supports Our Troops” banner. The community has a number of residents in the military, who have served or are serving, and the banner would show them the support within the community. The banner would be displayed for Veterans Day, Memorial Day and possibly when the soldiers come home. Parents have spoken with Ms. Norbut regarding putting the banner up for two weeks in August, prior the Road Race. The Community Relations Committee is also requesting a donation of approximately $600.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to support the purchase of the generic “Monson Supports Our Troops” banner with possibly a flag on one end and Memorial Hall on the other. Mr. Guertin said he understands about the holidays, but wanted clarification on the coming home portion of putting up the banner as there are many residents serving in the military. Ms. Norbut said this would need to be determined by the Board, but it was thought that something should be done to show Monson supports our troops. Ms. Neggers added the banners have become prolific in recent years and especially since the creation of the two poles in front of the Senior Center. Ms. Neggers added historically, Monson has during times of war, organized and made an effort to recognize the residents of the community who are serving in the military for our community. The military is sending the armed forces home for a two-week leave and then they must go back to Iraq. Mr. Mathison, the Veterans Agent, has had conversations with family members in our community looking for support, and physical support, for their family members when they come home for those two weeks, so they can return with remembrance of their hometown supporting them. This particular request was envisioned by a parent of a soldier. Mr. Guertin questioned if the proper location for the banner might be at Memorial Hall instead, where the banner could be left up on a somewhat perment basis, as opposed to putting it up and taking it back down, only to put it back up again. Ms. Neggers thought maybe the Historical Commission would have an objection to leaving a banner up at Memorial Hall. Mr. Manning said he didn’t have any objection with “Support Our Troops”, but didn’t want to leave a banner up. Mr. Manning didn’t oppose putting the banner up for a couple of weeks such as now, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, 4^th of July and patriotic types of things, and added from experience that some people don’t want others to know they have come home. Mr. Manning agreed he wouldn’t want the banner put up at Memorial Hall or at the Town Administration Building, and added he feels a banner policy is needed. Ms. Norbut made a motion the Board of Selectmen donate a sum not to exceed $600.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to develop a generic banner with wording “Monson supports Our Troops” with a flag on one end and Memorial Hall logo on the other end. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Ms. Norbut made a motion for family members to connect with our Veterans Agent, Bob Mathison, to request the Board of Selectmen display the banner if it is appropriated at that time. Mr. Guertin said he didn’t know just how many residents are serving in the military and said it seems this banner could be up most of the time and questioned if this is what they want to do. Ms. Norbut said she has spoken with Mr. Mathison and it is hard to get a solid answer as to just how many residents are currently serving in the military. Mr. Manning said a banner policy must be done first. The banner should be done by the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting, scheduled for July 27^{th .}The banner will be brought in to be shown at that time and the request revisited of the family member who wishes to have the banner displayed in support for the last week of July and the first week of August.

Chief McKenzie approached the Board of Selectmen regarding the Annual National Night Out events and Road Race. The National Night Out will be changed to August 14^th, a Saturday morning this year, with a lot of the same events as the last couple of years, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Fin the past, food has been donated by the Rotary Club, there have been DJ’s, State Police helicopter, classic cars, Quaboag Highlanders Pipe and Drum. This year they would like to add a benefit Road Race in honor of Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Piwcio and Police Officer Michael Bolaske. Chief McKenzie said he would like to hold a 5k Road Race through some of the less traveled streets in Monson. The starting and finishing point would be the parking lot behind the Town Office Building. The entry fee is $10.00 and all the proceeds would go to the Michael Bolaske Childrens’ Trust Fund. Anyone interested may obtain an entry form by contacting the Police Department. Entry forms are also available at the Library, the web site for the Police Department and the web site for coolrunning.com. Chief McKenzie said he would have officers assist with traffic control and will also ask other Chiefs if they would like to send a marked cruiser and an officer to help out at intersections. This race is open to the general public. Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the National Morning Out with all of the events just outlined by Chief McKenzie on August 14^th with a race start time of 9:00 a.m. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Ms. Norbut mentioned it was talked about with the Community Relations Committee at that time being able to display some of the information Chief McKenzie has around with hate symbols in the community. Chief McKenzie added it is a community event if anyone has any ideas to add. The race is also open to walkers and to pets on leashes. Ms. Bailey will discuss with Chief McKenzie the dedication of the Memorial Garden in conjunction with the National Morning Out.

Chief McKenzie said the former custodian for the Police Department is unable to continue with this position due to time constraints. Ten or eleven applications were received along with a couple of telephone calls due to an ad, which was placed in the newspaper advertising the position. Chief McKenzie and Ms. Neggers went through the applications, held interviews and are requesting the appointment of Peter Beaupre. Mr. Beaupre lives in town and has had a lot of experience with this type of work. This is a five hour a week position, which pays $10.97 per hour. Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Peter Beaupre to the position as the custodian for the Monson Police Department effective immediately through June 30, 2005. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Neggers said notification was received from the EPA stating Monson was not successful in obtaining a grant to clean up South Main Street School. Ms. Neggers has had many discussions with Jim Gray and Jim Mazik of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Mr. Gray will be attending a Brownfields Redevelopment Conference in Foxboro on August 4^th. He has reserved a booth to feature some of the Brownfields property in the region that the PVPC has been involved with and he would like to feature the South Main Street School in order to try to attract some interest from outside the area, as locally we have run out of options. In conjunction with featuring South Main Street School at this Redevelopment Conference, Ms. Neggers would like to reissue the RFP that was done about two years ago, with the request for proposals for the disposal for South Main Street School. If someone did show an interest in the property, a proposal would already be in place for a special purpose sale. Ms. Neggers handed the Board of Selectmen a copy of this draft. This is the exact wording as before, but with the additional consideration for proposals designed to address the towns’ need for affordable housing. It enhances the economic development in the Town of Monson, creation of employment opportunities, preserving and straightening the downtown area and establishing revenue to the town through the payment of real estate taxes. Mr. Guertin made a motion to re-issue the request for the proposal, which has been presented tonight for the disposal of property located at 293 South Main Street a.k.a. the South Main Street School and/or Dan Wesson Arms. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Mike Kane has requested the announcement of the 16^th Annual Monson Scholarship Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held on Monday, August 9^th at the Country Club of Wilbraham. Brochures are available. All the proceeds will be going to the Monson Scholarship Fund. Anyone interested may call the Collector’s Office at 267-4119 or contact anyone on the Scholarship Committee.

Maureen Solomon approached the Board of Selectmen as the representative for the signers of a letter, which she presented to the Board of Selectmen. The letter is asking the Board of Selectmen to reconsider their decision made at the last meeting to not reappoint Dr. Jean Porwoll to the Conservation Commission. There were 79 signers of the letter. The letter requests the Board to reconsider Dr. Porwoll based on her qualifications and on what she has already contributed to the Conservation Commission, such as, her knowledge, her commitment, her dedication to the health and safety of Monson’s water supply, and her ability to stand up to very strong pressure that comes from development in Monson. The signers of the letter feel Monson needs strong people who know and support the law, as a committee is only as strong as the strongest people on it. Mr. Manning thanked Ms. Solomon.

Correspondence was read and completed.

At 8:35 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program/recipients and to review the executive session minutes of June 22, 2004. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk