MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2004
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen scheduled for7:00 p.m. on September 14, 2004 was canceled due to a lack of quorum. A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. on September 21st 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 August 24, 2004 – open and executive sessions. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Leslie Duthie and Jessie Green approached the Board of Selectmen with a request to create and Open Space Plan Update Committee. Mr. Green said the plan Monson previously had expired in April of 2004 and in order to be eligible to receive further grant funding, the town needs to amend and update the current Open Space Plan. This is a process, which must be done every five years. The items that need to be updated are the community goals, making new and better maps that show the Open Space Plan and include new open space and recreation development that have occurred since the first plan was completed. Mr. Green said he is willing to be the Chairman of this committee with the assistance of Ms. Duthie. They have a few people who have already showed an interest in serving on this committee. Ms. Neggers said she would like
to offer to assist as well as she was instrumental in the creation of the original Open Space Plan. Ms. Norbut added she would also be interested in serving as a liaison to the newly formed committee. Mr. Green added he is hoping to have this project completed within a six-month period, which would be in the spring of 2005. Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Jessie Green as Chair of the Open Space Committee and to also appoint Leslie Duthie as a member of the committee with the charge to go forward and to identify other citizens in town who might be helpful in the updating of the Open Space Plan by serving on the committee and to bring those names back to the Board of Selectmen at which point the Board of Selectmen would make appointments to the committee. Mr. Green and Ms. Duthie terms are effective immediately through June 30, 2005. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Mr. Green also asked the Board of Selectmen if the town would be willing to fund the cost for the printing
of the final color copies of the Open Space Plan so that people would know what was going on and maybe be more inspired and to be more involved in some way. Mr. Guertin said this could be posted on the town’s web site and at that time, the Board of Selectmen could take a look at what the financial implications are. Ms. Neggers said she would prepare some budget numbers in anticipation of a fall Town Meeting.
Hope Bodwell, of the Monson Free Library, approached the Board of Selectmen to speak about a fundraising walk the library will hold as its annual fundraiser. The approximately three-mile walk, entitled “Step Out For Reading” will be held on October 24th at 12:00 noon. It is a self-sponsored historic tour walk, complete with a self-guided tour booklet, through downtown Monson. Ms. Bodwell said she has spoken with Chief McKenzie about this walk and said they are trying to keep it on the sidewalks. There will be water stops along the way with a picnic at the library afterwards. They are currently looking for sponsors and participants. The funds raised over the last two years have totaled $15,000.00, which covers all the programs put on by the library as well as the building maintenance. Ms.
Bodwell requested a donation to match or exceed the $2,500.00 donated by the Board of Selectmen last year towards the annual fundraising effort. Ms. Norbut made a motion to contribute from the Gifts to the Town Account, $2,750.00 to the Monson Free Library for the annual fundraising campaign. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers explained the next item on the agenda, which was the school bus maintenance facility leases. There are two leases. One is LaBonte’s which covers the period from January 1, 2004 through June 30, 2004. The terms and conditions have just recently been ironed out. The second lease is with Levesque Enterprises. Which is moving forward from July 1, 2004 and Ms. Neggers believes is a three-year agreement. This is for a facility that will be used to maintain the school buses owned by the town. Town Counsel has reviewed both leases. Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve of the LaBonte lease as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve of the Levesque Enterprises Commercial lease as presented. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
The right of first refusal regarding the Battige property is just the acknowledgment of the formal request. The Board of Selectmen must now wait for responses from the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission before acting upon it.
In regards to the right of first refusal on the McCray property, the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission have responded and state neither one does not have an interest nor does the town, in purchasing this property. Mr. Guertin made a motion the Town of Monson does not execute its right of first refusal on the 73 acres of land located on Carpenter Road owned by the estate of Carlos McCray. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers gave an update on the South Main Street School Building and said the town advertised regionally and was hopeful for the distribution of the proposals for the South Main Street School property. One proposal was received by the deadline date of September 10th. Ms. Neggers reviewed it in her capacity of Procurement Officer and the proposal submitted does not meet the minimum submission requirements. Levesque Enterprises submitted it and Ms. Neggers has left a message, but hasn’t been able to speak with them yet. Ms. Neggers added Levesque Enterprises did speak with the Building Inspector regarding the proposal, which was submitted. The town is now back to square one. Ms. Neggers presented one concern to the Board of Selectmen, which she would like to discuss at the next Selectmen’s meeting
scheduled for September 28th. The concern is with the barrels that are being contained in the building right now and that they are going to have t removed. The barrels are deteriorating rapidly. A big concern is that the labeling the DEP left on them when they went into the building in 1992 will come off making the removal of the barrels more costly. The cost of removal of the barrels is anticipated somewhere in the range of $25,000.00 to $40,000.00. At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on September 28, Ms. Neggers would like to present various options for the consideration of the Board on how to proceed with the removal of the barrels. The time frame is before winter. Where the barrels are stored in the building, water is leaking through the roof going on top of the barrels causing them to corrode and going in between the barrels freezing and contracting as it thaws causing significant damage as well to the barrels. Ms. Neggers has spoken with
Chief Harris and his concerns were if a fire were to occur in the building the air would become contaminated from the chemicals. Ms. Neggers also spoke with the Water/Sewer Superintendent about some of the threats to the water supply with the building and the barrels being in the water supply protection district and the close proximity to the brook. The remaining clean up is very expensive and isles of an eminent threat to the community. Chief McKenzie, who was in the audience, added approximately one year ago, there were five arrests for breaking and entering in that building. Mr. Lapointe has secured the bottom floor with locks and plywood and the town is working very hard to keep the property safe.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Norbut made an announcement to let the residents of the community know that this Sunday, September 26th at 1:00, there will be a dedication ceremony for the Butterfly Reading Room at Quarry hill Community School in honor of Kara Evans Scott. Everyone is invited to attend. Jessie Green, Leslie Duthie, their crewmembers as well as the Monson PTSA co-presidents and all the people who helped bring this project together created the garden. Ms. Norbut thanked them all.
Correspondence was read and completed.
Ms. Norbut suggested inviting Mr. Morrell to attend a Selectmen’s meeting to give an update on Lower Hampden Road. Ms. Neggers said she would extend the invitation to Mr. Morrell.
At 7:45 p.m. Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the discussion of Housing Rehab Funds and use of Program Income and the security and surveillance systems for 110 Main Street, not to return to open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
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