MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 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 September 28, 2004 – open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Jean Bailey and Dot Jenkins, representing the Monson Tourism Committee, approached the Board of Selectmen regarding the Parking Permit Policy at Dave Grieve Park. Mr. Guertin wondered if the parking permit given out was for a particular vehicle or would anyone be able to use it. Ms. Jenkins stated it would be for that particular vehicle only. Mr. Guertin suggested adding the license plate number of the vehicle to the permit so if someone is checking they would know that particular vehicle has been issued a parking permit. Ms. Norbut asked about options available for visitors of residents in that area that might possibly need a place to park for holidays and/or weekends. Ms. Jenkins stated approximately five or six parking permits are issued each year so there would be ample room for anyone visiting as there are a total of
22 possible parking spaces. The parking permits will cost $5.00 per season. The Parks and Recreation Department have volunteered to laminate the parking permits at no cost. The permits are valid from December 1, 2004 or the first snowfall, through April 1, 2005. Ms. Norbut stated the parking permits are not being handed out as a way to raise funds or revenue for the town, but to cover any administrative costs involved. Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the use of the orange parking permit presented tonight, with the addition of the license plate number or whatever is appropriate, to the parking permit. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Bailey said the Monson Tourism Committee would like to paint the outside of the Monson House of Art building, however, there are branches on two trees in front of the House of Art that need trimming as they are causing mildew and rot to form on the building. Ms. Bailey added that John Morrell has agreed to trim the branches. Ms. Bailey is seeking permission from the Board of Selectmen to have this done. Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the trimming of the trees at the House of Art by Mr. Morrell, contingent upon the approval of the President of the Monson Arts Council. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Bailey said she would like permission to install a light on the #1 pole by the Bolaske/Piwcio park which has just been finished, as this area is quite dark at night. Mr. Manning and Ms. Norbut agreed they wouldn’t want the light to face any of the homes where it might create any problems with residents. There is already an electric pole there and Ms. Bailey stated the Electric Company has offered to install all the mechanisms on the pole at no cost and will maintain it as well. The cost of burning this light each night is $11.00 per month and Ms. Bailey stated the Monson Tourism Committee is going to solicit funds to pay for the monthly fee. Ms. Bailey said the Tourism Committee might also ask a couple different departments if they would pick-up the bill. Ms. Norbut made a motion giving the Monson Tourism
Committee permission to use the light pole at their own expense. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Bailey stated she and Dot Jenkins have been paying the custodian every week out of their own pockets, to empty the trash receptacles placed around the downtown area. Ms. Bailey and Ms. Jenkins were wondering if maybe there was some way the town could take over this task, as it is becoming expensive. There are nine trash receptacles; eight receptacles with trash bags being removed and a new bag installed each week. The cost of this is approximately $10.00 per week and it takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to do. Mr. Guertin said he would support the town paying the $10.00 per week to empty the trash receptacles, and asked Ms. Neggers if she could explore town departments to see if there might be one department interested in doing this. Ms. Neggers said this would require an appropriation at a Special Town
Meeting. Mr. Manning questioned if BFI could possibly dispose of the trash bags on the scheduled trash day if the bags were set by the curb. Mr. Manning added, if there aren’t any departments willing to take on this task internally, the Board of Selectmen would revisit this issue. It was agreed as a Board that the emptying of the trash receptacles is the responsibility of the town, because if there weren’t any trash receptacles, they feel it would be up to the town’s workers to pick up the litter.
Mr. Manning explained, two meetings ago, the Board of Selectmen appointed Jessie Greene as the Chairman, along with Leslie Duthie, to the Open Space Plan Update Committee. At that time it was agreed that Mr. Greene would compile a list of people interested in serving on the committee and to bring the recommendations back to the Board of Selectmen for appointment. Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Glenn Colburn, Frank Gustafson, Paul Hatch, Denise Morgan, Gretchen E. Neggers and Kathleen C. Norbut to the Open Space Plan Update Committee, as recommended by Mr. Greene, effective through June 30, 2005. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Ms. Norbut noted the first meeting of this newly formed committee will be in the Building Department Office on Monday October 18th at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in land
preservation and recreation opportunities who wish to participate in the update of the Monson Open Space are invited to attend.
The next item on the agenda was to schedule the Special Town Meeting. Ms. Neggers said there are a number of items requiring action at a Town Meeting. There are a couple of funding articles requested by Mr. Morrell, who requested funding for the out flow mapping for the Storm Water Management. The second item is to appropriate money into the General Highway and Bridges Account in the amount of $5,000.00. This is to cover bills that weren’t encumbered and should have been. The third item is the Audit Account needs an additional $5,000.00. The fourth item is the Town told the State, Monson intended to fund the cleanup of the barrels at South Main Street School, through a Town meeting. The fifth item is the Planning Board has one by-law change that is ready for Town meeting, as well as sixth item, Howlett Hill Road.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to schedule a Special Town Meeting for Monday, November 29th at 7:00 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Ms. Neggers said she would notify all the town departments that the Board of Selectmen will consider all of the articles at their meeting on October 26th, closing the warrant on November 9th.
Mr. Manning said a letter was received on September 14th from the Battige’s regarding the towns intent on the right of first refusal on 15 acres of property owned by them on Lower Hampden Road. At that time the letter was forwarded to both, the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board. Both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board have responded stating they have both voted unanimously, at their meetings, not to recommend exercising the right of first refusal for this property. Mr. Guertin made a motion to not exercise the right of first refusal, for the property located on Lower Hampden Road. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to declare the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31st, the official hours for Trick or Treat in the Town of Monson. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the resignation of Sandra Choquette from the Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately, and thanked her for her services to the Board of Appeals. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers explained a petition was received from the residents on Lakeshore Drive for emergency repairs needed to the road. Mr. Guertin made a motion to authorize John Morrell to proceed with the necessary repairs to Lakeshore Drive. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers said she spoke with Carolyn Bedard regarding the flashing yellow light on the common, which needs to be upgraded. The Christmas tree on the common plugs into this light as well. The estimated cost of repairing the flashing light is $600.00. The repairs consist of replacing the enclosures, a new meter, an enclosure for the flasher, replacing the fusing and fixing the plug. Ms. Neggers said in the last ten years, this light has been repaired twice and explained there are not enough funds in the maintenance account to cover this expense. Mr. Guertin made a motion to transfer a sum not to exceed $600.00, from the Gifts to the Town Account into the Street Lighting Account for the purpose of repairing the flashing light mechanism. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. This motion was modified to be a direct
payment for the service.
Ms. Norbut invited members of the community to Dave Grieve Park on Friday, October 15, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. for a garden dedication ceremony in memory of Andrew Piwcio and Michael Bolaske for their gifts and services to the community. Ms. Norbut thanked Jean Bailey, Dot Jenkins, members of the Tourism Committee, members of the Fire Department, members of the Police Department and the members of the community who helped to make this possible.
Ms. Norbut stated, since the last meeting of the Board of Selectmen, a number of elders within the community have passed on. Ms. Norbut added the Board of Selectmen would like to send their thoughts and prayers to their families and made a special mention of Marceline Matrow who was one who just passed on and whom currently served on the Council On Aging. Ms. Norbut said the services and the tremendous gifts Ms. Matrow shared with everyone and with the community will be sadly missed.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:00 p.m., Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining and to strategy discussion session on preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel, 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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