MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 6:00 p.m. Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for a strategy discussion session for the preparation of negotiations with non-union personnel. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED. The Board of Selectmen 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 October 13, 2004 – open and executive sessions and the minutes of the September 28, 2004 – executive session. Ms. Norbut seconded. Mr. Guertin noted one change to the open session minutes of October 13th noting the last sentence on page one had been cut off where it should have continued on at the top of page two. It should have continued on to state that as a Board, it was agreed the emptying of the trash receptacles is the responsibility of the town. The minutes were accepted as amended. And it was so VOTED.
Mary Monahan-Burgess, Vice President of Guertin Elkerton & Associates, Inc. and John Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen for a report on the status of the town’s compliance with the stormwater management requirements. Ms. Monahan-Burgess gave a review of just where Monson is in the requirements and what has been completed so far. Monson has completed and implemented a Stormwater Management Plan and secured a permit for stormwater discharges from the EPA, as required by the EPA’s NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program. Monson’s plan has been submitted, along with the notice of intent, which included a schedule of activities and measurable goals that Monson will implement over the five years of the permit. Ms. Monahan-Burgess spoke tonight about the towns need to develop an Illicit Discharge Detection
and Elimination Program, which is a requirement of all the Phase II Stormwater Management Programs. Ms. Monahan-Burgess handed the Board of Selectmen overviews of what the program requires. There are four components to this program.
One is to map the stormwater system outfalls and to identify the receiving bodies of water.
Second is to develop and implement the plan for identifying and removing illicit or illegal discharges to the storm sewer system.
Third is to put together a public education program informing business, industries, public works operations and residents in general, as to the dangers of illegal dumping into the storm sewer system.
Fourth is to develop a by-law that regulates any illicit discharges to the storm drain system.
This is a mandated program and Monson is in the second year of its five-year permit. What is suggested of the town for the current fiscal year is to appropriate a sum of money to allow Guertin Elkerton and Associates to come into town to get a feel of what the system looks like and to find the extent of the system. Guertin Elkerton and Associates would do this by doing an assessment of all of the towns available plans, as-builts and any sub-divisions. They would then begin to map, from the available data, what Monson has for a storm water drainage system. They would also look at any “hot spots” in town, such as, the older industrial areas, older residential areas, and areas that may not have sanitary sewers in them. Guertin Elkerton and Associates would then map the system based on all known available data and
provide the town with a plan to move it forward through the program. This will identify priority areas and give Monson a plan for next year’s work. Once the system is mapped, it will be the towns’ responsibility to maintain that map. Any new sub-divisions would require the developer to provide stormwater drain locations to the town through a by-law that will be instituted. Ms. Neggers added, the Assessors Office is beginning to implement the GIS mapping services. Any mapping done by Guertin Elkerton and Associates will be done electronically. Ms. Monahan-Burgess said the town could go off the GIS with a single layer that would incorporate the storm sewer system map that Guertin Elkerton and Associates have in RQ, that would fold right into any future GIS. The expenditure for this year is $7,500.00. Ms. Monahan-Burgess didn’t know what the expenditure would be for the next year, and said she won’t know until they find out what Monson's system is composed of.
All the outfalls will need to be inspected for dry weather flows. Ms. Monahan-Burgess said she didn’t feel as though this amount would approach six figures. Ms. Norbut added, when the proposals first came before the Finance Committee, they were looking at a five-year commitment. At that time, the actual costs depended on what the findings were, what would need to be done to remediate, and the plan that is developed. This is looked at year to year. Ms. Monahan-Burgess said at the end of the permit cycle, the town will have a stormwater system and will know the extent and know that it is operating well, bringing the town to the maintenance mode. Mr. Morrell said the only actual mapping of the stormwater system is for Main Street. The Gas Company identified all the manholes, storm and sewer systems, and outflows, when the gas line was installed. Everything else is only mapped out in Mr. Morrell’s memory and not put on paper. Ms. Monahan-Burgess stated basically they
are just talking about the Main Street area, unless there are some large storm drain infrastructures that do flow into this area, which would then have to be followed back to the source. Ultimately, this area will continue to expand every time the federal census is done. If a community does not comply with the EPA’s requirements, Ms. Monahan-Burgess said the fines and penalties could reach $22,000.00 per day. This program is being implemented throughout the country and is a direct mandate from the EPA down to the towns.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:30 p.m., Mr. Manning opened an EPA grant application public information session regarding the South Main Street School property. Christopher Dunphy, from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Manning read the public notice (as attached) into the record. This will be Monson’s third try for this grant. Mr. Dunphy said during the previous discussion tonight with Ms. Monahan-Burgess, it was mentioned the things Monson is doing to prevent future contaminates within the community, and this information goes extremely well with the way the current grant application has been written. Since applying for the grant last year, Monson has enacted a Floor Drain Regulation, which will help make this years grant application more competitive over the previous years. Also helping in this
application process is the fact that bids will be accepted on November 3rd for the removal of the barrels which are stored in the South Main Street building. This is helping to reduce the threats of contaminants in the community, making our grant application stronger. Mr. Dunphy was here tonight to get the Board of Selectmen’s endorsement of the grant application and support, as well as any constructive public comments as to what the town plans to do with the grant, if successful in receiving the funding.
The firms, which have conducted the assessment of the site at South Main Street School, came up with a figure of $340,000.00 for the clean up of this site. Up to $200,000.00 of this cost, Mr. Dunphy said can be covered through this grant application. The remaining balance to complete this remediation, would be paid through a revolving loan provided by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. This grant application is a resubmission of previous grants which the Board of Selectmen previously endorsed and that the community is well aware of. Mr. Dunphy said it would also help with the grant application if he could get a commitment from the Building Inspector and the Fire Chief committing “X” amount of hours towards the project, in terms of oversight in watching over this project. The intent is currently to look at
the development of affordable housing as the goal, but this could be reassessed if clean up were to occur. A question asked by Ed Harrison in the audience was if the historical facade was going to be kept. Ms. Neggers said that is the intent. The Historical Commission has written letters of support in the past as their primary concern is in preserving the historic facade. Mr. Morrell commented on the close proximity of the building and the Chicopee Brook, which might play a big part in the town receiving funding through this grant application.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the EPA grant application presented by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for South Main Street School. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to approve the towns’ participation in the revolving loan fund, known as the Pioneer Valley Regional Brownsfield Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund. Mr. Guertin seconded, with the amendment of the loan would be predicated upon the success of the towns EPA application and actual clean up costs of the project, and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to commit local resources in the assistance of this grant application. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED,
Mr. Manning declared this public informational session closed at 7:54 p.m.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to open the Special Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant a request by the Planning Board for the by-law changes, as requested. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article in reference to the Storm Drain Outflow mapping in the amount of $7,500.00. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,309.00 for the General Highways and Bridges Account for expenses incurred on the Community Development’s Green Street Project. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen to speak about a request submitted by the Highway Department regarding the need for a new dump truck. The cost is approximately $100,000.00 and the payments could be in the form of $20,000.00 per year for five years. This article was deferred as there aren’t sufficient funds at this time and town departments have been asked to submit updated Capital Account requests so all the requests could be look at in all fairness. Mr. Morrell also said the Private Road Account had been appropriated $1,000.00 this year. In the past, it started out at $3,500.00 and then went to $2,500.00 down to the current $1,000.00. Mr. Morrell added when a private road is repaired, up to $500.00 is spent each time. He would like to submit an article for an additional $1,000.00 in this account. Mr.
Morrell stated he has already discussed this with the Town Accountant who was in agreement with this request. Mr. Morrell said he would submit this request to the Board of Selectmen prior to the closing of the warrants at the November 9th Board of Selectmen meeting.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article requested by the Water/Sewer Department for a prior year bill of the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the sum of $24,894.92. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to transfer and appropriate to the Joint Treatment Account – current fiscal year, the sum of $15,000.00. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to the Purchase of Petroleum Products Account. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to the Maintenance of Public Buildings Account for utility and repair costs at Memorial Hall. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000.00 - $30,000.00 to pay for the removal of barrels at South Main Street School. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to the Audit Account. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to rescind outstanding debt authorization for school construction projects. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to transfer funds from the Ambulance Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account to reduce the fiscal 2005 tax levy. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so voted.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to adjust the school construction debt appropriation approved at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate a sum of money to the Municipal Buildings Capital Stabilization Account. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to place on the Special Town Meeting warrant an article to raise and appropriate a sum of money to the School Buildings Capital Stabilization Account. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers will ask the School Committee to come in to explain their two requests at the next meeting of the Board of Selectmen as requested by the Board of Selectmen.
At 8:30 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to return to executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining, not to return to open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
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