MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2005
The regular meeting of the Monson Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 110 Main Street. In attendance were Kathleen C. Norbut, Richard E. Guertin and Edward S. Harrison. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media. Town Counsel was not present at this meeting.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Minutes:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 12, 2005 and April 26, 2005 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Select Property & Casualty/Worker’s Comp Insurance Proposal – FY 2006:
Ms. Neggers explained competitive proposals were solicited from the two major insurance carriers who offer municipal insurance, for Property & Casualty/Worker’s Comp. in the Commonwealth, MetroGuard and MIIA (Mass. Interlocal Insurance Association). Ms. Neggers reviewed both proposals and recommended awarding the insurance contract to MIIA. Their proposal is $22,287.00 less then MetroGuard’s proposal and the coverage is comparable. MIIA’s coverage will be the same coverage the town currently has. Monson has been a customer of MIIA’s for approximately fifteen years and the town has been very happy with them. Mr. Guertin made a motion to award the insurance contract for the next year to MIIA. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut thanked Ms. Neggers for taking the steps to shop around so the town knows we are with the most competitive group and also that the town is making a good fiscal decision with this choice.
Determine Right-of-First-Refusal – Beebe Road, Estate of John Robbins:
Mr. Guertin said letters were received from both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board who have both voted unanimously to recommend that the town not to exercise its Right-of-First-Refusal. Mr. Guertin made a motion the town does not move forward with the purchase of this property and does not exercise its Right-of-First-Refusal. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Execute Conservation Restrictions – Kelly and Gasparrini:
Ms. Neggers explained these are documents prepared in conjunction with the DEP, Town Counsel and the Water/Sewer Department. The article was on the warrant last night at the Annual Town meeting and pertains to the protection of a 400-foot radius around the new well as required by the state. The two private property owners whose land abuts the well have voluntarily entered into the Conservation Restriction agreement at no cost to the town. Mr. Harrison made a motion to endorse the Conservation Restrictions for Kelly and Gasparrini as prepared by Town Counsel. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
License Renewals:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the renewal of the bowling license for Monson Bowling Alleys at 64 Main Street and for the pool table license for Fat Cat Capital, Inc. d/b/a Mustang Sally’s at 218 Main Street, as well as the auctioneer license for Frank Kapsia d/b/a Wintergarden Auction Services at 359 Stafford Road. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Presentation by the State Department of Agricultural Resources:
Pete Westover approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Westover said he was here to acquaint the Board of Selectmen with the Agricultural Commission. The Conservation Commission may start the board; Selectmen, Planning Board, Open Space Committee, farmers or sometimes it is started by local interests. The board consists of three to five members appointed by the Select board after a vote at Town meeting to be a pro-active force for farmers and agriculture at the local level. The purpose of the committee is to help support local farmers, help with grants and provide a better conduit with state offices where grant money is available.
Mr. Westover said he would be available for technical support. The main thrust is to provide a place where local farmers can go with land issues related to farming and to help the Planning Board and other town boards with making decisions. There are currently 25 to 30 towns who have created this board. A farm doesn’t have to be a commercial farm to qualify. Small operations can contribute as well as tree farms, vegetable farms, etc. This program does not supersede or override any existing regulations. The first step toward instituting this would be to advertise a Steering Committee meeting or a public meeting for the discussion of the idea and to make sure the farmers in town were alerted of this as well. The meeting would need to be held at a convenient time for everyone, including the public. The
purpose of the meeting would be to toss around some ideas on the formation of a study group or Steering Committee, getting the farmers alerted to the possibilities and then getting their suggestions and participation. Mr. Westover added there is no real downside. Ms. Norbut said it is an interesting opportunity. Mr. Guertin added he feels we should float the idea to see if any responses are received. Ms. Neggers said off the top of her head, she could think of nine significant farms in Monson between, tree farms, apple orchards, etc.
EPA Grant Award Announcement:
Ms. Norbut said Monson has been notified that it is a recipient of the EPA grant award. Ms. Neggers said in November of 2004, the town submitted its’ third application to the EPA for the Brownfield Cleanup Fund with the assistance of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Ms. Neggers received a telephone call yesterday afternoon from the EPA announcing they were having a press conference in Springfield today and Monson was one of nineteen communities in New England that had been selected for funding. Ms. Norbut, Mr. Harrison and Ms. Neggers went to Springfield today and were given a large cardboard replica of the check. Monson has been given a cleanup grant in the amount of $200,000.00 for cleanup at South Main Street School. This is not the full cost for this project. Ms. Neggers added the town will be moving
forward with the rest of this, which is all part of a complicated plan. This is a straight grant with no payback and it is critical in revitalizing that site and property, bringing it back to active use in the community and onto the tax roll. Ms. Neggers said she is thrilled and Mr. Harrison added this goes a long way towards the cleanup. Mr. Guertin offered his gratitude to Ms. Neggers for everything she has done and also to Jim Gray and Chris Dunphy. Ms. Neggers thanked the Board of Selectmen for their votes last fall leading to the removal of the barrels from South Main Street School and removing the imminent threat.
Correspondence was read and completed.
Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Guertin said he intended to write a letter to the editor and he did not do it today. He said the caption would have been “It’s easy to take things for granted”. Prior to becoming a Selectmen, Mr. Guertin said he didn’t put much thought into why things are the way they are. He just took them for granted. He is now in his fourth year as Selectmen and realizes it is because the people who preceded him worked very hard to do certain things. He applauded all the workers who worked in the rain during the towns’ Bulky Day. Mr. Guertin also applauded the many volunteers on Town Cleanup Day, which also was in the rain. Mr. Guertin added there are a lot of unsung heroes who are doing something everyday, that is easy for everyone to take for granted. Mr. Guertin thanked everyone in town
who volunteers their time in any way, shape or form for the betterment of the town. Ms. Norbut and Mr. Harrison agreed.
Ms. Norbut said last night at the Annual Town meeting, once again, Monson brought forth a prudent sound budget, well prepared and well planned. Ms. Norbut thanked Ms. Neggers, the Town Accountant – Deb Mahar, the Town Treasurer – Betty Sloope, the Town Collector – Dot Jenkins, the Finance Committee and the department heads. There were 192 residents in attendance. Mr. Guertin applauded the residents who did their homework before the Town meeting and who brought that information to the Town floor, as well prepared as they did in regards to the by-law change. Mr. Guertin thanked the 192 residents for attending the Annual Town meeting.
Ms. Norbut said Monson has been working a long time now to prepare and solicit the funds needed to repair Lower Hampden Road. Ms. Norbut explained this road is very difficult to travel on, especially during the past winter months. Ms. Norbut added that John Morrell has done everything that he can on the town’s end and the town is waiting for monies to be released on the federal level or perhaps even on the state level, to move forward with this project. There is a petition that can be signed to let the officials on that level know this is a urgent project and that it is necessary for our safe passage. The petition can be signed in the Selectmen’s office or you may contact Ms. Norbut and she will send a form out.
At 8:05 p.m., Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining strategies, not to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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