BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005
The regular meeting of the Monson Board of Selectmen convened at 6:00 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 was the Town Administrator. Town Counsel was not present. Mr. Guertin made a motion to go into executive session at 6:00 p.m. to consider the discipline or dismissal of an employee and for the discussion of collective bargaining (IBPO). Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED. At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from executive session to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED. The media was now present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Accept Minutes of September 27, 2005 – Open Session:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for September 27, 2005 – open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Paul Bracciotti – PVPC – Discussion CDBG Planning Process:
Mr. Bracciotti approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Bracciotti has last year’s one-year planner and anticipated much of the same for this year. Mr. Bracciotti explained last year the grant was asking for a comprehensive strategy activity in a comprehensive delimited place so the town could get mutually reinforcing effects on the projects and Monson did this with the Lower Wales Road Project by identifying housing rehabilitation. When it came to social service programs and if there were spaces for applicants that weren’t filled, a general notice would be given throughout the town. Ms. Norbut said Monson has had a successful track record with the Community Development Block Grant up until the last two rounds. Mr. Bracciotti added when he started working with Monson, Monson was spending the Fiscal ’03
grant, which came to Monson as a Community Development – fund-one community. The last two years, Monson was in the Community Development – fund-two, because conditions improved even though Monson is a town with a much older and lower income center and a burgeoning suburb like fringe. Monson’s overall statistic dropped Monson to that much, much more competitive place. Mr. Bracciotti said there were $17 million in the last two years in the Community Development fund-one category where Monson had been, compared to only $5 million in the fund-two category. In fiscal ’04, Monson came in about mid way. Last year, Monson was nosed out just two points by Ludlow. Mr. Bracciotti feels if two of the four social services had not been in the application, assuming nothing else changed, Monson might have succeeded. Each social service project proposal is scored and the points are then added together with the number then divided by the number of projects. Mr. Bracciotti
said this type of grant favors infrastructure, public works projects and housing rehabilitation. Social services are on a smaller scale. Mr. Bracciotti added citizen participation is a requirement, as the grant requires two public hearings, one prior to an application being submitted and one sometime during the implementation of the program. In the past a citizen Advisory Committee was formed, and Mr. Bracciotti felt if a proposal were submitted this year, an Advisory Committee should be formed again. Ms. Neggers said she feels the Lower Wales Road proposal should be resubmitted as all the energy and effort for this project have been completed. Part of the Advisory Committee’s goal would be to get on the street prospective of what the community’s true needs are. The committee would be composed of five to seven people with representation from the child-care group, caregivers, senior citizens and the youth group, just to name a few. Ms. Norbut said the Community Relations
Committee has a good range of people in the community plus they could bring in some others from the community. Mr. Bracciotti suggested trying to recruit some of the residents from the Lower Wales Road neighborhood as well to serve on the committee.
Set Special Town Meeting Warrant:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to fund bills of prior years. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to adjust the omnibus voted at the annual town meeting on May 9, 2005 to reflect transfers from operating and salary accounts to fuel accounts. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to adjust elected officials’ salaries approved at the annual town meeting on May 9, 2005. Mr. Guertin Seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to adjust the solid waste enterprise fund budget approved at the annual town meeting May 9, 2005 (this is a $10,000 decrease – estimated contractual increase higher than actual implemented 07/01/05). Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to approve the town to borrow a sum not to exceed $150,000 from the PVPC Brownsfield Revolving Loan Fund to assist in the redevelopment of South Main Street School. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place an article on the Special Town meeting warrant to accept the extension of Longview Drive developed in accordance with the town’s subdivision regulations as a public way. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to close the Special Town meeting warrant for November 7th. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut said this is an important town meeting. The town has serious fiscal issues that the town is dealing with and managing to the best of their ability, which includes proposals that will be reducing town workers hours and therefore the taking of pay from many good workers in town. The town’s workers are continuing with their commitment to the community, but Ms. Norbut said she wanted the community to be very aware of the situation that the town is in and expect there may be further fiscal challenges and serious difficulties if the town is not seeing more in local aid or some other type of fiscal revenue to offset the fuel spikes everyone is dealing with.
Award Structural Assessment and Future Feasibility Contract – South Main Street School:
Ms. Neggers explained this is an important first step in conjunction with the big project at the South Main Street School building. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission issued a request for proposals in July looking for an architectural firm that would complete a feasibility analysis and structural assessment of the building. One of the first things the town needs to learn is if the building is structurally sound enough to be cleaned and if not should it be a demolition project due to the significant deterioration. The assessment would also make it attractive for future development by developing concepts. The assessment would determine if the building could be converted into housing and just how many units could be put into the building. It would also say if the façade and three walls could be saved in order to
receive the historic tax credits and also to see if the back of the building could be expanded out and if so, how far. Four proposals were received from different architectural firms in August. The staff at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the local Brownsfield staff interviewed all four of the firms that submitted proposals and recommended Clark and Green out of Great Barrington. An agreeable sum of money in the amount of $41,800.00 was negotiated. Part of the funds will be coming out of the match that was provided for. There is a short timetable and the assessment must be completed by January 31, 2006.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to award the contract for the structural assessment and future feasibility of South Main Street School property to Clark & Green of Great Barrington, Massachusetts in the amount of $41,800.00. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Set Trick or Treat Hours; Approve Halloween Parade:
Mr. Guertin made a motion the Town of Monson set the Trick or Treat hours from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday October 31st and to approve the Halloween parade, which will run from the Town Office Building to Memorial Hall at approximately 6:15 p.m. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Norbut said the Monson Rotary Club, at a banquet tonight at the Wilbraham Country Club was honoring Bertha Samkin as the Citizen of the Year for her many years of service to the town.
Ms. Norbut said the Monson Art’s Council will be presenting a musical entitled “The Spitfire Grill”. The show will run October 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th at 8:00 p.m. and October 23rd and 30th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. General admission will be $14.00 with admission for senior citizens and students at $12.00.
The Tourism Committee has scheduled an Open House for October 15th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Tourism Center. The Monson Arts Council/House of Art will have an art show, which will coincide with the Open House with art exhibited by local artists. Refreshments will be served. Following the Open House, the Tourism Center will be open on a regular basis. The exact hours of operation were unknown.
Ms. Norbut said John and Maggie Bish were recently at the Monson Free Library to speak. They were very informative. The Bishs’ provided a lot of literature, a slide show; different panels were displayed. This program was very well attended. The third guest speaker for the fall forum series will be on Thursday, November 17th.
Ms. Norbut informed the listening audience that sometime in November or possibly in December, Rebecca McDermott, with the Rural Water Association, would give a presentation of the status of the water in Monson.
Ms. Neggers said fax correspondence and telephone calls were received from MEMA today. MEMA was doing their statewide damage assessment regarding storm damage from the heavy rains over the weekend of October 8th. Ms. Neggers said Monson had nothing to report.
Ms. Norbut thanked the Board of Health for yet another successful “Bulky Day”. Mr. Guertin added they are very efficient and well organized.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:15 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to return to executive session, not to return to open session, for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining (AFSCME). Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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