BOARD OF SELECTMEN
NOVEMBER 8, 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 and Edward S. Harrison. Richard E. Guertin was absent. Also present was the Town Administrator. Town Counsel was not present. Mr. Harrison made a motion to go into executive session at 6:02 p.m. to discuss complaints and charges about a public official’s conduct. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from executive session to return to open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. The media was now present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Accept Minutes of October 25, 2005 – Open and Executive Sessions:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for October 25, 2005 – open and executive sessions. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Full-time Police Officer:
Chief Kozloski and Shannon Bingle approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski explained Ms. Bingle was originally appointed as an auxiliary officer and then promoted to a part-time officer. An opening has come up for a full-time police officer due to the retirement of Sergeant Shuemaker. Chief Kozloski was recommending Ms. Bingle fill the vacancy.
Ms. Bingle has lived in town all her life, has worked for the Fire Department as an EMT for approximately five years now, and is very involved in the R.A.D. Women’s classes. Ms. Norbut added the R.A.D. Kids programs are becoming highly sought after and a new R.A.D. for Women will be starting at the High School soon. Chief Kozloski wasn’t sure of the date. Chief Kozloski said the Police Department is currently running a R.A.D. Kids class and a number of children had to be turned away from the program due to an overwhelming request for attendance. R.A.D. continues to be one of Chief Kozloski’s primary requests through the Policing grant. Chief Kozloski added he is currently awaiting word from the Executive Office of Public Safety for a new funding opportunity under the grant. If this funding is successful,
the Policing grant would run to June 30, 2006, in which Chief Kozloski has included some additional R.A.D. Women and R.A.D. Kids classes as part of it.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Shannon Bingle as a full-time police officer effective November 11, 2005 through June 30, 2006. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Request for Stop Signs – Lakeshore Drive/Silver Street/Maxwell Roads – Discussion:
John Morrell and Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Norbut explained the Board of Selectmen had received correspondence from a number of residents on Lakeshore Drive and a few from Silver Street requesting stop signs be placed, at the end of Lakeshore Drives’ north entrance near Maxwell Road, and another sign to be placed on Maxwell Road where it intersects with Silver Street. Chief Kozloski said both he and Mr. Morrell have had the opportunity to access the road and safety conditions. Mr. Morrell said he referred to the Uniform Traffic Control Devices manual, which is distributed by the American Association of State and Highway officials. The purpose of this manual is to keep traffic variations on a standard level throughout the country. Mr. Morrell passed a copy of highlighted areas to the
Selectmen stating that in order to install a stop sign, it must meet certain warrants. Mr. Morrell noted the manual states stop signs cause a substantial inconvenience to motorists and they should only be placed where they are warranted, unless there is an extreme safety issue where action should be taken. In this case, when looking at the intersection, there should be an accident history for one of the warrants, and there isn’t any accident history for this area. There has only been one accident there in December 2004 due to excessive speed and failure to stay in their own lane. The speed limit for Silver Street and Maxwell Road intersection has been posted at 30 mph. Mr. Morrell said he drove through this intersection at 30 mph and said he feels if you are within the speed limit, there is no way you are not going to be able to stop or not have control of your vehicle in order to avoid an accident unless the other car is doing something wrong. Mr. Morrell said in his
judgment, after looking at the situation, this is a safe intersection. Chief Kozloski agreed with Mr. Morrell. Mr. Morrell added if you are headed towards Monson in an easterly direction from Wilbraham, before you get to Lakeshore Drive there is a “blind driveway ahead” sign posted which was installed for the Lakeshore Drive intersection, as Lakeshore Drive isn’t an established throughway. Mr. Morrell said his department has removed the brush and graded down the soil there in order to remove any sight restrictions. The only thing left there now are a few granite hitching posts and they do not restrict the sight at all. Taking all of this into consideration, Mr. Morrell and Chief Kozloski both agreed one stop sign should be posted on Maxwell Road as you come onto Silver Street. There isn’t any accident history here, however both Mr. Morrell and Chief Kozloski feel it is better to place a stop sign at this intersection. Mr. Morrell said he wasn’t sure
the town has the authority to post a stop sign on a private way, such as Lakeshore Drive, and to make it enforceable. There aren’t any other postings on any private ways in town. Mr. Morrell said common sense tells you when pulling out onto a major way; you stop and look prior to pulling out anywhere. Ms. Neggers added the cars traveling on Lakeshore Drive are not traveling at a high rate of speed when approaching this intersection and Ms. Norbut agreed.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to allow for the installation of a stop sign at the end of Maxwell Road at the intersection with Silver Street. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Morrell said the stop line would be painted at the same time the sign is installed which should be before this weekend, possibly Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.
Ms. Norbut thanked Mr. Morrell for smoothing out Lower Hampden Road on behalf of everyone traveling on the road.
Review Waletkus Property:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to release the lien and not exercise the right of first refusal regarding property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Waletkus. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut noted this issue has been visited, looked at and at this point the Board of Selectmen are just bringing it to a conclusion.
Statement and Report on the Housing Authority Audit:
Ms. Norbut said the Board of Selectmen met in executive session earlier this evening with the Chairman of the Monson Housing Authority, William Emerson, for the purpose of discussing the audit. The Board of Selectmen feel comfortable that the issues raised in the audit have been addressed. Mr. Emerson spoke in executive session of some specific steps being taken, including monthly reports, and feels at this level the issues raised have been brought to a conclusion. Mr. Harrison added all the problems have been identified and things are well under control. Ms. Norbut said Mr. Emerson reported the residents feel comfortable, as a few residents had expressed concern and confusion by the report generated from the audit. With the steps the new director is taking and the fact that she is working with the board, the residents
feel very comfortable and supportive of the director’s work.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:35 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). Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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