BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DECEMBER 13, 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.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Accept Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of November 22, 2005 executive session and December 6, 2005 open and executive sessions. Mr. Guertin seconded. Ms. Norbut said at the bottom of page two, she would like to add a sentence stating the Board of Selectmen deliberated on the issue, and wanted to explore the fact that it would not prohibit the Town of Monson from pursuing any related grants itself; and it was so VOTED.
Monson Free Library – Annual Appeal:
Hope Bodwell approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Bodwell stated this year the library has an extremely ambitious goal of raising $20,000.00. Last year the library raised a little over $15,000.00. Ms. Bodwell stated she is working very hard right now to get wireless technology in the library as people in the community have expressed in the long range plan, they would like to see a computer lab in the library. Ms. Bodwell explained the way the library is set up now, they don’t have the ability to do this, which is why she would like to get wireless and lap tops, and to set up training in the community room for e-mail, word, training with the on-line data bases, the on-line catalog, etc. There is also a lot of building maintenance that needs to be taken care of, as the new wing is now fifteen years old and feeling
its age with leaks and cracks. Ms. Bodwell is currently developing another Community Read program. The library is going to try something new this year with a summer reading program for all ages, not just with the children, bringing in teens and adults, as the community indicated they would be interested in this. Ms. Bodwell said she would also like to have more on-line data bases to help support the schools and teachers. These are just a few uses for the funds collected, as well as up-dating their collection of large print books, audio books and periodicals. A bulk mailing has gone out to every household with self addressed, stamped envelopes explaining how the library would like to expend the funds collected and requesting donations. Ms. Bodwell said everyone has been very generous in the past with donations and they are hoping for a repeat this year. Last year, the Board of Selectmen donated $2,750.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to assist with the fund raising. Ms. Bodwell
was asking for a match of that donation or an increase this year.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to donate the sum of $3,000.00 to the Monson Free Library’s annual fund raiser from the Gifts to the Town Account. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Bodwell noted the Student Advisory program will be starting up again. The library received a generous donation yesterday in the amount of $3,500.00 to use toward the restart of this program. They have staff and volunteers working on this program and are looking for interested teens in the Middle School as well as in the High School who might be interested in participating. Applications may be picked up at the library or in the guidance office. Two letters of recommendation are required. The first meeting will be in January. The Board of Selectmen wished Ms. Bodwell luck with her projects.
CRC – Request for Donation from Gifts to the Town Account:
Mr. Harrison stated the No Place for Hate® program, which is sponsored by the Community Relations Committee, normally puts on three or four events a year in order to qualify the Town of Monson as a No Place for Hate® community, a status that has been achieved every year for the last five years or since its inception in the State of Massachusetts. This is something Mr. Harrison feels the town can be very proud of as this program is a necessity for every community.
The programs planned for next year will be geared more toward an entertaining level, as they have a musical flavor to them. Mr. Harrison spoke of the four events planned saying the first is an event discovering the lost history and special relationship that has evolved between Puerto Ricans and the delicately fashioned pieces of wire, wood and glue that make up the Puerto Rican version of a guitar. The maker of this type of guitar will participate in showing how it is done. The second event will be Portuguese singers and dancers singing and dancing to Portuguese folk songs. The third will be a musical story teller whose music serves as a tool to educate, ignite and transpire. He will hold a workshop entitled “Sing Me a Song of Social Significance”. It includes songs of peace, women’s struggles, labor,
gay and lesbian rights, disability rights, environmentalism and justice for immigrants. The last and fourth show is “Stan the Drum Man”. This will be a workshop for children where up to twenty participants will be able to create their own drums. Upon the completion of the project, a drum circle will be held. Mr. Harrison noted all of these shows are entertaining to anyone who enjoys music.
Mr. Harrison explained the events will require funding. The Community Relations Committee is applying to the Anti-Defamation League for a $1,000.00 matching grant. The Library and the Board of Selectmen both agreed to donate $500.00 each to cover the Community Relations Committee’s portion of the grant.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the donation of $500.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to help support this grant proposal. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut thanked Ms. Bodwell and the Library directors and the Friends of the Monson Free Library who have been the cornerstone of making these programs happen.
Community Preservation Act – Create Exploration Committee:
Leslie Duthie, Dennis Swierad and EmmaLadd Shepherd approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Duthie explained the Community Preservation Act will provide ongoing secure funding to address a myriad of critical needs within the town. The act allows communities to adopt a surcharge ranging from a half percent to three percent and provides options for exemptions. Common exemptions are for the first $100,000.00 of a home’s value, and low or moderate income homeowners. The surcharge will be added to the homeowners’ tax bills if approved and then the state will match the town’s contribution. There are three main components the Community Preservation Act covers. Ten percent of the funds must be used for each component, which are historic preservation, affordable housing and land conservation.
Ms. Duthie said the library would qualify as a use for this type of funding in order to help with the repair expenses Ms. Bodwell spoke of earlier. The money could also be used for costs associated with the clean-up of toxic waste sites, such as some of the old mills in town or the old town dump site while reducing these costs by up to 50%. The Community Preservation Act would help to control growth while retaining the towns’ character.
Mr. Swierad spoke of some of the historic components they might want to explore, such as keeping the town looking the same with the old time look. As a town, the Community Preservation Act’s funds could be used to help repair the cemeteries by straightening monuments and fences. Churches could also benefit from these funds as there are very few limitations. Seventy percent could be spent on large projects or several smaller projects or the money could be pooled for a large project down the road. The funds could also be used for low to moderate housing rehab as well. The towns’ residents would agree upon the use of the funds at a Town Meeting with the Community Preservation Act Committee overseeing the project, instead of the state overseeing it. Ms. Duthie added this is also an excellent dovetail with
recreation as it would allow for the purchase of land for fields if the town wanted to expand some of the facilities it already has.
Ms. Duthie was asking the Board of Selectmen for their support in the formation of a committee to move forward to explore the Community Preservation Act. A successful campaign for the Community Preservation Act takes about eight to twelve months. The committee will identify what is unique and special about the town that may be most at risk to being lost through the sprawl of the town. The committee would educate the public on the benefits of the Community Preservation Act and build a case that makes good physical sense for the town. The committee would help to bring the Community Preservation Act to Town Meeting in order to secure a place on the ballot for the fall election in order to pass the Community Preservation Act in our community.
It was agreed Ms. Duthie and Mr. Harrison would co-chair the exploratory committee who will determine the parameters and shape a proposal to adopt the act to be presented at the Town Meeting in the spring. If the residents at the Town Meeting agree to bring the act to a vote, a ballot question will be prepared for the November 2006 election. Ms. Duthie and Mr. Harrison will forward to the Selectmen a list of five to seven residents to be considered for appointment to the committee. The committee would like to hold its first meeting in January. Ms. Neggers recalled a day in 1998 when pieces of historic facade fell off of Memorial Hall onto the sidewalk. The town had to take out a long term bond in order to pay for the façade’s repairs, which totaled $480,000.00, as Ms. Neggers explained the town never has
enough money to take care of the precious resources in town. Memorial Hall has a budget of zero. Had the town been able to afford preventative maintenance, taxpayers wouldn’t still be paying off the repair debts. With this act in place, hopefully these expenses will be taken care of without the need of a bond. Mr. Guertin added no one wants to pay more taxes, yet he deemed the act a relatively small investment that is going to have a real big return for the town.
Ms. Neggers said she found a wealth of information, which was very helpful, on the web site communitypreservation.org for anyone looking for more information regarding this act. Ms. Duthie also said there are people from the agency who are willing to come to the community, should they wish to hold an informational meeting on what the CPA means at the High School or one of the other public buildings in town.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Leslie Duthie and Edward Harrison as co-chairs of an exploratory committee to look into this with the intent that they would then come back to the Board of Selectmen when they have identified other members, so the Board of Selectmen could appoint those individuals formally to the committee. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Duthie thanked the Board of Selectmen for all of their help.
Appoint Monson Police Sergeant:
Chief Kozloski and Officer Jane Jalbert approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski recapped all of the events leading up to the recommendation of Officer Jalbert as the Town’s first female Police sergeant. A consultant was brought in to try to encompass each of the things they felt were important in choosing the best candidate for the position. Chief Kozloski explained the Sergeants in the Monson Police Department have a very important role in the direction, the steering and the management of the department. Eight applications were received, which was open to every full-time officer in the department. Two withdrew their applications for personal reasons leaving six to take the written exam and to go through two days of assessment center exercises drawing on training and experience. Officer Jalbert was the top
scoring officer within that process. Chief Kozloski stated Officer Jalbert is a town resident, living in town for a number of years, and worked previously in the Town of Monson between the years of 1995 and 1998. Officer Jalbert left the force in Monson for another position returning to Monson in June of 2005. Officer Jalbert has received a Masters degree in Criminal Justice Administration, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics with a minor in business, and is an instructor in the R.A.D. Kids and Woman’s programs, as well as instructing self defensive tactics. Chief Kozloski said Officer Jalbert brings a lot of experience to the table. Officer Jalbert explained she found the process experience to be very challenging and precise.
Mr. Guertin said he liked the diversity of the group that made the assessment. There were two police chiefs who knew what to look for in leadership, experience and knowledge along with three non-police officers from a variety of roles, including someone from the business community, someone recommended from the Senior Center, and basically a good mix of people who all came to the same conclusion.
Mr. Harrison said he had the opportunity to speak with three of the people who served on the assessment committee and they gave this process very high marks and one added it was money well spent by the town.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Officer Jane Jalbert as Sergeant effective immediately through June 30, 2006. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
License Renewals:
Ms. Norbut said renewing the licenses is an annual process. Ms. Neggers added there is a new statute regarding the liquor licenses which was passed in 2004 that takes effect on this round of liquor license renewals where the approval is contingent upon receiving a certificate of inspection from the Building Inspector and the Fire Chief. These inspections occurred today and tomorrow.
Mr. Guertin read page one as attached into the record and made a motion to approve the Common Victualer – All Alcoholic Liquor licenses as read, contingent upon receiving the certificate Ms. Neggers just mentioned. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin read into the record and made a motion to approve the Retail Package Store licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin read into the record and made a motion to approve the Club licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin read into the record and made a motion to approve the Common Victualer Wine and Malt licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read into the record and made a motion to approve the Automatic Amusement & Pool Table licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read into the record and made a motion to approve the Entertainment licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read into the record and made a motion to approve the Motor Vehicle Class I licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read into the record and made a motion to approve the Motor Vehicle Class II licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read into the record and made a motion to approve the Motor Vehicle Class III licenses as listed and attached. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Norbut announced next Wednesday, December 21st, is the first day of winter and the Community Relations Committee will be sponsoring a drumming circle open to residents of all ages of the community at the Monson Free Library. Ms. Norbut added participants should bring a drum or a percussion instrument. Professional drummers will be there to facilitate this event which will last from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m.
The Board of Selectmen’s meeting for December 27, 2005 was canceled.
The Board of Selectmen wished everyone happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, happy New Year, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, whichever is celebrated and to please be safe.
At 8:25 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining (IBPO), not to return to open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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