BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2006
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room at 110 Main Street. In attendance were Richard E. Guertin, Edward S. Harrison and Kathleen C. Norbut. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of May 9, 2006 – open and executive sessions. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Joint Meeting – Board of Selectmen and School Committee: To Fill A Vacancy on the School Committee (M.G.L. Chapter 41, §11):
The following members of the School Committee: Jocelyn Smith, Karen Patenaude, J. Kurt Kaiser and Robert Beauchemin, approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin explained two candidates submitted applications wishing to fill the vacancy on the School Committee. Both applicants, Angus Brewer and Michael Kane, were interviewed individually at this meeting, Mr. Brewer first and Mr. Kane second. They were asked to tell about themselves and asked a series of questions by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. Both candidates were thanked for applying for the position. Following the interviews:
Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Michael J. Kane to the School Committee effective immediately through the next town election in April of 2007. Ms. Patenaude seconded and a roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Guertin: Aye Mr. Beauchemin: Aye
Mr. Harrison: Aye Ms. Smith: Aye
Ms. Norbut: Aye Ms. Patenaude: Aye
Mr. Kaiser abstained from voting as he has had personal dealings with one of the candidates.
Ms. Norbut thanked the candidates for the time, interest and talents they were offering to the community. Ms. Norbut explained she felt Mr. Kane’s experience is needed while the school district is going through a time of change.
Mr. Guertin told Mr. Brewer not to let this disappointment deter him from other positions as he was very impressed with how Mr. Brewer presented himself along with his honesty. Mr. Harrison added Mr. Brewer is a very articulate young man.
Appointment of Police Sergeant; Part-Time Dispatchers:
Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and explained the need for a third Sergeant, allowing one Sergeant per shift. Based upon Nicholoas Gasperini’s experience, Chief Kozloski said he was recommending Mr. Gasperini for the position without reservation. Chief Kozloski explained Mr. Gasperini’s qualifications and work experience.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Nicholas Gasperini as Sergeant effective immediately through June 30, 2008. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief Kozloski explained the need of the two part-time dispatchers which would allow him the ability to fill any shift vacancies as both Adam Symanski and William Jacques are part-time police officers as well.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Adam Symanski and William Jacques as part-time dispatchers effective immediately through June 30, 2006. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Issuance of Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau Proclamation:
Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and explained for a number of years the Monson Police Department has successfully applied for, and obtained grants, through the Massachusetts Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau. Approximately $5,400.00 is received each year, and is split up over six deployments. The deployments could be the “Click It or Ticket” focusing on seat belt enforcement or “Road Respect”, which deals with road rage and quality of driving issues. Previously, the department had focused primarily on the enforcement aspect of these two initiatives. This year Chief Kozloski said he is hoping to expand this to the awareness portion of the grant as well. Chief Kozloski wants to get the word out that this is an issue, and that according to the Massachusetts Governor’s
Highway Safety Bureau, Massachusetts has one of the lowest usage rates in the country. The awareness will include this Proclamation, getting the word out through M-PACT and the press, and school announcements as well as other plans including incentives on spot checks in the areas of the schools.
Ms. Norbut read the proclamation into the record.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept this proclamation. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief Kozloski said this proclamation will be posted on the town’s web site under the Police Department.
Discussion – Board of Health Membership Criteria:
Mr. Guertin said following the last meeting he has thought a lot about pandemics and just how they would affect the town. Mr. Guertin explained he has received a copy of a notebook which is the legal handbook used by the Board’s of Health in the state.
Mr. Guertin explained, thinking about 9/11, chemical warfare, the bird flu, anthrax, etc., he realized just how drastically the world has changed over the last ten years or so, which means the Board of Health is faced with things they never had to worry about before. Mr. Guertin added all Boards and Committees now need someone serving on them who has experience in specific fields relating to that Board or Committee. Due to the additional issues placed upon the Board of Health, Mr. Guertin feels a plan must be devised for the Board of Health which would require talents other then the medical background used in prior years, to include the talents of a great organizer who could analyze concepts. This person would also be responsible for a lot of the coordinating work in dealing with other agencies and organizations in the
event an epidemic or catastrophe ever occurs. Mr. Guertin wondered if the Board of Selectmen needed to do a little research to come up with an appropriate background or knowledge base for someone serving on the Board of Health, and if something were developed possibly present it to the current Board of Health for their input. By doing this, when a vacancy opens up on the Board of Health, the Board of Selectmen could look for someone with the appropriate background to fill the vacancy.
Ms. Neggers added, the comprehensive Emergency Management Plan would also be involved in any pandemics or catastrophes and would refer issues to the appropriate departments, such as a flood would be referred to the Highway Department if it only posed a problem to the roads. A flood would also be passed on to the Board of Health if it posed a problem to wells and leach fields. A bio-terrorist issue would also be referred to the Board of Health, as would the bird flu epidemic.
Mr. Guertin said the manual has a chapter pertaining to Health & Medical issues, and read a portion of Section 2.14 into the record. It states the Monson Board of Health Chairman is responsible for the direction and control of health medical services during emergency disaster situations. Mr. Guertin added the job description for the Board of Health has changed drastically over the last ten years. Mr. Guertin feels what is needed is a pro-active Board of Health who is looking to the future by looking at potential scenarios of things the Board of Health might have to deal with, and come up with a plan ahead of time, while hoping never to have to implement it; but to have it in place so if something were to happen, everyone would know where the command center is and just who is involved and who would be in charge. Also,
if residents needed to be inoculated, would it be done by precincts, etc?
Ms. Norbut said when the flood occurred in Monson this past October; she became concerned about this issue as well on a different level, as Monson’s Emergency Plan had to be activated and Monson was in a State of Emergency. Ms. Norbut explained by participating in the State of Emergency, it created a new perspective for her, especially after watching the on-going coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the multiple, multiple issues surrounding New Orleans and what they went through and are still going through. Ms. Norbut mentioned some of the many authorities the manual said are handled by the Board of Health; such as subsurface sewage, drainage, solid waste management, hazardous waste facility site assignment, subdivision control, lead, tobacco, air/noise pollution, offensive or noisome trades, nuisance and betterment,
and she noted this isn’t even getting into the issue of bio-terrorism, pandemic avian flu, etc. Ms. Norbut said the hours of commitment the volunteers on the Board of Health put in for the community, Bulky Day and the Health Fair are enormous, yet the layers of responsibility are getting deeper and deeper so trained staffs are required. Ms. Norbut said she would be interested in sitting down with the current Board of Health members to see what they see as the weight of sharing the responsibilities and just how much of it falls on the Chairperson. Ms. Norbut felt the Board of Health have their hands full as they have an awful lot of responsibility which continues to grow.
Ms. Neggers said the Board of Health is responsible for the new unfunded mandates as well such as the well permitting regulations, floor drain regulations, tobacco fees & fines, solid waste trash program, beaver control, all added within the past few years.
Mr. Harrison added the Board of Health is doing a tremendous job handling all of these tasks; however these responsibilities are not the size and scope of a pandemic flu.
Mr. Guertin agreed the current Board of Health is doing a great job, but issues which could face the town in the very near future scare him and he feels the town needs to be ready for it, if and when it should happen, and said he realizes just how much work this plan is going to require.
Ms. Norbut said communities need to plan yet we don’t have the resources, let alone an abundance of resources to address these issues and she feels the Board of Selectmen need to work with the Board of Health members more pro-actively to set up the plans that need to be put in place as to the who, the what, the how, the when, the where, the why, transportation, etc. and that Monson needs to look ahead, and not that far ahead as this is upon us. Ms. Norbut said she appreciates Mr. Guertin bringing this issue forward and suggested the Board of Selectmen inform the Board of Health they want to develop some criteria with their input and have some discussion, either as a whole group or just one member. Mr. Harrison said his preference would be as a group. Mr. Guertin said on May 30th at 4:00 p.m. here in the
conference room, there is going to be a meeting regarding pandemic planning and suggested possibly talking to the Board of Health at that time. Mr. Guertin said he supported getting together with the Board of Health members to work on this and said he would like a list from each member of the Board of Health as to new responsibilities that have recently been assigned to them, and to see if there is a way to find out from the state what falls under the jurisdiction for the Board of Health duty wise. Mr. Harrison agreed a plan needs to be developed to cover the various types of disasters and the need to make sure there are appropriately skilled people to manage the plan. Ms. Norbut suggested trying to coordinate a meeting with the Board of Health that would address the concerns identified this evening, and include criteria for membership and identification of additional responsibilities dealing with the handbook that was published in 1995, and take the appropriate steps to address
those. Mr. Guertin agreed, but said he would like the Board of Health to come to the meeting with a list of what they believe the Board of Health responsibilities are, as he is trying to find out what it is thought to be and what is missing, and then criteria could be developed. Ms. Neggers said she would see what she could find out at the state level.
Ms. Neggers said she would write something up. It was agreed the Board of Selectmen would speak with the Board of Health on May 30th following the meeting regarding pandemic planning.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 9:20 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining (AFSCME) not to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Kathleen C. Norbut, Clerk
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