Town of Monson, MA - Meeting of 2006-03/13

Meeting of 2006-03/13

MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007

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 Richard E. Guertin, Edward S. Harrison and Kathleen C. Norbut. Also present was the media. The Town Administrator was not present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:

Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of February 6, 2007 – open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.

Quaboag Riders Club – Seeking Permission for Early Start/Special Event:

Jim O’Connor, President and Jerry White, Vice President of Quaboag Riders Club approached the Board of Selectmen seeking permission to hold a special event along with an early start time for this event. The event is the 2007 American Motorcycle Amateur Youth National Hill Climb Championship. Mr. O’Connor said the club has held this same event in 1993 and 2001. This event is hard to get and is very prestigious. It only comes back to the east coast every three years and was held in New Hampshire in 2004. Mr. O’Connor said people travel from all over for this event coming from Minnesota, West Virginia, Ohio and Wisconsin. Friday, August 10^th is the sign-up day and technical day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a riders meeting at 6:30. The actual events will be held on Saturday, August 11^th and Sunday August 12^th with fifteen classes. The times for Saturday and Sunday are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Neither the Board of Selectmen nor the representatives from the Quaboag Riders Club could recall any problems from the previous two events of this nature regarding noise. Mr. O’Connor said the club always carries $1 million in insurance for all three days and will have two police officers present as they do for all their events. The Quaboag Riders Club always has an ambulance crew on site. If a transport is needed, Monson ambulance will provide the transport while the regular crew from the hired firm will stay at the event. If both ambulances are on hospital runs, the events are shut down until there is ambulance coverage. Mr. O’Connor said this event is advertised in the AMA magazine which is distributed nation wide, posted on their web site and in Turley Publications as well as word of mouth. People traveling for the event will be staying in motels and campgrounds.

Ms. Norbut encouraged Mr. O’Connor and Mr. White to check with Chief Kozloski and asked that they provide a copy of their insurance to the Town Administrator. Ms. Norbut also suggested they place a copy of their flyers in the newspaper shoots of the neighbors so they will be aware of the event as well.

Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the 2007 AMA Amateur Youth National Hill Climb Championship hosted by the Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club for the dates of Friday, August 10^th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday August 11^th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday August 12^th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Building Inspector – Fee Change Proposal:

Chip Lapointe approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Lapointe stated the plumbing and electrical fees have not been revised in the past 15 years. All the inspectors are licensed professionals and work for the town on a part-time basis. In order to compensate them properly, so they are not working at a loss when doing these inspections, Mr. Lapointe was recommending raising the fees charges from $30.00 per inspection to $40.00 per inspection. The inspectors receive 85% of the fee to conduct the required inspections. This would raise the permit fee for a single family home from $90.00 to $120.00. For comparison, Mr. Lapointe stated all the towns in Franklin County charge $175.00 for a single family home; Amherst and Ludlow both charge $150.00 and Northampton’s fees are $150.00 to $200.00 depending on the size of the home. By increasing Monson’s fees, Mr. Lapointe was hoping to retain the quality inspectors the town now has and give them the incentive to perform prompt inspections for the contractors, as well as help them with the cost of their fuel and loss of wages. Mr. Lapointe said Monson will be a little higher than Palmer and Wilbraham after the increase in fees, but added he would rather lead the pack rather then follow.

Mr. Lapointe explained there are two components involved with the plumbing fees. Mr. Lapointe currently charges a flat rate of $5.00 per $1,000.00 of construction costs. With this proposal, he isn’t changing this portion, so if someone has a fixed contract cost for example additions, it will stay the same. With new construction, Mr. Lapointe said he uses a square foot price to give him an estimated construction price. Mr. Lapointe said he has been using the same formula for the past ten years and this is $60.00 per square foot, which is well below the market right now. Therefore, Mr. Lapointe was requesting a modest increase up to $80.00 per square foot, just to keep it in line with some of the people bidding on jobs and to have a fixed fee versus someone with a square foot fee. All of the proposed increases will benefit the town by increasing the revenue with potentially an additional $15,000.00 to $18,000.00 per year.

Mr. Lapointe stated the current building permit fee is calculated at $5.00 per $1,000.00 of construction cost and a minimum fee of $25.00 for sheds, windows and siding. To keep fees equitable for all projects, Mr. Lapointe explained he assigns a cost per square foot value based on average construction costs in the area. These cost tables have not changed in eight years and he recommended an increase to reflect the current increase in real estate values.

Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the revised plumbing and electrical permit set fees schedule as presented by the Building Inspector. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so

VOTED.

Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the revised building permit fee schedule as presented by the Building Inspector. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.

Board of Health – Pandemic Planning Status:

Gary Allard, Chairman for the Board of Health and Lori McCool, the Town’s Health Agent, approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. McCool stated Monson has been accepted into the National Reserve Corp. She will be going for an all day training on Tuesday in Marlboro for all MRT’s for Massachusetts where she will receive more information. In the very near future the Board of Health will be accepting applications from people with and without medical backgrounds. Everyone will receive training as well so they will know just what they are doing. The Hampden County Health Coalition is in the process of hiring an MRC coordinator for all of Hampden County. This regional coordinator will be able to assist in training making it a county wide providing different times and places and making it more convenient. Mr. Allard said the Monson Board of Health is currently actively seeking an MRC volunteer coordinator for our town. The coordinator will assist in reviewing the applications with Ms. McCool and set up trainings and segregating the groups. This person should be someone who has the interest of the town at heart, has data entry skills and also helpful would be strong computer knowledge. This is an important yet interesting position. Anyone interested may contact the Board of Health office.

Currently, the Board of Health is working on flash flooding and storm water management with the Emergency Preparedness Committee, targeting all of the potential areas in town. They have also been working on an outdoor wood burning stove policy. This policy is now ready for legal review. Mr. Allard said he feels with proper burning techniques and a catalytic converter installed in chimneys, there should be no problems. The trash contract is coming along and they are getting close to finalizing it.

It was agreed they would come back in six to eight weeks, when they are a little further along.

Karen Patenaude & Mr. Richard Nabel – Discussion of Letter From School Committee to the State Regarding Funds for School Budget for FY 08:

Karen Patenaude, Mr. Nabel and Deborah Mahar approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Patenaude explained they had a letter regarding the town/school budget for FY 08, for the Board of Selectmen to look over and if agreed upon, they would like Mr. Guertin as Chairman of the Selectmen, to sign. Ms. Patenaude said they would then like to send the letter out to the residents. Mr. Nabel read the letter into the record.

Mr. Guertin said the letter stated the school received an increase of 7.5% last year and this year received only 1.7% for the total net school spending. This doesn’t provide for increased utility costs, rising health premium costs, contractual increases and amounts to a net loss of approximately $500,000.00. Mr. Guertin asked if the $500,000.00 was considered a loss or a shortfall as a loss implies you can’t lose something you never had and said the term shortfall better represents this statement. Ms. Mahar agreed it is a shortfall, but not in Chapter 70 funding. Ms. Mahar said it is a shortfall, not in Chapter 70 funding but in the overall budget. Mr. Nabel said a truer statement would be there is approximately a $500,000.00 shortfall in order to meet the projected level of services budgeted for FY 08. Mr. Guertin said the letter should state, since the increase in Chapter 70 funding was substantially less than the amount received last year, it has created a shortfall of $500,000.00. Ms. Norbut suggested taking off the last three words in the last sentence and stating, while we appreciate the new formula was suppose to make things more equitable, we need you to know that for the community of Monson, it will very negatively impact educational services.

Mr. Harrison suggested placing Senator Brewers’ first name in with his name or eliminating Rep. Rogeness’ first name to keep it consistent.

Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the letter and to have the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Guertin, cosign contingent upon the amendments and changes that were discussed. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.

In summarizing, Ms. Patenaude and Mr. Nabel agreed to put a letter together as discussed, have the Board of Selectmen and Ms. Mahar review it and then Mr. Guertin has the clearance from the Board to cosign it.

Mr. Nabel said the letter would then be distributed. Their normal procedure is to send it home in the backpack for the elementary students and to mail it to the parents of the middle and high school students as well as place it in various areas around town such as in the Senior Center, Town Hall, Library and the supermarket, as it is too hard to mail out to the 2,700 homes in town.

Open Annual Town Meeting Warrant:

Ms. Norbut said the Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 14^th.

Ms. Norbut made a motion to open the warrants for the Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 27, 2007. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.

Announce Final Tree Warden’s Wood Disposal Policy:

John Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin read into the record the Wood Disposal Policy drafted by Mr. Morrell and revised.

Mr. Morrell explained if the wood pile at the Highway Department is full and more trees are taken down, this is when wood would be delivered if a neighbor close by desires it. Mr. Morrell also said new wood would not be added to the pile until the pile was almost depleted, to prevent people from only taking the larger pieces of wood and not the smaller pieces.

Mr. Guertin complemented Mr. Morrell for putting this document together as it was a hard thing to do, and he did it very well.

Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the Town of Monson Wood Policy as described in the document. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Mr. Morrell stated he is currently waiting for forms from Town Counsel on the removal and pick-up of the wood by the town residents. This policy has been approved by Town Counsel and the State Ethnics Commission.

Request for Waiver of Right-of-First-Refusal – 266 Cedar Swamp Road:

Mr. Harrison made a motion to not exercise the right of first refusal contingent upon the Town Administrator having heard from the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission stating they have had the opportunity to review this request and they have no interest in this parcel. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

Request for Waiver of Right-of-First-Refusal – 139 Cote Road:

Request for Appointments(s) –

Kevin Biermann – From Associate Member to Full Member

Teresa Sobanska-Hrynkiw to Zoning Board of Appeals – Associate Member

David M. Sartori – PT DispatcherTrainee

Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint Tresea Sobanska-Hrynkiw as associate member for the Zoning Board of Appeals and to appoint Kevin Biermann from the position of associate member to full member on the Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately through June 30, 2009. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.

Ms. Norbut made a motion to appoint David M. Sartori as a part time dispatcher trainee effective immediately through June 30, 2007. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.

Correspondence was read and completed.

In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:

Ms. Norbut said there will be a very interesting event titled “What Does diversity Mean to You” at the Monson Developmental Center on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at Daily Hall. This is the third annual Diversity Day Celebration. Also, everyone is welcome to participate in the flag contest.

Ms. Norbut noted Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day and on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., the Unitarian Universalist Church in Monson, will host an Irish band. The admission fee is $5.00.

Ms. Norbut said the wonderful Quaboag Highlanders Pipe Band have received a prestigious invitation by being invited to march in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17^th. This past Sunday, March 11^th, the Quaboag Highlanders Pipe Band came in first place in the Worcester parade and will also be in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade on this Sunday, March 18^th.

At 8:35 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for a non-union bargaining discussion, not to return to open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.

_____________________________

Kathleen C. Norbut, Clerk