MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 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 in attendance 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 January 9, 2007 – open and executive sessions, with a new paragraph added by Mr. Guertin on page 3 of the open session. Ms. Norbut also noted a change on page 4 of the open session, where it stated she hadn’t had time to review the material to instead state she hadn’t formed an opinion at this time. Ms. Norbut seconded as amended and it was so VOTED.
Public Hearing – Proposed FY 2007 Community Development Block Grant Application – Jim Mazik, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission:
The public hearing was opened at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Mazik approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin read the legal notice for this public hearing into the record. Mr. Mazik explained this hearing is a continuation of a meeting that was held two weeks ago regarding the potential for submitting an application for funding under the Block Grant Program. At that time they proposed three different components. Mr. Mazik explained again the three proposed projects, which are the Park Avenue Infrastructure Improvement Project with a proposed budget of $368,100.00. The Housing Rehabilitation Program with a proposed budget of $290,200.00, and the Child Care Support Program with a proposed budget of $49,500.00. The total cost for administration is $91,000.00. Mr. Mazik explained the total amount that can be received on general
administration is 18% of the total grant amount. This year it is 11.4%. Application wise, there is no limit on what the administration agent can receive on both the delivery and the administration. Typically, the agencies or departments (or whoever is administrating the program) looks at 24% to 30%. The total here is 18.7%, for a grand total of $798,800.00.
Craig Jalbert, Superintendent of the Water/Sewer Department was in the audience and said the project on Green Street was very similar to the proposed Park Avenue project, but on a smaller scale. John Morrell, the Highway Surveyor was also in the audience and said the current sidewalk on Park Avenue is basically just a little footpath. This project will replace the footpath with nice five foot wide sidewalk on each side of the street, plus extend them. Mr. Morrell also said the granite curbing, which will be installed, is a good deterrent to stop people from parking on the sidewalks. Mr. Morrell noted a lot of infrastructure has deteriorated in town and this project would take another one off of that list.
Mr. Mazik explained Park Avenue has fifteen houses on the street. Of the fifteen houses, roughly 58% (seven to eight) are low to moderate income. Upon a visual assessment, approximately five or six of these houses could benefit from housing rehabilitation. There are currently twenty three or twenty four families on the waiting list for housing rehabilitation with half of these located within the target area.
Sue Hamlin of the Preschool Enrichment Team approached the Board of Selectmen regarding the Child Care Subsidy Program. Ms. Hamlin stated this program was started twelve years ago to assist working parents and parents in school with the cost of child care. The current proposal will benefit approximately fourteen children depending on the number of children per family, by providing about 50% of the subsidy for the first child, 75% for the second child and 100% for the third child in each family. Ms. Norbut added 31.99% of the female head of household with children in Hampden County, which includes Monson, are in poverty level according to www.mass.gov/women.
There wasn’t anyone else in the audience who wished to comment.
Ms. Neggers added a lot of people in town have been helped through the Housing Rehabilitation Program and felt that any effort to bring this program back to Monson would be well worth the effort. Mr. Guertin said the proposal sounds good and is hoping Monson will be successful with its application.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the proposal and to move forward. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
The Board of Selectmen and Ms. Neggers thanked Mr. Mazik and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for their assistance in preparing this application.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the FY 07 Town of Monson Community Development Strategy with a change, which is to change the wording from CPA to CPC. Ms. Norbut seconded as amended and it was so VOTED.
The public hearing was closed at 7:30 p.m.
Joint Meeting of the Monson School Committee and Board of Selectmen to Appoint Someone to Fill a Vacancy on the School Committee:
School Committee members Karen Patenaude, Joycelyn Smith, Robert Beauchemin and Richard Nabel along with candidate Mona St. John approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin reiterated the vacancy on the School Committee, created by the resignation of Mr. Kaiser, for Mr. Kaiser’s remaining term. Mr. Guertin read Ms. St. John’s letter of interest into the record. Ms. St. John was asked a series of questions by both the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Patenaude went over the School Committee meeting schedule with Ms. St. John and noted this is a really demanding position with a lot of reading and work to be done, and added it is also very rewarding. Ms. St. John has volunteered in the Monson school system at the elementary level, currently is employed at the Monson Senior Center, serves on the
Community Relations Committee and feels working with the community is very rewarding. Ms. Norbut said Ms. St. John is a very genuine and caring person and feels Ms. St. John is a great team player. Mr. Harrison thanked Ms. St. John for her desire to face the election process in April. Mr. Guertin added it is always refreshing when someone steps up to fill a vacancy such as this and encouraged everyone at home to step up and give any of the current vacancies on boards and committees here in town a shot.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Mona St. John to the School Committee effective immediately through April 2, 2007. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. A roll call vote was taken as follows:
· Joycelyn Smith – aye
· Robert Beauchemin – aye
· Karen Patenaude – aye
· Kathleen C. Norbut – aye
· Edward S. Harrison – aye
· Richard E. Guertin – aye
Creation of Community Preservation Committee – Discussion:
Dennis Swierad and Leslie Duthie approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Duthie explained there are five required members of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The required members are a member of the Housing Board, a member of the Historical Society, someone from Parks and Recreation, someone from the Planning Board and someone from the Conservation Commission. Ms. Duthie was asking the Board of Selectmen to ask these five committees to seek members to serve on the CPC. Ms. Duthie felt this group could discuss the bylaw and prepare it for the Town meeting. This would give the Board of Selectmen time to entertain any other individuals from the community that wish to serve. Ms. Duthie added all the meetings of the Community Preservation Committee are public meetings and open to everyone. Mr. Guertin reiterated to
the listening audience, the Community Preservation Committee can recommend the expenditures of the funds, but it must be approved at a Town meeting.
Ms. Norbut made a motion requesting the Town Administrator send a letter to each of the appropriate boards/commissions soliciting their input for participation in exploring a CPC bylaw. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Board of Health – Pandemic Planning Status:
Board of Health Chairman Gary Allard, member Robert Bator and Health Agent Lorri McCool approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Allard explained the next step the Board of Health will be taking in the pandemic preparedness planning will be to organize a pamphlet containing a check list of items needed for any pandemic, or disaster such as ice storms, lengthy power outages, flooding, major snowstorms, etc. The pamphlets will be placed in the Town Administration Building, Adams Supermarket, Monson Savings Bank, the Library and the Senior Center. The pamphlet will also contain the new Board of Health telephone number as well as access information for the Board of Health web site. Mr. Allard said the check list was downloaded from the Homeland Security site. It was suggested this pamphlet, or possibly a second pamphlet could
possibly contain information for the correct way to hook up a generator, such as not placing a running generator in the basement of a home along with other things of what not to do, such not bringing a grill inside for cooking.
Ms. Neggers added the town’s web site contains a button at the bottom for anyone wishing to subscribe to receive “News and Announcements” and “Agenda’s” from various town departments who post information. There are currently fifty-five subscribers.
Ms. McCool said she and the Board of Health have met with the Monson Developmental Center twice to see which available build would be the best building suitable for the dispensing site. They have agreed on the New Hope Building, which they have toured to see how it was set up and to make sure it contained everything required, which it does, for a massive inoculation and/or a dispensing site. The New Hope Building offers a great location which is accessible from a couple different routes. The building is also easy to secure. The Monson Developmental Center is already set up with back up generators and everything needed for emergency situations. Ms. McCool said the Monson Developmental Center has gone through their steps to get approval, and it has been submitted at the state level indicating this is the site
chosen.
Monson’s next step will be to find volunteers to serve on the Medical Reserve Corp. Ms. McCool has been chosen as Monson’s coordinator for the National Medical Reserve Corp., allowing her access to a lot of information which is available. Anyone interested may e-mail the Board of Health at boh@monson-ma.gov or call the Board of Health office at 267-4107. Anyone with medical background is encouraged to volunteer. People without medical background are also encouraged to volunteer as volunteers are needed to help with the
dispensing site and so on. Volunteers might also be asked if they are willing to travel and/or relocate if they are needed elsewhere in the state or country depending on their qualifications and accessibility.
Mr. Guertin said he appreciates Mr. Allard stepping up and taking on this task. Mr. Guertin also thanked Ms. McCool and the other Board of Health members.
It was agreed the Board of Health would meet again with the Board of Selectmen in six weeks, at the Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for March 13th.
In other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Harrison said the Monson Democrats will hold a caucus at the Polish American Citizens Club on Bliss Street on Saturday, February 3rd at 2:00 p.m. to elect four delegates and two alternates to the 2007 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. The caucus is open to all Massachusetts Democrats registered in Monson as of December 30, 2006. Candidates for delegate and alternate positions must be at least 18, must consent to nomination in writing and must be present at the caucus to be elected. Delegates will be evenly divided between men and women. The convention will be held on Saturday, May 19th, at the UMass Mullins Center in Amherst. At that time, Democrats from across the state will gather to develop a new agenda outlining grassroots organizing and party building initiatives to prepare for the presidential
election in 2008.
Ms. Norbut said this Friday, January 26th at 1:00 p.m.; the Senior Center will host a reception for Outreach Coordinator Krista Moreau who will be moving on to a position in another company. This will be a time for everyone to say good-bye and to wish Ms. Moreau well. Ms. Norbut wished Ms. Moreau well also.
On Wednesday, January 31st at the Council on Aging at 2:45 p.m., the Director of Public Relations at Wing Memorial Hospital will be at the Senior Center to discuss the many changes taking place at our local hospital.
Also in other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Neggers said there was an automobile accident on Friday which prompted quite a few telephone calls to the police station regarding the power outage caused by this accident. Ms. Neggers said the telephone calls should be directed to the electric company, National Grid, as the police department had their hands full with the accident and have no way of knowing when power would be restored, and gave her compliments to the dispatcher for handling the numerous telephone calls during the emergency with the calm professionalism she displayed.
The meeting schedule for the month of February was also changed. The Board of Selectmen agreed unanimously to change the regularly scheduled meetings of February 13th and February 27th to February 6th and February 20th. Mr. Harrison said he would be unable to attend both meetings, but had no problem with the meetings being held without him.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 9:00 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. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Kathleen C. Norbut, Clerk
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