BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007
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 Edward S. Harrison, Kathleen C. Norbut and Richard E. Guertin. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of May 8, 2007 – open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED
Ms. Norbut made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 24, 2007 and May 8, 2007 – executive sessions. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Recognize Monson Unsung Heroine for 2007:
Ms. Norbut explained the unsung heroine program and said this year she thought immediately of nominating Ann O’Shea, who is known for her warmth, generosity and commitment to children as a bus driver for thirty-three years and who has cared for people with disabilities.
Karen Patenaude and Mike Kane presented Ms. O’ Shea with flowers on behalf of the Monson School Committee.
Ms. Norbut presented Ms. O’Shea with flowers on behalf of the Monson Board of Selectmen and the community of Monson in appreciation for all she has done. Ms. Norbut explained a proclamation is done with a special day in honor of an individual in our community and made a motion to have May 30th dedicated as Ann O’Shea Day in the Town of Monson in appreciation and recognition of her award as our Unsung Heroine talent. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut said Representative Mary Rogeness has a proclamation coming to Ms. O’Shea and that Senator Stephen Brewer sends his warm wishes and congratulations to her. Mr. Harrison added a proclamation will be forthcoming from the Board of Selectmen as well.
Greene Room Productions – Request for Use of Gazebo:
Mr. Guertin updated Ms. Norbut on the request as she wasn’t present at the previous meeting when this was discussed. Susan Jones, representing Greene Room Productions approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Jones reiterated the request for the use of Dave Grieve Park and the gazebo for Sunday, June 17th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with the play beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. It was explained this event is free and open to the public and tickets may be purchased at this time for the play across the street.
Ms. Neggers suggested Greene Room Productions check into receiving a one day food permit from the Board of Health for the event if it is required.
Mr. Guertin had stated this crosses an area where the Board of Selectmen haven’t set any precedents, as this is a for profit group and the park and gazebo have previously only been used by non-profit organizations. Ms. Norbut said she is hearing this event is open to the public free of charge with only a charge being collected for the sales of refreshments and the play itself, which will be held in Memorial Hall. Mr. Harrison added the future use of the park also depends on the nature of the event. Mr. Guertin wondered when it is okay and when is it not okay and how would you go about refusing someone, as it needs to be done consistently. Mr. Harrison said a policy would need to be developed for the future. Ms. Neggers added the Memorial Hall Use Policy has a lot of language that could also be incorporated into a
policy for the use of Dave Grieve Park and the gazebo. Ms. Neggers agreed with the concerns, but felt it was something that could be managed properly. Ms. Neggers said Greene Room Productions is very good with providing liability insurance certificates which would allow for protection and this could be amended to include the use of the park as well. Mr. Guertin said this is part of a Memorial Hall event which would be a distinction for use down the road.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to allow Greene Room Productions the use of Dave Grieve Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 17th with the understanding that with the entertainment there will be no amplification and that it will be open to the general public with only a fee being charged for the drinks and food that they will be offering at that time. The agreement is also with the understanding that this is all to encourage the sale of performance tickets. A Board of Health food permit will be pursued and issued if needed and the liability insurance will be amended to include this portion. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin said if the insurance cannot be amended, this event might not be allowed to happen.
CD Strategy – Modifications per QVCDC Request:
Mr. Harrison read the letter received from Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. (QVCDC) into the record. Mr. Harrison explained the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corp. (QVBAC) and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. have benefited the Town of Monson by providing business loans and training education on computer programs and business creation for a number of years now and their application requires the towns’ support through the Community Development Strategy document, which the town has created, and is a pre-requisite for Monson to be able to sign on with this grant application. The Board of Selectmen approved the Fiscal Year ’07 Town of Monson Community Development Strategy, which Mr. Harrison had a copy, and explained it deals with subjects such as the Monson Master Plan, Open Space and
Recreation Plan, Downtown and Economic Development and charts the course of what they are doing with future community development. Ms. Rutherford’s letter was requesting language to be added to the already existing Community Development Strategy that reflects the fact that Monson is making use of QVBAC and QVCDC services, which will carry weight and satisfy the pre-requisite for this grant application. Mr. Harrison went over some of the language which will be added to the already existing strategy as follows: the section under Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. and Assistance Business Corp. add language stating “The Town of Monson cooperates with the QVCDC on many projects, particularly through the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corp., which provides technical assistance to businesses and assists in economic development, job creation and job retention by providing training and technical assistance to businesses and individuals. Activities include loans to
micro enterprise businesses and to job creating small businesses, individual and group job training for business owners and job skills for individuals.” In another section it says additionally the Local Partnership for Economic Development, which is a committee here within town, add the wording “will encourage and support job creation and job retention through assistance to small and micro enterprise businesses in the form of business loans, training and technical assistance and encourage and support job creation, job enhancement and job retention through assistance to individuals in the form of skill training and financial literacy.” Mr. Harrison added, the more towns sign onto this, the more likely Monson is to receive funding which benefit economic development, and recommended the approval of the additions to the strategy. Ms. Norbut noted a few sections that might be included while tweaking the strategy. Ms. Norbut said on page 2 under the Community Relations
Committee, we can now say Monson has been awarded the distinction of No Place for Hate® for seven consecutive years, as June 6th will be the recertification ceremony in Boston. On page 3, it talks about the Community Preservation Committee and Ms. Norbut thought we might want to update that per Town meeting and on page 4, second from the last sentence in the underlined portion, a number of different pieces there need to be capped.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the revisions to the Community Development Strategy. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Auxiliary Police Officers (2) per Chief of Police’s Request:
Mr. Harrison read the request into the record. Mr. Guertin made a motion to appoint Michael J. Beaupre and Bradley S. Hann as Auxiliary Police Officers effective immediately through June 30, 2007. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Neggers said the Monson Tourism Committee has requested the placement of the banner “Monson Supports Our Troops” for the Memorial Day weekend to be placed at the gazebo, as the Board of Health has a banner up across Main Street for the Hazardous Waste Day.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to allow the Tourism Committee to place the banner “Monson Supports Our Troops” to be up for 1 week at the gazebo in Dave Grieve Park. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Also in other business, it was announced Hazardous Waste Day will be held on Saturday, June 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Highway Department. Ms. Neggers read the list of what will be accepted and their prices into the record. This information will also be on the town’s web site.
Ms. Norbut announced a grant application has been submitted between Palmer and Monson. The funding was not received last year and she said Monson is hopeful for this year.
Also, Ms. Norbut said it is time to think about reappointments. Ms. Norbut made a motion to send notices out to boards and committees requesting an up-dated list of the active members they wish be reappointed. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin thanked all the citizens who attended the Annual Town Meeting.
At, 7:50 p.m., Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of a non-union bargaining discussion, not to return to open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
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