MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 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:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of May 22, 2007 – executive session and June 12, 2007 – open and executive sessions. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Tourism Committee – Updated on State Grant:
Jeanne Bailey and Dot Jenkins approached the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Monson Tourism Committee. Ms. Neggers explained last year with the supplemental budget from the state, a $20,000.00 Downtown Beautification Grant was approved for Monson Tourism. This was approved and vetoed, back and forth and therefore the funds were inaccessible for eight months. A telephone call was recently received stating it was approved and the funds needed to be spent prior to June 30, 2007. Ms. Bailey said the Tourism Committee received $5,000.00 in grant money, $13,000.00 is on its way and the final $2,000.00 will be released when they issue their project completion, allowing the Monson Tourism Committee enough money to purchase a town clock. The total cost of the project will be $19,340.00 including installation of the clock. Ms.
Bailey said a local electrician will need to be hired to run the wiring and to work with the company installing the clock. Ms. Jenkins and Ms. Bailey were here tonight to present this proposal for final approval, approval for the use of funds as well as approval for the location.
Ms. Bailey explained the clock and presented the Board of Selectmen with a picture of it. The clock is 12’8” tall and has a two sided 24” dial face. A discussion ensued on the location for the clock with Ms. Bailey stating the Tourism Committee had narrowed it down to three possible locations for consideration, which were in front of the war memorial in front of Memorial Hall, right behind the memorial stone for Dave Grieve at Dave Grieve Park or in front of the Town Office Building by the public notice board. Ms. Bailey explained they felt most of the traffic in town only goes as far down Main Street as Dunkin Donuts and therefore they were thinking more of in front of the Town Office Building. Mr. Guertin agreed since it is a town clock; it should be in a visible spot.
Mr. Guertin asked about the guarantee as a lot of clocks in towns have stopped working or keep wrong time. Ms. Bailey said the clock will be maintained for five years by the company manufacturing it, the Verdin Company, who will also train somebody within town on minor maintenance and time changes. Also this is an electric clock and should have fewer problems then a mechanical clock.
Ms. Norbut added this clock is something that has been in the works for quite some time and she is comfortable with having the clock placed at either Dave Grieve Park or the Town Office Building, but not at Memorial Hall because of what the building and war memorial stand for. She felt the Tourism Committee should make the final decision as they have done all the leg work and research on this project. Mr. Harrison and Mr. Guertin agreed with Ms. Norbut they also wouldn’t want to see it installed at Memorial Hall. Ms. Bailey and Ms. Jenkins agreed in front of the Town Office Building would be the best location and said the trees might have to be trimmed for visualization of the clock.
Mr. Guertin made a motion the Board of Selectmen approve the Tourism project, to install a town clock with the designation somewhere in front of the Town Office Building in an area to be determined by the Monson Tourism Committee. The Board of Selectmen also authorized the expenditure of up to $20,000.00 from the Downtown Beautification Grant. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Jenkins said the members of the Tourism Committee were doing weeding and trimming in Dave Grieve Park this past Saturday and noticed a half dozen to a dozen shingles coming off the roof of the gazebo and wondered how to go about having this repaired. The Board of Selectmen agreed unanimously to have the Tourism Committee get estimates on the shingle replacement cost. Ms. Jenkins also said they would like to have a Boy Scout who needs to complete a project for an award possibly paint the gazebo, as it has been quite awhile.
Ms. Jenkins noted the Tourism Office/Visitor Center has new signage in place and added the new telephone number is 267-3996, which is on their web site and new brochures.
Mr. Guertin and Mr. Harrison thanked Ms. Bailey and Ms. Jenkins for all their work as Mr. Guertin noted it is greatly appreciated.
Ms. Bailey explained to the Board of Selectmen their next project for which she believes they can get the funding for, which would be to install carriage lights on Main Street from the Library down to Memorial Hall with all the electrical, cable and telephone lines being installed under the ground. Ms. Norbut said it is stunning in the communities that have done this. Ms. Bailey explained with a project of this type, you sell it to the people and the people sponsor it. The light poles will go for approximately $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 each, which is in the $1,200.00 ballpark range of what the benches cost for last years project. Ms. Bailey said she would like to install the poles every 20 to 25 feet. This project would easily cost $100,000.00. Mr. Harrison reminded the listening audience, as always, all of this money is
money that is raised outside of taxes.
Complete Reappointments:
Mr. Guertin read into the record and made a motion to appoint the people on the attached lists to the town positions and committees to the terms as stated. 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 reminded everyone, for the first time the fireworks will be held at Quarry Hill Community School on June 30th and reiterated on the parking, which is posted on the Summerfest Committee’s website at www.monsonsummerfestinc.com and also on the town’s web site at www.monson-ma.gov . The Summerfest on July 4th will be the same as in the past. Ms. Norbut reminded everyone since the fireworks will be held at Quarry Hill Community School, there is no smoking on school grounds and alcohol is not allowed. Ms. Neggers added all the rules are posted on the web site as well.
At 8:12 p.m., Ms. Norbut made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing non-union bargaining not to return to open session. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
_____________________________
Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
| 
