BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 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 October 9, 2007 – open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Joint Meeting with Monson School Committee to Fill Vacancy:
This was tabled until the meeting of November 13, 2007.
Budget Summit – Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee – Finance Director and Town Administrator Presentation:
Deborah Mahar, Peter Ross, Mike Kane, Karen Patenaude and Maureen Sullivan approached the Board of Selectmen for a presentation by Ms. Neggers and Ms. Mahar basically explaining the School Committee what the Long Range Capital Planning Committee has been doing as there needs to be a more common understanding of the process and where it is active. It was explained Monson is one of many towns facing very difficult situations. Ms. Neggers explained the common budgetary issues and the complexity. Ms. Mahar said the School Department and the Water/Sewer were not included along with the waste management. Ms. Neggers went over the Free Cash stating it is extremely flat as the motor vehicle tax, fines and building permits have not changed, there is no new growth. These are revenues that are collected locally and stay locally.
This does not include real estate taxes. With the tax levy at 2 1/2 % and no new growth expected, the true budget is unknown. This is a twelve month process. It was explained the shortfall is the difference between the estimated and the appropriated funds. State aide came to a screeching halt last year. The bulk of the town’s budget is teacher’s retirement, pensions, health insurance and energy costs rising. The town is looking at a 12% increase, without any added benefit, in health insurance this year. The building of new houses in town is down and it is projected the figure will not rise next year. It was stated to heat the Town Office Building next year; it will cost an additional $23,000.00 over last year. There will also be a big increase in electricity next year as the town’s four year locked in price contract with the electric company expires and the 7.4 rate will no longer be locked in. Mr. Guertin suggested trying to lock in again with the understanding
if the rates come down and hit a certain rate; we would be allowed to change to the lower rate as the rate will change from 7.4 to 11% which is a 50% increase. Ms. Neggers said if the State uses the same formula in figuring out the Chapter 70 money, we will receive the same amount as the formula they use says the town should be paying more and the state should be paying less according to the equation. Ms. Neggers explained Monson use to see high Chapter 70 money and now that we aren’t it is really hurting the town financially and that is why everyone sitting at the table tonight needs to work together to make gains. It was explained the employee benefits need to be negotiated the same but separately with a collective understanding which would need to be done in a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen in executive session. It was also suggest to set up a brainstorming session between the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen to develop a complete collective
bargaining strategy. Mr. Guertin noted the town doesn’t have any real estimates on school capital items. The School Committee said at one point awhile back, they didn’t have the knowledge to estimate the life expectancy of the boilers, etc. and had suggested receiving professional advice.
Ms. Neggers explained the Finance Director will be asking departments to get their budgets ready earlier to submit to the Finance Director and then to the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Mahar said they are looking for level service budgets and also a priority budget showing estimated costs.
The brainstorming session will be held on November 13th with an executive session.
Set Date – Special Town Meeting:
Ms. Norbut made a motion to set the date for the Special Town Meeting for Monday, November 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Granite Valley Middle School auditorium. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
Set Meeting Schedule – To Complete STM Warrant:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to meet on Tuesday November 6, 2007 to open and close the warrant for the Special Town Meeting. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Discussion – Police Chief re: Acquisition of Police Canine:
Chief Stephen Kozloski, Officer Christopher Arventos and the Manager of Adams IGA Mike O’Grady approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski explained Mr. O’Grady contacted him regarding securing funds for a Police K9 as he had entered a contest and had won a grant to purchase the dog. Mr. O’Grady said Adams IGA will do everything they can to support it. Chief Kozloski said this would not impact any future Police Department budgets. He has checked into this with other departments who currently have K9 units and he also looked into how many times a K9 could have been used in Monson but wasn’t.
Officer Arventos said he has had positive feedback from everyone regarding donations offers to hold raffles, to offers for food for the life of the dog.
Chief Kozloski explained the K9 handler will be required to attend four hours of training a week. The initial training is tentatively secured with yearly certifications included in the price of the dog. The dog will be housed with the handler as Chief Kozloski said he wants to keep the dog very close to town so it will be available quickly if needed. The only costs to be worked out are the veterinary expenses, and the cost of modifying the vehicle for a K9, which could come from reduced overtime funds, community policing grant and drug forfeiture money. He is also looking into how this would impact the insurance for the town. The dog which has been chosen will be a Black Labrador who is trained in a non- aggressive manor and in instead in scent detection, tracking, etc. and would be used if a child or adult became lost, a
break in during the evening, etc. sniffer. Chief Kozloski said there are currently twelve adults in town who are listed as likely to wander. Chief Kozloski added if he didn’t feel this could be done with private funding or with outside sources, he wouldn’t even be considering this course of action and is still looking at contractual pledges of support to cover the additional budget expenses for adding a K9
Chief Kozloski said the Police Department hasn’t increased the number of employees since 1986.
Mr. Guertin said he felt comfortable approving this request contingent upon Chief Kozloski securing funding to cover the expenses. Mr. Harrison and Ms. Norbut agreed they would like to hold off an the decision and to table this until the November 6, 2007 meeting of the Selectmen allowing time for the Police Chief to come forth with budget support this. Mr. O’Grady said November 7th is the deadline but felt he could get an extension till Wednesday, November 14th. Chief Kozloski said he also has asked Mr. O’Grady to check to make sure this isn’t an unfunded mandate.
Mr. Harrison and Mr. Guertin agreed this is a wonderful opportunity.
Officer Arventos presented the Board of Selectmen with a couple of letters of support.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Neggers said she has received a request form the Tourism Committee wishing to clean up and remove shrub around the gazebo, House of Art and Memorial Hall, working in conjunction with the Garden Club, on Saturday, November 10, 2007, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to allow permission for the request just stated. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
At 8:55 p.m., Mr. Guertin mad a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining, 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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