MONSON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008
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.
Reorganization of the Board of Selectmen:
Ms. Norbut explained to the listening audience the normal rotation for the Board of Selectmen following every April election. Ms. Norbut is scheduled to be Chairwoman of the Board and explained she has received a promotion at work. Due to the added responsibilities this promotion brings, she has asked Mr. Harrison and Mr. Guertin to change the order of rotation, possibly splitting the term of Chairman between them instead, as she feels she would not be able to devote the time the position of Chairperson would require of her. Mr. Harrison and Mr. Guertin agreed to keep the current role as it is, with Mr. Harrison being Chairman until October at which time Mr. Guertin will take over the role as Chairman. This will allow each to serve 18 months in that capacity.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to reappoint Edward S. Harrison as Chair, Kathleen C. Norbut as Vice-Chair and Richard E. Guertin as Clerk until October 2008, at which time Mr. Guertin will be appointed Chairman with Mr. Harrison becoming the Clerk. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 8, 2008 – open and executive sessions and the March 31, 2008 – executive session. Ms. Norbut stated she was not present for the April 8th meeting. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Michael Norton – Request to Sponsor Bike Race – June 14, 2008:
Mr. Norton approached the Board of Selectmen and stated the proposed bike race for this year will be the same as in the past. There are no changes. The first race will start at 9:00 a.m. and the last race will start somewhere between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. The races will be finished by noontime. Mr. Norton explained the route the race will take to the Board of Selectmen and the listening audience, and agreed to contact the Police Chief and any other departments which might be needed. Mr. Norton stated 400 riders are expected to participate in this years’ bike race, coming from the entire northeast section of the country.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve the requested bike race as presented by Mr. Norton. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Complete placePlaceNameAnnual PlaceTypeTown Meeting Warrant:
Ms. Neggers explained the articles for the Annual Town Meeting listed on the sheet she provided to the Board of Selectmen, as attached.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Annual Town Meeting warrant articles #1 - 4 as attached. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Article #5 was previously added to the Annual Town Meeting warrant at the last Selectmen’s meeting held on April 8th.
Article #6 was tabled until the next scheduled meeting on April 28th , for clarity on who this is.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Annual Town Meeting warrant article #7, as attached. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. Mr. Morrell clarified section B stating it would pertain to piped water coming off of properties, something constant, causing icy road conditions or hazardous water conditions on the roadways, and not pertain to rain water runoff or runoff caused by the washing of cars.
Articles #8 and 9 were tabled until the April 28th meeting to allow the LPED to work out the details.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Annual Town Meeting warrant article #10, as attached. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
The Annual Town Meeting warrant remained open.
Complete placePlaceNameSpecial PlaceTypeTown Meeting Warrant:
Ms. Neggers explained a lot of the articles listed for the Special Town Meeting are end of the year adjustments and explained each of the articles listed on the sheet she supplied to the Board of Selectmen, as attached.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Special Town Meeting warrant article #1 – 5, as attached. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Article #6 did not require a separate vote as it is included in article #12 Ms. Neggers explained.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Special Town Meeting warrant article #7, as attached. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Article #8 was withdrawn by Mr. Morrell who stated it is no longer needed.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to add to the Special Town Meeting warrant articles #9 – 12, as attached, amending article #12 to read as follows: To amend the Fiscal 2008 Capital Account to include authorization to expend money on fire alarm systems for the Highway Garage and Fire Station, a gas pump metering device for town gas pumps as well as various school projects and possible repairs to the Town Office Building. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut made a motion to close the Special Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Guertin seconded and it was so VOTED.
AFSCME and IBPO Contract Settlements; Department Heads Salaries:
Ms. Neggers said an agreement has been reached through negotiations with the IBPO, Police Union, and the AFSCME union for the town employees; entering into a one year extension of the current contracts.
Ms. Neggers explained with AFSCME all the language remains the same, and offers a 45¢ an hour increase for the union employees. In the salary grid, it ranges from a 2.11% to a 4.2%. For the people actually working it ranges between a 2.3% to a 3.5%, with the people at the bottom of the scale receiving the larger percentage increase of 3.5%.
Ms. Neggers explained the second agreement reached was with the IBPO, and is also a one year contract extension. It affords the officers a $1.00 increase in the outside detail rate effective July 1st and also affords the officers a $1.00 increase in the outside detail rate effective in June 2009. It afforded the officers a 50¢ an hour increase across the board in their wages, with ranges on their salary grid from 2.4% to 3.0%. For the people actually employed, it ranges from 2.4% to 2.58%. Ms. Neggers explained a starting part-time patrol officer is paid a little over $12.00 an hour in the Town of Monson. These wages would reflect the higher percentage with the 50¢ per hour increase.
Mr. Guertin explained by having the one year contract extensions, the Board of Selectmen are trying to bring all the unions in town to a point where all the contract renewals will be done at the same time, making the negotiations simpler and allowing for more consistency.
Ms. Norbut added she thought the lower end of the scale receiving a larger increase or percentage, was definitely needed as some of the lower entry levels had difficulty retaining and attracting candidates to fill those positions. Ms. Neggers said when looking at the wage structure presented to her by the unions, in comparing Monson’s wages from across the board, found they are pretty well below both the neighboring communities as well as compatible communities, and feels too, it is an issue when trying to attract qualified candidates for these positions.
The Board of Selectmen as well as Ms. Neggers said they appreciated the goodwill both unions had in these negotiations.
With the department heads, Ms. Neggers said utilizing the 50¢ per hour would give every department head a $1,044.00 increase annually which would equal out to between a 1.5% and a 2.6% increase. Using a 60¢ methodology would be a $1,248.00 increase. Mr. Guertin said he had a little trouble with percentages, as he likes to equate everything to the cost of living. Mr. Guertin added when looking at the percentages provided by the two unions, the lowest in terms of the percentage range of the people on the AFSCME scale was 2.32% with the IBPO being 2.40%. This is up against a 1.50% recommendation for the department heads. Mr. Guertin noted the departments are being asked to work harder with less during the budget cuts, meaning the slack has to be picked up by those left standing. Ms. Neggers believed there are 14 or
15 department heads. Ms. Norbut added she would feel more comfortable with having the numbers run at the lower end, 2.0% and a 2.69% rather than the 1.5% when looking at the department heads. Mr. Guertin said he would like to see if Ms. Mahar could come up with some numbers in the 2.32%, 2.4% and one of the higher percentages as well, after looking in the context of the two unions to make the minimum a lot closer. Ms. Norbut explained to the listening audience this is all being paid for out of funding that had been planned for and set aside. Ms. Norbut wondered about the overlay and if this will still stay within that limit.
Ms. Mahar, who was in the audience agreed to provide some different scenarios for the Board of Selectmen for their next meeting.
Ms. Neggers said the budget has been amended to include the contractual raises with the unions and added she supports the Board of Selectmen’s actions with consideration for the department heads.
Fiscal 2009 Budget – Amend to Include Contractual Settlements:
It was agreed to table this until the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting, after the final numbers are in.
Correspondence was read and completed.
In other business to come before the Board of Selectmen:
· Mr. Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen with an update on the October 2005 flood and added during the flood the Mill Street Bridge on Harrison Avenue sustained serious damage. Mr. Morrell stated he applied for aid from FEMA. Mr. Morrell met with FEMA this past Friday (April 11th) and FEMA agreed this site does qualify for assistance. Mr. Morrell said the bridge is in no imminent danger and is okay for now. Mr. Morrell believes FEMA will grant Monson 75% of the cost, and is also trying to get Mass. Highway to help out as well. Mr. Morrell stated the Mill Street Bridge also needs maintenance work and will be meeting with the Conservation Commission on
Friday afternoon (April 18th) regarding this, as this bridge does not qualify for assistance from FEMA.
In an update on the Lower Hampden Road project, Mr. Morrell stated the bids will be opened on May 13th.
· Mr. Harrison stated at a recent Rotary Club meeting it was announced Barbara Keffer had been named Citizen of the Year.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to designate July 4, 2008 as Barbara Keffer Day in the Town of Monson. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED. A proclamation will be done up to honor Ms. Keffer at the Monson Summerfest on July 4th.
· Mr. Harrison thanked the Monson Tourism Committee and volunteers for doing a great job once again with the Town Wide Clean-up held this past Saturday (April 12th), and the Highway Department for picking up all the bags of trash collected. Ms. Neggers added there were over one hundred volunteers this year.
· Ms. Norbut announced Bulky Day will be held on Saturday May 3rd at Quarry Hill Community School. The Annual Town Meeting will be held on May 12th in the auditorium at Granite Valley Middle School. And lastly, the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting will be held on a Monday night (April 28th ) instead of the normal Tuesday night meeting.
At 8:20 p.m., Mr. Guertin made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of contractual 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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