BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 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.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Guertin made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for August 12, 2008 – open session. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Holly Tienken – Regarding Mural Proposal:
Ms. Tienken approached the Board of Selectmen and explained she had been involved with both of the murals in Monson. The first mural was placed on the street end of Adams Supermarket about five years ago. The second mural will have a dedication ceremony on Thursday, August 28th at 6:30 p.m. and will be located in the High School. Ms. Norbut added the mural at Adams Supermarket has been highly respected and they are now thinking of having a second mural done on a different wall. Ms. Tienken said the proposed mural will be done by veterans of former murals as well as high school and college students in July of 2009, giving them something to do in the summertime. No theme has been decided on as yet.
Ms. Norbut said the walls of the gymnasium are complicated as there are mats, etc. still on them and thought it would have to be looked at closer. Mr. Guertin felt not many people would see the mural in the gymnasium as you are not suppose to linger during the voting process, which is the main use of the gymnasium, and felt with all the effort and work that goes into painting a mural and all that it represents, it might be better suited elsewhere. Ms. Tienken said she would have no problem with placing the mural somewhere else and added Ms. Norbut has already provided her with some ideas.
Memorial Hall – Discussion of Winter Schedule, Capital Planning Responsibility:
Mr. Guertin noted the use of Memorial Hall has increased and explained the concern is, last year $16,000.000 was spent on heating oil for Memorial Hall and the fees charged didn’t come anywhere near that to help defray the costs. This year, the oil prices are higher and it is estimated the heating cost for Memorial Hall could be as high as $20,000.00. Mr. Guertin recommended shutting down Memorial Hall, draining the water and shutting off the furnace on December 1st and re-opening the building the third week of March. It was noted some of the paintings might have to be removed. After some research, the Historical Commission said the building should be okay. There are other historic buildings that have gone through this process, such as the Shelburne Museums in Vermont, with no impacts on the artifacts.
Raising the rates for the use of Memorial Hall is currently under review however, but not having the building open during the winter months, Mr. Guertin felt might assist in keeping the new rates a little lower.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to close Memorial Hall from December 1st to the third week of March, drain the water, shut down the heat and remove any artifacts that may require moving. Ms. Norbut seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Guertin stated a much larger issue is a Historic Preservation Restriction, basically identifying Memorial Hall as a historic structure. The document is dated approximately ten years ago and declares the Board of Selectmen agreed to maintain the Memorial Hall building, with no major alterations being made without the State first coming in to inspect it.
Mr. Guertin further stated, recently the Historical Commission submitted a request for CPA funds to repair windows in the amount of $300,000.00. The funds would be for the replacement of windows only on one side of Memorial Hall. It was noted the doors and window sills are rotting, the stone work needs repair and the cannon is rusting away. Mr. Guertin compared it to be the same as if you didn’t make any repairs your home for seventy-five years. The request for the use of CPA funds would still have to be approved at a Town Meeting. Mr. Guertin felt it would be looked at very carefully by the residents, and therefore thought it should be presented in a way that makes sense to everyone. It was noted very little has been done to the interior of the building and Mr. Guertin felt someone should make up a plan for the
next ten to fifteen years on what is needed, prioritize the list due to physical deterioration and start pecking away a little at a time, otherwise, he felt the town will be nailing plywood over the windows and shutting it down. It was further noted only so much of the CPA funds can be dispensed on historic preservation. Mr. Harrison noted Memorial Hall is the crown jewel as far as architecture and historic places. Mr. Guertin added Memorial Hall has never had a budget. Ms. Neggers explained the maintenance on Memorial Hall has become more of a crisis repair, and added, the tower was re-pointed to prevent additional repairs in the future, but the stained glass windows are an example where it was let go so long they can’t be repaired too easily, leading to increased costs in the long run. Mr. Guertin assumed the Historical Commission was in charge of the repairs to Memorial Hall only because their permission is always sought. Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Selectmen are
the responsible party working in conjunction with the Historical Commission.
It was agreed a committee is needed as it is too much for one person to take on. The committee will be responsible for looking at Memorial Hall and noting the necessary repairs, getting rough prices and to make a pitch for the use of CPA funds at Town Meeting, and to try to acquire other funding as well.
Ms. Neggers noted Memorial Hall also stands as a Veteran’s Memorial. A plaque in the front lists all the names of veterans dating back to the Civil War, listing names well known that just flow out from our town, such as Flynt, Carpenter and Norcross, just to name a few. Ms. Neggers felt any remaining family members also should have a seat at the table, as well as the Monson Arts Council, and people with contracting backgrounds, as Memorial Hall is a Monson legacy. She also agreed it is a difficult situation and we need to reach out to the community. Ms. Neggers said she would put something on the town’s web site seeking volunteers to take on this project.
It was agreed unanimously to seek volunteers through this meeting, the media and the posting on the town’s web site and to monitor it for 60 days to see what happens.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Guertin reminded the listening audience a dedication ceremony for the 4 X 8 “Tribute to Diversity and Tolerance” mural will be held on Thursday, August 28th at 6:30 p.m. at the High School. For more information, Jeannie Guertin may be contacted at 596-2090.
- Ms. Norbut noted the Monson Tourism did a wonderful job with the Town-Wide-Tag-Sale. Everything ran smoothly and the weather was great.
At 8:05, Mr. Guertin made 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.
_______________________
Richard E. Guertin, Clerk
| 
