BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009
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 and John F. Goodrich II. Richard E. Guertin was not present. Also not in attendance was Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers. The Media was present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of June 9, 2009 – open session following the notation of a few minor spelling errors. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #8439 – Moulton Hill Road – One New J.O. Pole #E 34-53/T 95½-01:
Mr. Goodrich read Pole Petition #8439 into the record. It was noted the Water/Sewer and Highway Departments had no objection to the pole location. There wasn’t anyone in the audience to speak for or against the petition.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept Pole Petition #8439 as presented. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Application for Change of Manager – Beth and Deb’s Family Dining, Inc.:
Mr. Robin Brown approached the Board of Selectmen and explained his wife was unable to attend the meeting herself as she was covering the restaurant due to shortage of help. It was noted Elizabeth Brown had filed an application changing the manager of Beth and Deb’s Family Dining, Inc. to herself, replacing Deborah Wark. Mr. Harrison added the application appeared to be in order.
Mr. Goodrich questioned the name of the business, as the application lists the name as Beth & Deb’s Family Dining Inc., but noted the sign out front of the restaurant identifies the business as Beth’s Family Dining.
Mr. Brown explained the corporation will remain Beth & Deb’s Family Dining Inc. however the D/B/A has been changed to Beth’s Family Dining. Mr. Goodrich wondered if that should be changed on the liquor license application at this time as well. It was explained this procedure would require additional paperwork.
Mr. Harrison questioned Mr. Brown about Ms. Brown’s experience in serving alcohol. Mr. Brown stated Ms. Brown has been in the restaurant business for over thirty years with managing, serving and cooking and stated she has taken the T.I.P.’s course and is certified.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the change of manager for Beth & Deb’s Family Dining, Inc. from Deborah Wark to Elizabeth Brown. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
The application will be forwarded to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission in Boston for approval.
Building Commissioner Vacancy – Discussion:
Mr. Harrison explained Chip LaPointe is retiring as the Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer at the end of June, but he will be extending his employment with the town through the month of July to allow time to search for a qualified candidate to fill the vacancy. Mr. Harrison felt the question now was what to do in going forward and whether or not to hire a part-time Building Inspector or a part-time Zoning Enforcement Officer or to maintain the full-time position. Mr. Harrison read the attached memorandum received from Building Inspector Chip LaPointe to Town Administrator Gretchen Neggers into the record. In the memorandum, Mr. LaPointe explained why he felt the position should remain a full-time position due to the requirements and the need to have a full time presence in town.
Mr. Goodrich stated at the initial onset, he was looking at this as a potential cost savings for the town, by being able to reduce hours without having to actually force someone to take a reduction. Mr. Goodrich noted he had spoken with Ms. Neggers about this, but did not have the opportunity to meet with Mr. LaPointe. Mr. Goodrich explained two years ago, Massachusetts adopted an entirely new building code, a residential version building code and then last September the State adopted a commercial version as well. Mr. Goodrich noted the version adopted is so messed up, the state is already in the process of trying to adopt a new version for 2009, therefore over the course of three years the town will be experiencing three significant code changes on both, the residential and commercial codes. Mr. Goodrich went on to say,
the overall structure of building code enforcement is not the best in Massachusetts. There is a state Board and District State Inspectors, but no higher hierarchy or chain of command. For example, Mr. LaPointe works for the Board of Selectmen and only answers to the Board of Selectmen; therefore if a State District Inspector were to come in, he would technically have no authority over the Towns’ Building Inspector. Mr. Goodrich added the code specifically mandates inspections must be conducted within three days from a written request for an inspection or it will be presumed as accepted, and the person may move forward with the project possible leading to potential problems. Mr. Goodrich stated he feels confident in saying he agrees the position needs to be filled with another full-time position and added he didn’t realize how much of Mr. LaPointe’s time is dedicated to Zoning Enforcement and Zoning issues, and Mr. LaPointe’s letter helped clarify that for
him.
Mr. Harrison also agreed with Mr. LaPointe’s observation as stated in the memorandum and with the need for a full-time person to perform the very critical functions of the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Building Inspector in order to protect the town’s people and property values with any building construction or modifications taking place.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve having Ms. Neggers pursue with advertising the full-time position of a Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer with a starting salary of $49, 000.00 per year. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Finalize Any Reappointments – Effective July 1st:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to reappoint Mathew Walsh as a Firefighter/E.M.T. through June 30, 2010. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich read the appointment recommendations into the record received from Finance Director Deborah Mahar, and made a motion to reappoint the employees as attached. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Mary Beth Dowd as the Under Age 60 Board Member on the Monson Council On Aging through June 30, 2011. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen stating he submitted an email request for the appointment of Michael Barone as an Auxiliary Police Officer and explained Mr. Barone has had training at the Police Academy.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Michael Barone as an Auxiliary Police Officer effective immediately through December 31, 2009. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Animal Control Officer:
Police Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and explained an advertisement was placed in the newspaper soliciting canadates to fill the vacancy of the Animal Control Officer’s position, with a handful of applications being received. Chief Kozloski noted this was previously a salary position, but has now been modified to an hourly position, not to exceed the budgeted amount allocated, with an anticipated cost savings for the town.
Chief Kozloski recommended Paul DeMaio for the position. Mr. DeMaio currently works for the town as the custodian and taking into account the Fair Labor Standards Act. Chief Kozloski said he has spoken with Mr. DeMaio and he is aware there are some hourly limitations, so no overtime will be occurred on either the town maintenance side or the Animal Control side. The rate of pay will be Mr. DeMaio’s current rate. Mr. DeMaio works twenty hours per week as the custodian and will work an additional twenty hours per week as the Animal Control Officer not to exceed forty hours per week total. Chief Kozloski noted the former Animal Control Officer did not exceed twenty working hours per week.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Paul DeMaio as the Animal control Officer effective immediately through June 30, 2010. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Mr. Harrison announced the Monson Rotary Club has selected Brenda and Joe Gagne as the Rotary Citizens of the Year this year.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to have the Town Administrator prepare a Proclamation naming July 4, 2009 as Brenda and Joseph Gagne Day which will be presented to them at the Summerfest following the parade on July 4th. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:45 P.M., Mr. Goodrich 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. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
__________________________
John F. Goodrich II, Clerk
| 
