BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 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 Richard E. Guertin, Edward S. Harrison and John F. Goodrich II. Also present were the Town Administrator and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of July 14, 2009 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #8448 – Waid Road – One New J.O. Pole E11-50/T11½:
Mr. Goodrich read pole petition #8448 into the record. The Water/Sewer and Highway Departments had no objection to the pole location. There wasn’t anyone in the audience to speak in favor of or against the pole petition.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve pole petition #8448 as presented. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Superintendent of Schools – Introduction:
Pat Dardenne approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Dardenne, the new Superintendent of the Schools, explained he is just finishing his first month in Monson. In getting integrated in the community, Mr. Dardenne plans to begin meeting with people, first inside the school district with teachers, staff, administrators and parents. He would like to take this outside of the building as well to meet with people in the community, people in the Town Hall, political administration in the community and then with the general population to find out what the community is all about, their aspirations, their ideas around the schools and then to take that information and work with the School Committee to identify long and short term goals for the district and for himself as they move forward. Mr. Dardenne also invited each of the
Selectmen to meet with him over the next 3 or 4 weeks for 30 minutes or so to discuss the school system, the community, and the relationship that is there. Mr. Dardenne felt in order for the school system to be successful, the town has to be successful, and therefore they need to work together.
The Board of Selectmen thought it was a great concept for Mr. Dardenne to get out and meet the community. Mr. Guertin felt it would be interesting to see what he finds out about whether there is a consistency or not. Mr. Goodrich felt the concept is great with not stopping at just parents of students but going out to the whole community, as a majority of the community don’t have a direct connection with the school system, possibly feeling isolated and getting information from such sources as MassLive, whether it’s true or not, which gets the emotions flowing and putting up roadblocks to progress.
Mr. Harrison noted a major component of that would be educating people and letting them know the types of financial problems the schools are up against.
The Board of Selectmen welcomed Mr. Dardenne and thanked him for coming in.
Interview Candidates for Building Inspector/ Commissioner:
Mr. Guertin reiterated the Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer position was advertised seeking candidates; twenty-nine candidates applied. A screening was conducted narrowing the field down to nine, with seven of the nine accepting interviews; a sub-committee then narrowed the field down to the two candidates being interviewed by the Board of Selectmen tonight.
Jonathan Flagg approached the Board of Selectmen and explained his background and answered a series of questions asked by the Board of Selectmen relating to the position of Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer, while the second candidate waited in the hallway with the door closed so he could not hear the questions or the answers.
Upon the completion of Mr. Flagg’s interview, Mr. Flagg left the room and Louis Hasbrouck approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Hasbrouck explained his background and was asked the same series of questions. Upon the completion of Mr. Hasbrouck’s interview he joined Mr. Flagg in the hallway outside the Conference Room.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Louis Hasbrouck as the Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Town of Monson. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Hasbrouck was brought back into the meeting and told he had been chosen by the Board to fill the vacancy. Mr. Hasbrouck stated he would have to give a two week notice to his current employer. It was agreed Mr. Hasbrouck would begin his term as Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer in two weeks with the term being effective August 11, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
Appoint General Bylaw Committee:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint John F. Goodrich II, Gretchen E. Neggers, Stephen Kozloski, John Morrell, Nancy Morrell and Laurie K. Stewart to the General Bylaw Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2010. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Pat Dardenne to the Long Range Financial Planning Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2010. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:15 P.M., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for a collective bargaining strategy discussion, not to return to open session. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
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John F. Goodrich II, Clerk
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