BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 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. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of July 28, 2009 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #8450 – Carpenter Road – One New J.O. Pole - #E27-50/T38½:
Mr. Goodrich read pole petition #8450 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 #8450 as presented. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Tangles Hair Salon, Inc., Request for One-Day Liquor License for Breast Cancer Benefit (Michelle Woloshchuk):
Michelle Woloshchuk, owner of Tangles Hair & Nail Salon, Inc. approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Woloshchuk explained she is requesting a one day liquor license for a wine tasting event to be held during a fashion show for a Breast Cancer Benefit she will be hosting on August 29, 2009 from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at her salon located across from the K Mart plaza at 156 Wilbraham Street (Route 20) in Monson. Ms. Woloshchuk added it will be a day of fun with face painting and local restaurants providing food. All the proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Mr. Guertin explained to Ms. Woloshchuk she is responsible for who gets served and how much, and that she needs to be careful. Ms. Neggers noted a certificate of insurance isn’t necessary as this will be held on private property, not town owned property.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the one day wine and malt license for Tangles Hair & Nail Salon, Inc., 156 Wilbraham Street, on August 29, 2009 from the hours of 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
David Haley – Monson Home for Aged People:
David Haley, President of the Monson Home for Aged People, approached the Board of Selectmen and read a description describing the Monson Home for Aged People into the record. The description described the Monson Home for Aged People as an organization which is 100 years old and maintaining the Senior Center building. At one time, the building was a home for the elderly people. In 1976, it became the Senior Center. The corporation has paid for the electricity, heat, sewer, water, rodent control, lawn care, snow removal, alarm monitoring, and all the building repairs for the Senior Center the entire time.
Mr. Haley stated it costs the corporation approximately $40,000.00 annually for the building upkeep, and since 1976 the corporation has paid more than $800,000.00 in costs.
The portfolio that the corporation uses to pay for the Senior Center expenses was $366,000.00 in June 2009, down from $635,000.00 a decade ago. Mr. Haley expressed concern about costs continuing to be $40,000.00 a year and stated this isn’t sustainable.
Mr. Haley explained one recommendation is to take 5% out of the portfolio each year instead of 10%, as they don’t want to go out of business after being around for 100 years.
Ms. Neggers noted the generosity of the Home for the Aged and added the Senior Center relies on its contributions and suggested looking into alternatives.
Mr. Guertin said it’s possible the town may have to contribute some money toward the building and wondered how to reduce some of the utility costs.
Appoint Special (Part-time) Police Officer:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski and Auxiliary Police Officer Michael Barone approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski explained Mr. Barone was appointed as an auxiliary police officer several weeks ago and has now completed his field training. Mr. Barone has been cleared by his Supervisor to work unsupervised, leading to the appointment tonight.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Michael Barone as a Special part-time Police Officer effective immediately through December 30, 2009. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief Kozloski explained another part-time officer has submitted his resignation leaving the Police Department with about eight usable part-time officers. Chief Kozloski said he would be seeking to appoint more part-time officers in the future.
Police Staffing and Budget Reductions – Discussion and Action:
Ms. Neggers explained, at the Town Meeting a budget was put forward resulting in the loss of a full-time Police Officer, while trying to be hopeful on receiving grant opportunities so that wouldn’t happen. However, the grant funding never materialized and now the Police Department is faced with having to acquire additional funds associated with the Quinn Bill educational incentives for police officers totaling $30,000.00 to $35,000.00, as the state is no longer picking up its part of the costs, and cities and towns may be responsible for paying the full costs depending on the outcome of a class action lawsuit. Mr. Guertin stated the town really can’t afford to be laying off a police officer and said this is upsetting. Mr. Goodrich said he didn’t agree with laying a police officer off, but added
that’s what the people of this town voted to do and noted the Police Department has the same level of staffing as it did in 1986.Both Mr. Guertin and Mr. Goodrich said next year’s state budget is predicted to be worse. Mr. Guertin expressed concern about the possibility of another layoff next year. Chief Kozloski explained he has already spoken with the union and the affected officer about the layoff, which he added will be happening sooner rather than later. Chief Kozloski also spoke of the impact this layoff will have on his department. The loss of one officer means an almost 10% decrease in staff, bringing his full-time roster down to eleven and impacting the two night shifts. The 4:00 P.M. to midnight shift has four officers now, and that fourth officer will be reassigned to the midnight to 8:00 A.M. shift. Also the loss of an officer will affect call response times. Chief Kozloski said he is confident his staff will adapt, but they can only adapt so far and is
asking for the public’s patience and understanding. The Police Department averages 600 arrests a year and responds to approximately 13,000 calls.
Mr. Goodrich noted he also doesn’t agree with laying off a Police Officer, but said the Town voted this at the last Town Meeting and he hopes residents will start paying attention to what is happening to avoid complications in the future, as he feels this is going to get worse and people should be prepared.
Chief Kozliski added on a statewide level, the Police Departments are seeing a decrease in applications, posing hardships on the profession.
Local Option Meals Tax – Discussion:
Ms. Neggers explained the Legislature passed a meal tax which allows cities and towns to place a tax on meals up to 0.75%. Ms. Neggers added she is polling neighboring towns to see what they are doing. This would require a Town Meeting for approval by the voters. If approved, it would mean an additional $10,969.00 in revenue for the town, according to the Legislature. Mr. Goodrich noted with the new tax, it means that someone paying $10 for lunch in Monson would only pay an extra 7 ½ cents more. Mr. Harrison said he was somewhat against the meals tax in the beginning, but feels the towns people should be allowed to decide. Mr. Guertin felt the Board of Selectmen have the responsibility of trying to generate more revenue and supported moving ahead on this.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to have Ms. Neggers draft language for the Meal Tax for the next Special Town Meeting. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Consider New Licensing Fees – Alcoholic Beverage Sales, Amusement Devices, Pool Table, Auto Sales, and Entertainment:
Ms. Neggers explained the fees on several licenses issued by the Selectmen’s Office haven’t increase since 1991 and she feels it’s time to equalize the fees with those of the surrounding towns. Ms. Neggers explained the current fees, the average fees and the proposed increase on the fees as attached. Mr. Goodrich said he would like to see something to address the non-profit one-day licenses. It was noted a non-profit one-day license fee could be waived or have a lower fee. Ms. Neggers added she tried to stay below the average fees. The increase in fees should generate $2,000.00 to $3,000.00.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the changes as proposed in this package (attached) effective immediately. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Discussion and Clarification by the BOS as to its Position on the Palmer Casino Issue:
Mr. Guertin explained at the time the casino talk began, two camps were formed, those for the casino and those against the casino. There were a lot of statements made on why casinos would be good, as well as a lot of statements on why casinos would be bad. Some residents of Monson said the town would lose its small town character and some said maybe it would be good for the town to get a piece of the pie. Mr. Guertin noted Mr. Harrison and former Selectwoman Kathleen Norbut are very involved in the Local Casino Task Force Committee which focuses’ their concerns solely over the financial aspects of the town, whereas the Western Massachusetts Casino Task Force has concerns protecting cities and towns financially over the Western Mass. region. It was further noted when the Western Mass. Regional Task Force Committee
was formed, eleven town were involved. This number has increased and currently there are fifteen towns involved. Mr. Goodrich felt a project this large has an impact on the entire region and he is glad to see it being dealt with as a regional project.
Mr. Harrison read the Mission Statement into the record for the Western Mass. Casino Task Force Committee. The first order is to look at legislation, and noted the committee has maintained a neutral position on casino gambling, with their only concern being to protect towns financially. Recently the committee developed a letter requesting 23 articles to be looked at by the Legislature. Mr. Guertin reiterated the Board of Selectmen remain neutral and no positions have been taken.
The next Local Casino Task Force Committee meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2009.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Harrison reminded everyone of the on-going Summer Concert Series sponsored by the Monson Rotary Club, held in Dave Grieve Park. The July concert was rained out. The next concert is scheduled for August 18th with hot dogs, etc. served beginning at 6:00 P.M. and music starting at 7:00 P.M.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:25 P.M. Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for a discussion of collective bargaining strategy, 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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