BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 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 April 14, 2009 – open session. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Liquor License Hearing – Application to Transfer License from Fat Cat Capital, Inc. d/b/a Mustang Sally’s to Mountain Stream Capital, Inc. d/b/a Elwood’s Restaurant and Pub:
Eric Bergstrom approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin explained Mr. Bergstrom is in the process of purchasing the establishment currently known as Mustang Sally’s located at 216 Main Street, and has presented the Board of Selectmen with the application to change over the liquor license. Mr. Guertin noted the new name will be Mountain Stream Capital, Inc. d/b/a Elwood’s Restaurant & Pub and added the application appears to be in order.
Mr. Bergstrom explained he has no prior experience, with the exception of twenty-two years as a manager, balancing budgets, etc. Mr. Bergstrom noted he will be T.I.P.S. trained as will his staff and added he is looking forward to serving the residents and working in the Town of Monson and creating a few jobs in the process.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the transfer of the liquor license as presented. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
The application will be forwarded onto the A.B.C.C. in Boston for final approval.
Destination Imagination Team – Request for Donation from “Gifts to the Town” Account:
The Monson High School Destination Imagination team approached the Board of Selectmen along with Tom and Shelley Greene. A representative of the team explained the team has won the DI regional and state competitions, and have been invited to compete in the finals in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Mr. Guertin read a letter into the record from High School Principal James Peters as attached, stating approximately $9,000.00 is needed to pay for the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, etc. to compete at the Global Finals 2009 in Tennessee at the end of May, and at this point they need help.
The team explained the skit they are doing this year and said through fundraisers they have raised $6,000.00. The remaining balance of $3,000.00 has a deadline within a week from today. It was announced anyone wishing to make a donation to the team may call Shelley Greene at 267-5475 or send checks made out to the Monson PTSA, designated for Destination Imagination and mailed to the Monson PTSA, P.O. Box 159, Monson, MA 01057.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to donate $1,000.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to assist the Destination Imagination team in attending the Global Finals in Knoxville Tenn. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Envirothon Team – Request for Donation from “Gifts to the Town” Account:
Leslie Duthie and two students approached the Board of Selectmen with a request for a donation from the Gifts to the Town Account to assist the Monson Environmental Action Team with transportation expenses to the environmental Olympics called Envirothon.
It was explained this is an after-school team coached by Ms. Duthie consisting of seven students who compete each spring in environmental Olympics. Their focus is learning about forestry, water, wildlife and soils and the Envirothon consists of ecostations that test the student’s knowledge in each of these fields. The team also puts together a non-electronic presentation on a current issue topic, with this year’s topic once again being Renewable Energy.
Ms. Duthie explained this program is run on no funds. This year the team received a $200.00 grant to cover the cost of the bus used, however, this year only one coach is available to attend the competition and there isn’t any vehicle that is available at Norcross or privately that can transport seven students and the coach on the competition date. Therefore a yellow school bus will be needed at a cost of $375.00, $175.00 above funds available, which is why they are requesting a donation of $75.00 with the remaining funds being requested from the Conservation Commission.
Mr. Guertin suggested paying the remaining balance of $175.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account, allowing the Conservation Commission to use their funds on another project elsewhere.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to donate $175.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to the Environmental Action Team toward the transportation costs to their competition. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Duthie noted last year the team placed second in Soils and did well in the other competitions.
Monson Summerfest Committee – Various Requests:
Summerfest Committee Chairman Scott Walker and member Steve Slozak approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin explained the Summerfest Committee was invited in as is done every year regarding the Committee’s various requests for Summerfest activities. Mr. Guertin noted this year there were additional concerns as a second Beer Garden is proposed for the Summerfest scheduled for July 4th.
Mr. Walker explained last year the Beer Garden was a little crowded, so they thought they would try a second Beer Garden by the Town Office Building where the band performs.
Mr. Guertin said he didn’t think having a Beer Garden in front of the Town Office Building was an appropriate location. Mr. Goodrich added he was hesitant on the second Beer Garden as well as the Summerfest is geared toward a family event and felt one Beer Garden has worked out fine. Mr. Goodrich suggested possibly expanding the Beer Garden which will be located in its usual location by the gazebo to accommodate more patrons, or possibly moving it to the parking lot at Adams Supermarket. Mr. Walker said there really isn’t any room for the expansion of the Garden by the gazebo, and added the parking lot at Adams Supermarket will be used for the inflatable slides, bounce houses and other activities. Mr. Harrison worried about the second Beer Garden encouraging drinking. The Board of Selectmen agreed unanimously
they didn’t feel comfortable with the Summerfest Committee having a second Beer Garden.
It was also noted at last nights Town Meeting, there was a decision to let a Police Officer go due to budget constraints. Ms. Neggers added the Town is paying a lot for the Police coverage during the Summerfest activities, and the night of the fireworks. Mr. Walker agreed the Summerfest Committee does not pay for the Police coverage. Ms. Neggers suggested Mr. Walker sit down and go over the costs with the Police Chief Stephen Kozloski, and added originally the Police coverage was funded by the Summerfest Committee with a donation provided from the Gifts to the Town Account to assist with off-setting the costs. Over the years this has drifted away and now the donations are no longer used to pay for the Police Officers. Ms. Neggers noted the cost per Police Officer is approximately $40.00 per hour each. Two Beer Gardens
would require four Police Officers (2 at each) at $160.00 per hour. The Beer Gardens operate for seven hours which would total $1,120.00 for the four Officers, not to mention the Officers patrolling the festivities or used directing traffic and covering the fireworks display the week before. Ms. Neggers said the Police Chief indicated to her, she believed, that approximately $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 total was expended from his budget last year on Summerfest detail, amounting in a huge loss in his budget.
It was agreed to get figures pertaining to the Police coverage from the Police Chief prior to approving a donation from the Gift to the Town Account for the Summerfest Committee.
Mr. Guertin read the letter received from Mr. Walker into the record as attached.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve one Beer Garden by the gazebo contingent upon receipt of the certificate of insurance. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Guertin thanked everyone who attended the Annual Town Meeting held last night (Monday, May 11th).
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:00 P.M., Mr. Harrison 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. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
__________________________
John Goodrich II, Clerk
| 
