BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010
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, John F. Goodrich II and Dr. Richard M. Smith. Also present were Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Reorganization of Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Harrison welcomed Dr. Richard Smith to the Board and explained Dr. Smith won the seat on the Board of Selectmen in the Town’s elections held on April 5th. Mr. Guertin, who had decided not to run for re-election won the position of Town Moderator. Mr. Guertin was thanked for the number of years of service on the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to reorganize the Board as follows:
Edward S. Harrison – Chairman
John F. Goodrich, II – Vice Chairman
Dr. Richard M. Smith – Clerk
Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Motion to Accept Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of March 23, 2010 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded as Dr. Smith was elected to the Board last week. Mr. Goodrich voted aye, Mr. Harrison voted aye, Dr. Smith abstained.
Monson’s 250th Anniversary – Update as to Status:
Monson’s 250th Anniversary Committee Co-Chairpersons James Duggan and Hope Bodwell, approached the Board of Selectmen with an update on events planned for the Town’s 250th Anniversary. Mr. Duggan explained the chain of events will begin on April 25th, the town’s actual birthday, with a bonfire in Veterans Field from 5:00 p.m. to approximately 8:00 p.m., with the actual lighting of the fire at 5:30 p.m. The Girl Scouts, Boy Scout, Lions Club and Adventure Crew will be conducting bake sales and the Anniversary Committee will be selling merchandise such as baseball hats, tee shirts, sweat shirts and tote bags containing the 250th Anniversary logo.
Mr. Duggan stated they are working on a set of collectable plates numbered one through two hundred and fifty, with the plates displaying six of the towns granite buildings; an eighteen month calendar and a pictorial history book published by the well known company Arcadia.
Mr. Duggan said some of the up-coming events planned for the year long celebration are posted on their website at www.monson250.wordpress.com and on their Facebook site which can be reached by searching for Monson 250. Events are added regularly, so anyone interested in them should check it out frequently. Some of the events planned so far are a classics’ picnic, gala ball, scavenger hunt in the fall and a community quilt will be on display which is being created by over forty people who are sewing blocks for it. The
events will end in April, 2011. Ms. Neggers noted there is a link on the Towns’ website for the Monson 250th Anniversary Celebration under “Important Links” as well.
Mr. Duggan said they are planning to hang banners down Main Street in different colors, donated by various people and businesses and noted a letter is required by National Grid requesting permission for the use of their poles. Mr. Goodrich made a motion to authorize a letter. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Chief of Police – Discussion Regarding Cruiser Maintenance Concerns:
Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and explained he has concerns for his budget this year that might impact next years budget. Chief Kozloski explained a police officer was on his way to assist another officer who was responding to a reported breaking and entering but never got there because the cruiser’s transmission failed. This cruiser has 110,000 miles on it and he doesn’t have enough money left in his repair budget to have the transmission fixed, therefore his department is down a vehicle.
Chief Kozloski explained he understands the town is still having budget difficulties, but he would like to try to keep the department on its normal cycle of replacing three cruisers every other year. If this cycle is followed, this vehicle would be one of the cruisers replaced this year.
Chief Kozloski added he only has $300 left for cruiser repair because a transmission had to be replaced in one of the department’s two sport utility vehicles in early winter. That cost was approximately $2,000. Chief Kozloski noted he still has to consider routine maintenance items such as oil changes, tires, brakes, etc. on the remaining cars for the balance of this year.
Chief Kozloski explained he would like to work with the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee in the budget process, and noted all expenditures ultimately have to be approved at Town meeting, which will be held on May 10th.
Chief Kozloski further explained he is concerned that if the vehicles are not replaced, there will be more costly repairs and more incidents where officers may not be able to respond to calls. The Police Department has eight vehicles, six cruisers are rotated every other year and the two sport utility vehicles are rotated every ten years. Chief Kozloski explained the practice of replacing vehicles every other year, started approximately fifteen years ago as a result of similar budget problems in the 1990’s. His intent is to continue with this rotation so the Finance Committee and the town are not surprised by sudden vehicle breakdowns when the vehicles start hitting 100,000 miles and where they start the pattern of significant repairs, and said he will advocate spending money to replace vehicles with reliable
vehicles when he meets with the Finance Committee on April 26th and entertain asking for a reserve fund transfer.
Mr. Harrison noted there is no point in investing $2,000 to $3,000 to repair the cruiser if it’s going to be replaced in ten weeks and said he believes money has been budgeted for new cruisers in the FY 2011 budget, but noted the Board has to find out the Finance Committee’s recommendation on the issue. Dr. Smith added he sees a liability issue as well, if an officer is called and the cruiser breaks down in-route leaving him unable to make it to the scene. Mr. Harrison further noted police officers are first responders in emergency situations.
The Board of Selectmen thanked Chief Kozloski for bringing this issue forward.
Review/Approval Annual and Special Town Meeting Article Requests:
Ms. Mahar explained the four articles she would like considered for placement on the Annual Town Meeting warrant as follows:
1. To bring the Meals Tax back before the Town meeting.
2. Consider appropriating funding to do with the bond premium that we earned
during the financing of the High School construction project, and noted we are
still $170,001 short of fully funding that account but have sufficient funds to
cover this until 2014.
3. To appropriate a sum of money to the Assessors Stabilization Fund from the
Overlay Surplus account.
4. To change the amount of demand fees from $10 to $15 or $20, as authorized by MGL Chapter 60, Section 15. Ms. Mahar noted these fees were last increased from $5 to $10 at the Special Town meeting in 2008. Ms. Mahar explained these are the notices mailed out by the Collectors Office on past due accounts after 30 days.
Mr. Goodrich said he feels the meals tax was presented and voted on already during this fiscal year in the fall. It was defeated by a 2 to 1 vote and therefore feels the people have already expressed they don’t want it and he doesn’t feel as though this should be placed on the warrant this soon. Mr. Goodrich added he knows a lot of communities have adopted the meals tax, yet understands local people feel they are already being over taxed. The Board of Selectmen agreed not to place this article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Mr. Goodrich said on the demand fee, he felt it should go to the maximum of $20 so it won’t have to be addressed for a few years.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to place articles 2, 3 and 4 as presented on the Annual Town Meeting warrant with the demand fees set at $20. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers explained the Town was contacted by an Attorney regarding a land transaction that wasn’t recorded properly back in 1917 and where the town will now get paid for this.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept this article for placement on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the placement of the article requested by the Water/Sewer Department on the Annual Town Meeting warrant to see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from the Water Enterprise Free Cash to a Water Capital account for the Mechanic Street Water Main Relocation Project, or take any other action relative thereto. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the placement of the article requested by the Fire Department on the Special Town Meeting warrant to see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Ambulance Receipt Reserve Account to the Ambulance Operating Expense Account or take any action relative thereto. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to close the warrants for both the Annual and Special Town Meetings. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Discussion – FY 2011 Budget Development Status – Fin. Comm. Request for Special Meeting with Board of Selectmen 04/20/10:
Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Selectmen have met with the Finance Committee and the School regarding the budget and now the Finance Committee would like to schedule another meeting with the Board of Selectmen, as they have made significant progress.
It was suggested to meet with the Finance Committee on April 20th, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the budget. Mr. Goodrich noted he will be out of town and unable to attend this meeting but felt the time frame warranted a meeting.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to have the Finance Committee meet with the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Conference Room. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Constable for Posting of Town Meeting Warrants:
Ms. Neggers noted the current Constables are Joseph Loglisci and Philip Dill. Mr. Dill does not wish to be reappointed when his term expires and Mr. Loglisci will be out of town at the time the warrants need to be posted for the Annual and Special Town Meetings. Ms. Neggers said she had spoken with Chief Kozloski and he agreed to be appointed to this position to post the warrants.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Stephen Kozloski as Constable effective immediately through June 30, 2010. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Request for “Gifts to the Town” Expenditure Authorization – Flag Replacements for Public Buildings:
Ms. Neggers explained this request is for replacement flags for Memorial Hall and the Town Office Building.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the expenditure of up to $400.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account for the replacement flags. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Approve Pool Table and Auctioneer Licenses:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the auctioneer license for Frank Kapsia d/b/a Wintergarden Auction Services. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the billiards and pool table licenses for Mountain Stream Capital, Inc. d/b/a Elwood’s Restaurant & Pub; Tee Jay’s, Inc.; Polish American Citizens Club; Big Jimmy’s Pizza (contingent upon paperwork being returned to our office); Donald Bean d/b/a Partridge Hollow Camping Area and Sunsetview Farm Camping Area, Inc. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- It was explained David Haley of the Monson Home for Aged People, Inc., brought forward a new revised lease regarding the town absorbing the utility costs per the Board of Selectmen’s agreement with them. Mr. Goodrich made a motion to have Town Counsel review and finalize the proposal for the Board’s signatures. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers explained the town hasn’t locked in for oil next year and noted the oil prices are going up. When the renovations were done on this building in 1998, a duel flame capability in the boiler was installed with all the associated piping to allow for the use of gas as well as the oil heating fuel. The Office Building was never connected to the street as the street had just been resurfaced and couldn’t be dug up. Bay State Gas has developed a proposal for $3,050 to hook the Town Office Building up to the gas line. Ms. Neggers explained we don’t have the funds in the account for this and asked the board of Selectmen if they would consider, now or later depending on how they want to proceed, to authorize the funds from the Gifts to the Town Account for the work to connect to the gas line. Ms. Neggers feels the
town would save money if it had the choice of burning either gas or oil. Memorial Hall also has the capability of burning either gas or oil and gas is used from time to time, depending on which is cheaper. Ms. Neggers noted currently in the Gifts to the Town account there is $32,242.00, after the $400 approved for the flags.
Mr. Goodrich asked if we had any comparable rates on gas versus oil and the
volume of oil we went through this past winter. Ms. Neggers replied she didn’t
have any comparable rates at this time and noted we went through approximately
3,000 gallons of oil. The schools have been burning gas almost exclusively
because it’s cheaper. Mr. Goodrich said he would like to see current rates for
comparison in order to get a better understanding, and wondered if Ms. Neggers
could also get an estimate on the cost of having the heating contractor come out to
do his work on the connection for the next meeting, on April 27th. Dr. Smith
wondered if there was any way Bay State Gas would be willing to negotiate their
price if we agree to use gas by agreeing to a one year contract. Mr. Harrison
agreed this sounds like a good idea. Ms. Neggers said in order to be hooked up to
the gas line; we have to commit to using approximately 900,000 cubic feet, which
is 20% of our load next year. Ms. Neggers said she would speak with the
Representative from Bay State Gas.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:35 p.m., Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing non-union contractual strategy, collective bargaining strategy and litigation strategy, not to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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