BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 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.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of August 10, 2010 – open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Keep Homestead Museum – Authorization to Proceed with Roof Replacement:
The Selectmen had copies of the roof bid specs and quotes as attached. Dennis Swierad approached the Board of Selectmen and explained the Keep Homestead Museum has needed a new roof for the past four or five years. They have been letting the funds from the endowment they receive four times a year multiply and they now have $24,723.17 saved up. The roofing project went out to bid and the lowest bid came in at $12,000 from Joe Galica in Palmer. The cost also includes replacing the gutters which were very poor quality and not properly hung. The roof has several places where shingles are missing and the roof is very close to leaking.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to authorize Keep Homestead Museum to move forward with their roof replacement project with the low bidder, Joe Galica in Palmer, pending proof of insurance, licenses, etc., for a total cost of $12,000. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers explained to the listening audience tax dollars are not being spent on this project; these are funds from a trust. When Myra Moulton passed away, she left her estate, her home and its contents, to the town to be maintained as a museum and there is an endowment that funds repairs, etc. through quarterly distributions.
Siemens Energy – Investment Grade Audit – Discussion:
Mr. Harrison reiterated at the last meeting, a presentation explained Monson could save 22% on energy related expenditures, such as heating oil, gas, electricity, etc.
Ms. Neggers said the presentation was given in hopes the Board of Selectmen would consider moving forward with the investment grade audit at tonight’s meeting. Ms. Neggers added, unfortunately the way she has been looking at some of this and researching it, she is requesting the Board of Selectmen defer the decision pending receipt of additional information from the state relative to financing. Ms. Neggers reiterated, Mr. Drummond noted at the last meeting the way the savings on the utilities pay for the financing of the project so it has a zero impact on the operating budget or taxes, it uses existing funds that are being spent on utilities and projects. The largest dollar amounts in savings will be in the school buildings. The schools are funded at Net School Spending, which is the sate mandated minimum mandatory
amount to spend on education. Ms. Neggers noted she and School Business Manager Don Smith have been working together on this, and the School Committee voted unanimously to endorse moving forward on this at their last meeting. What they found was money that would be spent on the financing would not count towards meeting the Net School Spending requirements. Therefore, it would have to come from elsewhere in the budget. The town is in a financial position where it doesn’t have enough money, outside the school budget, to fund the improvements.
Ms. Neggers said she has reached out to the Department of Energy Resources and Mr. Don Smith has reached out to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which sets the requirements. They have also reached out to Senator Brewer’s Office and the Department of Revenue. Ms. Neggers noted until there is a decision from this group, or there is some relief, or an alternative funding mechanism is identified from the town, she would not ask the Board of Selectmen to move forward on this at this point in time.
Mr. Goodrich said he has seen the numbers come through from Ms. Neggers and Ms. Mahar and it looks like the payment for the improvements is somewhere in the vicinity of $165,000 per year which will be recouped in energy savings. Mr. Goodrich went on to say in FY11, the town has a significant bond coming off the books, a temporary debt exclusion for Quarry Hill School. The amount of this is $250,000 annually. Mr. Goodrich wondered if while it would push the project back in time by a few months, if the town could put this on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting that is coming up, seeking approval from the voters to authorize the use of the debt exclusion for this project. Ms. Neggers responded this would have to be a ballot question in the elections held in April.
Ms. Neggers said the voters of the town did authorize a $200,000 bond issued several years ago for energy conservation projects. None of the funds have been expended as the town wasn’t sure of an appropriate way to expend the funds without conducting an investment grade audit. Therefore, the funds are available to cover the $20,000 cost for the audit. This would mean spending $20,000 without a clear financing channel for the project, or some level of confidence the town could move forward.
Ms. Neggers reinforced, Siemens was selected through a competitive process at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, as Monson is part of a regional consortium, and added there are a number of other towns who have done this quite successfully.
It was agreed to not take any actions on this until the town hears back from the DOER, DOR and DESE on this. Ms. Neggers thanked Senator Brewer’s Office for being on this immediately and who will be present at the meetings and representing Monson.
Special Town Meeting – Discussion of Need and Scheduling:
Ms. Neggers recommended the Town Meeting be held on Monday, October 18, 2010.
One of the primary reasons for the Special Town Meeting will be to pass a solar generating zoning bylaw covering solar plants in town. This will be the first step in moving forward with the development put forth by CornerStone Power Development, LLC for the Arooth property and a large scale solar power generation plant. Ms. Neggers said she met recently with a representative from CornerStone Power Development who noted they are anxious to move forward with the project, but need the bylaw in place to operate under.
Ms. Neggers added, the School Department will be participating in the School Choice this year and the School will be able to retain any money they receive from students opting in. These funds are not placed toward Net School Spending; therefore it will require the establishment of a revolving fund at Town Meeting for designation of these funds.
The Special Town Meeting will also be used to finalize a few appropriations, pay prior year bills and possibly fund some union contracts.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to set the date for the Special Town Meeting for October 18, 2010, with the warrants being opened at the next meeting, September 14, 2010, and closed on September 28, 2010. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
City of Lowell – Home Rule Petition re: Municipal Health Care Plan Design – Discussion:
Mr. Goodrich said he has significant questions regarding this item and asked if this could be tabled until the next meeting.
Mr. Harrison explained this is a request from the City of Lowell to join them in getting health care plans for employees of cities and towns in the state passed by the Legislature, allowing cities and towns to not have to negotiate with the union in making small changes in the health plan design, i.e. co-pay amounts, deductibles, etc.
The Board of Selectmen agreed unanimously to table this until the questions are answered.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Goodrich noted School opens on Thursday. Mr. Harrison asked the listening audience to drive carefully.
- Ms. Neggers noted she has been working with Police Chief Steve Kozloski and Highway Surveyor John Morrell regarding the need to add posts with a break-off chain to block bicycles and skateboarders from going down the hill and out into the parking lot, as they have gone right in front of police cruisers exiting on emergencies, and tend to weave in and out between the parked cruisers, on their way to and from the skate park. They are also trying to reconfigure the pedestrian pathway, as this is a real hazard.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:37 p.m., Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of IBPO – successor agreement bargaining and AFSCME – successor agreement bargaining not to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
_______________________________
Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
| 
