BOARD OF SELECTMEN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Due to elections being held in the Town Office Building on Tuesday, September 14th, the regularly scheduled Selectmen’s meeting was changed to Wednesday, September 15th. The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 110 Main Street. In attendance were Edward S. Harrison, John F. Goodrich 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 24, 2010 – open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Approve and Sign IBPO Contract:
Ms. Neggers requested this item be tabled until a future meeting as it is still in the document review stage; an agreement has been reached but the document hasn’t been finalized.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to table this until the next meeting. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appointment of Emergency Management Director:
Mr. Harrison explained the Emergency Management Director position had been advertised and former Selectwoman Kathleen C. Norbut was the only person who submitted a letter of interest.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Kathleen Conley Norbut as the Emergency Management Director effective immediately through June 30, 2011. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Norbut approached the Board of Selectmen and thanked them for allowing her to take on the position of Emergency Management Director. Ms. Norbut thanked everyone who served in the position before her for all of the planning work they have done, both with and for the town. Ms. Norbut noted her professional work is in emergency preparedness, as she works with the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps. throughout Western Mass. Ms. Norbut also noted she works on a daily basis with MEMA, has been a member of the LEPC since becoming a Selectwoman and had the opportunity to be the incident Commander during the flood in 2005. Ms. Norbut added the most important things she can bring to the position are organizational skills and management skills.
Ms. Norbut said every citizen and resident needs to have good solid emergency plan in place prior to an emergency. Residents must be thinking about their own safety and their own supplies, as well as their own communication with family members. They must also be prepared to communicate with responders any special needs which might be required, for example with the elderly or medications.
Dr. Smith noted the Board of Health has information on preparing your own emergency kit with a list of the various supplies you should have on hand. If anyone is interested they may contact the Board of Health Office.
Ms. Norbut said in conjunction to the pamphlets available upstairs in the Board of Health Office, there is a tremendous amount of information available on the internet and noted the website www.ready.gov contains everything you might want to know about safety for yourself, your family and your pets.
Mr. Harrison asked about the Town’s website. Ms. Norbut replied that is one of the things she plans on taking a look at to make sure it’s updated, and possibly add some helpful links to it.
Approve and Sign AFSCME Contract:
Ms. Neggers explained she and the Board of Selectmen have been in negotiations with the bargaining unit for a very long time, almost two years, and feels it has been accepted these are hard times economically. Ms. Neggers said she feels the outcome is fair and equitable. The employees have agreed to concessions in health care by agreeing to pay more of the total costs of the premiums over the course of the life of the contract, and in return there are wage increases negotiated into the contract.
The employees have agreed to take a zero percent salary increase for last year, Fiscal 2009. In the three year agreement, it has been agreed there will be a 2% increase in wages for the current fiscal year retroactive to July 1, 2010; a 3% salary increase in Fiscal 2011 and a 2% salary increase in Fiscal 2012.
Ms. Neggers said the AFSCME contract calls for employees who have individual HMO plans to pay an additional 5% of the costs effective January 1, 2011, another 5% on July 1, 2011 and yet another 5% in July 2012. By the end of the contract the employees who have the individual HMO health insurance will be at 70/30% (with the Town paying 70% and the employee paying 30%) where right now the individual health insurance plans are at 85/15%, essentially they will be doubling up on what they have been contributing.
The family health insurance plan will increase 1% on January 1, 2011; going from 29% to 30% of the cost.
Ms. Neggers said the employees also agreed to convert to a three-tiered health insurance product if and when it becomes available in Monson.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to sign the AFSCME Contract they have reviewed, as negotiated. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Part-time Police Officers:
Sergeant Nicholas Gasperini approached the Board of Selectmen with Officers Dustin P. Summers and James D. D’Amour. It was explained these two Officers were previously appointed by the Board of Selectmen as Auxiliary Police Officers. They have now completed the necessary training and Chief Kozloski is requesting the two Officers be appointed as Special Police Officers. This position is part-time and used to fill any vacancies on shifts created by vacation time, sick time or court appointments.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Dustin P. Summers and James D. D’Amours as Special Police Officers effective immediately through December 31, 2010. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
First Church – Permission for Road Closure for Pumpkin Festival:
Coordinator of the Pumpkin Festival, Lisa Borlen representing the First Church of Monson approached the Board of Selectmen and explained this festival has been held in previous years, and has worked out very well. Ms. Borlen noted she has spoken with Police Chief Kozloski who supports it. Ms. Borlen explained this is a community event and it is open to everyone. The festival will feature a lot of games run by several youth groups. There will also be pie contests and pumpkin carving contests with pumpkins being sold Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday.
First Church is requesting High Street be closed between Ely Road and Fountain Street during the event, which will be held on Saturday, October 2nd, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dr. Smith noted this is the same day as the Town’s “Bulky Day” at Quarry Hill School from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and wanted everyone attending “Bulky Day” to be aware of the detour.
Ms. Borlen said she has spoken with Highway Surveyor John Morrell in past events, and they have worked together on placing horses which block and reroute the traffic.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to close High Street from Fountain Street to Ely Road on October 2, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Apply Increase to Management Salary Grid:
Ms. Neggers explained it has been the practice in the past for the Board of Selectmen, once the union contract has been settled with AFSCME, to apply the same percentage increase to the management salary grid, as it was created from the same salary and classification study. This covers all department head positions not covered by individual contracts.
Ms. Neggers noted this will be a 2% increase in the management salary grid for this year only and it will be subject to the same changes in the health insurance as mentioned above and in the AFSCME contract.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to apply the 2% wage increase effective July 1, 2010, along with the health concessions effective January 1, 2011, with the withholding effective December 2010, to the management salary grid. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Special Town Meeting – Opening of Warrant and Review of Requested Articles:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to open the warrants for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for October 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to place the following three article requests from the Finance Director on the Special Town Meeting warrant;
- Bill of Previous Years $400.19.
- Adjustment to the Accountant’s Salary account $250.00.
- Adjustment to the Council on Aging Salary account $327.00.
Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to place an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant the articles requested by the Water & Sewer Commissioners:
- A transfer and appropriation of Sewer Enterprise Free Cash to the Sewer Easement Clearing Account in the amount of $20,000.00.
- Transfer and appropriation from the Water Enterprise Free Cash to the Water Capital Account the sum of $15,000.00.
- Transfer and appropriation from the Water Enterprise Free Cash to the Water Capital Account a sum of $16,742.00 for upgrade of 1998-1999 meter reading software and handhelds.
Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to place an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant for the creation of a School Choice Revolving fund. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to place an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to amend the omnibus previously approved at the Annual Town Meeting, to adjust for salary changes for the contract settlements. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Siemens Energy – Investment Grade Audit – Status Report:
Ms. Neggers explained there have been complications due to the regulatory financing issues that evolved from the State. Ms. Neggers said she has received an email from the Green Communities Divisions Director which said the DOR (Dept. of Revenue), DOER (Dept. of Energy Resources) and the DESE (Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education) met recently. Ms. Neggers thanked Senator Brewer for bringing this meeting forward.
Ms. Neggers explained there are two things happening simultaneously. One is the DESE is likely to change the regulations, but that takes months for them to do, so the performance contracting would have the costs included in Net School Spending and to count towards that. The other is she along with the Superintendent of Schools and the Finance Director, are working with the DESE in an effort to identify a means through the existing funding mechanism for extraordinary maintenance. This would allow a principal of bond on projects up to $100,000 per project per school.
After being able to digest this information, Ms. Neggers said the Board of Selectmen will probably be asked to proceed with the Investment Grade Audit with Siemens. The Investment Grade Audit will identify specific projects and their potential costs, which will allow the choosing of projects within parameters of the extraordinary maintenance provisions of net school spending. Ms. Neggers noted a meeting will probably now be set up internally with the consultant, Siemens, herself, the Superintendent of Schools and the Finance Director.
Ms. Neggers noted on this specific project the interest is at the commercial rate, unless the town qualified to go through the USDA. Mr. Harrison asked if $100,000 is a reasonable amount. Ms. Neggers replied its $100,000 per project per school, so it is a reasonable amount, however, we have to be careful as it’s only on the principal and any interest costs would have to come from the General Fund.
Mr. Goodrich said he found it interesting, looking historically at the cities and large communities in the Commonwealth who have been met with this obstacle who have not done anything to their school buildings because of this issue. Mr. Goodrich further noted it takes the little Town of Monson to bring an issue to the Commonwealth of another oversight failure and the lack of communication between government entities.
Mr. Goodrich said this project has a positive impact on the environment, and ultimately the taxpayer’s pocketbooks, yet between State and Federal regulations we’re being held back from proceeding, and it’s incredibly frustrating. Mr. Goodrich said he commends Ms. Neggers, Deborah Mahar, Pat Dardenne and everyone else involved for pushing the issue, and at least getting someone to start looking at it, where so many others just walked away.
Ms. Neggers said hopefully everybody will be able to benefit from the change in the long run, and she appreciates they are doing a long term fix as well as trying to find a way to address it short term. Ms. Neggers agreed it is frustrating.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Goodrich said he would not be present at the Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for September 28th as he will be out of town on business. Mr. Goodrich suggested not canceling or changing the date of that meeting.
- Deborah Mahar informed the Board of Selectmen the Scavenger Hunt has been canceled due to lack of interest.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:55 p.m., Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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