BOARD OF SELECTMEN
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 6:00 p.m. In attendance were Edward S. Harrison, John F. Goodrich II and Dr. Richard M. Smith. Also present was Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers. Mr. Goodrich made a motion to go into executive session at 6:00 p.m. for a discussion of litigation strategy. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED unanimously. At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from executive session to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED unanimously. The media was now present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Dr. Smith made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for September 28, 2010 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for October 12, 2010 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Fiscal 2011 Tax Classification Hearing – Board of Assessors Presentation:
Principal Assessor Ann Murphy approached the Board of Selectmen and gave the attached presentation.
Ms. Murphy explained the proposed tax rate for FY 2011 is $14.43 per $1,000.00 valuation, which is up 7.3 percent from last year’s $13.45. This will mean the owner of an average home assessed at $221,223.00 will see an $82.00 increase in their tax bill from the previous year, going from $3,110.00 to $3,192.00.
Ms. Murphy explained creating two different taxes, one for residential property owners and one for commercial, industrial and personal property owners, would give residential property owners a 4.3 percent decrease, but would increase taxes 50% for everyone else. Ms. Murphy said many residents own commercial businesses in town, and experiencing such a large tax increase would be severe for them. Mr. Goodrich noted the importance of keeping small businesses in town.
Ms. Murphy stated historically the town has stayed with a single tax rate. Mr. Harrison added in the twelve years he has been involved with setting the tax rate, a single tax rate has always been adopted.
Ms. Murphy explained new growth, which is new buildings, went from $72,302.00 in fiscal 2010 to $100,696.00 in fiscal 2011. Ms. Murphy said building projects that had previously been put on hold, are finally coming to fruition due to the market improving.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adopt the single tax rate for FY 2011. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to not act on the residential exemption for FY 2011. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Dr. Smith made a motion to not accept the small commercial exemption for FY 2011. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Memorial Hall – Building Use Facilitator Report as to Status:
Richard Guertin approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin handed the Board a copy of the attached packet which contains twelve exhibits and brief narratives on each exhibit.
Ms. Neggers provided the Board of Selectmen with the attached packet entitled “Means of Egress Issues at Memorial Hall”.
Mr. Guertin explained the following exhibits:
- Exhibit one is a brief history of Memorial Hall written by Mr. Guertin in February of 2009.
- Exhibit two is a letter written to the Board of Selectmen by Barbara Keffer dated February 19, 2009.
- Exhibit three is the Preservation Restriction Document between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Town of Monson relative to Memorial Hall.
- Exhibit four is the Restriction Guidelines relative to Memorial Hall.
- Exhibit five consists of a copy of the lease on the House of Art entered into between the Town of Monson and the Monson Arts Council on July 24, 1996 and a copy of a letter dated December 1, 2001 written by Mr. Guertin to the contact for the House of Art Nancy Bryant, and the contact for Memorial Hall Barbara Keffer, both on behalf of the Monson Arts Council.
- Exhibit six voices concerns and problems over the past fourteen years, along with some comments and suggestions.
- Exhibit seven discusses responsibilities relative to Memorial Hall.
- Exhibit eight discusses responsibilities relative to the House of Art.
- Exhibit nine outlines the Bylaws of the newly formed non-profit committee trying to raise funds for the restoration of Memorial Hall.
- Exhibits ten, eleven and twelve are each emails outlining concerns.
Mr. Guertin noted one of the biggest problems and concerns is the storage of articles by the Monson Arts Council such as old paints, chemicals, lumber, sets and costumes. It was noted the items are stored in numerous places in both Memorial Hall and the House of Art. Mr. Guertin noted options would be to store less and/or stored in an orderly fashion, as it has now become a safety concern.
Mr. Guertin noted he has spoken with the President of the Monson Arts Council Tod Beall regarding this, and said Mr. Beall will be discussing this with the Arts Council’s Board of Directors. Once a final approach has been agreed upon, Mr. Beall will present it to Mr. Guertin who will bring it back before the Board of Selectmen for consideration.
Mr. Guertin feels the Board of Selectmen must decide on the amount of space they are willing to allocate to the Monson Arts Council for storage and to monitor the types of responsibilities outlined in exhibit twelve.
Dr. Smith asked Mr. Guertin when items are built who is overseeing the construction, such as the extension to the stage, making sure it is up to code; that is safe and not damaging the historic building. Mr. Guertin responded he doesn’t think the Building Inspector is checking it. Mr. Guertin noted he doesn’t feel anything is being nailed to the floor, however there have been times when the floor has been damaged; such as the time a wheel wasn’t working properly on the piano, or when painting took place on the stage and people sat on the stage, or when someone set on the window sill and leaned back breaking a stained glass window. Ms. Neggers noted bars will be installed on the inside of the windows through the up-coming restoration project.
Mr. Goodrich said he feels the proper question is how much of the set items should be getting stored after an event and how much should be disposed of when the event is over, and feels this is a question the Board of Selectmen will have to answer, along with how much of the space will be retained for storage purposes.
Mr. Guertin said one of the problems he feels is, over time people in charge change and the new people aren’t aware of circumstances which took place before them.
Mr. Harrison noted he feels the same set of rules should be used for every group using the building.
Mr. Goodrich said he would like to see Memorial Hall returned to the original condition it was in prior to an event, at the end of the event. Holding a walk through was suggested.
Mr. Guertin said someone would have to be designated to do the walk through as if you don’t designate people to do certain things, it doesn’t happen.
Mr. Harrison said there really isn’t much of a budget for Memorial Hall and it isn’t the responsibility of the custodian, and feels it is the responsibility of the renters.
Mr. Guertin said the renters have been asked to bag their trash and remove it to the dumpster and wondered if the Selectmen were asking for the floors to be washed, etc.
Dr. Smith felt a written agreement is needed so everyone knows what is expected of them.
Mr. Beall said on-line under the school, it states you may be required to pay for custodial services and wondered if something like this could be done at Memorial Hall.
Mr. Harrison said the Board of Selectmen would need time to digest the whole thing.
Ms. Neggers felt they would need input from various people as she feels the custodian needs to be part of the discussion in terms of what needs to be done and what can be done by the users in cleaning Memorial Hall after an event. Ms. Neggers mentioned the other people involved with Memorial Hall along with the Board of Selectmen, the custodian and the regular users are the Memorial Hall Committee, the Building Use Facilitator, the Friends of Memorial Hall, and the Historical Commission.
Mr. Goodrich said one of the more important issues is determining proper use of the building, which he feels is dictated by the owner of the building, which is the Town of Monson and the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Guertin said he feels out of courtesy, the people who continue to use Memorial Hall on a regular basis should be allowed to have input, but not to include too many of the sub-organizations at this point, as it might be too confusing.
Dr. Smith agreed with Mr. Goodrich; the outline for the long term solution and agreement should be initiated by the Board of Selectmen as they are ultimately responsible for the building. Mr. Harrison also agreed.
It was agreed by everyone Mr. Beall would come up with something relative to the House of Art and the Board of Selectmen would come up with something relative to Memorial Hall prior to April, when the building will be re-opened after closing for the winter at the end of this month.
Ms. Neggers noted the immediate safety issues in Memorial Hall have recently been addressed and resolved. The electrician has been in to do all of the electrical work, installing lighting in Memorial Hall on the back stairs to the balcony, the exit lights, etc.
Review and Approve Proposal of Change in Building Inspector Hours of Work:
Ms. Neggers explained a letter was received from Building Inspector Harold Leaming proposing to change his work schedule to better serve the residents of Monson. Ms. Neggers noted Mr. Leaming currently works eight hours on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. Mr. Leaming indicated sometimes this schedule causes problems with the performance of an inspection being done in a timely manner as well as reducing the continuity of inspections on certain projects. Mr. Leaming is proposing changing the schedule to 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ms. Neggers noted with the new schedule, there will be one extra hour, yet the amount of pay will not change. Ms. Neggers feels this will work better for the town.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to authorize the change in the building inspectors’ hours. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Discussion – Energy Performance Contracting and Investment Grade Audit:
Ms. Neggers explained the investment grade audit by Siemens would be great, if it could be figured out just how to make it take place, with state agencies involved and the regulatory changes, in a timely fashion.
Pending that audit, Ms. Neggers said she had a meeting last week with a representative from the DOER, which offers a free energy audit program she applied for three years ago and was just notified Monson is now eligible for. Also present at that meeting was Don Smith from the School facilities and Finance Director Deborah Mahar, along with representatives from other utility companies. As part of that program, the free energy audit will be conducted on three buildings; one would be a comprehensive audit and the other two would be of a more preliminary nature.
Ms. Neggers explained when they looked at the buildings the town owns, clearly the schools are the three biggest energy consumers. It was decided and agreed upon Quarry Hill Community School would receive the more comprehensive study, followed by Granite Valley Middle School and then the Town Office Building. The scope of the audit will be much less than the investment grade audit proposed by Siemens.
Ms. Neggers said the Town does have a bond authorization approved at Town Meeting to do energy improvements, and none of this has been used, and added she is still working with Siemens and consultant Beth Greenblat.
Request for $1,370.00 appropriation from “Gifts to the Town” To Supplement Capital Appropriation for Cost of Fire Alarm Systems for Fire Station and Highway Garage:
Ms. Neggers explained several years ago funds were appropriated in the Capital budget to have fire alarm systems installed at both the Fire and Highway Departments, as neither department has any alarm protection.
Ms. Neggers said $12,025.00 is available in the appropriation account. Chief Robichaud solicited three proposals from three different companies. The lowest quote received was $13,393.00, which leaves a shortfall of $1,368.00.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appropriate $1,370.00 from the Gifts to the Town Account to supplement the capital appropriation for the cost of the fire alarm systems. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Announce Winter Parking Ban:
Mr. Harrison read the winter parking ban into the record which states:
During the winter season, there will be no parking on streets between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. starting with the first snowfall or December 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Parking permits for overnight parking at Dave Grieve Park are available in the Town Collector’s office at a cost of $5.00.
Ms. Neggers noted the parking ban is already in effect as the first snowfall occurred on Monday, November 8, 2010. This information will be posted on the Town’s website.
Correspondence was read and completed.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Goodrich thanked the citizens of Monson for the strong turn out at the Special Town Meeting on October 18th and the elections held on November 2, 2010.
At 8:45 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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