BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011
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 for January 25, 2011- open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Hearing on Complaint of Brault and Gohra Against Dog Owned by Colleen Leboeuf (REOPEN):
This item was postponed due to a scheduling conflict with one of the participants.
Senior Center and Home for Aged People, Inc. Lease – Identification of Concerns:
Senior Center Director Lori Stacy approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Neggers explained in the past year a new lease was signed between the Town and the Home for the Aged, Inc. At that time the Home for the Aged came before the Board of Selectmen to explain they had come upon hard times and needed some relief financially, and the town agreed to pay some of the utility costs associated with the Senior Center and to do the mowing.
Ms. Stacy highlighted some of her recent concerns at the Senior Center, stating she understood when the town took over paying some of the utilities, that was to give the Home for the Aged, Inc. cash, allowing them the ability to cover costs on other things that occurred at the Senior Center.
Ms. Stacy noted back in May she spoke with a neighbor who was concerned with a tree near the garage on the Senior Center property. Ms. Stacy said she notified both the Town and the Home as she was unsure just who owned the tree. After a long period of time it was determined the tree belonged to the Home and the tree did come down in September.
Ms. Stacy said a bigger concern occurred in July when fuses kept blowing and they didn’t know why. The Home did have an electrician come in and voiced his concerns. Ms. Stacy said she brought those concerns to Ms. Neggers, as the Safety Officer. Ms. Stacy added both the Fire Chief and the Building Inspector went to the Senior Center and evacuated the building. An emergency fix was done by an electrician and they were allowed to go back into the building that evening. Ms. Stacy noted because of this, the Home discussed having an up-graded panel installed. Ms. Stacy said she didn’t know if the fix was just temporary or a permanent repair, but did say the Home voted in September to install a newer electrical panel. An electrician was contacted and was suppose to do the installation in September. The electrician
never showed up and this work has not been done.
In August the Fire Chief was contacted regarding the smell of gas and he evacuated the Senior Center. Nothing was found and everyone was allowed to go back inside the building. Ms. Stacy said since there was no immediate concern, nothing has been done regarding this.
In November when the heat in the dining room was used, Ms. Stacy said it seemed like clockwork, every Friday the heat in the dining room wouldn’t work. For six or eight weeks she would call the heating company and they would come out and bleed the lines to get the heat to work in the dining room. Ms. Stacy said there was discussion regarding a variety of things that could be causing the problem and things that could be done to solve the problem, but then the heating problem stopped, and she said so did all the discussion regarding solving the problem with the heat.
Another problem arose in January with all the snow and ice. Ms. Stacy said the lease states she is suppose to authorize and supervise the cleaning of things, but the individual who does this is paid for by the Home for the Aged and not the Town of Monson. Therefore, she can call him and make recommendations, but the individual is going to check with the Home for the Aged prior to doing anything; and some things don’t get done.
Ms. Stacy added she stressed in her first call to the Home in January, the north side of the building, going to the entrance, had six inches of ice on the staircase going to the side door from icicles and melting snow dripping. She spoke to their contractor who does the plowing and he said he could keep chopping the ice, but it would be costly. He called the Home and was told not to do this. The Home gave Ms. Stacy caution tape to put up, which she did, to keep people off the stairs.
Ms. Stacy said her second call to the Home was due to concerns on the south side of the building, where the melting snow and ice was causing an icy buildup on the ramp close to the building.
Ms. Stacy noted many of the seniors who go to the Senior Center come either with a walker or a cane. Due to the icy buildup, the visitors to the Center were unable to use the handrail close to the building. Ms. Stacy said she voiced her concern to the Home and it was put off temporarily, until the Monson Building Inspector went to the Senior Center and made sure everything was remedied.
Ms. Stacy said because of these types of safety issues, and the population she is dealing with, last Thursday was very stressful when she had a visit from the Monson Building Inspector, who Ms. Stacy said walked around and told her he was going to call the Home for the Aged and tell them they have just today and tomorrow to get everything done or the Senior Center would be shut down.
Ms. Stacy said her priority is to the seniors and getting them fed, as this has been a tough enough winter without being able to get the vans on the road to deliver the homebound meals. Ms. Stacy noted the response from the Home for the Aged to being shut down was, if there was a concern to just shut the building down until the problem could be resolved, with no time frame.
Ms. Stacy felt there might be a monetary issue with the Home for the Aged, and that maybe they are running low on funds.
Mr. Goodrich advised Ms. Stacy to maintain the telephone calls and if problems aren’t resolved within 24 hours, to send an email so there is some documentation, as Mr. Goodrich felt there was a lack of reasonable response. Ms. Neggers felt there should be some sort of lease obligation, providing a safe and habitable facility for use, as the town has an obligation to its seniors.
It was agreed unanimously to have the Home for the Aged, Inc. attend the next meeting to discuss this further.
Authorize Snow and Ice Deficit Spending:
Ms. Neggers noted last year the Snow and Ice appropriation was increased by $50,000 and added this winter has been an extraordinary winter, costing the town roughly $50,000 a week in expenditures on snow and ice since approximately the beginning of January and Ms. Neggers said Mr. Morrell estimates he is about $70,000 in deficit right now.
Ms. Neggers stated last night at their meeting, the Finance Committee approved an additional $150,000 in Snow and Ice deficit spending.
Mr. Goodrich a made a motion to authorize an additional $150,000.00 in Snow and Ice deficit spending. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Part-time Police Officer:
Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen with Brian Ellithorpe. Chief Kozloski explained Mr. Ellithorpe was recently appointed an auxiliary police officer, where officers go through a training period. Chief Kozloski stated Mr. Ellithorpe completed his training yesterday and he is now requesting Mr. Ellithorpe be appointed as a part-time officer.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to appoint Brian Ellithorpe as a part-time police officer effective immediately through June 30, 2011. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Meeting Schedule – Discussion:
Ms. Neggers said the next scheduled meeting for the Board of Selectmen is on February 22nd. Ms. Neggers said she will be out of town then and unable to attend. The reopening of a dog hearing was scheduled for tonight’s meeting but had to be postponed. It was noted this hearing needs to take place as the dog got loose again a couple of weeks ago and it is being held at the dog pound.
It was agreed to change the date of the regularly scheduled meeting from February 22nd to February 15th, and to hold the March 8th meeting as regularly scheduled.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Harrison reiterated the Town elections will be held on Monday, April 4th and again noted there is an opening on the Cemetery Commission that no one has taken out nomination papers for. There also are several other positions up for re-election as well. If anyone is interested in serving on any of these Boards or Commissions, they are encouraged to stop in the Town Clerk’s Office. Mr. Harrison noted this Thursday is the last day papers may be obtained.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:40 p.m., Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for M.G.L. c. 30A, Sec. 21, #2 non-union personnel contractual strategy and negotiations, 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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