BOARD OF SELECTMEN
APRIL 26, 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 John F. Goodrich II, Dr. Richard M. Smith and Edward A. Maia. Also present were Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for the executive session for April 12, 2011, and the minutes for the open and executive sessions for April 19, 2011. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Community Garden Update and Request for Appointment of Garden Director:
EmmaLadd Shepherd and David Ramsey approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Shepherd explained the Board of Directors for the Keep Homestead Museum would like to appoint David Ramsey as the Director for the Community Gardens located at the museum. Ms. Shepherd noted the Keep Homestead Museum is a town entity as Myra Moulton willed the property, her house and a trust fund to the town; even thought the Town owns this, no tax money is spent on it.
Ms. Shepherd noted Mr. Ramsey has been acting as the Director for the gardens right along, with handling the planning, talking to people, designing the application forms, etc. and the Board of Directors feel he should have the title to go along with the duties. Mr. Ramsey noted a committee might be created to handle any disputes, etc. that might arise.
Ms. Shepherd explained Mr. Ramsey has done massive amounts of planning. He originally laid out twelve garden plots, and instantly they received fourteen applications with checks. Mr. Ramsey was then able to finagle fourteen plots and then two more applications were received. A few of the people are sharing garden plots with others to accommodate everyone. Mr. Ramsey said he unfortunately had to refer someone today from Monson to the gardens in Wilbraham, as they have seven acres containing 50 garden plots and they still have a few available plots for rent.
Ms. Shepherd said they have had many discussions on how to get water to the gardens and the final decision has been to tap into towns’ water system, and they have spoken with Water & Sewer Superintendent Craig Jalbert.
Ms. Shepherd explained the Community Gardens received a donation in the amount of $1,700 from the bank for the costs of the water system. The Garden Club gave them a grant for $500 with no restrictions on how the money could be spent. The Community Preservation Committee gave them a grant in which they purchased a port-a-potty, garden shed, lawn mower, wheel barrow, trash barrel, and garden tools.
Ms. Shepherd noted they are charging the gardeners’ a $5.00 deposit on the key for the shed and everyone has their plot assignments.
Mr. Ramsey noted the plot size is almost exactly 1600 sq. ft., or 23 X 26 feet.
Dr. Smith asked it there is room for expansion. Mr. Ramsey replied there are a lot of hay fields up there that could be expanded into, however there are huge boulders there also requiring a lot of thought. Mr. Ramsey felt they could expand next year to accommodate 23 to 24 gardeners, but it would be a lot of work.
Ms. Shepherd said the Highway Department took out some trees and the Parks and Recreation Department came up and painted a stripe around the perimeter of the garden for them with their striping machine.
Ms. Shepherd said they are always looking for volunteers. The flower gardens need work with planting and weeding. The Museum also houses the largest button collection in the country and for the last twenty years or more they have been inventorying the collection, restoring and preserving the buttons in archival ways; some of it is just cleaning buttons with a pencil eraser. They also have trail upkeep maintenance with two miles of hiking trails on the 75 acres of land. Anyone wishing to volunteer services or looking for more information may contact the Museum at 267-4137 or go on the web at www.keephomesteadmuseum.org
The museum is open the first Sunday of every month for an Open House from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., with programs always held during the Open Houses.
The trails are open 24/7 with maps of the trails available in the parking lot. People access the trails to hike, cross country ski and snowshoe. No motorized vehicles are allowed.
This Sunday they are having a nature hike at the Keep Homestead Museum beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Maia made a motion to appoint David Ramsey as the Director of the Community Gardens located at the Keep Homestead Museum on Ely Road. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Linda Hatch Representing First Church of Monson – Proposed Farmers’ Market:
Linda Hatch approached the Board of Selectmen along with Ted Sisley. Ms. Hatch said they would like to hold a Farmers’ Market in the parking lot of the First Church of Monson on Thursday’s from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. beginning on May 26th and running though mid October. They are planning on having enough space for eighteen vendors and are hoping to have at least ten vendors signed up when the Market starts.
Ms. Hatch noted they have spoken with the State Farmers Grower Nutrition representative Lisa Damon, and Mr. Sisley and his wife, as well as Ms. Hatch, have been certified to handle elder and WIC coupons. They must find at least two farmers who will accept the coupons. Ms. Hatch said they have one farmer lined up already and another one who is considering it. Mr. Sisley has also been pursuing the Food Stamp program.
Ms. Hatch explained they have five people interested in managing the market, one of which has been managing a Farmers Market in the Town of Barre, so he has background knowledge, and another person who was a produce manager in the past. They will have two managers on the site at a time to oversee the market.
Ms. Hatch said each farmer would be required to donate one item each time they set up and the item will be given to someone in town who needs food. Ms. Hatch explained one of the things they have discussed is setting up their own Food Bank/Open Pantry coupons and either the Monson Senior Center or the Open Pantry could hand them out to the families in need, with the Farmers Market funding them somehow.
Ms. Hatch explained they picked Thursdays for the market as Brimfield and Hampden have Farmers Markets on Saturdays, and Wilbraham holds a Farmers Market on Wednesdays.
Mr. Goodrich felt this was a fantastic idea and said this area could really use something like this and felt the timing is perfect to coincide with the Community Garden and the Agricultural Commission and the regulations they are trying to have approved at the Town Meeting on May 9th. Ms. Hatch noted the Community Gardens have already requested a spot at the Farmers Market.
Mr. Sisley explained there are Federal grants available they will be applying for also and noted this is a big national movement and the states have gotten a lot of support.
Ms. Hatch noted the Planning Board is aware of the Market and will be creating a new zoning bylaw allowing Farmers Markets on residential property. They have spoken also with the Police Sergeant who didn’t have any issues with it. Ms. Hatch noted there will be enough room for parking in the church parking lot for customers along with the Market vendors. Ms. Hatch said they also spoke with Lori McCool in the Board of Health who said anyone wishing to sell processed foods such as baked goods, have to be serve-safe certified. They have one vendor who is a baker and they have fulfilled all the requirements.
Ms. Hatch explained the Church will be insuring the Farmers Market on a grounds perspective and each vendor will need to have their own insurance as well. Proof of insurance and any permits required will be checked to make sure everything is legal. Vendors selling meat must have a permit from the town and they must sign an agreement allowing the Board of Health to inspect them at the Farmers Market and/or on their farms.
Mr. Maia felt too the Farmers Market is a great idea and said he is personally excited about it and predicts it’s going to be a very busy venture.
Dr. Smith made a motion to fully endorse the proposed Farmers’ Market at the First Church of Monson and support it 100%. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Update Any New Budget Information from Discussion with Finance Committee at Meeting on 04/25/2011:
Mr. Goodrich noted both Dr. Smith and Mr. Maia attended last night Finance Committee meeting. Dr. Smith said they explained to the Finance Committee the Selectmen had asked Ms. Neggers and Finance Director Deborah Mahar to develop a budget based on the guidelines the Selectmen had established. They presented this budget to the Finance Committee and answered all of the questions and concerns they had with it, primarily about the school busses.
Mr. Maia noted the Finance Committee will meet next Monday to come up with their finalized list on what they will be putting forth at the Town Meeting.
Finance Committee member Peter Fimognari was in the audience and stated if any corrections are needed, they will be made and voted upon by the Finance Committee prior to the Town Meeting.
Ms. Neggers said she feels there’s a general understanding these are very challenging times and it’s very difficult to try to keep everything together and added everyone is doing the best they can, and it’s going to continue to be difficult.
Dr. Smith noted there aren’t any good cuts when cuts have to be made in the budgets.
Mr. Goodrich noted it can be frustrating for the Selectmen, who realize the responsibility of the Department Heads is to fight for their department, especially when the cuts proposed will change the dynamics and functionality of the department. Mr. Goodrich said he hopes everyone understands it’s nothing personal but cuts have to be made.
Mr. Goodrich explained the Selectmen have made their case and the Finance Committee has made theirs, and hopefully the towns’ people look at the information available prior to the Town Meeting to know what they are voting for.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Selectmen received a request from the Chief of Police to appoint Douglas Beachell as the interim Animal Control Officer effective May 6, 2011.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appoint Douglas Beachell as the interim Animal
Control Officer effective May 6, 2011 through June 30, 2011. Mr. Maia seconded
and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers noted the banner requested by the Board of Selectmen announcing the Town Meeting was ordered, and it is now in the office waiting to be put up. Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Health usually puts a banner up announcing “Bulky Day” which will be held on May 7th. The Town Meeting is on May 9th. Ms. Neggers said one thought was having the Board of Health’s banner put up this week and the Board of Selectmen’s banner put up next week. However, the Board of Health doesn’t have their banner yet as they had to have the date changed on it.
Mr. Maia suggested placing the banner on the gazebo when the Town Wide
Clean-up banner comes down at the end of this week, as he felt the “Town Wide
Clean-up” and “Bulky Day” go hand in hand.
Dr. Smith suggested putting the Selectmen’s banner up this week and the Board
of Health’s banner up next week, right before Bulky Day.
Mr. Goodrich felt since the Selectmen’s banner is in and all set to be put up, put it
up, and when the Board of Health gets their banner in, if they need to put it up
right a way, he felt Mr. Maia’s ideal of placing it on the gazebo once the Town
Wide Clean-up banner comes down, was a good idea.
Dr. Smith noted Bulky Day is much more successful when the banner is up and
the event is advertised.
It was unanimously agreed to put the Selectmen’s banner announcing the Town Meeting up across Main Street as soon as possible, and then figure out what to do next when the Board of Health has their banner ready.
- Mr. Goodrich reiterated Bulky Day is Saturday, May 7th and the Annual Town Meeting is Monday, May 9th. Mr. Goodrich said he doesn’t feel as though the residents understand the impact of the Town Meetings and its impact on the tax rates. Mr. Goodrich explained the tax rate is set for the fiscal year in the fall. How the tax rate is approved is based on the Omnibus voted on at the Annual Town Meeting. Therefore, if the towns’ people vote to spend a certain amount of money, the tax rate is set to raise the revenue to cover the budget voted on. Mr. Goodrich explained its important voters attend the Town Meetings to voice their opinions. The Town Meeting will be held at Granite Valley Middle School beginning at 7 p.m. There will be handouts, flyers and paperwork to look at and read over so it was
recommended residents arrive a few minutes early. It was also noted there is a new moderator with a different approach which seems to be working better.
Ms. Neggers noted the Special Town Meeting warrant is posted and can be found on the town’s web site on the “News and Announcements” page. Once the Finance Committee has developed their recommendations, the recommendations will be posted as well. The Annual Town Meeting warrant has not been posted, as Town Counsel is still working on the Hospital Road easement issue. Ms. Neggers said when the Annual town Meeting warrant is completed, it will be posted. Ms. Neggers said she would post the budget recommendations brought forward to the Finance Committee by the Board of Selectmen on the web site as well.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:40 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of M.G.L. c. 30A, Sec. 21, #2 – Discussion of non-union personnel bargaining strategy, not to return to open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward A. Maia, Clerk
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