BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 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 Dr. Richard M. Smith, John F. Goodrich II 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:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for May 3, 2011 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Monson Summerfest, Inc. – Various Requests:
Steve Slozak approached the Board of Selectmen and explained the Summerfest activities will be the same as in the past. The Summerfest will be held on July 4th with the fireworks scheduled for the weekend before, Saturday June 25th, with a rain date of Sunday June 26th.
Mr. Slozak explained once again they would like to have Main Street closed from Academy Hill to Memorial Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Veteran’s Field will be used for the Hole in One and the Frog Jumping Contest. The parade route will be the same as in the past. Entertainment will be provided at Dave Grieve Park where the Beer Garden will be located from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Live music entertainment will be provided in front of the Town Office Building from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Hall will be used for the Old Post Road Orchestra from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the G.A.R. open for viewing from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This year for the first time, raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each or 6 for $5. One of the raffles will be for a 5 minute shopping spree at Adams, and the second will be a 50/50
raffle held the day of the Summerfest. Tickets are available at Woodbine and Hair It Is. Mr. Slozak also noted there won’t be any inflatable’s this year, as the company can’t man them anymore due to rising costs.
The shuttle bus will run from the Elementary School parking lot to the Town Office Building parking lot on July 4th.
Mr. Slozak stated he has spoken with the Fire, Highway and Parks and Recreation Departments. He sent a letter to the Police Chief and hasn’t heard back yet.
The Summerfest Committee requested a letter from the Board of Selectmen explaining the boundaries for the night of the Fireworks and the day of the Summerfest in order to keep hawkers away from the exclusive groups who regularly sell balloons, glow sticks, etc., at these events. Ms. Neggers clarified this technically gives the Summerfest sole jurisdiction over who can and can’t sell items in the area of the Fireworks the weekend prior to the 4th of July and the Summerfest parade and events on the 4th .
The Monson Summerfest also requested a donation from the Gifts to the Town Account to help offset expenses.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the one-day liquor license for the Summerfest Committee on Monday, July 4th, with the same Beer Garden lay out and procedures as last year, contingent upon receipt of insurance and the completion of all the necessary paperwork. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to submit a letter of the approved boundaries as described in the letter from the Summerfest Committee dated May 15, 2011 and consistent with language used last year. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the donation of $2,500 from the Gifts to the Town Account toward the Monson Summerfest activities. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Parks and Recreation Director – Request for “Gifts to the Town” Funding – Veterans Field Fence Repair:
Steve Slozak approached the Board of Selectmen and noted currently the fence along State Street next to Veteran’s Field is in rough condition. Brodeur Campbell Fence came out and gave an estimate of $550 to repair the fence completely. The work is necessary because some of the poles are sticking out of the top where some of the top poles are missing, and to straighten the chain link fence out. The gate at the end of the building next to the stone wall will be taken out completely as kids have been standing on it and it is broken. The gate has been an issue with children running out into the street with the playground right there, and by taking it out will force people to walk through the parking lot or come in down by the bridge.
Mr. Goodrich said he was concerned about safety by people walking through the parking lot, and wondered if this would increase the foot traffic through the parking lot. Mr. Slozak stated he feels the foot traffic wiould be about the same amount as most people park in the parking lot.
Mr. Maia made a motion to transfer $550 from the Gifts to the Town Account for the repair of the fence at Veteran’s Field. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Green Communities
1. Approve 20% Energy Reduction Plan
2. Approve Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy:
Ms. Neggers explained the voters at Town Meeting approved the Stretch Code, which was one of the criteria needed to become a Green Community. The other four criteria needed are the as of right zoning for a large scale renewable which the town did last fall; expedited permitting which has also been completed; an energy reduction plan and the efficient vehicle policy.
Ms. Neggers said a thorough analysis has been done on the entire town owned fleet consisting of sixty vehicles. Of the sixty vehicles, six are non-exempt. The six vehicles are the Building Department truck, the Animal Control Officer’s vehicle; the pick-up truck used by Parks and Rec., the Crown Victoria used by Parks and Rec., the Mercury Marques used by the Senior Center for the meal delivery, and the smaller light weight yellow truck at the Highway Department.
Ms. Neggers noted the town has saved over four thousand gallons of gasoline over the life span of the vehicles by replacing the 8 cylinder Dodge Chargers with 6 cylinder Dodge Chargers, even though these vehicles are exempt. Ms. Neggers noted she was surprised to find out the large Highway dump trucks used for plowing, etc., which are exempt as well, and only get four miles per gallon due to the work they are doing and their size.
Mr. Goodrich noted the Energy Reduction Plan was quite a comprehensive report. Ms. Neggers added all that data is thanks to Deborah Mahar and her assistant Marty Gilmore, who used a web based program Mass. DOER has established, called “Mass. Energy Insights”. Ms. Mahar and Ms. Gilmore have been putting data into this for two years now, listing every gas bill, every electric bill, every heating oil bill, the dates of the deliveries, the costs and which buildings it’s accounted to.
Mr. Goodrich said we owe props to our people here. For such a small town it amazes him, when you hear stories about larger towns where you can’t get the information or they can’t generate the data the way our employees do here, and the things we do electivel, only because we know it will benefit us in the future.
Dr. Smith added Mr. Morrell did this with getting FEMA reimbursement for not only our town but for all the surrounding towns as well. Dr. Smith thanked Ms. Neggers for all of her hard work.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the 20% Energy Reduction Plan and the Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Approve Cell Phone Policy (MIIA Rewards Participation Credits):
Ms. Neggers explained she provided the Board with a copy of the proposed cell phone policy, which the town currently doesn’t have in our personnel policy. This will be adding a new section, 4.18. Most of the policy, approx. 98% of it, is modeled after a policy provided to us by the insurance company. Ms. Neggers said she shared the model with all the department heads and after review; several department heads came back to Ms. Neggers with feedback and the need to change certain areas. Ms. Neggers noted all of the changes have been implemented in the policy the Board was given, as the changes were all reasonable. By implementing this policy, which is one of the steps of the MIIA Rewards Program, the town will get a percentage point off the insurance next year.
This policy applies to employee’s personal cell phones and bans cameras on the phones from being used out of respect for people’s privacy, unless authorized for town business. Ms. Neggers stated basically it’s based on an employee’s discretion and allows the Supervisor a lot of flexibility. You can use your cell phone, but use it as you would the town’s phone; you can take personal phone calls but not to chat for an hour, and any excessive phone calls can be restricted by the Supervisor. The policy also clarifies town issued cell phones and tax liabilities. The policy states employees should refrain from talking on cell phones while driving and texting which is against the law; internet browsing while driving is restricted and the policy allows the employer to take disciplinary action in the
event the cell phone policy is not adhered to.
Mr. Maia made a motion to adopt the Cell Phone Policy and amend the Personnel Policy by adding Section 4.18. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
110 Main Street – Approve Connection to Natural Gas Pipeline for Heating:
Ms. Neggers explained a letter was received from Columbia Gas Company to bring gas from the road to the building. The town would have to pay to have the line hooked up to the burner. Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Selectmen would need to agree to burn a certain amount of gas each year.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the connection with Columbia Gas of Mass. as discussed. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Governance Review Committee – Discussion:
Ms. Neggers explained this was approved at Town Meeting, and noted she wasn’t sure what the mission statement is.
Mr. Goodrich felt it would be good to start soliciting for members by sending out request letters to the Parks and Rec. Commission, Cemetery Commission, Highway Surveyor, Water/Sewer Commission and community members asking them to submit letters of interest. Ms. Neggers noted one Finance Committee member has also expressed interest in serving on the committee as well.
Ms. Neggers said she would do a press release on the Town’s web site.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Dr. Smith noted the first Farmers Market will be held in the Parking Lot of the First Church on High Street this Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:47 p.m., Mr. Goodrich 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.
Edward A. Maia, Clerk
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