BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 29 Thompson Street. In attendance were Dr. Richard M. Smith and Edward A. Maia. John F. Goodrich II was not in attendance. Also present were Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Maia made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for July 19, 2011 – open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Full-time Firefighter/EMT:
Fire Chief George Robichaud and Todd LaCosse approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Robichaud explained 36 applications were received for the position of a full-time EMT/Firefighter and Mr. LaCosse was the successful candidate. Chief Robichaud added Mr. LaCosse has all the requirements; qualifications and certifications needed.
Mr. Maia made a motion to appoint Mr. LaCosse to the full-time position of EMT/Firefighter effective immediately through June 30, 2012. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Ms. Neggers noted the town is able to continue maintaining this position through the approval of the override last spring, and thanked the voters and taxpayers who appreciate the need to have staffing.
Post-Disaster Mental and Emotional Well-Being – Identification of Resources:
Donna Rowe of Behavioral Health Network and Devon Smith of Riverside Community Cares approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Rowe explained she is a therapist and runs residential programs in the City of Westfield. Ms. Rowe is a Team Leader with Riverside Community Cares, who is affiliated with the Behavioral Health Network. Riverside Community Cares has been providing trauma support to the Town of Monson and other towns affected by the tornado, with the aftermath, feelings, emotional and physical sensations and anxiety which is triggered from the announcements of new tornado watches, bad thunderstorms, and so on. Ms. Rowe said she would love to provide additional support to possibly groups of elderly or disabled who can’t get out, to individuals, and even to volunteers who have worked tirelessly with everyone else for the past eight weeks. Ms. Rowe noted they are flexible with their hours and anyone wishing to speak with them may
contact Ms. Smith’s agency to set something up.
Ms. Smith explained she is a therapist working for Riverside Community Cares, and has been working with Mass. Support which is affiliated with Riverside as well. Ms. Smith has been doing a lot of door to door outreach in Springfield, talking with everyone and asking if they want someone to talk to. Riverside Community Cares and the Behavioral Health Network will go to houses and meet with the residents, their families and their children, or they can help people start their own support groups. Ms. Smith added she has also been going to Libraries and Senior Centers as well. It was noted this outreach hasn’t been done in Monson yet.
Dr. Smith asked about the process if someone needs help. Ms. Smith responded anyone wishing to speak with someone can call them at 781-915-8047 or email them at tleader@riversidepc.org.
Mr. Maia noted the biggest obstacle is with people trying to access the services, and added no one returns the telephone calls made to the telephone number.
Ms. Smith said they just found that out and noted she will speak with her Team Leader about the telephone number not working properly. Ms. Smith said calls can be made directly to Sarah Kendall-Reust who works for the Behavioral Health Network. Ms. Kendall-Reust is the Trauma Response Coordinator for Western Massachusetts for Riverside Community Cares and her direct line is 413-301-9422.
Mr. Maia asked how Riverside Community Cares and the Behavioral Health Network are compensated. Ms. Rowe replied through the Department of Mental Health. Riverside Community Cares does not ask residents for any insurance information.
Ms. Neggers noted Monson needs the door-to-door outreach program with canvassing of the affected areas, letting people know whatever they are experiencing or going through is okay and it’s perfectly normal. Ms. Smith added and also letting the residents know it will get better over time.
Ms. Neggers stated a big concern is for after hours and wondered if any assistance is available 24/7, weekends and nights. Ms. Rowe said there is a BHN crisis line, but didn’t know if it serves the Monson area. Ms. Rowe said either she or Ms. Kendall-Reust would contact Ms. Neggers tomorrow with information on the 24 hour hotline.
Karen King, who was in the audience, approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. King said she has been working with Hope Bodwell in the long term recovery, and because the outreach program isn’t up and running in Monson yet, she has been doing the Street Angel Program which she created, going door to door handing out flyers containing the telephone number for the assistance just mentioned, and said she would be willing to add any other flyers Riverside community Cares or the Behavioral Health Network may have. Ms. King noted she has a group of five people right now, and invited Ms. Rowe and Ms. Smith to go around with them if they would like. Ms. King noted this is not a formal program yet, but very shortly it will be up and running. Ms. King also noted the hotline for anyone needing volunteers is still in operation, at
413-258-0207.
Ms. Neggers noted the School Department has a Social Worker funded through the United Way available Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s 9AM to 2PM at Granite Valley Middle School. This is for adults, children and families. Anyone interested may also contact the School Department at 267-4150.
FEMA Representative(s) – Explanation of FEMA Process:
Oscar Joseph and Steve Cooper with FEMA approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Neggers explained Mr. Joseph represents the individual assistance component of the FEMA process. This is specific for residents who have registered with FEMA; 338 household units in Monson have registered for individual assistance. Based on the number of damaged property it looks like a good job was done in getting the word out for residents to register. Ms. Neggers said if anyone still hasn’t registered with FEMA, they can still do so either on-line or by telephone until August 15th.
Mr. Joseph explained the process by stating residents first contact their insurance companies, and then FEMA advises the residents to fax all paperwork to FEMA so they can see what the insurance company is giving them. If they have unmet needs, FEMA will then send out an inspector to look at their property damage.
If a resident doesn’t have insurance, because they are a renter or whatever, they should register with FEMA. An inspector will go out to assess the damage, and based on the information put into the palm pad, which will be loaded into the system and scanned by auto-determination, a person could be eligible for any number of FEMA’s programs.
One of the programs available is rental assistance; if a person feels they have to move and just cannot repair their home while they are in it, the rental assistance will pay for up to two months of rent at the fair rent rate. If a homeowner doesn’t have insurance, they may also qualify for rental assistance and assistance with damage repair expenses, based on what the inspector sees.
Mr. Joseph noted FEMA’s program is a grant program and is not based on a person’s income. It is based on unmet needs to make sure a house is safe, sound and functional.
Mr. Joseph explained the Small Business Administration is a financial loan program; allowing people to get back to the standard of living where they were before the disaster. People can either accept the loan or they can refuse the loan, it’s their decision to make; however, if they don’t take it the program for them stops right there.
If a person is denied SBA funds on the grounds SBA feels they don’t have the ability to repay the loan, there is another part of the FEMA grant program called Other Needs Assistance that takes care of personal property needs, for example clothes, appliances, furniture, and possibly car replacement or repairs to the vehicle if it was damages as well.
The entire grant package from FEMA can only total $30,200.00; by law, the amounts for the FEMA grant program and the Other Needs Assistance can’t go any higher.
Mr. Joseph noted the SBA is a separate loan where the maximum to repair a home is $200,000.00 and the maximum for personal property is $40,000.00.
For example if he received the $30,200.00 from the FEMA grant program and SBA came out and said the damage to his home was $250,000.00 he could still be eligible for the $30,200.00 and the $200,000.00 loan; however if the damage to his home was $40,000.00, he would only be eligible for approximately $10,000.00; this is to avoid duplication of benefits.
Mr. Joseph said they do have a help line for residents who have registered and not heard back which is the same telephone number as the registration number 1-800-621-3362.
Mr. Joseph noted the DRC will be closing on Friday, and on Monday they will be opening a Disaster Loans Outreach Center.
Mr. Joseph said residents with insurance who have expenses not covered by insurance, should register with them and fax in their insurance exclusion page.
The FEMA grant program will not cover vegetation expenses.
Mr. Cooper explained FEMA and SBA have separate deadline dates for registering, which is August 15th on both applications. Residents cannot apply for an SBA loan without first registering with FEMA.
A woman in the audience who is a former SBA employee noted SBA can lend money pending an insurance decision. If the insurance company covers the damages, they may repay the loan with no prepayment penalty. There are three or four interest rates depending on the type of loan. The loan will have a fixed interest rate. Also, because this is an asset based loan, a lean will be placed against the mortgage.
Mr. Cooper noted if residents aren’t happy with FEMA’s grant program decision, it can be appealed. Also, residents not happy with a decision by their insurance company may also appeal that decision as well. It was urged to file for the SBA loan as soon as possible as a fallback, in case they find out down the road the insurance company or the FEMA grant won’t cover everything they need.
Confirm Special Town Meeting – August 22, 2011:
Ms. Neggers said the Board of Selectmen voted previously to schedule a Special Town Meeting for Monday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in Granite Valley Middle School, so voters can weigh in on amending the Zoning Bylaws that would allow residents whose homes are damaged or destroyed by fire, tornados, or other natural disasters where they cannot stay in their homes, to temporarily place trailers on alternative sites instead of solely on the damaged properties.
Ms. Neggers noted the Planning Board has held a public hearing and made the recommendation and moved it forward. The language has been reviewed by Town Counsel who made some modifications, and this was sent back to the Planning Board and now must be acted upon.
Ms. Neggers said the warrant will be posted on Friday, and also will be posted on the town’s website.
Formal Appointment of Paul Tacy – Building Commissioner:
Mr. Maia made a motion to formally appoint Paul Tacy as Monson’s Building Commissioner/Zoning Enforcement Officer effective August 10, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Tornado Recovery Status:
a. Report on Tornado Losses – Current Estimated Town Losses/Expenses
b. Any Other Updates
- Ms. Neggers gave an update from Hope Bodwell, on Wednesday, August 3rd from 12:30 to 1:30 at the Senior Center; Dr. Joan Copperman from the Griswold Center at Wing Memorial Hospital will be doing a group sharing and discussion event with the seniors.
- On Monday, August 15th, at 8:00 p.m. there will be a kids and family outdoor movie night at Quarry Hill. It is funded by the Ashburn and Westminster Academy for Academic Excellence. They have a large inflatable screen and the movie is Mega Mind. The rain date is August 17th.
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, August 15th, 17th and 19th the Behavioral Health Network will be doing a Children’s Support Program. The Behavioral Health Network is also working on additional programs for adults and seniors.
- Families displaced by the June 1st tornado who have children that use school transportation, are asked to please call Michelle Loglisci at 267-4150 ext. 1101 or email her at logliscim@monsonschools.com to let her know where you are at even if you have relocated within town so they can make the necessary transportation arrangements. If they have relocated out of town, there is a federal law requiring displaced students be transported back to town to school.
- Update on tornado expenses, Ms. Neggers noted to date the insurance company has covered about $150,000.00 worth of expenses incurred and this will continue to rise. We are making progress on getting some of the roofs repaired on the gazebo, Memorial Hall, the Highway Department salt shed, Water/Sewer and so on. At Memorial Hall the work is moving along very well and it’s all be done to historic standards; it’s a preferred contractor who meets the DCAM historic standards and the Secretary of Interiors standards as well and this is on-going.
- Ms. Neggers noted there is a meeting tomorrow with the structural engineer, new Building Commissioner Mr. Tacy, Mr. Lapointe and Larry Tuttle at 110 Main Street.
- $5,992,809.00 has been expended in non-insurance expenses to date; approximately $5.4 million of this is on vegetative debris.
- AshBritt is done and a little bit of stream work is being completed.
- Ms. Neggers noted there was a meeting this morning with the Federal Highway Administration represented by the Mass. DOT because some of the roads are part of the Federal Highway System and will be reimbursed at 100%, part of the work is reimbursed at 80%/20% non FEMA and then there is the FEMA piece each have their own set of regulations to file for.
- Ms. Neggers noted replacement of chain link fence on town property is ongoing, and the Parks and Recreation facility needs to be figured out as to what is going to happen there in the future.
- The Cemetery is working with the Historic Commission on the historic tombstones in the two cemeteries that were heavily damaged.
- On Thursday, August 4th, there will be a press event in Monson at 4:00 p.m. The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be coming out with the Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources to announce financial incentives for people rebuilding their homes according to the Stretch Code.
- Mass. Preservation will be doing a workshop in August to provide people with rebuilding information entitled “Ask the Expert Day”. They are also hoping to bring in an energy component so people can get this information as well.
- The Center for Ecological Technological will be doing a workshop for contractors, homeowners and particularly builders on interpreting the Stretch Code.
- Mr. Maia said the reinstallation of the rose window was completed today in the Unitarian Church on Main Street from the CPC project.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:20 p.m., Mr. Maia made a motion to adjourn from open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward A. Maia, Clerk
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