BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
The regular meeting of 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, 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 – Open and Executive Sessions:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for October 25, 2011 – open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #11332105 – Pole for Waid Road:
Mr. Maia read Pole Petition #11332105 for one new pole on Waid Road into the record. There wasn’t anyone in the audience to speak for or against the petition. Both the Highway and the Water/Sewer Departments had no objections with the pole location.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve Pole Petition #11332105 as submitted. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Community Development Block Grant Public Hearing:
Erica Johnson from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Neggers explained this is the third time Ms. Johnson has been here and it was noted this is the formal public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant.
Ms. Johnson handed the Board of Selectmen and everyone in the audience a paper explaining the FY 2012 Community Development Block Grant Application, as attached, and noted there are two specific Block Grant projects. The first project is for housing rehab and septic repair. This project is based on income eligibility and is a 15 year deferred loan.
The second project is for residents who have encountered damage from the tornado. There is a possibility this might be a grant rather than a loan. There is no income eligibility for this program and it is designed to fill the gap for what residents still need in order to restore their property to what it was prior to the tornado, after the insurance money and State and Federal assistances have been exhausted.
Ms. Johnson encouraged people to send any feedback they might have to the Selectmen’s Office. The maximum Block Grant amount is $800,000.00 and the due date is in April. The target area in the past has been in the central business area. This year the target area is spreading out to encompass the path the tornado took. Ms. Johnson noted the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission can also go outside the target area for certain situations, and noted people should contact her if they have any questions.
Mr. Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen and said the usual Community Block Grant contains infrastructure and wondered if the roadways in the proposed area that sustained damage from the tornado, from the heavy equipment removing trees and debris and working on homes, would enhance the program since it scores high while at the same time not take away from the other projects. Ms. Johnson replied yes it would be beneficial to the program and stated this is something that can be discussed. Mr. Morrell said he would contact her regarding a small project.
Ms. Johnson noted it would also enhance competitiveness of the program if people were to get on the waiting list while they are waiting for approval for funding on projects.
The Board of Selectmen thanked Ms. Johnson for coming in.
Appointment of Full-time Dispatcher:
Mr. Maia made a motion to appoint Kristie Merrigan as a full-time dispatcher effective immediately through June 30, 2012. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commissioners:
Parks and Recreation Commissioners Stephen O’Shea and Michael Arbour approached the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. O’Shea explained the Parks and Recreation Department has a 1985 GMC pick-up that is in need of an engine, and prior to repairing it they wanted to see if it would be a sound investment to put approximately $3,500.00 into a 26 year old vehicle. Mr. O’Shea added the Parks and Recreation Department also has a second pick up truck that is about 12 years old and their equipment is getting very aged as well. Mr. O’Shea said they did manage to purchase a mower this year through their revolving fund, but these funds have been depleted and that’s why they are here seeking advice and money if available from the Board of Selectmen.
Dr. Smith explained usually purchases such as this are Capital Improvement Requests.
Ms. Neggers noted the Parks and Recreation Commission have submitted this request for funding on the Capital Improvement list, as well as requests from other departments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more, and noted the town just doesn’t have the money. Ms. Neggers said the only Capital items currently being purchased are the items built in such as cruisers, to some degree school busses, vans, etc. The rest are usually done via bond issues.
Ms. Neggers added right now the town has a lot of unforeseen issues. Also, there have been multiple requests from multiple departments such as Parks and Recreation and the Cemetery Department for similar equipment. Ms. Neggers said the Cemetery wants a new one ton pickup truck as their one-ton is very old as well, and added the town is struggling with consolidating the requests and evaluating them. Ms. Neggers stated this year there are zero dollars for Capital purchases in the budget via bonding or anything else.
Mr. Goodrich suggested the Parks and Recreation Commissioners first figure exactly what it is they need and what it’s going to cost. Step two is to bring the request forth in a warrant article next March for the public to vote on at the May Annual Town Meeting so the residents can make the decision as to where they want to spend their tax dollars. The only other option would be for them to speak to the Cemetery and the Highway Departments, as they are the only other departments with vehicles of that nature, to see if maybe there are some opportunities to move things around or to possibly share, until the town gets out of the tough financial situation its in. Mr. Goodrich also said the Parks and Recreation Commissioners should show what the roll over plan is, the maintenance, and what the expectancy is, in their
warrant proposal.
Ms. Neggers said the Parks and Recreation Commission should submit this request with their budget instead of waiting for a Town Meeting, as there has to be money to pay for it.
Dr. Smith thanked the Parks and Recreation Commissioners for loaning some of their employees to the town to assist in the clean-up following the recent October snow storm, as well as the Cemetery Commissioners for the use of their employees as well. Mr. Goodrich stated it’s a great way of showing internal mutual aid.
Disaster Recovery Status:
- Dr. Smith thanked the new Emergency Management Director Evan Brassard for
the tremendous job he did this past week and a half in managing this latest emergency. Dr. Smith also thanked the Highway Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Liz Manley and the MRC for running the shelter, the Board of Health, the School Committee for helping out with the School, and all of the other departments who assisted as well. Ms. Neggers added Mr. Brassard is a great asset to the town.
Dr. Smith noted the MRC is always looking for volunteers if anyone is interested, and added the volunteers don’t need a medical background to assist. Anyone interested should contact the Board of Health Office.
Mr. Maia suggested putting in a per diem rate for the Emergency Management Director for each day the EOC (Emergency Operating Center) is open.
Following a brief discussion Mr. Maia made a motion to assign an additional $50 per diem rate for the Emergency Management Director for each day the EOC is open making it retroactive back to October 29th, taking the funds from the Gifts to the Town.
Mr. Goodrich felt $50 is a low amount as substitute teachers are paid $75 per day for a six hour day, and suggested raising the amount to $100 per day. Dr. Smith agreed.
Mr. Maia amended his motion to $100 per diem rate for each day the EOC is open making it retroactive back to October 29th. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Debris clean-up: John Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen and
said the push back of the limbs that came down in the October snow storm is done and now they have to start picking the debris up.
Mr. Morrell read a letter he wrote to the Board of Selectmen into the record as attached, requesting the use of deficit spending on the clean-up.
Mr. Goodrich suggested Mr. Morrell look into cubic tonnage instead of cubic yardage with the debris clean-up and to see if he could possibly get bids from AshBritt on linear footage of roadways. Mr. Goodrich also noted O’Brien will have to be a little more vigilant at monitoring the debris.
Mr. Goodrich said the town needs to come up with a way to start bidding on our own annual contracts for emergency events, so we won’t have to rely on the State contracts.
Ms. Neggers explained based on the numbers provided by Mr. Morrell, the town is clearly into this in excess of $1 million, and there is no indication assistance will be provided at the State level for the other 25%, therefore that will deplete what funds we have left and the town will be broke.
Mr. Goodrich told Mr. Morrell he needs to prioritize the hardest hit areas and start with those areas first.
Mr. Morrell stated he would like to get all of the hangers first, as that is something his department can’t do; therefore it has to be done by an outside firm.
The Board of Selectmen agreed on capping the amount at $600,000.00 to start and then reassess.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to request the State to authorize the Town of Monson to deficit spend for debris removal due to Storm Alfred. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to enter into contract for public way debris removal only, with AshBritt and O’Brien for the FEMA guidelines with a cap of $600,000.00, with expectations of O’Brien being much more vigilant in their determinations of eligible debris, and AshBritt to work under the guidance of Highway Superintendent John Morrell and his prioritization of where to work and what areas to start in and how the process should go. Also, O’Brien and AshBritt should maintain open communications with their progress and costs. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Ms. Neggers said she received a memorandum from the Monson Tornado
Volunteer Group requesting the use of the gazebo at Dave Grieve Park for the weekend of November 19th and 20th, for a massive clean-up.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the request, as long as the gazebo is available and it doesn’t interfere with any other pre-planned events and they follow the guidelines as before. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers said she received an electronic request from Richard Guertin on
behalf of the Monson Arts Council requesting permission to hang the Craft Fair banner across Main Street.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the banner request, subject to the availability. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers said the Memorial Hall repairs are very close to being completed and
thanked Custodian Paul DeMaio for his assistance with the project management. The resetting of the brick walkway has been completed and Memorial Hall will be open this weekend for the first time since the tornado for the Monson Memorial Classic Road Race. Scaffolding is still up around the north tower, but this has been secured with mesh. The electricity has been repaired, the stage has been refinished and the plaster repair has been completed.
However, Ms. Neggers said there is a bit of controversy with the walkway now that it has been reset. After spending $28,000.00 on the walkway project, they would like to have no parking on it. This is interfering with the Craft Fair because they can no longer park on the walkway and the Fire Department won’t allow people to park in the driveway to unload their vehicles.
Mr. Goodrich stated this is a walkway and not a driveway.
Ms. Neggers said she will set up a meeting between Fire Chief George Robichaud and Mr. Guertin to try to mediate some type of amicable agreement.
- Ms. Neggers said the temporary roof is on the Town Office building at 110 Main
Street. The plumbing in the building has been drained and the building is now winterized.
- Ms. Neggers said the Tornado Relief Funds for the part A applications should be
dispersed by the Sub-Committee within the next two weeks. Part B is more complicated and will take a little longer.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:55 p.m., Mr. Goodrich made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and litigation – M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 (3). Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward A. Maia, Clerk
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