BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012
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:
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for December 13, 2011 – open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #11982890 – Installation of J.O. Pole on the North Side of King Avenue 700’ East of Intersection with Main Street:
Mr. Maia read pole petition #11982890 – for one new J.O. pole on the north side of King Avenue into the record. The pole location was okay with the Highway Department, and it was acknowledged the issue the Water Department had with the location was resolved with National Grid prior to tonight’s hearing.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to accept Pole Petition #11982890 as presented. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Hearing on Application of AllenNau, LLC d/b/a The Quarry Tavern for Retail Alcoholic Beverage License for 216 Main Street, Monson MA:
Daniel Nau, Shaun Allen and Meghan Allen approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Neggers explained the application is for the former Elwood’s establishment located at 216 Main Street. The application recently submitted by AllenNau, LLC d/b/a the Granite Pub was rejected in Boston. This is a new application with the same corporation name, but with a different d/b/a and a different manager.
Meghan Allen stated she will be working at The Quarry Tavern as the full-time bar manager and acknowledged she understands she will be the person responsible for the establishment. When asked if she has or will be attending a TIP’s course, Ms. Allen said “yes”.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the new application for retail alcoholic beverage license as submitted. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
First Presentation – Personnel Policy Amendment – Section 4.3.1 – Hours of Work and Record-Keeping:
Ms. Neggers explained the Board of Selectmen previously asked her to draft a policy for their review and ultimate adoption regarding the keeping of time cards for actual hours worked as required under the Fair Labor Standards Act and noted this personnel policy amendment is for all hourly employees.
Mr. Goodrich said he feels as though the Selectmen shouldn’t be the responsible party signing the payroll sheets as they aren’t here on a regular basis and have no idea of the comings and goings of the employees, and felt a full-time employee from the Selectmen’s Office might be a better fit for approving the time cards and making sure the signatures are valid. Mr. Goodrich said he does check to make sure the managers have signed the payroll forms prior to his signing, but still has no way of knowing if it is accurate or not. Mr. Goodrich added the Selectmen would still sign the warrants. Ms. Neggers said this is a separate issue and that she would have to check with Finance Director Deborah Mahar to see if this can be applied.
Mr. Maia made a motion to implement the personnel policy amendment, January 10, 2012 4.3.1 hours of work record keeping, as presented with the attached time sheet. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Set Fiscal 2013 Non-Union Salary Adjustment:
Ms. Neggers explained this salary adjustment is for non-union/non-contractual employees. Ms. Neggers recommended a 2% increase which coincides with the contractual employees.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to set the Fiscal 2013 non-union salary adjustment to 2%. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Disaster Recovery Status
a. October Snowstorm – Disaster Declaration Status
b. Tornado – FEMA Reimbursement Status
c. Town Office Building – Status
Ms. Neggers noted John Morrell provided her with an up-date regarding the debris which she read into the record. Mr. Morrell’s up-date informed that as of January 6, 2012, the Highway Department completed debris clean-up of 38 streets after AshBritt ended their work, with 25 streets left. Mr. Morrell stated Northern Construction has loaned the Highway Department a mini-excavator at no charge to assist with the debris removal, and all vegetative debris is being chipped by the Highway Department on site.
Relative to the tornado reimbursement, Ms. Neggers said we are in the process of receiving the reimbursement from FEMA. Ms. Neggers noted she, Finance Director Deborah Mahar and Town Treasurer Cristina Pedro are working with the DOER to set some borrowing in place for both events, but we need to know our final costs. The tornado costs will either be $200,000 or $700,000 depending on the Federal Highway reimbursement. Ms. Neggers noted the process for the October Snowstorm has just started, and it looks like it will be a larger amount unless we get some state aid.
Ms. Neggers said she hasn’t heard anything recently from the insurance company on the 110 Main Street building. Mr. Goodrich wondered since we have the numbers from the Fountain Group, if we could request a settlement meeting. Ms. Neggers replied probably and said she would inform the Board as soon as she hears back from the adjuster. Ms. Neggers said she is also pursuing the numbers for the engineering assistance on the energy projects and energy improvements that can be made under either scenario.
Request to Approve Memorandum of Agreement PEC Approving Transfer of Health Care for Employees to GIC:
Ms. Neggers explained on October 11, 2011, the Board of Selectmen voted to adopt Chapter 32B Section 19 and authorized her to negotiate with the Public Employees Committee to transfer employees’ health care to the GIC. A series of meetings were held with the PEC, consisting of a representative from each bargaining unit and a retiree appointed by the Retirees Association, and an agreement was reached. This will be effective July 1, 2012, and a significant savings is anticipated.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with PEC approving the transfer of health care to the GIC effective July 1, 2012. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Request to Authorize the Town Administrator to Execute Contract for Electricity Supply for the Town:
Ms. Neggers explained currently we are under contract with Constellation New Energy for electricity supply; this doesn’t include the transmission piece. This contract is due to expire in December of next year. Ms. Neggers noted rates right now are at historic lows because the weather has been so warm and electricity is linked very strongly to natural gas, which has a large supply being stored for a cold winter that so far isn’t being used. Ms. Neggers said she has been working with Don Smith looking at different suppliers and they have a couple more they will be meeting with in trying to get the best price possible. Ms. Neggers said because prices are so volatile and change every day, she was asking the Board to give her, by vote, authority to enter into contract whenever they feel it’s the best time to
do so, otherwise everything would be different by the time a meeting of the Board of Selectmen could be held.
Ms. Neggers said currently the town is paying 10.6¢ per kilowatt and they are looking at dropping that to around 6.4¢ per kilowatt, saving approximately $100,000.00, as we use about 2.8 million kilowatts a year. This will be a fixed rate for three years.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to authorize the Town Administrator to execute a contract for electricity supply for the town buildings. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Goodrich reminded everyone nomination papers are available for anyone seeking to run for an elected office. The papers can be picked up in the Town Clerk’s Office until February 10th and all the papers must be returned by February 13th. Ms. Neggers explained the Clerk’s Office will walk anyone interested through the process. Mr. Goodrich reiterated he will not be seeking another term on the Board of Selectmen, so there is an open seat.
Dr. Smith told Mr. Goodrich he has been an asset to the Board, an asset to the Town, and he will miss having him here. Mr. Goodrich replied he has enjoyed the three years he has been here.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:45 p.m. Mr. Maia made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel – MGL c. 30A, Sec. 21 (2), not to return to open session. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward A. Maia, Clerk
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