BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 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 of February 14, 2012 – open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
MassSupport Network Outreach in Monson:
Representatives from the Mass Support Network Outreach program, Mary Jane Foley and Shaylin Deignan approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Deignan explained the MassSupport Network program is a FEMA funded crisis counseling program managed by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Network Inc., the Bridge of Central Massachusetts and Riverside Trauma Center. Ms. Deignan noted they are going door-to-door to see how families are coping. MassSupport offers education and referrals related to self-care, stress management and coping skills to those affected by the June 1 tornado.
Ms. Deignan said over three hundred families in Monson applied for FEMA assistance, and that is why MassSupport is here. They have been checking with the families to see how they are doing and if they feel stressed and/or overwhelmed by the disaster. They are not asking for any money and they do have photo identification.
Anyone with questions or needing assistance may call MassSupport at 855-915-8047 and leave their name, telephone number and town they are from and they will call them back within 24 hours, or email them at tleader@riversidecc.org. Ms. Foley said MassSupport will be around through July 31st.
Ms. Foley said they have worked with Lori Stacy and the Long Term Recovery Group as well as the Street Angels. They have spoken with the School Counselors a few times, but Ms. Foley said the schools are handling the support on their own. Ms. Deignan said they did tell the schools if they needed any assistance to let her know. Mr. Goodrich suggested they try reaching out to the schools again to remind them MassSupport is still here.
Ms. Foley said they have done training with some of the volunteer groups and they plan on continuing with that. A group counseling session has been set up at the United Methodist Church; this is non-religious and for all Monson residents, every Wednesday except the first Wednesday of every month, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. People may come and join in to share a story or to just sit and listen to others.
Ms. Neggers suggested reaching out to the Boy and Girl Scout Leaders, PTSA, Rotary Club and using some of the groups in town as conduits to distribute information about the services they have available.
Ms. Neggers said recently she met with the leadership of the volunteer groups. The group had concerns for people working in towns and with the recovery process as they are fatigued as well, after putting their lives on hold to work hard to help others. It was felt they might be in need of some counseling due to disaster fatigue.
Ms. Foley said the first meeting held at the Methodist Church a couple of weeks ago was for the volunteer groups, to tell them what they need to do to keep themselves in an emotional healthy place and what to watch for, as there are signs indicating when they might need to take a step back.
Ms. Neggers asked if they have reached out to the contractors who are overwhelmed with their work loads trying to help people, people working at banks dealing with customers who are refinancing houses that was destroyed and who have lost everything, people working in medical care facilities, town employees and insurance workers as this doesn’t just encompass the volunteer groups who have been very dedicated and very active, the effects are community wide.
Ms. Foley replied no, they haven’t even thought of those groups of people as being affected, but thought that was an excellent point and agreed to try to reach out to them.
The Board thanked Ms. Foley and Ms. Deignan for coming in.
Hearing on Petition for Change of Manager – Polish American Citizens Club:
Treasurer for the Polish American Citizens Club Richard Cordner and Elected Bar Manager Laymon Via approached the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Goodrich noted there aren’t any pending issues, nor is he aware of any past issues, at the Polish American Citizens Club.
Mr. Via said he is aware of the legal responsibilities in being named as the bar manager on the license, and is in the process of learning the TIP’s course steps right now.
Mr. Maia made a motion to change the manager from Stanley Klisiewicz to Laymon Thomas Via at the Polish American Citizens Club located at 7 Bliss Street, pending no kick backs from the A.B.C.C. in Boston. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Cordner noted the change of Officers has been filed.
Hearing on Application for Entertainment License – The Quarry Tavern:
Shaun and Meghan Allen approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Neggers noted the prior establishment located at 216 Main Street, also had an entertainment license for the same items.
Ms. Neggers asked Mr. Allen if he was aware of the concerns expressed in the past by the abutters due to the noise from the establishment, particularly in the summer months when the doors and windows are left open, as it is located in a residential area.
Ms. Allen said it’s a decibel issue and they are aware of how to keep that in control. Mr. Allen added he knows he has to be respectful of the residential properties around there and the first thing he wants to do once he opens is introduce himself to the abutters and establish a relationship and dialog with them.
Mr. Goodrich said he commends Mr. Allen for his efforts in moving his project forward and his plans to be very active with the abutters.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the entertainment license application as submitted. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Goodrich made a motion to approve the request for one pool table, one automatic amusement license for a video machine and one pinball machine. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Disaster Recovery Status
a. Approve Borrowing for Portion of Costs of October Snowstorm
b. Any Update on Town Office Building Status
- Ms. Neggers noted Mr. Morrell sent a letter to the Board stating all the vegetative debris from Storm Alfred has been removed and disposed of from the public ways in town as of February 22, 2012. Mr. Morrell has forwarded all pertinent information to Ms. Mahar for reimbursement from FEMA
- Ms. Neggers said Finance Director Deborah Mahar and Town Treasurer Cristina Pedro have been working with the Department of Revenue. Ms. Neggers noted the town needs to borrow $2.5 million to pay some bills for the October Snowstorm. This is the first of two borrowings.
Mr. Maia made the following motion: I, the Clerk of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Monson, Massachusetts, certify that at a meeting of the board held on February 28, 2012, of which meeting all members of the board were duly notified and at which a quorum was present, the following vote was unanimously passed, which vote appears on the official record of the board in my custody:
Voted: that in accordance with General Laws Chapter 44, Section 8(9) there is
Authorized and approved the borrowing of $2,500,000.00 to pay emergency
Appropriations associated with the Town’s response to the October Snow Storm,
Which are described in Exhibit A.
Further Voted: that each member of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator, the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer are authorized to take any and all such
actions, and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing vote.
I further certify that the above described votes were taken at a meeting open to the public, that no vote was taken by secret ballot, that a notice stating the place, date, time and agenda for the meeting (which agenda included the adoption of the above votes) was filed with the Town Clerk and a copy thereof posted in a manner conspicuously visible to the public at all hours in or on the municipal building that the office of the Town Clerk is located or, if applicable, in accordance with an alternative method of notice prescribed or approved by the Attorney General as set forth in 940 CMR 29.03 (2)(b), at least 48 hours, not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, prior to the time of the meeting and remained so posted at the time of the meeting, that no deliberations or decision in connection with the subject
matter of the votes were taken in executive session, all in accordance with General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 18-25. Mr. Goodrich seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Karen King approached the Board of Selectmen to provide an up-date on the Anniversary Committee. Ms. King explained they held their first meeting last week and noticed the High School graduation is going to be held on June 1st, the same day as the anniversary of the tornado. Ms. King said she is on the agenda for tomorrow night to speak with the School Committee to ask them if the graduation could be changed. Ms. King said the committee felt it was important to bring it before the Selectmen to see what their thoughts were on having something on the first.
Mr. Goodrich questioned since the 1st is on a Friday, would it be more conducive to have the anniversary recognition events on Saturday, the 2nd.
Ms. King said the Anniversary Committee and everyone they have spoken to feel the actual anniversary of the tornado will be the best time for the remembrance ceremony. The event will be called “Monson Past, Present and Future”. It’s planned to start the ceremony at 4:30 p.m. with a slide show presentation showing the town before and after the tornado hit, which is about 4:50-4:55 p.m.; the actual ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. after a moment of silence is held at the time the tornado passed through town; they will remember the loss and the moving forward in a positive way; have a gathering of the clergy; have representatives speak on behave of all the first responders, volunteers and government officials; and end with a slide show. Ms. King said the Anniversary Committee was thinking of holding the
remembrance at Granite Valley Middle School in the auditorium.
Ms. Neggers noted graduation is going to be held at the High School. Ms. Neggers said a fairly significant media focus is anticipated on the community on the anniversary date of June 1st, and the concern is last years graduation was challenging enough, but the media focus will go right into that graduation and it’s going to be overwhelming. Out of respect for the graduates, Ms. Neggers agreed on not trying to blend the graduation with the tornado anniversary, as she indicated it would be an unfortunate distraction from the success the young students have, and moving forward in their lives.
Mr. Maia said ultimately it is going to be the School Departments decision, but felt if the decision came with the support of the Selectmen, it might help.
Mr. Goodrich said he is concerned with the timeframe and the short notice on trying to change graduation when Thursday is March 1st and graduation is set for June 1st and a lot of planning and arrangements have begun in preparation for graduation. Mr. Goodrich also agreed it would be for the School Committee to make any decisions. Mr. Goodrich said he feels the seniors that are graduating have trudged through this year and they have fulfilled their accomplishments, overcoming the obstacles placed before them, and they’ve been planning all year on graduating on June 1st, and they’ve earned the opportunity to do so.
Mr. Goodrich added there is an equal opportunity as to why the graduation should continue on June 1st as well as against it, and explained a lot of kids were effected by the change last year due to the tornado and the graduation of brothers, sisters, relatives or friends, as Monson is a small community.
Dr. Smith said it makes more sense to hold the Anniversary events on June 1st. Mr. Maia noted personally the Anniversary Committee has his support; however it was agreed unanimously the request has to go to the School Department.
- Ms. King said 80 applications have been received for part B on the distribution of
funds donated to the Town to assist tornado victims. The fund has $310,000 in it right now and money is still coming in.
- Ms. Neggers said the insurance company is finalizing a number on the Town
Office Building and she would like the approval from the Board to contact a couple of architectural firms who have done proposals in the past to see what a replacement building would cost, just an estimate with the basic square footage, to develop a number to bring back to the town’s people. Ms. Neggers added she is hoping to have that number for the Selectmen’s next meeting. The Board agreed unanimously for Ms. Neggers to do this.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:10 p.m., Mr. Goodrich 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. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
____________________________
Edward A. Maia, Clerk
| 
