BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 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, Edward A. Maia and Edward S. Harrison. 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 April 17, 2012 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant – Close Annual Town Meeting Warrant:
Mr. Harrison read the list of articles for placement on the annual Town meeting warrant into the record, as attached.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place the four articles for the Water and Sewer Department on the annual Town meeting warrant as requested. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Maia made a motion to place the bylaws discussed at last weeks meeting on the Town meeting warrant. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED. (These bylaws are attached to the meeting minutes for last week).
Mr. Harrison read the warrant article request into the record, to raise and appropriate $3,435,000.00 contingent upon the Town’s approval, as attached.
Mr. Maia made a motion to place the aforementioned article on the annual Town meeting warrant. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to close the annual Town meeting warrant. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Disaster Recovery Status
a. Update on Town Office Building Project
b. Update on Federal Highway Reimbursement – Tornado
c. Visioning Process – Next Meeting – 04/25/2012
d. Update on October Storm FEMA Reimbursement Status
Ms. Neggers explained a link has been created on the left-hand side of the Town’s web site titled “Town Office/Police Station Documents”. This link contains the slideshow of pictures taken inside the Town Office Building at 110 Main Street showing the destruction following the tornado. Also posted on the link, is the insurance company settlement offer, the detailed repair estimate collaboration report and repair cost estimates, the proposal for technical assistance from B2Q, the space study for the Town offices and the Police Department, the facility summary report, and Ms. Neggers is working on frequently asked questions and answers, which will also be posted there.
Ms. Neggers said she will be going into the building at 110 Main Street with M-PACT to create a virtual tour. The video will be shown on the public access channel, allowing residents to get a visual impact of the damages that were sustained in the tornado. The video will also highlighting some of the deficiencies inside the building the insurance money will not cover as it wasn’t caused by the tornado, such as code issues in the boiler room. These deficiencies would still have to be repaired.
Ms. Neggers noted the Hillside building is a 55 year old school building, and the 110 Main Street building is an even older school building at 100 years old. Both buildings have structural issues as well as mechanical issues. Ms. Neggers noted if it weren’t for the tornado severely damaging the 110 Main Street building, the town wouldn’t be seeking a new building.
Ms. Neggers explained two debt schedules. One debt schedule is 3.25% for 15 years with an impact on the tax rate of 47¢ for the first year, sliding down every year and reaching 32¢ at year 15. The debt exclusion override to the average home would be about $102.00 for the first year, sliding down to $70.00 at year 15, minus $63 for the high school refinance in the first year for an increased total of about $39 net. The second debt schedule is for 20 years at 4.50%, which is $99 for the first year, sliding down to $53 at year 20, but also ends up costing the town another $600,000 in interest over the 20 year span.
Dr. Smith said his personal opinion is, instead of repairing the building and still having some of the infrastructure being one hundred years old, for $3.4 million we can get a brand new building. If it wasn’t for the tornado, and that building had to be replaced, it would cost $10.3 million. Therefore, essentially we’re getting a $10 million building for $3.4 million that will be much more energy efficient, saving money, for only $39 net, on average per year.
Mr. Harrison added we will also be getting a Police Station that is updated from what we have today, where we don’t have any holding cells, or sally port, where someone who is being arrested won’t be able to get to the public.
Ms. Neggers said residents should check the link on the town’s web site regularly, as it will be updated whenever new information is received.
Ms. Neggers said the town should have the energy savings figures on May 11th to bring to the Town Meeting.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Ms. Neggers reiterated the second workshop will be held tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the downtown area open space, neighborhoods, walkability, and to hold a community discussion to identify strategies to move these forward.
- It was announced the Replanting Monson Tree Committee will be planting over 175 trees on Saturday. Anyone interested in volunteering should be at Quarry Hill Elementary School on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with their shovel.
- Ms. Neggers said the Tornado Relief Fund Committee is in the process of finalizing Part B of the application. This should be completed by next week and everyone receiving checks should receive them prior to the June 1st tornado anniversary date. Ms. Neggers thanked the committee for all of their work.
- Also in other business to come before the Board of Selectmen, Ms. Neggers said Finance Director Deborah Mahar is requesting, the Board of Selectmen request from the Board of Assessors, the release of overlay levy from 2004 to 2010 into an overlay surplus account.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to request the Board of Assessors to release any available levy from the overlay in the years 2004 through 2010. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:35 P.M, Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss non-union contractual strategy – MGL c.30A, Sec. 21 (2), not to return to open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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