BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 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. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for April 24, 2012 – open session. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Pole Petition #12594234 – Install one JO Pole on Ely Road:
Mr. Harrison read pole petition #12594234 into the record. Both the Highway and Water/Sewer Departments had no objections with the pole location. There wasn’t anyone in the audience to speak for or against the pole petition.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve pole petition #12594234 as presented. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Tornado Relay Run – June 2nd – Discussion with Sponsors:
Deborah Williams approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Williams explained this is a hilly and challenging 57 mile run on all paved roads taking the path of the tornado, starting in Monson and finishing in Charlton, and staying off State highways. One hundred percent of the proceeds, after expenses, will be equally divided between the five towns affected by the tornado.
Mr. Harrison asked about the police coverage.
Ms. Williams responded they cannot close the roads. They are capped at 50 teams, with 300 runners. They will be starting at 6:00 a.m. with a staggered start time with the slower teams starting first, and then the faster teams, with everyone finishing at about the same time. They have spoken with the Police Departments in each town and 26 officers will be on the course between Brimfield and Monson. Ms. Williams noted so far none of the Police Departments have asked for money or charged them, and said some auxiliary funds have come in from Sturbridge. There will also be eight medics on the course, as well as port-a-potties.
Ms. Williams said she would like to use Memorial Hall for the restrooms and for sign up, only at the beginning of the run from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Ms. Williams added she would like to start setting-up at about 4:30 a.m.
Ms. Neggers said she has corresponded with Richard Guertin about the availability of Memorial Hall, and noted it is available. The night before the run, Memorial Hall will be used for the Tornado Remembrance Ceremony.
Ms. Neggers explained the parking at Memorial Hall is very limited because of the Fire Station. Ms. Williams said at any given time there wouldn’t be more than 20 cars parked there. Ms. Williams agreed to keep the big area behind Memorial Hall open and to park on the street and at the gazebo.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the project as described. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Town-Wide Tag Sale – Discussion:
Joan Simmons, representing Boy Scout Troop 168, approached the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Simmons said the Town Wide Tag Sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 1st, which is on Labor Day weekend. Ms. Simmons said her Boy Scout Troop, who is in charge of the Town Wide Tag Sale for the second year now, would like the use of the gazebo to sell the maps out of, as they have done in the past, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., setting up at 7:30 a.m.
Mr. Maia made a motion to approve the use of the gazebo for the Town Wide Tag Sale on Saturday September 1st, Labor Day weekend, as requested. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Monson Rotary Club – Regarding Citizen of the Year and Use of Dave Grieve Park:
Mike O’Grady, representing the Monson Rotary Club, approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. O’Grady explained the Rotary Club has the privilege of soliciting nominees for the Citizen of the Year from local clubs, organizations, and citizens. This year the Rotary’s decision from all the nominees, with the circumstances of last year being so singular, so dramatic, and so unique, felt it only fitting and appropriate to recognize and honor all volunteers that collectively aided in recovery efforts from the tornado that devastated Monson on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Therefore the Rotary Club of Monson has chosen for its annual award “Volunteers of the Year, 2012”.
Mr. O’Grady read the attached letter of their decision into the record.
Mr. O’Grady stated the Monson Rotary Club would like permission to place a permanent Monson granite stone, donated by the Bailey family, which is 28 inches by 28 inches by 18 inches high, inscribed to honor those who volunteered, in Dave Grieve Park. The Rotary Club would like to hold the dedication at their August “Summer Concert” series on August 21, 2012. Free food and beverages will be provided by the Monson Rotary Club to those in attendance.
Mr. O’Grady said they are thinking of placing the stone in the general area of the center front, about 6 feet back from the sidewalk.
Mr. Maia made a motion to approve the placing of the stone in Dave Grieve Park and for the ceremony on August 21, 2012. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Rebuild Western MA PVPC Representative – Incentives Available for Town Office Building and Residential Construction:
Catherine Ratté, Principal Planner/Section Manager from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Ratté explained there is funding from Rebuild Western Mass. for residents whose property was damaged in the tornado which fills the gap from basic rebuilding to energy efficient rebuilding. The deadline is June 30th for submitting the application for reimbursement.
Ms. Neggers said she has heard from residents who have seen or heard about the paperwork, that it is too daunting and that it’s not worth it.
Ms. Ratté said she would be happy to assist anyone or even to have someone come to the Town Office Building for a day for a drop-in to assist residents with filling out the forms. Also there is an 800 number that residents can call for assistance with filling out the paperwork. Ms. Neggers said the 800 number is on the Town’s website.
Ms. Ratté noted she has been in conversation with the Department of Energy Resources and the Clean Energy Center regarding funding that was put into an account to be used only for tornado affected communities, which isn’t being taken advantage of. Ms. Ratté said they have been in conversation about trying to shift a significant portion of the funds over to the Town of Monson, if the Town decides to move forward with a high performance building to replace the Town Offices and Police Station. Since this is underway right now, they don’t have a firm commitment yet.
Ms. Ratté noted a high performance green building is designed and constructed to use a minimum of 25% less energy.
The Board of Selectmen thanked Ms. Ratté for coming in.
Disaster Recovery Status:
a. Update on Town Office Building Project
b. Update on Federal Highway Reimbursement – Tornado
c. Visioning Process – Next Meeting – 05/30/2012
d. Update on October Storm FEMA Reimbursement Status
a. Ms. Neggers reminded residents the Town Office Building will be going for a vote at the Town Meting on whether or not to go for debt exclusion for $3.4 million and noted this will be a two-step process if approved. If the appropriation is approved at the Town Meeting, the second step will be a separate ballot question in June on passing the debt exclusion.
Ms. Neggers noted all the information on the Town Office Building is posted on the Town’s web site under the Town Offices/Police Department link on the left hand side of the Town’s home page.
Ms. Neggers noted the Town Offices cannot stay in the Hillside Building as the building has a number of serious issues as well, and there isn’t enough room for the Police Station.
b. Ms. Neggers said the Town did receive the Federal Highway contract from Mass DOT, which was for roughly $20,000 less than originally anticipated. The contract has been signed and returned. The remainder of the funds will be funded at the Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting, with an article on the warrant to appropriate approximately $156,000 to pay the remainder of the expenses on the tornado.
c. Ms. Neggers noted the next Visioning meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30th, at 6:30 p.m.
Ms. Neggers said at the Visioning sessions which began in September, they have been discussing Monson’s recovery, talking about downtown revitalization, long term changes to our regulations in the zoning bylaws, the Master Plan recommendations, open space and recreation recommendations, and revising those plans. Ms. Neggers said they are now beginning to release their final ideas of what should be included in those plans and some visuals will be brought forward. Ms. Neggers encouraged everyone to attend.
d. Ms. Neggers said Town Finance Director Deborah Mahar met today with FEMA representatives regarding the October storm.
Banner Request by the Monson Arts Council:
Dr. Smith said the Monson Arts Council is requesting permission to hang a banner across Main Street from May 15th to May 20th. It was noted these dates are available.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the request for the banner as presented. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Dr. Smith noted the State issued a Press Release regarding monies available for the tornado, and Monson was named specifically with funds in the amount of $65,000 earmarked specifically for hiring a Rebuild Manager.
Mr. Maia added the State has said they will provide the funds for this one year position.
Dr. Smith noted, Ms. Neggers mentioned at a previous meeting she has a long list of things she needs to get done in regards to the tornado recovery that she hasn’t had the time or specific knowledge to do. Dr. Smith said he whole heartedly supports taking the funds to hire a Disaster Recovery Manager, allowing Ms. Neggers to do her normal job.
The Board of Selectmen agreed the money was given for this purpose and that is what it should be used for.
Ms. Neggers explained there was some misunderstanding when people first began hearing about that and said Monson is not done recovering from the tornado, a long term recovery process takes three to five years to recover from a catastrophic event such as the town experienced and somebody needs to work that in a more comprehensive way. It takes someone who is devoted to it in a governmental level, intergrading all of the components of the recovery into one plan. Ms. Neggers added this is not taking away from people who need still, it’s to help them meet those needs better.
Mr. Harrison added, this person is important not only to assist on an individual level, but on a community level as well and said this is money well spent. Mr. Harrison noted if done properly this will create funds as the sources for money is a daunting task to apply for it, it takes additional support to apply for it, and felt this was a tremendous opportunity we got from the state.
Mr. Maia said if we get the right candidate in the position, he feels the $65,000 is going to get paid back tenfold to the survivors of the tornado.
- Dr. Smith reminded the listening audience the Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. in Granite Valley Middle School.
Mr. Maia suggested putting the message board out over the weekend announcing the Town Meeting.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:25 p.m., Mr. Maia made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss non-contractual strategy – MGL c.30A, Sec.21 (2), not to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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