BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 6:00 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 was Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers. Mr. Maia made a motion to go into executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss complaints or charges against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual – MGL c.30A, Sec. 21 (1). Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED. At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Maia made a motion to adjourn from executive session to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED. The media was now present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Maia made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for June 12, 2012 – open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Joint Meeting with Monson School Committee to Fill a Vacancy on the School Committee:
School Committee members Jeffrey Lord, Peter Sauriol, Joshua Farber, and Joel Keller approached the Board of Selectmen.
The joint meeting was opened at 7:05 p.m.
Dr. Smith explained the vacancy on the School Committee resulted with the resignation of Holly Battige.
Two candidates applied to fill the vacancy on the School Committee; Lisa Jalbert and Pam McCauley.
Ms. Jalbert approached the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee first. Ms. McCauley was interviewed second. Each candidate explained their background and answered a series of questions asked by both the Selectmen and the School Committee.
Mr. Maia commended both candidates for volunteering to fill this vacancy.
Mr. Harrison explained next June there will be another opening on the School Committee giving the candidate not chosen tonight another opportunity to serve on this committee. Mr. Harrison stated he hopes whoever is chosen will run for re-election next year.
Following the interviews, Mr. Lord made a motion to appoint Lisa Jalbert as the new School Committee member.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Joel Keller – Aye Joshua Farber – No Peter Sauriol – Aye
Mr. Maia – Aye Dr. Smith – No Mr. Harrison – No
With Mr. Lord’s motion, Lisa Jalbert was appointed to the one year position.
Mr. Farber made a motion to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. Mr. Sauriol seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Full-Time Police Officer:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen with Officer Nestor Santos. Mr. Santos explained his background.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Nestor Santos as a full-time Police officer contingent upon his completion of physical and psychiatric exams; through June 30, 2013. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Disaster Recovery Manager – Interview of Finalists:
Ms. Neggers reiterated the State has awarded the town a $65,000 grant to hire a full-time Disaster Recovery Manager to assist in the town’s projects that are on-going as part of the recovery effort, particularly in the long term recovery phase which we are currently in.
The position was advertised with ten to twelve people applying. Ms. Neggers said she interviewed six candidates and brought the top three here tonight to be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen. The top three are Darcy Conner, Daniel Laroche and Mary Roy.
The three approached the Board of Selectmen individually in the above order and explained their backgrounds and answered the same series of questions from the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Maia made a motion to award the Disaster Recovery Manager’s position to Daniel Laroche based upon his experience, responses to the questions and his resume.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Harrison – Aye Mr. Maia – Aye Dr. Smith – No
Daniel Laroche was appointed to the one year position as Monson’s Disaster Recovery Manager.
PVPC – Monson Center – Visioning Results:
Larry Smith from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Neggers explained Mr. Smith is one of a number of individuals who have been working with the Town on the visioning process. Ms. Neggers stressed these are conceptual discussions.
Mr. Smith explained the process and said much of his presentation tonight is a result of the workshops and survey. Mr. Smith read a list of what the residents would like to see in the downtown area.
Town Clerk Nancy Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen to announce the result of the ballot question voted on by the residents today for the debt exclusion override. Ms. Morrell stated 694 residents voted – yes and 472 residents voted – no. The debt exclusion override to approve funding for a new Town office building/Police facility passed.
Ms. Neggers thanked the voters who voted.
Mr. Smith resumed his lengthy presentation explaining three concepts, along with short term and long term possibilities.
The Board thanked Mr. Smith for coming in.
Complete Reappointments – Effective July 1, 2012:
Mr. Harrison read and made a motion to re-appointment the individuals on the attached list. Mr. Maia seconded and it was so VOTED.
Disaster Recovery Status:
- Ms. Neggers said the Town has received word that Monson was not successful in receiving the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant for the Housing Rehabilitation Program for FY2012. Ms. Neggers added Housing Rehab funds were awarded regionally and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is administering them. The PVPC has mailed individual packets of information out to each of the 60 families on the waiting list.
- Ms. Neggers said Monson did receive the Federal Highway money and in the third week in July, Monson will be audited by them.
Review Reynolds Avenue Street Light Request:
Ms. Neggers said both the Police and Fire Chiefs have said they would be in favor of having the streetlight on pole #4 on Reynolds Avenue restored.
It was noted the Selectmen’s packets for tonight’s meeting contain a letter from a resident objecting to having the light turned back on as his bedrooms are in the front of the house and he said the street light shines in his windows. Ms. Neggers asked if the light is approved to be turned on tonight, to have a shield installed. It was also noted a petition was received awhile back signed by several residents in favor of having the street light restored.
Ms. Neggers said she would have Gaylin work on having the street light on pole #4 turned back on with a shield installed if approved tonight, and to check on why the street light on Reynolds Avenue on pole #9 by Valley View Heights, which the town is currently paying for, isn’t working.
Mr. Maia made a motion to re-install the street light on pole #4 located on Reynolds Avenue and ask Gaylin to request the light be shielded. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
Mr. Harrison announced the Keep Homestead Museum will host an old fashion ice cream social and Elm tree dedication on Sunday, July 1st from noon to 3:3 0 p.m.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 9:55 p.m., Mr. Maia made a motion to adjourn from open session to return to executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy – MGL c. 30A, Sec. 21 (3) and non-union 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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