BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 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 Edward A. Maia, Dr. Richard M. Smith 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 October 9, 2012 – open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Discussion with Monson Arts Council Re: Memorial Hall Use and Craft Fair Parking:
Memorial Hall/House of Art liaison Richard Guertin approached the Board of Selectmen; President of the Arts Council Tod Beall was in the audience.
Ms. Neggers explained there are two issues pertaining to Memorial Hall; one issue is the parking. When unloading or loading vehicles for the craft fair; people have to either park in the driveway, which makes it hard for the fire emergency vehicles coming in and going out, or park on the brick sidewalk, which can’t support the weight of the vehicles. The second issue is the condition of Memorial Hall itself as the Monson Arts Council has taken over the entire building for storage and building sets. Ms. Neggers also noted the town doesn’t have keys or access to the House of Art, or the alarm code, and explained this is a town owned building.
Ms. Neggers showed pictures of the areas of the brick sidewalk and the inside of Memorial Hall to the Board of Selectmen and the listening public. Ms. Neggers said she was in the building today and feels the areas allowed to be used by the Monson Arts Council need to be defined more clearly.
Mr. Guertin approached the Board of Selectmen and noted he was here to represent the parking and that Mr. Beall was here to represent the inside use.
Mr. Guertin explained he has been involved with the Arts Council for about twenty years; coordinating the craft fair for the last twelve years. Mr. Guertin suggested having the Highway Department cut away some of the grass on the left hand side as you go down the driveway, to allow more spaces for parking, that won’t impede traffic using the driveway.
The Board of Selectmen agreed they wouldn’t want to change the grassy area for just a once a year event.
Dr. Smith said he would rather see parking spots painted off in the driveway for a drop off area; and added this would have to be taken up with the new Fire Chief.
Mr. Guertin said he could make it work with the parking spaces out in the front and with half of the driveway.
Interim Fire Chief Marshall Harris was in the audience and said over the past years he’s noticed if you allow two people to park there, there’s going to be ten.
Mr. Maia suggested marking the current parking spaces a loading/unloading zone only, and once they are unloaded/loaded they move their vehicles.
Mr. Maia explained a quote of $12,590.00 was received to reinforce the bricks in the sidewalk so they could be driven on. This was for a 21foot by 91/2 foot brick section, and it was agreed this isn’t going to happen.
Mr. Guertin suggested installing granite posts so the bricks can’t be driven on, as he felt he could police the sidewalk during the craft fair, but noted the building is used for other functions when no one is patrolling the parking.
Mr. Maia noted the installation of posts was discussed at the last meeting.
Mr. Guertin noted in past years they were allowed to use the brick pathway closest to the building, allowing two vehicles at a time to unload or load; and they could park on one side of the driveway. Mr. Guertin said when Fire Chief Robichaud took over; he wasn’t comfortable with any parking in the driveway at all, so that stopped. Now they are told they can’t park on the sidewalk because the bricks are sinking, causing a hazard for people walking on the uneven sidewalk.
The Board of Selectmen agreed to revisit this at the next meeting, allowing time to get input by the Police and Fire Chiefs.
Ms. Neggers said James Finnegan is going to make temporary repairs to the brick sidewalk for several hundred dollars, making it safe for pedestrians; this will be completed prior to the craft fair.
Ms. Neggers explained Memorial Hall was built in 1885 as a memorial to the towns civil war veterans with funds from private residents, primarily Joseph Reynolds. The pictures in Ms. Neggers presentation showed various items belonging to the Arts Council in every room on the first floor, as well as throughout the entire basement.
Mr. Harrison said the pictures showed a “God awful mess” and felt the Arts Council needed to find another location to build their sets, and then bring them in to use for the plays.
Mr. Maia noted Memorial Hall isn’t a storage facility, and added there are too many combustibles stored in the basement for a building without a sprinkler system, and felt the Arts Council was taking advantage of the space.
Ms. Neggers said originally the Arts Council was allowed one room on the first floor on the right hand side for storage, and the use of the auditorium for the craft fair and plays.
Mr. Maia felt the town should go back to allowing the Arts Council the use of the one aforementioned room for costumes and storage and the use of the auditorium for the plays and craft fair, and have the Arts Council remove all their stuff in the other rooms and basement, including all of the paint and combustibles.
The Board agreed whoever uses Memorial Hall should clean it up after it is used, returning it to the condition it was in prior to their event.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed the Monson Arts Council should remove all of their stuff on the main floor two weeks after the last performance, with an additional two weeks to clean out the basement.
Mr. Beall said Reed Coles could provide the Selectmen with a key to the House of Art as well as the security code.
Fire Chief Selection:
The Board of Selectmen agreed all of the candidates were qualified. After a brief discussion the Board agreed, with Laurent McDonald’s education, management experience, and background, he could bring professionalism to the department, helping it go to the next level.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to extend an offer to Laurent McDonald as the Fire Chief of Monson and to enter into contract negotiations and background check. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
The Board thanked all the applicants who applied for the position.
Set Special Town Meeting Warrant:
Ms. Neggers explained the articles to be placed on the Special Town Meeting warrant, scheduled for Monday, November 26th, as attached.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to place onto the Town Meeting warrant of November 26, 2012 the seventeen articles just described by Ms. Neggers. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Appoint Tamara Cabey – Monson Developmental Center Reuse Committee:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Tamara Cabey to the Monson Developmental Center Reuse Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2013. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Request for “Gifts to the Town” Expenditure – Disaster Recovery Manager Expenses and Emergency Management Director Expenses:
Ms. Neggers explained the grant received for the Disaster Recovery Manager covers only his salary and benefits. The grant does not cover any of his office expenses such as his telephone line, etc.
Ms. Neggers requested $1,000 from the Gifts to the Town Account to cover the office expenses for the Disaster Recovery Manager; as well as $500 for the Emergency Management Director for office expenses, meetings and trainings he attends.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appropriate from the Gifts to the Town Account the sum of $1,000 for the Disaster Recovery Manager’s expenses, and the sum of $500 for the Emergency Management Director’s expenses. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Harrison made a motion to release the Chapter 61 lease on the Quinlan Land Trust on property located at 127 Reimers Road. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Rachel Little to the Emergency Management Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2013. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers noted a public forum will be held this Thursday, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Conference Room in the Hillside Building at 29 Thompson Street to give residents an opportunity to discuss their vision for the downtown public places damaged by last year’s tornado. Ms. Neggers said the forum will be led by the Disaster Recovery Manager Dan Laroche and will set the foundation for an event at the Architecture Boston Expo on November 15th, in which Monson’s tornado-damaged downtown will be discussed; the Expo is free and open to everyone.
At 8:40 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy – pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A Sec. 21 (3) and to discuss non-union bargaining strategy – pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A Sec. 21 (2), not to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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