BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 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 of November 13, 2012 – open and executive sessions, and October 23, 2012 executive session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Fiscal 2013 Tax Classification Hearing with Board of Assessors:
Principal Assessor Ann Murphy approached the Board and handed the Selectmen packets detailing her presentation on the FY2013 tax classification, as attached.
Ms. Murphy reviewed the comparison sheet with the Board of Selectmen, and went over the three options for the tax classifications.
Ms. Murphy noted the FY2013 residential values are at $580,918,290, which is a difference in favor of $14,121,720 from FY2012. This is mostly due to the rebuilding and repairs of the properties damaged or destroyed by the tornado in 2011. The average home price is $221,387 which is an increase in value of $4,722 from last year. Ms. Murphy explained the average home value is derived by taking the assessed value of all the single family homes and dividing it by the parcel count. The average tax bill for a property with this value is going to increase by $104 for the year.
Ms. Murphy said the commercial value increased $763,000 from FY12, for an increase of $185 on the average commercial property tax bill. Monson’s industrial value has increased by $76,500 with an increase on their average tax bill of $53 for the year.
Ms. Murphy explained Monson’s tax rate went from $14.96 for FY12, to the proposed tax rate of $15.12 for FY 2013, which is an increase of $0.16 on the tax rate.
New growth for FY12 (the total tax dollars raised) was $73,379, and this year it is $327,909, for a difference of $254,530; again due to the building and rebuilding.
After listening to the three tax classification options, Mr. Harrison made a motion to go with the single tax rate for all the categories mentioned, and not to do any special exemptions for small businesses or lesser valued homes. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Home MPG Program Presentation – Christina Peterson, PVPC:
Christina Peterson, the Local Outreach Liaison with Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, approached the Board of Selectmen and handed out a pamphlet, as attached, explaining the Home MPG program, which is an initiative within the Mass Save® Home Energy Services Program. Ms. Peterson noted this program was awarded to only four states within the United States by the Department of Energy; and Massachusetts was one of them. Within Massachusetts, an eight town area around Springfield was chosen for a pilot project to double the incentives of Mass Save®, and give better rebates for a one year period. This program was just started and will continue through September 2013.
Ms. Petersons stated she will be giving a presentation on this program at the Monson Senior Center on December 12th. Ms. Peterson noted pamphlets were handed out last night at the Special Town Meeting to get the word out to residents, and it was suggested Ms. Peterson place information regarding this program on M-PACT, and leave pamphlets in the churches, at the Savings Bank, the Library and with the Rotary Club.
Ms. Peterson explained this program is paid for through the surcharge on everyone’s utilities bill, and said since you have already paid for it, you might as well take advantage of it. There are no income guidelines for anyone wishing to participate in this program and no one will ask you what your income is; everyone is eligible. Anyone interested should call the telephone number in the pamphlet which is 866-527-SAVE (7283), and they will schedule an assessment of your home. An energy assessor will come into your house and do a full audit from basement to attic and then sit down with you to let you know what efficiency he or she thinks could be put together for your house, and recommend contractors. In the case of air sealing and insulation most costs are covered. The auditor will come into your house with all new energy
efficient light bulbs, and will replace every light bulb before they leave.
Mr. Maia stated he had an energy audit done on a property of his by Mass. Save, and instituted all the recommendations; he received $1,000 worth of air sealing at no cost and some other recommendations made at his cost; and his tenants in the building experienced a 20% reduction in their electricity costs and he experienced a 35% reduction in oil usage.
Ms. Peterson said this is a fabulous program and because of this program, Massachusetts was voted the most energy efficient state in the United States for a second year in a row.
The Board of Selectmen thanked Ms. Peterson for coming in.
Regional Dispatch Proposal – Discussion:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and noted both the Towns of Monson and Palmer are building new Police stations. The Town of Hampden is no longer as interested in participating in the Regional Dispatch Center, but the Towns of Ware and Warren are now interested in participating. Chief Kozloski said they have met and had discussions with the Town Administrator, the State 9-1-1 Department and the other communities. The other communities have had a chance to meet in various formats and made decisions on how they might want to proceed forward in this.
Chief Kozloski stated Monson was the successful recipient of a $50,000 grant for the hiring of a Project Manager who will see if a regional dispatch center will be cost effective for the communities, and/or beneficial in increasing efficiency, increasing professionalism, the level of training, etc.; however no action has been taken yet on the hiring of a Project Manager until further discussions are held.
Chief Kozloski said a new state law that went into effect states an Emergency Medical Dispatcher must be provided in the 9-1-1 centers for the guidance over the telephone for emergency calls. The guidance will be from a flip chart and will assist in the specific emergency situations until a First Responder arrives on the scene. Currently Monson has just one dispatcher per shift who is providing assistance from the flip chart on how to best mitigate a scene while they are also dealing with dispatching law enforcement resources, dispatching EMS resources, taking business telephone calls, assisting lobby walk-in traffic, etc. and noted an EMD works best with a minimum of two dispatchers, therefore there is a potential mandate to hire a second dispatcher in order to provide EMD more effectively. Chief Kozloski said this is not an entirely
unfunded mandate, but it is a largely unfunded mandate. Money was made available for the training of this; however there are some continuing educational and training requirements that aren’t fully covered by a grant.
Chief Kozloski stated the dispatch facility would be eligible for a considerable amount of grant funding that is available for infrastructure. Chief Kozloski noted Monson doesn’t have a design yet for the new Police facility or the new Town Office Building as this is still being worked out with the architect and felt if the regional dispatch center is hypothetically housed in the Town of Palmer, he would still advocate for some type of dispatch capability within Monson’s new facility in the event of local disasters, Summerfest, etc., or any type of event where we would still want the ability to dispatch independently from the regional dispatch center. Chief Kozloski noted Palmer has already appropriated enough money in their budget for workstations and space in their new building for the regional center without having to go
back and seek additional money or seek further state money for infrastructure, therefore it would open up that money for technology, computer systems, radio systems, etc.
Chief Kozloski said the staff at a regional dispatch center would have to be very familiar with all the communities and added, in regards to the lock-up issue, our dispatchers are familiar with Palmer’s community and Palmer’s dispatchers are familiar with ours. Chief Kozloski added he is going to advocate for some type of lock-up in our new facility as he wants to provide this service more efficiently. In the Town of Palmer, their dispatchers also monitor their cells and the Town of Ware is the same as is the Town of Warren. Chief Kozloski said he has made some recommendations to the 9-1-1 representatives who were here, etc., about how the lock-up will be handled if dispatchers are moved to another town for the regionalization and wondered if Palmer would want to house prisoners from the other towns or if the
Sheriff would get involved.
Chief Kozloski said another issue would be how the residents of Monson would handle not having a dispatcher at the window who they could speak with locally face-to-face, and wondered if they would be willing to come into the lobby and pick up a telephone or video phone that rings to the dispatch center in Palmer who would then dispatch a Police Officer to the lobby to take a report.
Chief Kozloski noted there are a couple of different ways the costs would be divided up amongst the four communities based on the current uses of the system, the number of business calls logged per year, the number of 9-1-1 calls logged per year, and possibly population. All the calls, business and 9-1-1, would go directly to the regional dispatch center, but you would still need to have both an administrative assistant and a Police Chief present locally during the day.
Chief Kozloski said he was the chosen person to be responsible for applying for and managing the grants and it was discussed with the 9-1-1 department and agreed if Palmer is going to house the regional dispatch center instead of Monson, the $50,000 grant for soliciting for a Project Manager who would start implementing the things to be done and working for all of the communities involved, would be turned over to them.
Chief Kozloski noted the Emergency Operation Center for emergencies such as the tornado, would be separate from the Police Dispatch Center in Monson’s new facility as you wouldn’t want the phones ringing along with the radio traffic, but added they are advocating for an EOC in the new facility as well.
Ms. Neggers said some of the next steps would be to draft an inter-municipal agreement for approval at a town meeting.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to move forward with the pursuit of the regionalization of the Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatch Center just described for the Town of Monson in support of continuing our endeavor. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Award Design Contract to Kaestle Boos Associates Inc. for 110 Main Street Building Project:
Ms. Neggers said this was presented at the Board of Selectmen’s last meeting by John Goodrich II on behalf of the Building Committee.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. of New Britain Conn. as the designer of the 110 Main Street building. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Approve Monson Participation in Regional Community Innovation Challenge Grant for Storm Water Management Activities:
Ms. Neggers explained a large group of towns located in Central Mass. were successful in obtaining a regional grant application for storm water management last year. This year they are applying again for a $200,000 grant, and both the Town of Palmer and the Town of Monson are expressing an interest in participating in this. This is available through the EPA federal mandate for storm water management.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve Monson’s participation in the Regional Community Innovation Challenge Grant for Storm Water Management activities as discussed. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
New Fire Chief:
Mr. Maia noted a vote is needed to approve the contract with the new Fire Chief Laurent McDonald for the Town of Monson, pursuant to the terms agreed upon at the November 13, 2012 meeting in executive session.
Dr. Smith made a motion to approve the contract for Laurent McDonald. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Laurent McDonald as Monson’s Fire Chief effective December 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to have Interim Fire Chief Marshall Harris continue through the end of next week, December 7, 2012 to assist the new Chief. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Ms. Neggers explained the Fire Department received a federal grant for an exhaust system for the garage which required a match. A donation was made to the Gifts to the Town by H & L Builders for $3,200 to provide the match. Ms. Neggers and Mr. Maia thanked H & L Builders for providing the grant match.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve $3,200 from the Gifts to the Town Account for the Fire Department exhaust system grant match. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers said correspondence was received from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission regarding our pre-disaster mitigation plan which is on file, but it is five years old and needs to be up-dated. The PVPC is offering to provide the update service and required an in-kind or cash donation of $1,800 as a match. Disaster Recovery Manager Dan Laroche pursued this and PVPC will accept an in-kind of Dan Laroche’s services to meet the $1,800.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to participate in the PVPC’s pre-disaster hazard mitigation planning program. Dr. Smith seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Ms. Neggers announced the Monson Developmental Center Reuse Committee will hold a public forum next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in this room. The public is invited to attend the forum to voice their opinion on what they do and what they don’t want there.
- Ms. Neggers announced the Replanting Monson Tree Committee is selling live little undecorated Christmas trees for $10 and $15. Anyone interested can email them at monsontreecommittee@gmail.com to place an order.
At 8:25 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the discussion of non-union bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 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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