BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 6:15 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 was Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers. Dr. Smith made a motion to go into executive session at 6:15 p.m. for a discussion of non-union bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 30A (2). Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED. At 7:00 p.m. Dr. Smith 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. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 23 and May 14, 2013 – executive sessions and May 28, 2013 - open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Termination of Police Officer:
Mr. Maia said a letter addressed to the Board of Selectmen was received from Police Chief Stephen Kozloski. It was a recommendation dated June 4, 2013 to terminate probationary Officer Nestor Santos, as his performance and /or suitability for police work has not been satisfactory.
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the Chief’s recommendation for termination of probationary Officer Nestor Santos. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Highway Surveyor John Morrell – Fiscal 2014 Chapter 90 Projects:
Mr. Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen and noted the Governor’s proposal for Monson is approximately $705,000 for this year in Chapter 90 funds for construction work. This has been passed by the Legislature; however the Governor only released half of it saying the rest of it would be released in the fall or next spring. Mr. Morrell noted this is a 50% cut from what we were going to get this year and about a 25% cut from what we have been receiving; about $118,000 less.
Mr. Morrell said he had a list of projects that he proposed when the town was going to receive the $705,000.00, and gave the Board a copy of it as attached. Mr. Morrell explained on Brimfield Road he wants to do some work from Bethany Road to Crest Road with an estimate of $69,708; on Chestnut Street he wants to do resurfacing work from Main Street to Bethany Road with an estimated cost of $23,793; on Gates Street he plans to grind up the entire road and redo the sidewalk from State Street to Cushman Street for an estimated cost of $42,243; on Stewart Avenue which was affect quite a bit by the tornado and heavy construction equipment he wants to do work from Bethany Road to its terminus for an estimated cost of $19,227; on Bethany Road he plans to do quite a bit of different work on sidewalks,
drainage replacement, levelers and overlaid resurfacing work from State Street to Brimfield Road with an estimated cost of $159,568; and on Cote Road he wants to do Phase 3 to finish it from Wood Hill Road; there is only about 2800 feet easterly left of it to do following Phase 2, with an estimated cost of $160,000, for a total cost of $474,539. With the contingencies that puts it at $521,993 and Mr. Morrell said he likes to leave a cushion all the time.
Mr. Morrell said there are other roads to him with a priority such as Wales Road with approximately $600,000 worth of work needing to be done, Wilbraham Road, Upper Hampden Road, Bumstead Road, Wood Hill Road, Ely Road, Hovey Road and Washington Street.
Mr. Morrell said when the first half of the money is in an available fund, he’s planning on doing Bethany Road and Cote Road, and this will put him at about $320,000 out of the $350,000 the town is going to get. Mr. Morrell said if he can squeeze in Stewart Avenue, depending on the bidding, that road would be the next one he would do, and after that the other roads would have to wait for more money.
Mr. Morrell explained the Highway Department spent twenty workdays with a full crew on most days, working on the Flynt Park project, where they installed 1,325 feet of drainage, resurfacing work, and prepping the new parking lot area. Mr. Morrell noted the roads at Flynt Park have been paved and the parking lot is done now, along with the middle field road and the road going down to the lower soccer field. The only road that hasn’t been paved is Park Road itself and he has been working with Mr. Laroche on this and they are just waiting for the mitigation construction work to take place to correct the ditch line. This project is being done by all grant money.
In regards to the letter dated May 28, 2013 that Mr. Morrell wrote to the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Morrell noted he attended a Town Office Building/Police Facility Committee meeting to discuss issues he has with the parking lot design, when they were discussing this topic, and was told they didn’t have time to discuss it that night with him, and they would invite him back in, but he was never called back in. Mr. Morrell said in the meantime he attended a Site Review meeting with the Fire Chief, Water/Sewer Superintendent, Building Inspector, Dan Laroche and the consulting engineers, who designed the parking lot who wanted their comments. Mr. Morrell said he told them he feels the parking lot should be an open lot like it currently is, to cut down on time consuming maintenance and
costs.
Mr. Morrell noted the new design is calling for concrete islands in the middle of the parking lot with trees. Mr. Morrell said the concrete islands will get all torn up from the plows and the trees will die from the salt used on the snow and ice and/or from plowing and snow getting pushed up against them. The new design also has a narrow, dead end alley for the Police Department entrance for the cruisers, which will need snow removed because there won’t be anywhere to pile it. Mr. Morrell said it will be especially hard if cruisers are parked in the way as you will have to try to push all of the snow out.
Mr. Morrell said when he voiced his concern, the consulting engineers agreed to take some of the things out of the plan, but when he saw the most recent design that’s going to be going before the Zoning Board of Appeals, they were putting stuff back in, and he feels they are right back to square one.
Mr. Morrell said he has been plowing the Town Office parking lot, or hiring it out or sending his loader down, but noted he would now like to see the custodian plow, keeping the Police Department open with the new design. Mr. Morrell added the first time the push plow hits the concrete it will ruin the plow.
Ms. Neggers said it’s really the segregation of the Police parking from the public parking. Police Chief Kozloski said it’s the need of having a segregated entrance and egress so they don’t have to drive cruisers with lights flashing through pedestrians, so this is the public safety they are trying to meet.
Mr. Morrell said he told them it could be done with pavement markings instead of having all the obstructions there, and this would solve the issue.
Mr. Maia asked Ms. Neggers to have Dan Laroche get in touch with the architects designing the parking lot, asking them to get together with Mr. Morrell as we want it attractive, but we also want it functional. Ms. Neggers replied the Planning Board will be having a site plan review on the layout of the parking lot. The Board of Selectmen agreed Mr. Morrell should attend to voice his concerns and explain he needs a place to put the snow, as it’s his responsibility to have it plowed.
Execute PILOT Agreement with Cornerstone Power Monson, LLC:
Ms. Neggers explained at the Annual Town Meeting, the voters approved a payment in lieu of tax agreement with Cornerstone Power Monson, LLC, who are developing a large scale solar generation facility on Macomber and Upper Palmer Roads. Ms. Neggers noted since then, Town Counsel has been hard at work with the developers Counsel developing the final agreement that reflects the final terms that were agreed upon. Ms. Neggers said it was here tonight for the Board’s signatures, as the terms have already been voted on by the Board of Selectmen and approved by the towns’ people at the meeting. Upon execution, a check for $20,000 will be received as an opening payment.
The Board of Selectmen signed the PILOT agreement.
Ms. Neggers said we anticipate over the next 25 years, which is the term of this agreement, the total will be about $4.7 million in revenue to the town; it starts at a low of about $171,000 to a high of about $198,000 a year.
Approve South Main Street School Cleanup Bond Paperwork:
Ms. Neggers said when the South Main Street School project was started, it was started as a rehab clean-up project, utilizing a $200,000 EPA grant that we received along with funding borrowed from the Pioneer Valley revolving Brownsfield fund. At that time, in 2008, we entered into an agreement to borrow $123,000. We are now making our first payment, as the first five years the payments are waived. This comes to about $12,000 which was appropriated at Town meeting. Ms. Neggers explained if we don’t sell the property by July 21, 2018, the principal is forgiven. The interest is 2.5%.The way it was set up is if the property was sold the loan would be paid off with the proceeds of the sale. Ms. Neggers said there’s still some contamination on the site and our new Town Planner will be working
on this, as far as a future site.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the contract document on the bond with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission at the terms agreed upon. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Commence Reappointments for Fiscal 2014:
Mr. Harrison read page 1 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to approve the reappointments for the Finance Department as recommended by Finance Director Deborah Mahar. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read page 2 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the employees listed. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read page 3 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the employees listed. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read page 4 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the Commission/Committee members listed. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Harrison read page 5 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the Committee members listed. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Maia read page 6 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the Committee members listed. Ms. Neggers recommended striking the Local Casino Study Committee as they haven’t met in over four years. Dr. Smith seconded as amended, and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Maia read page 7 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the Committee members listed. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Dr. Smith read page 8 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the employees for the Police Department as listed. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Dr. Smith read page 9 into the record, as attached, and made a motion to reappoint the employees for the Fire Department as listed. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
Mr. Maia said a letter was received from the First Church of Monson noting they will be concluding their yearlong celebration of their 250th Anniversary on Sunday, June 23, 2013. They will be hosting a church picnic with food and tents and special guests, the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers. The First Church is requesting permission to close High Street directly in front of the church during this event utilizing the same detour as they have done in the past during their annual Pumpkin Festival. The traffic will be rerouted around the church from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski was in the audience and noted this is fine with him.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the request from the First Church of Monson for their 250th Anniversary celebration on June 23, 2013 and to reroute the traffic in front of the church from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:10 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
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Edward S. Harrison, Clerk
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