BOARD OF SELECTMEN
AUGUST 13, 2013
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 29 Thompson Street. In attendance were Edward A. Maia, Edward S. Harrison and Dr. Richard M. Smith. 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 July 23, 2013 – open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
New School Superintendent:
Mr. Maia introduced Cheryl Clarke, the new Superintend for the Monson School system. Ms. Clarke stated everything is all set for the opening of the new school year on August 28th; and invited anyone with any questions or concerns to stop by her office. Ms. Clarke noted there are some new administrators in the building, and everyone is excited about the start of the up-coming year school year.
The Board of Selectmen welcomed Ms. Clarke and thanked her for coming in to the meeting.
Memorial Hall – Status and Presentation of Options by Larry Tuttle/Architectural Insights:
Mr. Tuttle approached the Board of Selectmen and explained diagrams showing the needed repairs for Memorial Hall, as attached.
Mr. Tuttle highlighted some of the critical repairs, as attached. These repairs include the handicapped ramp, fire escapes, items in front of Memorial Hall that need to be cordoned off in some way, repairs to the vault, stage area, electrical issues, demolition of the M-PACT area, clearance of stored materials, etc., and suggested the balcony be closed to the public, as well as the basement. The basement would be a service area only.
Mr. Tuttle noted one of the questions asked by the Building Department and the Fire Department is what would be posted as the occupancy on the building. Mr. Tuttle explained right now the capacity of the exits and the square footage of Memorial Hall would allow in excess of 500 people. The bathrooms however only allow a capacity of about 200 people; a capacity of 300 people or more would require upgrading the alarm to a system that has a voice telling people to please exit the premise during an emergency, while a capacity under 300 people would only require a combined strobe and horn warning system.
Mr. Maia stated he would like to get Memorial Hall back to the condition it should be in, in order to hold the Halloween festivities following the parade, craft fair, etc., but do it in a safe way.
Ms. Neggers noted the Friends of Memorial Hall just turned over $2,000 to the Gifts to the Town Account, with the stipulation it be used on Memorial Hall.
It was suggested to allow 20-30 days to get rid of everything being stored in the Memorial Hall building by its rightful owner, and to demolish the M-PACT area.
Ms. Neggers agreed goal number one should be restoring the auditorium and doing whatever it takes to get it back open for public use.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appropriate the sum of $2,500 from the Gifts to the Town Account to proceed with the electrical research on Memorial Hall. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Dr. Smith made a motion to have anyone with property in Memorial Hall, remove it by September 15, 2013. Anything left beyond that date will be disposed of by the town. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Ms. Neggers said she would contact the Monson Arts Council regarding the stage curtains and acoustic panels, with consideration to flame retardation.
Monson Memorial Classic – Lee Williams – Discussion as to Options due to Memorial Hall Closure:
Ms. Williams approached the Board of Selectmen and noted the 18th annual Monson Memorial Classic is scheduled for Sunday, November 10, 2013, with an estimated 450 runners. Ms. Williams noted since she will be unable to use Memorial Hall for the race, she plans on erecting tents and having port-a-potties.
Ms. Neggers pointed out November 11th is Veteran’s Day, and noted Memorial Hall is dedicated to the Veterans of Monson. Therefore having port-a-potties at Memorial Hall didn’t seem fitting, and suggested they be placed elsewhere.
Ms. Williams said the tents will be set up at Dave Grieve Park and at Monson Savings Bank, and agreed the port-a-potties could be placed there in the parking lots.
Ms. Williams said she also would like to close some of the streets. Police Chief Kozloski responded it might cause traffic problems with church services, depending on just which streets are closed. It was agreed Ms. Williams will meet with Chief Kozloski to work out the details, and then come back before the Board with the final plan.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the Monson Memorial Classic Road Race to take place on November 10, 2013, Sunday, beginning at 12:00 noon and ending at 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., and to use Dave Grieve Park, with the placement of the port-a-potties in the gazebo parking lot.
Regional Emergency Dispatch Study – Request for Contract Extension:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and reiterated, back in the spring he had a discussion with the Board of Selectmen about continuing efforts to look at the feasibility of consolidating our dispatch operations with potential partners of Palmer, Warren, and Ware. As a result of that meeting, the Board approved the hiring, or identification, of a project manager in the form of Collins Center for Public Management. Chief Kozloski said the Collins Center have completed some tasks to date, however they are behind on some of their deliverables, and they are asking for a no-cost time extension allowing them time to continue to work out the final details to the point where they can ultimately make presentations to the Department heads and to each of the communities on such things
as government structure and overall feasibility, and costs of regionalizing the dispatch operation.
Chief Kozloski said this project continues to be funded in whole by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 9-1-1 Department grant. Chief Kozloski said he has requested an extension of this grant, and that has been approved. November 13th is the new target date.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the no-cost extension until November 13, 2013. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Consider Local Emergency Planning Committee Request to Withdraw from REPC:
Ms. Neggers said the LEPC met on July 25, 2013. One of the things discussed was the fact the REPC meets during the day and therefore no one from here can be present at those meetings. Ms. Neggers said the general consensus of the meetings is they aren’t held when Monson can be represented, and it doesn’t seem the town needs to be there as we have a fairly well Local Emergency Planning Committee under the guidance and direction of Evan Brassard.
Ms. Neggers said the committee’s recommendation, following a vote taken, is to recommend the Board of Selectmen vote to withdraw from the Regional Emergency Planning Committee.
Fire Chief McDonald approached the Board of Selectmen and noted this withdrawal from the REPC wouldn’t have any negative effects or consequences, as Monson has good leadership and competency.
Dr. Smith made a motion to withdraw from the REPC. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Ms. Neggers said correspondence was received yesterday, August 12, 2013, from Town Clerk Nancy Morrell, and read the letter into the record, as attached. Ms. Morrell announced she will be retiring after 23 years, on October 31, 2013. Ms. Morrell recommended the Board appoint Assistant Town Clerk Mary Watson as the temporary Town Clerk pursuant to M.G.L. 41 § 14, until the June 2014 annual Town Elections. Ms. Watson has been the Assistant Town Clerk for three years and has the experience to hold said office. Ms. Neggers recommended deferring action on the appointment to allow for more research to be done.
Mr. Maia thanked Mrs. Morrell for her 23 years of dedicated service.
- Mr. Maia thanked Chief Kozloski, Chief McDonald and Highway Surveyor John Morrell for meeting and for the recommendation regarding the requested stop sign at the intersection of Woodhill and Cote Roads. Mr. Maia read the recommendations into the record, as attached.
Several of the residents were in the audience.
Chief Kozloski said the recommendations have been made with the exception of item #4 which is in progress.
The resident making the request was notified that a stop sign couldn’t be placed, however a list of work will be completed to make sight at the intersection better. The resident requested a convex mirror be placed at the intersection with the Cote Road stop sign to assist in seeing oncoming traffic. The letter stated a convex mirror cannot be installed as they are not permitted by Mass. Highway due to a MUTCD (manual and uniformed traffic control devices), which has a certain criteria that must be met; this is also why the forth stop sign could not be installed as well. Mr. Maia read the criteria required into the record, as attached.
The Board of Selectmen asked Police Chief Kozloski if they could possibly monitor the fast moving traffic at this location, in hopes of slowing the vehicles down. Chief Kozloski responded his department will.
Ms. Neggers noted there will be continued interest as the residents have brought awareness forth of this area, not just in terms of enforcement but also just monitoring the site for public safety by the Highway Department, and she feels they are making every best effort to rectify the situation.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:45 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 21 (2), not to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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