BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 6:15 p.m. in the conference room at 29 Thompson Street. In attendance were Edward A. Maia, Edward S. Harrison, Dr. Richard M. Smith and Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers. Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss bargaining and possible litigation pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 21 (2) and (3), Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED. At 7:00 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from executive session to return to open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED. The media was now present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of August 27, 2013 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Town Administrator Selection Process – Discussion:
Ms. Neggers presented the Board of Selectmen with options in going forward, and how to proceed, in filling her vacancy upon her retirement on November 25th.
Ms. Negggers said she received three proposals from consulting firms that could be hired for a cost between $ 10,000 to $15,000 and expenses. Other options were to appoint a search committee or to have the Board of Selectmen complete the task themselves going through resumes and interviews. It was noted one of the proposals from the consulting firms came from the Collins Center, which currently has been very slow with the Police Department and the Regional Dispatch Center. Based on this performance, it was agreed to not look into the Collins Center as one of the consulting firms.
Ms. Neggers said 1) an interim Town Administrator could be hired from the outside on a full-time basis, or 2) they could appointed from within on a part-time basis for a few days a week trying to keep day to day work going on until a full-time Administrator is appointed, or 3) the Board of Selectmen could be the point of contact for anything that may arise.
The Board of Selectmen agreed to eliminate option three.
Mr. Maia said he feels transition is the most important item to discuss.
After a discussion, it was agreed to go with option two, having an interim from within. It was also agreed to have anyone within who is interested in serving as the interim Town Administrator, submit a letter of interest to the Selectmen’s office, and for them to indicate just how they will do their regular job while serving as the part-time interim Town Administrator, along with how much they would like to be compensated for taking on this role. The Board of Selectmen agreed to set a closing date of September 20th for the letters of interest, and for the Selectmen to receive them electronically by that date so they could review them prior to their next meeting.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appoint an interim from within on a part-time basis. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Ms. Neggers said depending on who the person is and what their regular job and skillset is, just the day to day stuff could be done in a couple of days.
Mr. Maia said on the selection process, he personally wasn’t in favor of hiring a consultant.
Mr. Harrison said he was in favor of hiring a consultant.
Dr. Smith said he didn’t know if he felt confident enough and felt a search committee possibly, but wondered if they would have the knowledge as far as choosing somebody. Dr. Smith said he would lean between a consultant and a search committee with possibly the Selectmen involved at some level.
Mr. Harrison said he had a chance to glance through some of the paperwork submitted by the consulting firms and they do say in there they want a review committee.
Mr. Maia said in his opinion if we do go with a consultant the Board of Selectmen should be the review committee. Dr. Smith and Mr. Harrison agreed.
The Board of Selectmen agreed the consultants have resources and networking, and agreed to invite the two other firms in to the next meeting to interview them to see why we should hire them, and to get an understand for the process that would be entered into.
Mohegan Sun Palmer Casino Proposal – Update:
Ms. Neggers said the Town’s Attorney did sent a letter to Mohegan Sun and read a copy of his letter dated August 30, 2013 into the record, as attached. Ms. Neggers noted to date we haven’t received any response from Mohegan Sun.
Mr. Maia noted we are anxiously awaiting their response.
Ms. Neggers said she has spoken with a couple of Managers and Administrators in other towns and the people she has spoken with haven’t been contacted by Mohegan Sun either, but noted the concern really is the time frame. Ms. Neggers said if Mohegan Sun waits until after the November 5th referendum in Palmer that will leave only six weeks before the application has to be submitted.
Dr. Smith said we have to make sure the agreement protects us, and that we don’t just accept whatever they offer.
Mr. Maia noted the Water Commission will be working in conjunction with the Board of Selectmen in negotiating a surrounding community’s agreement.
Approve Addition of Town of Hampden Police Mutual Aid Agreement with Monson Police Department:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the Town of Hampden’s request to be added to the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement currently between the Town of Palmer and the Town of Monson. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Ms. Neggers said the Fire Department’s 1983 bucket truck is down and can’t be repaired. The parts for it are no longer available. The engine on this truck is a 1969 and can’t be repaired; therefore it isn’t worth keeping.
Anyone wishing to have banners put up or taken down will have to find someone to do it at their expense.
- Ms. Neggers said she is waiting to hear back on the electrical study at Memorial Hall.
Ms. Neggers noted Dennis Swierad of the Historical Commission, dropped off a proposal from Brian Mushenko with a price of $7,285.00 to restore the German WW I cannon in front of Memorial Hall that is posing a hazard, not so it can shoot but just so it won’t fall on anyone as the wheels are very rusty.
Mr. Maia said it is more important to get the building open right now.
Ms. Neggers stated Maintenance Director Paul DeMaio will be installing bollards and chains around the cannon to secure it for now and to keep people off of it. He’s currently on vacation, but she will speak with him upon his return to work to see how he is coming with this.
Ms. Neggers added the clean-out of Memorial Hall, to the best of her knowledge, is pretty much done.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:40 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session to return to executive session to discuss non-union bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 21 (2) and 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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