BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at 29 Thompson Street in the Hillside Building. 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:
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of October 22, 2013 – open and executive sessions and October 8, 2013 – executive session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Tax Classification Hearing – Principal Assessor Ann Murphy:
Mrs. Murphy approached the Board of Selectmen and explained the property tax allocation for FY 2014, as attached.
Ms. Murphy explained the buyers and sellers of the homes in town set the values, setting the tax rate is done at Town Meeting by what the people vote for the budget.
Mrs. Murphy said none of this reflects the increase that people voted on for the construction of the new building because we haven’t borrowed to pay those bills; the increase that was voted on won’t happen until we actually incur that debt.
Mrs. Murphy said she welcomes people coming in to her office to look at their property values and to make sure they have everything listed correctly, for example someone could still be paying on a swimming pool or shed that they no longer have.
A $750 exemption is available to people over 70 years of age who qualify. Exemptions are also available to veterans and the blind.
Following the presentation, Mr. Harrison made a motion to go with the single tax rate. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to not utilize the other exemptions mentioned. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Keep Museum Board of Directors – Report on Expenditures at Museum:
EmmaLadd Shepherd approached the Board of Selectmen and noted the recent passing of Jackie Hatton will be a huge loss to the Keep Homestead Museum since she knew the most about buttons. Through donations to the Friends of KHM in memory of both Jackie Hatton and her sister Pat Knight, the Friends have purchased four button books for the Monson Library. A granite bench purchased and donated by Mrs. Hatton’s daughter Moira has been installed at the Museum and a tree will be purchased and planted by it next spring.
Ms. Shepherd explained the Museum is going to be spending a lot of money on some much needed items. Insulation in the attic is necessary since over $6,000 was spent on oil heat last winter, on top of closing the Museum for several months and turning the heat down. The house was built in 1749. It was enlarged in 1820, and what you see now was from a remodel in 1863. There isn’t any insulation at all in any part of the house. Ms. Shepherd noted after doing much research, they found the best insulation for an older house like this is blown in cellulose. They received bids and went with Tom Keenan who will do the floor spaces in the three attics for $3,300.00. Mr. Keenan will lift the boards and blow the insulation in and put the boards back in, rather than drill holes in the boards.
Bill Dominick and Tamara Cabey will be packing and moving all of the antiques and other valuable items out of the center attic allowing Mr. Keenan access to the floor, for a cost of $1,000.00. Ms. Shepherd noted this will probably take them hours and hours to do and she trusts them since they are familiar with moving items such as these.
Ms. Shepherd noted Mr. Keenan gave the Museum an estimate for next year of $5,500.00 to have insulation put in all of the walls. Mr. Keenan will take the clapboard off, put the insulation in, and then reinstall the clapboard, replacing any that might get broken.
Ms. Shepherd said the electrical wiring was checked in the attic to make sure knob and tube wasn’t used, and there wasn’t, however in the cellar there is some knob and tube down there but it isn’t active and this was removed. The bad news is there are junction boxes with no covers and live wires, and junction boxes that are completely rusted through. There are also two live wires hanging from the ceiling with just wire nuts on them as well as a live 220 line. Dave Carney from Springfield submitted a bid of $450.00, and he made the needed repairs today.
Ms. Shepherd explained there are 50 windows in the house. The putty in all fifty windows is dried, flaking, and falling out. Michael Wales submitted a bid of $4,800.00. Mr. Wales was hired to repair all of the windows removing the old putty, putting new putty in, priming and painting with historical paint.
Two windows had to be totally rebuilt; one being 100 years old and the other over 200 years old. Brian Mushenko did this work, taking the windows completely apart. Ms. Shepherd explained there weren’t any nails in either window, as they were held together by wooden pegs. Mr. Mushenko fabricated some of the cross pieces holding the window panes in, stripped the wooden frames down, put the glass back in, primed and reinstalling them for $1,200.00. Mr. Wales painted these two windows as well as the others.
Ms. Shepherd said the money to do all of this work is coming from the Trust fund Myra Moulton set up in her will. Only the interest from the Trust fund is used, and there is approximately $18,000.00 in it currently.
Ms. Shepherd noted their next event is a Holiday Open House scheduled for December 1st. Ms. Shepherd stated because they have the Trust fund they don’t charge admission for anything. Donations are accepted and jars are placed around. Checks can be made out to the Friends of KHM, and all donations are tax deductible.
Appoint Interim FT Police Officer:
Sgt. Nick Gasperini and Officer Brian Ellithorpe approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski had submitted a letter stating he would be unable to attend tonight’s meeting and that he is recommending Officer Ellithorpe be appointed to the position of Interim Full-Time Police Officer pending his successful completion of the academy.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appoint Officer Brian Ellithorpe as a full-time Interim Police Officer effective upon the Training Council’s approval of waiver through June 30, 2014. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Final Approval – Hiring of Municipal Resources and Establish Salary Range – Town Administrator:
Ms. Neggers reiterated the Board of Selectmen were interested in pursuing an agreement with Municipal Resources out of Meredith N.H. pursuant to their proposal dated October 22, 2013.
Mr. Maia said he had a conversation with Alan Gould regarding the salary range of $85,000 to $95,000 based on experience. The fee for the consultant is $11,000 from Gifts to the Town Account.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to hire Municipal Resources as our consultant to conduct an initial search for a Town Administrator and to bring back four or five candidates, with a salary range of $85,000 to $95,000; and Municipal Resources at a fee of $11,000 to come from the Gifts to the Town Account. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Ms. Neggers noted this process could take several months and reiterated Dan Laroche has been appointed as the Interim Town Administrator while the process is completed.
Exercise Right of First Refusal – East Hill Road:
Ms. Neggers said a request was received relative to 1.25 acres of land owned by Wayne and Laurie Evans on East Hill Road. Ms. Neggers noted correspondence was received from both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board, both voting unanimously to recommend the Town waive its Right of First Refusal.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to waive the Town’s Right of First Refusal on this parcel. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Winter Parking Ban Bylaw – Reminder:
Ms. Neggers said according to the winter parking ban, a ban can be announced at the need of the Highway Surveyor. Winter parking bans are announced on a case by case basis and put on the Town’s website. Ms. Neggers explained there is a place on Main Street were parking is permitted during the day, but otherwise during a winter parking ban there is no parking on the street.
The way of notifying people is via the website at www.monson-ma.gov there is a red banner at the top when the winter parking ban is in effect. The information is also released to the media, but the media doesn’t always put the information out there, unless it’s a major event. Ms. Neggers said she really encourages people to check the website.
Ms. Neggers said this year one Code Red announcement will be sent out alerting people they are not going to be getting the calls and directing them to where they can get the information, which again will be the web site and the different media outlets.
Ms. Neggers said people without internet access will have to call either the Highway Department or the Police Department to see if a winter parking ban is in effect.
Ms. Neggers said she would like to see someone develop a text data base, when its posted to the web site they can just hit a generic message and text it out to people who voluntarily sign up to receive it, since most people are looking for that text message. Ms. Neggers noted there’s only a small portion of people who can’t park in their driveway.
Request for Support of Regional Stormwater Coalition Grant:
Town Planner Dan Laroche approached the Board of Selectmen and said this is Monson’s first year as part of the Central Mass. Regional Stormwater Colition. There has been some free training and we are going to get a free tablet to do some inventory of our stormwater infrastructure as part of the initial grant. Mr. Laroche said the Coalition is looking to do another application for this year to continue the work that is ongoing right now.
Mr. Harrison made a motion the Town of Monson support the Regional Stormwater Coalition Grant for the FY14. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Request for Support of Regional Municipal Support Services Grant:
Mr. Laroche explained the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is trying to put together a support services program on an as-needed-bases. These services include Administrative Support such as Town Manager/Town Administrator, Treasurer, Collector, etc. so if you have someone in a high level department head position in Town that is retiring, there will be a pool of candidates readily available to come in on an interim basis to effectively carry out these very critical municipal positions during transition and /or vacancy of such posts, etc.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to support the Regional Municipal Support Services Grant. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Maia thanked Ms. Neggers for 22 years of service as the Town Administrator and 24 years of service with the Town. Mr. Maia added Ms. Neggers will be sorely missed.
Ms. Neggers said she is looking forward to what the future will bring.
At 8:05, Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss non-union bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 21 (2) and to discuss collective bargaining pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A § 21 (2), not to return to open session. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith
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