BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 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 Interim Town Administrator Dan Laroche 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 26, 2013 – open and executive session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Annual Renewal of Various Licenses:
Mr. Maia read the license renewals into the record, as attached.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the license renewals as presented. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Discussion and Action on (2) 15 Minute On-street Parking Spaces Between 197 & 201 Main Street:
Mr. Laroche explained both of these spaces were established through the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen back when it was the Learning Center. The building is now leased by Monson Savings for their office loan space for Monson Savings, and they don’t need the 15 minutes spaces and it is recommended to revert them back to regular on-street parking. The Planning Board has forwarded their recommendation requesting the Board of Selectmen remove the 15 minute parking restriction on these spaces.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to remove the 15 minute on-street parking restriction on the two spaces located between 197 and 201 Main Street. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Sign Request for the PVPC District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) to Update the Monson Open Space and Recreation Plan:
Mr. Laroche explained this year the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, for their Local Technical Assistance program, are interested in updating the towns Open Space and Recreation Plan which expired last year. This is at no cost to the town.
Mr. Laroche said Leslie Duthie, who is with Monson’s Open Space program, is very much involved with this as well.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the request for PVPC’s help in updating our District Local Technical Assistance Plan for Open Space and Recreation Plan. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Sign Agreement Between the Town and AFSCME – Temporary Help for Parks and Recreation Department:
Mr. Laroche noted a full-time employee in the Parks and Recreation Department is out on sick leave, and since this is a small department, help is needed with the local basketball games, etc. This agreement will allow the department to hire a part-time temporary employee for roughly 4 to 6 weeks. Mr. Laroche said this has been discussed with AFSCME and they are fine with it.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the aforementioned agreement. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Update on Safety Improvements to Memorial Hall:
Mr. Laroche said he is working with the Memorial Hall Committee comprised of members from the Historical Commission, the Monson Arts Council and the Community Preservation Committee, on the repairs needed to get Memorial Hall open to the public. The goal is to have the needed repairs done and to have Memorial Hall open for the Summerfest.
Mr. Laroche said Architect Larry Tuttle has been hired to put together the specifications and oversee the construction, while Custodian Paul DeMaio is the Clerk of the Works and facilities coordinator.
Mr., Laroche noted a lot of the Memorial Hall construction will begin in January.
Mr. Laroche said they are looking at a 175 person capacity right now with a future capacity of300 people. Over 300 people trigger’s a whole new set of code requirements, which would be a 10-year plus plan for the buidling. Right now they are thinking in 10-year terms of improvments.
Mr. Laroche said there are some long term improvements that they want to put in place while everything is torn apart, such as outside electrical outlets and outside lighting in the future, but to install the conduit now. The Memorial Hall Improvement Committee has a meeting with the electrical engineer on Monday to figure out the scope of the project and the pricing.
Mr. Maia noted it was agreed upon to try to do the improvements for as little as possible and not try to spend the entire $170,000 that was allocated for the windows and doors project. Mr. Laroche said part of the doors project will be included in this plan as it doesn’t make sense to make safety improvement on doors that will be replaced in the restoration portion. Mr. Laroche noted Mr. Tuttle is involved in both projects so he understands the details. The main focus is on safety improvements.
Mr. Laroche stated this is still keeping the second floor closed off to the public as there isn’t any handicapped accessibility and installing elevators is a much bigger bill.
Mr. Laroche said he feels there should be harder rules made on storage at Memorial Hall and how the building is used and maintained.
Update on New Town Hall/Police Station Project:
Mr. Laroche gave the Board handouts, as attached, which were handed out at the Building Committee meeting last night. Mr. Laroche explained the handouts and noted the soil testing is on-going as is the removal of the soil. Right now they are testing for chromium. We are still dealing with the soils containing the lead and the peat.
Mr. Laroche said the concrete will not be poured this week as previously thought, partly due to the fact that the place accepting the soil can only accept 200 cubic yards a day, and the big piles we have contain about 2,000 yards. Mr. Laroche said we are currently looking for additional landfills to speed up the process of ten days. The concrete probably won’t be poured for a few more weeks.
Mr. Laroche reiterated PDS, the General Contractor, has until October 15, 2014 to complete the project regardless of weather conditions, etc.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Mr. Maia asked Mr. Laroche about the Procurement Officer position. Mr. Laroche said he spoke with Finance Director Deborah Mahar and was told she does not have the necessary training, but she is interested in becoming the Towns Procurement Officer and will begin the training the first of the year.
- Mr. Laroche said the Monson Arts Council is proposing an art project on the fence at the site of the new Town Office/Police Station. This was presented to the Building Committee last night, and they approved it. It was also approved by the construction firm.
Reed Coles approached the Board of Selectmen and said he feels the public art will liven up the site and booster the town by bringing in tourist.
Mr. Coles said the Indian Orchard mills have put up permanent 4 X 4 art panels on a fence, which gave him the idea of doing a similar project on 4 X 4 aluminum panels showing pictures of the Library, Memorial Hall, the hill climbs, Keep Homestead Museum, and other various tourist attractions the town has to offer.
Mr. Coles said he will oversee the art work to make sure it’s appropriate to be hung.
Mr. Coles said he is also involved with the Monson Downtown Revitalization initiative and they came up with the slogan “Monson Rocks”. The web site is www.monsonrocks.com as well as a Face Book page which will inform the public via a calendar of what’s going on, and of the attractions in town. A panel stating “Monson Rocks” with the web site will be hung on the fence as well.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the art installation on the fence surrounding the work site for the new Town Office/Police Facility. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At7:40 p.m., Mr. Harrison 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 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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