BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 a.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 Interim Town Administrator Daniel Laroche and the media.
The regularly scheduled meeting for December 24, 2013 was not held since it fell on Christmas Eve.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of December 10, 2013 – open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
EmmaLadd Shepherd – Update on Keep Homestead Museum:
Ms. Shepherd approached the Board of Selectmen and explained when Bill Dominick and Tamara Cabey were cleaning out the attic space in the Keep Homestead Museum for the insulation; they found items that weren’t antiques that were considered junk, that they would like to throw away. Ms. Shepherd brought several items, pots and pans, etc. to show the Selectmen what she was talking about. Ms. Shepherd thought if residents saw a dumpster at the museum, people would think they were throwing away good items as well as antiques, or remodeling the house. Ms. Shepherd noted if anything is good enough to be donated to the Goodwill or Salvation Army, it will be.
Mr. Maia suggested Ms. Shepherd post on the Museum’s web site, just what they are doing to inform the public.
Ms. Shepherd said in regard to the button collection, Alice Sanderson of Hampden was a contemporary of Myra’s, and a founding member of the Monson Button Club (which is still in existence with monthly meetings). Ms. Sanderson past away a number of years ago, and her daughter Judith Garish, who is now in her 90’s, inherited her mother’s button collection. Ms. Garish recently moved from the home in Hampden into a nursing home and donated her mother’s button collection to the Keep Homestead Museum.
Ms. Shepherd noted it’s quite a large collection. The buttons were in a fire so there is smoke, flames, water and mold damage to them after sitting for all these years in that condition.
Ms. Shepherd said a couple in Connecticut, George and Gretchen Gauthier, have done a lot of volunteer things with the Keep Homestead Museum and are probably the most expert people on buttons, possibly in the country, and the Museum has hired them as consultants to go through the newly acquired collection to make some decisions, clean-up, and re-card the buttons.
Ms. Shepherd brought several examples of the carded buttons and framed buttons to show the Board the condition they are in. Some of the wooden frames are charred and Mr. Gauthier has been sanding the char off and refinishing the frames. Ms. Shepherd also showed the Board some of the re-carded buttons that had been cleaned up by the Gauthier’s.
Ms. Shepherd noted Mr. and Mrs. Gauthier came across a number of smaller cards where the buttons have a minimal value, where it wouldn’t even pay to have the Gauthier’s clean and re-card them, and their suggestion is to sell these buttons at a National, or Regional, Annual Button Society auction. They have put a value of $10 on some and $2 and $3 amounts on the other cards. The money received for any of the buttons will go into the Museum’s line item account with the Town.
Ms. Shepherd noted Ms. Garish signed a deed of gift, at the time she turned this collection over to the Keep Homestead Museum, with no strings attached. A permanent exhibit will be planned for the older, nicer buttons in this collection, with an explanation of who these buttons belonged to. There are hundreds of cards of buttons in this collection.
Ms. Shepherd noted again, she didn’t want people to think the Museum is selling off Myra’s buttons, because they aren’t.
Bob Bardwell – Anti Bullying Program Presentation:
Mr. Bardwell approached the Board of Selectmen and explained the High School is embarking on a program called BRIDGES that is sponsored by the National Conference for Community and Justice. This is a 2-day anti bullying diversity sensitivity training.
Mr. Bardwell said he would like to have all 91 freshmen participate in this 2-day training in mid-March, along with their Student Advisory Program faculty mentors.
Mr. Bardwell noted in order to move forward with this plan; they need to secure $4,000. In the past they have never had to pay for this training, it was gifted from the NCCJ, the organization who coordinates it, because they were only doing one small group. This year they are doing four larger groups by homeroom, requiring four trainers all at once. This will cost NCCJ money to bring in the three trainers they have on staff plus one trainer from the outside.
Mr. Bardwell said originally this program was going to cost $8,000 and they bargained them down to $4,000. The School Department has been able to come with at least $1,000 if not more; and he was here tonight to ask the down for a donation from the Gifts to the Town Account to support this, as well as support from businesses in town, to help cover the costs.
Mr. Maia questioned if this is something they wish to do for each freshman class, how will it be funded next year and every year after that.
Mr. Bardwell replied ideally it would be to have that money incorporated into the school budget.
Mr. Bardwell said the students who have had this training in the past, said it was an amazing experience and they would highly recommend it for every freshman.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appropriate $1,000 from the Gifts to the Town Account to the School Department to support the BRIDGES program. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Lori Stacy – Fuel Fund Assistance Program:
Ms. Stacy along with Rev. Bob Marrone of The First Church of Monson approached the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Stacy noted in 2008 the Board of Selectmen voted to do a match of up to $2,500.00 for the Fuel Assistance Fund. Ms. Stacy explained the Emergency Fuel Assistance Fund is administered by The First Church, who has been doing this for the past 25 years. When she approached Mr. Laroche about this, the funds balance was at zero and they were out of funds, since then a very generous donation has come in.
Ms. Stacy said she has seen a huge increase at the Center for fuel assistance this year.
Rev. Marrone said there are very few criteria to receive the fuel assistance:
- You must be a Monson resident.
- You must not have received a gift within the previous twelve months; allowing a gift once per heating season.
- It’s a minimum delivery of 100 gallons for either oil or propane.
Rev. Marrone said when he arrived in town, it was about $100/$150 per delivery, today that number is $370 for oil and $500 for a single delivery of propane.
Rev. Marrone said the Fund is administered by The First Church, but it’s an ecumenical fund set up by all of the churches in town; and they receive donations from the Senior Center as well as the other churches in town and churches outside of town.
Ms. Stacy said so far they have processed 83 applications for fuel assistance and 42 inquiries from people of all ages.
Ms. Stacy noted the Federal Funds that come in have decreased.
Dr. Smith wondered if they approached any of the local oil or propane companies about giving discounted rates to people on this program. Ms. Stacy replied some of them do, especially the local businesses.
Rev. Marrone said Squires Oil, in town, does match them, and added they probably should approach more businesses in the area.
Rev. Marrone said every fall they put out an appeal for donations through calls, and a letter goes out to the newspaper. This year that letter generated an astounding response to the tune of $20,000 from a single donor. Rev. Marrone said this $20,000 will get them through this season and probably next season.
Ms. Stacy noted the assistance can be used for electric heat, gas, propane, oil, wood or pellets, whatever their primary heat source is.
Mr. Maia suggested not putting this to a vote at this point, but make a pledge to match the donations up to $2,500 from Gifts to the Town for the Fuel Assistance Fund, between this date (January 7, 2014) and April 15, 2014. It was agreed unanimously this would be voted on after April 15th when Ms. Stacy brings back an amount.
Discussion on Sound Equipment Needs for Town Meeting:
Mr. Laroche noted an electronic letter had been received from Town Moderator Richard Guertin regarding the sound system at Granite Valley Middle School during Town meetings. Mr. Guertin is requesting permission to purchase new microphones and stands to use at the Town meetings and manage them ourselves. He has received quotes and is requesting $727 from the Gifts to the Town Account for the purchase.
Richard from M-PACT said the whole PA system needs work as well, and just replacing the microphones is not going to fix the problem. The microphones are too close to the speakers so you get feedback, and felt the speakers need replacement as well.
Mr. Harrison noted half of the time people don’t know what they are voting on at the town meetings because they can’t hear what’s being said.
Upon Mr. Maia’s request, Mr. Laroche said he would contact Theatrix and have them come to the school to look at the setup to see if they can work with what is there, what needs to be done, and then get their numbers; then later on get two more quotes.
Appointments for Fire Department:
Dr. Smith made a motion to promote Jonathan Bousquet to Captain and Shane Finnegan and Reuben Baker to Lieutenants on the Monson Fire Department effective immediately through June 30, 2016. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Update on New Town Hall/Police Station Project:
Mr. Laroche handed the Board a copy of the schedule that came from last week’s construction meeting. Mr. Laroche noted the concrete has been poured and temperature probes have been purchased to keep an eye on it. The concrete has been staying at 90 degrees with thermal blankets. The walls are currently being poured.
Memorial Hall Update:
Mr. Laroche handed handouts to the Board as attached and reiterated $173,000 from CPA funds was redirected from the Windows and Doors Restoration project at Memorial Hall for the Safety Improvement repairs.
Mr. Laroche noted they are working with Larry Tuttle from Architectural Insights to put together the scope of work and specifications. Mr. Laroche said they are looking at pretty much spending the entire amount of the $173,000 and this is scaling back the project some. This plan will have the first floor open only, for up to 299 people. The basement, second floor and balcony will remain off-use to the public. The next step will be to put the specifications together, and this should be done by the end of January or the beginning of February, which Mr. Tuttle will handle.
Mr. Laroche said they are shooting for the 2014 Summerfest on July 4th as the goal for an opening date.
Mr. Laroche stated the asbestos fire curtain on the stage in Memorial Hall is a big safety issue and needs to be removed. This will take additional money as it hasn’t been budgeted for as part of the Safety Improvements.
Mr. Maia suggested keeping it as it is for now. Mr. Maia felt some of the prices seemed high to him and he wanted to wait to see if things come in under budget where possibly there will be money left over for the removal of the curtain.
Re-appointments for Police Department:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen to explain the appointments for his department, as attached.
Dr. Smith made a motion to approve the appointments for the Police Department effective immediately through June 30, 2014, as attached. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Chief Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and said the Collins Center, which holds the contract for the Regional Dispatch Study, is requesting an extension on the agreement as a result of the communities and the lingering question of how a casino would impact the Regional Dispatch, which caused a delay more on the communities side rather than the Collins Center. Chief Kozloski said the Collins Center is looking for an extension through February 28, 2014.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to amend the original contract signed by the Board of Selectmen on March 26, 2013 with the Collins Center to extend it through February 28, 2014. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
- Mr. Laroche said he received a letter from Mary Watson resigning from the Bylaw Committee effective immediately, and read the letter into the record. Mr. Laroche noted Valerie Beaudoin said she would step up as Chairman of the Committee. Mr. Laroche said he will get more feedback from Ms. Watson as to if she is resigning from the committee or just as Chair.
- Mr. Laroche said Leslie Duthie would like to be appointed to the Memorial Hall Safety Committee.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Leslie Duthie to the Memorial Hall Safety Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2014. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
- Mr. Laroche annonced M-PACT’s annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in their office at 1659 North Main Street in Palmer.
- Mr. Laroche announced the Town received an FY2013 competitive Disaster Recovery Grant for $120,000 through the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant program, this will allow the Town to do the Park Road Drainage Improvement Project.
- Mr. Laroche said a notice was just received regarding Cushman mill stating a new permit application is being submitted for the clean-up along the Chicopee Brook where the booms are right now. This permit will order clean-up in the spring.
- Mr. Laroche informed the Board the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc. sent the Town a check in the amount of $25,000 for the Gifts to the Town.
- Mr. Laroche asked Mr. Maia to sign the cover page for the Green Communities Annual Report, which Mr. Maia did. This will allow Monson to keep our certification as a Green Community.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 8:25 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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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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