BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014
The regular meeting of 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 Evan Brassard and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of April 22, 2014 – open and executive sessions. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Hospital Road Bridge:
Mr. Brassard said he received a letter from Highway Surveyor John Morrell outlining some of the efforts he made, along with efforts of others, lobbying to get the Hospital Road Bridge put back into a State bond, for replacement. Mr. Brassard noted the process passed the Senate and then got cut out at the House; some lobbying went back into it and it got put back in and went to the Governor’s desk, and has been signed.
Mr. Brassard said there is approximately $2 million in that bond, to put a bridge back on Hospital Road, and we will keep up the pressure to make sure nothing happens to that in the meantime as there are still some small hurdles. Mr. Morrell has already written a letter on Monson’s behalf.
The bond has been signed, but the funds haven’t come through yet. The bridge will eliminate the 7.1 mile detour currently in place, there is a cut through but it isn’t a public way even though the public uses it.
Dr. Smith added the bridge is also very important to any future development of the MDC site.
DLTA Grant for Update of Open Space and Recreation Plan:
Mr. Brassard explained DLTA stands for District Local Technology Assistance program. This is a $12,000 grant Town Planner Dan Laroche secured with a $600 in-kind match from Monson, which means we don’t pay anything out, instead we use the time Mr. Laroche is putting into this project.
The grant, which is a competitive grant will up-date our Open Space and Recreation Plan by up-dating maps and GIS maps, as well as data. This will open Monson up for numerous grants, which will be available because we have this plan in place. This was last updated in 2006.
Mr. Maia thanked Mr. Laroche for his work on this grant.
Dr. Smith made a motion to affirm Monson’s commitment. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Parks and Recreation/Water Department Shed Proposal:
Water/Sewer Superintendent Craig Jalbert, Parks and Recreation Director Tim Pascale and Highway Surveyor John Morrell approached the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Brassard said the insurance company will be replacing the Parks and Recreation storage shed that was lost in the tornado. This shed was scheduled to be placed back in Veterans Field where it was previously; however, Mr. Brassard said a few committees in town, including the Building Committee, are wondering if Veterans Field is the right location for the storage shed for a number of reasons, therefore other areas were explored. One suggestion was here at the Hillside Building, which didn’t seem like a good location as we don’t know what’s going to happen with this property once the new Town Office Building is completed, along with the access to restrooms, etc.
Mr. Brassard said Mr. Jalbert, Mr. Pascale and Mr. Morrell got together and looked at different ways the Departments could help each other. The Water/Sewer Department needs more storage space and the Parks and Recreation Department need a good location for their storage shed. Mr. Brassard noted the Water/Sewer Department has, among other items; a 150 kilowatt generator they need to store that is 9 feet tall, 18 feet long and 7 feet wide.
Mr. Brassard noted Mr. Laroche has been working with the insurance company to come up with a viable design, and so far there isn’t a cap on the amount yet. If the shared building option is agreed to by the Board of Selectmen as a viable option to pursue, Mr. Brassard said it still isn’t a done deal and there are other dominos that need to fall into place. Mr. Brassard explained Mr. Laroche is working on a 30 X 30 building and the building being proposed tonight is a 30 X 60.
Mr. Jalbert presented the Board with handouts and explained the Water/Sewer Department needs storage space, and a place to put their generator. Mr. Jalbert said his Commissioners suggested looking into a 30 X 30 building, and they started getting some pricing. Mr. Jalbert noted a 30 X 30 building from beginning to end would cost about $117,000.
Mr. Jalbert said since he knew Parks and Recreation were also looking at a 30 X 30 storage shed, they wondered what would happen if they combined their efforts and built a 30 X 60 shed to share instead, and what the cost be. Mr. Jalbert noted there is a lot of money to be saved by combining the buildings.
Then Mr. Morrell said the question was where to put the storage shed. The Highway Department has space behind the Fire Department near the Bellmen barn where the Highway Department stores their materials, and Mr. Morrell said he is willing to rearrange his materials to make room for the location of the storage shed.
Mr. Jalbert said it makes sense to everybody as far as location, to have the storage shed in close proximity to the Highway Department and the Water Department.
Mr. Morrell said he jotted down some disadvantages of having the storage shed located there, as well as some of the advantages. Some of the disadvantages are there will be more traffic in the municipal yard; however they will be public employees who will control their speed. The other thing would be the material stock pile that would have to be rearranged. The advantages are there won’t be any Parks and Recreation storage building on Veterans Field, which Mr. Morrell noted is something the Building Committee feels very strongly against. Also, there won’t be any interference with the Police Department going in and out of the narrow driveway at the same time as the Parks and Recreation vehicles. Another plus is there won’t be any traffic going by the skate park. Mr. Morrell also noted
there is substantial savings on cost with just one building, as opposed to building two storage sheds, and having it in close proximity to the other departments as they all work hand-in-hand with one another, and the Highway department will be there to assist with unloading any deliveries.
Mr. Pascale said he gets a lot of deliveries that come on large trucks that won’t be able to get in the new narrow driveway anymore, and they will have to be unloaded from State Street. A lot of the time the truck doesn’t have a fork lift and the 90 bags are being unloaded by hand, whereas if the storage shed were located near the Highway Department, they could use the forks on the backhoe to unload the bags off of the main street and out of the way, and put them right into the shed.
Mr. Morrell added the fueling is all done at the Highway Department, which would be convenient as well. Mr. Morrell said it just makes a lot of sense to combine the storage shed and put it on the Highway Department property as proposed.
Mr. Pascale also noted it would work out better for the Parks and Recreation Department too when his one full-time employee is working by himself, he would now have the Highway employees as well as the Water/Sewer employees, there to assist him with any heavy lifting.
Mr. Jalbert said the Water/Sewer Department receives three pallets of corrosion control chemicals that weigh 200 pounds a pallet, among other deliveries, where he uses the forks from the Highway Department to unload the pallets from the tractor trailer truck, which works out good.
Mr. Jalbert noted for convenience, it makes more sense to have the storage shed located near the Highway Department. If the storage shed is located elsewhere, the Highway Department backhoe would have to take the time to travel back and forth, whereas having it located at the Highway Department the backhoe is right there and no time has to be allotted for the traveling, the operator, or the piece of equipment.
Mr. Morrell said this won’t impact the Fire Department at all, as this will be in back of the Fire Station and the fire trucks go out the front of the station.
Mr. Jalbert noted the Water/Sewer Department has an article on the Town Meeting warrant for $117,000 which is the amount it would cost them to build a 30 X 30 storage shed for just the Water/Sewer Department. Therefore, combining the sheds and building just one 30 X 60 storage shed would be a cost savings to the town.
Mr. Maia said if Mr. Morrell, Mr. Jalbert and Mr. Pascale are in agreement, the next step is to have Town Planner, Daniel Laroche, investigate to see just what the insurance company is willing to do.
Dr. Smith said he sees this as a viable option, and financially it makes a lot of sense.
It was unanimously agreed to have Mr. Laroche look into this and either write a report or come in, to update the Board of Selectmen.
Appointment of Town Administrator to Monson Developmental Center Transition Advisory Committee:
Mr. Harrison made a motion to appoint Evan Brassard to the Monson Developmental Center Transition Advisory Committee effective immediately through June 30, 2014. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Chief Laurent McDonald – Contract renewal:
Fire Chief McDonald approached the Board of Selectmen to explain a few changes in his contract.
The Board agreed the Town is very lucky to have Chief McDonald, and feels he is doing a great job and thanked him very much for all he has done so far.
Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve the contract negotiated for Fire Chief Laurent McDonald effective July 1, 2015. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Mr. Brassard reiterated the Boston Red Sox World Series trophy will be on display for viewing and to have pictures taken at the Fire Department on Thursday, May 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Mr. Brassard added Monson Dunkin Donuts will be there to hand out some free merchandise and to possibly hold a raffle. Mr. Brassard stated this is a great community event and he hopes to see everyone there.
- Mr. Brassard noted the Town’s Annual Spring Bulky Day was held this past Saturday, May 3rd. Mr. Brassard said it was a great success with a really good turnout of 311 residents participating in it. Eleven console televisions were received, one boat, one hot tub, and 32 computers, just to name a few. Mr. Brassard said the Town’s trash company, Republic Services, sponsored the entire event this year and is covering the entire bill. All the televisions, computers, air conditions, refrigerators, anything that residents had to pay to get rid of in the past, was totally free at this event. Also, Pro Shred was there to shred any documents residents wanted to get rid of, and if a bill is submitted for this service, Republic Services said they would cover cost as well. Mr. Brassard said Republic
Services has also purchased and donated new benches for outside the new Town Office Building.
The Board of Selectmen thanked Republic Services.
At 7:43 p.m., Mr. Harrison made a motion to adjourn from open session. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
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Dr. Richard M. Smith, Clerk
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