BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2014
The regular meeting for the Board of Selectmen convened at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room at 29 Thompson Street. In attendance were Edward S. Harrison, Dr. Richard M. Smith and John R. Morrell. Also present were Town Administrator Evan Brassard and the media.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Acceptance of Meeting Minutes:
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of June 17, 2014 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Building Inspector Interviews:
The three top candidates for the position of Monson’s Building Inspector, to come before the Board of Selectmen for interviews were Michael Agnew; Brenda (B.J.) Church, and Russell Ducharme Jr.
The candidates where interviewed by alphabetical order with Mr. Agnew going first, followed by Ms. Church, and lastly Mr. Ducharme.
The candidates were each asked to explain their backgrounds, and then asked a series of questions by the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Agnew noted he is retired and looking for a part-time position to help him keep busy. He is very flexible with any hours. He wasn’t familiar with the stretch code, but said he is willing to learn. Mr. Agnew said he could be available to start on Monday.
Ms. Church said she is very flexible with the hours and is familiar with the stretch code since she previously worked with it in Northampton. Ms. Church has a thirteen year old daughter, and when asked where she sees herself in three to five years, Ms. Church replied she sees herself here. Ms. Church said if the hours were increased for any reason, she wouldn’t have a problem with that. Ms. Church has already taken the legal test, and the technical test is the last one she needs to take on becoming a Building Commissioner. Ms. Church noted she would be available to start in a week.
Mr. Brassard clarified the Massachusetts Federation of Building Officials has on their website that you don’t have to be a Commissioner to be hired, you just have to be certified as a local inspector, you then have eighteen months from your appointment date to become a Building Commissioner.
Mr. Ducharme said he currently works 30 hours a week in Granby and this isn’t enough hours for him, he would like this position to add to that position to give him more hours. He is very flexible with hours and said he would like to work in Monson every day either in the afternoon or in the morning. Mr. Ducharme said he has a young family that he needs to provide for. Mr. Ducharme is familiar with the stretch code as both Granby and Easthampton have it. Mr. Ducharme noted he’d be available to start on August 1st.
It was agreed by the Board to discuss the candidate’s interviewed at the end of the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed the three candidates. During the discussion it was agreed it was between Ms. Church and Mr. Ducharme.
Following further discussion, Mr. Morrell made a motion to offer BJ Church the position of Monson’s Building Inspector. Dr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Appoint Part-Time Police Officer:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski and Officer Christopher Rogers approached the Board of Selectmen. Chief Kozloski explained Officer Rogers is an auxiliary officer in Monson and he has now completed his field training, and therefore being recommended for appointment to a part-time officer.
Officer Rogers explained his background. He has been through the part-time academy and will now go through the full-time police academy, hopefully in August.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appoint Officer Christopher Rogers as a part-time officer in Monson effective immediately through December 31, 2014. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Dr. Smith reminded Officer Rogers that he works for the townspeople of Monson, and they deserve to be treated respectfully.
Monson Arts Council/Memorial Hall Discussion:
President of the Monson Arts Council Peter Barnett approached the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Harrison explained the Arts Council is planning the annual (Monson Arts Council) MAC Craft Fair scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, and wondered if Memorial Hall is going to be sufficiently and publically safe in order for them to permit the Arts Council to go ahead and plan the event with the use of Memorial Hall.
Mr. Barnett said the Arts Council has been planning the Craft Fair for months now as crafters begin to apply for space starting in the spring. The Arts Council would like the commitment early enough to plan and organize the event knowing what spaces are available, in how they are distributing them. The deadline is August 15the for the Arts Council to know if they can count on the space in Memorial Hall.
Treasurer of the Monson Arts Council Richard Guertin approached the Board of Selectmen and noted the Arts Council was surprised last year with closing of Memorial Hall. Mr. Guertin said last year for the Craft Fair, they approached St. Patrick’s Church to see if it would be possible to set up vendors in their Columbia Hall across the street from the Church if they had space, while Memorial Hall was closed.
Mr. Guertin said the use of Columbia Hall worked out well, even though it wasn’t as big as Memorial Hall and they couldn’t have all the crafters they normally have. St. Patrick’s Church said they would like to be a part of it again this year. This will make five buildings for crafters, including Memorial Hall, with spaces for 85 to 90 crafters, instead of the usual 65 crafters.
Mr. Guertin said the Arts Council would like to see the town make all the necessary safety related repairs to Memorial Hall first so it could be opened, and then concentrate on the other repairs during the winter months when the building is closed.
Mr. Brassard noted currently the bid documents, including drawings and technical specifications, may be examined at the Town of Monson Board of Selectmen’s Office beginning July 23rd at 9:00 a.m. There will be a mandatory walk through at 9:00 a.m. on July 30th. The sealed bids will be due by noon time on August 6th, and the project will then be awarded to the successful bidders.
Mr. Brassard noted everything going out to bid is safety related. Everything that was non-safety has pretty much been wrapped up by Maintenance Director Paul DeMaio. Mr. Brassard noted the intent is to not hold this project up any longer than it has to be, yet his concern is when you touch one thing, something else needs repair.
Mr. Guertin noted the Arts Council and crafters start setting up for the craft fair a week before the fair begins.
Mr. Morrell asked the Arts Council about the debris and trash behind the House of Art that was taken out of Memorial Hall last October, and asked for some type of commitment that the Arts Council will get it out of there as the Water Department, Highway Department and Fire Department all keep their places clean and neat. Mr. Guertin replied that is overflow from the dumpsters they had since they were given a deadline they had to meet to get everything out of Memorial Hall, and noted they are working on this and stated it would be taken care of. Mr. Brassard said he spoke to Reed Coles about this, and Mr. Coles said he would look into it as well.
Mr. Brassard questioned a bunch of scenery in the main room of Memorial Hall and wondered if the Arts Council could take a look at that to see what can be removed.
Dr. Smith noted the past agreement made last year with the Arts Council is they could have one room up front for storage.
Chairman of the Theater Committee with the Monson Arts Council Mark Webber, approached the Board of Selectmen and said the last time he spoke with Paul DeMaio about those large slat sceneries, which are flat wooden frames and canvas, Mr. Webber said to told Mr. DeMaio that he was reluctant to have them destroyed and the way it was left is Mr. DeMaio was willing to move them, if at all possible, so if they were in the way back stage when the drywall is being put up Mr. DeMaio would move them out of the way, and this sounds like Mr. DeMaio has moved them to this location. Mr. Brassard said he believes Mr. DeMaio did move them.
Mr. Webber said he and Mr. DeMaio were hoping there would be some place in the building to store this long term, whether it’s back on the stage again after the sheetrock has been installed or down in the cellar.
Dr. Smith said his concern is the agreement that was made last year limited the storage, because over time things had accumulated so much to the point it was a mess. The Board of Selectmen at that time gave the Arts Council one room to store items in and wanted everything else removed, and he doesn’t want to see everything egress from there. Dr. Smith said he would like to see it kept to the agreed storage location and that’s it.
Mr. Barnett explained these particular slats are double length and don’t fit in any normal storage area. They are 16 footers.
Mr. Morrell said Mr. DeMaio told him today that his understanding was the Arts Council was going to move them, and not that he was going to move them.
Dr. Smith asked if there was room in the House of Art to store these and Mr. Webber responded they are 12 feet tall and the ceilings in the House of Art aren’t that tall.
Mr. Brassard stated the scenery slats can’t be stored in the basement of Memorial Hall due to the fire concern, which is why there isn’t anything currently being stored down there. Mr. Brassard said the only option, due to the size, is up on the stage. Mr. Webber said that’s where they have been kept for decades and reused.
Fire Chief Laurent McDonald approached the Board of Selectmen and said the problem is the building is classified as public assembly occupancy and when you look at building and fire codes you have different classifications. Chief McDonald stated technically the building was built over one hundred years ago as a multi-use occupancy; it has business offices so it has business occupancy, now it’s not being used in that capacity, but the biggest bulk of that facility is a public assembly facility. The building isn’t designed for scenery and other things that are flammable. Chief McDonald said the basement isn’t a storage facility and the stage isn’t designed for storage either, which is the whole concept behind putting up the dry wall, to establish a fire rating. The more items you put in there,
increases the amount of fire load, which therefore would require the structure to be changed for an increased fire rating. So, Chief McDonald said the short answer is no, and this is the reason why the M-PACT rooms downstairs have to be dismantled. There isn’t any dry wall protection on the underside of the floorboards in the basement; it’s completely open to the studs, along with some void spaces. If anything were to catch fire down in the basement it would immediately rise up the outside walls and probably consume that building in a very short period of time. Chief McDonald said nothing can be stored in the basement or on the stage area.
Dr. Smith asked if the sheetrock is an essential safety issue that needs to be done prior to the opening.
Chief McDonald replied he would classify the sheetrock as a fire safety deficiency and not necessarily a life safety hazard. His main concern would be making sure there is an adequate fire detection system that could give early warning for people to get out, and as long as the stage area remains clear and access to that area was controlled, he wouldn’t be so concerned as long as they know there’s no human intervention back there or something that could cause a fire to spread. Chief McDonald stated it would still be much better to have the sheetrock in place. Chief McDonald said basically all the priorities have been safety related issues and reiterated having the sheetrock in place is a much safer prospective to operate from, but if there is an operational alarm system, and no use of the stage
area if it’s not sheet rocked, and it’s controlled to just the floor space; then that’s something he would have to confer with the Building official on, but added he didn’t see that as being detrimental and it could be used.
Mr. Webber said the scenery has always been stored behind the stage on the shelf so the slats can be lifted and lowered by the pulleys in the upper loft since this is what it was designed for.
Chief McDonald said he feels the scenery should be made, used for that production, and then dismantled, and this would be permissible. The problem comes from saving all of the different scenery. Therefore hoisting the scenery up into the rafters is okay, if it’s for a production and then removed and stored elsewhere right after the production has ended.
Chief McDonald explained because Memorial Hall is a public assembly building, both he and the Building Inspector are required to do yearly inspections of the building to make sure the auxiliary equipment such as the fire extinguishers and everything are operational, and that the exit lights are properly functional. When the inspection has been completed, the Building Inspector signs off on the certificate and issues it.
Mr. Morrell suggested, when you walk into the main auditorium and go to the left, there is another door that goes into the last room used by the Selectmen, and noted he doesn’t think there is an exit there and wondered if the Arts Council could use that space, putting the slats up against the wall there.
Dr. Smith said that’s’ still an issue of storage since there isn’t supposed to be anything stored. Chief McDonald agreed nothing can be stored there, however it would be completely different if the building had a sprinkler system.
Mr. Morrell suggested storing the slats in the basement of the annex building since it’s accessible from the parking lot.
Mr. Guertin replied it’s full.
Mr. Morrell said if it’s full of chairs, the chairs could be stored in Memorial Hall since it’s a public assembly building. Mr. Morrell added they would need the chairs in there for performances. Mr. Morrell said the chairs have always been stored there; as long as they aren’t blocking an access door and the storage location has the approval from the Fire Chief and the Building Inspector.
Mr. Harrison said he wasn’t sure this problem was going to be solved this evening and said representatives from the Monson Arts Council need to get together with the Fire Chief and figure out what’s going to be acceptable for the storage of the slats, which may result in them being taken apart and stored elsewhere.
Mr. Brassard said he will be attending the Monson Arts Council’s meeting tomorrow night to try to figure out how to proceed forward on working it all out.
Mr. Harrison stated he feels there is a commitment on the Selectmen’s part to make sure the Monson Arts Council will be able to have their holiday craft fair in Memorial Hall in one way, shape, or form, assuming we can get the cooperation from the contractors.
Mr. Brassard noted around August 6th he expects to have an answer as to when the expected deadlines are for the contractors, and also by that time we will a Building Inspector in place that we will be able to confer with, as currently we only have a part-time Building Inspector that Mr. Brassard said he has been trying to use only for emergency situations.
Electricity Aggregation Contract:
Mr. Brassard explained a while back, the Board of Selectmen approved the Hampshire Council of Government Electricity Aggregation Agreement, and it was voted at Town Meeting that Monson would be a participant in this aggregation project. Town Counsel looked at this and had a couple of concerns, so this has bounced back and forth between the Hampshire Council of Government Counsel and our Town Counsel, and now the issues have been resolved.
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the Electricity Aggregation Contract as presented from our Town Counsel. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Brassard said we will now move forward with the aggregation study and the actual bidding process.
Regional Mutual Aid Agreement:
Police Chief Stephen Kozloski approached the Board of Selectmen and reiterated in the early part of 2013, he met with the Board of Selectmen, and the Board considered and ultimately adopted a Mutual Aid Agreement that is currently in effect between the towns of Monson, Palmer, and Hampden.
Chief Kozloski said many times there are circumstances where Monson Police Officers are required to go to other areas such as the hospitals in Springfield with people under arrest and many times he said we are requested and expected to perform police duties there, particularly if the person under arrest becomes combative in the hospital, emergency room, etc. In the absence of a Mutual Aid Agreement, the Monson Police Department has some difficulties performing basic duties at that point.
Chief Kozloski explained since that time, the four counties of Western Massachusetts have begun discussions in adopting a Regional Mutual Aid Agreement, which would encompass the Counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklyn. Chief Kozloski said there is also a nearly identical agreement in effect in Central Massachusetts, as well as in Eastern Massachusetts.
Chief Kozloski said he is here tonight to ask the Board of Selectmen to consider adopting a new agreement which essentially follows the same concept and intent of the agreement that is currently already in place with the three towns; this one however potentially encompasses all of the four western Mass. counties. Chief Kozloski explained this is not only for planned events such as officers traveling into Springfield for investigations, medical calls, etc., but also for unplanned events such as snowstorms, tornados, floods, etc. This will give Monson the ability to act beyond the current three towns much the same as the original agreement does, but adopted by all the communities in the four Western Mass. Counties.
Chief Kozloski said Town Counsel has looked this over and has no objections with the content of the agreement; the only thing they are trying to work on now is how to address the existence of the two agreements.
Dr. Smith noted he doesn’t have a problem with Monson requesting and receiving aid, or offering it in exchange, but he isn’t comfortable with all of the police officers from four counties having the potential to come into our town and exerting their police powers without being requested. Dr. Smith also noted Chief Kozloski selects his officers carefully, finding officers who meet the needs of our community and who fit in with the community, so if we have other officers policing our community without necessarily knowing our community we lose our ability to have officers in the town that meet what we need or we feel is a need, or what Chief Kozloski works so hard to provide us with.
Chief Kozloski said there are only certain circumstances where an officer can cross over and exert self-activation. Without this agreement we have no powers in Springfield at the hospitals with an arrested person.
Dr. Smith said he would like more time to compare the two documents.
It was agreed to revisit this at the next meeting.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board of Selectmen:
- Mr. Brassard said the owner of Tree House Brewery stopped by and notified him there will be a Golden Shovel ceremony on Saturday, July 26th at their new property on East Hill Road, at 10 a.m., and extended the invitation to the three Selectmen.
- Mr. Brassard said Monson’s fire car 2, which is the old Chief’s vehicle, had a budget with repairs not to exceed a certain dollar amount. The Fire Department is now at a point where that dollar amount will no longer sustain keeping that vehicle on the road any longer and it is requested this car be deemed surplus.
Dr. Smith made a motion to classify Fire car 2 as surplus. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Mr. Brassard said all radios, light bars and anything else salvageable will be taken off prior to salvaging.
- Mr. Brassard explained back on January 31, 2014, the Selectmen received a letter from Chief McDonald stating John Rahkonen of Northern Construction had made a generous donation of $6,000 to the Monson Fire Department for the purpose of helping upgrade the paramedic program. Mr. Brassard said it couldn’t be found anywhere in our records where the Board of Selectmen voted to accept this donation.
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the donation of $6,000 from John Rahkonen to the Gifts to the Town Account to be used specifically for the paramedic upgrade program at the Monson Fire Department. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 9:25 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session to discuss with respect to non-union personnel – pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, Sec. 21 (2) and to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation – pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, Sec. 21 (3), not to return to open session. Mr. Morrell seconded and it was unanimously VOTED.
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John R. Morrell, Clerk
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