BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 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 S. Harrison and Dr. Richard M. Smith. John R. Morrell was absent. 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 for September 30, 2014 – open and executive sessions. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Public Hearing Pole Petition:
Mr. Harrison opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Dr. Smith read pole petition #17732501 into the record. Mr. Harrison noted the pole locations were okay with both the Highway and the Water/Sewer Departments. There wasn’t anyone in the audience to speak in favor, of or against, the petition.
Dr. Smith made a motion to approve pole petition #17732501 as presented. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Harrison closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m.
Appointment of Chief Procurement Officer:
Mr. Brassard explained the Board of Selectmen had appointed Finance Director Deborah Mahar as the Chief Procurement Officer during the Town Administrator interim period.
Mr. Brassard said since he started in March, he has had some procurement training and course work, and recently completed a three-day course in Huntington Mass. as the first third of the certification process, and he passed that test.
Mr. Brassard noted he does most of the front end of the work in the bid process, and said he will work together with Ms. Mahar.
Dr. Smith made a motion to appoint Town Administrator Evan Brassard as a Chief Procurement Officer effective immediately through June 30, 2015. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Harvard Project on Negotiation:
Mr. Brassard explained this is a course he is interested in taking. It’s a three-day course through Harvard that centers on leadership and negotiation skill trainings, and is for professionals from all over the world, to hone in on their skills and to learn new approaches, and was requesting the use of Gifts to the Town funds to cover the expenses.
Finance Director Deborah Mahar approached the Board of Selectmen and said there is just enough money in the Selectmen’s budget for meetings and trainings to cover the MMA Conference in January and maybe one other small meeting or conference.
Mr. Brassard noted he believes there is $1,600.00 in the budget for meetings. The procurement class he just completed was about $600, leaving $1,000 for the MMA meeting.
The Board agreed to leave the remaining $1,000.00 in the account for the MMA Conference as that’s important, and to take the funds to cover the Harvard Project on Negotiation out of the Gifts to the Town Account.
Dr. Smith made a motion to fund the Harvard Project on Negotiation and the fees associated with it for Mr. Brassard, from the Gifts to the Town Account. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Brassard said he will come back to the Board with an actual dollar amount as soon as he has it.
Review Various Selectmen’s Fee Schedule:
Mr. Brassard explained this is just a review of the fees. Gaylin was asked last year by Mr. Maia during the license renewal time to compare our fees with other towns. Gaylin prepared a spreadsheet of the fees that come through the Selectmen’s Office that also shows what other towns are charging. It was noted the few fees that could be increased would generate about $800 a year and go into the General Fund.
Mr. Brassard said he felt increases could have an effect on small businesses and since it’s such a moderate amount he isn’t in favor of any increases.
Mr. Harrison and Dr. Smith both agreed to leave the fees as they are.
Setting of Hours for Trick or Treating:
Dr. Smith made a motion to set the Trick or Treat hours in Monson on October 31st, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mr., Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Mr. Brassard noted the Monson Rotary will sponsor a Halloween parade for the children beginning at 6:15 in front of 110 Main Street, walking down to the Fire Station where there will be treats and costume judging.
Closing of the Warrant for Special Town Meeting:
Dr. Smith read the attached 20 articles into the record being considered for placement on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting.
Dr. Smith made a motion to place the aforementioned articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
Dr. Smith made a motion to close the Special Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
In Other Business to Come Before the Board:
- Mr. Brassard explained Fire Chief McDonald approached him seeking a VOTE from the Selectmen, and a letter to addressed to the Office of Emergency Medical Services in support of the Fire Department upgrade to the paramedic level of care, in order to apply for Monson’s paramedic license.
Dr. Smith made a motion to send a letter to the Office of Emergency Medical Services supporting the Fire Department upgrade to the paramedic level of care. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Mr. Brassard said he has the contract for the site work portion of Memorial Hall for the Board of Selectmen to sign. This contract is for the handicapped assessable ramp that is located on the right side when facing the building.
The contract has been rewarded to Evergreen Construction Corp. in the amount of $31,411.00. Mr. Brassard noted there is still one more section that has to be re-bid and that is for the sheetrock. There weren’t any qualified bidders in the first round and no bidders in the second round. Mr. Brassard explained there are a number of issues in receiving bids for the sheetrock. One being the height of the project, as it’s a very tall sight. The other issue they’ve run into is that any public construction under Chapter 149 that’s over $100,000.00, all of the people doing the work have to be DCAM certified, and this at times can be trying. Mr. Brassard noted the bid period has been extended and this will be going back out to bid shortly.
Dr. Smith made a motion to award the contract to Evergreen Construction Corp. as described. Mr. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
- Mr. Brassard said the Memorial Hall Committee met last Monday to award the aforementioned contract and the contract for the door work, and in that process agreed Memorial Hall won’t be open for the Craft Fair. The rational for that is it does more harm for them to vacillate in the middle, trying to determine whether they will or will not be ready to re-open, rather than it just being a no - the building won’t be ready in time. Mr. Brassard said he felt this decision is prudent, especially due to some of the things that were uncovered during the first week of electrical work, which might drag the project out a little bit further. Mr. Brassard noted the electrical is the biggest piece of the work.
Correspondence was read and completed.
At 7:35 p.m., Dr. Smith made a motion to adjourn from open session to go into executive session 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. Harrison seconded and it was so VOTED.
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John R. Morrell, Clerk
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