Board of Selectmen
April 6, 2009
Community Hall Annex
6:00 p.m.
Present: Joseph R. Becker – Chairman, Leroy C. Clark – Vice Chairman, Douglas C. Briggs, Cherilyn A. Bulger – Clerk and Nancy M. Macaruso, Secretary. Sheila Dibb absent.
Mr. Briggs moved to sign Treasury Warrant #21. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Briggs moved to accept the minutes of February 11, 2009 as presented. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Briggs moved to accept the minutes of February 26, 2009 as presented. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Briggs moved to accept the minutes of March 9, 2009 as presented. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
REPORT OF TOWN DEPARTMENTS:
DPW:
DPW Superintendent was absent.
Mr. Becker read a letter concerning the Chapter 90 apportionment. Tim Robinson will begin moving his equipment in by the end of this week or the beginning of next week starting at Long Pond, continuing to Rutland Heights and then to Community Center. FEMA Category B money has been approved and we are waiting for the town’s share. Arbor Day will take place in Rutland on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Mr. Briggs moved to grant permission to Gary Kellaher to approach local nurseries for the donation of trees to be planted on Arbor Day. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. Mr. Briggs moved to hold Arbor Day in Rutland on May 9, 2009. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. Jillian Scannell will be contacted regarding the scheduling of Arbor Day.
POLICE:
Police Chief was absent.
IT Services – Mrs. Hayden presently manages the budget. Discussion on leaving it as a single budget and splitting it (Public Safety Building IT and General IT). A meeting will held with Mrs. O’Brien, Mrs. Hayden and the Police and Fire Chiefs.
Police Union – Membership agreed to allow the union to meet with the Town to discuss budget issues. Troy Chauvin, union representative, would like to meet informally. Some discussion. The Board scheduled an Executive Session meeting for April 9, 2009 at 5:30 with a back up date of April 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm. Will check with Officer Chauvin before posting.
FIRE:
Trench safety paperwork was given to the Board. Discussion on Dispatch. The Board voted at the last meeting to sign the contract pending Town Counsel’s review. The Board signed the contract. Mr. Clark moved to accept the addendum. Mr. Briggs seconded. Vote unanimous. The Board signed the addendum. Chief Ruchala will get the necessary signatures and return a copy to the Board. Chairman Becker commended Chief Ruchala for a job well done. Discussion on dispatch budget and the posted management position. The Board would like to review the job description/classification for the management position before accepting and posting the position. Lengthy discussion on level of management and the use of grant funds. Chief Ruchala will forward
the job description to the Board.
The ambulance has been repaired and the cost was applied to the reimbursement.
Memo from Brad Bemis regarding the beginning of union negotiations (Firefighters). Mr. Briggs moved to appoint Chairman Becker and Mrs. Dibb to represent the Board. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. Mr. Clark stated that if Mrs. Dibb is unable to serve, he will gladly assume the role.
OPEN SESSION:
Quiet.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Chairman Becker read the assessment letter from the WRSD. The amounts listed in the letter will change due to the stimulus funding per the Regional Selectmen’s meeting last Thursday. Short discussion.
NEW BUSINESS:
Some discussion concerning permit fees for public buildings. Mr. Briggs stated that it was voted some time ago not to waive fees, but historically fees have been waived for non-profits (baseball, soccer, etc.), and others have been on a case by case basis. Mr. Johnson informed the Board that it was illegal to waive school building fees. The Board agreed to leave permit waiving on a case by case basis. He also stated that the Little League is seeking a permit to build a deck. Mr. Briggs moved to waive the building permit fee for the Little League. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous. Mr. Briggs also moved to waive the plumbing permit fee for the Community Center. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Briggs moved to sign the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
Proposition 2 ½ override questions (dollar amounts) – Chairman Becker stated that he has been in touch with Mark Morse of the MMA seeking a salary range for Town Administrator. His response was a base range of $85,000 - $95,000 with other considerations such as auto allowance, insurance, etc. Mr. Briggs moved to insert $130,000 into Question 1 of Article 1 for the funding of a Town Administrator position. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Regarding the general budget override question, Chairman Becker stated that he figures approximately a $523,000 shortfall. Mr. Briggs moved to insert $525,000 as the amount for the general budget override on Question 2 of Article 1. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Briggs informed the Board that a resident petition submitted for the Annual Town Meeting warrant contains an error. Mr. Redfield explained that it could be amended on the floor at town meeting.
Mr. Clark questioned the fact that papers have not been returned for the position of Moderator. Mr. Becker explained that if a sticker campaign isn’t run, then the Selectmen would hold an election that evening.
Mr. Briggs moved to enter into Executive Session for Reason #3 and to return to open session for further business. Ms. Bulger seconded. Briggs aye, Bulger aye, Clark aye, Becker aye.
Regarding the USDA letter, it will be held until Mrs. Dibb is present.
ADJOURN:
Mr. Briggs moved to adjourn. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Macaruso, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
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