Board of Selectmen
December 27, 2010
Community Hall Annex
6:00 pm
Present: Sheila H. Dibb, Chairman, Joseph R. Becker, Vice-Chairman, Leroy C. Clark, Cherilyn A. Bulger and Michael S. Pantos, Clerk.
Mr. Becker moved to sign Treasury Warrant #13 and payroll. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
Minutes: Mr. Clark moved to accept the minutes of December 9, 2010 as presented. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote 4 to 1 with Mr. Pantos abstaining.
Mr. Clark moved to accept the minutes of December 15, 2010 with one correction. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Bulger moved to accept the executive session minutes of December 15, 2010 as presented. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote 4 to 1 with Mr. Becker abstaining.
POLICE:
Chief Haapakoski informed the Board that he received a Highway Safety Grant for $2,700. Click it or ticket campaign in March, 2011. The chief submitted a thank you letter he wrote to Emergency Dispatch Center regarding the quick response for an attempted suicide and the outstanding job by the dispatchers. Copy of a letter of recognition from Paramedic Doug Sherman to Officers McCauley and Monaco regarding their excellent efforts during a recent medical call. The Chief has revoked all old orders and is beginning implementation of new orders. Chief Haapakoski informed the Board of three initial candidates for the sergeant position (one has since pulled out of the running). The remaining two have almost equal qualifications. The personnel file was the deciding factor. The Chief is
recommending Nicholas A. Monaco for the sergeant position. Mr. Becker moved to appoint Nicholas A. Monaco to the sergeant position per the chief’s recommendation. Mr. Pantos seconded. Vote unanimous. He will begin in-service sergeant basic training course in Randolph, MA in February for two weeks. Full-time roster is now complete and the chief is presently reviewing applicants for the part-time slots. Chief stated that the snow storm was pretty uneventful. The Board is meeting with the Chief on December 29th at 6:30 p.m.
FIRE:
Chief Ruchala stated that he was granted an extension on the FY 2010 911 grant. Safe Grant money has been approved. A grant of $1,100 through Homeland Security was received for the CERT Team. Service zone application for EOMS has been completed and approved. Mr. Becker suggested the chief update the police chief on it. Mr. Becker questioned Chief Ruchala of any weather-related events occurring during today’s storm to which the Chief replied that the day went very smoothly just a few medical calls, no accidents.
DPW:
Due to today’s snowstorm, DPW Superintendent is absent.
OPEN SESSION:
Mr. Guillotte from Center Auto Body came before the Board for his Class II license. The Board held the license from the last meeting due to the fact that no activity was on the books for the fiscal year and the Board wanted town counsel’s opinion as to whether we can issue a license. Mr. Becker stated that Ms. O’Brien inquired with town counsel who stated that the Board may issue the license. Mr. Becker moved to issue the Class II license to Mr. Guillotte, Center Auto Body. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
7:30 p.m. – Dog hearing (Fox / Burr) continued from last meeting: Mr. & Mrs. Burr were present; no animal control officers were present. Chief Haapakoski has researched past complaints on this dog and found none in the system other than this one and one with a UPS driver. Mr. Becker suggested researching payroll records for animal control reports that would be attached. Mrs. Dibb suggested continuing this hearing to the next meeting on January 10th and to go one step further and have the Animal Control Officer present with his original records. If the dog officer is unable to make that meeting, then we could re-arrange the continuation ahead of time for a convenient time for everyone. Mrs. Burr is very frustrated that nothing has been done about this dog to this point;
feels the dog should be fenced in at all times before some young child gets seriously hurt. Mr. Burr informed the Board that if he walks in that neighborhood and the dog charges him for no reason, according to Mass. General Law he is within his rights to “take the dog out” but hopes it doesn’t come to that. Mr. Becker moved to continue the hearing to January 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Report from CMRPC regarding a traffic count. Copy will be forwarded to the police chief.
Mrs. Dibb read a thank you letter from a resident pertaining to the quick response, professionalism and kindness of all responders during a recent fire.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Becker wanted to discuss the Building Department and Harry Johnson’s last day. Mr. Johnson is a MTP 5, Step 1 $27.15 an hour for 30 hours per week (salaried position). Mr. Becker would like to bring Richard Travers, the Assistant Building Inspector, in as acting / interim at an MTP 4, Step 2 $25.35 per hour for 19 hours per week (salaried position). Will be advertising for full-time inspector soon. Salary will be $481.65 per week. Mr. Travers will let the Board know if he steadily goes above the 19 hours. Mr. Becker doesn’t want to see any major changes in the office other than making the office run smoothly; just keeping things going until permanent position is filled. The new inspector would implement any changes. Mr. Pantos would like to inquire if the
centrex line would allow call forwarding to Rick’s cell phone. Mr. Becker moved to appoint Richard Travers as Acting Building Inspector effective January 3, 2011 at an MTP 4, Step 2 at $25.35 for 19 hours per week. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous. The Board congratulated Rick.
Mr. Becker announced that he attended the first Green Project / School Building Committee Meeting at Naquag recently. Some discussion on the feasibility and construction. Dr. Pandiscio indicated the need to possibly take some action by March, 2011. Paxton and Rutland will have to debt exclude; unsure of what Princeton will do. Some discussion on the cost of special town meetings and elections.
NEW BUSINESS:
Review of the Special Town Meeting warrant (attached) per Town Counsel’s recommendations.
Mr. Becker moved to place article #1 which is for the funding of the feasibility study for the green project at Naquag Elementary School for the replacement of a furnace, windows and a section of the roof. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Lengthy discussion on article #2 - to use whatever is left after funding article #1 to be split up over three fiscal years to pay principal and interest on the non debt excluded bonded debt for this school and the associated land purchase. Mr. Becker moved to place article #2 on the warrant. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote 4 to 1 with Mr. Pantos as the nay vote.
Ms Bulger moved to place article #3 on the warrant to appropriate from the primary building renovation article a sum of money to pay for expenses related to the preparation of an RFP for the purchase of the former primary school building. Mr. Clark seconded. Discussion to remove Available Funds/Free Cash from the article. Vote unanimous. Need to contact committee for amount.
Ms. Bulger moved to place articles #4, #5 and #6 on the warrant regarding gifts from the Fire Brigade to the Fire Department (kitchen stove and convention oven; EZ-IO Intraosseous Infusion System device; and two ice rescue suits. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Becker moved to not place article #7 on the warrant to appropriate money to Library Supplies account. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Becker moved to not place article #8 on the warrant to appropriate money to Library Aides Wages account. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Becker moved to sign the January 18, 2011 Special Town Meeting warrant. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mr. Becker suggested the Board discuss holiday benefits for employees who are not scheduled to work the actual holiday (employees who work at least 20 hours but not a full 40). Some discussion on a pro-rated basis and whether or not there is a requirement at all. Mrs. Dibb is in favor of comp time for these employees. This would not apply to contracted employees. Some discussion – varies from town to town. Mr. Pantos moved to review and revise the language on the broad-based personnel policies regarding holiday pay. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. Mr. Pantos will draft an addendum to the policy. Will be added to next agenda. Mr. Pantos further moved for employees not scheduled to work the day before Christmas & New Year’s
Day (the official holiday for both days is Friday), permanent part-time employees will be granted prorated comp time based on their work schedule subject to supervisory approval and to be used within 30 days. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote 4 to 1 with Ms. Bulger as the only nay vote.
Mrs. Dibb began discussion regarding the state of emergency that was declared by the Governor for today’s storm and how it pertains to Rutland. Mr. Becker stated that his view on the declared state of emergency means that the Governor can deploy the National Guard if needed and that he, himself, would have reported to work today. He feels that the Town offices should not be closing down due to a snowstorm and today was a winter weather event that happens in Massachusetts. Mrs. Dibb feels that unless there is a state of emergency in the Town of Rutland, then town offices are open. Mrs. Dibb will draft a memo to all departments under the Board of Selectmen and copy all other departments explaining this. Mr. Pantos moved that if there is no state of emergency in the Town of Rutland,
then town offices will be open regular business hours per the town’s emergency management coordinator. Ms. Bulger seconded. Vote unanimous.
Mrs. Dibb wanted to thank the assessors, especially Town Accountant Dan Haynes who worked behind the scenes, for all their work in getting the tax rate set.
ADJOURN:
Ms. Bulger moved to adjourn. Mr. Clark seconded. Vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Macaruso, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
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