Town of Rutland
Board of Selectmen Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Rutland Public Library
6:00 PM
6:06 Mr. Clark called meeting to order. Filmed by cable on Channel 191.
Present: Leroy Clark, Wayne Walker, Sheila Dibb, Stephanie Bacon, Michael Pantos
Others: Margaret Nartowicz, Town Administrator and Abby Benoit, Administrative Secretary
Mr. Walker made a motion to sign Warrant #15 and payrolls. Ms. Dibb 2nd motion. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Dibb made motion to accept meeting minutes of November 9, 2015. Mr. Walker 2nd motion. Vote 4-0, Mr. Clark abstain.
Ms. Dibb made motion to accept minutes of December 3, 2015. Mr. Pantos 2nd motion. Vote 3-0-2, (Mr. Walker and Ms. Bacon absent 1-4-16.)
Ms. Bacon made motion to accept minutes of December 7, 2015 with amendment that Ms. Bacon was present and Ms. Dibb was absent. Mr. Pantos 2nd motion. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Dibb made motion to accept minutes of December 21, 2015 with amendment on Fisherman’s Road vote. Ms. Dibb did not 2nd motion or vote in favor, vote 2nd by Ms. Bacon. Mr. Walker 2nd motion to approve minutes for December 21, 2015. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Dibb made motion to approve minutes of December 30, 2015. Ms. Bacon 2nd motion. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Dibb made motion to approve minutes of January 4, 2016. Mr. Walker 2nd motion. Vote 3-0-2, (Mr. Pantos and Ms. Dibb absent 1-4-2016.)
Ms. Nartowicz made recommendation to the Board that effective immediately, all Executive Session minutes be voted on for approval in Executive Session under Reason # 7.
Reason # 7: To comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements.
The Board would like to review Executive Session minutes from 2015 to see if they can be released. Mr. Pantos made motion to create a Policy and Procedure for review of Executive Session minutes for prior years. Mr. Walker amended and 2nd motion for a procedure to be drafted by Ms. Nartowicz.
Open Session:
Tyler Wolanin – Mr. Wolanin introduced himself as District Director for State Senator Anne Gobi. The Senator’s office will be sending notification of a proposed budget after the Governor’s budget becomes available. The Governor’s budget is expected to be released soon. Mr. Wolanin reminded the Board that he does have monthly office hours available to residents and information is available on the Senator’s website. Mr. Wolanin will follow up with Ms. Nartowicz for a schedule of budget hearings for Ways and Means.
Mr. Wolanin will review the current Mountain Biking Policy on state land and provide updated information before the upcoming Rutland Heights round table meeting on January 28th.
Edward Seidler – Sealer of Weights & Measures Fee Schedule – Mr. Seidler introduced himself as the Sealer of Weights & Measures for the Town of Rutland. Mr. Seidler confirmed that the fee increase request is compatible with other towns. Ms. Nartowicz expressed her appreciation for the updated fee schedule as all departments have been asked to review their fee schedules.
The Board agreed that Mr. Seidler should also calibrate the town DPW pumps as there will be no additional cost.
Ms. Dibb made motion to accept the Sealer of Weights & Measures Fee Schedule as presented. Ms. Bacon 2nd motion. Vote unanimous. (Fee schedule attached)
Recreation Restructuring Proposal – Susan Novak, Chair of Recreation Committee presented a restructuring proposal to the Board. The proposal includes the establishment of two new positions. The existing Director of Safe Place would transition to Director of Safe Place & Recreation as a full-time (40 hour/week) salaried position. The second position, Recreation Program Coordinator, is a part-time, hourly non-benefited (16 hour/week) position.
There was conversation about the feasibility of continuing to intermix the Safe Place and Recreation programs. The Board recommends that this be a temporary restructure, to be reviewed in 6 months, then again in 1 year. Ms. Nartowicz will work with the Recreation Committee to determine bench marks for measuring the success of the restructure.
Mr. Pantos made motion to accept the Recreation restructuring proposal with a temporary classification, for review in 6 months and again in 1 year. Ms. Bacon 2nd motion. Roll call vote: Mr. Pantos aye, Ms. Bacon aye, Mr. Walker aye, Mr. Clark aye, Ms. Dibb nay.
RRECC Director Salary Study – Nick DaDalt and HR Consultant Don Jacobs
Mr. Jacobs introduced himself as the Principal of DIJ Consulting. He was hired to perform a salary study for the RRECC Director. Mr. Jacobs has collected salary data for Regional Communications Director positions from other regions within the state. Mr. Jacobs recommends that the RRECC Director salary be increased retroactively for FY16 to the full budgeted amount of $34.18 per hour
to bring the rate closer to the study’s benchmarks.
Mr. DaDalt confirmed that he has had a performance review conducted by the Police and Fire Chiefs and it has been provided to Ms. Nartowicz. Ms. Nartowicz agrees with Mr. Jacobs’ methodology and recommended salary increase to the budgeted amount.
Mr. Jacobs will continue with the Wage Study for all MPT (Management/Professional/ Technical) employees. The Board will review what criteria will need to be taken into consideration, for example call volume, when comparing other regions.
Mr. Pantos made motion to accept recommendation for RRECC Director salary increase to budgeted amount of $34.18/hour. Ms. Bacon 2nd motion. Roll call vote: Mr. Pantos aye, Ms. Bacon aye, Mr. Clark aye, Ms. Dibb nay, Mr. Walker nay.
Public Comment:
Paul Mattson from Rutland Cable Committee provided an update for the Library Studio project. They are currently making the final decisions for flooring and décor. The desk and podium are constructed. Mr. Matson is working closely with the schools to prepare the equipment so meetings will be live and audio can be broadcast throughout the existing Naquag sound system. Mr. Matson expressed his appreciated to the Glenwood School Principal, the Wachusett School Technician and custodial staff for their assistance. Channel 194 has been added to the Charter stations as the Wachusett Channel. Sporting activities and school committee meetings will be broadcast. In the future there will be a list of local Charter channels available to Rutland residents.
Department Updates:
DPW Superintendent – Gary Kellaher
- Mr. Kellaher has signed an agreement with the low bidder, Crocker Architectural for the repairs to the Glenwood School roof under an Emergency Procurement request. Mr. Kelleher presented the Board with a copy of his approved request to the Division of Capital Asset Management and Finance. Under the emergency procurement, Mr. Kelleher requested a waiver of the bidding requirements for the roof repair work. Emergency repair work is expected to start next week on the Glenwood School roof. Ms. Dibb made motion for Mr. Kellaher to be responsible to oversee the roof repair project. Mr. Walker 2nd. Vote unanimous.
- The Water Treatment Plant Operator job posting will be in the paper this week. Currently there are a couple of interested applicants.
- The original truck purchased by the Town for parts has been repaired for $800.00 and will be operable this week. Mr. Kellaher has been approached by full-time town employees about seasonal plowing. Mr. Kellaher will review possibility and payment options with Ms. Nartowicz.
- Mr. Kellaher has started to begin the FY17 budget. Several indirect charges including equipment rates, are outdated. There will be a vote at the upcoming Upper Blackstone Commission meeting for the sewage disposal budget.
Town Administrator – Margaret Nartowicz
- Ms. Nartowicz presented two changes to the Senior Tax Work off Program. The program will be advertised in July and will run from July 1st- June 30th to be in correlation with the tax year. Mr. Pantos made motion to approve the amendment to the Senior Tax Work of Program. Ms. Dibb 2nd motion. Vote unanimous.
- The Parking Clerk position has been posted, there are 2 interested applicants. Ms. Nartowicz will be reviewing applications to make a final determination in the near future.
- Ms. Nartowicz has contacted an attorney with expertise in 61A land preservation. Ms. Nartowicz will be scheduling a group meeting to develop a strategy for acquiring the Davis property under chapter 61A. The town will need to hold a hearing to see if there is interest in obtaining or assigning the parcel to a non-profit organization. The final decision by the Board will be due by its April 26, 2016 meeting.
- Ms. Nartowicz sent out an FY17 budget memo to departments on November 10th. Most departments have responded. Preliminary FY17 revenue projections have been given to the Board in preparation for the budget process. The working budget reflects department requests and has not yet undergone refinements. The FY16 mid-year budget expenditure report will be sent out. Some accounts are currently over 50% at the 6 month mid-year point. MGL Chapter 44 prohibits departments from over spending appropriations.
Correspondence:
The Wachusett Regional School District has sent a request to member towns to provide the School Committee with the FY17 revenue/district funding projection. The School Committee would like to use the projections as a planning tool as they begin the FY17 budget process. The Board discussed the release of the Town funding projection. Mr. Walker expressed concern regarding how revenue projections might be interpreted. The Board asked that Ms. Nartowicz provide additional details beyond the funding projection, including written explanation to the School Committee
Mr. Pantos asked if Board members should become CORI background checked for Executive Session meetings. Ms. Nartowicz will research the level of CORI that would be required.
Mr. Pantos made motion to enter Executive Session for reason #3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. Mr. Clark so declared. Ms. Dibb 2nd motion. Roll call vote: Mr. Clark aye, Ms. Dibb aye, Ms. Bacon aye, Mr. Pantos aye, Mr. Walker aye.
Adjournment:
Ms. Dibb made motion to adjourn. Mr. Walker 2nd motion. Vote unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 9:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Abby Benoit
Administrative Secretary
Board of Selectman Approved 2/1/2016
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