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BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
Present: Arnold Wilson, Chairman
Hal White
Charles Blanchard
Doris Sosik
Greg Morse, Acting Town Administrator
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. following the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
The Board decided to hold on the approval of the minutes of September 17th, pending corrections.
MOTION: To approve the executive session minutes of September 10, 2001, to remain confidential, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: D. Sosik
Vote: All in favor.
MOTION: To adjourn the meeting that had been continued to September 11, 2001, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: H. White
Vote: Three in favor; D. Sosik abstained.
Tax Classification Hearing
Tom Chamberland, Donald Mapplebeck and Lloyd Pote appeared before the Board. T. Chamberland informed the Board that the Board of Assessors has not received final certification from the Dept. of Revenue. They estimated new growth to be $512,773, and submitted a breakdown and analysis to the Board (copy on file). They recommended maintaining a factor of 1. When Bev Poirier gets the final certification from the Dept. of Revenue, the Board will reopen the hearing and vote on it.
Greg Morse, DPW Director & Paul Donahue, U.S. Filter/EOS
G. Morse read his report to the Board (copy on file). The work on the bridge on Holland Road has been completed.
Phase III connections will begin as of October 15, 2001. Letters have been sent to property owners with instructions about connecting to the sewer and information about the betterment assessment.
A.Wilson asked about the status of the Route 20 beautification project. G. Morse said that Tom Chamberland is going to place an order for trees.
Paul Donahue read his report to the Board (copy on file). C. Blanchard asked how often the carbon media is changed. P. Donahue said that they change it every 90 days.
P. Donahue had sent a memo to J. Malloy and G. Morse regarding hydrant conditions (copy on file). All hydrants are flushed twice per year, and any mechanical problems discovered during flushing operations are placed on a repair list and corrected in order of priority.
Bill Swiacki
Bill Swiacki appeared before the Board. He confirmed that the existing sewer and water mains were adequate in size to accommodate the flows from the homes in the proposed project. The engineer, Gerald Buzanoski, prepared a report which Mr. Swiacki submitted to the Board (copy on file). It was the consensus of the Board to hold off on voting on it for another week so that they could review the information.
G. Morse said that Jay O
Correspondence
Sept. 4 Michael Tirrell, Chief Fire Warden, Dept. of Environmental Management
Sept. 7 Dept. of Telecommunications and Energy
Sept. 13 Danial Wildgrube, President, Cedar Lake Association
MOTION: To approve the drawdown of Cedar Lake as outlined in their letter dated Sept. 13, 2001, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: D. Sosik
Vote: ll in favor.
Sept. 13 Rep. Reed Hillman
Sept. 18 Ninos and Mansoura Aho, 72 Main St.
A.Wilson noted that the Town Planner had sent J. Malloy a memo regarding Chapter 40B, the housing bill; the Board also received an action bulletin from the Mass. Municipal Association about the bill.
MOTION: To ask J. Malloy to write a letter of support for the bill to Senator Brewer, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: H. White
Vote: All in favor.
Frank Leo
Frank Leo has been activated as a military reservist, and it is expected to be a long-term activation. There is concern over pay/benefits, as the military pay will not start for a five-week period. J. Malloy submitted to the Board the sections of the labor contract with the Police Dept. and the Town Chief Button indicated that Frank Leo
J. Malloy authorized the Chief to provide Frank Leo, as well as any other employees that may be called for active duty, full pay for the first 17-day period and that any pay periods that overlap where the employee receives wages from the military and the Town, that the military pay be turned over to the Town. The labor contract states that the Town is to pay the difference, which would ensure that his family will continue to receive his regular paycheck. For the remainder of the period before his military pay starts, Mr. Malloy authorized Chief Button to allow Frank Leo to use his vacation pay to fill the gap between when the 17 paid days ends and when the military pay would begin.
Regarding health insurance, the Town does not have a policy regarding extended military leave and whether the employee would have to go to COBRA or would continue with having the Town pay 50% of the premium. Mr. Malloy recommended that the Town continue to pay the 50% premium.
MOTION: To authorize continued town contributions of 50% for health insurance for any employee called for active military duty during the present national emergency, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: D. Sosik
Vote: All in favor.
Ethics Question
J. Malloy reviewed the State Ethics Law MGL Ch. 268A and the State Ethics Commission website and spoke to attorney John McDonald at the State Ethics Commission regarding the issues that came up at the last Selectmen
MOTION: To invoke the Rule of Necessity due to the quorum of the Board of Selectmen having a conflict of interest under MGL Ch. 268A, §19 with a member and member 2nd: H. White
Vote: All in favor.
D. Sosik requested an exemption under Ch. 268A, §20D.
MOTION: That Doris Sosik be allowed an exemption under Ch. 268A, §20D and be allowed to vote on matters related to the school, by H. White.
2nd: C. Blanchard
Vote: Three in favor; D. Sosik abstained.
Resignation
MOTION: To accept the resignation of Doris Sosik from the Open Space Committee and the Community Preservation Committee, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: H. White
Vote: Three in favor; D. Sosik abstained.
C. Blanchard noted that the vote was to confirm that D. Sosik is a special municipal employee.
Phase III Betterment Appeal
J. Malloy received a request from Ninos Aho, 72 Main Street, regarding the estimated betterment assessment on his property. Mr. Malloy explained to Mr. Aho that his betterment assessment was based on the commercial status of his property as provided by the Assessor
MOTION: To change Mr. Aho 2nd: D. Sosik
Vote: All in favor.
Miscellaneous
Center School Building
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Commercial/Industrial Sewer Customers without Town Water
There are four or five commercial/industrial sewer customers that do not have town water. Most of them are located in the Technology Park area. J. Malloy discussed it with G. Morse and Barbara Barry and at this time, these customers are being billed the same rate as residential sewer customers without town water. This is not an equitable situation, as these users are estimated to generate a much higher flow. Mr. Malloy recommended that the Board adopt a policy that would require commercial/industrial sewer customers to install a meter on their well and that their sewer bill be based upon the water use multiplied by the sewer rate. A.Wilson suggested that the wording “Sturbridge Water Department” be changed to “DPW.”
MOTION: To amend the sewer rate schedule to add a new rate for commercial/industrial sewer customers without water at $2.20 per 100 cu. ft. with the requirement that they install a water meter that meets the approval of the Sturbridge Water Department on their well, by C. Blanchard.
2nd: H. White
Vote: All in favor.
Meeting at Westville
J. Malloy and G. Morse met with Mike Coughlin, Hamer Clarke and Merle Basset at Westville regarding the closing of the road. There are two sections of state law that would have required the Town of Southbridge to hold public hearings and obtain the consent of the Sturbridge Board of Selectmen prior to closing the road. In reviewing the records further, it appears that the road was discontinued in 1961, when the Army Corps project was completed and that the road is not presently a public road, so the requirements of the state law would not apply. The Town of Southbridge is having VHB conduct an engineering review of their analysis and estimate for repairs to the stone wall and road. Mr. Malloy requested that the Board consider contacting Southbridge to request that the Army Corps of Engineers send out a team to
conduct a thorough review of the condition of the stone wall and make recommendations on what options the towns may have to keep the road open. He suggested that the request be sent through Congressman Neal
A.Wilson thought that it would be a good subject to be discussed at the summit meeting. He suggested that the Board wait to hear from VHB.
Casino Meetings
J. Malloy attended the Tri-Community Chamber meeting with A. Wilson, where John Filchak from the Northeast CT Council of Governments discussed issues related to casinos. The Tri-Community Chamber opted to hold off until their next meeting before taking a position on the issue.
J. Malloy also attended the CMRPC meeting to follow up on the request regarding an impact study. The meeting was with their Physical Development Sub-Committee and the idea of conducting an impact study was unanimously recommended to their executive committee. The Town of Sturbridge and perhaps other local towns would be requested to fund such a study. Mr. Malloy will contact the state representatives and Senator Brewer to seek state funding for the study.
A.Wilson said that the Board should consider whether or not to sponsor an article for funding. C. Blanchard said that Bill Scanlon had suggested that it could cost $40,000 - $50,000. He suggested that some engineering time be used to come up with an outline of the study and what it would cost. H. White noted that the state of Connecticut has studies going back to the early 1990s, and the Board should define what it needs.
Quinebaug File
J. Malloy placed the entire license file on his conference table for the Board
Chapter 90 Project Request
G. Morse requested that the Board approve Chapter 90 Project Requests for road resurfacing on Holland Road and Mashapaug Road.
MOTION: To approve the Chapter 90 Project Request for road resurfacing of Holland Road and Mashapaug Road, numbers 37117, 37476 and 38586 in the amount of $128,510, by H. White.
2nd: C. Blanchard
Vote: All in favor.
Old Business
C. Blanchard asked whether EOS was approached by the state about operating a well for the proposed information center. G. Morse will look into it.
A.Wilson met with John Argitis relative to the G & F Industries fire. All of the damaged areas have been cleared. They presently have a tent at the site for storage and machinery; and six machines are in production, and they expect to have 25 more up and running in four or five weeks. They have leased office space at AO. About 75% of their work force is back at work. They plan to construct their new facility in the spring.
New Business
D. Sosik asked about the status of the Open Space Development Committee, and suggested that a bylaw be made pertaining to its function. A. Wilson said that the Committee is short on members, with three seats open.
A.Wilson thanked everyone who had organized the memorial services on the Town Common over the past two weeks.
C. Blanchard announced the first Annual Tantasqua Homecoming Golf Tournament to be held on Sept. 30th at Heritage Country Club in Charlton. Proceeds will benefit the Tantasqua Student Council.
C. Blanchard announced that the Board has been invited to the Tree of Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 30th at 6:00 p.m. on the Brimfield Town Common. They have asked for donations for bows, and those who donate will write their names on the bows and have them hung on the tree.
C. Blanchard announced the Quinebaug-Shetucket Walking Weekend to be held on October 6-8.
Ask the Selectmen
There were no calls.
MOTION: To adjourn, by H. White.
2nd: C. Blanchard
Vote: All in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Knowles
_____________________________
BOS Clerk Date
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