BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JUNE 19, 2006

Present: Arnold Wilson, Chairman

Hal White

Ted Goodwin

William Emrich

Steven Halterman

James Malloy, Town Administrator

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. following the Pledge of Allegiance.

A.Wilson announced that the polls would be open until 8:00 p.m. to vote on the article regarding repair of Town Hall and renovation of the Center School Building.

A.Wilson announced that on June 28^th the Planning Board will host another seminar entitled “Building Sustainable Communities Through Development.”

Thomas Ford, Acting Chief of Police

Thomas Ford reviewed his report with the Board (copy on file). On April 14^th the 2005 Law Enforcement Challenge Application was submitted; last year the Police Dept. received third place in the competition and was awarded a radar gun valued at $3,000.

T. Ford said that Sgt. Blanchard had set up a booth at the Burgess 5^th grade fair, where the Police Dept. had donated a bike and bike helmets to be raffled, with the proceeds going to the 5^th grade class.

T. Ford said that the Sturbridge Police Dept. received a $4,900 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau for child passenger safety. The money will be used to conduct check points and to purchase car seats and materials needed to install car seats.

T. Ford commended Officer Lombardi for his work with Tantasqua students regarding safety and the after prom party that was held at Hogue’s Lanes. There were no problems whatsoever with the event. He said that the summer youth parties will be held on Friday nights at Westville Recreation Area.

H. White said that he had noticed parking violations at Burgess School. T. Ford said that the Police Dept. is working on addressing the parking problems.

Horse Boarding on Podunk Road

Mary Ann Gallo, 211 Podunk Road, addressed the Board regarding an animal waste issue at 207 Podunk Road. She expressed concern about odor from horse manure and contamination of the drinking water supply. J. Malloy said that the zoning issue will have to go through the court. He said that he would visit the site to assess the situation, and he would discuss the matter with the Board of Health. A.Wilson suggested that Ms. Gallo talk to the Board of Health, then report back to the Board of Selectmen.

Gary Jacques, 211 Podunk Road, noted that the average horse produces 60-70 pounds of manure per day, and there are 6-7 horses on the property. He said that the manure is not being removed, and tons of waste are on the property.

Stormwater Permit

As part of the consent order on the Recycling Center and Landfill, the Town was required to submit a stormwater permit for the area. Town Meeting appropriated $10,000 for this purpose in April. J. Malloy obtained a proposal from Tighe & Bond to perform the work for the Town at a cost of $4,700.

MOTION: To authorize the Town Administrator to execute the proposal from Tighe & Bond dated June 2, 2006 to prepare and submit a plan/permit at a cost of $4,700, by H. White.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Vote: All in favor.

Old Sturbridge Village Gateway Project

J. Malloy submitted to the Board a spreadsheet (copy on file) with the bid results from the OSV Gateway Project bid. J. Malloy and Greg Morse, DPW Director, reviewed the bid documents and recommended that the bid be awarded as follows:

Alternate #1 $ 90,802.25

Alternate #2 $ 43,488.50

Alternate #3 $ 69,114.50

Alternate #6 $145,223.00

Alternate #7 $678,055.25

Alternate #7 was a modification to the original base bid. The base bid required full depth excavation of the entire road surface, where the alternate provides for a combination of full depth excavation and milling/resurfacing.

MOTION: To award the OSV Gateway Project bid to J.H. Lynch and Sons for Alternates 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7 for a total bid award of $1,026,683.50; and further, to authorize the Town Administrator to execute all contracts related to this project, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: S. Halterman

Vote: All in favor.

Police Chief Search Committee

J. Malloy informed the Board that he has chosen the following individuals to assist him on the Search Committee:

Lt. Timothy Hackett, Massachusetts State Police, who heads the Sturbridge Barracks; Dan Charette, Chief of Police in Southbridge and a Sturbridge resident; Roy Baum, member of the Personnel Committee, who has served on previous Search Committees for the Town and who is a retired Human Resources professional; and Kevin Smith, Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Bid Award – Road Materials

MOTION: To amend the bids awarded on June 5, 2006 to amend the award to the recommendations included in the June 13, 2006 memorandum from Greg Morse on Items 8.1 through 8.6, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

Bob Briere – Camp Robinson Crusoe

Bob Briere submitted photos of Camp Robinson Crusoe (copies on file) to the Board. He sent emails to former campers of Camp Robinson Crusoe to ask them to consider a reunion at the Camp to do some of the work that needs to be done for re-creating trails, cleanup, etc. Between 150 – 200 campers could do the work on Memorial Day weekend of 2007. The Board considered it to be a good idea.

McGilpin Road

J. Malloy submitted to the Board Tom Chamberland’s email regarding an update on McGilpin Road (copy on file). A.Wilson suggested that the trees be marked with ribbons and numbered.

Signatures/Votes

J. Malloy submitted to the Board a certificate regarding the $2,635,000 General Obligation Bonds to be issued by the Town (copy on file) which required a vote by the Board.

H. White did not think that it was proper to bring a lengthy document to a Selectmen’s meeting for the Board to vote on immediately, and he felt that someone should be present to answer the Board’s questions. J. Malloy explained that he had just received the information and had answered the Board’s questions.

MOTION: To approve the motion as written, by A.Wilson

2^nd: S. Halterman

Vote: Four in favor; H. White opposed.

OSV Closing

J. Malloy said that the closing would be scheduled for Monday, June 26^th. There are some minor issues to be worked out with the Mass. Historic Commission and some additional papers that require every Selectman’s signature and one that requires the Chairman’s signature. He noted that the Conservation Restriction will be ready for signatures on June 20^th.

Approval of Minutes

MOTION: To accept the minutes of May 1, 2006 as written, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the executive session minutes of May 15, 2006, to remain confidential, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the minutes of May 22, 2006, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the executive session minutes of May 22, 2006 as written, to remain confidential, by S. Halterman.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the minutes of June 5, 2006 as amended, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the executive session minutes of June 5, 2006, to remain confidential, by H. White.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Vote: All in favor.

H. White recused himself from the Board in order to address the Board as a resident. He said that he had spoken with Diane Trapasso of the Planning office about an ANR at 122 Wallace Road, of which J. Malloy had made a recommendation to the Planning Board. J. Malloy said that he reviewed the ANRs in Jean Bubon’s absence and determined that they were complete; the Planning Board will take it up at their next meeting. He suggested that H. White give his comments to the Planning Board. H. White noted that the Town Administrator will not be in attendance at the Planning Board meeting, but he has given his endorsement of the ANR. H. White returned to the Board at 7:55 p.m.

Old Business

H. White asked about the status of Forge Landscaping on McGilpin Road. J. Malloy said that the Building Inspector is working on it with Town Counsel.

H. White noted that the Rt. 20 crosswalk at the Senior Center is not in exact alignment, and goes into a 12 foot section of the highway. J. Malloy said that Mass. Highway had painted the crosswalk; Greg Morse said that it should be sand blasted.

W. Emrich noted that the sewer moratorium will conclude on June 20, 2006.

MOTION: To extend the sewer moratorium for one year, to commence June 20, 2006 and to continue the sewer moratorium as voted on June 20, 2005, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: H. White

Vote: All in favor.

A.Wilson asked about the status of the preliminary report from Tighe & Bond regarding comprehensive wastewater management. J. Malloy said that he would look into it.

T. Goodwin asked about the status of the Tantasqua budget, whether there was a schedule for it. J. Malloy said that he had sent a letter (copy on file) to the members of the school committees and the Finance Committee and Dan Durgin, the Incoming Superintendent of Schools regarding discussions on school budgets. Regarding the makeup of the committee to deal with the issue (1 member of the Board of Selectmen, 1 member of the Finance Committee, 1 member of the Burgess School Committee, 1 member of the Tantasqua School Committee, 1 member of the School Administration and the Town Administrator), the Board agreed that it was a good idea.

H. White suggested that all open space management committees that have a vested interest should get together for brainstorming sessions. J. Malloy said that he could arrange it during the August work session.

A.Wilson noted that Town Meeting had funded the part-time position of Assistant Town Clerk at 19 ½ hours, which he considered to be wrong. He said that he has spoken with Barbara Barry, Finance Director, about how to correct it to make it a 20 hour position, eligible for benefits. He noted that it will take a Town Meeting vote.

A.Wilson asked for a volunteer from the Board to serve on the Local Emergency Planning Committee. S. Halterman agreed to do it.

New Business

S. Halterman said that the training session for new selectmen sponsored by the Mass. Municipal Association had been worthwhile.

S. Halterman said that he had asked Lorraine Murawski, Town Clerk, whether she got paid for her work at the Town Elections, and was surprised to hear that she was not.

L. Murawski, Town Clerk, appeared before the Board to announce the Town Election results. The question regarding the funding for the renovation of Town Hall and the Center School Building was defeated: 191 votes yes; 280 votes no.

H. White asked about mandatory employee training and documentation of that training. J. Malloy said that the information would be in the employees’ personnel files.

T. Goodwin suggested that another goal for the Town Administrator would be to monitor river lands.

S. Halterman suggested paying close attention to the mail relative to the cleanup of the property at 51 Holland Road. Charles Blanchard noted that the Board had voted to retain Tighe & Bond to do that, and the reports should be available from Tighe & Bond. J. Malloy said that he would get an update to the Board.

A.Wilson said that there is an apparent curb cut between the bank and the factory on Route 20, and noted that the state had agreed to notify the Board of Selectmen when they created curb cuts on a state highway. He asked J. Malloy to ask Mass. Highway Dept. to review that policy and ask why they have not notified the Board about the curb cut.

A.Wilson announced that Sturbridge received a plaque from CMRPC for excellence in community planning and community preservation. He noted that the OSV land purchase highlighted that.

Ask the Selectmen

There were no calls.

MOTION: To convene in executive session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B, Paragraph #3: To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation; and #6: To consider the purchase, exchange, taking, lease or value of real property; not to reconvene in open session, by T. Goodwin.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Roll call vote: All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

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BOS Clerk Date