BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

AUGUST 21, 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.

 

Department Head Monthly Reports

 

Acting Police Chief Thomas Ford read his report to the Board (copy on file).  He and Sgt. Lavallee attended a Tri-Epic meeting at Harrington Memorial Hospital on June 13th.  Tobacco compliance checks were conducted in June, and a few stores failed.  Sgt. Curboy and Sgt. Lavallee held a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class at the Public Safety Complex which was attended by nine people.  T. Ford attended the Senior Management Institute for Police Training in Boston.  Summer youth parties are being held on Friday nights at Westville Recreation Area, with free music, games, raffles, pizza, soda and volleyball.  The target age for these parties is 12 – 15, and they have been well attended, with 20 – 100 kids per night. 

 

A.Wilson asked about the status of the gasoline budget.  T. Ford said that he would look into it and report back to the Board.

 

Fire Chief Leonard Senecal read his report to the Board (copy on file).  He has been working on the 106 compliance checks for liquor license holders with the Building Inspector.  He has also been working on school inspections, and reported that there are no issues at Burgess Elementary School.  His staff will do a presentation at the school during Fire Prevention Week.  He thanked the Board for the extra money for new equipment.  He received a grant opportunity through the Homeland Security Act, to be used for commercial equipment.  He has been looking at thermal imaging cameras, and will need six units at $12,000 each.  The Jaws of Life Committee has set up meetings with four vendors for each Wednesday night in September to go over their units.  He invited the Board to see this equipment on the first Wednesday in September. 

 

A.Wilson asked about the status of the progress on the subcommittee for upgrading ambulance services.  L. Senecal said that the committee has met three times and is working on the issue. 

 

A.Wilson asked about the protocol relative to issuing blasting permits.  L. Senecal said that the contractor must come to the Fire Dept. with certification and a bond, he must provide a layout of the area and they must have a survey of buildings up to 250 feet away from the blasting site, marking down cracks in walls, etc., then fill out an application for a permit.  A.Wilson asked who would monitor the blasting operation.  L. Senecal said that the applicant must notify the Fire Dept. one hour before the start of blasting, and they must signal before they begin by giving three blasts of a horn.  A.Wilson said that he had received a report that a contractor is blasting after hours with no notification.  L. Senecal said that if residents would submit their complaints to him, he will investigate; the State Fire Marshall’s office would get involved if the contractor does not respond to the Fire Dept.’s suggestions.

 

Greg Morse, DPW Director, read his report to the Board (copy on file).  He said that the Old Sturbridge Village Gateway Project is moving along very well; the parking lot has been repaved, and they started grading the access road.  The DPW staff cut and chipped downed trees and branches in several areas, and other storm-related work.  G. Morse talked to Tighe & Bond regarding Woodside Circle, and they submitted a plan for his review.  He expressed concern about the backdrop and suggested a restraint system.  J. Malloy noted that there will be additional costs that will put it over budget, and there should be a change order for Tighe and Bond. 

 

G. Morse informed the Board that there has been vandalism at the skate park.  He suggested to the neighbors that they call the police when they notice that sort of activity.  Lt. Ford said that the police officers are still conducting skate park checks, and they have been removing individuals who don’t belong there.  G. Morse said that the picnic table and track boxes were moved, and the trash problem is not improving.  J. Malloy suggested putting up a sign indicating that if it continues, the park may be closed.  T. Ford said that the police would increase their checks at the skate park.

 

S. Halterman asked about the status of the flooding problem at Stallion Hill.  G. Morse said that a sketch was drawn of what they did at the site.  The owner gave them a right of entry for drainage.  They installed a 36 inch pipe with a rip rap outlet toward the brook, and put rip rap on the southeastern side of the road.  The drain area has been stabilized with a head wall.

 

Roy Wood introduced Shane Moody of Veolia Water North America to the Board.  R. Wood read his report to the Board (copy on file).  The department has been up to full staff as of August first.  There were no lost time accidents in July.  He said that waste water flows are up 20% - 25% over the last three months. 

 

R. Wood said that they are using Well #1, and have lost the use of Well #3 due to an electrical problem.  They discovered a short in the system, and the motor control center has been replaced.  They have been using the backup motor on Well #3. 

 

R. Wood said that they have just received the first batch of outside electronic meters for the Town.  This will eliminate the manual input of data.  J. Malloy said that errors will be eliminated, and the process will be a lot quicker. 

 

A.Wilson suggested inviting Tighe and Bond to meet with the Board to discuss well issues.  J. Malloy suggested that he and G. Morse meet with Tighe & Bond to review the information that they will present, then schedule a meeting with the Board in October.  It was the consensus of the Board to meet with Tighe & Bond on October 10th.  T. Goodwin asked to be copied on emails between J. Malloy, G. Morse and Tighe & Bond. 

 

S. Halterman asked about the status of a staffing plan for both drinking water and wastewater plant.  Shane Moody said that he has completed a staffing plan, with certain people on the water plan, and certain people on the wastewater plan.  He said that there are two full-time people on wastewater, with the rest of the work out of the Water Department. 

 

A.Wilson said that he had received a report that the detention basin at the end of Forest Lane is being used as a dump.  G. Morse said that he had not received any complaints about it, but would look into it.

 

Alexandra McNitt, Chamber of Commerce

 

Alexandra McNitt, new president of the Tri-Community Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the Board.  She offered to update the Board on a quarterly basis with progress reports regarding the tourism situation.  She noted that their Executive Committee had met with J. Malloy.  It was the consensus of the Board to schedule Alexandra McNitt on a quarterly basis. 

 

A.McNitt said that they have received $25,000 from the Mass. Turnpike Grant, and have used $16,000 for a tourist brochure.  They have recently been notified that an additional $25,000 will be forthcoming.  They plan to place an ad in Yankee magazine; the Public House will pay for a portion of that page.  They have invested in marketing experts to market the entire area for tourism, focusing on culture, recreation, dining, lodging, retail and entertainment. 

 

A. McNitt asked the Board for feedback regarding changing the name of the Sturbridge Area Tourist Association to the Sturbridge Area Tourism Association.  She did not think that it made sense since SATA is a very recognizable name.  J. Malloy noted that this question came up during the budget process, and it is a Town Meeting issue that should be addressed.  He suggested that A.McNitt send him a letter saying that the SATA board is requesting clarification of a broader mission statement.

 

J. Malloy suggested utilizing the Chamber of Commerce for beautification of the business district, and information about Town bylaws. 

 

Approval of Minutes

 

MOTION:       To accept the minutes of August 7, 2006 as amended, by H. White.

            2nd:     W. Emrich

            Vote:  All in favor.

 

J. Malloy announced that the tax classification hearing has been scheduled for September 5th .  He noted that the Board had voted a split tax rate last year, and recommended maintaining that split tax rate.

 

J. Malloy said that the annual application for the sewer rate relief fund requires the Board’s signature.  He said that the debt service figure is $572,857.50.

 

MOTION:       That $572,857.50 is the debt service for the Town of Sturbridge in FY07, by T. Goodwin.

            2nd:     H. White

            Vote:  All in favor.

 

Old Business

 

S. Halterman had attended the grand opening of the Union Station bus terminal in Worcester.  He suggested having a bus stop in Sturbridge.  J. Malloy noted that there used to be a bus stop in front of the Information Center on Route 20. 

 

S. Halterman volunteered to be on the ad hoc committee for Camp Robinson Crusoe.  J. Malloy commented that he has not heard back from other committees yet. 

 

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

 

W. Emrich asked about the summit meeting in Holland.  J. Malloy informed the Board that the summit meeting has been scheduled for September 28th.

 

T. Goodwin asked about the agenda for the brainstorming session.  J. Malloy said that there was no agenda yet. 

 

A.Wilson asked about the status of the Jason Lemieux matter.  J. Malloy said that he will look into it. 

 

New Business

 

S. Halterman asked about the process for having a street light installed.  J. Malloy said that it must be reviewed by the Street Light Committee. 

 

H. White received a FAX from Paula Kopacz, 63 Bennett’s Road (copy on file), regarding her opposition to changes to the width of Bennett’s Road, and he suggested that G. Morse and Lt. Ford be given a copy.  He visited her property on August 12th, but since the Board has not had a chance to read the FAX, he suggested that it be discussed at a future meeting. 

 

T. Goodwin said that he had talked to Deb Boyd, Business Manager, about the Finance Committee’s pie chart.  J. Malloy noted that the chart that the Finance Committee puts in their handbook does not include health insurance costs, workers compensation, property and liability insurance, unemployment, etc. which brings it up to a higher percent. 

 

T. Goodwin had talked to Marge Cooney about increases for Diane Trapasso and Leslie Wong, and asked that the Board consider supporting it. 

 

A.Wilson had received a memo from Jean Bubon, Town Planner regarding zoning bylaw revisions.  He said that the Zoning Study Committee will meet on Sept. 14, 2006 and invited the community to participate. 

 

A.Wilson announced that MMA is sponsoring a statewide essay contest for 6th graders entitled, “If I were elected leader of my community, I would make a difference by . . . :” 

 

Ask the Selectmen

 

W. Emrich received a call from Velma Franz, who reported that the sound was great.

 

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

2nd:     H. White

Roll call vote:  All were in favor.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                            Judy Knowles

 

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BOS Clerk                                         Date