BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 5, 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.

Approval of Minutes

MOTION: To accept the minutes of August 21, 2006 as amended, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: S. Halterman

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the executive session minutes of August 21, 2006 as submitted, to remain confidential, by H. White.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

Recreation Committee & Leagues

Lynne Girouard, Recreation Coordinator appeared before the Board along with representatives from the various sports leagues in Town to request support for the recreation fields. She submitted to the Board a list of the leagues, including their schedules and which fields they use (copy on file). She noted a number of issues with many of the fields, including their inadequacy and lack of sufficient parking.

Molly Giordano, Pop Warner Football League, said that there are two teams that practice at Brimfield Elementary, as well as the cheerleaders. She noted that only three home games per week are allowed at the high school, and busing to other towns is very expensive, costing $32,000 for the year. She said that there would be less need for travel and less expense if additional fields were made available. She stressed the need for a new sports area with adequate parking and lights. She said that it costs each player $80 to play football, and each player also has to sell $250 worth of calendars.

J. Malloy said that he had suggested to Lynne Girouard that she put together a grid to show how the fields are used. He said that a number of the fields belong to the Tantasqua Regional School District. Since there are wetlands issues in a number of areas, he suggested coordinating the planning of new fields with a new school project after the needs are determined. He suggested putting together a broad based group to take a look at the situation, then take a look at land and come back to the Board with some recommendations, then have an architect provide cost estimates on designing new fields. He noted that the topography of the Town makes it difficult to design new fields.

Diane Monfredo, Girls Softball League, said that they have six teams that travel. She noted the difficulty in reserving the use of fields, since there is so much competition for the existing fields. She also noted that the fields are not regulation size. L. Girouard said that money is made for the teams through concessions during home games. She emphasized the need for new regulation size fields with parking and lights.

Board of Assessors – Classification Hearing

J. Malloy read the public notice into the record (copy on file). Donald Mappleback, Thomas Chamberland and Marita Tasse of the Board of Assessors appeared before the Board. T. Chamberland said that the purpose of the hearing was to determine whether all property will be taxed at a factor of one, or at a split rate. He said that a split rate would minimize the tax burden on the residential side. He noted that the Board of Assessors has always supported a factor of one, and believed it to be the best fiscal policy. They felt that a split tax rate would create problems later on.

A.Wilson said that for years he had supported the factor of one; however, it became apparent that residential property values were increasing faster than the commercial, putting most of the burden on residential property owners. J. Malloy said that the Board had established an informal policy to maintain what was the break between residential and commercial/industrial before the last revaluation, a 75/25 split. He recommended adopting a residential factor of .906127. He noted that the residential valuation is based on comparative home sales, while the commercial/industrial valuation is based on the income and expense approach.

H. White noted that the Board of Selectmen had reviewed this situation a few years ago. He said that there is a sharp decrease for commercial/industrial, while residential is looking at a sharp increase in taxes. He noted that there are two different measures: one for residential; one for industrial/commercial. He added that it is the intent of the Board to level commercial taxes at where they had been historically.

Kevin Smith, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that he was not in favor of giving commercial taxpayers a tax cut, and would have a hard time moving away from Town policy on this.

A.Wilson requested that J. Malloy and the Board of Assessors provide more information to the Board of Selectmen. He suggested that the hearing be continued, so that the Board could review the matter and make an informed decision.

H. White suggested going back to the base line of 75/25 split; look at the total valuation of industrial and commercial and the total valuation for residential, then look at new construction growth for the subsequent years, which should show how the base has changed.

A.Wilson suggested that prior to next year’s classification hearing, the Board of Assessors should submit information a few weeks ahead of time for the Board’s review. J. Malloy said that he asked Bev Poirier for the new factors that would reflect what the new percentage would be. H. White suggested doing the same comparison that was done three years ago.

MOTION: To continue the public hearing to September 11, 2006 at 6:30 p.m., by H. White.

2^nd: S. Halterman

Vote: All in favor.

Recreation Committee and Sports Leagues (Continued)

Mike Derusso, Girls Indoor Basketball, said that the girls practice in the north and south gyms at Burgess, and they must compete with the cheerleaders for use of the gyms. There is no seating in the gyms, and they also need a portable scoreboard. He said that there is also a need for indoor facilities for soccer. Lynne Girouard said that this is an issue to be brought up to the School Committee. W. Emrich said that he would like to see new basketball courts with fields and adequate parking.

George Dib, Little League and Coed Basketball, commented that the floor in the south gym is very slippery. He coaches approximately 200 participants from first through sixth grades. Regarding Little League, he expressed concern that the existing ball fields at Burgess will disappear during the Burgess building project, resulting in one or two seasons without baseball. J. Malloy noted that there will be a completely different plan, and the state will decide what it will be.

G. Dib said that on Saturdays and Sundays, both fields are in use, with the five teams playing an 8 – 16 game schedule. He said that Sturbridge has no chance of hosting a tournament under the current situation. He hopes for a state of the art complex for the kids.

H. White said that it would be helpful if the various teams and leagues would give the Board a list of the other communities’ facilities, indicating what to bench mark against, including a cost estimate. G. Dib offered to take photos. J. Malloy suggested sending a schedule as well.

Becky Auger and Bob Plank of TRY Soccer appeared before the Board. The participants in TRY Soccer range in age from 5 to 17, and approximately 50% of them are from Sturbridge. The teams play on fields in Brimfield. W. Emrich noted that the older children play at the cage in Southbridge. J. Malloy said that there are four different teams playing on the junior high school complex on Friday nights. H. White said that they use the high school fields from August through October, then play indoors at Burgess from November through March. L. Girouard said that it is scheduled on a first come, first served basis, with so many teams competing for use of the fields.

Tom Chamberland, American Legion Commander, said that for four years there has been an American Legion Baseball team for children ages 15 – 19. They use the Tantasqua High School field, which is not a regulation size baseball field, and a hazardous field to play on because everyone in the outfield is looking right into the sun, resulting in people getting hit with balls. He said that the foul balls end up in the swamp. He stressed the need for a regulation size baseball field with lights. He said that the American Legion is willing to partner with the Town in the development of a new field.

L. Girouard said that the Recreation Department has been asked whether it is possible to use the fields for the Special Olympics, and they have been contacted by other organizations as well, but they could not use the fields. She noted that bringing in other sports teams to Sturbridge would help tourism, bringing more business to shops, restaurants, etc. J. Malloy suggested the possibility of making some of the existing fields into regulation fields, and increasing parking for the fields. He said that he would work with L. Girouard to put together a proposal for the Board of Selectmen to consider.

A.Wilson suggested the Shepard parcel as a possible location for a new field. J. Malloy said that any parcel (except for the Old Sturbridge Village land because of the conservation restriction with the Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife) that was purchased using CPA funds could be used for passive recreation, and the Shepard parcel is a possibility.

A.Wilson noted that the neighbors to the skate park have been complaining about litter and vandalism. G. Dib suggested moving the skate park to a more visible location, and suggested using signs and warnings that it may be closed if the situation does not improve. S. Halterman suggested meeting with the parents, and said that the park should be supervised. L. Girouard did not think that closing the skate park was the answer. She said that children were making copies of the key, resulting in the necessity of changing the locks. A.Wilson suggested getting a core group of parents together, and work out a volunteer schedule for them to supervise the park. It was the consensus of the Board to provide more ball fields.

Public Lands Day

J. Malloy said that Tom Chamberland is working on organizing the activities for Public Lands Day, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 30^th from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Westville Lake Park. The Sturbridge Trail Committee, along with the Conservation Commission with assistance from Northern Tree Service will be clearing trails on the Heins property and getting rid of dead trees and hazardous limbs.

Appointments/Resignations

MOTION: To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointment of Angela Pearson as a part-time E911 Dispatcher with an effective date of 9/6/06, by H. White.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointment of Gary Jacques as a part-time E911 Dispatcher with an effective date of 9/6/06, by H. White.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointment of Jennifer Reed to the Council on Aging, by H. White.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

MOTION: To accept the resignation of Thomas Indge as a full-time Police Officer, by H. White.

2^nd: T. Goodwin

Vote: All in favor.

Senior Municipal Service Program

MOTION: To approve the Senior Municipal Service Program for Gerald Suprenant to work at the Senior Center, by W. Emrich.

2^nd: H. White

Vote: All in favor.

Federated Church

J. Malloy submitted to the Board a letter from Robert Jackson, Minister at the Sturbridge Federated Church (copy on file). He noted that for some time there has been an issue of the temporary signs that the Church has put up for various events that were held at the Church. These signs have been placed on Town property for visibility by the Church. It has been J. Malloy’s policy to not allow any signs on Town property other than those related to events on the property itself (i.e. Town Common). Additionally, there have been zoning issues with the Building Inspector related to temporary signs. In an effort to try to resolve the issue in a way that would work for the Town and the Church, given the proximity of the buildings, J. Malloy met with Rev. Jackson and Tim Bardsley, Chair of their Board of Deacons, and they discussed several different ways that this issue could be addressed. The best solution was the addition of a second permanent sign, similar to the one at the Information Center on Route 20, but with space for just two signs, so that it would be more in keeping with the Town Common area, and to be placed on the hill alongside the library. He said that placing a similar but smaller version at the Town Common area would be a way to address the church library and Town Common events such as the Concerts on the Common. The Board approved of the idea. J. Malloy said that he would update the Board as things progress.

Lemieux Request

The Lemieux request was for extension of the expiration period for the sewer connection permit. J. Malloy submitted to the Board copies of emails from the ZBA Chair and the Conservation Agent on this issue (copies on file) and discussed it with those involved. He said that the initial plans did not show any wetlands, and the property owner took out the sewer connection permit anticipating the ability to connect in the near future. After the permit was pulled, it was determined that there was a wetland issue which resulted in changes to the plans, which then became a zoning issue as well. The property owner went through the ZBA process and Conservation Commission process, both of which took more time than allotted for the permit. Mr. Lemieux paid the initial fee for the permit, and requested that he be allowed to connect without having to pull a new permit and pay the fee again.

MOTION: To grant a connection at no additional charge to the applicant, by H. White.

2^nd: S. Halterman

Vote: All in favor.

Big Alum Lake Drawdown

MOTION: To approve the drawdown request of the Big Alum Lake Association to draw down Big Alum Lake by 36” on September 15, 2006, subject to Conservation Commission approval of the amount and the date, by H. White.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Vote: All in favor.

Favreau Deed Correction

J. Malloy submitted to the Board paperwork related to the deed correction on the property (copy on file) that the Town acquired from Kaitbenski for the new well site. There had been a misstated deed reference in the original deed that referred to the wrong plan for a paper street that was exempted from the purchase. Town Counsel had advised that no further Town Meeting vote is required to correct this issue, given the original intent of the acquisition and deed description.

MOTION: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to execute the corrective deed as presented in the letter from Attorney Jeff Chasse dated 8/23/06, by H. White.

2^nd: W. Emrich

Vote: All in favor.

Miscellaneous

• J. Malloy will attend the ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX from 9/9 – 9/13, to return on 9/14. He submitted to the Board a preliminary schedule of meetings that he will attend (copy on file).
• BLS, ALS & Paramedic – The Board had asked for a summary of the difference; J. Malloy submitted to the Board a printout (copy on file) which explains each of the different levels of EMT services.
• Sturbridge Employee Wellness Program – The Town has an employee wellness program that has a fairly high attendance rate and has been well received by the staff. J. Malloy submitted to the Board a summary of the past year of programs (copy on file) offered to the staff and the attendance at various programs. He noted that because of high participation by the staff, the Town’s rate charged by MIIA is going down.
• Scenic Road Bylaw – The Attorney General’s office rejected the bylaw change that would exempt the Town’s DPW from the Planning Board public hearing process when working on a scenic road after a state of emergency has been declared. The AG’s office indicated to Town Counsel that there is no provision in the law that would allow this to be exempted. J. Malloy spoke with Town Counsel and asked that he contact the AG’s office to explain the intent; if this is not successful, he recommended that the Town request Senator Brewer and Rep. Smola to submit legislation that would exempt municipal DPWs (on a statewide basis) during states of emergency.
• Website – J. Malloy said that meetings are being posted on the Town’s Website, and some people are having a difficult time opening them. He noted that 323 people have downloaded the four meetings (Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Zoning Board) that are posted over a 30-day period. He will work with Virtual Town Hall to see if there is a better way to post these meetings so that downloading will work for everyone.

Old Business

A.Wilson requested the Board’s comments regarding sewer services. It was the consensus of the Board to discuss it at the work session on October 10^th.

A.Wilson announced the Last Green Valley’s 16^th annual Walking Weekends will be held on October 6-9 and 13-15 in the 35 towns of The Last Green Valley. More than 100 free guided walks will be conducted.

A.Wilson asked about the status of the Town Hall elevator. J. Malloy said that it is working.

A.Wilson asked the Board when they wanted to decide on a plan of action regarding the skate park. J. Malloy said that he has the authority over Town property under the town charter. He noted that it is being monitored as well as possible by police and parents. He suggested creating pocket skate parks all over Town where they will be highly visible, instead of one large skate park. H. White suggested the Board take it up during a work session in November or December, and include Recreation, DPW and residents who live near the skate park.

A.Wilson said that regarding the tax classification, commercial/industrial should not get a reduction in taxes in dollars. J. Malloy said that new development and construction should be accounted for. T. Goodwin suggested comparing other towns’ commercial tax rates to Sturbridge’s tax rate.

New Business

A.Wilson announced that there will be an Open Space Brainstorming Session on Sept. 11^th at 6:30 p.m. at Sturbridge Town Hall.

A.Wilson announced that on Sept. 12^th the Planning Board will consider a site plan for 127-135 Main Street.

A.Wilson announced that on Sept. 14^th the Zoning Study Committee is inviting everyone to their meeting at 7:00 p.m. for their input.

A.Wilson announced that the Primary Election will be held on Sept. 19^th.

A.Wilson announced that Tighe and Bond will attend the Board’s work session on October 10^th to discuss water and sewer issues.

Ask the Selectmen

H. White said that 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 Paragraph #6: To consider the purchase, exchange, taking, lease or value of real property; not to reconvene in open session, by T. Goodwin.

2^nd: H. White

Roll call vote: All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

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BOS Clerk Date