BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2007

Present:          Hal White, Chairman

Steven Halterman

Ted Goodwin

Arnold Wilson

William Emrich

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 20, 2007 as amended, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To accept the executive session minutes of September 4, 2007 as submitted, to remain confidential, by A. Wilson.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Department Head Monthly Reports

Harold Nichols, Building Inspector, reviewed his report with the Board (copy on file).  He noted that there was not much new construction, but there have been a lot of additions, remodeling and alterations.  In August there were two single family dwellings, two multiple dwellings, five additions and alterations, 12 repairs and four pool installations.

Greg Morse, DPW Director, reviewed his report with the Board (copy on file).  He said that the McGilpin Road reconstruction is ongoing, and phase 2 was roughed out and staked out by the operations manager.

G. Morse said that all of the DPW equipment has been inspected and has passed.  New signs for the Pan Mass Challenge were installed on Route 20 and Fairgrounds Road.  The sign for the basketball championship was installed.

G. Morse noted that Superior Seal Coating will begin the annual crack sealing program, which has been limited due to the high cost per gallon.  Line striping has been scheduled to be done in two weeks.

J. Malloy thanked G. Morse for his assistance with Board of Health perc tests, and the Board of Health greatly appreciates his extra effort.  He announced that there will be an informational meeting regarding McGilpin Road on October 2, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

H. White asked about the status of temporary paving on Route 131.  J. Malloy said that he had met with the Commissioner of Mass. Highway, Senator Brewer, Rep. Smola, Arthur Frost, Larry Adams and Thomas Waruzila.  Approval was received for the project from the Commissioner of Mass. Highway.  They will do a 2” overlay sometime this fall from the intersection of Maple Street to Hall Road, covering approximately 1400 feet.

Shane Moody, Veolia Water North America, reviewed his report with the Board (copy on file).  He said that there will be a mandatory water ban, and residents must be notified by April 15, 2008.  He will work with Greg Morse and Jim Malloy on that issue.

S. Moody said that Well #1 needs MPA testing, which is required and will be done in the spring.  He noted that it must meet the surface water criteria.  Regarding Well #2, the motor for it has come in, and it will be back and running on Tuesday, September 25th.

S. Moody said that hydrant flushing and meter reading is being done.  He noted that two or three hydrants need to be replaced.

Fire Chief Leonard Senecal reviewed his report with the Board (copy on file).  He said that Mary Lou Volpe will graduate from the Fire Academy on September 28th, and she is doing very well.  He noted that Eric Roppolo and Tom Edwards are working out well since they have been hired.

H. White asked about the status of EMT-P.  Chief Senecal said that all of the paperwork has been sent to the state, and he is waiting for word back from the state.  J. Malloy added that he had placed a copy of the application to the state in the Board’s correspondence box.

H. White asked about the status of the radio antennas.  Chief Senecal said that they will be doing site work to make sure that all of the equipment is working property.  J. Malloy said that all of the lines are in, and there is a wiring issue.  Verizon has run the wires into the building, but there is no signal coming from it.  There will be an onsite meeting to do some tests, and they will get it corrected.  He noted that New England Communications believes that it will boost radio communication at the schools.

Appointments

MOTION:       To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointments of Charles Blanchard (2010), Pat Jeffries (2010), Jeffrey Bonja (2009), Mike Rylant (2009) and Lisa Dalberth (2008) to the Housing Partnership Committee, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  Four in favor; H. White opposed

MOTION:       To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointments of Ed Cloutier (2010), Brian Caron (2010), Ann Geyer (2009) and Therese Hillman (2008) to the Agricultural Commission, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

J. Malloy informed the Board that he appointed the following people to the Economic Development Committee:  Thad Darger, Steve Dalberth, Michael Cimini, Kevin MacConnell and Alexandra McNitt.

Fire Inspector Appointment

MOTION:       To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointment of John Marinelli as the Fire Inspector, effective September 18, 2007, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     A.Wilson

Vote:  All in favor.

Miscellaneous

The Board had asked for information relative to Cherry Sheet Receipts vs. Charges over the past several years.  J. Malloy submitted to the Board a spreadsheet (copy on file) comparing the FY03 and FY08 Cherry Sheet Receipts and Charges, as well as the actual Cherry Sheets.  The Board had also commented on the Mosquito Control District and asked how the assessment was determined.  Tim Deschamps, Executive Director of the Central Mass. Mosquito Control District, indicated that the assessment is based on the equalized valuation (1/4 of the assessment) and land area (3/4 of the assessment) for each community as a portion of the overall district.

J. Malloy said that the Town received three different grants from the USDA Rural Development in the past several years for the Big Alum Sewer Project, Well #4 Project and Woodside Circle/Westwood Drive Sewer Project.  As part of the application there was an ADA Self Evaluation, which was done by taking some information that existed prior to the grant submission on the Big Alum Sewer Project and updating it.  During an audit, the USDA determined that this did not meet the criteria, and that it was necessary to hire an agency to conduct a self evaluation.  J. Malloy requested and received approval to use excess grant funds available from the Woodside Circle/Westwood Drive Sewer Project for this purpose (from the USDA), and he will meet with the Center for Living and Working, Inc. next week.  Once he has a proposal, he will update the Board and seek approval to have the evaluation done.

J. Malloy submitted to the Board information on the Mass. Downtown Initiative Grant Program (copy on file).  He asked Alex McNitt at the Chamber of Commerce to review the application and consider working with the Town to review the potential of a Business Improvement District (BID).  He will update the Board on any plans to submit an application.

J. Malloy will attend the ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh from 10/6 through 10/10 and will not be able to attend the 10/9 work session with the PLAC.

J. Malloy informed the Board that in late October he will be a speaker at a meeting in Beverly on the future of web based services for municipalities.

Pole Hearing – Picker Road

MOTION:       To open the public hearing, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Scott Burns of Verizon appeared before the Board, requesting permission to place one new pole on the westerly side of Picker Road.

MOTION:       To approve the new jointly owned pole as presented on the plan marked “Verizon Job No. 9ACV5L” to be placed on Picker Road approximately 77 feet southerly from the centerline of Technology Park Road, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by A. Wilson.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  All in favor.

Miscellaneous

S. Halterman asked about the rules for Ask the Selectmen, and noted that it was not intended to be a debate between the people calling and the Selectman who answers the phone.  Callers are required to identify themselves and identify the topic.  H. White said that any person in the audience may ask any member of the Board of Selectmen a question while another Board member is answering the phone during Ask the Selectmen.  He noted that questions should be answered when all of the Board members are in attendance (after the phone calls).  H. White said that if people want to get into a lengthy debate, they could be put on the agenda.  A. Wilson said that people calling in are required to identify themselves, but they may request not to be identified to the public.

H. White asked about passive and active recreation regarding the proposed acquisition of the river lands.  J. Malloy said that the difference between passive and active recreation is whether or not there is a permanent change or impact to the land.  Bleachers, grandstands, rest rooms and lights constitute active recreation.  H. White suggested turning the land over to the Conservation Commission to regulate it in perpetuity.  J. Malloy said that under the Conservation Preservation Act, there should be a conservation restriction for each parcel owned by the Town.  He noted that there are state agencies that can also accept conservation restrictions, such as the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (to open the land up to hunting and fishing).

Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan

Dave Healey and Ian Catlow of Tighe & Bond appeared before the Board.

J. Malloy submitted to the Board the information that S. Halterman had requested at the last work session regarding average residential, commercial and industrial flows (copy on file).  J. Malloy also included some “sample” commercial and industrial businesses to give the Board an idea of what the actual flows were for these locations (copy on file).  He worked through the areas that the Board had identified as being part of the sewer shed, so that as the Board discusses the amount of additional flow to set aside for future commercial/industrial flows, it will be possible to calculate the approximate size plant.

H. White suggested that the following areas be included in the sewer service area:  3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12; area 19 could be serviced in the future by a private system, and areas 23, 27 and part of 34 will be serviced by a decentralized system.

J. Malloy noted that 28,175 is the average flow going to Southbridge.  G. Morse said that true gravity and pumped flow are two different flows going to Southbridge.  J. Malloy suggested looking at total flow less what is going by gravity.  T. Goodwin suggested obtaining a range of prices for the different sizes of treatment plants.  D. Healey said that there is a 3% differential in the increase in cost, and noted that the amount of difference in the volume of concrete is marginal.  J. Malloy said that a 1,281,613 gpd plant size is needed to ensure that the Town does not reach more than 80%, and 256,323 is the buffer number.  S. Halterman said that is the number that should be costed out.  The Board came to a complete agreement on areas to be covered.  G. Morse asked for estimates.  The Board came to consensus on the sewer growth numbers.

Old Business

S. Halterman asked whether the Town Administrator’s goals were posted on the website.  J. Malloy said that they were.

A.Wilson asked whether there have been any applications received for the alternate for CMRPC.  J. Malloy said he has not received any applications for that.

T. Goodwin said that he had met with Dan Durgin, Superintendent of Schools, to discuss where things stand regarding the budget.  D. Durgin had indicated that they would be willing to work with the Board of Selectmen to keep costs down in the schools.

New Business

S. Halterman said that he and A. Wilson had attended the meeting with the towns abutting Palmer to discuss the potential impacts of a casino in Palmer.  It was suggested that the towns form a coalition to minimize negative impacts that may occur.  He felt that it would be important that Sturbridge have a place at the table.  T. Goodwin suggested talking to the Chamber of Commerce, local restaurants, jewelry stores, gas stations, etc.  He suggested talking to Alexandra McNitt of the Chamber of Commerce and having a dialogue with area businesses to determine what the costs will be.  It was the consensus of the Board to agree to do that.

A.Wilson announced that there will be a meeting in Monson on Thursday, September 20th at 6:30 p.m. with Sean Murphy of the Boston Globe, to discuss casinos in Massachusetts.

A.Wilson announced that on Sept. 28th the CMRPC is holding a forum on regional impacts of casino gambling, with Sean Mullin as a speaker.  J. Malloy said that he will attend it.

W. Emrich announced that the Sturbridge Rotary Club and the Harrington Hospital Auxiliary will hold a benefit for the pediatric unit on October 6th at 7:30 p.m. at the Host Hotel, featuring the Neil Diamond Tribute Band.  The cost will be $200 for a table of 10 people.  For further information, contact Darlene at 508-764-6537.

Ask the Selectmen

S. Halterman received a call from Virginia Peabody, who said that because of all of the open space land purchased and in control of the Conservation Commission, their meetings should be televised.  She also asked whether it would be considered a conflict of interest, that Ted Goodwin is the liaison to the Conservation Commission, and his father serves on the Conservation Commission.  J. Malloy said that he did not think that was a conflict.

H. White explained his vote in opposition to the appointments to the Housing Partnership Committee, and said that it is up to the Board to approve or disapprove appointments, and he chose to disapprove.  He asked why Matt Sosik was removed from the Economic Development Committee.  J. Malloy said that starting off a new Committee, he wanted that Committee to come forward without any prejudgment.

H. White requested the release of new guidelines on protocol for Ask the Selectmen, noting that there are no old guidelines, just custom and practice.

J. Malloy said that Title 5 flow figures have been used in the past to calculate flows on new connections, but there should be more realistic calculations and a better methodology for calculating flows.  H. White suggested asking the Town Planner and the Building Inspector to review state guidelines regarding Title 5.

MOTION:       To convene in executive session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B, Paragraph #3:  To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation, not to reconvene in open session, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Roll call vote:  All in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

________________________________

BOS Clerk                             Date