BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JANUARY 7, 2008

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 December 17, 2007 as amended, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To accept the executive session minutes of December 17, 2007 as submitted, to remain confidential, by A. Wilson.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Pole Hearings

MOTION:       To open the public hearing for a pole hearing on Vinton Road, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Scott Burns of Verizon and Susan Penn of National Grid appeared before the Board.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the pole location on Vinton Road for one (1) new jointly owned pole on the southerly side of Vinton Road at a point approximately 320 feet westerly of the center line of Leadmine Road at its intersection with Vinton Road, with the pole being located as far off the edge of the pavement as possible, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To open the public hearing for a pole hearing on Willard Road, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the pole location on Willard Road for one (1) new jointly owned pole on the westerly side of Willard Road at a point approximately 817 feet southerly from the center line of Whittemore Road at its intersection with Willard Road, with the pole being located as far off the edge of the pavement as possible, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To open the public hearing for a pole hearing on Farquhar Road, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

A.Wilson asked whether the pole in the center of the island would be removed during the reconstruction of Route 131.  J. Malloy said that it will need to be removed when Mass. Highway reconstructs Route 131.  He said that the intersection will be reconfigured, and Mass. Highway and Verizon must meet to discuss it.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the pole location on Farquhar Road for one (1) jointly owned pole on the easterly side of Farquhar Road at a point approximately 410 feet southerly sideline of Main Street, Route 131 at its intersection with Farquhar Road, with the pole being located as far off the edge of the pavement as possible, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Snow and Ice Deficit

MOTION:       To authorize deficit spending in the Snow/Ice Removal account in the following amounts:  Overtime Account #14231-51300 - $10,000; Purchase of Services Account #14232-52000 - $20,000; and Supplies Account #14232-54000 - $50,000, by A. Wilson.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Position Descriptions

MOTION:       To approve the Position Descriptions as prepared by the Town Administrator and approved by the Personnel Committee for the following positions, and to include the appropriate NIMS requirements:  Town Administrator; Administrative Assistant to the Town Administrator/Selectmen; Police Chief; Police Lieutenant; Police Sergeant; Police Officer; Lead Dispatcher; Administrative Assistant (Police); Animal Control Officer; Director of Public Works; Operations Manager (DPW); Administrative Assistant (DPW); Crew Leader; Senior Equipment Operator; Heavy Equipment Operator; Equipment Operator/Mechanic; Equipment Operator; Laborer/Driver; Fire Chief; Fire Captain; Fire Lieutenant; Fire Inspector; Firefighter EMT/Paramedic; Firefighter EMT; EMT; Firefighter; Part-Time Administrative Assistant (Fire); Town Planner; Administrative Assistant (Planning/ZBA); Finance Director; Town Accountant; Assistant Treasurer/Collector; Administrative Assistant (Finance); Ambulance Billing Clerk; Assistant Assessor; Assessor’s Clerk; Library Director; Assistant Librarian for Adult Services; Assistant Librarian for Children’s Services; Inter-Library Loan/Reference Assistant; Sunday Librarian; Library Assistant; Library Page; Board of Health Agent; Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer; Council on Aging Director; Community Resources Coordinator; Fitness Instructor; Custodian/Housekeeper; Conservation Agent; Recreation Director; Summer Recreation Coordinator; Part-Time Clerk (Various), by S. Halterman.

2nd:     A.Wilson

Vote:  All in favor.

Town Administrator’s Matching Grant Account

MOTION:       To approve the use of $615 from the Town Administrator’s Matching Grant Account #11232-58000, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Bid Award

MOTION:       To award the bid for the Volvo WE180C Excavator to Woodco Machinery, Inc. for $145,900, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Miscellaneous

More – J. Malloy informed the Board that this is a group (Municipalities Organized for Regional Effectiveness) that is working on regional cooperation issues through CMRPC.  The Town was invited to join, but after the budget was set and no funds were available to join.  J. Malloy received the request for FY09 for consideration in the budget process.

J. Malloy informed the Board that he is close to finalizing the budget packet, and it should be done by the end of the week.  There will be a Saturday Budget Meeting on January 19th at Town Hall.

H. White announced the following meetings for the Tantasqua Regional School District FY 08-09 budget:

January 7, 2008        Junior High School budget presentation at 6:00 p.m.

January 14, 2008      Technical High School budget presentation at 6:00 p.m.

January 28, 2008      High School budget presentation at 6:00 p.m.

February 4, 2008      Wrap up 6:00 p.m.

February 13, 2008    Total budget presentation to the Tantasqua School Committee at 6:00 p.m.

Logging Permit – Podunk Road

MOTION:       To open the public hearing, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Scott Gerrish and Robert Moynagh appeared before the Board.  J. Malloy read the legal notice into the record.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the forestry application of Scott Gerrish for property owned by Robert and Judith Moynagh on Podunk Road, subject to any conditions placed by the Conservation Commission and the DPW Director, including maintaining a $2,500 bond for any road damage, by A. Wilson.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Robert Moynagh said that he had never heard anything from the Town regarding the honor that was granted to him by the Massachusetts Forestry Association, who named him Tree Farmer of the Year.  H. White apologized on behalf of the Board of Selectmen for not having acknowledged the honor, explaining that it had been an oversight.

W. Emrich noted that the Board has talked about ecotourism, which could be applied to the acres of town-owned land.  He said that Cynthia Barstow of UMass has put together a 61 page report, which is a summary of information on how to get ecotourism going in a town.  He thought that it would be helpful, and suggested that the Board look over the summary to find out if that is something that they could support and use.  He suggested that the Board work together with the Economic Development Committee.  H. White suggested having one copy of the 61 page report available at Town Hall for the Board’s review.  S. Halterman considered it to be a good idea.  T. Goodwin suggested moving the meeting with the EDC to the March work session, switching the March and May work session topics.

Logging Permit – Walker Pond Road

MOTION:       To open the public hearing, by W. Emrich.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Charles Pernaa of the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation appeared before the Board.  J. Malloy read the legal ad into the record.

MOTION:       To close the public hearing, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the forestry application of Charles Pernaa for property owned by the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation on Walker Pond Road, subject to any conditions placed by the Conservation Commission and the DPW Director, including maintaining a $1,000 bond for any road damage, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Request for Sewer Connection

J. Malloy submitted to the Board a request from Beverly Hebert to add a second connection on her property on 83 Fairview Park Road.  Martin Pratte appeared before the Board to represent Beverly Hebert.  M. Pratte said that the parcel is subject to review by the Conservation Commission.  J. Malloy noted that it is shown as one parcel.  M. Pratte said that Ms. Hebert would like to subdivide her property.

A.Wilson noted that there is a moratorium on additional sewer connections, and there is a sewer service area bylaw that gives the Board the power to accept or reject such proposals.  He said that there are other issue such as the abandonment of Princeton Road and Yale Street, which abut this property.  H. White said that the Board has had several other such requests in the past 2 ½ years, which would have to be revisited if the Board were to approve the current application.  He recommended the Board take a clear cut decision to deny it.

MOTION:       That the request for a sewer connection as proposed by Beverly Hebert for 83 Fairview Park Road be denied, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Applebee’s – Transfer of License and Transfer of Stock on Liquor License

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

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

J. Malloy read the legal ad into the record.  He explained that the ABCC has pre-approved this application, as there were multiple locations for this licensee.

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

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the Transfer of License and Transfer of Stock as per the application, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     A.Wilson

Vote:  All in favor.

Police Officer Appointment

MOTION:       To confirm the Town Administrator’s appointment of Daniel Hemingway as a full-time police officer in the Sturbridge Police Department, with an effective date of January 8, 2008, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Special Town Meeting

Article 49:  Rescinding Remaining Appropriation – Article 25 of 2004

MOTION:       To place and support Article 49 on the warrant, by A.Wilson.

2nd:     S. Halterman

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 50:  Bio-Mag Study

MOTION:       To place and support Article 50, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     A.Wilson

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 51:  Affordable Housing Land Acquisition (2/3 Vote Required)

MOTION:       To place and support Article 51, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 52:  Princeton Street Abandonment (2/3 Vote Required)

MOTION:       To place and support Article 52, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 53:  Transfer of Tax Possessions

MOTION:       To place and support Article 53, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

H. White suggested sending a letter to the Board of Assessors, asking them to review the parcels to ensure that they have been accurately assessed.

Article 54:  McGilpin Road Tree Maintenance

MOTION:       To place and support Article 54, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  Three in favor; A.Wilson opposed; T. Goodwin abstained.

Article 55:  Long Pond Land Taking Damage Award

MOTION:       To place and support Article 55, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

A.Wilson suggested that there be another line item for the Community Preservation Committee.

Article 56:  Sewer Department Legal Expenses

MOTION:       To place and support Article 56, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 57:  Wood Chipper

MOTION:       To place and support Article 57, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

Article 58:  Air Exchange System

MOTION:       To place and support Article 58, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To close the Special Town Meeting warrant, by S. Halterman.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Miscellaneous

J. Malloy informed the Board that he had left the architectural bids on his conference table, and the interviews will be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  The January 14th work session will be posted as a regular meeting so that the Board could award the bid that night.  He noted that four very good firms will be interviewed.

Old Business

S. Halterman asked about the timeframe for paving McGilpin Road.  J. Malloy said that he would talk to Greg Morse, DPW Director about it.

A.Wilson asked about the next meeting of the Burgess Building Committee.  J. Malloy said that they will meet on Wednesday night, January 9th.

A.Wilson asked when the notice will go out regarding Old Sturbridge Village land.  J. Malloy said that the Conservation Agent went out to the site.  He noted that they have been spreading wood chips and they will leave the culvert in place.  He said that the job should be completed in a couple of weeks.

A.Wilson said that the Mayor of Chicopee had sent out a flyer promoting casinos; he noted that the Mayor had not been re-elected.

W. Emrich said that the Board had talked about adding a 2/3 vote at Town Meeting for sewer extensions, and had agreed to go forward with it.  H. White suggested the Board discuss the draft sewer flow bylaw at the next meeting.

T. Goodwin said that he had attended the meeting of the Regional Impact Study Committee on December 15, 2007 when they reviewed the casino bill proposed by the Governor.  He reported that there was a unanimous feel that the regions did not have enough of a say in the matter, and everyone was disappointed that the study of the impact on the region was done by the gaming interest; it should have been an independent study.  There was a concern about representation.  The Committee determined that the bill was very broad and considered it to be not good legislation.

H. White announced that there will be a public hearing on the CWMP on January 14th at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

New Business

S. Halterman asked when the warrant articles would be posted on the Town’s website.  J. Malloy said that they would be posted on Tuesday or Wednesday.

A.Wilson asked about the status of the application of Status Limousine.  J. Malloy said that he will appear before the Board on January 22nd.

W. Emrich said that boards and committees should conduct business with a cooperative spirit.  He said that all public officials need to do business in a respectable manner and should work as a team.  He noted that if they behave in a way that brings negative press, it tarnishes the Town’s image.  He suggested moving forward into 2008 with a code of conduct or ethics.  H. White considered that to be a good New Year’s resolution, and suggested it be discussed at the off site Board of Selectmen meeting.  J. Malloy said that there is a Board and Committee Handbook which has not been updated since the early 1990s.

W. Emrich asked if there is a liaison to the Economic Development Committee.  H. White said that when liaison assignments were made, the EDC did not exist.

Ask the Selectmen

T. Goodwin received two calls: Tony Celuzza called to say that the lot across from Hebert’s on Rt. 15 is being used to store trucks.  J. Malloy said that he would look into it.

T. Goodwin said that T. Celuzza wanted to know why trucks are being allowed to stay overnight at the Mobil station when a truck stop is available.  J. Malloy said that there used to be a sign at the Mobil station indicating that trucks should not park there, but it was run over.  He will ask the Police Chief to have the police officers roust them out of there.

T. Goodwin said that another caller wanted to know how many sewer connections the Board has denied since the moratorium went into effect.  J. Malloy said that there were several, including Earls, Regep and the Motel on Rt. 131, between 4 – 7.  H. White noted that nobody has been denied a connection for an existing lot.

S. Halterman said that Mary Blanchard had asked about the role of liaisons.  A.Wilson said that generally it is to maintain communications between the Board of Selectmen and the departments so that the Board can be made aware of the depths of their issues.  H. White added that it is an informal form of communications, and recommended that it be a topic for the Board’s off site meeting.

MOTION:       To adjourn, by T. Goodwin

2nd:     W. Emrich

Vote:  All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

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BOS Clerk                             Date