BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

AUGUST 3, 2009

Present:          Scott Garieri, Vice-Chairman

Ted Goodwin

Hal White

Tom Creamer

Michael Racicot, Town Administrator

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

MOTION:       To convene in executive session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B, Paragraph #3:  To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation; to reconvene in open session, by T. Goodwin

2nd:     T. Creamer

Roll call vote:  All in favor.

The Board reconvened in open session at 7:10 p.m.

Department Head Report

Police Chief Thomas Ford reviewed his report with the Board.  He said that the Sturbridge Police Department had achieved first place in the MADD Awards.  T. Creamer said that the Police Department did an outstanding job on Molly’s Ride for Child Safety to benefit the Molly Bish Foundation.  Chief Ford said that the Sturbridge Police Dept. had participated in the ceremony for the Special Olympics.

T. Creamer said that he had watched the Pan Mass Challenge on Saturday morning, and it was inspirational to see the riders with Sturbridge police officers leading them out of town.  Chief Ford said that he has received a lot of positive feedback regarding the event.

S. Garieri asked Chief Ford how the Police Dept. will handle the Rt. 131 Water Main Project while the Hog Rally is in town.  Chief Ford said that they will be running one lane of traffic to pass vehicles as rapidly as possible while the black top is being put on the road.  He spoke to the Hog Rally organizer, so they are aware of the situation.  M. Racicot added that the scheduled completion date for the project is October 11, 2009.

T. Creamer thanked the Police Department for their outstanding effort during the 4th of July to ensure a safe, healthy and happy holiday celebration, and their support for the flag installations along Route 20, which came at no cost or detriment of the Town.

Town Administrator’s Update

M. Racicot reviewed his update with the Board.  He said that Chief Senecal will meet with some manufacturer reps to come up with specs on a new fire truck.  S. Garieri asked whether the Finance Committee has spoken to Chief Senecal about the fire truck issue.  M. Racicot said that the Finance Committee is talking about a reserve fund transfer, and the Finance Director is waiting to see some numbers before they come up with anything, due to the extraordinary financial times.

M. Racicot met with James Lavin of USDA on the necessary paperwork for additional loan and grant monies for the Well #4 project.

MOTION:       To authorize and provide for the incurrence of indebtedness for the purpose of providing a portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing, enlarging, improving and/or extending its water facility to serve an area lawfully within its jurisdiction and to raise a portion of the cost of such undertaking by issuance of its bonds in the principal amount of $856,000.00; and to obtain assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture; and further, to authorize the Town Administrator to serve as the signatory authority for all documents related to this project, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

Regarding the Town Hall/Center Office Building Renovation Project, S. Garieri asked about the total for the Change Orders.  M. Racicot said that there is still quite a bit left in contingencies.  He said that the Historical Commission and Community Preservation Committee will talk about whether to replace the slate roof, and whether to install modern Pella windows as opposed to keeping the windows that are there now.  He noted that there are some structural issues to address.

S. Garieri asked whether it would be possible for the Board to get an update.  H. White said that there will be a report at the Town Hall/Center Office Construction Committee meeting on Thursday night.  He said that the major issues were brought before the Board of Selectmen about six weeks ago.  He said that the Committee is reasonably confident that the Change Orders are justified.  M. Racicot said that a public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 6th.  T. Creamer suggested that the meeting be recorded, then televised on the cable access channel, or have the project manager meet with the Board of Selectmen.  He suggested that the project manager provide the Board with a quarterly update.

M. Racicot informed the Board that he had spoken with Senator Brewer’s staff regarding the work-off tax abatement for seniors and the use of a surrogate to do the actual work.  The staff told him that it is possible to do that, but the surrogate would have to pay taxes on the hours worked.  Senator Brewer’s aide said that Senate Bill #1228 is in committee, and he would keep M. Racicot informed on it.  T. Creamer stated his concerns that as reported by M. Racicot, a volunteer who is providing services with no personal remuneration on behalf of a senior, is in effect being penalized for their willingness to assist seniors in need as well as the Town.  This would in effect defeat the purpose of the volunteer program.

M. Racicot said that Chief Senecal had requested a letter from the Board providing support for the Paramedic/Basic Waiver permit.

MOTION:       To approve and sign the letter of understanding with Central Massachusetts EMS Corporation stipulating that the Sturbridge Fire/Ambulance Service is operating under a Paramedic/Basic Waiver, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the application of Modestina Galati, 97 Wallace Road, to participate in the Senior Municipal Service Program, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

T. Creamer asked for an update on available funds and approved applicants for the Senior Municipal Service Program.

T. Creamer suggested that signage or appropriate markings be placed at the Heins property to address the trespassing issue.

M. Racicot said that he had received a request from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for a fundraising walk on Sunday, September 27, 2009.

MOTION:       To allow a fundraising walk to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on Sunday, September 27, 2009, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

M. Racicot said that he had received a request from James St. Peter, manager of WalMart, asking permission to extend store hours on November 26, 2009 (Thanksgiving) to 24 hours.

MOTION:       To allow WalMart, 100 Charlton Road, to extend its store hours to be open 24 hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, with such action to be temporary, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

Approval of Minutes

MOTION:       To accept the minutes of July 20, 2009 as amended, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To accept the minutes of July 27, 2009, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     S. Garieri

Vote:  Two in favor; T. Creamer and H. White abstained.

MOTION:       To accept the minutes of July 29, 2009 as presented, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  Three in favor; H. White abstained.

Old Business

S. Garieri asked about the status of the appointment of a Planning Board member.  M. Racicot said that a resident has expressed interest, and he will discuss the matter with her.

T. Creamer asked about the status of an appreciation letter he had requested on 7-20-09 (with Board support) for Pat Young and the Church volunteers who had assisted with the cleanup of Town trails.

T. Creamer asked whether (per his previous request) the Cable Advisory Committee had been scheduled to meet with the Board of Selectmen.  M. Racicot said that they have not yet scheduled to meet.  T. Creamer indicated that the contract was up for renewal in November, and he felt it important for a meeting to be scheduled between the Board of Selectmen and the Cable Advisory Committee so that the Board could review their approach and provide guidance where warranted.

T. Creamer suggested that the Economic Development Committee meet with the Board of Selectmen on a quarterly basis.

T. Creamer said that the wind study group is working on a program whereby they will pay to seek grants and conduct most of the initial studies and requests for funding.  He said that the Town may have to pay as little as $500.

MOTION:       To create the Sturbridge Energy Advisory Committee with the following characteristics:

Mission:        Working in conjuction with town leadership, the Sturbridge Energy Advisory Committee will proactively seek to identify strategies and potential funding partnerships in order to seek renewable energy opportunities, to lower municipal, school and community energy expenditures, and to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions where financially feasible.  The committee’s role will be advisory in nature.

Configuration:        The Energy Advisory Committee will be composed of five Sturbridge citizens appointed by the Town Administrator, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen.

Goals:            The Energy Advisory Committee will be responsible for:

Producing a comprehensive understanding of how energy use and costs impact the town.

Compiling a community profile (population, distance from Boston, education and economic demographics, tax base, taxation rates, school performance, etc.) which is often a required component of grant submissions.

Developing a procedural blueprint which will prioritize and guide subsequent research in energy conservation, energy efficiency, energy procurement (town and community), greenhouse gas reduction alternatives, energy education programs and renewable energy opportunities, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen.

Recommending bylaw changes to the Board of Selectmen designed to improve the opportunity to attract renewable energy sources.

The public will be kept apprised of Energy Advisory Committee progress through the town website and through quarterly reports to the Board of Selectmen.  The Energy Committee will make a report to Town Meeting 2010 on its findings and progress, by T. Goodwin.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

New Business

T. Creamer asked about the status of the sewer service area.  T. Goodwin said that he had spoken with Gary Galonek about the issue.  He said that the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park parcel is under a Notice of Intent.  He proposed to form a committee with the purpose of looking at the situation on Route 15, and suggested that the Board meet with the property owners in that area.  T. Creamer said that the Town is responsible for doing something on Route 15, and he felt that the Board should engage the property owners involved, instead of forming a committee to do this, which might hamper or delay it, then create a subcommittee (if necessary) to find alternatives.  T. Goodwin said that there is a lot of research to be done.  S. Garieri suggested inviting the property owners in to meet with the Board at the next work session on August 10th.  It was the consensus of the Board to reschedule the Economic Development Committee to meet with the Board at their September work session, and to schedule a discussion of the Route 15 sewer issue and the Cable Advisory Committee for the August 10th work session.

MOTION:       To adjourn, by H. White.

2nd:     T. Goodwin

Vote:  All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

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BOS Clerk                             Date