BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Present:          Mary Blanchard, Chairman

Scott Garieri

Thomas Creamer

Hal White

Michael Racicot, Town Administrator

Ted Goodwin was absent.

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

Approval of Minutes

MOTION:       To accept the executive session minutes of January 19, 2010, to remain confidential, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

Planning Board – New Ch. 26 Expedited Permitting

M. Racicot said that the Planning Board had requested that an article be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant to adopt expedited permitting procedures under 43D.  They requested that the Board vote to return the matter to them to schedule the necessary public hearing.

MOTION:       To submit the request for a zoning article on expedited permitting back to the Planning Board, as required under MGL Ch. 40A §5, in order for them to review, schedule and hold a public hearing, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

Town Administrator’s Update

Financial:

M. Racicot informed the Board that he had spent the majority of his time working with staff and departments on the FY 11 budgets.  They reviewed submissions on the expense side to try to get the best result.  As for revenue, they did the best that they could with the information available at this time.  He gave credit to Barbara Barry, Finance Director for her hard work, and Judy Knowles, Administrative Assistant, for her extra efforts in preparing the budget books.

M. Racicot attended the Finance Committee meeting and provided them with the budget book.  Barbara Barry was also there to answer many of the questions.  He noted that it will be an austere year, but should be stable.

M. Racicot reported that a meeting of the Capital Improvement Committee was held, and they ranked the various requests and looked at the available funding to see what might be accomplished in challenging economic conditions.  After the first go around, they will be updating the spreadsheet and paring the list down to available funding.  He said that free cash will be under half of last year’s free cash, and the capital program will not be much more than $150,000.

M. Racicot said that he had prepared copies of the betterment requests so that the committee can parse them out based on the funds available.

M. Racicot noted that the question was raised at the last meeting as to the advantage of bidding the WWTF project using the ARRA guidelines.  He said that it is not a grant per se, but allows the Town to use the SRF.  After some research, he learned that it has the potential to save the Town $1.3 to $1.7 million by allowing borrowing at an interest rate of 2 to 2.3% and the potential of providing principal foregiveness for between 8% and 10% of the total loan amount.

M. Racicot said that a sub-bid opening was held for the electrical work on the Well #4 project; it came in $1,500 under the allowance in the contract.

Pole Hearing – Hall Road

Aristia Ninos of Verizon and Paula Vogle of National Grid appeared before the Board.  M. Racicot read the notification to abutters into the record.  The application was to place a new pole #188 ½ approximately 116 feet north from existing pole #188, then relocate pole #183 approximately 66 feet south from its current location; then place new pole #183 ½ approximately 118 feet south of existing pole #182; then place new pole #182 ½ approximately 68 feet south of existing pole #181; then remove existing poles #187 and #183.

MOTION:       To approve the request as read into the record by the Town Administrator, by T. Creamer.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

H. White asked about the status of the pole on Shepard Road.  Aristia Ninos said that she would look into it.

Personnel:

M. Racicot reported that he had completed the final department head performance review.

M. Racicot informed the Board that Erik Wight, Building Inspector, had notified him that he is resigning effective February 26, 2010.  An advertisement was drawn up and posted.  T. Creamer suggested that M. Racicot conduct an exit interview with E. Wight.  M. Racicot agreed to do it.

M. Racicot replied to the SEIU on notice of their interest in beginning negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement for the DPW local.

M. Racicot talked with a resident interested in serving as a volunteer on the Trails Committee; and received an application from a resident interested in the use of public lands.

MOTION:       To approve the appointment by the Town Administrator of Richard Paradise as an associate member on the Trails Committee and a member of the Trails Master Plan Committee, by S. Garieri.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

MOTION:       To approve the appointment by the Town Administrator of Don Miller as a member of the Public Lands Advisory Committee, by S. Garieri.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

M. Racicot informed the Board that he had worked with Fire Chief Senecal on the advertisement for a new firefighter, with a closing date for applications of February 19, 2010.

Two residents showed up for the pole hearing, which was held previously.  They did not have any specific concerns; they thought that it was mandatory that they attend.  M. Blanchard explained that abutters are notified of pole hearings as a matter of policy.  M. Racicot suggested that they contact Aristia Ninos of Verizon for further information about the poles.

Legal:

M. Blanchard noted that petitioned articles should come to the Board of Selectmen before they are given to the Town Clerk.  M. Racicot said that they came from the Town Clerk, and she had verified the signatures.

M. Blanchard noted that on page 11 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Article 15 Sturbridge Area Tourist Association, the wording should be “to transfer and appropriate from the hotel/motel special account.”

MOTION:       To close the warrant for the 2010 Annual Town Meeting to be held on Monday, April 26, 2010, by S. Garieri.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

H. White noted that the sponsors of the articles should be listed.

M. Racicot said that he is continuing to work with Metro PCS on a draft lease for a cell tower on Town property, and the response on the draft lease from Town Counsel and zoning questions are being addressed by the Town Planner.

General Government:

M. Racicot indicated that he had a discussion with a committee Chair relative to a member’s absenteeism.  T. Creamer pointed out that a policy exists regarding attendance in the Committee Handbook.  M. Racicot said that if a member misses more than three meetings in a row, he/she could be removed from the committee.

M. Racicot worked with the aide to Governor Patrick to coordinate his visit to Sturbridge at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The event was well attended, with Congressman Neal, Senator Brewer and Representative Smola joining Chairman Blanchard and Selectmen Goodwin at the Plant.  Also in attendance were representatives from Tighe and Bond, Veolia, R.H. White and CWT, Sturbridge department heads, and the Commissioner of the DEP.

M. Racicot has been working with National Grid on a license to allow them to cross public land for energy transmission lines.

Greg Morse, DPW Director, had notified M. Racicot that one of the snow plow contractors has been removed because of his failure to show up when needed; he asked that the Board approve an alternate contractor.

MOTION:       To accept the bid from Robert Brogan to provide a one ton truck with plow for $55 per hour as a contract operator with the Department of Public Works as recommended by Greg Morse, Director of Public Works, by S. Garieri.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

The Board had received a request for a letter of support for the Hamant Brook Dam Removal/Stream Restoration Project.  S. Garieri expressed concern about not knowing what costs would be incurred by the Town.  Carol Childress said that the requested letter of support is to apply for a grant, and has nothing to do with costs to the Town whatsoever.

MOTION:       To have the Town Administrator draft and send a letter of support from the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Hamant Brook Dam Removal/Stream Restoration Project, by H. White.

2nd:     T. Creamer

Vote:  All in favor.

C. Childress requested that the letter be sent to her.

M. Racicot received a notice from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) seeking nominations for the “Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts – 2010.”  He asked the Selectmen if they had any suggestions of a strong unheralded woman they see as making Sturbridge a better place.  T. Creamer said that Barbara Search, Council on Aging Director, has done a lot for the seniors in Sturbridge and improved their quality of life.  He asked M. Racicot to consider nominating Barbara Search, to be weighed against what was stated in the letter from MCSW.  M. Blanchard noted that it does not have to be a Board recommendation; anyone could submit it.  She said that as a Board member, she would feel uncomfortable picking one person over others in the Town.

M. Racicot informed the Board that he had received notice of a request to place lime green ribbons on trees at the Town Common during the month of May to raise awareness of Lyme disease.  It was the consensus of the Board to allow it.

M. Racicot had attended the Burgess School Building Committee meeting, where he had heard about the various building and site details being decided upon at this point in time, with the architect and consultants deeply involved with the design details.

M. Racicot attended the party at the Library held to celebrate Ellie Chesebrough’s retirement as Director.  It was a very nice event, and well attended.

Correspondence

S. Garieri asked about the reason for Jim Donohue’s letter requesting that Old Sturbridge Village no longer be granted a voting seat on the Sturbridge Tourist Association.  M. Racicot said that he had spoken with Jim Donohue, and Mr. Donohue indicated that he feels uncomfortable making decisions on some of the issues when Old Sturbridge Village would benefit from the decisions.  He noted that there is an article on the Town Meeting warrant to amend the bylaws as written.  T. Creamer asked whether J. Donohue would fill out the remainder of his term on the STA, and then step down.  M. Racicot said that the new member would serve for three years; if OSV wanted to reclaim that position, they would still have the option of having someone serve on that committee.

Old Business

S. Garieri asked about the status of the liquor licenses for the two new restaurants in Sturbridge.  M. Racicot thought that the licenses for 420 Main Street and Playa del Carmen have been issued.

S. Garieri asked about the status of the tractor supply business moving into the former Ames building.  M. Racicot said that there is a dispute over the possibility of their having outside displays, which must be resolved.  The Planning Board is dealing with it.

M. Blanchard asked whether there had been any response from Ansar.  M. Racicot said that he sent them a second letter, but has not heard back from them.

New Business

There was no new business.

Citizens’ Forum

No one appeared for the Citizens’ Forum.

MOTION:       To adjourn, by S. Garieri.

2nd:     H. White

Vote:  All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Knowles

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BOS Clerk                                         Date