Meeting Minutes--
Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on_2/07/2012 by a vote of _4-0-1_
(Selectman Hersom abstains/absent from 1/17/12 meeting)
7:00 p.m. – January 17, 2012
Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:
Chairman Kevin Geraghty, Vice-Chair Michael Chizy; Clerk John Hebert & Selectman Kenneth Stuart
(Selectman Hersom absent)
Also in Attendance:
Town Administrator James Smith & Debbie Jacques Administrative Secretary
Chairman Geraghty calls the meeting to order at 7:00 followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments under Public Forum
Selectman Stuart motions to accept as presented the Board of Selectmen’s Minutes from January 3, 2012, Selectman Chizy seconds passes 4-0
Charter Communications License Renewal: PEG Access Coordinator Pam Nichols is present to request the BOS approve the 10 year renewal with Charter Communications before them tonight. A Public Hearing was required which was held at the December 20th, 2011 meeting. Pam says it was important to maintain a level playing field as far as the Charter and Verizon licenses. The new Charter agreement includes a grant to support the local PEG programming totaling $107,500.00. made payable in 3 installments during the 1st 5 years of the contract. Also included is an increase in the percentage of the annual gross revenue paid to the Town. The cable access fees were set at 3.5 % for years 1 & 2, 4% for the 3rd & 4th years and then the BOS will set the amount for the remaining 6
years of the contract not to exceed 5%. Pam feels very good about this contract. She goes on to say they met in the middle on a lot of things. Selectman Hebert asks the ratio of residents with Charter versus Verizon. Pam states it is about split. Selectman Stuart is excited that there will be a real studio and hopes the residents take advantage of it. He feels overall it is fantastic. Chairman Geraghty asks what the PEG fees go to. Pam says the additional fees go towards capital items (equipment). Pam would like to invest in additional sound equipment for better coverage when meetings are held in other rooms. Selectman Hebert moves that the Board of Selectmen approve as presented the proposed 10 year Charter Communication License Renewal, Selectman Stuart seconds passes 4-0
Land Management Agreement: Dept. of Fish & Game and the Town of Sutton: TA Smith briefs the BOS that this is a new agreement between Mass Wildlife and the Town of Sutton. This allows the Town to charge a different rate for out of state users of Manchaug Boat Ramp. Currently the fee is $6.00 for instate and $12.00 for out of state. The State will be working with Highway Superintendent Mark Brigham to install a lock box at the sight. The parking spots will be numbered and the lock box will have slots for each parking spot. Police Chief Dennis Towle has agreed to patrol the parking area and fines will be enforced if the parking fee is not paid. In years past, Trudy Mongeau, the current parking attendant, worked Saturdays and Sundays. The lock box will allow us to capture revenue 7 days a week. Selectman
Chizy asks for clarification in the lock box and parking area, Selectman Hebert asks if a boat owner backs in to unload a boat for the season and then pulls out will they have to pay a fee. TA smith replies “yes, they are using the facility, that is the cost of doing business in town”. Selectman Stuart says that 7 days of revenue versus 2 days is excellent. Chairman Geraghty says that the Singletary & Manchaug Pond Associations ask annually for funds to help with the assistance of quality control on the lakes. This gives us the ability to raise the revenue to help with maintenance. Hearing no further comments Selectman Chizy moves that the Board of Selectmen approve the new land management agreement between the Department of Fish and Game and the Town of Sutton for users of the Manchaug Boat Ramp, Selectman Stuart seconds passes 4-0
Energy Contract: TA Smith presents to the BOS a 3 year contract between Constellation New Energy and the Town of Sutton. The Town is at the end of a 5 year contract (9.4 cents per kilowatt hour) due to the surplus of natural gas the price for supply only has been reduced. The rates are 7.0 per kwh for the 1st year, 7.5 per kwh for the 2nd year and 7.7 per kwh for the 3rd year. In addition to the decrease in cost, Constellation Energy and NGrid will have both charges on one bill. TA Smith explains that Constellation Energy is the supplier and NGrid charges for the distribution and transmission. Chairman Geraghty asks if TA Smith has calculated savings with these prices, TA Smith responds the school is the largest user in town, he estimates a savings of $60-$80,000. a year.
Hearing no questions Selectman Stuart moves that the Board of Selectmen approve the proposed 3 year energy contract between Constellation New Energy and the Town of Sutton Selectman Chizy seconds passes 4-0
TA Updates:
- Atlas Box Sound Issue: Follow up testing was done on January 4th without representation of Town and DEP. Atlas Box emailed TA Smith on Sunday Jan. 8th stating the second sound test passed. The next day Mr. Cruickshank reported the noise was very bad, TA Smith reports that DEP is beginning an Administrative Consent order w/ penalty. TA Smith says that Jen Hager is currently getting pricing to have the town conduct its own sound testing but the costs are coming back high. DEP has agreed to set up training for a town employee to conduct sound testing as well as training for the Board of Health to enforce the sound laws. The 1st Atlas Box hearing before DEP will be held on January 24th. (Selectman Chizy asks Jim to explain Pure Tone sound, Selectman Hebert does not feel the Town
should have to pay for a sound test, it should be the company to resolve the burden)
- Cell Tower at Town Farm Road: TA Smith spoke with John Arthur from Wireless Edge. John Arthur informed Jim that things are going slow. Jim has also requested John Arthur review Shaw Farm as a potential location for another cell tower.
- Manchaug Dam: Title search currently being performed, should be back shortly. Interface had agreed to allow Manchaug Pond Association to own the high water mark.
- Manchaug Dam Hydro Study: Jen Hager has received 3 submissions on performing a hydro study. They are being reviewed.
Announcements: Not at this time
Round Table: Not at this time
Selectman Chizy motions to adjourn the meeting Selectman Stuart seconds passes 4-0
Meeting Adjourned 7:32 pm
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