Meeting Minutes
Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on 11/19/2013 by a vote of 4-0 (Selectman Hersom absent)
7:00 p.m. – November 5, 2013
Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:
Chairman John Hebert, Vice-Chair Kenneth Stuart, Selectmen Michael Chizy & David Hall
(Selectman Hersom absent)
Town Administrator James Smith & Debbie Jacques, secretary
Chairman Hebert calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectman Stuart motions to accept October 15, 2013 minutes as presented, Selectman Chizy seconds passes 4-0
Selectman Hall motions to accept October 17, 2013 minutes as presented, Selectman Chizy seconds passes 4-0
Selectman Chizy motions to accept Executive Session Minutes from October 17, 2013 to be released at a later date, Selectman Stuart seconds, passes 4-0
Chairman Hebert steps down prior to Public Hearing due to personal interest.
Vice-Chair Stuart asks Selectman Hall to read the public hearing as advertised in the Millbury Sutton Chronicle on October 17th, 2013. TA Smith informs the BOS all internal staff has reviewed the new class II request and have no issues. Present are applicants Gerard & Lance Vachon. Lance informs the BOS they have planned a $300,000.00 improvement to enhance the beauty of the location. They currently own a dealership in Attleboro. Selectman Chizy is glad to see the site reopen and says good luck. Selectman Hall asks what the primary use will be; Lance Vachon responds selling and fixing used vehicles, they go hand in hand. Selectman Hall welcomes them to town. Vice-Chair Stuart says it is good to see that business back, there is rich history there. Hearing no public comments, Selectman Chizy motions to
close the public hearing, Selectman Hall seconds passes 3-0. Selectman Hall motions to approve the Class II license for GMV Inc. doing business as J.D. BYRIDER (Gerard M. Vachon applicant) located at 49 Worcester-Providence Tpk. with an expiration date of January 1, 2015, Selectman Chizy seconds passes 3-0 Chairman Hebert rejoins meeting
House Bill 59: Present is State Rep. Ryan Fattman. Ryan sits on the Joint Committee on Public Service. He begins by saying this is a very complicated issue, there was a public hearing on October 31st at the State House with over 1000 attendees. OPEB reform is due to the cost of retiree health benefits which has created an underfunded benefit liability that is estimated to be $45 billion dollars (30 billion to local municipalities and 15 billion for state retirees). Since 2002, health insurance has increased 85%, cities and towns have not put money aside to pay for the rising cost of retiree’s health insurance. House Bill 59 proposes to implement changes regarding future retiree health care benefits such as changing the vesting years from 10 to 20 and raise the minimum age for retirees by five
years. It is important to address this OPEB liability now or it could cause towns to have a greater reliance on property tax, as well as local services would be cut into. If passed, the potential savings are estimated to be between $15 to $20 billion dollars over the next 30 years. Rep. Fattman requests a letter of support from the board asking for this to be “exec out” Selectman Chizy asks for a time line, Rep Fattman replies this will be voted on by the Joint Committee on Public Service then on to the Ways & Means Committee for a financial analysis then the House of Reps. it is a slow process. Selectman Stuart thanks Ryan for attending tonight and speaking on this subject. Ken says it is important to point out this is a system issue not an individual issue. The Town of Sutton has been very proactive with OPEB at the local level, this is not an overnight fix but this is a move in the right direction. Ken is 100% for this providing we move forward in a fair and
equitable way. Selectman Hall thanks Ryan for coming to the meeting, Dave refers to a statement in the letter received from the governor in support of this bill that says “the cost of retiree health benefits for public employees has resulted in an unfunded benefit liability that is estimated to be over $40 billion dollars”. Dave says it is not the benefit; it is the failure of the government to fund the liability. There has been no effort to fund this liability due to the lack of leadership along the way until recently. What we are doing is shifting the cost from the government to the individual. It is a shared burden that will come down harder on the individual but I still think this is the right thing to do. It is important to grandfather in as many people as we can while we phase in these changes. This is a long term benefit that is more in line with the private sector. I support it, I have trepidation about it but what I read and hear about support of all the groups
I am in favor of it. Chairman Hebert appreciates all the comments made and says transition is very important to current employees and those coming aboard. There needs to be balance with this.
Grant of Easement/Tuttle Road: TA Smith says this is to allow National Grid to install underground conduits to an electrical box in front of the Goddard Lodge at Marions Camp. This will provide electricity for lights at the pavilion as well as other areas at Marions Camp. The estimated cost is within the budgeted funds for the site. Selectman Chizy says it is about time we bring electricity there, Selectman Stuart is all for it, it is breathing life into a local treasure, Selectman Hall says it is natural progression to the site, Chairman Hebert says he is pleased to see highway will dig the trench and not disturb the parking lot area. Selectman Chizy motions to grant an easement for National Grid to install underground conduits to an electrical box located at Marions Camp on Tuttle Road, Selectman Stuart second’s
passes 4-0
Holiday Opening for all alcohol license holders: TA Smith says this is done yearly between Thanksgiving and New Years. Hearing no comments Chairman Hebert requests these notices be sent to all alcohol license holders. Selectman Stuart motions to approve as presented the 2013 Holiday opening schedule for all alcohol license holders, Selectman Hall seconds passes 4-0
State/DCR private party land acquisition: TA Smith says this is approximately 60 acres of land which is adjacent to the Sutton State Forest. The state will retain this property in its natural and open condition. Selectman Stuart is all for conserving open space; Selectman Hall asks if the land owner is interested in selling to the state, TA Smith replies yes. Hearing no further comments, Selectman Hall motions to approve Chairman John L. Hebert to sign the Certificate of Announcement regarding DCR’s interest in acquiring land from a private party in the Town of Sutton, Selectman Stuart seconds passes 4-0
Town Administrator contract: Chairman Hebert begins by saying 2 members of the BOS (Selectmen Stuart & Hall) met with TA Smith to negotiate this contract. Selectman Stuart says they came up with a fair and equitable contract for Jim as well as looking out for the town’s best interest. A lot of work and effort went into this. Selectman Stuart goes on to say Jim Smith is the best thing that happened to this town. Selectman Hall echoes Ken’s words; Dave goes on to say the annual review reflected unanimously the high opinion of the board. Dave feels this contract will keep Jim here and keep him happy. Chairman Hebert agrees with all that has been said, Jim does a remarkable job, he makes our lives easier and to give Jim a 4 year contract takes some pressure off of him. Selectman Chizy says it is a fair
contract, if we could afford to give him more we would. Mike says he feels the contract is better for the town then for Jim. TA Smith thanks the BOS for this contract, Jim is very happy to be here, he goes on to say it is the best job he has had. He attributes his success to the greatest department heads around. It is a pleasure being here. Selectman Stuart motions to approve the employment contract of the Town Administrator effective January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017, Selectman Hall seconds passes 4-0
TA Update:
- MS/HS update: met with Vertex Engineering, Western Surety, SBS and Town Counsel on October 25th. Six bids were submitted by general contractors. SBS is currently reviewing all DCAMM records for these bidders. A discussion will be held when the general contractor is named. This should be a quick process and we are hoping to have a new gc on board in 3-4 weeks. Western Surety has been a good partner in this process.
Ostrow Electric: installation of solar panels on the senior center, sewer plant and Manchaug Fire Station has begun. In addition to reducing the electricity bills they will generate SRECs.
- Jingle Bell Jaunt: to be held on December 14th at 10:30am. Howard Bottomly is organizing this event.
- FY15 capital plan has been sent to department heads, they are due back to TA Smith December 16th.
Announcements:
- Selectman Stuart participated in last year’s Jingle Jaunt, he said it was one of the best times he had.
- Selectman Stuart asks for clarification on how the process goes to hire a new general contractor and what will happen to the punch list items. TA Smith says the punch list as well as the auditorium and panels and phase 3 are all inclusive for the new gc. Selectman Hall asks if the decision will be made locally for the gc. TA Smith says the process is changing quickly. Western Surety is making sure which ever gc is hired will be amenable to SBS and the Town of Sutton.
- Chairman Hebert asks for TA Smith to confirm with Superintendent that the boilers in the high school are off.
Round Table:
- Selectman Chizy has received word that the Food Pantry has 50 requests for Thanksgiving baskets. They are in need of supplies. Any help is appreciated.
- Selectman Hall thanks Selectman Chizy for his continued support for the Food Pantry.
- Chairman Hebert attended the Manchaug Pond Foundation Fundraiser at the Beaton Farm. It was a 1st class, 5 star event.
Hearing no further comments Selectman Chizy motions to adjourn, Selectman Stuart seconds passes 4-0 adjourned 8:15 pm
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