MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 6:15 P.M.
Town Hall Hearing Room,
PRESENT:
Chairman J. Claffey opened the meeting at 6:18 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPOINTMENTS:
6:15 p.m. (6:18 p.m.) Fire Chief
J. Claffey praised the work of the Fire, Police and DPW during the recent heavy rains and flooding. He also praised the work of Frank Morrisino, Emergency Management Director, especially for his advice he gave to the BOS for declaring a state of emergency. Chief Wallace echoed the remarks.
The Chief reported that the Fire Department made 102 responses for aid. The BOS noted the Chief’s letter re: OT due to the storm and the Chief stated he reported figures and the Town is going to apply for funding to assist; Sean Kelly of the DPW is sending in a full report to MEMA. The Chief remarked that he appreciates the town’s setup of three separate individuals for the Emergency Management Director, the Local Emergency Planning Director and the Emergency Management Director.
6:30-7:30 p.m. Town Counsel, Library Board of Trustees, and Planning Board re: Parking lot and signage issues.
Planning Board members in attendance: D. Anderson, M. Richards, T. Morrissette, L. Calabrese.
Library Board of trustees in attendance: M. Connor, D. Tiago, C. Shiels, K. Najeebi, V. Robbins, and Library Director S. Peterson.
D. Tiago for the Library Board of Trustees and D. Anderson of the Planning Board stepped forward to speak with the BOS on behalf of their respective Boards.
TC reported that he is the Town’s escrow agent for funds, (approximately $144,000), disbursed to the Town by the State Board of Library Trustees that is in turn to be disbursed to the library developer. The developer has approached the BOS regarding the funds, but the BOS cannot direct TC to disburse the funds until the developer fulfill requirements relative the parking lot and signage.
TC summarized that the developer needs to present a plan to the Planning Board to fulfill the requirements.
A discussion was held relative to the parking lot situation. The Library Trustees wants to have five spaces eliminated because of safety concerns for pedestrians. The Trustees also want to have signage put in place to direct library patrons.
The Planning Board stated the developer has only spoken informally with members regarding proposed changes to the parking lot and the signage. The Planning Board believes that waiting until all of the development around the Center Village Project and then determine traffic patterns and safety concerns is the approach it prefers to take.
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(Appointments, continued.)
The consensus of the meeting was that the developer needs only to present a formal plan to the Planning Board to fulfill its requirements with respect to the funds held in escrow.
7:05 p.m.
J. Claffey then asked the Trustees to discuss to other issues. He noted that skateboarders in the
Town Hall/Library parking lot is an important issue that the Police Chief is working on. He reported that creation of a By-law to address the situation could be up for discussion.
J. Claffey then brought up the issue of public access of public meetings held in the community rooms in the library. He summarized that the BOS and other Boards need to use the rooms to hold public meetings but that the issue of access had come up once the library closes and the meeting is still going on. He suggested that giving a key to the Executive Secretary, the Town Accountant and the Planning Administrator would be good compromise. He emphasized that the BOS does not want to violate any open meeting laws and that public access to meetings is a high priority.
G. DeLisle noted that this was not the first request from the BOS.
Maxine Connor, Chairperson of the Library Board of Trustees, stated that that she will bring it up for a vote at the Board’s next meeting.
7:25 J. Claffey called a brief recess.
J. Claffey noted that J. Driscoll had received a telephone call during the recess and had been excused from the meeting. The BOS next met with TC.
TOWN COUNSEL:
OLD BUSINESS:
Credit Union space: Draft RFP.
TC has reviewed the draft RFP by the Executive Secretary relative
to the space in the
TC noted restrictions placed on the property by a previous BOS; that the current client will pay the Town but will not be bound by landscaping requirements as set by a previous BOS. J. Claffey suggested the BOS withdraw the offer; that the restrictions placed in the deed by a prior BOS; and that they are due to expire in 2008.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS withdraw the offer. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity. Motion approved 2-0.
ACTION: N. Breault to send letter stating the BOS has withdrawn its offer.
TC drew attention to Exhibit G: Combining all the lots was to change them from 2 to 1; that to
re-divide them back now would prevent the lot from gaining any status as a building lot.
J. Claffey noted that a previous BOS had set the restrictions and he would not want to overturn them.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS not lift the restrictions. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity.
Motion approved 2-0.
ACTION: N. Breault to notify the attorney of the BOS’s decision.
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(Town Counsel, continued.)
Historical Commission lease: update
TC still hasn’t met with Counsel from the Norcross House; he will pursue the matter.
Draft letter to Mr. Casey Burch, Lanagan Engineering & Environmental Service Re: Proposed Lowe’s Development
TC reviewed a draft letter from the Executive Secretary and gave it to him for revision.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion, TC said he has a question regarding the town’s obligation to respond.
ACTION: N. Breault to ask for recommendations from all CC’d boards. The item was then tabled to the next BOS meeting.
MMA correspondence, Re: Municipal Hearing Officer Training Session *:
A discussion was held regarding the new state statute re:
fire safety in wake of the tragedy in
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS appoint the Executive Secretary as the Municipal Hearings Officer to act in accordance with the new statute. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity.
Motion approved 2-0.
ACTION: N. Breault to attend the Municipal Hearings Officer training session on November 3rd.
Discussion, worker’s compensation, occupational health and rehabilitation. *
N. Breault reported to the BOS and TC that he had recently attended a seminar give by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Agency (MIIA) regarding workers compensation and that MIIA is encouraging municipalities to align with an occupational health facility as a place of first referral for employees hurt on the job. He reported that Massachusetts law does not allow a Town to dictate where an employee must go in such a situation but that there are benefits the Town and employees can realize by offering a voluntary referral; that among them are more appropriate care given by occupational health professionals and credits on MIIA premiums paid by the Town.
ACTION: N. Breault to research costs for the past 5 years for incidences and costs for workers compensation claims.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS enter into Executive Session to discuss matters related to personnel issues and collective bargaining, to return to Open Session. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity. A roll call vote was taken. (DeLisle, yes; Claffey, yes.) Motion approved 2-0.
APPOINTMENT
8:00 p.m. (8:20 p.m.) Open Space Committee re: Open Space Committee Survey.
William Fonseca of the Open Space Committee and George Kingston of the Conservation Commission met with the BOS to discuss a proposed survey regarding matters relative to Open Space in town. The BOS remarked that the survey looks good; that a lot of information can be gathered with these questions. A discussion was held relative to sending it out with the census forms and that there will be some minimal costs associated with printing the surveys.
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(Appointment, continued.)
ACTION: N. Breault to contact the Planning and Recreation Boards and the Town Accountant to identify the funds needed to print the survey.
G. Kingston then brought up a brief discussion of a matter presented by Attorney Manning.
G. Kingston then submitted an inventory of town owned land and of unprotected open space parcels privately owned; unprotected meaning 61 or 61 A; he noted that they do not currently have permanent protection; he stated that this is a list for the Open space Committee and the Conservation Commission to start from.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
October 11,15 and 17, 2005.
No action taken.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
OLD BUSINESS:
Parking Ticket Clerk
N. Breault gave the BOS an update relative to the BOS’s authority to appoint a Parking Ticket Clerk. A discussion was held regarding who to appoint. The person who was previously appointed retired in February.
ACTION: N. BREAULT to hold discussion with the staff in the BOS office and then with TC regarding wording for the designation.
Safety Review,
J. Claffey summarized the Police Department recommendations,
particularly the recommendation that pedestrians not use the portion of
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS accept the recommendations of the Police Department.
J. Claffey seconded out of necessity. Motion approved 2-0.
ACTION: N. Breault to forward the recommendations to the DPW.
Human Resources position
A discussion was held relative to the vacant position in the BOS office. J. Claffey noted the staff has done a great job with one fewer person; that the BOS may want to bring in a person to be a start for handling human resource functions for the Town in addition to the clerical duties.
GD noted some of the human resources information the BOS has and that the BOS is not looking to establish a Director of Human Resources but to have a person assigned to handle HR functions. He also remarked that he believes it is a priority to at least to fill the position as it was; and that it could also evolve into handling HR functions.
GD suggests posting for the position as is and then reassess the HR needs across Departments and Boards.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS advertise for the vacant position in the BOS office. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity. Motion approved 2-0.
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(New Business.)
NEW BUSINESS:
Request for name change from Janet L. Collins, President,
& William L. Collins, Jr. V.P./Clerk,
Janleeco, Ltd., owners of Marty’s Wine & Spirits,
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS approve the request. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity.
Motion approved 2-0.
Change of ownership, Chocolate Works, 33 Harkness Street, new owners; Dominick Anzalotti, President & Erica Noble, Treasurer.* So noted.
Requests from Fun-Stop Amusements: Location of change Shaker
Bowl,
a) Change of automatic amusement device;
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to the Police Department for recommendations.
b) request for an additional automatic amusement device
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to the Police Department for recommendations.
So noted.
Request for interview: Valley Business Outlook
J. Claffey to speak with them.
Request from Suburban Springfield
Christmas Tree Sale Heritage Park
Additional requests: a.) Park trailer in lot from Nov 30-Dec12 for storage of trees; b) banner advertising the sale.*
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS approve all of the requests. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity. Motion approved 2-0.
Donation of $50.00 to Police Department
from St. Michael’s Senior Group Young at Heart, 128 Maple Street
ACTION: The BOS to send a letter of thank for the donation.
BOARD OF HEALTH
OLD BUSINESS:
Report from the Dog Officer re: Cat policies in surrounding communities. So noted.
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to J. Driscoll.
Tobacco Compliance Update.*
N. Breault reported that the Compliance Officer has ended her employment with a local retailer and will present to the BOS a copy of the written response from the state once she gets one.
NEW BUSINESS
Notice of Technical Assistance Recycling Grant. So noted.
ACTION: N. Breault to send a copy to Dr. Costa and the SWAT.
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(Board of Health, New Business continued.)
SWAT notes: re meeting of 10/18/05. So noted.
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to J. Driscoll.
G. DeLisle discussed an opportunity to respond to an RFP to install playground equipment, and he noted the deadline is November 9 at 5:00 p.m. He suggested that putting the playground on Baba Tranghese playground would be a good idea.
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to DPW, Planning and
Recreation for input.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mr. Dan Bonasoni, re: Trash, Fire Department and proposed Lowe’s. So noted.
ACTION: BOS to send a thank you letter.
Representative Rogeness, re: Rural Community Development Initiative: So noted.
ACTION: N. Breault to forward to the Planning Department.
MEETINGS/INVITATIONS/REMINDERS:
Utility Hearing: Wednesday, October 26, 3:00 p.m.; Town Hall Hearing Room. So noted.
Hall. So noted.
School Committee candidate evaluations: Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 5:15 p.m.,
MIIA Municipal Risk Conference: Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Crowne
Plaza,
ADA Committee meeting:
Thursday, November 3, 2005,
So noted.
MMPA Annual Labor Relations Seminar: Friday, November 4, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. So noted.
Regional Boards of Selectmen Meeting: Thursday, November 10, 2005, 7:00 p.m.,
(place TBA). So noted.
ABCC License Training: Tuesday, November 15, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Rivers Auditorium, WNEC
So noted. N. Breault to attend.
NIMS Training:
Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
So noted.
Solid Waste Advisory Team: Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Fire Station. So noted.
MMA Regional Update:
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 6:00-7:30 p.m.,
Board of Selectmen,
October 25, 2005
(Meetings, Invitations, Reminders continued.)
MMA Fall Conference: Thursday and Friday, November 17-18, 2005, 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m.,
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
G. DeLisle brought up the issue of street lights that are out.
ACTION: N. Breault to ask the Police Chief to ask the 2nd and 3rd shifts to note locations that are out and notify the utility.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS adjourn. J. Claffey seconded out of necessity.
Motion approved 2-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
APPROVED: BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER
8, 2005.