AGENDA
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2005, 6:45 P.M.
MEETING ROOM,
PRESENT:
Chairman J. Claffey opened the meeting at 6:45 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM:
6:55 p.m. Arlene Miller: Topic: Trash Updates.
A. Miller reported that the Town has so far reduced its tonnage
of trash by 518 tons and increased its tonnage of recycling by 88 tons compared
with the same period last year. She
reported that the SWAT is working on ideas to increase public awareness of
recycling and waste reduction by updating the waste reduction information on
the Town website and improving on other communications like
APPOINTMENTS:
7:00pm – Senior Center Study Committee: re: Council on Aging renovation.
Several members of the Senior Center Study Committee were in attendance to meet with the BOS. Council on Aging Director Roz Clark and Committee member Don Thompson acted as the main spokespersons for the group. Bob Hildreth spoke of the laws and concerns associated with architectural requirements and compliance issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Walter LaBroad presented a sketch of proposed renovations and expansion to the Pleasantview building.
D. Thompson stated that the Committee now is focused on
keeping the
R. Clark brought up the idea of purchasing adjoining land on
7:30pm (8:00 pm) – Thomas McGowan, Chairman School Committee; NIMS Coordinator.
re: National Incident Management System training requirements for public officials.
This appointment was postponed to a future meeting.
Board of Selectmen,
December 13, 2005
(Approval of Minutes.)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 22, 2005.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS accept the Minutes of the meeting of November 22, 2005, as amended. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS accept the Executive Session Minutes of the meeting of November 22, 2005, as amended. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
TOWN COUNSEL:
OLD BUSINESS:
Procedure for Article, Town Meeting Warrant
A discussion was held relative to protocols presented by TC to the BOS at its request to formalize procedures for placing an Article on a Town Meeting Warrant. The BOS asked TC to include protocols relative to the submittal of financial Articles to Appropriations Committee and including the Appropriations recommendations. TC to make the revisions.
Meter Reader; Letter from Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn.
Discussion was held relative to a memo from Chairman of the Board of Public Works, Mike Perkins, to the BOS dated 11/29/05 stating that the BPW would not enact a grade and step increase for Mr. Paul Joyce, Meter Reader, until the BPW had taken a formal vote on the matter. The BOS had voted to accept Mr. Joyce into the Town Hall Employees Union and to place him at a Grade 5, Step 5 on 11/22/05.
A discussion of the letter from the Town’s Labor Counsel relative to a meeting he had with representatives of the Board of Public Works.
ACTION: The Executive Secretary (ES) was instructed to notify the Accounting Office that it is to pay Mr. Joyce at Grade 5, Step 5 as voted on by the BOS, and retroactive to the date the BPW voted to remove him from its bargaining unit.
Cable Renewal
The ES gave the BOS and TC an accounting of efforts to date to secure assistance with the town’s cable franchise renewal. He reported that he has spoken with the Cable Advisory Commission, the Office of the Inspector General and several local communities with Charter service to locate different vendors offering appropriate services. The ES was directed to continue working towards finalizing a vendor.
Fiber Tech Contract.
Contract to be sent back with final revisions for signature.
J. Driscoll initiated discussion relative to the funds held in escrow for the Center Village/Library project. TC reported they had not yet been released; that the Planning Board still needed to make a formal decision; that the previous denial was not formal. TC is working with the Planning Board Administrator and Attorney Fitzgerald to bring the matter to conclusion.
Board of Selectmen,
December 13, 2005
(Town Counsel, New Business.)
NEW BUSINESS:
Town Reports and Street Listings
The ES discussed questions posed to him from the Information Technology Director as to the number of paper copies of the Town Report and Street Listings the Town is required to print.
TC stated that he was not aware of any exact number; only that they needed to be available upon request.
Correspondence from Tobacco Coordinator, Sarah McColgan (a) E-mail; (b) Draft letter to the
Emporium
A discussion was held relative to concerns submitted from S. McColgan relative to smoking that is occurring in the Emporium tobacco establishment. She had recently been in the establishment and found that smoking was going on while patrons played KENO. The BOS and TC discussed whether food is sold; what the primary sales are for the establishment; was food sold or did patrons bring it in, etc.
Further discussion was tabled. J. Driscoll stated that he wanted to visit the establishment for himself and report back to the BOS.
Correspondence from Attorney Joseph Cabrera Jr.
A discussion was held relative to the blocking of email access from Attorney Joseph Cabrera, Jr. to Town and School employees.
TC advised the BOS that the email system is a matter of privilege, that to the extent that a person does not abuse it they can have access.
A discussion was held as to what formal method should be used to determine whether or a party should have email access if considered threatening or abusive. The BOS decided that the IT Director and the IT Committee should develop a protocol for future situations and present it to the BOS for consideration; that the protocol should include clear applications to various situations.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
OLD BUSINESS:
For signature; November 1, 2005 School Committee Interview Minutes. Signed.
Safety barrier at the intersection of Lombard & Kensington has been installed. So noted.
For approval Police Department and Department of Public Works reports; re: request from Shirley & Susan Skinner, Parker Street (a) safety concerns on Parker Street and Porter Road; (b) sidewalks on Parker Street.
For approval Site Plan together with police & fire reports, Sivad Nominee Trust and Dan Roulier & Associates, Inc., for Great Woods X, Pembroke Terrace.
For approval Site Plan, together with police & fire reports, Stephan & Janice Varelas, Heather &
Edward Cori & Rocco & Linda Carabetta,
For approval police department recommendations, “Stop” sign
request intersection of
Board of Selectmen,
December 13, 2005
(Board of Selectmen, Old Business, continued.)
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS accept the recommendations as presented in the previous four items. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
Response from Dave Gromaski, Superintendent of Public Works and Police Department;
re: Request for streetlight by Phil & Debbie VanTassel 14 Heatherstone Drive.
ACTION: The ES was directed to send a letter from the BOS informing them of the responses from the Police and DPW that their request was not recommended.
For review and approval, Re: Request from Nicholas Giuggio,
President, Deacon Joes’s d.b.a. The Pizza Shoppe,
ACTION: ES to forward to the Police Department for recommendations on the proposed video games.
Motion J. Driscoll moved the BOS approve the request pending final review by the BOS of the Police Department review of the video games. G. DeLisle seconded. Discussion: G. DeLisle stated he had no problem with the change as long as the room was strictly to entertain children, not adult patrons; that children should not be left unattended. Motion approved 3-0.
For review: Correspondence from Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women; re: Search for the Unsung Heroines in our community, (nominating deadline January 19, 2005). So noted.
For approval, $2,500.00 donation from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company Contributions Review Committee to the Police Department.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS accept the
donation. J. Driscoll seconded. Discussion:
J. Claffey noted the generosity of MassMutual to the Town; that it is very
supportive of
ACTION: ES to draft letter of thanks from the BOS.
For discussion/approval Board of Selectmen 2006 Meeting Schedule
It was noted that the dates constitute a working document as three dates: April 11 (Town Elections), July 4 (Independence Day), and November 7 (State Elections) will all need to be changed.
Resignation from Steven Braumier, Recreation Commission Member.
Motion J. Driscoll moved the BOS accept the resignation with regret. G. DeLisle seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
ACTION: ES to send letter from the BOS and to issue press release for applicants to fill the vacancy.
Review Assistant Executive Secretary resumes.
J. Claffey led discussion stating that due to retirement of
J. Driscoll said that it is worth mentioning that the staff in the BOS office has worked at 1/3 less headcount; that the BOS is thankful for the extra hard work the staff, including the Executive Secretary, has done for the year.
Board of Selectmen,
December 13, 2005
(Board of Health, Old Business.)
BOARD OF HEALTH:
OLD BUSINESS:
Letter from Frank Miorandi,
NEW BUSINESS:
Correspondence from Health Inspector , Fred Kowal:
(a) Food Establishment Inspectors Reports. So noted.
(b) Investigation report Elm Street Properties: A discussion was held relative to the
concerns expressed by the Health Agent of possible health issues due to pooling
of water in certain areas of
ACTION: The ES to forward to the DPW for consideration.
SWAT updates (a) Correspondence Robert Stodolski, General Manager, Central Mass Disposal.
Items tabled to the next week pending the ES gathering additional information.
(b) Recommendations from SWAT. J. Driscoll reported on items submitted by the SWAT for BOH consideration.
Small business recycle pickup: a discussion was held relative to allowing more businesses participate in recycling pickup by the Town. He explained that collection of this recycling could provide an additional monetary stream. The item was tabled pending the SWAT providing numbers to support the concept that the Town would realize additional monies.
Transfer station literature:
The SWAT asks the BOS to consider sending a letter to the BPW asking
them to consider revising their literature for the transfer station; to include
some trash and recycling information. The
BOS pointed out that it is a separately elected Board, but that a letter could
be crafted such that if the BPW wished to make changes that the SWAT would be
willing and able to help out.
For discussion correspondence from Martylee Caramante, Dog Officer;
(a) Resident’s refusal to license dogs.
ES to pass to TC for interpretation of whatever the By-law is.
(b) Warrant Article, amend Town By-laws concerning the confinement of dogs.
ES to pass to TC for review; inform Dog Officer to submit as a petitioned Article.
J. Claffey brought up discussion of used car licenses in Town.
ACTION: ES to instruct the Building Inspector to inspect the property of each license holder.
CORRESPONDENCE:
None.
MEETINGS/INVITATIONS/REMINDERS
Board of Selectmen meeting, Tuesday, December 20, 2005 @
6:30pm,
Tobacco Merchant Training Session,
Invitation, Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information’s new office open house, Springfield City Hall, 36 Court Street, Room 315, Thursday, December 22, 2005 12 Noon – 2:00pm.
Board of Selectmen,
December 13, 2005
(Meetings/Invitations/Reminders, continued.)
Annual MMA Meeting, 8:30am-10:00am, MMA Annual Business Meeting, 10:00am-11:50am,
Saturday, January 14, 2005,
All items so noted.
Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS adjourn. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
APPROVED: BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING, TUESDAY,
JANUARY 3, 2006.