MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tuesday, January 3, 2006, 6:45 PM

Town Hall Hearing Room

60 Center Square

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

PRESENT: John Claffey, Chairman, Board of Selectmen; James Driscoll, Chairman, Board of Health; Gary DeLisle, Clerk of the Board.

Chairman Claffey opened the meeting at 6:50 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC FORUM

No speakers.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS approve the Minutes of the December 13, 2005 Board of Selectmen meeting as amended. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS approve the Minutes of the December 20, 2005 Board of Selectmen meeting as amended. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.

TOWN COUNSEL

OLD BUSINESS:

Cable License Renewal; correspondence from Attorney William Hewig, III.

The BOS will consider all three proposals at a future meeting.

Correspondence from Senior Center Study Committee; re: request to purchase land.

A discussion regarding the correspondence sent to the BOS from the Senior Center Study Committee was held. The letter asks the BOS to write a Warrant Article for Town Meeting regarding purchasing land on Purves Street currently owned by Premier Source Credit Union.

TC advised the BOS on steps that would need to be taken, including the RFP process. The ES will work with TC on the RFP.

TC informed the BOS that he had proposed revisions of animal By-law changes submitted by the Dog Officer. The ES will forward.

NEW BUSINESS:

Correspondence from Attorney Jon J. Helpa; re: Carrie Wescott claim.

Notice of slip and fall. The ES to forward to MIIA.

Request for plowing of Gaskell Street, (paper Street):

TC recapped that some years ago the DPW adopted a policy of not plowing streets that were in disrepair and could caused damage to DPW equipment or were considered private driveways.

Board of Selectmen, January 3, 2006

(Town Counsel, New Business continued.)

TC advised that there are two issues to consider: Is the street open to public use and what condition is the road in? The BOS considers the first part and the BPW considers the second. The ES will seek clarification from the Superintendent of Public Works regarding his response that the street is “eligible” to be plowed.

Request from Rick Basile (JC): discussion of request to release a background check the Town of EL had done last year. TC advised the BOS that if Mr. Basile puts in writing to the BOS specific requests, authorizes the town to release information and to whom, release the Town from liability and to pay for any costs incurred, that it should be acceptable to honor the request.

ES to relate this information to Mr. Basile.

J. Driscoll initiated discussion relative to a recent situation involving a resident sending email to town employees. The BOS has instructed the IT Director to work with the IT Committee to develop a policy to address future situations.

“Community Guide.” (Item moved from the BOS New Business.)

Chairman Claffey recused himself from this discussion.

The ES reported that a vendor had come in requesting to display a Community Guide in Town buildings. The Guide would feature Town information (phone numbers, etc.). The Guide would be free but would include advertising by local businesses. The BOS consensus was not to allow for the publication to be distributed in Town buildings; that allowing for this publication to be offered could result in other publications to request the same; that issues of advertising content could be difficult to address due to subjectivity; that vendors not in the publications could cite the Town for favoring one business over another; etc.

Emporium: Smoking on premises. Item moved from Board of Health, Old Business.

J. Driscoll reported that he visited the site and that he observed a KENO parlor with patrons smoking. TC to review regulations and licenses held by the Emporium and will report back to the BOS at a future meeting.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

OLD BUSINESS:

Assistant Executive Secretary position.

A discussion was held relative to the Assistant Executive Secretary position.

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS enter into negotiations with Lorraine Banspach for the position of Assistant Executive Secretary. J. Driscoll seconded. Discussion: G. DeLisle stated that many qualified applicants applied for the position; that Lorraine knows the office and how it works; that she is doing some of the duties now; that she is an asset to this office will do a great job in the future if she accepts. J. Driscoll stated that she has proven her ability; that whenever possible he likes to promote from within. J. Claffey echoed comments on promoting from within; and that he was very happy to see that she had applied. Motion approved 3-0.

b) Executive Secretary Position

Discussed in Executive Session.

Board of Selectmen, January 3, 2006

(Board of Selectmen, Old Business continued.)

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS enter into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing contract negotiations for the positions of Executive Secretary and Assistant Executive Secretary, to return to Open Session for purposes of adjournment. A roll-call vote was taken, (DeLisle, “Yes.”; Driscoll, “Yes.”; Claffey, “Yes.”). Motion approved 3-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

(Taken out of order.)

Personnel Evaluation due dates.

The ES to send a memo to Department Heads and elected boards that the BOS will set a meeting of the Personnel Policy Board.

“Community Guide”.

Item discussed under TC.

For approval: East Longmeadow Firefighters Association: a) One day all alcoholic liquor license, 7:00pm-12:00am; b) entertainment, from 8:00pm to 12:00am, on Saturday, February 4, 2006, for its Annual 50’s Dance.

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS approve the request pending receipt of proof of a certificate of insurance, and to waive the license fee. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0.

NEW BUSINESS

J. Claffey brought up two items for discussion relative to the budget cycle.

Discussion was held to request that the BOS ask the Appropriations Committee (AC) to separate health insurance costs as a line item by department to give Town Meeting a more accurate picture of what each department costs to run. Currently, health insurance is a line item that aggregates the costs of all town departments, including the School Department.

A similar discussion was held relative to the Unemployment Insurance line item. That is currently a single line item whereby costs incurred by each department, including the School Department, are aggregated. It was noted that this line item is generally under funded and money may need to be transferred to it this year to cover layoffs.

The ES will send out the request to the AC and the Town Accountant, and will notify Department Heads.

G. DeLisle reported that he will begin contract negotiations with the Fire Union next week.

BOARD OF HEALTH

OLD BUSINESS:

Emporium. Item discussed under TC.

NEW BUSINESS:

None.

CORRESPONDENCE

Letters from Fire Chief: a) Equipment Breakdown; b) Soiled Turnout Gear: J. Driscoll noted that the letters list unexpected maintenance issues.

Board of Selectmen, January 3, 2006

(Meetings/Invitations/Reminders.)

MEETINGS/INVITATIONS/REMINDERS

Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting, Wed., Jan., 4 2006, @6:30pm, East Longmeadow Police Station, 260 Somers Road. So noted.

Town Meeting Rules Committee, Wed., Jan., 4, 2006 @ 7:00pm, Town Hall Hearing Room.

So noted.

Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Tuesday, Jan., 24, 2005, 6pm, East Longmeadow Library.

So noted.

Motion G. DeLisle moved the BOS adjourn. J. Driscoll seconded. Motion approved 3-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

APPROVED: BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006.

Gary DeLisle, Clerk of the Board