MINUTES
Board of Selectmen Meeting
March 19, 2007 6:00 P.M.
Town Hall Hearing Room,
Present: James D.
Driscoll, Chairman Board of Selectmen (BOS);
The Board of Selectmen opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
6:00 P.M. - COUNCIL ON AGING MEMBERS
Review Resumes for COA Director Position.
Motion J. Villamaino moved the BOS enter into executive session for the purpose of selecting finalists to interview for the position of Executive Director of the Council on Aging.
J. Townshend seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.
Note: L. Osborn and M. Andwood participated in the executive session.
L. Osborn initiated discussion of what questions would be asked of the candidate; the ES made copies of a list for the BOS. The interview date was set for March 27, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular BOS meeting. The COA members would participate in the interviews and the BOS would make the final decision.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
NEW BUSINESS:
For approval, Site
Plan Review, Great Woods XI,
Motion J. Townshend moved to approve the recommendations. J. Villamaino seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
For approval, Revised
Site Plan Review, JLS Architects, movement of the prefab classrooms to the East
Side of Mapleshade School, 175 Mapleshade Avenue. Reports from Police & Fire. (public
hearing March 20, 2007).
Motion J. Townshend moved to approve the recommendations. J. Villamaino seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
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BOARD OF HEALTH
NEW BUSINESS
For approval and signature; Certificate of "Free Sale", WF Young.
Motion J. Driscoll moved to approve the Certificate of Free Sale. J. Villamaino seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Item signed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Thank you letter from Mayor Charles Ryan. The letter was read into the record by the Clerk regarding assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department to the East Longmeadow Police Department during a recent incident.
MINUTES FOR APPROVAL
Motion J. Villamaino moved the BOS approve the minutes of January 30, 2007 as amended.
J. Townshend seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion J. Villamaino moved the BOS approve the executive session minutes of January 30, 2007 as presented. J. Townshend seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
The BOS signed the liquor license for Spoleto’s.
MEETINGS/INVITATIONS/REMINDERS
Items noted
Meeting, Public Safety Advisory Committee, Wednesday, March 21, 2006 at 6:30pm, Fire
Station,
Meeting,
Meeting, Regional Board of Selectmen, Thursday, March 22, 2007, at 7:00pm, Melville
Room,
Meeting, Board of Selectmen, March 27, 2007 at 7:00pm, Town Hall Hearing Room.
6:30
P.M.—Appropriations Committee (AC)
AC Members present: Michael Macleod, Chairman; James Broderick; Raymond Miller;
Lori Coutu; David Hodge, Esq.; James Hayes.
Also Present: James Sheils, Moderator; Tom Florence, Clerk/Treasurer/Collector; Ryan Quimby, Acting IT Director; Don Maki, ELCAT Committee.
The BOS met with the AC to discuss budgets, in particular supplemental budget requests, of departments under its authority.
J. Driscoll began by explaining that its budgets are to come in at 3%; that the BOS could vote on priorities but his include public safety, in particular for the School Resource Officer, the Connect-CTY program and some increase in expenses of $810 for the BOS office budget.
The ES clarified the supplemental budget request of $810.00 was for a salary increase for one of the positions that kicked in mid-way through this fiscal year; that in consultation with the
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Accountant there may be a variation due to the amount of advertising for hiring that occurs from year to year that could cover it for the overall budget.
J. Townshend stated for the record that he really doesn’t think that they should support the $12,000.00 supplemental for the virtual server implementation; that there is a 29% increase in labor increases (in IT) which is extremely excessive; that, for the record, in his opinion the School Resource Officer should be picked up by the School Department; and that the splitting up of the Town Clerk and the Tax (Treasurer), he believes the population hasn’t grown here that much that we have to create another job; that that is the whole problem that he sees in the public sector is creating new jobs all the time and that he wanted to go on record as saying that.
J. Driscoll responded that R. Quimby has 3% increase in the budget, that he took money from one column for a consultant fee and hired someone direct; that he is not for creating new jobs and doesn’t think splitting the Treasurer position would do that; that it might be covered with personnel already in place.
A discussion ensued with R. Quimby explaining why moving the consultant to a full-time position is advantageous to the Town; that it is a reallocation rather than an increase in the budget; that there are longer term plans to put the school technology under the one IT Department. J. Townshend stated for the record that he believes it should only be a two person department, not three, and that accountability is something that is thrown around but that he doesn’t see it.
Discussion was held about server virtualization and scheduled maintenance and Connect-CTY. R. Quimby discussed the virtualization and technology would be his first choice. R. Quimby said that he is still working on the Connect-CTY for a final cost. Questions were asked about possible costs in the first three years; what the School Department contribution might be and what savings in postage might be. The consensus from the discussion was to wait a year if the school is under contract for a year; to see if the company might renegotiate; that this system is superior to others; but to otherwise wait a year.
Discussion ensued regarding School Resource Officer; J. Driscoll said he supports the position, that it is beneficial in crime prevention, that grant funding is being explored. M. Macleod asked if any statistics regarding crime prevention could be obtained?
J. Hayes brought up discussion of the police department overtime. J. Driscoll discussed how health issues have contributed to this; then discussion resumed about the resource officer. The BOS was asked by the AC to look at the overtime budget again.
A brief discussion began regarding the proposed spending plan for ELCAT equipment upgrades began, but was tabled while additional copies of the plan were made.
Discussion was then held regarding the supplemental budget for the Clerk/Treasurer/Collector’s
Office. T. Florence joined the discussion. Discussion was held regarding the deadlines for
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MUNIS implementation. A general discussion of how different departments reporting to different boards were affecting implementation and accountability.
T. Florence was asked to explain why there is a 5.1% increase in his overall budget and he responded that the Town Accountant told him to leave it in for possible retro increases for union positions. Discussion ensued at length regarding staffing in the office and the accuracy of the 5.1% and how it was derived; that to take that out brings the overall to 3%.
Discussion turned to the supplemental request relative to requested salary increases for positions in the office with T. Florence stating that duties have increased and this needs to be addressed;
J. Driscoll indicated that the BOS has not supported this change, that it is a matter for the Personnel Policy Committee.
J. Hayes asked about the status of collections. T. Florence reported that collections for FY 05 are up to date and that the FY 06 collections will be up to date by the end of the 2007 calendar year.
Further discussion was held regarding salaries and staffing; whether certain positions could be broken into separate part-time positions with additional training; T. Florence to look into this.
A discussion of the supplemental request for tax title legal assistance ensued; with a brief recap of the system and customary timelines for collections.
J. Driscoll left the meeting at this time.
A discussion was next held at length regarding the funding of proposed equipment upgrades for ELCAT. D. Maki took the lead and presented information on the revolving fund; he went over line by line a proposal on what equipment would be purchased and when. Discussion was held regarding the contract renewal process and what funding the town was going to try negotiate with Charter; that these funds are generated from Charter and from subscribers to support ELCAT programming including broadcasting of public, educational and government (PEG) access programs; that the equipment improvements are necessary. The discussion was wide ranging in the framework of a three year improvement plan; how the ELCAT Board could evolve; what the ramifications of the laws governing revolving fund are; and how the needs of the community figure in to the funding negotiations during the renewal process with Charter.
Motion J. Villamaino moved the meeting adjourned. J. Townshend seconded out of necessity. Motion carried 2-0.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
APPROVED: BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING, TUESDAY, MAY
22, 2007.
*Clerk at the time of this meeting.