Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

January 25, 2006

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Russell Collins at

7:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Ampagoomian, Davis, Audette, and Montecalvo.

Also present: Michael J. Coughlin, Jr., Town Manager.

As part of a badge requirement, Cub Scouts [Pack 150] took a tour of Town Hall and then joined the Selectmen’s meeting to lead The Pledge of Allegiance.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

Commendations: Police, Fire, and DPW [October 15, 2005 Flood]. Public Safety Commendations were presented to Captain David White of the Northbridge Fire Department, Officer Stephen Buma of the Northbridge Police Department, and Richard Brooks of the Department of Public Works, for their outstanding life saving efforts during the October 2005 flood. In addition, a joint citation was awarded to 12 members of the Northbridge Fire Department for their shared rescue efforts during the October 2005 flood. Officer Daniel Lamoreaux of the Northbridge Police Department also received a Public Safety Commendation for his role in thwarting a robbery that occurred at Village Variety in Whitinsville.

Presentation: Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi Foundation. Present: Mr. Tom Cullen and Doreen Cedrone, Town Clerk. Mr. Cullen advised that he was here to represent the Lou Bertonazzi Foundation. He noted that Mr. Bertonazzi [former State Rep.] was hosting a contest among the towns that he used to represent in order to increase awareness of elections as well as participation in elections. Mr. Cullen announced that whichever town had the highest percentage of votes in the *last next 4 elections would be awarded $1,000 and a banner to be displayed in their respective Town Hall.

Approval of Minutes. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to approve the December 5, 2005 minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Appointments/By the Selectmen: Sharon Susienka, Retirement Board. Chairman John Meagher of the Northbridge Retirement Board notified the Board of Selectmen that Mrs. Susienka’s term was due to expire on February 24, 2006 and asked the Board to consider reappointing her to another three-year term. Chairman Collins also noted that he was in receipt of a letter from Mrs. Susienka stating that she was interested in seeking reappointment to the Retirement Board for another three-year term. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to reappoint Sharon Susienka [as the Selectmen’s appointee] to the Northbridge Retirement Board for another three-year term. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Special Town Meeting. 1) A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Audette to set a Special Town Meeting for Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the Northbridge Middle School Auditorium. Vote yes/Unanimous. 2) A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to place an article on the Special Town Meeting Warrant to lease a multipurpose tractor with snow plow attachment and other equipment to be used by the Department of Public Works. Vote yes/Unanimous. 3) A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to close the Special Town Meeting Warrant, Friday, February 10, 2006 at Noon. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant [Tuesday, May 2, 2006]. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to close the Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant on Friday, March 17, 2006 at Noon. Vote yes/Unanimous.

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission/Vote to reauthorize the resolution. It was explained that the purpose of reauthorizing the resolution was to show support for the joint application by the 24 communities along the Blackstone River to maintain the designation of the area as a National Heritage Corridor. A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to reauthorize the resolution. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Town Manager’s Report. Mr. Coughlin informed the Finance Committee members present that copies of all Department Head Goals and Objectives for FY 2007 have been placed in the Finance Committee mailbox. He also reviewed numbers for Local Aid/Chapter 70.

PRESENTATION: FY 2007 DEPARTMENT HEADS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. Please see attached document for details. Mr. Coughlin announced that he would develop a budget that would bring about as many of these goals as possible. He also expounded on the District Improvement Financing Program [DIF] as mentioned by Jennifer Dulmaine, Community Development Program Director.

Citizens Comments/Input. 1) Carrie Maynard, 266 Church Street, Whitinsville, mentioned that she recently heard on a local cable television show that the Carpenter Road causeway could possibly be closed in the future by the Whitinsville Water Company. She voiced her concerns about the fact that Northbridge emergency vehicles would be unable to access that area and as a result the Town of Sutton would have to respond to emergencies in that location, which would take longer. 2) Sharron Ampagoomian, 41 Henry Street, Whitinsville, mentioned a recent incident that occurred in which someone’s address and social security number was aired on Cable. She cautioned everyone about “Identity Theft” and suggested that people should take care not to dispose of personal information in their household trash.

Selectmen’s Concerns: Selectman Davis asked about the status of a complaint by a Moon Hill Road resident accusing Town of Northbridge DPW vehicles of turning around in her driveway. The Town Manager assured Mr. Davis that the DPW Director has responded to that situation.

Open Session Adjourned: 11:07 PM

The Executive Session was initially cancelled and the public meeting was adjourned. Shortly thereafter, the Public Meeting was reconvened at 11:10 PM and a motion for an Executive Session was called for and passed.

Executive Session. A motion made and seconded to go into Executive Session under MGL Chapter 39, §23B #3 [Litigation – NHS Mediation], not to reconvene in open session. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes; Mr. Davis/Yes; Mr. Audette/Yes; Mr. Montecalvo/Yes; and Mr. Collins/Yes.

Open Session Adjourned: 11:15 PM

Respectfully submitted,

John A. Davis, Clerk

s/

* At their meeting of February 27, 2006, the BOS voted to amend the January 25, 2006 minutes as follows. Under the section titled Presentation, Line 6, strike the word “last” and insert the word “next”.