Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

February 6, 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.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

 

Commendations [new quarterly program] were presented to the following town employees for their exemplary work; Laura Woeller, Maureen Kemp, Constance Duquette, and Barbara Kinney.

 

Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. announced the House One Budget was released and proceeded to discuss the preliminary numbers for Chapter 70 and Lottery Aid.  He also mentioned that revenues came in far ahead of what was anticipated and therefore, record levels of local aid would be given back to the cities and towns. Representative Peterson informed the Board of Selectmen that the house budget should be in place with hard numbers as of June 30th.  The Board asked several questions with respect to various topics including Local Aid figures, Retired Teachers Pension, State Owned Land, School Choice, Community Policing, MBTA Costs to the Community, Public Safety, Income Tax rollback, and FEMA – local aid to help the community.  Town Manager Coughlin announced that he would be meeting with the Superintendent on Wednesday to discuss the funding in Education. The Town Manager also praised Representative Peterson for delivering the preliminary numbers of the Governor’s budget to the Northbridge Board of Selectmen.

 

Representative Peterson thanked a delegate from Mass Highway District 3 for meeting with him last Friday, February 3rd.  The following Mass Highway projects moving forward with development *are at Plummer’s Corner, the bridge over the Mumford River, and Alternatives [renovation of the old mill].  Representative Peterson mentioned that the Mass Highway Department would be contacting the Town Manager to discuss the status of the Sutton Street project along with a site visit. Selectman Montecalvo requested Representative Peterson to provide him with information on the Health Reform costs at a later date.

 

Approval of Minutes.  A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve the December 19, 2005 minutes as presented with the readings omitted.  Vote yes/Unanimous.  

 

Appointments/By the Town Manager: 1) Donna Gosselin, Administrative Assistant - Sharon Susienka, Assistant to the Town Manager, introduced Donna Gosselin as the new Administrative Assistant for the Town Manager’s Office and provided the Board with a brief summary of Ms. Gosselin’s qualifications and past work experience.  A motion made and seconded to affirm the appointment of Donna Gosselin as the Administrative Assistant in the Town Manager’s Office.  Vote yes/Unanimous.  2) Catherine Bertolet, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper - Jen Dulmaine, Community Development Program Director, introduced Catherine Bertolet as the new Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper for the Office of Community Development.  Ms. Dulmaine provided the Board of Selectmen with a brief summary of her qualifications.  A motion made and seconded to affirm the appointment of Catherine Bertolet as the Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper in the Office of Community Development.  Vote yes/Unanimous. 

 

Public Hearing.  7:05 p.m./FY 2006 Community Development Block Grant Application (Proposed Activities). Present: Ms. Jennifer Dulmaine, Program Director. Chairman Collins then read the public hearing notice aloud. A motion/Mr.Audette, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to open the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous.  Ms.Dulmaine began her presentation by providing the Board and audience with an update of all ongoing Community Development Block Grant Programs.

FY ’01-’02:

Downtown Improvement Project Phase I and II: [100% complete]. This program provided new sidewalks, granite curbing, street trees, ornamental lights (Cross Street to Johnson Ave.) and drainage along Church Street.  All funds have been utilized.

 

FY ’03:

a) Whitin Community Center Outreach Scholarship Program: [100% complete].  This program provided youth and family memberships to the WCC to income eligible persons.

b) Mentoring Partnership Program: [100% complete].  This program provided mentors to children and youth ages 8-18 to aid in their need for positive guidance and role models.

c) Housing & Rehabilitation Program: [14 units are 100% complete].  This program provided funding in the form of deferred payment loans to income eligible property owners to rehabilitate 14 housing units – both single and multi-family dwellings.

d) Commercial Rehabilitation/Sign and Facade Program: [Still open]. This program provided businesses with the opportunity to improve their storefronts as well as their signage.  There are currently twelve signs completed and five remaining.

 

FY ’04:

a) Streetscape: [100% complete]. This project provided ornamental lighting, benches, and trash receptacles in downtown Whitinsville.

b) Whitin Community Center Outreach Scholarship Program: [100% complete].  This program provided youth and family memberships to the WCC to income eligible persons.

c) Mentoring Partnership Program: [100% complete].  This program provided mentors to children and youth ages 8-18 to aid in their need for positive guidance and role models.

d) Housing & Rehabilitation Program: [14 units are 100% complete].  This program provided funding in the form of deferred payment loans to income eligible property owners to rehabilitate 14 housing units – both single and multi-family dwellings.

 

FY ’05:

a) Whitin Community Center Outreach Scholarship Program: [30% complete].  This program provided 78 family memberships to residents of Northbridge.

b) Mentoring Partnership Program: Funding was not provided for this program in the FY ‘05 grant. 

c) Housing & Rehabilitation Program: No funding for this program until FY ‘04’ funds are fully expended.

d) Senior Center/ADA Bathroom:  Second Floor bathroom, working on the bid documents at this time.

 

Continuing, Mrs. Dulmaine informed the Town of Northbridge that there were changes to the CDBG application. [See attached Exhibit A].  The major points of the changes consist of the bonus points.  Any application that can demonstrate activities in a targeted geographic area has the opportunity to earn 10 additional points.  Since the town proposes two activities in a Target Area, the town will receive 10 additional points.  The Target Area is vague at this time, but will be defined at the next meeting.  With respect to the FY 2006 application, the proposed projects are as follows:  1) Neighborhood Infrastructure Project- to include new sidewalks, roadways and drainage in the "Village" section of Northbridge (Border Street, A Street, B Street, C Street, D Street, part of Main Street and part of N. Main Street). An inventory of the buildings and infrastructure will also need to be completed for this application, in order to substantiate the Slums and Blight Designation. 2) Targeted Housing Rehabilitation Program- this program will consist of rehabilitating units of housing that meet the guidelines of the Northbridge Rehabilitation Program.  These guidelines consist of income guidelines and project thresholds for repairs.

 

The Community Development Strategy [See attached Exhibit B] outlines the plans and documents that the town uses in order to prioritize projects that are put forth to the town. To be discussed in detail at the next meeting: 1) Community Development Strategy, 2) Target Area and 3)Detailed Project Line Item Budget.

 

Special Town Meeting [March 14, 2006]/Vote to place articles on warrant.  Mark Anderson, Heritage Design Group and Fire Chief Gary Nestor gave a presentation on a site feasibility study that was done for a new fire station.  Chief Nestor stated that the proposed site was studied about four years ago.  He indicated that the new fire station facility would be located on Main Street and that the response time would be the same as it is now.  Chief Nestor further advised that the proposed new station would be a 21,000 sq. ft. building with 7 bays for vehicles, training facilities, and a dispatch area.  It would also provide room for growth and that overall the proposed location would be a great fit for the department.  Mr. Anderson assured the Board that there are no 21E issues on the proposed site.  Chairman Collins thanked Mr. Anderson for his assistance in providing the *design site plans for a new fire station at no cost.  Mr. Audette and Mr. Montecalvo inquired about traffic lights at the intersection of Main Street and the new station.  Chief Nestor informed the Board that there would be.  Mr. Davis expressed his disappointment to Mr. Anderson about not forwarding the data he had asked for to the Building, Planning, and Construction Committee.  Selectman Davis further voiced his concerns to the Board of Selectmen for not including the Building, Planning, and Construction Committee in the design phase and site planning for the project.  Town Manager Coughlin commended Heritage Design for stepping up to the plate and donating their services to the Fire Chief and the Town.  A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian, to place articles on the Special Town Meeting Warrant for a Middle School Roof and a Police Station Roof.  Vote yes/Unanimous.  Selectman Davis inquired about 1) the status of the applications for the roof projects and whether they have been submitted to the USDA and 2) what the terms of the repayment would be.  Mr. Coughlin responded that some of the paperwork has been submitted. Mr. Davis further inquired about the source of funding for the projects and whether it would be by borrowing, bonding, grant and/or debt exclusion.  A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to place an article for a new Fire Station on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.   Vote Yes/Messrs. Audette, Montecalvo, Ampagoomian and Collins.  Vote No/Mr. Davis.  A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to place an article to acquire land for a new Fire Station on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.  Vote Yes/Unanimous.  A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo, to place three zoning articles [as presented by Atty. Henry Lane} on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.  Vote Yes/Unanimous.

 

Central Mass. Striders/Request to hold the 18th Annual Whitin Five Road Race, Thursday November 23, 2006.   A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve the above request subject to the safety requirements of the Police Department. Vote Yes/Unanimous.

 

Report on Budget Benchmarking.  Town Manager, Michael J. Coughlin, Jr. introduced Mr. Ken Strachan of Municipal Benchmarking LLC of Waltham to those present.  Mr. Strachan presented the benchmarking results comparing the Police, Fire, DPW and School Departments between Northbridge and 20 peer towns.  Document on file in the Town Manager’s Office.   Mr. Coughlin thanked Ken Strachan for doing a great job at presenting the preliminary report to the Board of Selectman.  Mr. Coughlin noted for the record that the Finance Committee had been invited to listen to the presentation and each of them had a packet in their mailbox for review.   

 

Report on DPW Management Review.  Present:  Mr. Jared Clarke and Mr. Dave Hanlon who presented an in-depth analysis of the Northbridge Department of Public Works.  Document on file in the Town Manager’s Office.   Mr. Hanlon commented on the facilities and infrastructure of the building(s), and how they need to be brought up to code.  He also stated that morale is an issue, which could be due in large part to the poor facilities, tools and equipment being used by the Department of Public Works personnel.  At the conclusion of the presentation, Mr. Coughlin thanked Mr. Clarke and Mr. Hanlon for providing such a valuable report to the Board.

 

Comprehensive Fiscal Management Goals.  Town Manager, Michael J. Coughlin, Jr. presented his Comprehensive Fiscal Management Goals to the Board for their review.  Please see attached document for details. [Exhibit C].   Mr. Coughlin informed the Board that the Finance Committee also received a copy of the goals for their review.

 

Citizen’s Comments/Input.  None.

 

Selectmen’s Concerns.  Selectman Davis presented his concerns to the Town Manager to follow up on.  Selectman Ampagoomian thanked the town employees for attending tonight’s meeting. Selectman Audette brought forth a complaint from a citizen in respect to the handicapped parking at Wal-Mart.

 

Town Manager’s Report.  Town Manager, Michael J. Coughlin, Jr. commented on the upcoming By Law Review Committee Meeting (February 23rd) at which he will present information on the Budgetary and Capital Planning Procedures for their review and consideration.

 

Executive Session.  There was no Executive Session scheduled this evening, however, Selectman Davis inquired about a matter from the previous Executive Session with respect to the Building, Planning, and Construction Committee.  The Town Manager responded that he spoke with Mr. Barbadora and would update the Board individually and privately.  Selectman Montecalvo suggested they go into an Executive Session for five to ten minutes this evening.  A motion made and seconded to go into Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 39, S. 23B #3 (Litigation – N.H.S. 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:    10:55 PM

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                            John A. Davis, Clerk

 

 

dg/

 

* At their meeting of February 27, 2006, the BOS voted to amend the February 6, 2006 minutes as follows.  Under the section titled Representative, Second Paragraph, Line 2, strike the word “are” and insert the word “at”.  Also, under the section Special Town Meeting, Line 8, strike the word “design” and insert the word “site”.