Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
May 8, 2006
A meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Russell D. Collins at 7:00 PM,
Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Ampagoomian, Davis, and
Montecalvo. Selectman William Audette
was absent and it is duly recorded.
Also present: Michael J. Coughlin, Jr., Town Manager.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.
Approval of Minutes.
Selectman Davis requested that the April 24, 2006
minutes be amended as follows: 1) Under the section titled Relay for
Life, insert the following verbiage “Selectman Davis suggested a policy be put
in place with respect to toll booth fundraisers, and further requested that
this matter be placed under Items for Future Agenda for discussion. 2)
Under the section titled Budget Report, Line 10, strike the number [1.45
million] and insert the number [$1,045,000].
A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Collins to approve the April 24,
2006 minutes as amended by Selectman Davis.
Vote yes/ Messrs. Davis, Ampagoomian, Montecalvo, and Collins.
May 1, 2006
A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to
approve the May 1, 2006 minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote
yes/Messrs. Davis, Ampagoomian, Montecalvo, and Collins.
7:05 PM - Public Hearing/Mass Electric Company
[Petition for Manhole and Duct Locations/Plan No.
2006-31: Thomas
Street/Installing a new hand pole across from Pole #2 to service House No. 33]. Due to there being no representation from,
Massachusetts Electric Company, the Board of Selectmen deferred the Public
Hearing until the next Board of Selectmen’s Meeting on May 22, 2006 at 7:05
P.M. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Davis to postpone the Public Hearing until May 22, 2006 at 7:05
P.M. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis,
Ampagoomian, Montecalvo, and Collins.
Alternatives’ [21st
annual “Valley Friendship Tour”, Saturday, June 10, 2006]/Request to briefly
close Hill Street at the start of each race beginning at 8 A.M., 9 A.M., and 10
A.M. Chief
Warchol advised the Board of Selectmen that they never had any issues or
problems with respect to the above. A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to approve the above request subject
to safety requirements of the Police, Fire, and Public Works Department. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Ampagoomian,
Montecalvo, and Collins.
Special Town Election [June
13, 2006]/Vote to place override question on the ballot. Selectman Davis asked for clarification with
respect to the quorum requirements needed for voting to place an override
question on an election ballot. Town Manager Coughlin responded that just a
quorum of the Board of Selectmen was needed for such matters. Continuing, the Town Manager spoke briefly
about the Town Meeting held Tuesday, May 2, 2006, and the overwhelming number of
parents, residents, and employees who attended that meeting. Next, he talked about the options available
for funding town services or a certain level of services but stressed that the
citizens of Northbridge should be the ones to decide. Mr. Coughlin indicated that the funding would
need to come from three sources: 1) a transfer from the Stabilization
Fund, which was approved last Tuesday evening [May 2nd],
2)
$500,000 in free cash [to be certified in the Fall,] and 3) a $1Million
override. That said, the Town Manager
asked for the support of the Board of Selectmen by voting to place an override
question on a special election ballot.
Superintendent Paul Soojian concurred with the Town Manager and asked
for the Board of Selectmen to support and place an override question on the
ballot. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo,
seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to call a special town election, in accordance with
section 21c (g) of chapter 59 of the general laws, to seek voter approval for a
proposition 2 ½ override in the amount of $1,000,000 for the purpose of funding
the operating budgets of the town and the public schools for fiscal year
2007. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis,
Montecalvo, Ampagoomian, and Collins.
Citizens
Comments/Input. 1) Playground & Recreation Commission Members: Caryn Gagner, 22 Piedmont
Street, Whitinsville, Bridget Curley, 146 Union Street, Linwood, Craig Bachman,
36 Cedar Street, Linwood, and Bruce Frieswick, 32 Highland Street,
Whitinsville, requested a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Town
Manager, School Superintendent and the Playground & Recreation Committee to
discuss the school fields.
Superintendent Soojian suggested that the Playground and Recreation
Commission attend their next meeting in June.
Caryn Gagner will contact Superintendent Soojian on Tuesday, May 9, 2006
to schedule the best date and time to meet.
2)
Town Manager, Michael J. Coughlin, Jr., Heritage Drive, removed himself from the
Board and appeared as a private citizen to discuss an article that was placed
in the Telegram and Gazette on May 3, 2006, by Mr. Paul Buma. Mr. Coughlin asked that Mr. Buma retract his
letter to the editor and apologize to the Town Accountant Neil Vaidya for the
accusations made.
Selectmen’s
Concerns. Selectman Ampagoomian thanked Denis LaTour,
Planning Board and Karen Rosati, School Committee for their dedication in
servicing their community. Both Denis
and Karen will not be running for re-election this year. Selectman Davis asked the status of: 1)
police and school roof; 2) land tax’s on Providence Road [Verizon
Tower]; Chairman Collins replied this was all set. 3) Pucchio Land negotiations. Selectman Davis also inquired about
three issues from Executive Sessions: 1) Mediation on field litigation, 2) JMJ
Realty Reimbursement, 3) St. Patrick’s Lease.
Selectman Montecalvo mentioned that he would attend a meeting
with Selectmen from various towns at the Cocke N Kettle on Thursday, May 11,
2006 to discuss being more unified.
Also, he mentioned that a workshop would be held in June for newly elected
Selectmen. This workshop will benefit
the newly elected Selectmen because the topics being discussed will include;
what their duties are and their approach as a Selectman. Chairman Collins commended the work by
Chief Warchol and Chief Nestor’s department on a structure fire that took place
in town.
Town Manager’s Report. Town Manager
Coughlin reported that he and Selectman Montecalvo attended the Blue Mass in
Worcester where former Police Chief Thomas Melia was honored. The Town Manager then commended the Public
Safety Personnel: Chief Warchol, Lieutenant Labrie, Chief Nestor, and all of
their men for a great job they did at the Town Meeting last week with respect
to their handling of the overflow crowd.
He also applauded Doreen Cedrone, Town Clerk, and her staff for checking
in every person in a professional manner.
Lastly, he praised the babysitters for a job well done so that the
parents with small/young children could attend the Town Meeting. At the conclusion of his report, Town Manager
Coughlin distributed the Department Head Monthly Reports to the Board of
Selectmen for some light reading.
Items for Future Agenda. Selectman
Davis suggested
a policy be put in place with respect to tollbooth fundraisers. Selectman
Ampagoomian requested a policy be put in place on how we distribute and hang
banners on the Town Hall fence. Note: It
was brought to the Board's attention that an Eagle Scout will be handling this
project by means of a “Message Board”.
A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to adjourn the meeting. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Davis,
Montecalvo, and Collins.
Respectfully
submitted,
John
A. Davis, Clerk
dg/