Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
July 10, 2006
A meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Charles Ampagoomian at 7:00 PM,
Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Audette, Davis, Montecalvo and
Marzec.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.
Chairman
Ampagoomian announced that on July 16, 2006 at 11:00 a.m., the National Guard
will be holding a send-off ceremony for approximately 125 members of the 101st
Engineering Battalion as they are being deployed to Kosno. The ceremony will take place at Wakefield
High School, 6 Farm Street, Wakefield, MA (Lake Street, Whitinsville). The members of the Board are cordially
invited to attend.
Approval of Minutes.
Selectman Davis requested the June 19, 2006 minutes
be amended as follows: By adding two
comments he made at the last Board of Selectmen Meeting. 1) submission of the
USDA packet for the roofs, and 2) Weinberg letter. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
approve the June 19, 2006 minutes as amended. Vote yes/Unanimous.
June 19, 2006 [Executive Session]
Selectman Davis requested the June 19, 2006
Executive Session minutes be amended by adding the following information under
the section entitled High School, second paragraph, sixth line, change the
words “Attorney’s fees” to “field construction costs” and in the eighth line
change the words “legal fees” to “reconstruction costs”. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to approve
the June 19, 2006 Executive Session minutes as presented with the readings
omitted. Selectman Montecalvo mentioned
he needed some clarification from Attorney Doneski regarding Selectman Davis’
suggested revisions. Attorney Doneski
mentioned that he could not answer unless they were in an Executive
Session. Selectman Audette suggested
waiting to approve the 6/19/06 Executive Session minutes until the next meeting
so they have time to get clarification from Attorney Doneski. Chairman Ampagoomian advised that Selectman
Davis and Selectman Marzec would have to withdraw their motions. Selectman Davis and Selectman Marzec withdrew
their motions to approve the June 19, 2006 Executive Session minutes pending
clarification. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to place the June 19, 2006 Executive Session
minutes on the July 24, 2006 agenda for approval. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Public
Hearing. 7:05 p.m./Set Liquor License
Violations hearing for August 7, 2006 per Chief of Police. Present:
Walter J. Warchol, Chief of Police. Chief
Warchol briefly discussed how the Northbridge Police Department conducted an
investigation of the illegal sale of alcohol to persons under the age of
21. Chief Warchol assigned the
investigation to Lieutenant Timothy Labrie, Officer Stephen Buma and Detective
Donald Roy. Two individuals under the age of 21 assisted the officers in the
investigation. They entered 16 licensed
establishments in Northbridge and successfully purchased alcohol in 6 of these
establishments: The China Pacific Restaurant, The Grill, Jubes Family
Restaurant, Sparetime Recreation, The Trading Post Market and Village
Variety. Chief Warchol asked the Board
of Selectmen to hold a Public Hearing so that evidence could be presented on
these violations. A motion/Mr.
Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to hold liquor license violations hearings on
Monday, August 7, 2006 at 7 P.M. in the Selectmen’s Chambers. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Citizens’ Comments/Input. Bill
Cundiff, 68 Windsor Ridge Drive, briefly spoke about dealing
with Kopelman & Paige and mentioned that the Town could receive an itemized
bill by project matter. Mr. Cundiff
works in the Town of Douglas and has dealt with Kopelman & Paige through
his place of employment. Robert A. Parker,
Jr., 20 Nolet Street, Linwood, mentioned that he was
appalled and disappointed with the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager for not
placing him on the agenda as he requested three weeks ago. That said, he requested to discuss the Union
Street drainage. Mr. Parker explained
that in November of 1999, a report was done and said no one has done a thing in
over 7 years. He also mentioned that the
Town failed to negotiate an easement with their property. Mr. Parker then presented the Board with
pictures of the flood that he had taken last year. Town Manager Coughlin mentioned that Mr.
Sasseville ordered a study by Earth Tech so that they could conduct a
hydraulogical study to help with the resolution of the drainage problems in the
Union Street area. Town Manager also
mentioned that he visited the Union Street site several times and agreed that
they need to alleviate this situation.
He further informed Mr. Parker that the DPW crew couldn’t be placed out
there until the area dries out. Selectman Davis inquired about a letter that
was sent by the Town Manager to Attorney Amy Silverstein on September 29, 2005,
and whether Mr. Collins ever followed up with her. Selectman Marzec suggested that the DPW
should start working on this soon before the frost sets in. Mr. Parker said that someone from the Board
should have contacted him to discuss this situation prior to attending
tonight’s meeting. Selectman Montecalvo
noted it would be very costly to fix this situation and asked where the money
would come from. Mr. Parker then
suggested that the Board of Selectmen sit down and negotiate an easement. Chairman Ampagoomian said the DPW has a plan
and they need to work on this first. He
also said that if an easement was needed, the Town Manager would look into
it. Chairman Ampagoomian told Mr. Parker
that he would keep him informed.
Special
Town Meeting: 1) Vote to set date [September 26,
2006]. 2) Vote to close warrant Friday,
August 25, 2006 at Noon – both postponed to July 24, 2006. Present:
Town Manager Coughlin, Mary Frances Powers, Chairman of the Finance
Committee and Andrew Todd, member of the Finance Committee. Selectman Montecalvo inquired about an email
that was sent to individuals about the override not being needed because of the
Town’s deficit was $100,000.00. Town
Manager Coughlin interjected and advised Selectman Montecalvo that the Town
should deal with the defeat of the override and move forward. He mentioned that the more important thing
was to turn the page and deal with the business at hand. Continuing, Town Manager Coughlin talked
briefly about the revenue budget that was produced by the Finance Committee and
that he included (in the Selectmen’s packet) the final numbers from the
State. He further mentioned that he met
with Mary Frances Powers {Chairman of the Finance Committee}, Andrew Todd
{Member of the Finance Committee}, and Paul Soojian {Superintendent of Schools}
to discuss the current deficit. They
discussed establishing a financial working group. Ms. Powers suggested a proposal for the
individuals serving on the working group; the group would consist of 8
representatives; 2 members from the Finance Committee, 2 Board of Selectmen, 2
from the School Committee, Superintendent Paul Soojian and Town Manager Michael
Coughlin, Jr. The committee would be
responsible for finding solutions to the goals established for Fiscal Year 07
and to formulate a plan for Fiscal Year ‘08.
Ms. Powers then mentioned that the Finance Committee would like a vote
by the Board of Selectmen to accept the concept of the working group. Town Manager Coughlin stated that the working
group individuals would be helping to deal with more of the contentious issues
such as: the reductions in the municipal
and school budgets and closing out dormant accounts. The Selectmen all agreed that they were in
favor of supporting this new group. A
motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Marzec to support the concept of formulating a
financial working group as outlined above.
Vote yes/Unanimous. Town Manager
Coughlin suggested postponing the vote to set the Special Town Meeting until
the July 24, 2006, Selectmen’s Meeting.
Selectman Davis asked the Town Manager why the business to be conducted
at the Special Town Meeting couldn’t be deferred until the Fall Annual Town
Meeting on October 24, 2006. The Town
Manager responded that most of the budget reductions should be made at the
September 26, 2006 meeting. Selectman
Davis understood the argument but mentioned he didn’t agree with it. Mr. Todd suggested that the Selectmen appoint
2 members to the working group committee tonight. Chairman Ampagoomian concurred and suggested
Selectman Marzec and Selectman Montecalvo as his choice because of their
financial backgrounds. Selectman Davis
concurred. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Audette to appoint Selectman Montecalvo and Selectman Marzec to
the financial working group committee.
Vote yes/Unanimous.
Fall
Annual Town Meeting [October 24, 2006] A motion/Mr.
Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to close the Fall Annual Town Meeting warrant on
Friday, September 8, 2006 at noon. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
DPW
Facility Site Design A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to direct the Building, Planning and Construction
Committee to complete the development of a site design for the proposed DPW
Facility including a detailed analysis of the Department’s operational needs
and an evaluation of the suitability of the proposed site as authorized by vote
of the Town under Article 17 of the June 8, 2004 Town Meeting. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Fire
Station Roof Repair or Replace – Application to USDA. Mr. Peter Barbadora and Mr. David Morrow
mentioned they would not be receiving the report on the cost estimate of the
roof until Wednesday, July 12th or Thursday, July 13, 2006,
therefore, this discussion will be deferred to the next Board of Selectmen
Meeting on July 24, 2006.
Safety Committee Minutes
(June 21, 2006)/Vote to approve. Selectman Audette asked Selectman Montecalvo
to give a brief overview of the Safety Committee Meetings to the Board of
Selectmen during their Board meetings.
Selectman Montecalvo mentioned he would.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Audette to accept the recommendations
of the Safety Committee as outlined in the minutes of June 21, 2006. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Trustees
of Soldiers’ Memorials/Request to hang a banner over Church Street from July
21, 2006 through July 28, 2006 to announce the welcoming home of Jonathan Van
Etten. Present: Tom Farley and Andy Williamson. Mr. Farley mentioned that the Trustees
received a letter from Mr. Van Etten’s father requesting to hang a banner over
Church Street to welcome home his son, Jonathan Van Etten, Airforce Staff
Sergeant, who would be returning home from Germany on July 24th. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to approve the above request to hang a banner across Church Street from July 21st
through July 28th to announce the welcoming home of Jonathan Van Etten. Vote yes/Unanimous.
FY’99
Community Development Block Grant Program/Request to discharge lien on property
located at 69 Plantation Street, Northbridge, MA. Jennifer Dulmaine, Program Manager, Community
Development Block Program, informed the Board of Selectmen that their were 2
liens on the above property and 1 was recently paid off. She asked the Board of Selectmen to discharge
the smaller lien that has been paid off on the property located at 69
Plantation Street. A motion/Mr. Marzec,
seconded/Mr. Davis to approve the discharge of lien on property located at 69
Plantation Street, Northbridge, MA. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Policy Regarding Matters brought forth under “Selectmen’s Concerns”. Chairman Ampagoomian briefly discussed amending the Town of Northbridge Board of Selectmen’s Policy and Procedures Manual. He suggested inserting a new category entitled “Selectmen’s Concerns” with the following language under Section II Meeting Policy: Each meeting the Board will provide a topic entitled Selectmen's Concerns in which members of the Board will have an opportunity to comment on any issues or questions they deem important. It will be the prerogative of the Chairman of the Board to table any matter for discussion at a future meeting of the Board of Selectmen. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to amend the Town of Northbridge's Board of Selectmen’s Policy and Procedure Manual as noted above. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Marzec 1) mentioned that an individual on Linwood
Avenue had some concerns about the drainage basin [School Department Drainage]
and would like for this topic to be placed on the next agenda. 2) asked whether Mr. McKeon received a copy of
the letter regarding the fee charge he inquired about. Selectman
Montecalvo announced the Summer
Concert Series. Selectman Davis 1) inquired about the St. Patrick’s Lease
payment. Town Manager Coughlin informed
Mr. Davis the payment was going out tomorrow.
2) Has there been a response to the DPW
Director’s letter sent to Mr. John Dyer?
Mr. Sasseville, DPW Director, informed Mr. Davis that the letter was
sent to Mr. Dyer, however, it was sent back as undelivered due to a change of
address. Mr. Sasseville mentioned that
he would send out another letter to Mr. Dyer’s correct address.
Town Manager’s
Report. Town Manager Coughlin suggested that Chairman
Ampagoomian sit down with Mr. Dyer to continue negotiation on the property
located on Providence Road [adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant]. The Town Manager then passed out a document
listing some timeframes with respect to Capital projects, for the Board of
Selectmen to review. He also mentioned
that he and Mr. Montecalvo would be meeting with the West End School Property
owner, Mr. Jolles [July 11, 2006 @ 11:00 A.M.] to discuss negotiations on the
land for the new Fire Station. Chairman
Ampagoomian mentioned that at the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting, a vote to
set the debt exclusion for November 7th would have to take place in
order for the Town to comply with the required deadline.
Items For Future
Agenda. July 24, 2006
1)
Vote to place
articles {Roof, Budget Amendments} on the Special Town Meeting Warrant
2)
Department Heads
– Quarterly Reports Presentation {April, May, June}
3)
Vote to set the
Debt Exclusion for November 7, 2006
A motion/Mr. Montecalvo,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes/Unanimous.
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Marzec, Clerk
dg/