Board
of Selectmen’s Meeting
October 2,
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.
Chairman
Ampagoomian mentioned that due to the overwhelming turnout for tonight’s
meeting, the room capacity of 65 persons would be enforced by the Police Chief
and Fire Chief, per M.G.L. and public safety regulations.
The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited by those present.
Selectman Davis made a motion that the first order
of business should be the Town Manager update.
He also suggested that the Department Head's Monthly Reports be
cancelled. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Audette to move the Town Manager matter to the first order of
business and cancel the Department Head Monthly reports. Role Call Vote: Mr. Montecalvo/Yes, Mr.
Davis/Yes, Mr. Audette/Yes, Mr. Marzec/Yes, and Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes. Attorney David Doneski advised Chairman Ampagoomian
that according to Massachusetts General Laws, the order of the agenda could be
changed by majority vote of the Board of Selectmen.
Therefore, a motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette
to accept the resignation, severance agreement, and general release between the
Town of Northbridge and Michael J. Coughlin, Jr. and signed by Michael J.
Coughlin, Jr. on September 28, 2006.
Role Call Vote: Mr. Davis/Yes,
Mr. Audette/Yes, Mr. Marzec/Yes, Mr. Montecalvo/No, and Mr. Ampagoomian/No.
Michael J. Coughlin, Jr. then read aloud a speech
that he prepared for tonight’s meeting.
He stated that he wouldn’t have done anything different. Mr. Coughlin thanked both the Board and the Town
for the opportunity to have served as manager.
He also thanked all of the people he worked with. He also noted that for nearly three years, in
this very room [Selectmen's Chambers] the Board of Selectmen have discussed,
debated and disagreed, and now marked by great personal sadness, pointed out,
that the happiest day of his life also occurred in this very room [his marriage
to Bernadette]. Continuing, he thanked
Bernadette for all her strength, support and particularly her sense of
humor. He then went on to thank his
daughter, Sarah for all her support.
During Mr. Coughlin’s speech, he quoted Theodore Roosevelt and Winston
Churchill and then received a standing ovation.
Approval of Minutes.
Selectman
Davis asked that the minutes be amended as follows: FY Management Letter, the
entire discussion between Selectman Davis and Mr. Powers of the firm Powers and
Sullivan be inserted. A motion/Mr.
Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to hold the September 11, 2006 minutes until amended
as requested by Selectman Davis. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
August 21, 2006 [Executive Session 1]
This matter
was handled during Executive Session on October 2, 2006.
August 21, 2006 [Executive
Session 2]
This matter
was handled during Executive Session on October 2, 2006.
7:05 PM Public Hearing:
Wal-mart Stores, Inc. / To consider an application for 8 - 1,000 gallon
aboveground tanks for propane storage to be located at 100 Valley Parkway,
Whitinsville, MA, [Wal-Mart Site]. Present: Mr. Steve Browning, E. Osterman Gas Service,
Inc.
Chairman Ampagoomian read the public hearing notice aloud. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
open the public hearing. Vote
yes/Unanimous. Mr. Steve Browning,
Regional Sales Manager for Osterman Gas Service, 998 Church Street,
Northbridge, MA appeared before the Board of Selectmen to seek their approval
to store 8,000 gallons of propane [8-1,00 gal. aboveground tanks] at the new
Wal-Mart off Main Street [to be located at the rear of the site]. Chief Nestor mentioned that he would have to
complete a final inspection before any permit was issued. Chief Nestor also mentioned that he could
only issue a permit for up to 2,000 gallons of storage. Continuing, Chief Nestor advised that he
reviewed Wal-Mart’s plan and informed the Selectmen it had been properly designed. Chairman Ampagoomian asked if there were any
abutters who wish to speak on this matter.
Comments from those present: Mr. Joseph Albin, 240 Union Street, Linwood, asked what would happen if the tanks were to
explode. Mr. Browning responded that
even though the tanks just sit on a cement pad, the cement pad is rectangular
and about 6 inches to a foot thick. He further
stated that there is nothing behind the tanks but a sand pit. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
close the public hearing. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to approve the application for 8-1,000 gallon aboveground
tanks for propane storage to be located at 100 Valley Parkway, Whitinsville, MA
[Wal-Mart Site]. Vote yes/Unanimous.
7:15 PM Public
Hearing:
Vote to layout the metes and bounds of the
following roads or portions thereof:
a.
A portion of Samuel Drive (Reservoir
Heights)
b.
A portion of Brookway Drive (Graystone)
c.
Arthur Drive
d.
Marston Road (The Hills at Whitinsville)
e.
Nathaniel Drive (The Hills at Whitinsville)
f.
Hillcrest Road (The Hills at Whitinsville)
g.
Morgan Road (The Hills at Whitinsville)
h.
A portion of Prospect Street (The Hills at
Whitinsville)
i.
Kennedy Circle (Presidential Farms)
j.
A portion of Lincoln Circle (Presidential
Farms)
Chairman Ampagoomian read
the public hearing notice aloud. A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to open the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous. Present: Gary
Bechtholdt, Town Planner and Harry Berkowitz, Chairman -Planning Board. Mr. Bechtholdt announced that
there were ten (10) layouts of metes and bounds and suggested reading it one
time. All abutters have been duly notified
and the public hearing notices have been posted. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr.
Audette to waive the reading of the layouts for each road. Vote yes/ Unanimous. Mr. Bechtholdt mentioned he would present the
Planning Board’s recommendations to laying out the metes and bounds for the
above roads. He also advised that the
Planning Board voted unanimously on September 21, 2006, to recommend the layout
of Samuel Drive and Brookway Drive. He
also noted that the Planning Board voted unanimously on September 21, 2006, not
to recommend the layout of Arthur Drive. Debra Hartland, 51 Arthur Drive, asked
that the Planning Board and Selectmen not accept the layout of Arthur Drive
because none of the catch basins was working properly. Continuing, Mr. Bechtholdt said that the
Planning Board voted unanimously on September 21, 2006, to recommend the layout
of Marston Road, Nathaniel Drive, Hillcrest Road, Morgan Road and a portion of
Prospect Street [The Hills at Whitinsville].
Frank
Puda, 173 Morgan Road, mentioned he was in favor of laying out this road,
however, he had some concerns; 1) no bus service [because Morgan Road is not a
Town Road], 2) layout needs to be filed 7 days prior to Town Meeting, and 3) if
the Selectmen do not make a recommendation, does this mean the road would not
be layed out until the next Town Meeting.
Mr. Bechtholdt reported that the Planning Board voted unanimously on
September 21, 2006, to recommend the layout of the metes and bounds of Kennedy
Circle and a portion of Lincoln Circle. A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Marzec to close
the public hearing. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to recommend the layout of the metes and
bounds of a portion of Samuel Drive [Reservoir Heights]. Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Davis, Audette
and Ampagoomian. Abstain/Mr.
Marzec. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.
Marzec to recommend the layout of the metes and bounds of Brookway Drive
[Graystone Estates]. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec not to layout the metes and bounds
of Arthur Drive. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Audette to recommend the layout of the metes and bounds of the
following roads and portions thereof as follows: Marston Road, Nathaniel Drive, Hillcrest
Road, Morgan Road, a portion of Prospect Street [all in The Hills of
Whitinsville]. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
recommend the layout of the metes and bounds of the following roads and
portions thereof as follows: Kennedy Circle and a portion of Lincoln Circle
[Presidential Farms]. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Set
Liquor License Violations Hearing for October 23, 2006. Present:
Chief Walter Warchol. Chief Warchol informed the
Board of Selectmen that on Saturday, September 16, 2006, Officers of the
Northbridge Police Department observed a young male walking into Vera’s
Mini-Mart, 1 Plummer’s Corner, Whitinsville. The officers observed the young
male leave the store with a case of Key Stone Light Beer and subsequently found
that the male subject was only 17 years of age.
The Officers went into Vera’s Mini-Mart and confronted the store clerk
on what just transpired. Based on the
investigation, Chief Warchol is requesting that the Board of Selectmen hold a
public hearing to hear the evidence on this case. He also mentioned that Vera’s Mini-Mart has
been before the Board on two previous occasions [2001 and 2002] and received a
license suspension for 3 consecutive days.
A motion was made and seconded to hold a liquor license violation
hearing on Vera’s Min-Mart, Monday, October 23, 2006 at 7 P.M. in the
Selectmen’s Chambers. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Appointments/By
the Board of Selectmen: JoAnn Teachout, Conservation
Commission. Andrew Chagnon and
Wyatt Mills from the Conservation Committee provided a synopsis on Ms. Teachout's
background and qualifications. A
motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to appoint Ms. Joann Teachout to the
Conservation Commission. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Citizens’ Comments/Input. Mr. Paul McKeon, 500 Benson Road, Northbridge, mentioned that he was appearing before the Board of
Selectmen as a concerned voter in Town.
Mr. McKeon indicated that he was upset with some members of the Board of
Selectmen and felt that the Open Meeting Law had been violated. He then mentioned he read an article in the
paper about the Town Manager but couldn’t believe it since to his knowledge
there was no discussion in Open Session or during an Executive Session. He mentioned he no longer trusted them and as
a result, he feels a recall should be done.
Denis Latour, 88 Linwood Avenue, asked if the Board of Selectmen could refer him to
someone that could assist him with respect to the War Memorial on Main
Street. He mentioned that the lawn and
blue stone in front of the monument was never replaced. Chairman Ampagoomian referred Mr. Latour to
Jennifer Dulmaine, Community Development, as she is in charge of the
Streetscape Program. Georgette Bishop, 80 Hillview Lane,
Whitinsville, voiced her extreme displeasure
with three members of the Board of Selectmen with respect to the way they
handled the Town Manager’s resignation. Rev.
Holly Johnston,
1 Elm Place, Whitinsville, voiced her opinion about how members of the Board
of Selectmen handled the Town Manager’s resignation. She felt that the Town Manager did what
needed to be done for this Town. Carrie
Maynard, 116 East Street,
Whitinsville, spoke briefly on behalf of three
of the Selectmen and commended them for the way they handled the Town Manager’s
resignation. Sharron
Ampagoomian, 41 Henry Street, Whitinsville, mentioned
that it doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with what transpired tonight
[with the Town Manager] because what this Town needs now-- is to move on. Jean Fraser-Perkins, 16
Elm Street, Whitinsville, had a concern about some
graffiti that was written on a downtown building and was wondering if there was
something that could be done about it.
Chairman Ampagoomian informed her that there was nothing that could be
done because the individual that wrote the "graffiti" owns the
building. He suggested to Ms.
Fraser-Perkins that she write that individual a letter of concern.
Finance Committee/Update
on Deficit. Present: Mary Frances Powers, Chairman, and Members --Mary
Thompson, Sal D’Amato, Andrew Todd, Jr., and James Barron. The Finance Committee distributed a handout
to the Board of Selectmen for their review.
Mary Frances Powers, Chairman of the Finance Committee, spoke briefly
about the handout and mentioned that it was an update on the 4th
iteration of the “Closing of the Gap” by Town Manager, Michael J. Coughlin,
Jr. Mary Thompson, Finance Comm. Member,
discussed the budget for Fiscal Year 2007 and asked for three requests; 1)
asked if the School Committee could implement a spending/hiring freeze [as the
Town side is doing] until they get a chance to finalize and agree upon a plan
to move forward; 2) a joint meeting be held with the Board of Selectmen, School
Committee and Finance Committee on Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. to
discuss the Town’s budget deficit; and 3) permission from the Board of
Selectmen to have direct contact with the Department Heads so that they can
find out the recommended cuts and how they would affect each of the
Departments. Selectman Audette made a
recommendation to the Finance Committee to schedule an appointment with each
Department Head to go over any questions or concerns they may have. Chairman Ampagoomian informed the Finance
Committee that they would post the joint meeting for Thursday, October 5,
2006. David Doneski, Town Counsel, informed
the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen that they could only recommend to the School Committee a hiring
and spending freeze. Mr. D’Amato asked
Chairman Ampagoomian to prepare a letter to the Superintendent of Schools
requesting [in the spirit of cooperation] the Schools to incorporate the hiring
and spending freeze until the budget is balanced. Selectman Montecalvo suggested that the
Finance Committee send the letter to the Superintendent of Schools in reference
to the freeze. The Finance Committee
responded that this wasn’t their position and that the Board of Selectmen was
the Executive Branch of command. Ms.
Powers mentioned that a letter went out to all the Department Heads, Boards,
and Committees on the proper chain of command.
She asked for a vote and a memo by the Board of Selectmen to take place
advising the Finance Committee to contact the Department Heads in reference to
their budget cuts. A motion/Mr. Marzec,
seconded/Mr. Audette to send a memo to all department heads specifying that
they are free to discuss with the Finance Committee any and all concerns
regarding the budget for FY 2007. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Audette,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to send a letter to the School Committee from the Board of
Selectmen recommending that a freeze be placed on spending and hiring until the
budget was balanced. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Selectmen’s
Concerns: Selectman Montecalvo mentioned that the signs
being placed on the Town Hall fence needs to stop. Selectman Marzec mentioned that he
has been in contact with a gentleman who is looking to become an Eagle Scout
and part of one of their merit badge is to discuss issues related to the
town. Selectman Davis 1)
suggested that the Bylaw Review Committee place their changes in the
Selectmen’s boxes so they have time to review them before making a decision at
the Town meeting, 2) asked that the Bylaw Review article be placed at
the beginning of the agenda and not the end, 3) distributed a document entitled
“Moving the Town Forward” which listed a number of items that needed to be
discussed at future Board of Selectmen's meeting. He then suggested that meetings [Board of
Selectmen] be posted for the next 21 days for cases that need immediate
attention. The Board concurred. and 4) Has been in contact with the USDA
and asked if he could continue to handle if the rest of the Board was alright
with that. The Board of Selectmen all
agreed that Selectman Davis should continue to do so.
Executive
Session. A motion made and seconded to go into
Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 39, S. 23B #3 (Litigation) not to
reconvene in open session. Role Call
Vote: Mr. Audette/Yes, Mr.
Montecalvo/Yes, and Mr. Davis/Yes, Mr. Marzec/Yes, and Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes.
Open
Session Adjourned: 9:20 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Marzec, Clerk
dg/