Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
October 23, 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.
Approval of Minutes.
October 2, 2006
A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
approve the October 2, 2006 minutes as presented with
the readings
omitted. Vote yes/Unanimous.
September 11, 2006
Selectman Davis had one minor change, under Selectmen’s Concerns,
Line 10, strike the word “roof”. A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to approve the September 11,
2006 Minutes as amended by
Selectmen Davis. Vote yes/Unanimous.
August 21, 2006 [Executive Session 1
- Amended]
A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to approve the August 21, 2006 Executive Session 1
Minutes as amended by Selectmen
Davis. Vote yes/Unanimous.
August 21, 2006 [Executive Session 2 - Amended]
A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to approve the August 21, 2006 Executive Session 2
Minutes as amended by Selectmen
Davis. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Appointments/By the Board of Selectmen: Board
of Registrars [2 Democratic Vacancies]. Present: Town Clerk, Doreen Cedrone. Candidates: 1) Sandra
Ovian 2) Peter Andonian. Acting Town
Manager, Joseph Montecalvo, advised the Board that Ms. Sandra Ovian was unable
to attend and would accept the position on her behalf. Ms. Doreen Cedrone spoke briefly about the
two candidates and thanked them for coming forward to fill the Democratic
vacancies. She went on to say that she was looking forward to working with both
of them. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette, to appoint Sandra Ovian and
Peter Andonian to fill the Democratic Board of Registrars vacancies as noted
above. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Central Massachusetts Regional
Planning Commission: Second Delegate and
Alternate.
Chairman Ampagoomian mentioned that the above commission needed two
individuals to be appointed to their committee. Selectman Montecalvo responded
that he would be the Second Delegate and Selectman Davis replied that he would
be the Alternate. The information will
be forwarded to the CMRPC.
Citizens’ Comments/Input. None
Fire Department [Fire Chief Gary Nestor]/Vote to adopt M.G.L. Chapter
48, §59A-Aid to Municipalities. Chief
Gary Nestor explained the reason he was requesting the Board to vote and adopt
the Aid to Municipalities Agreement was to protect the firefighters during
Mutual Aid calls. A motion/Mr. Audette,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to adopt the Massachusetts General Law Chapter 48, §59A-Aid
to Municipalities Agreement. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Safety
Committee Minutes/Vote to accept recommendations. Selectman Montecalvo briefly updated the Board
of Selectmen on what was discussed at the September 27, 2006 Safety Committee meeting. A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Davis to
accept the recommendations of the Safety Committee as outlined in the minutes
of September 27, 2006. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Fall Annual
Town Meeting/Vote positions on
warrant articles. Present Finance
Committee Members: Mary Frances
Powers, Chairman, Andy Todd, Sal D’Amato, Plato Adams, and Jim Barron. Acting Town Manager, Joseph
Montecalvo mentioned that the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee agreed
not to discuss any of the Financial Articles [1 through 8] at the Town Meeting
and recommended deferring them until the Town Meeting adjourned session of November 21, 2006. With that
said, the Selectmen and Finance Committee are hoping to have more information
on the certification of the Town’s free cash and balancing of the budget. The Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee
voted their positions on Articles 9 through 23 as follows: Article 9 (USDA Middle School Roofs). Selectman Davis advised the Board that
the United States Department of Agriculture has approved the Town’s request for
loans because the Town did not qualify for any grants. He also mentioned that Mr. Barbadora
indicated to him that the budgeted figures being submitted to the USDA would
need a 20% increase, however, he is waiting confirmation from Gale Associates
as to whether the 20% is already included in the figures. Selectman Davis requested the Board
increase the budgeted amounts 20% for Articles 9 and 10 based on the assumption
that the 20% is not included in the figures.
A motion/Mr. Audette, seconded/Mr. Marzec to support Article 9. Vote yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee supports Article
9. Article 10 (USDA Police Station Roof). A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to
support Article 10. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 10. Article 11 (Amend
Zoning Map from I-2 to B-3 on Main Street between Valley Parkway, and Route 146. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/ Mr. Marzec
to support Article 11. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 11. Article 12 (Road
acceptance: Kennedy Circle). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to support Article 12. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 12. Article 13 (Road
acceptance: Lincoln Circle). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to support Article 13. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 13. Article 14 (Road
acceptance: Brookway Drive). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Davis
to support Article 14. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 14. Article 15 (Road
acceptance: Samuel Drive). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to support Article 15. Vote yes/Messrs.
Davis, Montecalvo, Audette and Ampagoomian.
Abstain/Mr. Marzec. The Finance
Committee supports Article 15. Article 16 (Road
acceptance: Arthur Drive). A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo
to pass over Article 16. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
will support passing over Article 16. Article 17 (Road
acceptance: Marston Road). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Selectman
Audette to support Article 17. Mr.
Richard Sasseville, DPW Director, spoke up and recommended that the Board take
no position on Article 17 through Article 21 until Tuesday,
October 24, 2006 [prior to Town Meeting] due to there being some issues
with the roads not meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. After discussion, Chairman
Ampagoomian asked Selectmen Montecalvo and Audette to rescind their
motion. Therefore, a motion/Mr.
Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to take no position on Article 17. Vote yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee concurred. Article 18 (Road acceptance: Nathaniel Drive). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to take no
position on Article 18. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
concurred. Article 19 (Road
acceptance: Hillcrest Road). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to take no position on Article 19. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
concurred. Article 20 (Road
acceptance: Morgan Road). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to take no position on Article 20. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
concurred. Article 21 (Road
acceptance: Prospect Street). A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette
to take no position on Article 21. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
concurred. Article 22 (Amend
Zoning Map from R-3 to B-3 on southeasterly side of Church Street and southwesterly
side of Providence Road. Ms. Barbara Gaudette spoke on the proposed
article and urged the Board not to support this article. She felt there wasn’t enough time for the
Planning Board to evaluate the information that was presented to them. Chairman Ampagoomian agreed with Ms.
Gaudette. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec not to support Article 22.
Vote yes/Unanimous. The Finance
Committee concurred. Article 23 (Bylaw
Review Committee). Mr. Paul Murray advised the
Board on how the changes to the Bylaw would be presented at Town Meeting. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Audette to
support Article 23. Vote
yes/Unanimous. The Finance Committee
supports Article 23.
Interim
Town Manager. Acting Town Manager, Joseph
Montecalvo, asked the Board of Selectmen how they want to proceed with
interviewing the candidates for the Interim Town Manager position. He suggested reviewing the candidates resumes
and presenting 3 names to the Board of Selectmen. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
allow the Acting Town Manager, Joseph Montecalvo to present 3 names to the
Board of Selectmen for the Interim Town Manager position. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Selectmen’s
Concerns. Selectman Audette mentioned 1) the
banners in Town look excellent, 2) Firemen’s Recognition on Thursday, 3)
Girl Scouts would like permission to hang posters in the Town Hall to honor the
Veterans. Selectman Marzec
reminded the Board that at some point the Boy Scouts will be coming in to
discuss ideas for their Bulletin Board. Chairman
Ampagoomian announced 1) The Recycling Committee – Disposal of
batteries for cars, motorcycles and lawnmowers at the Northbridge Recycling Center [behind the Whitinsville
Fire Station]. Fee is $2.00, hours are 9
AM to 1 PM, 3rd Saturday of the month.
Batteries must be in good shape and not leaking.
Items
for Future Agenda. 1) Tax Rate
Classification Hearing, 11/06/06, 2) Alcohol
Violation Hearing [Vera’s Mini-Mart], 3) Parks and Recreation [Field
& Dreams Proposal], 4) Negotiating Team for the School Department
[need to appoint a Selectman].
Town
Manager’s Report. Acting Town Manager, Joseph
Montecalvo, 1) read aloud a letter that was addressed to Chief Gary Nestor
from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety. He mentioned that the following members of
the Northbridge Fire Department: Deputy
Chief Steven Dupre, Captain David M. White, Lieutenant James Gosselin,
Firefighter Michael Baker, and Firefighter Frank Brackley from Engine Company
#4 will be honored at the 2005/2006 “Firefighter of the Year” Award Ceremony on
Thursday, October 26, 2006, 11 AM, at Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. Richard Sasseville, DPW Director, applauded
the firefighters for their efforts in the rescue that occurred last October in
the flood. However, he wanted to point
out that a key person, Richard Brooks, had been left off the list. He wanted Mr. Brooks of the DPW Department,
to be recognized for his tremendous efforts of rescuing individuals during the
October flood. 2) Advised the
Selectmen that they received a letter from an individual on Arthur Drive but
felt it should be referred to the Safety Committee for handling. 3) Ken Lombardi, Consultant from EBS Foran,
would like to meet with the Selectmen to discuss the Town’s Health
Insurance. 4) A letter went out
regarding the Town going to a bi-weekly pay schedule. He noted that there are individuals who are
not happy with this.
Chairman
Ampagoomian announced that he attended the “Hard Hat Tour” at
Alternatives. He noted the project is on
budget and they have made great progress thus far.
A
motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Audette to adjourn the meeting. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Open
Session Adjourned: 8:20 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Marzec, Clerk
dg/