Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
A meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Charles Ampagoomian at
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.
Approval of Minutes.
Selectman Marzec asked that the minutes reflect the
Attorney’s name to be Attorney Doneski, not
Attorney Maser. A motion/Mr.
Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to approve the
A motion/Mr.
with the readings omitted. Vote yes/ Messrs.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis
to approve the
minutes as presented with the readings
omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec
and Ampagoomian.
A motion/Mr.
with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec and
Ampagoomian.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis
to approve the
with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis,
Marzec and Ampagoomian.
A motion/Mr.
with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec and Ampagoomian.
Appointments/By
the Board of Selectmen: Cultural Council/Leeann
Hansson. Leeann Hansson mentioned
that she has been on the committee before and finds its very interesting. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to
appoint Leeann Hansson to the Cultural Council for a three-year term. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec and
Ampagoomian.
Playground &
Recreation/Vote to approve league fees and liability form. Present: Bridget Curley, 146 Union Street, Craig Bachman, 36
Cedar Street, and Bruce Frieswick, 32 Highland Street. Chairman Ampagoomian asked that a memo/letter
be sent to advise the leagues and others individuals of the new fees and
policy. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.
Marzec to approve the Playground & Recreation league fee structure and
liability form as recommended by Town Counsel.
Vote yes/ Davis, Marzec and Ampagoomian.
MLJJ, Inc. d/b/a The Gray
Barn [John H. Mellor, Mgr.]/Request for Entertainment License for dancing by
patrons and recorded/live music. Mr.
Mellor explained that the entertainment license would help produce additional
revenue for his business due to the increased costs incurred this year. Chief
Warchol mentioned that the Police Department has received complaints in the
past and recommended closing his business around midnight and having a bouncer
at the door to monitor the number of people entering and leaving the
establishment. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to approve The Gray
Barn’s request for an Entertainment License for dancing by patrons and
recorded/live music. Vote yes/ Davis, Marzec and Ampagoomian.
Citizens’
Comments/Input. Martin Nackman, 927 Marston
Road, Whitinsville, asked that before the Board of Selectmen voted to support
the acceptance of Marston Road as a Town road that they evaluate the retention
basin located on lot 73 to ensure it doesn’t pose a risk to public health
during temperate seasons. Chairman
Ampagoomian advised Mr. Nackman that the detention basin issue is not related
to the street acceptance and suggested that he follow up with the Town Planner,
Gary Bechtholdt to discuss his concerns on the detention basin further.
Fall
Annual Town Meeting/Vote positions on warrant articles 1-8 and 17-20. Present: Ed Palmer, Member of the Planning Board and
Richard Sasseville, DPW Director. Mr.
Palmer mentioned that the Planning Board voted to support Articles 17-20 [Road
Acceptances]. Acting Town Manager Sharon
Susienka suggested that the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee re-vote
their positions on Articles 17, 18, 19 and 20.
A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to support Article 17 [Marston
Road], Article 18 [Nathaniel Drive], Article 19 [Hillcrest Road], and Article
20 [Morgan Road]. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec and Ampagoomian. Mary Frances Powers, Chairman of the Finance
Committee stated that the Finance Committee also voted to support Articles
17-20. Votes were not taken on Articles
1-8 (financial articles) because a definitive plan to balance the FY ’07 budget
was not in place at this time.
Winter Parking Ban/Vote to
approve. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
approve the Winter Parking Ban from December 1, 2006 through April 1, 2007
during the hours of 1:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M., as requested by the Northbridge
Police Department. Vote yes/Messrs.
Davis, Marzec and Ampagoomian.
Toll
Booth Policy. Selectman Davis made some recommendations to
the policy that Chief Warchol provided.
Chief Warchol agreed to the changes made by Selectman Davis. This will be placed under decisions at the
next Board of Selectmen’s meeting [December 4, 2006].
Adhoc
Committee/Streetscape. Selectman Davis mentioned that after a discussion with Mr.
Montecalvo he would support the formation of this committee, however since Mr.
Montecalvo is not available at this time he thought the Board of Selectmen
should wait to discuss further.
Finance
Committee. Present: Chairman Mary Frances Powers, Committee
Members: Jim Barron, Andy Todd and
Salvatore D’Amato. Also Present: Neil Vaidya, Town Accountant. Ms. Powers discussed the finances of the Town
and suggested that the three Boards (Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and
School Committee) come to an agreement after they find out how much free cash
is available. Ms. Powers mentioned that
the Finance Committee is in agreement that the budget deficit is in fact
$1,971,560.00. Mr. Vaidya concurred with
that amount. Mr. D’Amato stressed the fact that the situation
is serious and could potentially lead to layoffs. Ms. Powers suggested that the three Boards
meet on Thursday, November 30, 2006, to come to a compromise before the next
adjourned session of Town meeting on December 12, 2006. Superintendent Paul Soojian concurred.
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Davis 1) requested emergency plans from DPW Director Richard
Sasseville and Fire Chief Gary Nestor in case they had to relocate due to an
emergency; 2)
asked if the Planning Board responded to
Mrs. Bardon regarding her complaint about the new Wal-Mart; 3) sent an email to David Morrow requesting to add the
Fire Station roof to the USDA if the project comes in under budget. Selectman Marzec 1)
asked the Planning Board, DPW, and Conservation Commission to expedite Arthur
Drive issues. Chairman Ampagoomian 1) mentioned that the Boy Scouts - Troop 155 had an
overnight campout at the Town Beach. He also would like a letter to be sent to
WWC and the Boy Scouts to ask them to inform the Town of Northbridge [Police,
Fire and DPW] when using the Beach. 2)
Make a suggestion to Wal-Mart that they sit with the Recycling Committee to
discuss the disposing of car batteries, etc.
Town Manager’s Report. Acting Town Manager, Sharon Susienka, 1)
mentioned that a mandatory seminar for all Boards and Department Heads on the
Open Meeting Law will be scheduled for the week of December 10, 2006. Ms.
Susienka will advise the exact date and time once confirmed with Town Counsel.
Items for Future Agenda. 1)
Letter from Mr. Haringa – PowerPoint Presentation.
A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to adjourn the meeting. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec and
Ampagoomian.
Open Session Adjourned: 8:20
P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Marzec, Clerk
dg/