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.
1)
"after
the word, after the word".
There being no further discussion, a motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.
Audette to approve the
For
the record, Selectman William Audette recused himself from the following agenda
item as he is a Retiree.
Appointments/By the Board of Selectmen. Thomas Melia, Insurance Advisory Committee
(IAC). Joseph Montecalvo, Interim Town Manager,
advised the Board that this Committee must be re-established per recommendation
of our Health Insurance Consultant and that it was up to the Selectmen to
appoint a Retirees' Representative to the IAC.
As such, he was recommending Mr. Melia to serve in that capacity. There being no further questions or comments,
a motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to appoint Thomas J. Melia to the
Insurance Advisory Committee as the Retirees' Representative. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Marzec, and
Ampagoomian.
Citizens Comments/Input: 1) Ken Zuidema, 2765
Providence Road, Northbridge, informed the Board he was
against any rezoning of Providence Road (Route 122) and as a result, circulated
a petition intended for that purpose, which was signed by many residents. 2) Mary Frances Powers, Chairman,
Northbridge Housing Authority, updated the Board about a fire that recently
occurred at Lake Terrace Apartments [Elderly Housing complex] and which was
deemed a total loss. Ms. Powers thanked
Chief Nestor for his department's assistance.
Continuing, she indicated that during a conversation with Chief Nestor,
she learned that the 2 positions, which were approved at Town Meeting in
December, were still not filled. When
asked why, Interim Town Manager Montecalvo responded that the FY '08 budget may
not support keeping the positions funded and with the way things are looking
for FY 2008 it wasn't sensible to hire someone now only to have to lay them off
after a couple of months. Ms. Powers
stated that the funding was subsidized by the Ambulance Reserves and that the 2
positions should be filled.
Agenda Outline/Vote to move the section entitled "Town Manager’s Report"
after the section entitled "Discussions". Selectman Davis recommended the above change to the
Selectmen's agenda outline and the Board concurred. Therefore, a motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.
Audette to revise the agenda outline as noted above. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Vote to
authorize Interim Town Manager Joseph Montecalvo to sign the Joyce Morin
Settlement Agreement. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to authorize Joseph J. Montecalvo, Interim Town Manager, to
sign the Joyce Morin Settlement Agreement.
Vote yes/Unanimous.
Budget Presentation - Northbridge Public School
District. [Present: Paul Soojian, Superintendent, and
Members: Leeann Hansson, Andy Myers and
Carroll Paine]. Mr. Soojian presented the FY '08 Preliminary School
Department Expenditure Budget via a PowerPoint presentation. He stressed that the numbers do not include
any revenues. In addition, he noted that
the School Committee would be holding a public hearing on the budget Tuesday,
February 13, 2007 to comply with the new bylaw.
Budget highlights: Enrollment
as of October 1, 2006 = 2,660; Per Pupil
Expenditures = $9,062 ($1,024 below State); FY '07 Anticipated Total Budget = $23,064,628 (does not include the
$503,129 that will be turned back to the Town); FY '08 Projected Costs: Salaries
(includes estimated step/lane, retirements, and % increase = $18,457,081.46; New Positions = $486,769.55; Instructional Support = $777,820.00; Custodial/Maintenance/Utilities =
$2,042,611.00; Special Ed = $2,437,376.90;
Transportation = $1,495,264.06; Athletics = $31,678.00; and Legal/Human Resources = 91,017.00 for a
total projected expenditure of $25,819,617.97—according to Mr. Soojian—about a
12% increase overall. He also stated
that they could expect a 20% decrease in grants from the State and Federal
Government. Comments from the
Board: Selectman Marzec requested a copy
of the PowerPoint presentation. Mr.
Soojian said he would email to Ms. Susienka for distribution. He also asked about the purchase on
instructional supplies. The
Superintendent explained that at a minimum the School Department gets the state
contract price. In addition, he said
that contracts are bid annually with the lowest bidder staying in place for
three years. Selectman Davis asked if it
were possible to project the School budget out 2-3 years and what his best
guess would be for FY '08 revenue. Mr.
Soojian responded that Chapter 70 aid could increase slightly and overall,
should be able to match this year's revenue.
Selectman Audette referred to the looming FY '08 deficit and pointed out
that the school budget presented was a 26% increase over FY '07. Mr. Soojian then corrected him and said that
it was just about a 12% increase.
Dog Bite [Flanders] / Status Update. As
a result of the incident that occurred in October 2006, Chief Warchol revised
the Police Department's policy regarding dog bites and then reviewed it with
the Animal Control Officer. That said,
Interim Town Manager Montecalvo directed Ms. Susienka to mail a copy of the new
policy to Mrs. Flanders.
Town Manager Search Committee / Update. Chairman
Ampagoomian announced that Board members received a packet of information from
the Town Manager Screening Committee last weekend but considered it preliminary
as the deadline to submit resumes for the position of Town Manager hadn't yet
passed. Next, Mr. Montecalvo advised
Board members that he received a call from Mr. Christopher Thompson, Screening
Committee Chairman, informing him there were no additional candidates' names
that would be submitted to the Selectmen for consideration for the Town
Manager's job. That said, February 15th
is the deadline for naming a new Town Manager.
Comments from the Board:
Selectman Marzec recommended that interviews be conducted so as to allow
ample time to fully interview each candidate and suggested they be done over 3
separate nights. Selectman Audette
suggested that 2 interviews be done one night and the third interview a
subsequent evening. Selectman Davis
mentioned that his wife has had extensive experience with hiring people and
that by spreading the interviews out over 3 nights could be an advantage for
the second and third candidates if they were to watch them on TV. He then suggested all three interviews be
conducted in one day. The Selectmen
agreed to begin the interviews as soon as possible. As such, each candidate will be contacted to
schedule an interview for Monday, January 29th, as follows: one at 4:15PM, one at 5:30PM, and one at
6:45PM.
Citizen’s Forum - Rules and Regulations. Selectman Audette 1) read a portion of
his recommended policy and asked for the Board's support. As such, the Chairman will place this item
under Decisions for the next meeting, February 5, 2007. 2)
He also suggested that the Board think about conducting office hours at Town
Hall. Selectman Marzec added that they could also hold office hours at
the Senior Center. As such, Chairman
Ampagoomian will place this item (office hours) under Discussions for the next
meeting, February 5, 2007.
Rules & Regulations / Use of Public Sidewalks
& Ways. Present: Richard Sasseville, DPW Director. The
Interim Town Manager advised that he had the Building Inspector do a survey of
the Town as to where "things" were placed in/on public ways. Mr. Sasseville noted that the current town
bylaw only states a permit is needed.
However, the new "rules and regulations" address what can and
cannot be placed in/on public ways. They
also regulate certain activities such as outdoor dining, merchandise displays,
signs/banners, awnings, and construction activities--for example the use of
scaffolding. Selectman Davis asked
whether the Town could revise bylaws without going through the Bylaw Review
Committee. Mr. Sasseville responded that
it could as long as the change is within the authority of the existing
bylaw. He also asked about permit fees
and fines. Mr. Sasseville stated that a
permit is $25 and fines are handled through the Non-Criminal Disposition
bylaw. Chairman Ampagoomian will place
this item under Decisions on the next agenda, 2/5/07.
Budget Timelines [Finance Committee]. Present:
Chairman Mary Frances Powers, Andrew Todd, and Town Accountant Neil
Vaidya. Ms. Powers presented a "draft" timeline for
FY '08 budgets, which meets the requirements of the new bylaw. She stated she has had several conversations
with Mr. Montecalvo and that the Town Accountant has provided some preliminary
revenue numbers. He will also provide
her with a spreadsheet of FY '08 departmental requests. Selectman Audette stated that he would like
to start seeing some numbers as well.
Mr. Montecalvo said that he would give me what he had. Mr. Vaidya asked whether it would be prudent
to defer the Spring Annual Town Meeting until June. Ms. Powers said the Board must call the
meeting for May but can defer the budget article. Mr. Montecalvo mentioned that he would ask
the Department Heads to level fund their budgets at FY'07 levels, however, if
it isn't enough then he will use FY '06 levels.
Selectman Davis requested an updated timeline from the Finance Committee
for the next meeting, 2/5/07. He also
stated that he would prefer to vote on the override prior to the Spring Annual
Town Meeting. Mr. Davis further advised
it is essential to provide proper information on what the override includes as
well as what the consequences would be if it didn't pass. Continuing, Ms. Powers requested the FY '08
budget figures fr the Police, Fire, and DPW Departments, however, Mr.
Montecalvo said that he wants to meet with Department Heads first.
Selectman Marzec asked about
the status of the revaluation. Interim
Town Manager Montecalvo remarked that it is still on going and won't generate
much revenue. In addition, he advised
that the Town will receive about $60,000 in taxes from Wal-Mart.
Selectmen's Concerns.
1) Selectman Davis mentioned
that former Selectman Russell Collins made some disparaging remarks on a local
cable access program regarding Mr. and Mrs. Gould as well as the Assistant Town
Moderator. He felt the remarks were erroneous
and suggested that Mr. Collins make a public apology. 2)
Selectman Audette commended Mr. Montecalvo for the decorative lighting
around the common and monument. 3) Selectman Marzec requested an update
on the Union Street/Arthur Drive issues—where we stand and what we need to do
to correct them. Chairman Ampagoomian
will place this item under Discussions on the next agenda, 2/5/07. 4)
Chairman Ampagoomian a) announced
that emergency ladders have been placed in various places around Town for emergencies
related to ice rescues. He also warned
everyone about unsafe ice conditions. b) announced that Mr. Montecalvo was
recognized by the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association during the MMA's Annual
Meeting and had he remained on the Board of Selectmen would have been the next
MMA President.
Richard Sasseville, DPW Director, came forth to address the Union Street Earth Tech
report. He suggested that the Union
Street issue be deferred to a later time so that a report can be presented to
the Selectmen. In the meantime, though
the issue is much greater than this, the DPW will cut back brush and pick up
debris in the brook. Selectman Davis
advised that he found a letter from 1997 showing the issue predated the
construction of the high school fields.
Town Manager’s Report.
Mr. Montecalvo
reported that he sent a memo to all Department Heads, as well as local and
state officials demonstrating the dire financial circumstances that the Town
will be facing for FY 2008.
Executive Session. A motion was made and seconded to go into
Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 39, S. 23B #3 Litigation [James Knott,
Whitinsville Water Company Rate Hearing], not to reconvene in open
session. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Davis/Yes, Mr. Marzec/Yes, Mr.
Audette/Yes,
and Mr.
Ampagoomian/Yes.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:02 PM
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Marzec, Clerk
s/