Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
A meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was called to order by Chairman
Also present:
Representative George N.
Peterson, Jr. spoke briefly about a House Bill with respect to towns and cities
joining a Group Insurance Commission program and then discussed the hearing
that took place last week regarding Charter and Verizon utilities. The Board of Selectmen thanked Representative
Peterson for coming in.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.
Public Hearing.
Mr. Marzec/Yes, and Mr.
Audette/Yes.
Approval of Minutes.
A
motion/Mr.
A
motion/Mr.
A
motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to approve the
A
motion/Mr.
Joint Appointment by the Board of Selectmen and School
Committee. Present: Chairman Kristin Burns, and members Leeann
Hansson, Mary Contino, Paula Grabowski, Andrew Myers, Susan Brouwer, and
Michael Lebrasseur. Absent: Karen Peterson Kittredge. The
following applicants were present for the School Committee appointment with the
exception of Russell Whittaker, who sent a letter explaining that he would be
out of Town and Selena Livingston, who withdrew her name from the running: 1) Kimberly Morrison; 2) Russell Whittaker; 3) Richard DeLuca; 4) Gregory Fuller; and, 5)
Heather McKeon Mawn. Candidates
introduced themself and indicated why they wanted to be a member of the School
Committee. After a lengthy question and
answer session, Chairman Audette asked for nominations. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mrs. Susan Brouwer
to nominate Kimberly Morrison to the School Committee. A motion/Mr. Myers, seconded/Ms. Contino to
nominate Gregory Fuller to the School Committee. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to
nominate Mr. Richard DeLuca to the School Committee. A motion/Mrs. Susan Brouwer, seconded/Mr.
Ampagoomian to nominate Heather McKeon-Mawn to the School Committee. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to close the nominations. Vote yes/Unanimous. Chairman Audette asked for a show in hands in
favor of each nominated candidate. Kimberly Morrison received 5 votes; Richard
DeLuca received 2 votes; Gregory Fuller received 5 votes, and Heather McKeon Mawn
received 0 votes. There being a tie
between Kimberly Morrison and Gregory Fuller, Chairman Audette asked that the
School Committee and Board of Selectmen vote for either Kimberly Morrison or
Gregory Fuller. Kimberly Morrison
received 6 votes and Gregory Fuller received 6 votes. After a brief discussion about each candidate,
Chairman Audette called for one more vote.
Kimberly Morrison received 6 votes and
Gregory Fuller received 6 votes. Due
to the tie vote, a joint meeting between
the School Committee and Board of Selectmen was set for
Joint Appointment by the Board of Selectmen and
Planning Board. Present: Chairman
Barbara Gaudette and members Edward Palmer, James Vitello and George
Martin. Applicants Present: Janet Dolber and Cindy Key. Chairman
Gaudette called her Board to order. Candidates
introduced themselves and indicated why they wanted to be a member of the
Planning Board. After a brief question
and answer session, Chairman Audette asked for nominations. A motion/Mr. Edward Palmer, seconded/Mr.
Appointments/By the Town Manager. Wiring Inspector and Assistant Wiring
Inspector. Present: Richard Wallis and George Duhamel. Each candidate spoke briefly about their qualifications
and work experience. A
motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to appoint Richard Wallis as the
Wiring Inspector. Vote
yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to appoint George Duhamel as the Assistant Wiring
Inspector. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Annual Reappointments/By the Board of Selectmen – Vote
to approve.
Selectman
Annual Reappointment/By the Town Manager – Vote to affirm.
[See listing attached]. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to affirm
the Town Managers reappointments. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Citizens’ Comments/Input. None.
Bond Anticipation Notes. Ms. Deborah Kristoff, Treasurer/Collector, informed
the Board of Selectmen that she had to do a temporary borrowing in the amount
of $4M+ for the following items:
1. Whitinsville Sewer Interceptor $1,261,000.00
2. Wastewater Treatment Plant $ 355,000.00
3. Sewer Siphon
$ 169,000.00
4. Roof
Architect Fees $
130,000.00
5. Police Roof $
190,000.00
6. Middle School Roof $2,170,000.00
Ms. Kristoff mentioned that
Bank of America was awarded the bid since they came in at the lowest rate of
3.78%. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo,
seconded/Mr. Davis to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sign the bond
anticipation notes for the purposes and amounts stated above. Vote yes/Unanimous.
St. Patrick’s Church/Request
permission to hang a banner over Church Street from September 8, 2007 through
September 22, 2007 to advertise their annual Fall Festival. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to allow St. Patrick’s Church
to hang a banner over Church Street from September 8, 2007 through September
22, 2007. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Sewer Rates/Vote to set FY ’08 Rates. Present: Richard A Sasseville, DPW Director, and Mark
Kuras, Sewer Superintendent. Mr.
Sasseville showed a PowerPoint presentation on the current sewer rates and
provided his recommendations for FY ’08 sewer utility rates, which are based on
the volume of water used. A motion/Mr.
SEWER SYSTEM
SCHEDULE OF RATES FOR SEWER SERVICES
QUARTERLY BILLING CYCLE
Effective Date:
QUARTERLY RATES
For
each additional 100 cubic feet thereafter 4.62
For
residential customers only, the rate for each additional 100 cubic feet used in
excess of 4,000 cubic feet shall be reduced by 25-percent to 3.46
Each sewer service shall be
billed in accordance with the above rate schedule. Quarterly usage shall be determined using
100-percent of the quarterly metered water consumption figure to arrive at
sewer usage.
A connection fee for a new
service connection to Residential, Commercial or Industrial premises will be
charged by the Northbridge Sewer System at the time application is made for
service, as follows:
Type of
Connection Fee
The term “fixture” as used above is defined as: water closets, urinals,
lavatories, service sinks, laundry sinks, washing machines, dishwashers,
garbage disposal units, etc.
The term “existing residence” as used above is defined as one that was
occupied prior to
Whenever a commercial or
industrial premise is served by more than one connection to the Town’s mains,
the connection fee schedule above shall apply to each connection. The total number of fixtures will not be
added together to determine the connection fee.
Sidewalk Sign Policy/Vote to revise. Selectman
Montecalvo mentioned that Mr. James Sheehan, Building Inspector, was
recommending that a minor change be made to the sidewalk sign policy that was
established by the Board at their
Recycling Committee/Vote to approve fee schedule. Present:
Marilyn Baker and Denis Latour. Mr. Latour spoke about how their committee plans to
fund their operation with the money they have saved in their revolving
account. As such, the Recycling
Committee is asking that the Board of Selectmen vote in favor of allowing them
to reword the language concerning their revolving account so that they may accept
fees.
Mr. Latour mentioned that the expenses would be offset by a $10.00
per year user fee and the present .20/lb electronic fee. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to approve the fee schedule set forth by the Recycling Committee. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Playground & Recreation Commission/Request to use
the
Powers & Sullivan [Jim Powers]. Present: James Powers, Powers & Sullivan, Neil
Vaidya, Town Accountant,
7)
Automation of Treasurer’s Office; 8)
Maintenance of a Comprehensive Debt Schedule; 9) Betterment Receivable Maintenance; 10) Treasurer/Collector’s Pursuit of Tax Foreclosures; 11) Oversight of the Whitinsville Water
Company; 12) Use of a Lockbox to
Process Municipal Payments; 13)
Internal Control Policies and Procedures Manual; 14) Budgeted Estimated Revenues; 15) Fixed Asset Account Maintenance; 16) Chart of Accounts; 17)
Bank Accounts Using the Town’s Federal I.D. Number;
18) Excess
Bank Accounts; 19) Police Special
Detail; 20) Tailings; 21) Planning Board Deposits; 22) Withholding Accounts; 23) General Long Term Obligations
Account Group; 24) Security of the
Town Hall Mailroom; 25) Town Clerk’s
Office Pre-Numbered Documents; and 26)
Statement No. 45 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. For further details, the complete Management
Letter can be found on file in the Town Manager’s Office and Town Accountant's
Office.
Town Manager’s Report. 1) Town Manager recommended that the
mileage rate be changed from .44 cents to .35cents to save money. 2)
Streetlights – 167 lights will be shut off with a savings of approximately
$10,000.00. 3) Whitinsville Water Company – the
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Ampagoomian/1) reviewed the letter
from Mr. Jolles on the fire station land;
2) present with the Building, Planning, and Construction
Committee a design and cost factor analysis for a new fire station and DPW garage
at the Fall Town Meeting; 3) donating money to different departments; 4)
Plummer’s Corner. Selectman
Montecalvo/1)
Town Manager Kozak mentioned
that Representative George Peterson provided him with a gift of $500 towards
the Northbridge Fireworks. A motion/Mr.
Marzec, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to accept the gift. in the amount of $500.00 from
Representative Peterson for the Town fireworks.
Vote yes/Unanimous.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully
submitted,
Joseph
Montecalvo, Clerk
dg/