Board of Selectmen
Joint Meeting w/the Housing Authority
December 17, 2007
A joint meeting of the Board
of Selectmen and Housing Authority was called to order by Chairman William Audette at 7:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall,
7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Davis, Montecalvo, Ampagoomian
and Marzec. Also Present: Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager. Housing Authority Committee: Chairman Mary Frances
Powers, Barbara Chandler, Janet King, and Carolyn Lavallee.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.
Approval of Minutes.
November
19, 2007
Selectman Ampagoomian suggested the following
verbiage be added to the end of the Middle School Lockdown Update; “Selectman
Ampagoomian mentioned that he found out about the lockdown by a phone call from
Firefighter William Davis, not the Town Manager or Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen”. Selectman Davis suggested the November 19, 2007 minutes
be amended as follows: In the last page,
first line, change the following language “to ask Consigli Construction to come
in” to “to set up a meeting with Consigli Construction to review the new
guidelines”. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to approve the November 19, 2007 minutes as amended. Vote yes/Unanimous.
December
3, 2007
Selectman
Ampagoomian asked that the following sentence be added at the end of the
Northbridge High School Audit Report; “Selectman Ampagoomian mentioned that he
asked Town Manager Kozak for a copy of all the invoices mentioned in the school
audit report”. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec
to approve the December 3, 2007 minutes as amended. Vote yes/Unanimous.
December
3, 2007 [Executive Session]
A motion/Mr. Davis,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to approve the December 3, 2007 Executive Session minutes as
presented with the readings omitted.
Vote yes/Unanimous.
Public Hearing.
1) 7:05 P.M./FY 2005 Community Development Block Grant Amendment.
Present: Jennifer Dulmaine, Program
Director. Chairman
Audette read aloud the public hearing notice.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to open the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous. Ms.
Dulmaine mentioned that the FY 2005 Community Development Grant award would
have a remaining balance of approximately $20,000; however, there is not enough
time to open a new housing rehabilitation case.
She proposed an amendment to the correct grant to utilize the remaining
funds for survey/design work in the New Village Target Area, and the defined
area will depend upon the estimates for survey and design work. The target area is defined as A Street, B Street, C Street, D Street, Crescent
Street and Border Street. That said, she mentioned that the more design
work that is completed will aid the next phase of the New Village
Infrastructure Improvements Project. A
motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to close the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to amend the
FY 2005 Community Development Block Grant Program as discussed. Vote yes/Unanimous.
2) 7:15 P.M./FY 2008 Community Development Block
Grant (continued from 12/2/07). Present: Jennifer
Dulmaine, Program Director. Chairman Audette mentioned this is a continuance
from a previous public hearing. Ms.
Dulmaine provided the Board of Selectmen with her recommendations for the FY
2008 Community Development Block Grant application. She provided the Selectmen with a description
of the project and an estimate of the cost.
Project I – Targeted Neighborhood Infrastructure Project – Ms. Dulmaine
proposed Phase II of the New Village Infrastructure Improvements Project, which
will consist of the remaining work on Border Street from D Street to the end
(roadway and sidewalks) and Crescent
Street from North Main Street to Swift Road (installing new sidewalks on
one-side of the roadway that abuts the school).
She is recommending funding for this project in the amount of $650,000. Project II – Demolition of C Street Property
(Town Property). Ms. Dulmaine informed
the Selectmen that this project is eligible for Community Development Block
Grant funds because it addresses the elimination of slums and blight. By removing, the dilapidated garages that are
currently on the property this will help improve the condition of the area. She recommends funding for this project in
the amount $100,000. A motion/Mr.
Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to close the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to
authorize the Chairman of the Board and other elected/appointed officials to
sign the application certification forms as required and to authorize Jennifer Dulmaine to submit the FY 2008 application
online. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian
to approve the submittal of multi-activity application for the Targeted
Infrastructure and Demolition Projects in the designated target area generally
referred to as the Village/New Village and as defined in the FY 2008
application. The application request
will be for up to $1 Million. Such
application will be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community
Development prior to the grant deadline of February 15, 2008. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian
to authorize submittal of the Community Development Strategy as discussed. Vote yes/Unanimous. Ms. Dulmaine approached Chairman Audette and
asked if Item J, Under Decisions could be brought forward so that she doesn’t
have to wait 2 hours. Chairman Audette
approved her request.
Community Development/Certificate not to encumber
the property located at 36 A/B Elm
Place, Whitinsville, MA.
Present: Jennifer
Dulmaine. After a brief discussion with Town Counsel,
they recommended the verbiage given to Ms. Dulmaine be used when the vote is
taken. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr.
Davis to consent to the transfer of the property located at 36 A/B Elm Place,
which is subject to an Assistance Agreement dated November 9, 2006 and a
Certificate Not To Encumber dated February 1, 2007 under the Northbridge
Housing Rehabilitation Program, from Harry and Francine Smith to Harry and
Francine Smith as trustees of a grantor trust, as described in a November 19,
2007 letter from Attorney James Miller, counsel for the Smiths, to the Town
Manager, subject to the execution and recording of a new Certificate Not To
Encumber upon the recording of the deed to the grantor trust at the Registry of
Deeds. Vote yes/Unanimous.
3) 7:20 PM – a) Transfer liquor license [All Alcohol
Package Store] from Gary’s Variety, Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Gurmit Pabla] to
Jyoti Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Harshad Patel]. b) Transfer Common Victualler’s License from
Gary’s Variety, Inc. d/b/a Gary’s
Variety [Gurmit Pabla] to Jyoti Enterprise, Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Harshad
Patel]. Chairman
Audette read aloud the public hearing notice.
A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to open the public hearing. Vote yes/Unanimous. Mr. Harshad Patel was present along with his
brother Govind Patel, who is representing Harshad because his attorney was in a
car accident. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.
Marzec to close the public hearing. Vote
yes/Unanimous. There were no comments
from those present. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Marzec to approve the
transfer of the liquor license [All Alcohol Package Store] from Gary’s Variety,
Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Gurmit Pabla] to Jyoti Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a
Gary’s Variety [Harshad Patel] and submit the application packet to the
Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr.
Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to transfer the Common Victualler’s License from
Gary’s Variety, Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Gurmit Pabla] to Jyoti Enterprise,
Inc. d/b/a Gary’s Variety [Harshad Patel].
Vote yes/Unanimous.
Cable Advisory Committee/Cable Contract. Present: Sharron Ampagoomian, Chairman, and
Members: Ronald Guillaume, Steven Holm,
Jerry Bagdasarian, David Miedema III, Shelley Buma, and Attorney William
August. Attorney
William August is representing the Town of Northbridge in their Cable Contract Renewal
Process. He gave a brief overview of the
renewal process and mentioned the Cable Advisory Committee has pulled together
and adopted a document with some general objectives for negotiations. Mr. Ronald Guillaume presented the
preliminary ascertainment report and recommendations of the Northbridge Cable
Television Advisory Board to the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen for any
feedback and/or comments they may have.
This document reflects the Northbridge Cable Advisory Committee's
ascertainment activity to identify the Town of Northbridge’s cable television needs. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to
adopt the preliminary ascertainment report and recommendations of the
Northbridge Cable Television Advisory Board as the preliminary ascertainment
findings of the Board of Selectmen as cable television licensing authority
subject to Selectmen reservation of right, at a later time, amend and modify as
needed. Vote yes/Messrs. Davis, Audette
and Marzec. Vote no/Messrs. Montecalvo
and Ampagoomian.
Appointments: Vincent Tynan, Northbridge Housing
Authority. (Joint appointment of the Selectmen and Northbridge Housing
Authority) Present: Mary Frances Powers, Chairman, Northbridge Housing
Authority, and Committee Members: Barbara Chandler, Janet King and Carolyn
Lavallee. At this
time, Chairman Powers called the Housing Authority's meeting to order. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr.Ampagoomian to accept the recommendation
of the Northbridge Housing Authority to appoint Vincent Tynan to the
Northbridge Housing Authority. Vote
yes/Unanimous. There being no
further discussion, a motion/Ms. Lavallee, seconded/Ms. King to close the
Northbridge Housing Authority's meeting.
Vote yes/Unanimous. Appointments/By
the Board of Selectmen: Karl Gustav
Hjertberg, Blackstone
River and Canal
Commission (Associate Member). Mr.
Hjertberg told the Board a little bit about himself. He mentioned that he was a civil engineer and
is interested in the environment. He enjoys
biking, skiing, sailing and canoeing. A
motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to appoint Karl Gustav
Hjertberg to the Blackstone River and Canal Commission as an Associate Member. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Citizens Comments/Input. Carrie Maynard, 16 East Street, Whitinsville. Ms. Maynard mentioned there is a MEPA Site
Visit on Thursday, December 19, 2007 at 10 AM for the Berkowitz Trucking
Facility to discuss a 217% percent tonnage increase per year. Richard Sasseville, DPW Director and Arthur
Magowan, Highway Superintendent advised the Board of Selectmen and the
residents in town of a situation they have because of all the bad weather Mother
Nature has dumped upon us recently. The
problem the Highway Department is faced with is an inability to obtain a
sufficient supply of salt for use on the town roads. The Town of Northbridge
belongs to a consortium of 17 cities and towns in Central
Massachusetts that join together and bid out their salt contracts
for a bulk rate. That said, the salt
company has not been good about delivering their salt. Right now, there are 20 loads of salt on
order and it’s been on order for several weeks now. DPW Director Richard Sasseville mentioned there
is a shortage of salt and that they only have 50 tons of salt left in the salt shed. That said, because of the weather we’ve been
having lately, they don’t have the material needed to treat the roads
properly. They are asking that residents
in Town be very careful when driving around the surrounding areas because every
Town is experiencing the same situation as Northbridge.
Voting Precincts [Combine precincts 1, 3 and 4 and
relocate to Northbridge High School Field House] Present: Doreen Cedrone, Town Clerk. A motion/Mr.
Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Davis to adopt the recommendation of the Town Clerk
to move precincts 1, 3, and 4 to the Northbridge High School Field House. Discussion on the motion: Selectman Davis voiced his concerns with a
letter that was received by the American Legion regarding rental fees. *Selectman Davis would like to amend the motion by
including moving Precinct 2 to the Northbridge High School Field House. No vote taken on the main motion. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to
amend the first motion as follows: To relocate Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 4
to the Northbridge High School Field House.
Vote taken on the motion by Selectman Ampagoomian as amended: Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Davis, Marzec
and Audette. Vote no/Mr. Ampagoomian”. Selectman
Ampagoomian withdrew his motion.
2008 Annual Liquor License Renewals/Vote
to approve. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to
approve all the 2008 Annual Liquor License Renewals subject to the payment of
all outstanding taxes. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
2008 Miscellaneous License Renewals [Common
Victualler, Class II, Class III, Automatic Amusement Devices, Entertainment,
etc.]/Vote to approve. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to
approve all the 2008 Miscellaneous License Renewals subject to the payment of
all outstanding taxes. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Oliver Ashton Post #343 (American
Legion) Liquor License/Request Change of Manager. A
motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve the Oliver Ashton
Post's request for a Change of Manager from Camille Labrecque to Harry
Berkowitz and to submit the application packet to the Alcoholic Beverages Control
Commission. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Blanket vote to re-affirm all regulatory
traffic signs in Town. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to
re-affirm the authorization for all existing regulatory traffic signs in the
Town of Northbridge, i.e. stop signs, no parking signs, do not enter signs, and
all other regulatory traffic signs now in place. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Sparetime Recreation [Ken Couture, Mgr.]: Request to transfer
the Wines and Malt [General on Premises] liquor license to Sparetime
Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Sparetime Recreation [Wayne Couture, Mgr.]. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Davis to grant local approval on the
transfer of the above license from Kenneth Couture d/b/a Sparetime Recreation
to Sparetime Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Sparetime Recreation [Wayne Couture] and
to submit the application packet to the Alcoholic Beverages and Control
Commission. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Class II – Used Car Dealers’ Licenses/Report by
Northbridge Police Department. Present: Police Chief Walter Warchol. Town Manager Kozak mentioned that after a review
of the Class II renewals and license transfers, there was a question that arose
with respect to what exactly is a “premises” under Massachusetts General
Law. He mentioned that Sergeant Conrad
Chickinski spoke to a Massachusetts State Trooper [Trooper Springer], who
informed him there are set criteria that would have to be met to consider the
location a legitimate dealership. The criteria
are: 1) a sign with the dealership's name and hours of operation; 2) A used car
record book that is kept on the premises detailing all vehicles bought and sold
and their final disposition; 3) Legal documents that accompany all vehicles
during transfer of ownership, titles, registrations and bills of sale or copies
of the documentation. Chief Warchol
mentioned that he would like to investigate further and feels that the
Selectmen shouldn’t issue licenses especially when the business has no
documentation on site to conduct a legitimate business.
Town Manager’s Goals and Objectives. Chairman
Audette mentioned that he asked all the Selectmen to review the goals and
objectives [as it pertains to the Town Manager’s job] for this evenings
meeting. After a brief discussion,
Chairman Audette suggested that if any Selectmen had a goal that wasn’t on the
list [already provided at a previous meeting] to provide it to him by January
1, 2008. *Selectman
Ampagoomian stated that the goals and objectives were part of the Town
Manager's job function as described by the Charter”. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to adopt
the 8 goals and objectives that the Town Manager and Chairman submitted and
schedule a Goals and Objectives meeting for the first meeting in February. Vote no/Mr. Ampagoomian. Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Davis, Marzec
and Audette.
Town Manager’s Report. 1) M.O.R.E. Update – monthly meeting in
Worcester went
well. A discussion was held on Regional
Purchasing, Transportation Issues and Energy Contracts. A presentation on Recycling took place and
Marilyn Baker from our Recycling Committee was presented with an award for all
her hard work and dedication. 2) Linwood Mill Site Visit – Town
Manager Kozak met with Mr. William Giannopoulos, Manager of Linwood Mill, LLC.
to view the mill and discuss the development of the mill. Mr. Giannopoulos mentioned that he is
interested in the TIF Program. 3) Playground and Recreation Commission
Policy – A meeting was held at the High School last week with the Playground
and Recreation Committee, School Superintendent, Chairman of the School
Committee, Chairman Audette and Principals to discuss their proposals and use
of the Town fields. 4) Evergreen
Center Wreath Presentation – December
11, 2007 – received a wreath from the Evergreen Center,
which is hanging on the Douglas
Road side of Town Hall. 5)
Reverse 911 – received a visit from the Sherriff’s Department and they provided
a presentation to some individuals in the Town on the Reverse 911 program.
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Montecalvo/1) commitment from the Selectmen that funds will be
available for certification of the library.
Selectman Davis/1) Did the Superintendent submit his budget to
the Town Manager? Town Manager Kozak responded, “yes”. 2)
Have any other Department’s looked at the Aldrich Building
space for utilization. Town Manager
responded, “no”. Selectman Ampagoomian/1) Request for the audit invoices. Town Manager advised Selectman Ampagoomian
that the Town Accountant will provide him with a copy. Selectman
Marzec/1) Businesses in Town – need to bring in more revenue for the Town
of Northbridge.
Chairman Audette/1) mentioned the
possibility of splitting the override, one for the municipal side and one for
the school side. 2) On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, he wished everyone a Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and asked that everyone remember the troops
overseas.
Executive Session. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to go into Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 39, S.
23B#3 Litigation & Negotiations and not to reconvene in open session. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Montecalvo/Yes, Mr. Davis/Yes, Mr.
Marzec/Yes, Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes and Mr. Audette/Yes.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:55 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Joseph
J. Montecalvo, Clerk
dg/
*At their regularly
scheduled meeting of January 28, 2008, the Board voted to amend the December
17, 2007 minutes as follows:
1) Selectman Ampagoomian requested the following statement be inserted
under the heading Town Manager’s Goals and Objectives: Selectman Ampagoomian stated that the goals
and objectives were part of the Town Manager's job function as described by the
Charter.
2) Selectman Davis requested the following changes be made under the heading
Voting Precincts: a) Delete the following language found in lines five, six and
seven: “Selectmen Davis would like to amend the motion by including moving
Precinct 2 to the Northbridge High School Field House. No vote taken on the main motion”. b) Delete
the word “first” in the seventh line. c) Delete the last sentence: “Selectman
Ampagoomian withdrew his motion” and insert the following verbiage as the last
sentence: “Vote on the motion by Selectman Ampagoomian as amended:". Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Davis, Marzec
and Audette. Vote no/Mr.
Ampagoomian”.