Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

March 10, 2008

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen 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.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

Approval of Minutes.

February 25, 2008

Selectman Davis suggested under the Cable Studio Location, Line 3, change Selectman Davis to Selectman Montecalvo. Selectman Marzec mentioned that Selectman Montecalvo’s name should be listed as the clerk of minutes for the February 25, 2008 minutes. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to approve the February 25, 2008 minutes as amended. Vote yes/Unanimous.

February 25, 2008 [Executive Session]

A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve but not release the February 25, 2008 Executive Session Minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Appointments/By the Town Manager. 1) Cari-Lynn Fisher, Playground and Recreation. Present: Bridget Curley, Chairman of the Playground and Recreation. Ms. Curley advised the Selectmen that her board voted unanimously to appoint Cari-Lynn Fisher to the Playground and Recreation Committee. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to appoint Cari-Lynn Fisher to the Playground and Recreation Committee. Vote yes/Unanimous. 2) Resignation. Serge Grandoni, Council on Aging. Chairman Audette read aloud a letter of resignation from Mr. Grandoni. Selectman Ampagoomian asked that a “Thank You’ letter be sent to Mr. Grandoni. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Montecalvo to accept the resignation of Serge Grandoni, Council on Aging. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Citizens’ Comments/Input. None.

Town Manager Evaluation. Chairman Audette mentioned that the Board of Selectmen each filled out a performance evaluation form on the Town Manager in which there were 10 questions they had to rate the Town Manager on; 1) Outstanding – Clearly exceeds what is required and expected by the Board; 2) Above Satisfactory – Understand the issues and is addressing the same; 3) Satisfactory - Is meeting the requirements of the Manager’s role, but improvement is needed to move an issue forward; 4) Needs Improvement – Is meeting the requirements of the Manager’s role, but improvement is needed to move an issue forward; 5) Unsatisfactory – Is not meeting the minimum standards of the position of Manager. After a brief discussion regarding the evaluation structure of the Town Manager, Chairman Audette reviewed the Selectmen’s overall rating of the Town Manager. That said, the Manager’s anniversary date was February 26, 2008 and the Board needs to make a decision on whether or not he has earned an increase to his compensation. An Executive Session will be scheduled two weeks from now to discuss the Town Manager’s compensation relative to his Performance Evaluation.

Chairman Audette mentioned that under Decisions, Item C has been removed from tonight’s agenda.

Operation Graduation 2008 [Julie Gawlak]/Requests permission to conduct a “Boot Drive” on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. at Memorial Square and Ovian Square. Selectman Davis suggested reviewing the policy and adding limitations so that the town can avoid having a “boot drive” every week. The Selectmen agreed to review the policy and table it to another meeting. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve the Operation Graduation Boot Drive subject to the Town’s Boot Drive policy. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Community Development Block Grant/Request to execute Discharge of Liens. Present: Jennifer Dulmaine, Community Development. Ms. Dulmaine suggested that the Board of Selectmen vote to discharge the seven liens individually. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 2-4 Fletcher Street, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 2297-2299 Providence Road, Northbridge, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 853 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 25 Paul Place, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 19 Willow Street, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 719 Benson Road, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to discharge lien on property located at 911 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Chairman Audette announced that he was taking the next item out of order and asked Ken Lombardi, EBS Foran to provide an overview on the Health Insurance Program. Mr. Ken Lombardi and Jack Dolan provided the Board of Selectmen with a handout that entailed the Previous FY08 Budget Estimates, Expected FY08 Costs Estimated and Expected FY09 Costs Estimated for the Employee and Retiree Health Insurance Program. After the presentation, the Board of Selectmen thanked Mr. Lombardi and Mr. Dolan for preparing the handout and explaining in detail the changes and costs associated with the program.

Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant [May 6, 2008)/Vote to place articles on warrant. Town Manager Kozak read aloud each article and proposed his recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to place the articles on the warrant [except for Chris Cowan and Kocek Land articles] for the Spring Annual Town Meeting [May 6, 2008]. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Annual Town Election Warrant [May 20, 2008]/Vote to sign. A motion/Mr. Montecalvo, seconded/Mr. Marzec to sign the Annual Town Election Warrant [May 20, 2008]. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Marzec, Montecalvo and Audette. Selectman Davis was out of the room when the vote was taken.

Union Street Brook Update. Present: Richard Sasseville, DPW Director. DPW Director Richard Sasseville mentioned that this has been a tough winter because of Mother Nature. The roadways and drains in town have taken a beaten. That said, the Union Street Brook is high and flowing fast and furious. Mr. Sasseville mentioned that he has two individuals that keep a close eye on the brook and one of them being Mr. Arthur Magowan, Highway Superintendent. He also mentioned that the two detention basins in Union Place subdivisions were holding some water, but was trickling. * Chairman Audette asked if any residents from Union Street would like to speak. Mr. Bob Parker, 20 Nolet Street felt that after 10 years of trying to deal with the Brooks flooding issues, the residents want action taken. Ms. Debra Baltramaitis, 114 Union Street concurred with Mr. Parker and informed the Selectmen that something needs to be done before her property ends up with severe erosion.

Road Repairs Update. Present: Richard Sasseville, DPW Director. Mr. Sasseville mentioned the roadway conditions, there are potholes springing up everywhere, especially Mendon Road. The DPW workers have been trying to maintain the roadways by patching the potholes but they can’t seem to keep up because of the weather. With that being said, he informed the Selectmen that Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission would be doing a Pavement Management study in the spring. What does this mean? The Town of Northbridge will end up with a prioritized list of roadway repairs, with estimates of costs, and a starting point for developing a capital plan for implementing a road reconstruction program. The dollar amount will be huge.

Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization/Vote to select a representative for the Blackstone Valley sub-region. Town Manager Kozak expressed the importance of one of the Selectmen volunteering to be the representative for Northbridge. The organization feels that all communities need to take an active role in deciding how federal transportation funding for roadways, bridges, and other transportation-related projects is allocated in the region. By having, a Selectman on this organization enables our community to actively participate in the transportation funding and decision-making process. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to appoint Selectman Joseph Montecalvo to be the representative for the Blackstone Valley sub-region. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Marzec and Audette. Selectman Davis was not in the room at the time the vote was taken.

Planning Board. 43D Expedited Permitting Provisions. Present: Gary Bechtholdt, Town Planner and Barbara Gaudette, Chairman of the Planning Board. Mr. Bechtholdt provided the Board with an update on the 43D Expedited Permitting. He mentioned that the Planning Board will be conducting a meeting on March 11, 2008 to discuss and review the potential 43D site(s) in Northbridge and that Suzanne LePage from CMRPC and Claire O’Neil from MBOD will be present should anyone have any questions. Ms. Gaudette felt that by adopting 43D, it would be beneficial for the town. Mr. Bechtholdt explained the process once a site is determined, it would need to be approved at a Town Meeting. After that, an application would need to be submitted to the State for their review and approval, and once approved a request would be sent for up to $100,000 in technical assistance. That said, once everything is reviewed and approved a check would be sent to the Town of Northbridge. Once the Town of Northbridge endorses the check, they have 120 days to adopt 43D. Mr. Bechtholdt mentioned the Planning Board would be submitting a warrant article for the Town Meeting.

Blackstone River Watershed – Stormwater Management. Present: Donna Williams & Peter Coffin.

Mr. Bechtholdt, Town Planner informed the Selectmen that Ms. Williams and Mr. Coffin will be providing the Board of Selectmen with a PowerPoint presentation on the Blackstone River Watershed – Stormwater Management and discuss the impacts of Stormwater and the need for reduction. He then pointed out that the Town of Northbridge is considered a Phase II Stormwater community and that the Planning Board would be drafting a warrant article for local Stormwater management bylaw to put forth at Town Meeting. Mr. Bechtholdt explained that the purpose of this Bylaw is to protect, maintain and enhance the public health, safety, environment and general welfare of the Town of Northbridge by establishing minimum requirements and procedures to control the adverse effects of increased post-development stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution associated with new development and redevelopment. This will be accomplished through many objectives. Ms. Williams mentioned that her group represents the Blackstone River Coalition and that their group is working to help educate people on the impact of Stormwater Management. Ms. Williams began her presentation with basic watershed education and the Blackstone watershed. She mentioned that the Blackstone River Coalition Watershed has a volunteer water quality-monitoring program. In this program, 78 volunteers monitor 81 sites throughout the watershed on a monthly basis. Ms. Williams provided the Board of Selectmen with some pamphlets for them to review at their leisure.

Conservation Commission Bylaw Amendment. Present: Wyatt Mills, Chairman of the Conservation Commission. Mr. Wyatt mentioned that his commission has revised the Wetland bylaw and will be submitting a warrant to put forth at Town Meeting. They had three goals: 1) remove provisions that no longer apply; 2) reduce the potential for legal challenges; 3) clarify provisions, which are ambiguous or unclear as to intent or meaning. The revised model provides clearer, unambiguous, reasonable and defensible language that is based on Massachusetts case law and experience of the last 20 years of protecting wetlands in the commonwealth. The revised bylaw that his commission is providing follows the model that was approved by the state Attorney General with slight changes designed to tailor it to Northbridge.

Town Manager’s Report. 1) Building Planning and Construction Committee Update – Town Manager Kozak attended the BPCC Meeting and mentioned the Committee has been working on the field’s project and are in the process of reviewing the design with the athletic organization. As for the DPW, the Committee hopes to have the preliminary design plans done by this summer. The bid opening will take place next week for the Fire Station Roof Replacement. 2) Cable Contract – he mentioned that they are getting close to a final agreement and a public hearing is scheduled for March 24, 2008. 3) Senior Tax Work-Off Program – applications have been distributed to 24 residents and need to be returned by the end of the month. 4) Retirees’ Medicare Update - a representative from the Worcester Social Security Administration will be coming to the Town Hall, March 11^, from 10 AM to 12 PM to discuss their Medicare and health insurance program. 5) Capital Plan Requests – provided the Selectmen with a 5-year capital plan.

Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Ampagoomian 1) informed the Board of Selectmen and residents that someone filed a State Ethics Complaint against him for a conflict of interest pertaining to the discussion of cable contract and his wife, Sharron Ampagoomian. He mentioned that he filed a disclosure with the Town Clerk’s office. Selectman Davis 1) Veteran’s Day Parade Progress. 2) West Street Site – suggested that a vote be taken and a letter sent to the owner that the Town has no interest in the property. That said, he suggested this topic be listed on the next agenda under decisions. 3) mentioned that a decision on the cable studio location needs to be made. This topic will be placed on the next agenda for a decision.

A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Davis to adjourn. Selectman Ampagoomian asked for clarification on Selectman Davis’ email of March 5^th. Selectman Davis said that if Selectman Ampagoomian took offense to the email, he apologized for that. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Meeting Adjourned: 10:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph Montecalvo, Clerk

dg/

*At their regularly scheduled meeting of April 14, 2008, the Board voted to amend the March 10, 2008 minutes as follows: Selectman Davis requested “Under the section entitled “Road Repairs Update,” Line 9 through 12 be placed at the end of the paragraph, under the topic titled Union Street Brook update”.