Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

June 9, 2008

 

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by Town Manager Kozak at 6:30 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA.  Present:  Messrs. Ampagoomian, Montecalvo, Marzec, Nolan and Melia.  Also Present:  Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

 

Open Session Adjourned:        6:32 P.M.

 

Executive Session Convened:  6:33 P.M.

 

Executive Session Adjourned: 6:50 P.M.

 

Open Session Reconvened:     7:00 P.M.

 

Town Manager Kozak welcomed the two newly appointed Selectmen Daniel Nolan and Thomas Melia.

 

Reorganization of the Board of Selectmen:

Town Manager Kozak mentioned that he would proceed with the reorganization of the Board.  Town Manager Kozak polled the Board of Selectmen for Nominations for Chairman:  A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to nominate Joseph Montecalvo as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Marzec to nominate James Marzec as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.  A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to close the nominations.  After no further comments, Town Manager Kozak asked for Roll Call Votes for Joseph Montecalvo:  Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes, Mr. Melia/Yes, Mr. Montecalvo/Yes, Mr. Marzec/No, and Mr. Nolan/No.  Continuing, Town Manager Kozak asked for Roll Call Votes for James Marzec:  Mr. Nolan/Yes, Mr. Marzec/Yes, Mr. Ampagoomian/No, Mr. Montecalvo/No and Mr. Melia/No.  As Selectman Montecalvo received the majority of the votes, the Town Manager announced Joseph Montecalvo as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.  Mr. Montecalvo assumed the Chair.  Selectman Marzec called for a motion to make the vote unanimous.  A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Nolan to make the previous vote regarding the selection of Chairman of the Board unanimous.  Vote yes/Unanimous.  Chairman Montecalvo called for Nominations for Vice-Chairman:  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to nominate Charles Ampagoomian as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.  Hearing no further motions for the position of Vice-Chairman, vote on the motion: Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Melia and Montecalvo.  Vote no/Messrs. Nolan and Marzec.  Chairman Montecalvo called for Nominations for Clerk:  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Marzec to nominate Daniel Nolan as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen.  Hearing no further motions for the position of Clerk, vote on the motion:  Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

Update on the Riverdale Mill Fire.  Present:  Fire Chief Gary Nestor.  Chief Nestor provided the Selectmen with an update on the Riverdale Mill Fire.  He mentioned the call came in at 6:15 PM from a worker at the mill.  Upon arriving, the building was already evacuated and no one was hurt.  At the scene, were fire trucks from Northbridge, Uxbridge, Grafton and Upton.  The Town of Douglas covered the Whitinsville Fire Station and Sutton covered the Rockdale Fire Station. Later on, Oxford Fire Department showed up to assist.  The damages were estimated to be over $100,000.00.  The Town Manager and Board of Selectmen commended the Northbridge Fire Department for handling the fire so efficiently and effectively.  Chief Nestor mentioned his crew worked hard and did a tremendous job.

 

Approval of Minutes.  None.

 

Citizens’ Comments/Input.  None.

 

Vote to sign paperwork for permanent bonding in the amount of $4.5 million for the following projects: Middle School Roof, Fire Station Roof, Police Station Roof, and various sewer projects/Vote to sign.  Present:  Deborah Kristoff, Treasurer/Collector.  Ms. Kristoff informed the Board of Selectmen that she had to do borrowing in the in the amount of $4.5 million for the following projects:

1.      Middle School Roof                                              $2,155,000.00

2.      Whitinsville Sewer Interceptor                   $1,265,000.00

3.      Wastewater Treatment Plant                                   $   360,000.00

4.      Police Station Roof                                                $   215,000.00

5.      Northbridge Middle School                                    $   200,000.00

6.      Sewer Siphon                                             $   170,000.00

7.      Fire Station Roof                                       $   135,000.00                                    

Ms. Kristoff mentioned that Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc. was awarded the bid since they came in at the lowest rate of 3.89%.  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to proceed and sign.  Vote yes/Unanimous.  Selectman Melia mentioned he was just informed that because he is employed by Unibank, and the Town uses Unibank as its financial advisor, he must withdraw his motion.  Selectman Nolan then read aloud a statement voting the sale of $4.5 million General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2008 Bonds of the Town dated June 15, 2008 to Stifel Nicholaus & Company, Inc. at par and accrued interest plus a premium of $19,414.55 is hereby approved and confirmed.  Therefore, a motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to proceed and sign the bonds.  Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Marzec and Montecalvo.  Abstain/Mr. Melia.

 

Dog Warrant/Vote to authorize Chairman of the Board to sign.   Present:  Police Chief Walter Warchol.  Chief Warchol respectfully requested that the Board of Selectmen authorize the animal control officer to have statutory powers for the upcoming year.  A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to authorize the Chairman Montecalvo to sign the dog warrant for Dan Chauvin, Animal Control Officer.  Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

Hawks Nest Tavern [Philip R. Pichel, Sr., Manager] / 1) Transfer of Automatic Amusement Device License 2) Transfer of Common Victualler's License  3) Application for Sunday State Entertainment License and 4) Application for Entertainment License.  Town Manager Kozak mentioned that this establishment has had Automatic Amusement & Common Victualler licenses in the past under the previous management [ECM Corp. d/b/a Time Out Tavern, Edward C. Mitchell, Manager] and that the new owner [Philip R. Pichel, Sr.] has applied to have these two licenses transferred to Hawks Nest Tavern.  Mr. Kozak advised that the Entertainment and Sunday State Entertainment Licenses are new to this establishment.  Selectman Marzec asked if there were ever any complaints by neighbors regarding the noise level.  Chief Warchol replied that there have not been any complaints and gave his approval to move forward with issuing the licenses.   A motion /Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to transfer the Automatic Amusement Device License and the Common Victualler License from Time Out Tavern to Hawks Nest Tavern and to approve and issue an Entertainment License including Dancing by patrons and Recorded or Live Music and a Sunday State License to Hawks Nest Tavern [Philip R. Pichel, Sr., Manager].  Vote yes/Unanimous.  

 

Whitin Community Center/1) Request to hold a "Picnic in the Park" Parade on July 19, 2008.  2) Request permission to close Linwood Avenue and Hill Street on July 19, 2008 from 9:45 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.  Chief Warchol mentioned that the parade would begin at the Middle School continue down Linwood Avenue through Memorial Square up Hill Street and into the park.  After speaking to the Whitin Community Center, the Chief said that it could be done but it would be an inconvenience.  Selectman Ampagoomian asked Chief Warchol to speak to the Whitin Community Center Director to iron out the details and be present at the Board's next meeting on June 23, 2008.  A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to defer this matter until their next scheduled meeting on June 23, 2008 in order to allow Chief Warchol enough time to work out the details with the Director at the Whitin Community Center. Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

Medicare-eligible Retirees' Health Insurance Contribution Percentage/Vote to establish a contribution percentage rate for non-indemnity health insurance plans for Medicare eligible retirees.  Selectman Melia recused himself from this subject, as he is a retiree.  After a brief discussion, a motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian that employees who retire under the Northbridge Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement System and are eligible for enrollment in Medicare and chooses a non-indemnity senior health plan that those retirees pay the same contribution rate as non-medicare eligible retirees enrolled in a health maintenance plan.  Vote yes/Messrs. Marzec, Ampagoomian, Nolan, and Montecalvo.  Abstain/Mr. Melia.

 

Northbridge Fire Department/Request to hang a banner over Church Street from June 29th to July 4th to advertise their annual Fourth of July Fireworks Event scheduled for July 3, 2008.   A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to grant permission to the Northbridge Fire Department to hang a banner across Church Street from June 29th to July 4th to advertise their annual Fourth of July Fireworks Event scheduled for Thursday, July 3, 2008.  Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

St. Patrick’s Church/Request to hang a banner over Church Street from September 6th to September 20th to advertise their Sixteenth Fall Festival on September 20, 2008.  A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to grant permission to St. Patrick’s Church to hang a banner over Church Street from September 6th to September 20th to advertise their Sixteenth Fall Festival to be held on Saturday, September 20, 2008.  Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

Update on Town Roads and Intersection Projects [Richard Sasseville, DPW Director].  Mr. Sasseville mentioned that he received a memorandum from Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission announcing the development process for the transportation improvement program for Central Mass.  This is done every year and it covers a span of about 3 to 4 years for which they prioritize projects.  There are three major projects that are on the Transportation Improvement Program: 1) Reconstruction of Sutton Street – once Mass Highway reviews the design they will coordinate the required public hearings. 2) Plummer’s Corner – Mass Highway has agreed to pick up the design once it receives the 25% stage.  3) Douglas Road Bridge (no update from Mass Highway).  That said, he mentioned that the TIP listed an unidentified project as Quaker Street – portion from Quaker Street to Church Street into Upton.  Selectman Ampagoomian asked who owns the Ross Rajotte Bridge.  Mr. Sasseville responded that Mass Highway handles the bridges.  Selectman Ampagoomian suggested that this bridge be placed on the list of projects/bridges to be repaired.

 

Town Manager’s Report.  UPDATES:  1) Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off Program – is underway.  Seniors have been notified and will begin working immediately; 2) MMMA Meeting - mentioned he attended this meeting and some of the topics discussed were changes in legislation for the budgets; changing the percentages on the cost of  living for retirees; working collectively as Managers to gain consensus with Department Heads;  3) BPCC Meeting – specs are almost ready for the field and the RFQ for a new DPW facility is in draft form;  4) M.O.R.E. Meeting – a discussion took place on the annual budgets; 5) School Committee Meeting – attending the School Committee Meeting and will be providing an update on negotiations;  6) Reminder that Senator Moore will be conducting office hours in the Board Of Selectmen's Room on June 16th from 6 to 8 PM.

 

Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Melia 1) Thanked everyone, including his family, for supporting him on the recent election for Town Selectman.  He would like everyone to know that he will work collectively with the Board of Selectmen and all other Boards to move the Town forward in a positive manner.  2) He then publicly mentioned that he never promised Jim Marzec or anyone for that matter his vote for Chairmanship.  He voted for Mr. Montecalvo because he felt that at this given time he was the better fit.  3) Would like a monthly update from the DPW Director on the Union Street Brook & Nolet Street issue;  4) Sewer Increase;  5) Election on May 20th – noticed there were minor traffic flow problems entering and exiting the High School;  6) Cable Studio Location; 7) Memorial Day Parade – commended both parties for their parade, however, he suggested that next year there be only one parade.  [Alternate the location between Rockdale and Whitinsville each year].  Selectman Marzec 1) Town Manager Goals and Objectives; 2) Projects in Town; 3) Opportunity for Office Hours [meet with a Selectman]; 4) Concerned with meeting 3 weeks after the election to reorganize; 5) Try to find a solution to access the High School Fields; 6) Oakhurst Site – invite members in to view the site; 7) Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday night, June 10th.  Selectman Nolan 1) mentioned that he was very impressed with the Alternative’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and with they have done for the community.  Selectman Ampagoomian 1) commended Mr. Marzec for his concerns with the reorganization of the Board and that he tried to have a meeting sooner. 2) Commended DPW Director Dick Sasseville for updating the Board on the projects/bridges in Town. 3) Where does the BPCC stand on fixing and paying for the detention basin? 4) received numerous requests from residents regarding second water meters for irrigation systems, is there any way the Board can review the policy?  5) mentioned that he and his wife Sharron were invited by the United States Army National Guard to participate in a memorial dedication at Camp Edwards and said it was a very moving ceremony. Chairman Montecalvo 1) suggested to the Board of Selectmen that they review the Selectmen's Policy and Procedures Manual.  Selectman Melia asked if anyone has heard about the Linwood Post Office issue. Town Manager Kozak replied that he has not heard anything but will keep the Board apprised should he hear something.  Selectman Ampagoomian asked if there was any progress regarding the landfill on Church Street extension.

 

A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to adjourn the meeting.  Vote yes/Unanimous.

 

Meeting Adjourned:  8:35 P.M.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                            Daniel Nolan, Clerk

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