Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

June 23, 2008

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

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: 6:55 P.M.

Open Session Reconvened: 7:00 P.M.

Approval of Minutes.

May 5, 2008

A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to approve the May 5, 2008 minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo.

May 19, 2008 [Executive Session]

A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve but not release the May 19, 2008 Executive Session minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo.

Recognition of Mrs. Marilyn Baker, Chairman – Recycling Committee, for her efforts in establishing and promoting the value of recycling throughout Northbridge and the entire Blackstone Valley. Present: Marilyn Baker. Chairman Montecalvo recognized Mrs. Baker for all her hard work and dedication of organizing the recycling program for the Town of Northbridge. He also mentioned that the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager and citizens of Northbridge are extremely grateful for her services and the time she has spent to get the recycling center to where it is today. Mrs. Baker thanked the Board of Selectmen and the Recycling Committee and said she couldn’t have done it without them.

Appointments/By the Board of Selectmen. 1) Safety Committee [Alternate]: Arthur Magowan, Highway Department. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to appoint Arthur Magowan Highway Department as an alternate member of the Safety Committee. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo. 2) Safety Committee [School Committee. Rep.]: Susan Brouwer, School Comm. Member. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to affirm the appointment of Susan Brouwer to the Safety Committee as recommended by the School Committee. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo. 3) 2008 Annual Reappointments/Vote to approve. Chairman Montecalvo read aloud the list of names up for reappointment by the Board of Selectmen and asked them to say hold if they wished not to move forward on an appointment. Selectman Ampagoomian requested a hold be placed on the three Cable Advisory Committee appointments. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the Cable Advisory Committee reappointments would be held off until the next agenda [7/14/08] so that all candidates and interested applicants could be interviewed. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve the 2008 annual reappointments of the Board of Selectmen as indicated on the list provided in the agenda packets. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo. Selectman Ampagoomian requested a letter of appreciation be sent to all individuals who are not seeking reappointment.

Appointments/By the Town Manager/1) 2008 Annual Reappointments – Vote to affirm. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to affirm the Town Manager's 2008 listing of Annual Reappointments as indicated on the list provided in the agenda packets. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Melia and Montecalvo.

Citizens’ Comments/Input. None.

Armenian Apostolic Church/1) Request to hang a banner over Church Street from August 3rd to August 17th to advertise their Annual Picnic to be held Sunday, August 17, 2008. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to grant permission to the Armenian Apostolic Church to hang a banner across Church Street from August 3rd to August 17th to advertise their Annual Picnic to be held Sunday, August 17, 2008. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Ampagoomian and Nolan. Abstain/Mr. Montecalvo. 2) Request for One-Day Beer and Wine License for the Annual Picnic, Sunday, August 17, 2008 from 12 Noon to 6:00 P.M. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve the Armenian Apostolic Church's application for a one-day Beer and Wine License for the purpose and date indicated above. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Ampagoomian and Nolan. Abstain/Mr. Montecalvo.

Playground and Recreation Commission/Request to use the Whitinsville Town Common on 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, and 8/28 [Thursday evenings from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M.] for the Summer Concert Series. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve the Playground and Recreation Commission's request to use the Whitinsville Town Common for the purpose and dates indicated above. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Ampagoomian, Nolan and Montecalvo.

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. Present: Police Chief Walter Warchol and Heather Elster, Vice President of Operations, Whitin Community Center. Chief Warchol stated that he had one minor issue with this request, which was the parade route. That said, he recommended starting on Main Street rather than Douglas Road, continuing through Memorial Square, up Hill Street and into Whitin Park. He explained that this alternate route would be shorter and ultimately less disruptive to the flow of traffic at Memorial Square. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to grant permission to the Whitin Community Center to parade on July 19, 2008 from Main Street to Whitin Park using the alternate parade route as suggested by Chief Warchol. They were also granted permission to close Linwood Avenue and Hill Street from 9:45 AM to 10 AM for that purpose. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian and Montecalvo. 2) Request permission to hang a banner over Church Street from July 6, 2008 to July 19, 2008 to advertise their Annual Picnic in the Park, Saturday, July 19, 2008. A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to grant permission to the Whitin Community Center to hang a banner over Church Street from July 6, 2008 to July 19, 2008 to advertise their Annual Picnic in the Park to be held Saturday, July 19, 2008. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian and Montecalvo.

Regional Recycling Center Agreement/Vote to sign. Town Manager Kozak mentioned that he received the agreement from Town Counsel today and suggested that the Board of Selectmen sign the agreement if they are ready. A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to sign the Regional Recycling Center Agreement. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian and Montecalvo.

Northbridge Redevelopment Corporation [Paul Mahoney]/Update on Church Street Landfill.

Mr. Paul Mahoney provided an update on the Church Street landfill. He mentioned that the cleaning of the canal has been completed and his company is three quarters of the way done. Mr. Mahoney also mentioned that he provides a monthly report to the planning board.

Northbridge Town Charter/Discuss process. Town Manager Kozak mentioned he recently reviewed the current Town Charter for information about the process for future reviews of the Charter. Chairman Montecalvo requested Town Manager Kozak to contact the representatives of the previous Charter Commission and inform them that the Board of Selectmen is ready to begin the process of updating the Charter.

Town Manager's Goals and Objectives. Chairman Montecalvo will review the Goals and Objectives submitted by Board members and narrow them down to three to five goals and will provide them to Board members at the next Selectmen's meeting on July 14, 2008.

Town Manager’s Report. 1) Revised Traffic Flow Pattern a Poll Location [High School] – stated he received a draft drawing from Selectman Melia showing a new traffic flow pattern for the poll location at the high school. Town Manager Kozak reviewed the drawing with the Safety Committee, Chief of Police, Town Clerk and DPW Director and it will be instituted at the next election. 2) Flood Control Study [Rockdale] – mentioned that the DPW Director Richard Sasseville was in contact with one of our consultants SEA, and was able to arrange a meeting with a representative from the core of engineers and will attempt to go for some grant funds. It was suggested to look at Rockdale and see if it can be added to the Rhode Island study of the Blackstone Valley. 3) Regional Manager’s Meeting – attended a meeting in Northbridge to look at regionalization and will meet monthly with the surrounding towns. 4) BPCC Update – met last week and reviewed the specifications for the DPW Facility. Town Manager Kozak mentioned the ad has been sent to the Central Register for advertisement [plan study overview]. The Building, Planning and Construction Committee has also finalized the specifications for the high school fields and will go out for bid in the next few weeks.

Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Melia 1) spoke to a resident on Nolet Street regarding the brook and mentioned the resident was happy with the changes that have taken place. He suggested the DPW Director provide an update at the next meeting. 2) asked for an update on the Linwood Post Office. Town Manager Kozak replied that he hasn’t heard anything as of yet but will call to find out. Selectman Nolan 1) mentioned that he spoke to Police Chief Warchol about the increase in vandalism within the town. He is wondering if there is anything they can do as a Board. Police Chief Warchol asked that the Board give him ample time to handle and he will report on it monthly. Selectman Ampagoomian 1) letter from Joanne Alto regarding the School; 2) second water meters; 3) any word on the school building audit; 4) final copy of the cable contract. Chairman Montecalvo mentioned that he would like to have both Veterans organizations come before the Board of Selectmen to discuss future Memorial Day parades.

Items for Future Agenda. 1) Discuss future Memorial Day Parades with Veterans groups. 2) Revisit location of polling precincts and bringing Precinct 2 back to the American Legion.

A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to adjourn the meeting. Vote yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Melia, Nolan, and Montecalvo.

Meeting Adjourned: 8: 10 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel Nolan, Clerk

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