Board of Selectmen

 October 20, 2008

 

 

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by Vice Chairman Charles Ampagoomian at 7:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA.  Present:  Messrs. Nolan and Melia.  Absent:  Messrs. James Marzec and Chairman Joseph Montecalvo were absent and it is duly noted. 

Also Present: Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager. 

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

 

Approval of Minutes.  None.  Vice Chairman Ampagoomian asked if any other Board members reviewed the July 28, 2008 disputed minutes.  Town Manager Kozak stated, “Selectman Marzec reviewed them and is satisfied with the way they were written”.  Mr. Ampagoomian noted that he has a copy of the disputed minutes if anyone is interested in reviewing them.

 

Appointments/By the Board of Selectmen. Election Officers/Vote to appoint additional election officers.  Present: Doreen Cedrone, Town Clerk.  Ms. Cedrone mentioned there are 13 students from Northbridge High School who have shown interest in working at the polls.  Ms. Cedrone mentioned that she is working with High School teacher, Renee LaFayette, who holds a Citizens In Action class as a Social Study Elective for students and will be coordinating the details with her for the students to work the polls.  Ms. Cedrone mentioned that four of the students will work from 10 AM to 3:00 PM, one in each precinct.  The students will observe and then sit in and help the election workers during lunch breaks by serving as Election Officials.  Other students will work in shifts as “Greeters”.  That said, a motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to appoint the following Northbridge High School students as additional election workers: Toni Egnitz, William Keaton, Olivia Marchi, Nicholas Tonelli, Amanda Consigli, Matthew Haas, Seth Bergeron, Tyler Roy, Julia Switzer, Alec Labonte, Joseph Susienka, Danielle Brown, Megan McGowan and Andrew Todd.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, and Ampagoomian.

 

Town Manager Kozak mentioned that he recently received a memo from Doreen Cedrone, Town Clerk that the Town of Northbridge is in first place for the Lou Bertonazzi Foundation-Citizenship Award.  This award is based on attendance at each election.  Mrs. Cedrone mentioned that this started back in 2005, when Mr. Bertonazzi asked Town Clerk’s from 19 towns to submit to him the total number of active voters and how many people turned out to vote after each election.  That said, should Northbridge win, they would receive a $1,000 check to use towards elections and voting.

 

Citizens’ Comments/Input.  Middle School Students and Ms. Sherri Travers - Invitation to Selectmen to attend a Veterans’ Day Celebration.  Present: Taylor Brock, Daniel Clasby, Nicole DeFazio, and Ezequiel Deleon.  The students mentioned that on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, from 8:30 AM to 10:0 0 AM the 8th Grade students will hold their 4th Annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast and would like to extend an invitation to all the Veteran’s and their families in Town.  Vice Chairman Ampagoomian suggested that this event be posted on cable so that everyone is aware when this is taking place.

 

Presidential Election Warrant/Vote to sign.  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to sign the Presidential Election Warrant.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.

 

Operation Graduation 2009 [Julie Daoust]/Request permission to conduct a “Boot Drive” on Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. at Memorial Square.  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve the above request subject to the Town’s Boot Drive policy.  Vote yes/ Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.

 

Holiday Tree Lighting Committee/1) Request permission to use the Whitinsville Town Common on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 3 PM to 6 PM for a Tree Lighting Ceremony.  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to grant permission to the Holiday Tree Lighting Committee to use the Whitinsville Town Common on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 3 PM to 6 PM for a Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.  2) Request permission to hang a banner over Church Street from November 23, 2008 through December 7, 2008 to advertise the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to grant permission to the Holiday Tree Lighting Committee to hang a banner across Church Street from November 23, 2008 through December 7, 2008 to advertise the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 3 PM to 6 PM for the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.

 

Fall Annual Town Meeting/ 1) Vote position on warrant articles.  Present:  Mary Frances Powers, Finance Committee Chairman.  Vice Chairman Charles Ampagoomian read the warrant articles aloud.  Article 1 (FY’08 Prior year bills):  Town Manager Kozak provided the Board with details of the prior year bills.  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to support Article 1.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 1.  Article 2 (FY ’09 Budget adjustments):  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to support Article 2.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 2.  Article 3 (Sale of town-owned property off Driscoll Lane, Map 24, Parcel 130):  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to support Article 3.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 3.  Article 4 (Sale of town-owned property off C Street, Map 6A, Parcel 136):  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to support Article 4.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 4.  Article 5 (Amend bylaw 4-316 by reducing number of members from 7 to 5):  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to support Article 5.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 5.  Article 6 (Amend Art. 2 of 3/14/06 Spec. Twn. Mtg. to authorize the expenditure of not more than $75,000 to replace the HVAC at the Northbridge Police Station):  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to support Article 6. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted to support Article 6.  Article 7 (Road Acceptance/Ash Street):  Town Planner Gary Bechtholdt mentioned that the Planning Board has recommended passing over this article because they don’t have all the required information needed from the developer to move forward. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to take no position on Article 7 at this time.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted not to support Article 7.  Article 8 (Road Acceptance/Green Meadow Court):  Town Planner Gary Bechtholdt mentioned that the Planning Board has recommended passing over this article because they don’t have all the required information needed from the developer to move forward.  A motion/Mr. Nolan, seconded/Mr. Melia to pass over Article 8 at this time.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted not to support Article 8.  Article 9 (Amend Zoning map to extend the R-3 Zone an additional 230 feet near Upton Street & Providence Road [Rockdale].  A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to take no position at this time on Article 9.  Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and Ampagoomian.   The Finance Committee voted not to support Article 9.

 

2) Road Layouts: a) Ash Street – Vote not to lay out the alteration and extension of Ash Street as a public way. b) Green Meadow Court – Vote not to lay out Green Meadow Court as a public way.  

No action was taken on this matter.

 

Cable Studio Location.  Present: Harry Berkowitz, Chairman-Cable Advisory Committee and Cable Committee Member Shelley Buma.  Chairman Berkowitz informed the Selectmen that his Board met last week to discuss moving the Cable Studio to the Pythian Building.  A majority of members were *present and a vote was taken (5-1).  Five members were in favor and one member abstained.  Committee Member Shelley Buma stated that she abstained as she felt that taxpayer’s dollars could be better spent on things other than paying $20,000.00 a year in rent.  She feels the cable studio should be located at the High School.

 

School Department Finances.  Town Manager Kozak presented a three-year projection of the School Department's finances and explained how the school used their operational monies first and then their grants, leaving them with a June 30, 2008 balance of $2,939,111 in their revolving accounts.  The chart illustrates that the balance in the revolving accounts at the end of the three years will have a balance of $579,053. 

 

Town Manager’s Report.  1) M.O.R.E. Meeting – Mr. Kozak mentioned he attended the breakfast meeting.  Topics discussed at the meeting were budget issues/cuts and transportation.  2) Building, Planning and Construction Committee Update – provided an update on the High School fields and hope to have the project completed by the end of October.  He then mentioned that EarthTech won the bid to do the DPW Study. 3) Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – citizens in town are fundraising and working together to provide Tree Lighting for the Holidays.  They would like to light trees in three locations [Rockdale Common, Whitinsville Common, and Linwood].  A concert will take place at Alternatives on December 7, 2008, from 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM.  4) Parks and Recreation will be having their Holiday Bazaar at Northbridge High School from 9 AM to 5 PM on December 7, 2008.  5) Community Standards Review Board – the Committee is working on procedures for producers to follow.  Town Manager Kozak mentioned the committee is still looking for a third person who must be a producer.  Forms can be picked up at the studio. 6) Linwood Post Office Update – mentioned that Linwood residents will begin having delivery to their home mailboxes beginning sometime in February 2009.  7) Upcoming Recycling Events – two recycling events took place at Wal-Mart this past weekend, clothing drive and collection of household appliances to help reduce the Carbon Footprint.  8) Rural Development Meeting – informed the Board of a meeting he had with Representative Steven Bonavita from USDA to learn about programs that can be used by the community.  9) Impact of Question 1 on Ballot – he informed everyone of the potential impact should Question #1 pass at the election: Chapter 70 monies reduced, Local Funding reduced, it would threaten public safety by cutting funds for police, fire protection and emergency medical services; reduction in state funding for public schools; reduce funding for vital local services such as libraries and senior centers; and repairs to aging roads and bridges would be held off.

 

Selectmen’s Concerns.  Selectman Nolan 1) exploring an ADHOC Committee 2) volunteered to help gather a group of individuals to help assist installing posts for Linwood Residents.  Vice Chairman Charles Ampagoomian 1) suggested posting a meeting for October 28th @ 6:30 PM before Town Meeting.   Town Manager Kozak mentioned that it was already done.  2) FYI - Holiday Lighting was privately donated by Tom Berkowitz and Robert Mellor.  3) Invite the Community Standards Review Board to their next meeting.  4) Look into Green Technology for DPW Study. 5) Inquired if any information has been received from the Department of Public Utility regarding the rate hearing.

 

Items for Future Agenda.  Representative George Peterson, Jr. will conduct office hours at the Town Hall on November 10, 2008, from 7 PM to 8 PM

 

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

 

Meeting Adjourned:  8:02 P.M.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Daniel Nolan, Clerk

 

dg/

 

At their regularly scheduled meeting of November 10, 2008, the Board voted to amend the October 20, 2008 minutes as follows:  Selectman Melia requested that the October 20, 2008 minutes be amended as follows: Page 2, Under Cable Studio Location, Sentence #2 “A majority of members were present and a vote was taken (5-1-1)”.  Also, Change the 4th Sentence to read: Committee Member Shelley Buma stated that she was against moving to the Pythian Building as she felt that taxpayer’s dollars could be better spent on other things than paying $20,000.00 a year in rent”.