Board of Selectmen

December 22, 2008

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Joseph Montecalvo at 7:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Ampagoomian, Nolan, Marzec and Melia. Also Present: Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager, Sharon Susienka, Assistant to the Town Manager, and Donna Gosselin, Administrative Assistant.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

Approval of Minutes.

November 24, 2008

A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Melia to approve the November 24, 2008 minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Appointments. By the Board of Selectmen: Historical Commission: Dan O’Neill. Dan O’Neill, 25 Leland Road, mentioned that he has lived in Northbridge off and on for 45 years. He is a graduate of Northbridge High School and received an Associates Degree in optics. Town Manager Kozak mentioned that the Chairman of the Historical Commission, Ken Warchol, could not attend the meeting tonight but recommended that the Board of Selectmen appoint Mr. O’Neill to their Commission. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to appoint Dan O’Neill to the Historical Commission. Vote yes/Unanimous. By the Town Manager: Re-appointment of Special Police Officers: 1) Thomas Melia 2) George Hamm. Town Manager Kozak mentioned that these appointments are for a three-year term. Selectman Melia left the room for this discussion/vote. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to affirm the Town Manager’s appointment to reappoint Thomas Melia and George Hamm as Special Police Officers. Vote yes/Messrs. Marzec, Nolan, Ampagoomian and Nolan.

Selectman Melia returned to the meeting.

Resignation. Playground and Recreation Commission: Ken Taylor. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to accept the resignation of Ken Taylor from the Playground and Recreation Commission. Vote yes/Unanimous. A letter will be sent to Mr. Taylor thanking him for all his years of service to the Town.

Citizens’ Comments/Input. None.

2009 Annual Liquor License Renewals/Vote to approve. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve the 2009 annual liquor license renewals subject to the payment of all outstanding liens. Vote yes/Unanimous.

2009 Miscellaneous License Renewals [Common Victualler, Class II, Class III, Automatic Amusement Devices, Entertainment, etc.]/Vote to approve. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Melia to approve the 2009 miscellaneous license renewals subject to the payment of all outstanding liens. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Safety Committee Minutes [December 10, 2008]/Vote to accept recommendations. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to accept the recommendations of the Safety Committee as outlined in the minutes of December 10, 2008. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Excavation and Trench Safety Regulations/1) Vote to designate the DPW as the permitting authority 2) Vote to approve regulations. Town Manager Kozak advised that the Safety Committee recommended the DPW serve as the permitting authority. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Melia to designate the DPW as the permitting authority based on the Safety Committee recommendations. Vote yes/Unanimous. DPW Director Richard Sasseville made some minor corrections to the regulations he presented at the last meeting for the selectmen to review. Mr. Sasseville also advised the Board that the current Town regulation on Road Opening Permits would be amended in the near future to add the required safety provisions that are in the new Trench Safety Regulations. A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to approve and adopt the Excavation and Trench Safety Regulations. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Superintendent’s Search Committee/Vote to appoint a Selectmen’s Representative. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to appoint Selectman James Marzec as the Selectmen’s Representative for the Superintendent’s Search Committee. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian and Montecalvo.

Storms Update [Richard Sasseville]. Mr. Sasseville provided an update on the past three storms that occurred within a nine-day period. He mentioned that Northbridge was fortunate that our town wasn’t hit as hard as our neighbors [referenced the ice storm that effected North of us, Sutton, Worcester, Leominster, Rutland, etc]. He then elaborated on the rainstorm which caused flooding in several areas such as; Rockdale, Church Street Extension and Carr Street. The first snowstorm lasted over a day and then the second storm followed shortly thereafter which caused a shortage in salt. That said, he mentioned that salt continues to be difficult to get. He ordered 16 loads of salt [equates to almost 500 tons of salt] and is almost out. They received 1 load today and hope to receive another one tomorrow. He advised everyone that they have two suppliers and two contracts this year and when and if they build a new DPW facility, he hopes to have two salt sheds to have a better supply.

FY 2009 MA Community Development Block Grant. Present: Town Planner Gary Bechtholdt. Mr. Bechtholdt announced that the public hearing of the Board of Selectmen for the FY 2009 CDBG program would be held on January 12, 2009 at 7:05 P.M in the Board of Selectmen’s Room. He then mentioned that Community input is very important along with the support of the proposed activities. Representatives from the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission will be attending to help assist the Town with the application process.

Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission’s Report. Present: Town Accountant Neil Vaidya. Mr. Vaidya provided the Selectmen with a brief update of the PERAC Examination of the Northbridge Retirement System from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. That said, there were no significant findings to report.

Town Manager’s Report. 1) Treasurer/Collector Resignation – Deb Kristoff handed in her resignation effective January 9, 2009, and we are currently advertising for a replacement. If needed, we will entertain hiring an Interim. 2) Department Head Meeting – reviewed the financial forecast and submittal of budget information from Department Heads for FY 2010. Discussed job descriptions for town employees. 3) Finance/School Department Meeting - Quarterly meeting with representatives from Superintendent, School Committee and Finance Committee regarding school department revolver accounts. 4) Telephone Pole Removal Update – contacted various utility companies to discuss the removal of double and stub poles. A meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2009. 5) Cable Studio/30B Update – Contacted the Inspector General’s Office regarding town’s requirements for purchase of equipment and studio space with cable company grants funds. 6) Senior Tax Work-Off Program – the program will begin after the first of the year. Currently, we have twelve seniors from the previous year wanting to participate and we will be seeking additional applicants. 7) C Street Garage – received communication from Mass Development regarding potential funding for removal of municipal buildings. They will enter the C Street Garage as a candidate for funding. 8) St. Patrick’s Church Lease – Town Counsel has not received a response from the St. Patrick’s Church attorney regarding his proposed changes. He does not believe the church is interested in changing the current agreement.

Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Marzec 1) update as to when free cash will be available. Town Accountant Neil Vaidya mentioned that he should be notified by the first or second week of January. 2) attended a workshop @ UMASS Amherst on alternatives for energy conservation. 3) requested an update on the coyote situation; 4) recognition awards. 5) received some information in the mail regarding Verizon, is there any word on when verizon will come to Northbridge? 6) requested an update on when the renovation of bridges in town will take place; 7) residents are expressing interest in sewer hookup off Sutton Street. Selectman Melia 1) wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; 2) are any staff members in the Town Hall able or certified to be the Treasurer/Collector. 3) Asked if Northbridge was prepared for a short-term or long-term evacuation, along with shelter. Town Manager replied that Northbridge would be prepared for short-term; however, long-term might be something we should look into. Selectman Ampagoomian 1) advised residents that the ponds are not frozen, be careful and stay off the ice. 2) discussed the flooding in Rockdale; suggested that the Town Manager be more visible; 3) American Legion held their annual Kid’s Christmas Party and mentioned that it went well; 4) Congressman Neal will be attending a future meeting and will advise the Board of Selectmen once a date has been confirmed. 5) asked when the Town Manager’s Performance Evaluation is due. Town Manager replied in the spring.

Items for Future Agenda.

Correspondence. National Park System.

Executive Session. A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 39, S. 23B#3 Negotiations--not to reconvene in open session. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Marzec/Yes; Mr. Melia/Yes; Mr. Nolan/Yes; Mr. Ampagoomian/Yes; and Mr. Montecalvo/Yes.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel Nolan, Clerk

/dg