Board of Selectmen
June 22, 2009
A meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was called to order by Chairman Joseph Montecalvo at 7:00 PM,
The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited by those present.
Appointments/By the Board
of Selectmen: Building, Planning & Construction Committee [BPCC] [One
Vacancy] / Present: George Murray, Chairman of the Building, Planning &
Construction Committee. 1) Douglas Valk 2) Ronald
White 3) Peter Snow 4) Jeffrey Modica and 5) John
Brown. All candidates were present for the Building,
Planning and Construction Committee appointment with the exception of Douglas
Valk. Chairman Montecalvo asked each candidate to introduce themselves and
indicate why they would like to be a member of the Building, Planning, and Construction
Committee. Chairman Montecalvo then asked Mr. Murray for his input on the five
candidates. He mentioned that the BPCC unanimously
recommended Mr. Ronald White for appointment based on his application and
credentials. Chairman Montecalvo asked
for nominations. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to nominate Ronald
White. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr.
Marzec to nominate Jeffrey Modica. There
being no further nominations, a motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to
close the nominations. Vote yes/Unanimous. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Nolan to
appoint Ronald White to the Building, Planning and Construction Committee. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan and
Montecalvo. Vote no/Messrs. Ampagoomian
and Marzec. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to appoint Jeffrey Modica to the Building, Planning and
Construction Committee. Vote yes/Messrs.
Ampagoomian and Marzec. Vote no/Messrs.
Melia, Nolan and Montecalvo. Having
received the majority of votes, Mr. White was the appointee. Cultural Council [Two Vacancies]/ Present:
Stacie Murray, Chairman of the Cultural Council. 1)
Lynne Randolph 2) Christine Mateer 3)
Citizens’ Comments/Input.
Whitin Community Center
[Katie Stark]/Request for an Entertainment License for an outdoor music concert
on Saturday, September 12, 2009, from 4:30 PM to 7 PM. Present: Katie Stark. Ms. Stark informed the Selectmen that the event is a
fundraiser for the
Charter Communications, Inc./Restructuring. Town
Manager Kozak explained that Charter Communications has filed Chapter 11
[bankruptcy] and is asking all Towns to adopt a resolution consenting to the
reorganization. He advised the Selectmen
that Town Counsel has reviewed the information provided by Charter
Communications and advised that filing bankruptcy will make this company
better. That said, Town Manager Kozak
recommended that the Selectmen not take any action pertaining to Charter
Communications, Inc.'s reorganization and allow them to move forward. A motion/ Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia
that the Northbridge Board of Selectmen acknowledges receipt of notice of
Charter Communications, Inc.'s Restructuring under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code and pursuant to state regulations do not plan on taking any further action
during the 120-day period, which expires on August 15, 2009. Vote yes/Unanimous.
Safety Committee Minutes [June 17, 2009]/Vote to
accept recommendations. Selectman Ampagoomian wanted to go on record by
stating that he is opposed to the Granite Hills Development off of
NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permit Advisory Committee. Present:
Richard Sasseville, DPW Director.
Mr. Sasseville mentioned that
after attending a meeting in the Town of
Fire Alarm Box System/Present: Fire Chief Gary Nestor.
Chief
Nestor provided the Selectmen with a two-page document outlining the facts
about the current fire alarm system, which has been in service for over 60
years and consists of 213 fire boxes, 3 fire whistles, and approximately 20
miles of fire alarm cable. He explained
that the boxes are both town-owned and privately owned and that the Fire
Department maintains all municipally owned boxes and the property owners
maintain the privately owned boxes. Chief
Nestor noted that fire department personnel test the entire system every 90
days. He also noted that interior
testing of master box systems are the responsibility of the property
owner. Continuing, Chief Nestor provided
a cost analysis for maintaining the system and stated that the cost to
eliminate the fire alarm system would be significant as it would require that
all master box users contract with a commercial fire alarm company to monitor
their property for fires. The cost to do
this would include:
1) $600 - $700 per location
to change over, 2) $470 - $490 per year in monitoring fees, 3) two dedicated
phone lines for each location, and 4) yearly testing of all devices, which ranges
from several hundred dollars to several thousand and requires a contract
service with an alarm company. The town
could also choose to remove the street boxes and wires from the poles but this
would also be a significant cost. Based
on the information he provided to the Board, Chief Nestor recommended that the Town
maintain the current system because it is currently in good working order.
Metcalf Memorial Dedication on Beane’s Lane &
Formation of a Green Committee. Town
Manager Kozak provided a pamphlet that he received from the Massachusetts
Department of Energy Resources to each Selectman outlining the Green
Communities Program. Selectman Marzec
suggested putting together a Green Committee [consisting of 7 to 9 members]
with just the key team members. Chairman
Montecalvo suggested that Selectman Marzec meet with Town Manager Kozak to
begin putting the framework of the committee together.
Linwood Mill Lofts – Redevelopment Plan. Present: Gary Bechtholdt, Town Planner, Matt
Mittelstadt, Development Director (EA Fish),
Edward Fish , Chairman of EA Fish Development, and Bill and Patty
Giannopoulos, owners of Linwood Mill. Mr. Bechtholdt informed the Selectmen that Mr.
Mittelstadt would be providing an overview of the Redevelopment Proposal for
the Linwood Mill project pursuant to the town’s Historic Mill Adaptive Reuse
zoning bylaw. The proposed mixed-use project consists of 75 residential units
for persons 55 and over and approximately 20,000 square-feet of commercial
space. Mr. Mittelstadt mentioned that
the development team has already laid out its plans and sought the support of
the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Housing
Authority and Historical Commission. He
said the support for the project has been widespread among the town
boards. Mr. Mittelstadt noted a
provision of the adaptive Reuse bylaw requires a minimum of 10 percent of the
residential units to be offered “in perpetuity” to persons qualifying as of
“moderate income, in accordance with the DHCD’s standard of low and moderate
income guidelines.” Because of the
applicant’s funding source from the state, “100 percent of the residential
units will be offered as affordable.” The owners of the property [Bill &
Patty Giannopoulos] stated, “We want to make this mill the best we can”. They also mentioned that they are planning to
put in a health club, restaurant and other amenities. Mr. Mittelstadt reassured that, according to
national preservation requirements, the mill’s distinctive bell tower would be
restored. The Board of Selectmen agreed
to write a letter of support for the renovation to the Massachusetts Department
of Housing & Community Development.
Mass Highway [
Town Manager’s Report. 1) Blackstone Valley Regional Recycling
Center Scholarship – Mr.
a) Economic Development
Council for the 11 towns is still ongoing and Senator Richard Moore spoke about
the possibility of utilizing county cherry sheet funds to help fund the implementation
of this program. b) Regional
Dispatch – several towns in the Valley are beginning to implement or studying
regional dispatch for Police and Fire Departments. District 7 of the Fire Chief's Association is
currently seeking grant funds for this study.
4) Whitinsville Water Company
– a) Filing of New Rates - Mr. Randy
Swigor notified our office that the Water Company has filed for new rates with
the Mass. Department of Public Utilities and will drop off information
regarding this proposal (23.67% increase in January 2010 & a 23.72%
increase in January 2011), b) New
Facility Tour – Mr. Swigor also reiterated his offer to provide tours of the
new facility to everyone either during the day or evening. Town Manager Kozak
will coordinate a date and time for the Selectmen to tour the new facility. 5)
Renewable Energy Trust Grant – Received correspondence from the Renewable
Energy Trust that the town will be receiving $4,188 to be used for the purchase
of various energy savings items.
Applications for the grant will be distributed in August. 6) Senior Center Fence Work – Mr.
Burnham Miller wanted to thank the Department of Public Works for installing a
new safety fence along the sidewalk of the senior center. This will protect pedestrians and/or
handicapped individuals from potential injuries along the walkway. 7) The Conference Committee has
finalized the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He mentioned there
would be a reduction in Local Aid (roughly around two hundred thousand dollars)
for Northbridge. 8) Stimulus money
in the amount of $675,000 will be awarded to the Town of
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Ampagoomian/1) Announced that Troop 155 has five individuals that
need ideas for Eagle Scout Projects to benefit the community. 2)
Requested the status on the FEMA grant for the fire station. Town Manager Kozak mentioned the Fire Chief has
completed the application. 3) Announced there was a formal
deployment ceremony of the 101st Engineering Battalion on Saturday,
June 13, 2009, 10 AM at the Charlestown Naval Shipyard aboard the USS
Constitution. He mentioned that the
ceremony was very quick and very touching.
Selectman Nolan/1) concerned
about the Northbridge Community Television as a Corporation and their need to
follow the open meeting law. He is
encouraging them to follow these rules so the public can have trust in
them. Selectman Melia/1) Asked if the Town of
A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Nolan to adjourn. Vote
yes/Unanimous.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:38
P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Charles
Ampagoomian, Jr., Clerk
/dg