Board of Selectmen
July 13, 2009
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, Melia. Selectman Marzec was not present and it is
duly recorded. Also Present: Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager.
The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited by those present.
Approval of Minutes.
June 8, 2009 - A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to approve the June 8, 2009 minutes
as presented with the readings omitted.
Vote yes/Messrs. Melia,
Montecalvo, Ampagoomian and Nolan.
June 8, 2009 [Executive Session] - A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to
approve but not release the June 8, 2009 Executive Session minutes as presented
with the readings omitted. Vote yes/ Messrs. Melia, Montecalvo, Ampagoomian and
Nolan.
Public Hearing/7:05 P.M. Whitinsville Golf Club –
Application to alter the premises of the liquor license in order to allow
alcohol to be served on the grounds of the golf course with the exception of
the maintenance barn and parking lot area.
Present: Mr. William DeJong, 84 Sherry Street, Whitinsville - Vice
President of Whitinsville Golf Club. Chairman
Montecalvo read the public hearing notice aloud. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to
open the public hearing. Selectman Melia recused himself from the hearing and
left the room because he is currently a member of the Whitinsville Golf Club. Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Ampagoomian and Nolan. Mr. DeJong explained that the Whitinsville
Golf Club has completed an application to extend their premises to allow alcohol
to be served on the grounds of the golf course, excluding the maintenance barn
and parking lot areas. If the request to
extend the premises is approved by the Local Licensing Authority [Board of
Selectmen], Police Chief Walter Warchol recommended the following 3 restrictions
be placed on the license: 1)
Licensed premises would not include any parking lots, areas used for parking or
any areas used for maintenance of the facility/club grounds; 2) All bartenders and people who serve
alcohol from a portable bar on the licensed premises must be at least 21 years
of age, be TIPS certified and comply with Section 10 of the Town of Northbridge
Rules and Regulations Governing Establishments Pursuant to MGL Chapter 138; and
3) No open containers of alcohol are
allowed to leave the licensed premises and cross a public way in violation of
Northbridge Code of Bylaws, Chapter 9, Section 201. The club will erect signs at each crossing of
Fletcher Street
that will have wording stating “No Open Containers of Alcohol Beyond This
Point”. There being no further comments, a motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr.
Nolan to close the public hearing. Vote yes/Messrs.
Montecalvo, Ampagoomian and Nolan. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan to grant local approval on the
application of Whitinsville Golf Club Inc. to extend their premises to serve
alcohol on the 9-hole golf course excluding the maintenance barn and parking
lot areas and subject to the restrictions placed by Chief Warchol. Vote yes/Messrs. Montecalvo, Nolan and
Ampagoomian.
Selectman
Melia rejoined the meeting and took his seat with the other Board members.
Annual Re-Appointments/By the
Board of Selectmen: John Gosselin, Board
of Assessors. A motion/Mr. Nolan,
seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to reappoint John Gosselin to the Board of Assessors. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Ampagoomian, Nolan
and Montecalvo. By the Town Manager: Denis Latour, Fence Viewer. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Nolan
to affirm the reappointment of Denis Latour as Fence Viewer for the Town of Northbridge. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Montecalvo and
Ampagoomian.
Citizens’
Comments/Input. Northbridge
Nursing Home/Present: Attorney Henry Lane. Attorney Lane introduced two representatives
from Lutheran Social Services: 1) Program Manager Ben Stevens, 51 Union Street, Worcester
and 2) Director for Services to New Americans for Massachusetts - Josephina Lance. Ms. Lance began by thanking the Selectmen for
allowing them to speak. She advised the
Selectmen that Lutheran Social Services is one of the largest non-profit social
service agencies in New England and that they provide services to over 3,000
people a day throughout New England. The facility in Northbridge will be used for
newly arriving refugees as a reception center and educational center. They will be taught English, provided
employment training and cultural orientation among other services. All programs are federally funded. Chairman Montecalvo thanked Lutheran Social
Services for coming in and providing them with their views, however, he advised
that the Selectmen cannot comment on this matter as the Town is currently in
litigation.
Fall Annual
Town Meeting [October 27,
2009]/Vote to close the warrant on Friday, September 11, 2009 at Noon. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Nolan to close the Fall Annual Town Meeting warrant on Friday,
September 11, 2009 at Noon. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian, and
Montecalvo.
Alternatives/Request
permission to hang a banner over Church
Street from July 19, 2009 to August 2, 2009 to
advertise the first Annual Heritage Market.
A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to grant permission to Alternatives
to hang a banner over Church
Street from July 19, 2009 to August 2, 2009. The Board also informed Alternatives that
they must comply with any the Board of Health requirements for the Heritage
Market events. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia,
Nolan, Ampagoomian, and Montecalvo.
Rumonoski Drive Block Party
Committee/Request permission to close down a portion of Rumonoski Drive on
Saturday, August 22nd from 3 PM to Midnight (Rain Date: Sunday,
August 23rd – same hours). Present: Mrs. Lori Gannon. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to grant permission
to the Rumonoski Drive Block Party Committee to close down a portion of Rumonoski
Drive, from house numbers 166 to 198, on Saturday, August 22nd from
3 PM to Midnight subject to the safety
requirements of the Northbridge Police and Fire Departments. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia,
Nolan, Ampagoomian, and Montecalvo.
FY 2009 Budget Adjustments/Transfer of money for Fire
& Library Departments. A motion/Mr. Melia, seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian
to approve the end of year transfers as follows: 1) $5,000 from the Police Grant Matches account to the Ambulance
Repair & Maintenance Vehicle Account; and 2)
$2,100 from the Library Salaries Account to the Library Professional and
Technical Services Account. Vote
yes/ Messrs. Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian, and Montecalvo.
Green Committee/Vote on composition of committee. Chairman
Montecalvo announced that the
7-member Green Committee will
function as an advisory board and be comprised as follows: the DPW Director, 1 member from the Building,
Planning & Construction Committee, 1 member from the School Committee, 1 Town
employee and 3 members “At Large”. At
the next Selectmen’s meeting, they will begin the process of appointing
members. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Melia to approve the composition of the Green Committee as noted
above. Vote yes/Messrs.
Melia, Nolan, Ampagoomian, and Montecalvo.
Flood Insurance Rate Map & Flood Insurance Study
Report/Present: Christopher Markesich, Department
of Conservation and Recreation. Mr.
Markesich provided the Board of Selectmen with preliminary copies of a Flood
Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map.
He reported that the study and map for the community will be formatted
for the entire geographic area of the county, including our community and all
jurisdictions. This study will permit
the modification of the existing 100-year flood plain for some locations within
the Town of Northbridge. Proposed Base Flood Elevations can be
obtained by calling the FEMA
Map Assistance
Center toll free at
1-877-336-2627. Also, conducting the study
will make flood insurance available to individuals that are located in a flood
zone. Selectman Ampagoomian suggested that a workshop be held at Town
Hall. Mr. Markesich mentioned that he would
conduct a workshop at Town Hall for the residents of Northbridge.
FY 2008 Management Letter/Present: Tim Harrison,
Auditor. Mr. Harrison began by apologizing to the Board for being
late with the report. That said, he provided
the Board of Selectmen with an overview of the results of the audit and prior
year recommendations: 1) Budgeted Estimated Revenues and Other
Financing Sources; 2) Tailings; 3) Statement No. 45 of the Government
Accounting Standards Board;
4) Implement
a Risk Assessment Program; 5)
Improve In-House Capital Asset System; 6)
Strengthen Procedures for Ambulance Accounts Receivable. Continuing, Mr. Harrison then went through
the current year recommendations: 1)
Improve Controls Over Payroll and 2)
Improve Controls over the School Breakfast and Lunch Program. The complete Management Letter can be found
on file in the Town Manager’s Office.
Mr. Harrison mentioned the Town has improved significantly on their
audit and prior year recommendations. That
said, items will continue to be addressed and resolved.
Town Manager’s FY '10 Goals and Objectives. Chairman
Montecalvo provided Mr. Kozak with five Goals and Objectives for FY '10 and
mentioned that the goals need to be attainable and measured.
Town Manager’s Report. 1) Town Hall Security System Update –
The Town Hall Security System is now in place and the Town Manager’s Office
will begin issuing key cards next week. 2) Governor’s Budget Update – The
Governor has signed the state budget, which has additional reductions that will
be addressed at the Fall Annual Town Meeting.
He noted the reduction in Chapter 70 funds in the amount of $285,000. The Town Manager also reported that Northbridge
received funds from the stimulus package in the form of a grant in the amount
of $299,000 but said that he needs to find out if the grant funds will go
directly to the School Department or the Town.
3) National Corridor &
Worcester Historical
Museum Release of
Landscape of Industry – Attended a ceremony to commemorate publication of the Blackstone
Valley Industrial Revolution. 4) Smart Growth Seminar – The Planning
Board held a seminar in conjunction with the Master Plan Committee to highlight
energy saving techniques and the new formation of a Green Committee.
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Ampagoomian 1) Requested an update on the Fire Station grant – Town
Manager Kozak replied that the grant was submitted to FEMA last week. Selectman Ampagoomian then suggested
contacting Senator John Kerry, Congressman Richard Neal and former Congressman
James McGovern for their assistance with this program. 2)
Trees located on Church Street
were removed – will they be replaced?
Town Manager Kozak will check with the DPW. Selectman
Nolan 1) mentioned that Selectman Marzec is not here this evening because
he is attending the Cal Ripken Youth Baseball [Ten and under] Northbridge All
Star’s “State Finals”. This is quite an
achievement and suggested supporting and congratulating the kids when they
return. Selectman Melia 1) asked if the Town receives the grant for a new
fire station, what location would they use for the grant. Mr. Kozak stated that Chief Nestor didn’t have
to specify in the grant where the location of the new fire station would be. 2)
Asked if any town departments received stimulus funding? Mr. Kozak responded
that they received some funds for the FY '08 Community Development Block
Grant. He also mentioned that the town
received some aid to back fund Chapter 70 reductions. Also, the School Department received funds
for Title 1 and Special Education. 3) Recommended sending a letter to
Boston expressing the Town’s concern with the future Whitinsville Water Company
rate increase and asked the Town Manager when will the board be voting on the
water rates and what is the strategy? Chairman Montecalvo advised that when the
Department of Public Utilities holds their hearing in Boston on the Whitinsville Water Company Rate
Increase, Town Counsel will be present and anyone who wishes can attend.
A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Nolan to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes/Messrs. Nolan, Ampagoomian, Melia and Montecalvo.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:35 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Charles
Ampagoomian, Jr., Clerk
/dg