Board of Selectmen
August 24, 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, Marzec, Melia. Selectman Nolan was absent and it is duly
recorded. Also Present: Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager.
The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited by those present.
Approval of Minutes.
July 13, 2009 - A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Melia to approve the July 13,
2009 minutes as presented with the readings omitted. Vote yes/Messrs. Melia, Ampagoomian and Montecalvo. Abstain/Mr. Marzec.
Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Awards for 25+
Years of Service. Chairman Montecalvo presented plaques to the following
individuals for 25 years or more of service to the Town: Kenneth Guertin,
Donald Lange, Burnham Miller, and Mary Frances Powers. Town Manager Kozak then presented Chairman
Montecalvo with a plaque for his 25+ years of service. George Murray and Peter Lachapelle also received plaques but were unable to be
present at tonight’s meeting.
Citizens’
Comments/Input. Mr.
Ken Williams, 20 Maple Street,
Whitinsville, mentioned that last winter his
wife hit a patch of ice on Maple/Chestnut
Street and ended up in a ditch. He said that every winter there are problems
with this particular area because of a tree that is blocking the drainage
system. Mr. Williams asked if the Town
would take down the tree so that it doesn’t
block the drainage system and this way the water would flow properly into the
drain. Town Manager Kozak will look into this and discuss the issue with the Tree Warden.
Mr. Williams stated that in is his opinion Maple Street and Chestnut Street are not plowed well in
the wintertime. He also explained that
he has a medical condition, which often results in a phone call for an
ambulance.
Chairman Montecalvo read aloud an email he received from
Robert Rolandelli, Manager of Walmart,
in Whitinsville. Mr. Rolandelli
thanked the Town Hall for their condolences on the recent passing of his
brother.
481
Yogi Convenience Store, Inc. d/b/a Highland Farms/Application to request a
Change in
Manager
from Dashrath Patel to Jack Patel. Chairman Montecalvo was
informed by Attorney Henry
Lane that Mr. Jack Patel has refused to be named Manager on the liquor license held by Highland Farms. He then mentioned that Town Counsel has
recommended that the Town Manager’s Office send a letter to Mr. Jigarkumar Patel, President of 481 Yogi Convenience Store,
Inc. d/b/a Highland Farms advising him to submit the required paperwork to name
a new manager before September 9, 2009. Chairman Montecalvo
advised that if Mr. Patel does not submit his
paperwork by September 9, 2009, the Board of Selectmen would commence
disciplinary proceedings to cancel the liquor license on
September 14, 2009, for operation of the business without a properly approved
manager. A motion/Mr. Ampagoomian,
seconded/Mr. Marzec to continue this matter at their next Board of Selectmen’s
meeting on September 14, 2009, and that if the licensee has not submitted the
name of a proposed manager by September 9, 2009, the Board will commence a
disciplinary proceedings that evening for
operation of the business without a properly approved manager. Vote yes/Messrs.
Ampagoomian, Marzec, Melia and Montecalvo.
Fall Annual
Town Meeting (October 27,
2009)/Vote to place Board of Selectmen’s articles on the warrant. Chairman Montecalvo provided
a summary of the Selectmen's articles that need to be placed on the Fall Annual
Town Meeting Warrant. An article for prior year bills (if needed); An article for budget adjustments; An article to use
$1 million from the Water Enterprise Fund to pay down Whitinsville Water
Company’s debt in order to reduce the proposed increase in water rates; An
article to increase the Local Option Meals Tax by an additional .75%; and an
article to elect the Second Advisory Trustee to the Arthur Fletcher Whitin Fund Board. A
motion/Mr. Ampagoomian, seconded/Mr. Marzec to place the
above articles on the Fall Annual Town Meeting
Warrant [October 27, 2009]. Vote
yes/Messrs. Ampagoomian, Marzec, Melia and Montecalvo.
Fire Department New Vehicle Update/Present: Fire Chief
Gary Nestor. Fire Chief Gary Nestor provided an update on the
new vehicles his department will be acquiring.
He mentioned that he recently went with Captain David White to conduct a
preliminary inspection of the new fire engine they bought at Pierce
Manufacturing, located in Appleton,
Wisconsin and they will be
receiving the vehicle in Northbridge within a month from now. He also mentioned that the 2002 Ambulance was
sent for repairs to successful bidder “Quality
Emergency Vehicles” and it will take them about 90 days to complete the work but that they will
have a loaner vehicle during this time.
Utility Abatement Policy. Present:
DPW Director Richard Sasseville. Mr. Sasseville provided two copies of the revised
Utility Abatement process for the Selectmen to review. That said, one copy shows the changes made
and the other is the finalized version.
He recommended that the revised Utility Abatement Policy be placed on a
future Board of Selectmen’s agenda for a decision.
FY'10 Community Development Block Grant Application.
Present: Gary Bechtholdt, Town Planner,
Megan DiPrete, Central
Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, and Tim Hansen,
Associate Planner and Community Development and Planning Manager. Town
Manager Kozak asked Ms. DiPrete
and Mr. Hansen to attend tonight’s meeting, as CMRPC will be assisting the town
in preparing its FY2010 Community Development Block Grant application. Ms. DiPrete and Mr.
Hansen provided a brief overview of the grant program. Mr. Bechtholdt mentioned
that as part of this process the Town should review and update its Community
Development Strategy, which will be included in this year’s grant application
submitted to DHCD. Mr. Hansen noted that
last year (FY2009) Northbridge submitted a CDF II application for the New Village
Target Area. Mr. Bechtholdt
stated in preparation for this year’s application the town will host a series
of public meetings and informational workshops, which may begin in early
October and run through January-February, the application deadline. Mr. Hansen then briefly reviewed with the
Selectmen the “National Objectives” set by Congress: (1) benefit
low-to-moderate-income persons, (2) prevention or elimination of slums or
blight, or (3) meeting urgent needs. As
part of the discussion it was also noted that the town recently was informed by
the State that Northbridge has received funding as part of the Federal Recovery
Acts for infrastructure improvements identified in the FY2008 CDBG application,
which includes the remainder of Border Street and sidewalk along Crescent
Street within the New Village Target Area.
Mr. Hansen suggested more public involvement would help improve this
year’s scoring. He feels that Northbridge will still be a
competitive application because we have the demographics to support it. Selectman Melia asked if there was anything
in the grant process that would cover the recreation side: 1) Town Beach
and 2) Maintenance of Town-owned recreation fields. Mr. Hansen responded that in the past the
Department of Conservation and Recreation has had grants for recreation
facilities. He noted that they come out annually and most of them are matching
grants with conditions. As far as Parks
and Recreation facilities, they are eligible under CDGB regulations but are not
very competitive. In closing, Mr. Bechtholdt advised that he would keep everyone abreast of the meetings
and workshops.
Local Option Meals Tax (Increase an additional
.75%)/Possible warrant article. Chairman Montecalvo mentioned this would be discussed at
a later date.
Town Manager’s Report. Updates: 1) Armenian Library and Museum
of America Exhibit – Reminding the
public that the Armenian Library and Museum
of America will be
displayed in the Town Hall from August 31st through September 22nd. 2) Board of Health Volunteer Orientation Meeting
– announced there will be a meeting on September 15, 2009, at 7 P.M., in the
Selectmen’s Chambers of the Town Hall for
assistance in a public health emergency.
3) Building, Planning &
Construction Committee Projects – currently reviewing various sites for a
future fire station location; continuing to work with their consultant on a
schematic design for a new public works facility on Providence Road; and currently seeking
bid proposals for the HVAC unit on the Police Station. 4) Department of Public Utilities – Water Rate Hearing – A hearing
was held on August 18, 2009, and the Department of Public Utilities reviewed Whitinsville Water Company’s
request for new water rates. They also
took testimony from the general public.
Two individuals spoke at the hearing. 5) School
and Finance Department – Quarterly Meeting (Revolving Funds) a meeting took
place on Monday, August 24, 2009, at 6 P.M., to review the revolving accounts
of the School Department. He mentioned
that the Accounting Office and School Department are in balance. 6)
Received a letter from Senator Kennedy’s Office recommending funding for the
Town of Northbridge's
Fire Station grant project.
Selectmen’s Concerns. Selectman Marzec 1) Reported that a citizen would like to know the status
of the Linwood Post Office home delivery. Town Manager Kozak replied that he
would contact the Worcester Post Office to find out the status. 2)
Inquired about the status of a complaint from Shelley Buma
for a records request regarding Northbridge
Community Television Inc. 3) Announced that he would like an
update on all outstanding litigation at a future meeting. Selectman
Melia 1) Announced that he met with the Susan Gorky, Superintendent of
Schools. He mentioned it was very
informative as they discussed expectations of the upcoming school year. 2)
College Incentive Reimbursement Program – What does this mean for the Police
Department? What is the amount of money? Does the Town Manager have a plan? Town
Manager Kozak explained the Quinn Bill reduction. He mentioned the state has
further reduced the town’s reimbursement for the Quinn bill, which equates to a
loss of about $70,000 in our estimated receipts. 3)
He discussed the status of Shelley Buma’s Records
Request and then asked that all Boards and Committees release their minutes in
a timely manner. Town Manager Kozak mentioned
that he contacted Attorney William Hewig, who informed him that the local
non-profit organization is not a town board or committee. Selectman
Ampagoomian 1) Asked if Town Manager Kozak received a letter from Senator
Kerry’s Office with respect to the Fire Station grant. Town Manager Kozak replied that he received a
letter from Congressman Neal. Selectman Ampagoomian suggested sending another
letter to Senator Kerry and Senator Kennedy’s office for their assistance. 2) He mentioned that he has received a
few phone calls regarding stray cats and the individuals wanted to know if the
town has a policy of catching them. 3) Did the Town receive grant money
from the Community Development Block Grant? Town Manager Kozak advised all the
Selectmen that a couple months ago he informed them that the Town of Northbridge would be
receiving grant funds from the federal stimulus package. 4) He mentioned that his wife Sharron Ampagoomian received the New
England Cable Award, which was first place on the footage for the dedication of
the Ford Observation Post at Camp Edwards, Cape Cod. She was also the recipient of the Ross Rajotte Community Service Award.
Town Manager Kozak advised
the Board that the next Selectmen’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, September
8, 2009. He also informed them he would
not be in attendance for the following Selectmen’s meeting on September 14,
2009 as he will be attending a Manager’s conference in Canada.
A motion/Mr. Marzec,
seconded/Mr. Ampagoomian to adjourn the August 24, 2009 meeting. Vote yes/Messrs. Marzec, Melia, Ampagoomian
and Montecalvo.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:30 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Charles
Ampagoomian, Jr., Clerk
/dg