Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
April 2, 2007
6:30 PM: Open Meeting; St. Patrick’s Parish Center
Board reviews and approves meeting minutes, with corrections.
Board reviews and approves weekly warrants.
6:45 PM: Resident Ralph LaCasio, State Line Road, seeks an update on the Hill House property. MK informs Mr. LoCassio that the Town had just received final disposition from the Massachusetts Land Court. The Town now owns the abandoned property free and clear and is seeking approval of an Annual Town Meeting article to appropriate a sum to demolish and remove the property. Mr. LaCasio thanks the Board for its persistence throughout this long process.
Other Items: Board discusses the Village School building project. Specifically, the Board reviews a Notice of Delay letter received from the general contractor, Whiteway Construction. Board will respond and inform Whiteway that the Town is not responsible for any potential project delay in the event that Abide Asbestos Abatement contractors cannot return to remove the building windows. Responsibility for scheduling Abide is the responsibility of Whiteway not the Town. Whiteway should have contacted Abide sooner.
Board is told of a telephone complaint received from Main St. resident Mati Kiin. He is angry about truck traffic out of control and why aren’t the Police doing something to stop it. Board will pass the complaint along to the Chief.
Board reviews a letter from Chief Cooper seeking guidance from the Board on whether or not to permit oversize trucks from Unistress to pass through the Town center for a limited period. Board appreciates being notified but feels that it is a public safety issue and should be handled as the Chief best sees fit.
Board reviews a letter from Chief Cooper suggesting that part-time Police Officer Perrin be allowed to work full-time during the 20-week period that Officer Messina is attending the full-time Police Training Academy. Board agrees that Department staffing is the Chief’s domain. However, the Board will inform the Chief that any Town employee who works 20 or more hours per week on a consistent basis is considered under MGL to be a full-time employee. As such, that person must be enrolled in the county retirement system and is eligible for health and dental insurance. CW points out that a full-time Officer is also supposed to be full time Officer Academy trained and the Town could be
placed in a liable position. Officer Perrin is not full-time Academy trained. Chief will need to be creative in his staffing while Officer Messina is unavailable.
Board signs a contract with Lycott Industries for initial and Year 2 aquatic weed removal at Mill Pond. The initial application will take place this spring. TSC asks that the contractor give the Town a few days notice prior to beginning.
Board reviews a letter received from MassHighway District 1 Director, Peter Niles responding to the Town’s Project Need Request for the reconstruction of the Main Street area. Mr. Niles states that MassHighway has reviewed the PNR and will look favorable upon the project. However, additional studies need to take place before the project can move forward. Board invites Mr. Niles and Berkshire Regional Planning in to a future meeting to discuss what exactly the Town needs to do in order to properly proceed.
Board has a general discussion re: what becomes of the Town Hall after it is abandoned this summer. Board suggests calling in Old Town Hall Committee Chair Joel Hotchkiss in soon for a discussion at a meeting.
The Board has a general discussion re: the Cemetery Commission and how it plans to conduct and pay for mowing this season. CW points out that if all the mowing was sub-contracted properly it would be subject to prevailing wage laws. If so, the Commission’s FY 2008 budget request will not be enough. Perhaps the Commission members have different plans and should be called in soon to a meeting with the Board.
TSC makes a motion to set the May 7, 2208 Town Elections at the St. Patrick’s Rectory. CW seconds the motion. Vote taken, 3-0 in favor.
TSC notes that Josh Morse thought that the Village School project sign was too close to the Town sign in order to do a portion of his Eagle Scout project which is to do a planting around the sign. Board notes that the project sign is temporary and will be removed when the project is done.
CW offers a driveway permit application from Amy Pressman. Board reviews and approves.
Board reviews FY 2008 budget.
8:15 PM: There being no additional business before the Board, TSC makes a motion to adjourn. CW seconds the motion. Vote taken, 3-0 in favor.
Meeting minutes approved by:
______________________ _____________________ _______________________
Michael Kirchner, Chair Curt Wilton Tina Skorput Cooper
Date: ____________
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