SELECTBOARD MINUTES
January 23, 2007

Selectboard Office 6:00 p.m.

Present: Clint Shaw, Alf Berry, Nancy Allen

Others present: Joe Mitko (ADN), Administrative Coordinator Dale Bull, Glenn Goodale, Chris Modzeleski-Durgin, Gary Orcutt, Sgt. Dana Cooley, Officer Randy Horne, Building Inspector Brianna Skowyra

Chair Clint Shaw opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

1. MINUTES

Nancy Allen moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of January 9, 2007. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Nancy Allen moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of January 16, 2007. Clint Shaw seconded the motion. With Alf Berry abstaining, Clint Shaw and Nancy Allen VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

2. MEETING WITH GLENN GOODALE RE: TOWN ON-LINE SERVICES

Glenn Goodale stated he estimated 20 hours to set up the initial website for the Town. He stated he would like to meet with Town representatives to discuss what is wanted for the format, content, forms to be downloaded, and future changes or enhancements. Discussion of a domain name resulted in Townofpetersham.org. Alf Berry stated that if departments link off from the main website, for simplicity sake, they should all look the same. Information to be updated on a regular basis was discussed such as a bulletin board, a calendar, and minutes from various departments and boards. Nancy Allen suggested creating a committee to meet with Glenn Goodale, being Glenn, Nancy, and Dale.

Nancy Allen moved to contract Glenn Goodale for 20 hours at $34.95 per hour for the initial Town website setup and consultations. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

3. DISCUSSION OF HOLDING A CANDIDATES’ NIGHT

After confirming a date with Chris Modzeleski-Durgin and Gary Orcutt, candidates for the Selectboard position, the Board set a candidates’ night for Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 in the Lower Town Hall.

4. HARVARD EASEMENT

After review by the Board, Alf Berry moved to sign the Grant of Easement between the Town of Petersham and the President and Fellows of Harvard College on Prospect Hill Road. Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

5. CDBG APPLICATION

a. VOTE TO APPROVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Nancy Allen moved to sign the Community Development Strategy with minor changes as discussed. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

b. VOTE TO APPROVE GRANT APPLICATION

The grant application was not available for signature at this time.

c. VOTE TO APPROVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT

Nancy Allen moved to sign the Interlocal Agreement between the towns of Athol, Petersham, Phillipston, and Royalston for the FY2007 Community Development Block Grant. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

6. PERMITS

Nancy Allen moved to renew the following business permits:

-Cye W. Scott, for the operation of an auto repair business located at 1 Old East Street;

-Margaret Upshaw, Margaret’s Landscape Maintenance, for a business located at 231 Hardwick Road of landscape maintenance and sale of plants;

-Br. Gregory Phillips, St. Mary’s Monastery, Inc., for the operation of a mail-order business located at 271 North Main Street selling face cream, skin balm, furniture polish, and incense.

Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

7. OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE

Nancy Allen presented a 2nd draft for the charge and responsibilities of the Petersham Open Space Committee. It was noted that most of the committee goals come from the Master Plan. It was noted that the Selectboard is actively seeking individuals interested in joining this committee. ConCom, the Selectboard, and the CIPC will be asked to provide names.

8. COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT

The Board discussed the CPA and its relationship with the Open Space Committee. The Board asked that the Affordable Housing Plan Committee be invited to meet with it, and others on February 6 to discuss the CPA. The Board questioned adding an ATM article regarding the CPA, but will wait until after the February 6 meeting for a decision.

9. BUILDINGS/SITE STUDY COMMITTEE

Nancy Allen presented a 3rd draft of the Petersham Buildings and Sites Study Committee. She noted the inclusion of a ‘two-tier’ work process. Clint Shaw suggested that the committee work be broken down to show: what the committee will produce, what it will review, and who it will work with. Nancy Allen stated she will redraft the document to be sent to Board members before the February 6 meeting. Alf Berry stated that maintenance of Town buildings needs to be added to committee responsibilities.


10. CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the following:

· Cemetery Commission memo requesting that the Highway Department prune a maple tree in the Center Cemetery which the Committee feels could do damage to the Hearse House if a large limb were to fall from it. The Highway Supt. will be contacted.

· Worcester Telegram article, January 17, 2007, regarding the town of Charlton finding benzene on the town’s newly acquired property

· Zero Waste Workshop notification for February 3 at 10:00 at the Town House sponsored by the Hardwick Recycling Commission. Nancy Allen stated she and Fifi Scoufopoulos will be attending.

· Mass Housing Partnership Letter informing the Town that it provides technical assistance at no charge to municipalities reviewing Chapter 40B permit applications

· MIIA Loss Control Grant letter stating that Petersham did not receive a grant this year (for surveillance equipment at the Police Station). It further stated that preference is given to municipalities which have not received a prior award and Petersham has received two grants in the past. The letter encouraged Petersham to reapply in August.

· DHCD letter listing 40B subsidized housing inventories for the cities and towns in the state. Petersham shows 0%.

· Municipal Law Seminar with attorney Leonard Kopelman, Thursday, February 1 in Northampton. Dale will attend.

· Letter from Secretary of State Galvin regarding the 2010 census and asking that the Town designate a local census liaison to work with the representative from his office. The Board suggested that the Town Clerk be the designee and asked that Dale contact her with regard to this appointment.

11. OTHER BUSINESS

Clint Shaw signed the Certificate of Appointment/Election for the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk for forwarding to the Office of the Secretary of State.

Dale stated that Phil Amidon had requested to be on the agenda for February 6 to discuss Amidon Drive as he stated “the Planning Board told him his next step was to with the Selectmen”. The Selectboard stated that they had no information to discuss with him at this time and felt that the meeting should be delayed until a report has been received from the Planning Board. Dale will notify Mr. Amidon.

Upon recommendation of the Cultural Council, Nancy Allen moved to appoint Linda Kabo and Anita Lockesmith to the Petersham Cultural Council through January 2013. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Nancy Allen presented a review of the January 19 Board site visit to the Davenport property at which David Wolf and Leigh Youngblood from Mt. Grace were in attendance. It was agreed to ask Mt. Grace about funding that might be available to create a conservation restriction on all or part of the property. Clint Shaw asked Dale to locate a “yellow book qualified” land appraiser and to find out from the Tree Warden if there is a Forest Stewardship Plan on file and if not, what he would charge to create one.

A discussion followed regarding the February 7 meeting with the ADA Committee. Alf Berry stated that the architects need to have the designs fairly finished. He asked for a list of various accounts before that meeting that hold funds for work on the buildings. Alf Berry moved to sign a revised Amendment #2 to increase the time of completion until June 30, 2007, for Chenot Associates, Inc. Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

12. EXECUTIVE SESSION – CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

7:25 p.m.- Clint Shaw stated the Board would be going into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and that business would not resume in open session upon completion of executive session. Alf Berry verbally moved to go into executive session. Nancy Allen verbally seconded the motion and the Board verbally VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

13. POLICE BUILDING UPDATE

At 7:50 p.m. the Board resumed regular session. Sgt. Dana Cooley entered the meeting and asked that the Board consider an emergency meeting as he, Officer Randy Horne, and Building Inspector Brianna Skowyra had just attended the ZBA meeting at which the special permit and the variance requests had been denied by the Board. Clint Shaw stated that the Board was still in open session. Dana Cooley asked the Board’s advice in what direction it wished the Police Station Building Committee to take. He suggested a special town meeting to amend the non-conforming use by-law to exempt town buildings. He stated that the Building Inspector could close the building at any time. Brianna Skowyra stated that as long as the Police Department is making an attempt to resolve the problems with the Building, she will not close the building, but this denial now creates a potential problem for her. Clint Shaw asked that Dale contact Town Counsel as soon as possible requesting wording for a by-law change. It was noted that the Planning Board will meet on Thursday January 23 and it could conceivably review the draft by-law at that time.

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION – PENDING LITIGATION

8:15 p.m.- Clint Shaw stated the Board would be going into executive session to discuss pending litigation and that business would not resume in open session upon completion of executive session. Alf Berry verbally moved to go into executive session. Nancy Allen verbally seconded the motion and the Board verbally VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

15. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Alf Berry moved to adjourn. Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy S. Allen, Clerk