SELECTBOARD MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 14, 2006

 

Present:  Clint Shaw , Alf Berry , Nancy Allen

Others present:  Joe Mitko (ADN), Dale Bull, Peter Burnham, Nathan LeBlanc, Mary Ann Walker, Mahar Superintendent Dr. Reza Namin, Mahar Rep. Michael LeBlanc, Personnel Policy Committee members Norman LaPointe, Peter Richardson, Chip Bull, and  John LePoer, Cemetery Commission members Jan Bedau, Ann Hyde, and Ken Levine, Tax Collector Virginia Newsman, BOH member Fifi Scoufopoulos, BOA members Dana Kennan and Jean Robinson, Asst. Assessor Kelly Garlock, AFC members Bob Bellefeuille, Dave Davis, Ross France, Don O’Neil

 

Chair Clint Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.  

1.                  MINUTES

Alf Berry moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of March 7, 2006.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

 2.                  FY07 DEPARTMENT BUDGET MEETINGS

a.                   MEETING WITH DR. REZA NAMIN – MAHAR

Mahar Superintendent Dr. Reza Namin discussed the budget for 2006-2007, stating it had been held to a 4.85% increase compared to last year and a 9% increase in revenue compared to last year.  With 77 students projected for the coming school year, Petersham’s total assessment is $610,290, up $57,808 from the previous year.   

It was noted that at Mahar, in order for the budget as presented to pass, three of the four towns must approve the budget.  If all four towns vote differently, the second lowest budget voted becomes the school budget for the year.   

  Dr. Namin stated that at present, health insurance is an 85/l5 split.  Blue Cross/Blue Shield has recommended to Mahar that it look for additional people to join to decrease fees. 

 b.                  PERSONNEL POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, RE:  32B

PPRC Chair Norman LaPointe presented a draft of the Insurance page for the Personnel Policy regarding health insurance for retirees.   It was noted that an employee working at least twenty hours per week on a regular basis is considered eligible for Town benefits under MGL’s.  Several draft regulations were presented to the Selectboard for review and request for acceptance so that the retiree insurance can go into force.  The Board will revisit the matter at the next meeting.    Potential insurance coverage figures for retirees were reviewed.   

 As the retiree health insurance is effective July 1, it was noted that time is of the essence with regard to review and passing of regulations. 

 c.                   CEMETERY COMMISSION

Jan Bedau , Cemetery Commission Clerk, presented a (58) Grave Openings budget level funded at $1.00 to keep the account open.  Under (59) Care of Cemeteries, $600 was added for payroll and $700 for other costs.  As the Care of Cemeteries contract is going out for bid later this month, no actual figure is known at this time, but anticipating an increase over the past three years, the Cemetery Commission increased its contribution to the contract to $5,000. 

 Questions concerning repair of stones in several cemeteries were resolved in that funds from cemetery accounts would be used.  This will require a Town Meeting warrant article. 

 As the Cemetery Commission is included in the departments seeking secretarial assistance, the Selectboard asked that the departments meet to arrive at a wage schedule and number of hours required to perform the work. 

 d.                  TAX COLLECTOR

Virginia Newman increased (17 & 18) Tax Collector office supplies by $500, postage by $500, dues and subscriptions by $50, and advertising by $100.  She noted that tax title legal filings have been increased by $1,050 to allow for the increase in the number of tax title properties.  Field trips were increased by $65.  A request for $2,100 for a motor vehicle program was discussed.  She noted that that program costs approximately $4,000, but additional funds exist in that money has been rolled over for several years in anticipation of the need for this computer software.  This program would be interactive with the Assessors’ software, but provide information needed for the Tax Collector. 

 e.                   BOARD OF HEALTH

Maryann Walker and BOH member Fifi Scoufopoulos presented a (42) BOH with many increases due to Homeland Security requirements.  Increases include office supplies, postage, advertising notices, and field trips.  Homeland Security training has been added for $7,500.  CRT and the regional North Central Solid Waste Cooperative hazardous waster day program of $1,500 were removed and added to the Enterprise Account.  A request for a file cabinet and letter organizer for $1,400 was added, along with the Public Health Mutual Aid Agent for $5,000 to meet State/Federal requirements for court matters.   

f.                    BOARD OF ASSESSORS 

BOA Chair Dana Kennan discussed the need to increase the Assistant Assessor position to 24 hours per week.  It was noted that this position will now be eligible for Town benefits.  Dana Kennan stated that additional hours are needed in that services that were previously done by outside companies will be done in-house in FY07.   Other increases include office supplies $50; postage $50; printing $75; field trips $500; tax bill printing and service $100; vision service $500; and software maintenance $2,000.  A request for $2,400 in outside services was added.  The motor vehicle software program and the real estate/abatement program, each totaling $3,605.00 were added to the budget.   

Clint Shaw requested a list of BOA/Tax Collector software, both what the offices have now and what is being requested and what this software presently does and what is anticipated for the future.   

A meeting with Dana Kennan and the Selectboard was scheduled for March 28 to discuss the recap sheet.  

3.                  WARRANTS FOR JUNE 5, 2006, SPECIAL TOWN MEETING/ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

Alf Berry moved to open the warrants for the June 5, 2006, Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting to be closed by noon on Thursday, April 20, 2006.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.  

4.                  CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the following: 

5.                  APPOINTMENT 

A discussion developed regarding the groups of individuals working toward a bathroom and garage at the East Street Police Station.   A draft of the Committee’s charge and a possible Committee name will be provided to Chief Legare for review. 

 6.                  OTHER BUSINESS

The Board agreed that all reserve fund transfers are to go through the Selectboard for review and signature.  Departments will be notified. 

  Dale stated that the Town Office Building basement needs to be insulated at the band joint and the windows and door needed to be closed up.  She also stated that in order to use the attic for storage, plywood needs to be put down.   She asked if the funding from Mann ’s could be used for these purposes.  The Board agreed. 

Dale questioned a merit increase for a Highway Department employee stating that no merit increases have been given to any Town employees and were all Town employees now eligible for an increase.  No response by the Board was given to the question. 

Dale stated that the Town received a letter from Verizon stating that the payphone outside the Town Office Building was being removed as it “does not meet minimum revenue requirements”.  Contact with Verizon did not resolve not removing the payphone although Verizon was informed that this is the only payphone in Petersham and for a twenty-mile radius.  Supporting letters from chiefs Legare and Robinson were obtained The Town’s response and supporting documents were forwarded to Verizon with copies to Senator Brewer and Rep. Gobi. 

 A draft contract for Chenot Associates to provide the first stage of ADA accessibility to the Town Office Building and the Town Hall was reviewed for possible signing by the Selectboard at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

 7.                  PLANNING BOARD LEGAL FEES

Dale stated that at the last Selectboard meeting, Planning Chair Lynn Shaw stated that Town Counsel will need to be contacted with numerous questions regarding the Master Plan and by-laws.  Dale ’s question to the Board is where is the money to be budgets for FY07—in the Master Plan account or Town Legal Fees.  The Board agreed to increase Town Legal Fees for FY07 to $14,000.00 to cover the costs.   

8.                  PERMITS

Nancy Allen moved to renew the following business permits and Alf Berry seconded the motion:

- Sylvia B. Brown , Petersham Leathers, for the operation of a small leather business located at 202 Popple Camp road making clothing and accessories which are mostly sold off-site

- Robert G. Frenette, Added Value Painting Services, for an office at 15 Spring Street for an interior/exterior house painting business

- Dwight A. Cooley, Cooley ’s Maple Sugar House, for the business of a sugar house located at 140 South Street selling maple syrup and maple sugar products

- Marcheterre Fluet , Marcheterre Fluet-Fine Line Design, for the operation of a photography, digital graphics and desktop publishing business located at 278 Tom Swamp Road .

The Board VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

9.                  MT. GRACE MEETING

This matter was tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting.

 10.              TREES MARKED W/ORANGE BULL EYES

A copy of an email to the Tree Warden  was received from Ivan Ussach on Carter Pond Road regarding three trees marked several months ago with a red dot.  As two of these trees appear healthy and he asked why they have been marked.  The Board will meet with the Tree Warden next week for budget figures and will discuss the matter at that time. 

  11.              ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Alf Berry moved to adjourn.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.    The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,

  Nancy S. Allen , Clerk