SELECTBOARD AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 7, 2006

SELECTBOARD’S OFFICE  

Present:  Clint Shaw , Alf Berry , Nancy Allen

Others present:  Joe Mitko (ADN), Dale Bull, Chief Denis Legare, Jason Lichtenberger, Library Director Paula Korstvedt, Library Treasurer Deni Ellis, Mary Ann Walker, Building Inspector Brianna Skowyra, Planning Board members Lynn Shaw and Fraser Sinclair, AFC members Bob Bellefeuille, Ross France, Don O’Neil, and Dave Davis, Conservation Commission Chair Bob Clark

Chair Clint Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.

1.                  RE-ORGANIZATION

Alf Berry moved that Clint Shaw remain Chair, he be named vice-chair and that Nancy Allen be named clerk.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 

2.                  MINUTES

Alf Berry moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of February 28, 2006.  Clint Shaw seconded the motion.  With Nancy Allen abstaining, Alf Berry and Clint Shaw VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 

3.                  MT. GRACE MEETING

Clint Shaw stated that a meeting of Mt. Grace concerning the Quabbin Corridor Forest Legacy Project will be held at Mick Huppert’s house in Petersham on March 8.  He noted that he would attend.  Alf Berry and Nancy Allen stated they would try to attend also. 

4.                  MEETING WITH CHIEF LEGARE RE:  DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENT

Chief Legare met with the Selectboard to introduce Jason Lichtenberger and ask for his appointment to the Petersham Police Department as a Reserve Intermittent Part-time Police Officer.  Chief Legare stated that  Jason Lichtenberger has met all the part-time requirements.  Alf Berry moved to appoint Jason Lichtenberg to the Petersham Police Department as a Reserve Intermittent Part-time Officer through June 30, 2006, with a 90-day probation period.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 

5.                  MEETING WITH MARYANN WALKER RE:  STATUS TOWN HALL KITCHEN

COA member Mary Ann Walker met with the Board for a status report on the Town Hall kitchen.  She stated she had met with Richard McCrae , an architect in Town, and Health Agent Phil Leger.  Both had suggested that an under the counter dishwasher was the best unit for the kitchen and that there was cabinet room for the installation.  In order to save on water consumption, Phil Leger suggested that heat be used to sanitize.  The two-bay sink can remain without adding another unit.  Mary Ann Walker further stated that she had contacted several commercial kitchen businesses and that a new unit would cost approximately $3,000.  She provided specs from Gillette Restaurant Equipment in North Brookfield .  She stated that there are no used ones available at this time and that there is a waiting list. She noted that with the short timeframe available in which to have the unit installed, the Town may not be able to wait for a used unit.  Both the architect and the Health Agent stated that the next step is to have a plumber ascertain if the existing drainage and water supply are adequate.  Alf Berry moved to have a plumber review the water situation at the Town Hall and that the cost come out of the Town Hall and Office Building Repairs account and that the purchase of a dishwasher would need to be a reserve fund transfer.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 

6.                  FY07 DEPARTMENT BUDGET MEETINGS

a.       PETERSHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY 

Library Treasurer Deni Ellis explained the formula used by the State that requires Petersham to contribute a particular dollar figure to the Library in order for it to remain accredited with the State.  She also noted the problems associated with getting an accurate dollar figure for the Dog Fund.  Different ways to come up with a figure was discussed.  The Town could pay the full $6,793 and give the Dog Fund to the school for one year or it could bank the Dog Fund.  Paula Korstvedt will check with the Mass Board of Library Commissioners about banking the fund. 

b.      CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND WETLANDS PROTECTION

Bob Clark stated that the Conservation Commission budget is $1 and not really used.  Funds for this Committee come from the Wetlands Protection Fund.  He noted the need for a revolving account to be set up for all boards and committees that have hearings. He stated that it is often hard to collect fees after the various permits have been issued.   In discussion, it was noted that at least $125 would be required as a fee in that some fees are more and some are less depending upon the number of abutters and the times the legal notice needs to be published. 

Dale will create a revolving account article for fees for various departments.   

c.       TOWN BUDGETS – 60 REVISION

Dale presented a new tier to the Town health insurance which is now available.  The tier allows for a $20 co-pay for office visits and a $75 co-pay for emergency room visits.  With these figures, the monthly individual premium would be $381.32 and the monthly family premium would be $991.43.  After discussion, Alf Berry moved to accept the MIIA Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan for FY07.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 

7.                  MEETING WITH BUILDING INSPECTOR/PLANNING BOARD – DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED LETTER TO TOWN COUNSEL

Due to a conflict of interest, Clint Shaw left the meeting.   Planning Board chair Lynn Shaw presented a draft memo (attached) with questions the Planning Board  wished to send to Town Counsel regarding clarification of by-laws and by-laws to be created under the Master Plan.    Brianna Skowyra had responded in writing to the memo stating that the majority of questions on the memo relate to decisions that she had made as Zoning Enforcement Officer and disagreed with using Town’s money to ask Town Counsel for answers that, in several instances, are already on the books.  Alf Berry stated that some issues are more ZBA related and should go before that Board, referring to the process everyone should follow.  Lynn Shaw disagreed, stating that Planning needs legal interpretations of the by-laws.  It was agreed to review the questions one by one.  1) Alf Berry stated that the Town does not have a site review plan and it is very specific to local by-laws.  2) All agreed to send this question as written.  3)  Brianna Skowyra noted that she cannot legally withhold a building permit based on another board’s review.   She can only withhold the occupancy permit.   She can, however, issue a ‘stop work order’ or a ‘cease and desist’.  4)  Brianna Skowyra noted that it is not the Building Inspector’s responsibility to ensure the plan presented by an applicant is a registered plan.  5)  It was agreed to send this question as written.  6)  Agreed to send question as written, changing the word ‘registered’ to ‘recorded’.  7) Everyone interpreted this by-law as garages and the like cannot be built on empty lots under current Petersham by-law.  8) This question relates to a current situation of signage on vehicles having already gone through the ZBA and approved.  Nancy Allen stated that she understood the purpose of this memo was to write the new by-laws, not to go over issues already resolved through the ZBA.  Lynn Shaw stated that the by-law is on the books and should be enforced.  The question to Town Counsel is can the Town adopt a by-law preventing advertisements on large vehicles from being parked along the Town’s roadsides?  Brianna Skowyra stated that the Department of Motor Vehicles requires that all commercial vehicles be lettered.   It was noted that this question would prevent commercial vehicles from stopping anywhere in Town.  Lynn Shaw stated that commercial vehicles parked on private property should be parked out of sight.  Alf Berry reminded her that this is not always possible.  He further stated that the Building Inspector does not act on behalf of the Planning Board but must abide by a strict interpretation of the by-laws.  9)  Not addressed.  10)  Not addressed.

 

Brianna Skowyra asked to be included in the telephone conversation with Kopelman and Paige .  Lynn Shaw stated that the Planning Board does not want her to sit in on the telephone conversation.  After discussion, Alf Berry moved that the Planning Board contact Town Counsel and that the opinions regarding questions relating to the Building Inspector be provided to her in writing.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 

 

Lynn Shaw stated that this is just the beginning of a long list of questions for Kopelman and Paige with regard to rewriting the by-laws. 

 

8.         CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the following: 

 

9.         OTHER BUSINESS

No other business was discussed. 

 

10.       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Alf Berry moved to adjourn.  Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.  The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Nancy S. Allen , Clerk