SELECTBOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting
July 11, 2006
Selectboard’s Office
6:00 p.m.

Present: Clint Shaw, Nancy Allen, and Alf Berry arriving at 6:25 p.m.

Others present: Joe Mitko (ADN), Dale Bull, Roy Nilson, Beth Cummings

Chair Clint Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

1. MINUTES

Nancy Allen moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of June 27, 2006. Clint Shaw seconded the motion and BOTH VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

2. MEETING WITH ROY NILSON RE: HOUSE NUMBERING

The Building Inspector and Police Department recently began enforcing the house numbering by-law requiring that house numbers be attached to all houses and be visible from the road. Roy Nilson stated that although his house does have numbers attached, they are not visible from the road and he has worked with Library officials to obtain permission to post a sign with house numbers it on Library property slightly in front of the forsythia. He stated that the Police Chief has agreed with the location.


3. FY06 RESERVE FUND TRANSFERS

Nancy Allen moved to sign the following reserve fund transfers and Clint Shaw seconded the motion:

$ 90.00 Care of Cemeteries

115.00 Cemetery expenses for Barnes Landscaping to remove downed trees

112.00 Fire Department radio repair

105.57 National Grid bill

42.89 Verizon bill

17.47 Athol Automotive

233.21 May gas

73.89 June gas

25.75 Dana Robinson reimbursement

122.69 Orange Oil – Fire Department

2,408.00 Fire Department payroll

65.85 Pumping septic tank at Town Hall/Town Office Building

680.41 June Verizon bill

2,699.53 Medicare Insurance

132.99 Payroll processing

225.65 Street lights

96.82 Treasurer mileage expense

Nancy Allen and Clint Shaw VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

Clint Shaw asked that the Treasurer be contacted as to why a reserve fund transfer is needed for Medicare insurance.

4. BARNES LANDSCAPING CONTRACT

The Board signed the Barnes Landscaping for Care of Cemeteries in the amount voted at the June 5, 2006, Annual Town Meeting.

5. QUARTERLY DEPARTMENT MEETINGS

The Selectboard discuss holding quarter department meetings to include all Town departments. It was noted that recently that it would have been helpful if interaction had happened between several departments. It was agreed to holding the meeting at 7:00 p.m. October 2, 2006, at PCS. Dale will notify all departments.


6. BUSINESS PERMITS

Nancy Allen moved to renew the following business permits and Clint Shaw seconded the motion:

-Todd Coombs/Kevin Shortis, The Garage, for a Class II-Used Cars permit, the operation of an auto body shop, the sale of trailers and campers (limit 18), the sale of propane, the storage of up to 500 (five-hundred) gallons of gasoline, the business of renting cards to customers during repair to their vehicle, the operation of a garage, all at 1 Barre Road.

Nancy Allen and Clint Shaw VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

Alf Berry entered the meeting at 6:25 p.m.

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

-Lawrence Poulin, for the training of horses to ride and drive, in a classical manner, both young and old; most training on property at 183 West Road, Petersham; however to include road work;

-Jeanine and Rebecca Legare, Love that Basket!, for the operation of a gift basket business at 20 Hardwick Road;

-Jordan O’Connor, Jordan O’Connor Associates, for an architectural office located at 6 North Main Street, subject to the special permit signed by the ZBA dated February 7, 2006.

The Board VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.



7. MEETING WITH BETH CUMMINGS – RE: BANNER ON THE COMMON

Beth Cummings met with the Board to request an indefinite period to keep the banner which refers to Petersham honoring the troops, hung on the Bandstand . The Board agreed that it could not sanction an indefinite period and as the Bandstand is used for a variety of occasions, it is not appropriate to keep the banner on the Bandstand. It was further noted by the Board that it would also have to ok any banner requested for hanging on the Bandstand. Nancy Allen stated that an indefinite period would also conflict with the Historic District Commission by-law regarding signs. Clint Shaw suggested that Beth Cummings discuss an alternative location with residents of the Town and to keep in mind the 10th anniversary of the parade next year. Beth Cummings stated that the banner would be removed by tomorrow.


8. TRAILER PERMIT RENEWALS

Debra Brunell forwarded a letter to the Board requesting a final renewal of her permit for a trailer located at 170 Nichewaug Road during construction of her new house. Nancy Allen moved to renew the trailer permit at 170 Nichewaug Road for the final year through July 12, 2007. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board reviewed a copy of a letter from the Board of Health to William Morgan, Parcel 387 Popple Camp Road, stating that an outstanding balance of $150 remains for the Board of Health inspections completed last year and that failure to pay this fee could result in the Selectboard’s failure to renew his trailer permit due July 26.


9. CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the following:

Copy of a memo to the Tax Collector and Accountant indicating that the Auditor while completing the FY05 audit has discovered that a reconciliation has not taken place between the Tax Collector and the Accountant and has been requested in the Management letters since FY01. Therefore, the Board asks that they set a date before the end of August to meet to accomplish this reconciliation.
MRPC letter requesting that Shelly Hatch be authorized to be the main user for the new computer software system now in place for CDBG files.
Notification from MRPC of additional assistance to Montachusett communities, one being the funding of a First Time Home Buyer down Payment Assistance Program
Updated information on requirements for NIMS compliance by Town officials
Email from BetterGov.aol.com regarding the new Chapter 70 formula
DOR letter stating that the Monty Tech regional school district has a self-insured health care trust fund and that the Bureau of Accounts has insufficient information regarding the ability to approve an FY07 tax rate or recap sheet for any city or town in the district
Copies of the latest Cherry sheets for Petersham, Mahar, Monty Tech, and Quabbin.
Dale’s email to Laura Pawle at Kopelman and Paige notifying her that the Board voted to change the second paragraph on page 2 of the Harvard easement to read: “Grantee shall provide the Grantor a survey plan prepared and stamped by a licensed land surveyor showing the easements and monuments.”
Notification of a seminar in Boston of bringing high speed internet into affordable housing development
Memo from the Planning Board to the Selectboard that it voted to take no action o the invoice from Berry Engineering regarding definition of Amidon Drive. The memo noted that the Planning Board continues to work on this situation.
The Board reviewed a draft letter to MassHighway District 2 Manager Lou Misiun regarding the condition of sinking road grates and manholes on Rt. 32, South and North Main streets. The letter states that as the liability issue is of great concern to the Town, that MassHighway expedite repairs as soon as possible. Nancy Allen moved that Clint Shaw sign the letter for forwarding to MassHighway. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Dale’s vacation schedule through September 1


10. OTHER BUSINESS

The Board received a letter from Department of Agricultural Resources informing the Town of the State’s intent to purchase, rent, sell or significantly change the use of approximately 70 acres of land in Petersham owned by Glenn Dickson, Lot 467 on North Main Street for inclusion in the Agricultural Reservation Restriction Program as an Agricultural Preservation Restriction. Dale stated that she had checked with BOA and this will not affect the tax status of the property. The letter requested that this proposal be made public in a local forum and that a confirmation notice be signed by Selectboard Clerk Nancy Allen and returned to the Department. Therefore, Chair Clint Shaw read the notification to the public and it was so noted.

The Board reviewed a draft letter regarding Town Counsel’s opinion that the Selectboard has jurisdiction over the matter of regionalization, in particular the responsibility for negotiation and execution of an agreement. Therefore, the Selectboard agreed that all paperwork telephone calls, emails, meeting minutes and any other related materials regarding this issue should be in the possession of the Selectboard’s office and requested the same from to the Petersham Center School Committee, the Regionalization Committee, Jeff Wulfson at DOE, Quabbin Supt. Maureen Marshall, the Quabbin Regional School Committee, Mahar Supt. Reza Namin and the Mahar Regional School Committee by July 28. Copies of the letter were mailed to the Selectboards of the five Quabbin Regional towns. After discussion, Nancy Allen moved that Clint Shaw sign the letter for forwarding to the named individuals and committees. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Nancy Allen moved that Clint Shaw sign the MRPC warrant for ADA work on the Town Office Building and the Town Hall. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board received an explanatory letter from Eric and Christine Mandel along with a bill from GRAZ Engineering in the amount of $1,852.50 for a survey of Town property surrounding the Ledgeville School. The Selectboard had previously voted to pay one-half of the survey cost. It was noted that as no funds were allocated, this bill will need to be put on the warrant for the next special town meeting.


11. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Nancy Allen moved to adjourn. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy S. Allen, Clerk