SELECTBOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting
July 25, 2006
Selectboard’s Office
6:00 p.m.

Present: Clint Shaw, Alf Berry, Nancy Allen

Others present: Joe Mitko (ADN), Admin Coor Dale Bull, Town Accountant Jean Joel, AFC members Ross France, Dave Davis, Bob Bellefeuille, and Jim Regan

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 executive session minutes of March 28, 2006. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Nancy Allen moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of July 11, 2006. Alf Berry seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Nancy Allen moved to accept for purposes of discussion the minutes of July 19, 2006. Alf Berry seconded the motion. With Clint Shaw abstaining, Nancy Allen and Alf Berry VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.


2. TOWN OFFICE BUILDING AND TOWN HALL SURVEY/SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO PLANS

The Board discussed the meeting with MRPC and the ADA Committee with regard to plans for the Town Office Building and the Town Hall. Norman LaPointe and Charles Crowley had submitted ideas to be forwarded to Chenot, the architects. As time is of the essence with regard to making the next grant round, the Board asked that a meeting be set for Wednesday, August 2 with Chenot, MRPC, and the ADA Committee to further discuss the matter. Nancy Allen mentioned report dates in the contract and asked that MRPC be contacted for an update.


3. MEET WITH AFC AND ACCOUNTANT TO CLOSE OUT FY06

Each account balance was reviewed, taking into consideration the requests made by various departments to encumber or roll over balances. The Enterprise Fund balance was closed.

4. TREE HEARING CONTINUATION

It was noted that with the number of concerns regarding the administration of the hearing by National Grid and the status of certain trees in Town, the tree hearing was continued to Wednesday, August 9 in the Selectmen’s office.

Nancy Allen submitted her concerns with the hearing last night and the process. The Board reviewed the latest list of trees from National Grid dated May 30 which was never forwarded to the Board or the Selectmen’s office.

5. PERMITS

Nancy Allen moved to renew the business permit for Larry Buell, Earthlands, for an office for Earthlands, North Quabbin Farm and Environmental Center located at 39 Glasheen Road and Alf Berry seconded the motion. The Board VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Prior to renewal of a trailer permit for Tom Morgan on Popple Camp Road, the Selectboard asked that the Building Inspector and the Board of Health visit the property to ascertain if all permit conditions are being met.

6. CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the following:

A memo from the Planning Board requesting the closing of Quaker Drive between the Hall driveway and Route 122 by the Highway Department during the winter months. The reason for the request stems from the fact that a number of older large trees on the road form a dense canopy and therefore hinder the melting of road ice during winter months. In order to avoid cutting these trees, the simple solution seems to be to close the road during winter months, as has been done on other roads. As the Trustees of Reservations has an entrance to its property in this area, TTOR will be contacted. The Hall Farm residents will also be contacted.
State House email re: State Expands Tax Credits to Boost Historic Properties MRPC email regarding the 11th annual EPA Brownfields conference DOR memo re: What’s New in Municipal Law
DOR memo re: Free Cash and Enterprise Fund Amount Available for Appropriation July 14, 2006, Worcester Telegram article re: Quabbin School Board hiring Beverly Brown of Sutton as interim superintendent
July 19, 2006, Worcester Telegram article re: Phillipston adding a fist grade teacher to its school system In response to a memo from the Selectboard to Treasurer Dana Robinson regarding a needed reserve fund transfer to cover FY06 Medicare costs, Dana Robinson stated that he did not calculate the amount that was budgeted (in that he did not at that time hold the Treasurer position) and the Town’s Medicare contribution is 1.45% of the gross wages paid to Medicare eligible employees. The Beacon, summer 2006

7. OTHER BUSINESS

At the July Selectboard meeting, one-half payment of a survey done for the Mandels of their property and the Ledgeville School was held until the next special town meeting as no direct funding is available at this time. Nancy Allen asked that the Board rethink this payment to the Mandels, and to consider a reserve fund transfer. The Board agreed to revisit this matter in a few weeks.

It was noted that dangerous trees at the intersection of rts. 101 and 32 have been removed by the State, as requested. The Maniha’s forester Glenn Freden will be contacted with regard to the need for removal of any additional trees on the Maniha property.

Highway Supt. Norman LaPointe requested that for safety sake a change be made at the intersection of Birch Drive and Rt. 122. After consulting with the Planning Board, Alf Berry moved that the change should be made and that the Board sent a letter to MassHighway requesting that they work with the Petersham Highway Department to correct a potentially dangerous situation. Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

The next meeting of the Board will be Monday, August 7, at 6:00 p.m. There will be no meeting on August 8.

8. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Alf Berry moved to adjourn. Nancy Allen seconded the motion and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy S. Allen, Clerk