APPROVED 7/28/03

 

 

 

TOWN OF HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS

BOARD OF SELECTMEN/HEALTH

MINUTES

July 1, 2003

 

Town House

7:00 P.M

 

625 Main Street

Roll Call:

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.  Board of Selectmen Duane Mosier, Mark Barba, and James D. Smith were in attendance.

 

 

Old Business:

 

1.               Minutes from June 3, 2003 executive session for approval

Pg 1: change “he to the”

Mark Barba made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.  Jim Smith seconded, all in favor and so voted.

 

2.               Minutes from June 17, 2003 for approval

Pg 1 Section 4: change recommended to requested

Pg 2 Section 8: add be given increased priority, change and to may

Pg 3 Section 9: change will to may; add Chief Mellis will attend a meeting in August.

Pg 3 Section 11: add first name

Pg 4 Section 15: as the Board of Selectmen has the authority to direct the use of funds by the P&R revolving fund.

James Smith made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.  Mark Barba seconded, all in favor and so voted.

 

3.               Minutes from June 17, 2003 executive session for approval

Pg 1: Change, “changes to corrections”

Mark Barba made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.  Jim Smith seconded, all in favor and so voted.

 

4.               FY 04 Planning

A memo had be sent to all department heads and committee chairs requesting a summary of what changes will take place in FY 04 due to the recent budget cuts.  Several replied and a press release was drafted to outline those changes in hours and services.  The Board will review the draft on 7/3/03 and a final draft will be sent to several publications.

 

5.               ZBA Comprehensive Permits

A copy of Mr. Patullo’s request and follow up email will be reviewed by the Board for action.

 

Appointments

 

6.               Veteran’s Agent

The Board welcomed Bob Mathison, the newly hired Veterans Service Officer and Arthur Booth.  The Board thanked Art for his many years of service to the Town as its Veteran’s Service Officer and wished him well in his retirement.

 

7.               Dispatcher

The Board met with Chief Mellis who brought forward Jason Mancuso as a Dispatcher candidate.  James Smith moved to appoint Jason Mancuso as a civilian dispatcher for a 1-year probationary period.  Mark Barba seconded.  All in favor and so voted.

 

8.               Chief Mellis

Chief Mellis updated the Board on the latest information he has received on the stop sign at Allen and Wilbraham Road.  He is awaiting a report from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on a study the commission will conduct.  The Chief reviewed the various police trainings and programs the department was undergoing.  Discussion regarding police clothing allowance and obtaining receipts, Chief Mellis will review the procedures with the department members.

 

A policy and procedure regarding Motor Vehicle Content Inventory Policies was reviewed.  Mark Barba moved to accept the Motor Vehicle Policy and Procedure as presented.  James Smith seconded.  All in favor and so voted.

 

The Board had received letter from Chief Mellis recognizing two members of the department whose actions in relation to a 911 call averted a tragedy and resulted in a successful intervention. 

 

9.               Mr. Richard Jones

Mr. Jones met with the Board to discuss the recent complaint he had regarding a property on Commercial Drive and an alleged zoning violation.  The Board stated that the owner of the establishment was visited by Mark Feeney, Building Inspector/Zoning Officer who in turn instructed the owner to contact the Planning Board.  The owner met with the Planning Board and a copy of the minutes was reviewed by the Board.  The Board had invited Mr. Feeney into the meeting to discuss the matter further, the Board of Selectmen’s meeting was running ahead of schedule and Mr. Jones arrived early for his appointment, Mr. Jones had finished his comments and departed prior to Mark Feeney’s arrival.  Mark Feeney when he arrived stated that the owner of the property on Commercial Drive was not in violation of the zoning bylaws as the bylaws read on that particular street.  The bylaws were originally meant to prohibit used car dealers from displaying vehicles on the front setback area.  Mark Feeney stated that a business such as a Nursery does not fall under the same guidelines as the used cars business on the street and therefore a Nursery can display the stock of plantings up to the 10 foot set back from the street. 

 

Mr. Jones noted to the Board that in several locations in town illegal signs were posted on town property.  Signs on the Shell station on Somers Road and a business on at the entrance to Commercial Drive on East Longmeadow Road were both in violation.  Mark Barba stated he would bring the matter before Mark Feeney on 7/2/03.

 

New Business:

 

10.            Town Services within cemetery limits

The Board received a cc of a letter Dana Pixley had sent to the Cemetery Commission asking whether the funds in the Perpetual Care Account could be used to restore some of the services that the highway department had provided before the budget reduction.  Theses service included mowing and trimming within the cemetery limits. 

 

11.            School Grounds Maintenance

The Board received a letter from the HWRSD Director of Facilities and Maintenance asking the town to consider transferring the responsibility of maintaining the school grounds plowing and mowing and eliminating the subcontracting for the Town of Hampden Highway Department.  The school would contract with the contractor who is presently plowing the Wilbraham schools and maintain the mowing of the school grounds in-house.  The Highway Department is in favor of this proposal as it would relieve the DPW of a large amount of time needed to plow the schools in the winter and free up more time to mow roadsides and town sites.  Jim Smith stated that the income the town received from the school for the services is $26,000 and without this income he felt the Highway department’s budget would need to be reduced by that number.  The Board will discuss this issue with Dana Pixley.

12.            Proposed changes in Health Insurance Plans

The Board reviewed the letter submitted by the Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust on the proposed changes in health insurance plans.  The letter asks for the Board to vote to authorize their representative to vote on the proposal to increase co-pays.  James Smith moved to authorize Karen Desmarais to vote in favor of the increase co-pays at the Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust Board meeting.  Mark Barba seconded.  All in favor and so voted.

 

13.            MMA Dues

A bill was received from Massachusetts Municipal Association.  Jim Smith wanted to discuss what services the MMA provided for the membership dues.  A recap of the services was reviewed and it was determined to retain membership but also to be more aggressive in utilizing the organization more for local issues.

 

14.            Revolving Account

Discussion on the possibility of establishing a revolving account for the new dump tags.  Mark Barba will speak to the Town Account regarding the matter.

 

15.            Landfill maintenance

A letter was received from Dana Pixley regarding the mowing of the landfill.  The town of Wilbraham is not longer willing to mow the landfill and Dana has researched several options available to the town.  The Board stated that since a number of the options were cost prohibited, the one option of fencing in the area and obtaining grazing animals was a possibility.  Mark Barba will check with Dana Pixley as to the safety issues regarding the highway department mowing the area using town equipment.

 

16.            Regional transportation reimbursement

A letter was reviewed from Paul Gagliarducci, School Superintendent regarding regional transportation reimbursement and the assessment that Hampden will be charged.  Jim Smith will meet with Paul Gagliarducci and the Advisory Committee to further discuss this issue.

 

Other Business:

 

17.            Acting Chairman

Jim Smith voted to authorize Mark Barba as acting Chairman of the Board of Selectmen in Duane Mosier’s absence 7/4-7/23.  Duane Mosier seconded.  Mark Barba abstained.  vote Jim – yes Duane – yes.

 

18.            Liaisons

The Board reviewed the liaison designees between the Selectmen’s office and various committees and Boards.  A letter to each committee or Board will be sent apprising them of their designee.

 

19.            Appointments

Jim Smith voted to reappoint individuals listed whose terms had expired as of 6/30/03.  Mark Barba seconded.  All in favor and so voted.

 

20.            Personnel Policy

The Board reviewed the draft policy for employee benefits and a disclaimer portion; Temporary Policy continued FY04 would be attached with the booklet.  James Smith moved to accept as a temporary policy FY04 only.  Mark Barba seconded.  All in favor and so voted.

 

21.            Cell Tower RFP

The Board is awaiting a new Request for Proposal draft from Town Council stating the new parameters for a Wireless Communication Facility. 

 

22.            Cleaning

The Board will be seeking quotes for window cleaning as well as carpet cleaning this summer.

 

23.            Executive Session

Jim Smith moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing the Highway Contract and status of the recent negotiations without a return to open session. Mark Barba seconded.  Jim – yes Duane – yes Mark – yes.

 

Mark Barba moved, seconded by James Smith to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was adopted unanimously (3-0).  The meeting adjourned at 11:35 P.M.

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

________________________

Karen Desmarais

Administrative Assistant