APPROVED

10/20/03

 

TOWN OF HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN/HEALTH

 

 

October 7, 2003                                                                                                   Town House

7:00 P.M.                                                                                                               625 Main Street

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.                       Present: Duane Mosier, Jim Smith, Mark Barba

 

 

7:00 Walk in – Susan Bellows, a new resident in Town came in to talk about our recycling program.  She questioned how interested the town is in promoting recycling.  Jim Smith expressed that we want to be a green community and have recycling available for the residents who wish to recycle.  Jim Smith assured her that we get high marks from the State about our recycling program.  S. Bellows suggested that when permits are purchased, residents be handed a package of information relative to the operation of the transfer station. 

 

Old Business:

 

1.      Minutes from 09/23/03 and 9/30/03 

Changes to 9/30 – change motion to go into Executive Session to discuss cell tower award.  Add note to Open Session that cell tower did not need to be in Executive Session to discuss. 

9/30 – Make changes relative to the Chief’s meeting - discuss items from the contract items executive session.  Motion made by Mark to accept as corrected, second by Jim.  Vote unanimous.  Submitted by Mark Barba for 9/30 – add to minutes.    

Discuss Executive Session minutes for 9/30  change to notify chief and then send letters. 

 

9/30 Changes noted: change name of guest to Patty Ehlers, not Pat Ehlers.  Also, the board noted that there had been previous discussion about subdivision being required to do additional work in another part of town as part of their approval process. 

Item 6 – IGR – clarify.

Item 8 – add: highway superintendent – Dana – “only if needed”

 

Discussion items – Jim noted that the custodian should come to administrative assistant for project information.

 

OP – change to Open Session.

 

Accept minutes as corrected.  Motion by Mark, second by Jim.  Vote: Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes.

 

2.      8:00 pm Howlett Hill Road Hearing (continued) ATTENDEES:  John D. Flynn, Planning Board, Robert Majkut, property owner, Nate Tyack, Douglas Farmer, Wilbraham Hampden Times, Rogert Sagan, property owner, David Martin, Reminder Publications, John Drost, Frank P. Fitzgerald, PC, Frederick Markham, property owner.

 

New Business:

 

3.      7:30 pm Advisory Board – represented by Beth DeSousa to discuss items on Warrant.  Clerical staff discussion and police chief looking for funding for new cruiser.  Jim feels that the voluntary boards deserve to have some clerical support.  Advisory, appeals, planning, conservation all have had clerical funds cut.  Jim brought forth a motion for Article 2 to strike from the draft the assessors clerical, the tax collector clerical, town clerk clerical and keep the remainders of the items on there.  Mark Barba wondered how to divvy up whatever funding might be available.  He feels that it should be an all or nothing proposition. Further discussion and Jim withdraws his motion.  Advisory 1.3, 7.1 and 52.1 will remain funded as mandatory.  Strike 31.0 and 33.1.  Do we approve with all the clerical or none of the clerical.  Motion to delete 2.1, 3.0, 4.2, 10.2, 13.2, 14.2, 22.1, 31.0, 33.1 from the draft of the special town meeting.  Motion made by Mark Barba, second by Duane.  VOTE: Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes, Jim Smith, no.  Received message from John D. Flynn to remove Planning Board articles from warrant for October 27th meeting. 

 

Police cruiser – savings impact is only $4,000.  Cost of cruiser is $22,684.  Chief had suggested that he could reduce his maintenance budget to offset the initial expense.  Move this forward to warrant?  Beth prefers to keep on the warrant for discussion by Town.  Motion by Jim to approve the Warrant with the modification voted for Article 2; deleting articles 13 and 14, second by Mark Barba.  Vote, Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes. 

 

4.      8:00 pm Hearing on Howlett Hill – Hearing continued.  Liability, abandonment, fire chief’s feeling on the abandonment.  Upkeep – we would do no maintenance.  Liability issue would not change as to Town’s exposure or landowner’s exposure.  John Drost, from Frank, Fitzgerald, PC was present representing Mr. Markham.  They want to ensure that Markham’s rights are not affected negatively.  Property owner wishes to do some land clearing to see how that might affect the road’s condition during this winter. 

Landowners give information that a posting currently exists which states “Unimproved – pass at own risk”. 

Majkut asks if road is washed out who is responsible?  The Board states that the town would not replace the road. 

What is status of other town’s abandonment?  It appears that they are all waiting for other towns to move first.

Attitude of Planning Board, property abutters to leave status of road as is for now. 

Motion made by Jim Smith to take no action, second by Mark Barba.  VOTE: Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes. 

 

5.      8:45 pm Cliff Bombard appeared before the board to discuss a capital asset management audit, newly required by the government.  Cliff is looking for direction as to how to handle this?  We will be required to maintain a record of all properties owned by the Town on our books.  Our auditor could set this all up and we would need to provide person to maintain and research when buildings were built.  How shall we proceed?  Do this locally or outsource?  Discuss with RCI their current proposal to see if they might reduce it?  Cliff to come back to Board with more specifics. 

 

NEWS RELEASE – October 27th meeting  -

Have dollar amounts available for warrant articles for hearing night. 

 

6.      Appointment for Conservation Commission member – Letter received from Conservation Commission for appointment of Joe Savoie to the Commission as an associate member.  Jim questioned in what capacity would he serve, and would he be allowed to vote?  Motion made by Jim Smith to appoint Joseph Savoie as associate member subject to the rules of the MA laws and bylaws of the commission.  Second by Mark Barba.  Vote: Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes.

 

7.      7:15 pm Tax Classification Hearing - Assessor’s notice posted on board, printed in 3 papers.  Option of taxing each class at 100% of full tax year.  We do have option to shift to commercial, small businesses, etc.  The Board of Assessors recommends that we maintain a residential factor of one, which means we would not shift from one tax to another.  It would have no dollar impact on what comes in  - we would be shifting to commercial and forestry and they would have the burden.  Jim is not in favor.  Motion made by Jim Smtih to accept the tax rate at a factor of one, residential for FY2004, as recommended by Board of Assessors.  Seconded by Mark Barba.  Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes. 

 

8.      VFW license – Application presented for October 18th to serve alcohol beverage on the pavilion.  Mark moved to allow one-day liquor license from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am in the pavilion.  Seconded by Jim Smith.  Vote, Jim Smith yes, Duane Mosier yes, Mark Barba yes. 

 

9.      Hampden Land Project letter of recommendation brought forth by HLP.  It is a resolution of the town to promote tourism from MA turnpike.  Authorize land project to proceed with seeking grants.  Motion made by Mark Barba to proceed with application and formally adopt the resolution for the Town of Hampden.  Second by Jim Smith.  Vote, Mark Barba yes, Jim Smith yes, Duane Mosier yes.

 

10.  Sunday liquor license approval.  A motion was brought forth by area liquor stores to allow liquor stores to open for business  November 23rd through Sunday December 28, excluding November 27 and December 25th  if allowed by State law.  Motion made by Mark Barba to allow sales on Sunday, second by Jim Smith.  Vote, Mark Barba yes, Jim Smith yes, Duane Mosier yes.

 

11.  Cell Tower review/awarding – Dave Gale, representing Verizon Wireless.  Received proposals on September 9th, sent to legal for their review.  We have opened descriptive portion of proposals but not financial.  Town counsel thought ATT had many areas of changes and alterations.  They did not meet minimal criteria, so we could reject their proposal out of hand.  Decide to accept either of the bids?  Mark Barba recommends that the board reject AT&T and proposal due to failure to adhere to RFP.  Second by Jim Smith.  Vote:  Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes.  The board gave copy of our counsel’s opinion of ATT RFP proposal to representative, Dave Gale. 

 

Tower Ventures dollar proposal were opened.

·        1st carrier proposal $10,200 annually

·        2nd carrier $14,4000 annual with monthly

·        3rd carrier $16,200 annually with monthly increases

 

Proposed 900,000 over 20 years, estimated construction cost of $120,000.

Motion to take this bid under advisement, forward to counsel for review.  Have back for October 21st. 

 

Selectmen’s Communications:

 

Mark had recap meeting today regarding Hazardous Waste day.  Approximately 200 vehicles went through the process.  There will be another meeting to discuss perhaps having this on an 18-month schedule, instead of 12 month. 

 

Jim mentioned a meeting on proposition 2 ½ on Wednesday the 15th at Minnechaug to talk about opposing any overrides. 

 

Set date for elected and appointed officials about strategy for budgeting process.  November 4, selectmen’s meeting starting at 6:00 – do other at 7:00.  If we need to we could reconvene for remainder of board meeting.  

 

Agenda for spring budgeting process – town report dates, closing dates for warrants.  Provide this for attendees of this meeting. 

 

Mark – thoughts on revitalizing capital planning.

 

Jim – employee handbook sign offs.

 

SVRHT letter for Pam Courtney to act on behalf of Board of Selectmen.

 

October 27th meeting – meet earlier – board mtg. at 6:00 – notify Town counsel (Dave Martel to be here for 6:30 start).

 

The Veteran’s Service Department recommended that the Board of Selectmen support Betty Sloope in position of Treasurer.  Motion made to support that recommendation by Duane, second by Mark.  Vote: Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, Duane Mosier yes. 

 

21st – Mark to schedule meeting with inspectors to deal with response times for building, electrical, health, planning, etc. to meet with board to discuss procedures. 

 

 

 

10:02  - Motion made by Jim to go into ES to review contract issues with regard to police, minutes associated with previous ES and resumes and not return to OS.  VOTE: Jim Smith yes, Mark Barba yes, and Duane Mosier yes.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

 

Pamela Courtney

Administrative Assistant