Shutesbury Board of Selectmen
December 19, 2007  Meeting Minutes

Members present:  Chairman Rebecca Torres, Debra Pichanick and Ralph Armstrong.
Also Present: Town Administrator David C. Dann and Leslie Bracebridge,
recording, and Guest: Al Springer.

Meeting opened at 9:30 P.M. following a combined meeting with the Dam
Management Committee.

Topics
1.  Revitalizing the ADA Committee will become a priority task for the
    Town Administrator and will include coordination with the school
    and the Council on Aging.  The ADA Committee will also work
    cooperatively with the Building Committee.
2.  Replacement of the Wendell Road culvert:  
* David has been cautioned that if the Selectmen want to get the STRAP
  grant, the application and engineer plan should not be changed.
* Getting this STRAP grant could reduce the chances of getting another
  one in the near future for the Locks Pond Road culvert or other
  projects.  But, backing out after Mass Highway District II has
  committed to this request could also hurt Shutesbury from getting
  another STRAP grant in the near future.
* Town population requirements for STRAP grants will soon be raised
  from for towns under 3500 people to being available to any town
  under 7500 residents.  This change will make future STRAP Grants
  more competitive.
* Franklin Regional Council of Governments Engineer Jim Toth has
  indicated that he would be willing to sign off on a stone culvert
  re-build. David will request that Jim Toth put his willingness to
  stamp a stone culvert in writing.
* Engineering costs for a stone re-build would be added to $50,000
  estimate from a stone mason (following prevailing wages.)
* The total project cost for the current design is estimated at
  $125,000.  With a STRAP grant the state would pay 70% of the costs.
  The town would pay back 30% ($37,500) by annual deductions from the
  cherry sheet over ten years.
* The STRAP grant culvert design can be altered with decorative finish
  rocks.

Math: STRAP Grant total: $125,000 X 30% = $37,500 + $10,000 for
engineering already paid out = $47,500.  Stone Culvert total:
Additional engineering: $5,000 + $50,000 for a mason (prevailing
wages) + additional costs for guardrails and end walls ($?).  Local
funding for a stone culvert re-build would come from Chapter 90,
borrowing or Free Cash.  Jim Aaron has offered to donate additional
capstones and Steve Puffer has offered to donate gravel for a stone
rebuild.  Selectmen agreed that if the town does not get the STRAP
grant a quote will be gotten for Jim Toth’s narrower box culvert
design (with a 15-foot travel lane) and for a rebuild stone culvert
and a decision will be made at that time.

The public hearing for the Notice of Intent will be held after the
STRAP Grant or an alternative design is settled upon.

Select Board Action Items
1.  Selectmen unanimously voted to accept the November 27 and December
    11 meeting minutes as written.  .
2.  The original Class III Auto Dealer’s license was not available
    to be signed.  It will be provided to the Selectmen at their next
    meeting.

New Topics 
1.  Becky reported on the Leverett, Cooleyville and Prescott Roads
    Reconstruction Project (LCP) preconstruction meeting:
* The Chief Engineer will need an office.  A possibility was to ask to
  lease the parsonage for a year.
* The C & A Construction contractor will be coming to Shutesbury for a
  logistical meeting with at least the Town Administrator and the
  Highway Superintendent.
* Resources including the stone wall by the West Cemetery need to be
  flagged for protection.
* There is still $5,000 in the budget line for coordination of Mass
  Highway work with the engineering plans.  Stantec (the company that
  took over Dufresne-Henry) Engineer Kevin Maloney (who took over for
  Greg Roy) will be working with the town.  It is important that
  Stantec see that the plans and bid specs are followed and that costs
  do not go over 10% of the total cost, as the town will have to cover
  costs in excess of the 10%.  Meryl Mandell spoke highly of C & A
  Construction.
* MassHighway will provide a Clerk of the Works.
* LCP Advisory Committee Chairman William “Bill” Elliott
  attended the meeting and will convene the committee whose work will
  be to address public information meetings and written notifications.
* It is hoped that one lane will be left open at all times in lieu of
  detours.  MassHighway will coordinate these arrangements with the
  Police Department.
* Shutesbury needs to get engineering plans from C & A Construction.
* It is anticipated that C & A will get started in late February/early
  March.
* On-site Engineer for Mass Highway is Jim Hendricks.

New Topics
Selectmen discussed what needs to happen before the Magic Salt shed is
completed.

Walk-Ins 
Finance Committee member Al Springer reported to a question that the
completed draft of the proposed Zoning Bylaws will be distributed on
January 2, 2008.

A motion was made, seconded and unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Bracebridge, Administrative Secretary

071219 Select Board 1