Shutesbury Board of Selectmen April 12, 2010 Meeting Minutes Members present: Chairwoman Elaine Puleo (via Skype from Norway) Al Springer and April Stein. Also present: Town Administrator Rebecca Torres and Administrative Secretary Leslie Bracebridge. Meeting opened at 6:35 P.M. Appointments and Topics 1. Selectmen met with Town Moderator Penelope Kim and Finance Committee Chairman Patrick Callahan and members Rus Wilson, Lori Tuominen, Gary Hirschfield, George Arvanitis and Weezie Houle to review the May 1 Annual and Special Town Meeting warrants: * Discussed the order of the articles and the positioning of committee reports. Generally, department heads will be invited to speak just before the first warrant article concerning their departments. Selectmen will report first, prior to the first money article (the Capital Plan Committee’s recommendation for FY 11) followed by the Finance Committee report. o Positioning the article for receiving reports of town officers was moved to #12 when it is anticipated that more people will be present than right at 9 AM. * The budget will be article #20 (between Regional School District article and Winter Use of Lake Wyola bylaw.) * There is a remote possibility of an additional article requesting the town adopt the “Stretch Code” if recommended by the Building Committee which meets on April 14. * The Select Board will explain the reason for purchasing the new SUV police vehicle. * Al stated that he would speak for himself, against the purchase of a $60,000 Highway truck because of the potential future expenses of the soil contamination project. He does not like things “hanging over our heads.”) o Weezie hoped that Al would explain all funding options for addressing the soil contamination expenses. o By Town Meeting Selectmen expect to have a finer level of detail on the types of expenses and possible funding methods for the soil contamination, but not the repayment information on the Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) funds. They know it must be repaid, how much and in a lump sum or over time has not been determined. * Town Counsel MacNicol made a number of recommendations for wording changes to the Lake Wyola Winter Use Bylaw which Becky will forward to the members of the Lake Wyola Winter Use Bylaw Committee. * Al reported that he spoke with the Fire Chief who had no problem with capping the fines on brush burning violations at $500. Before breaking to convene their own independent meeting, Selectmen requested the Finance Committee consider voting and signing for transfers from the Finance Committee Reserves Fund: * $30,000 for the Police Department SUV and * $3500 for legal fees for unanticipated tax title work that went over budget: o The 5 Haskins Way camp (Lot B-79) was auctioned off in June 2009 for $40,000. o It was later learned that the (Lot B-80) also belonged with the property and since that time, the taking process had to be repeated for Lot B-80. o During this time the owners (Dohertys) became involved and they now have until Aug. 15 to sell the entire property. o If they are able to sell the property they owe the town $60,000 (equivalent to what the town has spent in legal fees, plus delinquent taxes over 20 years on the property). o If they don’t sell it the town will own it and the town will sell (auction) it. Town Moderator Penelope Kim and the Finance Committee members left the Select Board meeting, Selectmen voted to support and sponsor warrant articles in addition to the notations already on the draft warrant as follows: * Unanimously voted not to support new Article 8, the purchase of a $60,000 Highway truck using Stabilization Funds. * Unanimously voted to support new Article 6, accepting the preliminary library design and to apply for available state funds to defray the cost of the design, construction and equipping of the library project. * Unanimously voted to recommend Article 10, the setting of fines for illegal burning which is sponsored by the Fire Department. * Unanimously voted to recommend Article 5, the Capital Plan Committee recommendation and plan for FY 11. 2. A Special Town Meeting will be opened at 8:30 AM for payment of a prior year’s debt with a free cash transfer. 3. Becky reported that she has heard nothing more from either O’Reilly, Talbot and Okun’s Jim Okun or from the Department of Environmental Protection since the Thursday, April 8 digging up and exploration of the contaminated soils around the Fire Station: * Many ideas were considered at the April 8 exploratory digging. * The cost of hauling away contaminated soil has gone up from $39/yard to $50/yard since the original soil removal. * Selectmen don’t know where the Fire Department septic system is and feel it should be pumped. Becky will talk with Fire Chief Tibbetts to see if he knows where it is and when last pumped. * New readings will be taken at all three neighboring houses and 5 feet down inside the fire station. * Town Counsel had a good conversation with neighbor from 37 Leverett Road who hopes the problem will be remediated. Select Board Action Items 1. Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the minutes of April 6, 2010 as written. 2. & 3. See above. 4. Selectmen signed vendor warrants totaling $455,093.88. 5. Selectmen signed payroll warrants totaling $83,397.46. New Topics 1. Selectmen unanimously voted to participate in the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) group request for bids for #2 fuel and diesel for FY 2011. The fee to the town to participate in the FRCOG bidding process is $110. 2. The next Emergency Management Team meeting is on Monday, April 19 at the Fire Department at 6:30 PM and the Selectmen will meet at the Town Hall at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, April 20, Elaine will not be available, but would like to sign the warrant electronically if allowed by statute. Becky will confer with Town Counsel on the advisability of doing so. Selectmen voted to adjourn at 8:37 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Bracebridge, Administrative Secretary 100412 Select Board 1