Shutesbury Board of Selectmen October 9, 2007 Meeting Minutes Members present: Chairman Rebecca Torres, Debra Pichanick and Ralph Armstrong. Also Present: Town Administrator David C. Dann and Leslie Bracebridge, recording. Following a 7 P.M. Special Town Meeting, Chairman Torres opened the Select Board meeting at 7:34 P.M. Topics 1. Community Preservation Act (CPA) * Review of a timeline if the community would like to reconsider CPA. * Becky: Sub-committee members should include: J. Sunshower. D. Dann: A couple of members from Finance Committee, and from each land use committee. * Materials have already been gathered from previous considerations and the community coalition is willing to do another presentation for Shutesbury. * For 2008 the state will provide a 100% match; in 2009 the state match will drop to 50 - 60%. If passed in 2008 property owners would first be taxed in 2009. The first state match of funds would not come in before 2010. (David to check on fiscal or calendar years.) * 127 towns have already adopted CPA. * A statewide group is promoting legislation to guarantee a 75% match. * New property values will be known before people are asked to vote. The Assessors report that the revaluation should be complete by the end of October. The Town Accountant is working to have Free Cash soon certified so the tax rate may be set. * Selectmen agreed that it would be ideal for the land use committees to meet as a group with the Board of Selectmen. * Selectmen discussed if the timeline is too compressed. If the sub-committee recommended, or Selectmen wanted, it could be lengthened. Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint a sub-committee the purpose of which will be to bring consideration of the CPA forward for public discussion. 2. The four towns of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District will hold combined meetings for their Selectmen, Finance and School Committees throughout the FY 09 budget planning process. Selectmen will attend the first meeting on Saturday, October 20, 2007 from 2 to 4 P.M at the Town Room of the Amherst Town Hall. Future meetings are January 12, 2008 at 9:30 AM and March 15, 2008 at 9:30 AM, both at the Middle School Library. (Selectmen will also attend the LWAC/Dam Management Meeting at 9 A.M. at the Shutesbury Town Hall on October 20.) 3. Review of the New England Environmental Services cost over-runs. Selectmen agreed to hold off their discussion until after the Conservation Commission reviews the itemized invoice and provides feedback to the Board of Selectmen. 4. Selectmen passed over sending a representative to a Westborough, MA gathering sponsored by the Municipal Coalition for Affordable Housing (MCAH). The Selectmen agreed to consider joining the Coalition once the cost is determined. The MCAH is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to enable more effective participation by local communities in the definition and implementation of the state affordable-housing policy. Walpole has also requested a letter of support. 5. Selectmen voted to declare Oct. 24, 2007 as United Nations Day. 6A. Appointments to the Historical Commission: Selectmen voted to appoint Julie Taylor and Marilyn Tibbetts to the Historical Commission as requested by the September Historical Commission meeting. 6B. Appointment of Animal Inspector. Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint Nancy Long as a second Animal Inspector for the remaining term (ends April 30, 2008) for the purpose of completing the barn book. She will receive ½ of the stipend. David will write a letter to Inspector Chiminiello notifying her of the appointment and its purpose. 6C. Selectmen passed over selecting a representative to the Greater Franklin County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee. Select Board Action Items 1. Selectmen will approve the 9/18, 9/25, 9/27 and 10/9 minutes at their 10/16 meeting. 2. Selectmen previously signed vendor warrants totaling $143,878.87 and payroll warrants totaling $72,545.37. 3. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign a Personnel Action Form to appoint Mary Anne Antonellis as an interim Library Assistant during the search for a new Library Director. 4. Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Tibbetts requested the Selectmen postpone action on NIMS compliance until the October 16, 2007 meeting. 5. Selectmen unanimously voted to award a contract to low bidder Baystate Home Guard, Inc. of Springfield, MA in the amount of $12,500 for library repairs, contingent upon positive references and a good pre-construction meeting. The two other bids were in the amounts of $20,960 and $29,300. New Topics Methods currently in use for notifying new residents that their dogs need to be licensed (announcements in the town-wide newsletter mailings, and inquiries at the time of trash bag distribution and voter registration) may need enhancement. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Bracebridge Administrative Secretary 071009 Select Board 1