Shutesbury Board of Selectmen
July 15, 2008 Meeting Minutes

Members present:  Chairman Rebecca Torres, Ralph Armstrong and Al Springer.
Also Present: Town Administrator David C. Dann and Administrative Secretary Leslie Bracebridge.
Meeting opened at 7:04 P.M. 
Select Board Action Items
1.  Selectmen reviewed a summary of and copies of the actual responses returned to a request for proposal for a licensed site professional (only) to oversee clean-up of the contaminated soil at the fire station that was encountered during the Leverett Cooleyville and Prescott Roads reconstruction project:  
* The bids do not cover tank or soil removal - The Highway Department will dig up and deliver the contaminated soil to Ondrick’s soil recycling facility in Chicopee, MA.  Ondrick’s will likely charge $44/ton to take the contaminated soil (depending on the kinds of contaminants in it.) 
* The lowest bidder, Alan Weiss was recommended by other professionals who felt the job was too small for them. Alan Weiss also served as a consultant for a recent Board of Health public hearing, a choice that pleased both the Planning Board and Board of Health.
* Selectmen unanimously voted to contract with Cold Springs Environmental Consultants, Inc. for the contaminated soil removal at the fire station.
* David will email Alan Weiss tonight to let him know that he can start working on the project and communicate with the Finance Committee about funding.
* The first report must be submitted by August 2.  There are 100 days from June 4 to complete the clean-up.
2.  Selectmen reviewed an inquiry from Verizon Right of Way Manager Andy Hufnagel regarding an 8 foot move to the east of the pole at the intersection of Montague and Leverett Roads.  He wondered if the Selectmen would want to hold an optional public hearing.  It is the only one of the four poles to be moved during the reconstruction project that is to be moved more than 3 feet, the limit a pole can be moved without Verizon seeking approval from the town.  It is believed the proposed new location is in the public right of way.  David will confirm that it is in the public right of way before Selectmen vote not to hold the public hearing.
3.  Al will talk with the property owner an “eyebrow” on the lower end of Leverett Road where concrete blocks were recently placed about attaching reflectors so that people won’t accidentally drive into the blocks at night.   He will wait until it is concluded that the property has reverted back to private ownership.  David will check with the Assessors office.
* The eyebrow was a very useful turn around for both Shutesbury and Leverett town plows.  Becky wondered if it would be possible to negotiate an agreement with the property owner about use of the eyebrow during the winter plowing season. 
4.  David will inquire of Consultant Alan Weiss if a bountiful open spring is a viable potential community water resource.  If it is, Selectmen will ask the property owner of a spring off Montague Road if he would be interested in walking the property with the Board of Selectmen  
5.  The large stone removed from the Leverett Road project is not on Montague Road.  David will follow-up with the contractor as to where the stone is so that it can be moved to the conservation area on Merrill Drive.
6.  Selectmen unanimously voted to support a grade and step change for the Administrative Secretary based on the new salary schedule that addresses some imbalances caused by other changes to the salary schedule in previous years.  Al praised Becky and Finance Committee member Elaine Puleo for their efforts in resolving the concerns.
7.  Selectmen, Highway Superintendent Hunting, members of the Conservation Commission and members of the Lake Wyola Association will meet at 20 Lake Drive at 6:30 AM on Thursday August 14 to review the drainage from Locks Pond Road.
8.  More engineering work including evaluation of the snow load is needed before the Building Committee is ready to select a contractor, because the “hugger” roof will be placed over the original roof.  Engineer Bob Leet will do the evaluation on Wednesday, July 16.  He will also evaluate the existing insulation to get it to R-30 after reconstruction.  Al will observe the evaluations.
9.  Representative Kulik told David that this is definitely a veto that should be considered for an override.
* The House override must be done by July 30, before the Senate override; both need a 2/3rds vote.
* Senator Rosenberg is also working in the Senate on the veto override.  
* The concern is that if it has to go out to bid again, the new bids could be a lot higher. If the funding doesn’t happen this year, we could ask for $200,000 next year.  
* Representative Kulik recommended to Becky that the Selectmen should not hesitate to convey their disappointment to Governor Patrick.
* Becky and Ralph discussed holding a sign up at an up-coming visit of Governor Patrick to Holyoke.  David will talk to Representative Kulik about the advisability of doing so.
* Becky has a letter that she is writing to express the town’s disappointment.  It will be ready for Tuesday.
* David will get details from the Governor’s office on why it was rejected.
* They were concerned that the town – state partnership had collapsed.
10. Al presented information on the bio-mass wood chip heating system at the Athol high school.  He toured the high school system today:
* The school is 85,000 square foot. 
* Last year the Athol High burner used 400 tons of chips at $45/ton.  One, sometimes two trailer trucks were delivered each week.  Athol got green energy grants to install the system.  Becky will inquire about current wood chip costs.
* No extra person is needed to run the system.  
* Al described the system as “simple”:  A bin with augers move the chips from the box to the boiler.
* The boiler operates at 190 degrees.  At 180 degrees, the back-up oil burner system kicks in.
* Only 1 trash can of ashes is produced from the 400 tons of wood chips.
* The wood chip boiler system uses 30-40% moisture in the chips.
* The only company that Athol gets bids for chips from is Hull Lumber in Connecticut.  Perhaps Cowls would become involved for Shutesbury.  Hull has cut in Shutesbury before.
* The Shutesbury Elementary School is 32,000 square feet.  The boiler is located right near where the current storage shed is and could be replaced with the wood chip storage bin.
* Copies of the informational booklet will be distributed to interested members of the Energy Committee and the Selectmen.  The information is also available online.
* The system would not require a chimney.  Being at the school, the particulate matter in the exhaust would need to be evaluated.
* Selectmen will look into taking a tour of the Athol High School wood boiler system. 
11. In the last year only about $500 was put toward mileage reimbursement.  In the past year making a Prius “zip car” less viable option.  Selectmen brainstormed about public transportation.
12. An outdoor wood boiler would be an effective heating system for the Highway Department, using the wood that they cut at the edge of the road.  New Salem has used one for three years.  The Board of Health has a list of preferred outdoor boilers.
13. Armstrong:  Re-invent the town militia.
14. Torres:  Make a positive statement that it was wrong not to fund the dam repairs.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Bracebridge
Administrative Secretary
080715 Select Board 1