Town of Warwick Selectboard October 13, 2015 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne, Nick Arguimbau (arrived at 6:03 p.m.) Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo, Steve Ruggiero, Maria Ruggiero, Jon Calcari, Rachel Rapkin (Greenfield Recorder) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall. Magi noted with sadness the recent deaths of Gabriella Walbeehm and Thomas Mallet. II. Minutes Pruyne MOVED to approve the minutes of September 28, 2015 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. III. Presentations and Discussions 1. Broadband Committee Appointments--Young said that the Broadband Committee has requested that Andrea Woods and Brad Compton be appointed the committee for a term concurrent with those of the other members. Magi MOVED to appoint Andrea Woods and Brad Compton to the Broadband Committee. Pruyne SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. Arguimbau arrived at 6:03 p.m. just after the vote was taken. MGL Chapter 268 Section 20D Exemptions--Young said that because Brad Compton is a member of the Planning Board and Andrea Woods is an Election Worker (Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo said that Ms. Woods is also a Library Trustee), that MGL 268:20D exemptions needed to be voted by the Selectboard so that they may hold two or more positions with the Town. Pruyne MOVED to exempt Library Trustee and Election Worker Andrea Woods and Planning Board member Brad Compton under MGL Chapter 268 Section 20D. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 3. Surplus Property Declaration--Fire Chief Ron Gates explained that a hose had been sent to the FD with the wrong fittings on the end of the hose. The Chief said that he could either pay to ship the hose back and pay for the refitting and reshipment, or declare the hose surplus property and use the funds from the sale of this hose to purchase another. He said that there were 726 other fire departments that he can contact by Email to try and sell this hose, which is comprised of eight sections that cost $100.00 apiece. Pruyne MOVED to declare the Fire Department hose as surplus property. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Chief Gates brought up the fact that if the school needs to be opened up as a shelter, food must be available. Young recommended that Gates contact Emergency Management Director Jim Erviti. He also pointed out that the State prefers regional shelters or shelter in place, and that because the shelter would most likely be used for warmth food stored there would spoil, but coffee would be a must. He said that people could bring their own food that may be thawing in a freezer at home to cook and share at the shelter. The Chief confirmed that the new WCS custodian had been brought up to speed by the FD regarding the generator and new sprinkler system. He also said that Engine 5, the new truck, rides very high on the road and that branches on Wendell Road will hit the windshield. Young suggested that Gates get in touch with the Highway Superintendent regarding this matter. 4. Northfield Road Shade Tree and Scenic Road Hearing --Magi reminded everyone of the hearing to be held Wednesday, October 14 at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Leland and Northfield Roads. She said that at the direction of the Tree Warden and Highway Superintendent, hazard trees would not be considered as part of the hearing. 5. Broadband Internet--Young read aloud salient points from Broadband Committee Chair Tom Wyatt's Emailed report of Broadband Committee activities. It was noted that a survey for Warwick residents will be available online as well as hard copy. The survey will cover internet, landline telephone and television service. Young said that the next delegate meeting of WiredWest will be Saturday, October 17th, and noted that the Broadband Committee is preparing questions for the October 26th Selectboard meeting when MBI representatives will be in attendance. Young said that the LTE project will proceed and that a final evaluation will be made in the spring, because the best time to test is in the Fall and Spring because of the way leaves are on the trees when they are getting ready to fall off the trees and when they are first coming out, respectively. 6. Hampshire Power--Young referred to an Email from Lee Frankl of the Hampshire COG that stated while the COG disagreed with the recent DPU ruling it would not appeal and was therefore withdrawing from the aggregation agency business and focus instead on competitive electricity supply. 7. Town Finance--Young said that the Accountant was working on closing the books for FY 15, noting the deadline for Schedule A is in November. He explained that these reports to the DOR are the basis for the calculation of our free cash. Magi asked Young if he could convey to the Accountant how the Board is very concerned that the books might not be done on time and because it is so important to please make it her top priority. Young said that he would draft a letter for the Board members to sign. Pruyne wanted it noted in the minutes that the Cultural Council has found stumbling blocks in dealing with the Town Accountant. Young said that he has started talking with the Highway and Fire departments, the Broadband Committee and to the extant that he can, the school on the subject of capital planning. Young noted that social security recipients will not receive a COLA (cost of living adjustment) in 2016 and that the Board might want to consider not recommending a COLA for town employees for FY 17. He mentioned the possibility of using performance and longevity as a basis for pay increases in some instances, to which Magi said that an evaluation tool that is fair across the board would have to be developed. 8. Selectboard Reports--No reports this meeting. 9. Coordinator Report--Young had nothing to add to his written report. 10. Public Comment--Pruyne said that he had attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at Warwick Community School for their new greenhouse. He said that the group sang "Inch by Inch" and commended the Town on its commitment to the School, which is appreciated by those at WCS. 11. New and Other Business Unanticipated at Time of Meeting Posting-- Steve Ruggiero asked about scheduling of Zumba classes when the Selectboard has to meet on Tuesday instead of Monday. He pointed out that because this is almost always due to a Monday holiday, the schedule is known well in advance and suggested that the Zumba class be rescheduled or at the very least the Board meet in the main hall and have Zumba in the dining hall. IV. Adjournment At 6:32 p.m., Pruyne MOVED to adjourn. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Documents consulted at this meeting: *Draft Minutes of September 28, 2015 Selectboard meeting *Town Coordinator Report dated October 8, 2015 *Email from Tom Wyatt to David Young re: Broadband Report for this meeting *Email from Lee Frankl of the Hampshire COG re: future Aggregation (CCA) strategy