Town of Warwick Selectboard October 24, 2016 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne Member absent: James Erviti Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary and Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo, Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney, Assessor's Clerk and Treasurer Beth Gilgun, Assessor Keith Ross, MCAP representative and Broadband Committee member Miryam Williamson, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Finance Committee member Steve Ruggiero, Eric Engman, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall. Magi noted with sadness the recent passing of Albert "Buster" Alden. II. Minutes Pruyne MOVED to approve the minutes of October 11, 2016 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. III.Presentations and Discussions 1. Appointments --Young said that he had not yet determined who needed to be appointed to the Recreation Committee, so those appointments would be held over until the next meeting. Three people have agreed to count ballots at the November 8th Presidential Election, and needed to be appointed as Election Workers. Pruyne MOVED to appoint Mindy Gibbons, Barbara Noel and Tom Wyatt as Election Workers for a term to expire August 31, 2017. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. 2. Early Voting--Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo gave a brief explanation of early Voting and the hours for early Voting in Warwick. She said she was proud to be part of history as Massachusetts rolls out Early Voting for the first time and is looking forward to the challenge, hoping many come out and take advantage of the opportunity to vote before November 8th . Athol Daily News reported Jared Robinson noted that all clerks had to post legal notices in the local papers with dates and times for Early Voting. 3. Update on Gale Road Bridge--Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney said that he met last week with the bridge inspector and engineer and they were unable to give a timetable for the assignment of a bridge number. He said that he will get a preliminary design from the bridge designer and submit the paperwork for the October 31st deadline for the first round of grants in the Small Bridge Grant Program. Young noted that Senator Rosenberg has sent a letter of support for our Gale Road bridge project to Mass DOT. Delaney explained that the designer is working at no cost for now; Young said the Town will verify qualifications and make a choice when it comes time to hire a design firm and a contractor. When asked about what is structurally wrong with Gale Road bridge, Delaney explained that at least two of the metal stringers that support the bridge are corroded, wooden stringers are either soft and/or cracked, and the abutments are missing stones which allows water to work through and under the abutment structure. Young said that depending on the timing of the grant the bridge could remain closed for a long time. 4. Chapter 90--Delaney said that they are still trying out machines, with a JCB coming by the end of this week. He said after trying the JCB a decision will be made, but for now he is leaning toward the John Deere. Potential new projects discussed included resurfacing/overlay on Orange Road by Wheeler Pond with possible culvert work depending upon the outcome of inspecting the culverts; Northfield Road coming out of the center of town to White Road; Northfield Road from the Northfield town line coming back into town as a candidate for full depth reclamation and repaving due to a bumpy road base. Young asked Delaney to begin planning and figuring out the costs and requested that he include the Golf section of Route 78, noting there is $1.2 million earmarked for us in the Transportation Bill. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to pursue these projects. 5. Personnel Policy --As Jim Erviti is currently incapacitated and unable to participate remotely until the next meeting, the issue will be put on the next agenda. Young said he would get a working draft to Town Counsel, and noted that employees should be able to see it as well. 6. Warwick Police--Police Chief David Shoemaker said that he has applied for a $2,070.00 grant for bullet proof vests. He said that one half of the total cost would paid for with the federal government grant funds and the remainder would come from either the Police Department budget or other grants. 7. Noise/Jake Brake Policy--Young said that Jim Erviti wanted to prohibit the use of Jake brakes on Barber Hill, but since he is currently recovering from an injury and unable to attend the meeting, it would be better for the Board to wait and consider the issue once Erviti is able to attend in person or remotely, Young said he looked into the prospect of banning the use of Jake brakes and found at least one community in Massachusetts that has such a prohibition which is legally enforceable. Chief Shoemaker said that such bans are usually in downtown centers and flat areas. He noted that there is a very steep 8-12% grade on Barber Hill, and said that due to the percentage and length of grade and the curve at the bottom, he would recommend ample signage if the ban is approved. Both the Chief and Finance Committee member Steve Ruggiero addressed the matter of public safety and said that it is safer to use Jake brakes on that incline. Young said that he wanted the Board to consider the ban but wait until Erviti is able to participate in the discussion. 8. Tax Classification Hearing--The hearing was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Magi MOVED to open the Tax Classification Hearing. Pruyne SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. Assessor's Clerk Beth Gilgun explained that the Department of Revenue requires this hearing to be conducted annually to set the tax rate for the Town. Historically there has been one tax rate for residential and commercial or industrial property as opposed to different rates for each property classification. Pruyne MOVED to set a single tax rate for FY 17. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. Pruyne MOVED to close the Tax Classification hearing at 6:33 p.m. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0 9. MIIA Mini Grant Priorities--Young said that he, along with Larry Delaney and Chief Shoemaker, met last week with representatives of MIIA (Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association), the nonprofit insurance arm of the Town's insurance provider MMA. He passed out copies of a grant application with top priorities including a dashboard camera for the older Police cruiser and four body cameras for the Police Department, tree risk assessment, and fleet maintenance audit and tracking software. Young explained that the maximum grant funding allowed for a project is $10,000.00 with a limit of $15,000.00 total per town. 10. Selectboard Reports--Pruyne said that fellow Selectman Jim Erviti has been transferred to a local facility for rehab following a serious injury sustained while cutting down a tree. He noted that Erviti is recovering on schedule. 11. Coordinator Report--Young handed out copies of a memo from the Conservation detailing the election of a new slate of officers. He noted that longtime Chair Karro Frost has stepped down and will now serve as Vice Chair. Gregory Brodski and Alan Berman will serve as Co-Chairs and Mary Williamson continues as Secretary. The Board will send a letter of thanks to Frost for her many years of dedicated service. 12. Public Comment-- None. 13. New and Other Business Unanticipated at Time of Meeting Posting--None. IV.Adjournment At 6:37 p.m., Pruyne MOVED to adjourn. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. Documents consulted at this meeting: *Draft Minutes of Selectboard meeting of October 11, 2016 *Coordinator Report dated October 20, 2016 *Town of Warwick Classification Tax Allocation Fiscal Year 2017 from Mass Dept. of Revenue *Resume of Jason L. Cook *FY 17 MIIA Grant Application dated October 24, 2016 *Memo to Warwick Town Clerk, Selectboard and Ed Lemon from Warwick Conservation Committee dated October 21, 2016 Re: Election of Officers *Town of Warwick FY 2016 Balance Sheet - Short Version *Town of Warwick Balance Sheet dated June 30, 2016: Assets *Town of Warwick Balance Sheet dated June 30, 2016: Liabilities *Town of Warwick Balance Sheet dated June 30, 2016: Fund Equity *Town of Warwick FY 2017 General Fund Expenditure Report dated October 19, 2016 *Town of Warwick FY 2017 General Fund Revenue Report dated October 20, 2016 *Town of Warwick FY 2017 Other Funds Expense Report dated October 19, 2016 * Town of Warwick FY 2017 Other Funds Revenue Report dated October 20, 2016