Town of Warwick
Selectboard
November 17, 2008
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Rick Abbott, Nick Arguimbau Others
present:	Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Calcari,
Miryam Williamson, Planning Board member Ted Cady, Buildings and Energy
Committee members Steve and Janice Kurkoski, Jon Calcari, Paula Lundgren
(Athol Daily News)
I.	Call to Order 
The Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Warwick Free Library
by Chairman Lemon.
II.	Minutes
Lemon MOVED to accept the Minutes of the November 3 meeting with
corrections as printed in the agenda. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
III.		Presentations/Discussions
1.	Speed Limit Signs - Young said the interim reports on speed and
traffic counts should be available in about two weeks. After review by
two State agencies, which should be completed by the end of this fiscal
year, we will know what we can post legally.  He and Tim Kilhart will
then proceed with the purchase and installation of the appropriate signs
within budgetary constraints.
2. Prioritized Town Goals for Community Development Strategy - Board
members had struggled individually to come up with a prioritized list
that all could agree upon. The top three priorities identified were:
1.	Insulate Town Hall
2.	Set up a capital improvement fund to prepare for the anticipated
failure of the WCS sprinkler system, and
3.	Establish a small-van public-transportation service.
Arguimbau MOVED to accept the Community Development Strategy Project
List as presented.  Lemon SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
3.	Moratorium on Acceptance of Cats or Kittens into Animal Control
Officer's Custody - Police Chief Brian Peters and Animal Control Officer
Rosa Calcari had agreed upon a moratorium on cats and kittens being
taken in to ACO custody and thus (lacking suitable shelter) into her
home. All feline strays would have to either be fostered or placed in a
shelter by the finder. The ACO will assist in trying to obtain shelter
placement when available, and will offer Yelp For Help funds to pay for
veterinary care for the cats that remain fostered in Warwick.  Once the
number of cats in the ACO's home - currently 17! - decreases
sufficiently, the moratorium will be lifted. Calcari said that while it
is heart-wrenching to acknowledge that she cannot save them all, for the
health of the animals and the effectiveness of the ACO, limits must be
set.
Arguimbau MOVED the Board approve and support the moratorium on
acceptance of cats and kittens by the ACO until the ACO, at her
discretion, says she is once again able to accept cats and kittens into
her care and custody.  Abbott SECONDED.  VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
2.	Selectboard Reports - Lemon spoke of the invitation extended to
Warwick by the Town of Athol, and her draft response. Board members
agreed that Lemon will sign the response as printed and send it out
tomorrow. 
3.	Snow and Ice Questionnaire Summary - The Board concurred with the
summary printed in the agenda, that Young had reviewed with Tim Kilhart.
The Board expressed appreciation for comments and suggestions on ways to
improve service and save money.
4.	Conflict-of-Interest Waiver - Young asked that the Board declare
members of the Buildings and Energy Committee special municipal
employees, and then approve their exemption from MGL 268A:20(d).
Lemon MOVED all members of the Buildings and Energy Committee be
designated as special municipal employees. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY.

Lemon MOVED that the Selectboard approve the exemption of Buildings and
Energy Committee members Steve and Janice Kurkoski's interest from MGL
268A:20(d), which reads, in part, "This section shall not prohibit an
employee in a town having a population of less than three thousand five
hundred persons from holding more than one appointed position with said
town, provided that the Board of Selectmen approves the exemption of his
interest from this section." Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
5.	COLA Percentage Recommendations - The purpose of this discussion
was to arrive at a recommendation for  the guidance of those preparing
FY '10 budget. Lemon pointed out that the Social Security Administration
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) was set at 5.8% on October 16, 2008 and
the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index had increased 4.9%
for All Urban Consumers and 5.4% for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers since September 2007.  Abbott expressed concern about town
employees' compensation falling behind the COLA for retirees and senior
citizens.
Arguimbau MOVED the Board ask the Finance Committee to report back as to
the relative merits of the COLA.
Lemon, noting that department budgets are due December 15, asked him to
withdraw his motion, to which he agreed, although there was a consensus
that Finance Committee input should be received before final figures are
presented. 
Arguimbau MOVED that the Board recommend a 3.5% increase. Lemon then
offered a friendly AMENDMENT increasing the figure to 5.4%. Arguimbau
ACCEPTED the Amendment and SECONDED the Motion.  VOTED 2-1. Lemon and
Arguimbau, YEA; Abbott, NAY.
IV.	REPORTS
1.	Selectboard Reports - Lemon reported that Bob Raymond, Chair of
the Bernardston Selectboard, will serve as the representative of the
Selectboard Chairmen in the PVRSD collective bargaining.
2.	Town Coordinator Report - Young's written report was included in
the agenda (and is regularly posted on www.warwickma.org).  Young
pointed out to the Board that
* We are still waiting for the structural-engineering report on the Mt.
Grace tower, but that the results should be available for the next
meeting.
* The DCR had responded quickly to recent illegal trash dumping in Town
* The Easthampton City Council has approved the purchase of our old
Highway truck and dump body for $6,000.00. He expects delivery of the
new truck in three weeks.
* The six-month employee evaluation for the Treasurer is due, per the
Personnel Policy. 
* He has begun research on ESCOs vis-a-vis the WCS building, which the
Town owns but the School District operates.  He intends to determine
which entity should be the applicant.
* The Highway Department had checked for beaver activity and identified
problems areas on the Athol, Hastings Heights and Bass Roads. Trappers
with the proper permits will be taking care of the problem.
IV.	Public Comment
Ted Cady brought a proposal that the Planning Board initiate the process
of exploring amending MGL 40B to "provide such exemptions as that any
city or town (particularly those in the Quabbin to Cardigan corridor) in
which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts owns 35% or more of the land
area shall be deemed to have complied with the 10% Low/Mod Housing
Requirement of MGL Chap. 40B" to the Board for its consideration: Cady
said that if the Board concurred, a discussion on this proposal could be
expanded to other towns, with the ultimate goal of having it considered
by the General Court.
	In response to Young's recommendation, Lemon MOVED that the Board
	"give its blessing" to the Planning Board proposal.  Abbott
	SECONDED.  VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Williamson, following up on a discussion at the previous meeting, said
that, based on a recent telephone conference on telecommunications she
participated in, she understands the Commonwealth will ask that the FCC
set aside a band of "white space" cell phone and/or broadband service.

V.	Adjournment
Lemon MOVED at 6:50 p.m. to adjourn the meeting.  Abbott SECONDED. 
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari

 		 		 
Patricia Lemon,		Frederick H. Abbott III,		Nicholas C. Arguimbau
Selectboard Chair		Selectboard Vice-Chair		Selectboard Member
				
Rosa Fratangelo Calcari				James David Young
Selectboard Secretary				Town Coordinator