Town of Warwick Selectboard January 21, 2014 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Nick Arguimbau, Patricia Lemon Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Conservation Commission Chair Karro Frost, Conservation Commission members Alan Berman and Mary Williamson, Jon Calcari, Paula Lundgren Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall. Public Comment None. Minutes Lemon MOVED to approve the minutes of October 15, 2013, November 25, 2013 and December 30, 2013 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Arguimbau said that he still had issues with a portion of the October 15, 2013 minutes. Lemon AMENDED her motion: MOVED to accept the minutes of November 25, 2013 and December 30, 2013 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. The October 15, 2013 minutes will be reviewed at the next meeting. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Conservation Commission--Karro Frost said that members of the Conservation Commission had come before the Board to ask for its support of a grant proposal to DCR. Alan Berman explained that in 2007 Mary Williamson had discovered a parcel of land for sale and collected contributions from about eighteen households. The property was purchased and donated to the Town. Berman noted that a great deal of research has gone into pinpointing the exact location of the Black Gum parcel, as there are no longer any monuments on the corners of the property. Berman said that enough points were located to have a surveyor come out, reconstruct the corners and place iron pins in the ground at each corner. He said the survey plans would be filed with the Registrar of Deeds and a blaze line would be created to delineate the property lines that should last about 75 years. The estimate received from the surveyor was $4,000.00. The grant proposal is for funding to have the land surveyed and the boundaries marked. The match for the grant funding would be met by in-kind contributions of work from the townspeople to help paint, blaze and support the project however necessary. Berman said that there is a stewardship plan for the property, and that Keith Ross will help with this. Frost said that the land is open to the public and that there is a roadway leading to it near the Wagon Wheel campground. Mary Williamson said the road makes for a lovely and scenic walk. Lemon praised Williamson for all her efforts on this project. Lemon MOVED to sign the grant application and authorize the Conservation Commission to submit a grant application to DCR to survey the Town-owned Black Gum parcel. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 2. Broadband --Young said that while progress is being made elsewhere, Warwick is still not operational. He said that he did not anticipate either of the lateral fiber runs to our towers to be completed before spring, citing permitting delays and tower grant ineligibility. He estimated April for the Mt. Grace tower and somewhat sooner for the cell tower. He said that he is taking steps to acquire fiber based connectivity from WiValley in Hinsdale, NH by utilizing the existing radio link between the two networks. Young also said that he is keeping track of funds in the amount of $4,000.00 still owed to us on a grant. Young said that some people had mentioned the fact that there are a number of elderly residents living alone and expressed concern with respect to welfare checks on these individuals. He said that he was working on ways that Warwick Broadband could serve as a sort of first alert system. Magi mentioned My Guardian Angel, a service that her mother receives at no charge. This was obtained through the Sheriff's Department. Magi said that a member of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department visits the elderly on a regular basis. She and Young wanted to make residents aware of this; Young said that he will follow up with the Sheriff's Department. 3. Status of USDA Rural Development Grant; STRAP Grant--Young said that our USDA representative did not want the Town's facilities grant application to be completed until funds have been released for this region. Young said that interim Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney told him that he had received verbal word via a telephone conversation that our Highway STRAP grant of $490,000.00 to pave a large section of Winchester Road is being approved. Young cautioned that we must wait for written confirmation, which has yet to be received. 4. FY 15 Budgets --Young said that Larry Delaney had requested that the Board approve deficit spending for the Snow and Ice account, effective immediately. He noted that all funds from that account have not yet been expended, but that it was likely that the funds would run out before the end of the winter season. Lemon MOVED to authorize deficit spending in the Snow and Ice account when necessary. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Young said that he will meet with Finance Committee soon, and that some FY 15 departmental budgets have been submitted. He said that the WCS roof will have to be replaced, as it is leaking in three places. Young estimated the cost at $130,000.00. Young said that Fire Chief Gates has requested an additional $5,950.00 in the Fire Department budget and also proposed the lease of a new fire truck. The cost of the lease would be $40,000.00 per year for ten years. Young suggested that separate warrant articles be made for the acquisition of new turn-out gear, ladders, and SCBA to be certain that the funds appropriated are used for that purpose. He said that Chief Gates will go before the Finance Committee prior to coming before the Board. Young noted that the revenue side of the budget will be weaker for FY 15, as there will be no surplus from Snow and Ice and no unrestricted program income. The discussion turned to the definition of capital according to PVRSD. Their current proposed definition is $1,000.00 or a useful life of more than one year. The current counter offer is $5,000.00, which is opposed by Northfield. Magi said that she preferred the counter proposal but that this still seemed low. Arguimbau said that he wanted a discussion by the Board before going back to another meeting with the District. Magi said that the draft needed to be studied and reviewed. There was a consensus of the Board that the $1,000.00 and one year proposal was not acceptable. Lemon MOVED to set a daytime meeting and come to that meeting with individual drafts for acceptable definitions of capital costs and maintenance costs. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. The meeting time was set for Monday, January 27, 2014 at 1pm in Town Hall. 5. Colonial Costume Ball January 31, 2014 at 7pm--Young said that he was working on more publicity for the event and was planning to reach out to WCS. He said that the Beach Committee was taking care of the bar, but wanted to encourage more people to bring favorite desserts and finger foods. It was suggested that a call list be developed from which to contact people who might bring refreshments. Magi said that she would contact Women's Guild president Carol Foote. 6. Selectboard Reports--Lemon said that she had taken the initiative to find alternatives to elder housing. She said that Medicare and Medicaid will pay for in-home care. She said that also available now was the option to have a relative or friend move in with the elderly individual and receive training and a stipend. Lemon said that she had received a letter from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners about a possible gas pipeline to go through Massachusetts from Dracut to the Stockbridge area. Some of the pipeline could run close to Warwick. Lemon wanted people to know and to contact her or Coordinator Young if they receive a similar communication from Kinder Morgan or the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company. Arguimbau said that from now on he wanted the Warwick "L" to be included as a place for all future Board meeting postings. There was a consensus of the Board that this should be done. While attachments are not accepted on the "L", a link to the Town website can be posted so that residents may view the agenda and other pertinent meeting materials. 7. Coordinator Report--Young said that the Selectboard and Finance Committee each received a letter from a company that buys municipal tax liens and tax titles. He said that he referred this to the Treasurer, and said that the Town has a short list of tax title properties. Young said that the Recreation Committee had addressed an issue involving the recruitment of out-of-town children who are getting extensive playing time at the expense of resident children. He said that the Committee told the coach that only WCS students are allowed to play on the teams. The Recreation Committee favors sportsmanship, skill building and participation over competitive recruitment and winning. The league has no specific rules prohibiting recruitment, so it is up to the Rec. Committee to make rules regarding this here in Town. Young said that Soltas oversold at the Athol Solar project Pequoig. He said that he will pursue compensation for the difference owed back to the Town by meeting with their legal representative. Young noted that a recent upgrade to Windows 8.1 has resulted in the inability to view the community calendar online without each person establishing a Microsoft log on credential, and that he would be working on a way to remedy this. 8. New and Other Items Not Reasonably Anticipated Prior to Posting--Magi noted with sadness the recent deaths of residents Richard Whiting and Ray Fontaine. V. Adjournment At 7:20 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari