Town of Warwick Selectboard January 23, 2012 Minutes Members present: Patricia Lemon, Dawn Magi, Nick Arguimbau Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Planning Board Chair Ted Cady, Jim McRae, Genevieve Fraser, Jon Calcari I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall. Public Comment None. III. Minutes Arguimbau MOVED to accept the minutes of January 9, 2012 as printed. Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-0. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Housing Rehab/Program Income Error Update --Young said that there was nothing new to report at this time. 2. Wendell Road Cutting Plan Hearing--Planning Board Chair Ted Cady explained that the scenic roads policy calls for a joint cutting and pole hearing when there is a reasonable likelihood of tree cutting being done as part of setting new utility poles. He noted that the Wendell Road pole hearing had been held prior to the establishment of the scenic roads policy. At that hearing, the proposed poles to Mike Humphries new proposed home were approved and have been set. Cady said that National Grid wants to cut vegetation, and a hearing on this will be held by the Planning Board. Cady noted that the Highway Department will not be involved in any cutting that will take place, and asked the Board if it wished to be involved in the hearing. There was a consensus of the Board that no Selectboard presence is needed. Lemon said that Elan Sicroff had spoken with Mark Fellows, and he is willing to have the pallets on his property burned. Lemon said that she had spoken with Fire Chief Ron Gates, who may want to use this as a training exercise sometime before Spring. 3. Proposed Loudness Limit at Town Hall Events -- Young said that he had come up with a proposal to set a limit after one extremely loud event that occurred last year. He said that he tried to have the band turn down the volume, as did Matt Hickler, but to no avail. Young favored some study on the problem and the consideration that a limit should be set. He noted that a decibel meter has gone missing from the P.A. cabinet in Town Hall. Lemon said she had done some research on the internet, and cited some statistics on decibel levels and the affects on ear health and hearing loss. Young reiterated that more information is needed before deciding on a maximum decibel level. Jim McRae, a carpenter, a musician and part of Wooden Fender, said that he also books bands. He acknowledged the sound level at the one event to which Young had referred was out of control, but that he did not feel that this was a consistent problem that required a policy. McRae said that he welcomed the objective readings of a decibel meter at different points around a room, and would like to gather data from such a meter. McRae expressed concern that this might be an overreaction to a single event, and also questioned how best to enforce a policy to insure that, once enacted, it could be properly followed. Young said that McRae had valid concerns, but ultimately the Selectboard has the right to have the final say of how things go when Town Hall is rented out for events. Arguimbau said that he wanted to make sure that we have a meter, that the meter is used, and that if the meter registers over a certain decibel level, it be reported to the Selectboard. Magi said that she supported the use of a meter. Lemon MOVED to authorize David Young to look into, with a view to purchase, a meter for measuring sound level. After some further discussion, Lemon WITHDREW the Motion. There was a consensus of the Board that Young will purchase a new meter, and that McRae will monitor noise levels at events. The issue will be revisited in the future if complaints occur. 4. 150th Civil War Anniversary-- Genevieve Fraser from Orange formally invited the Selectboard and the townspeople to participate in a series of events being held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. She noted that these events are being put together for the Quabbin region and beyond. Fraser explained that July 4th is the 150th anniversary of the proclamation sent by President Abraham Lincoln to the Governor of Massachusetts mandating every city and town give men and money for the war effort. Fraser invited the Board to a steering committee meeting on January 31st. She said that events being discussed will include a Civil war parade and living heritage farmers and artisans market which will feature handicrafts and more from that historical period. Fraser asked that the Town take a look at its own history from that time period for a history of the residents of the Civil War era. She also said that she is directing the original play "Lincoln the Musical" written by Dr. Michael Riccards, which will have its world premiere at the Orange Town Hall auditorium on the two weekends after July 4, 2012. Mary Ann Hastings Fund Expenditure--Young explained that he was seeking the Board's approval of an expenditure of $104.90 from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund for a prior fiscal year employee stipend that both the Accountant and Treasurer confirmed had not been paid. Young said that by paying this from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund would allow immediate payment. Reimbursement to the account would be sought at Annual Town Meeting, and being a prior year bill, will require a 90% vote of TM. Lemon MOVED to approve $104.90 from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund to pay overlooked employee stipend. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-0. 250th Anniversary Planning-- Magi said that her next step will be to get in touch with Town committees. Selectboard Reports-- Lemon said that the FRTA meeting last week was cancelled due to weather. Magi said that she would be attending a FRCOG budget meeting this week. Arguimbau said that Ted Cady recently reminded him that the deadline for funding is coming up in early April, so hazard mitigation and flood plan needs to be addressed soon. Young will set up a committee meeting next week. Magi said that she has been receiving complaints about the Highway Department's use of tandem plowing, especially for small storms. Young said that he disagreed with Highway Superintendent Tim Kilhart's determination that this method is the most efficient way to plow. Young said that it is inefficient to use half of the Highway crew's resources on one lane of one road at one time, and he favored spreading out the resources. Magi concurred, and thought Kilhart should be asked to come to a meeting to discuss the issue. Lemon said that she had received a call from Dan Johnson asking for sand on a particularly slippery road. Lemon said that she contacted Kilhart, who told her he would check with Police Chief Shoemaker. Lemon said that when she contacted the Police Chief later on, he told her that he had not yet heard from Kilhart, but that a few cars had gone off that road. Lemon wanted to know why the Police Chief would be the one to make the determination of whether or not sand is needed, and under what criteria a decision would be made. The variables of weather and road conditions were discussed, and the matter will be placed on the agenda for the next Selectboard meeting. Coordinator Report-- Young said that free cash has been certified at the earliest date in quite some time. The notification of free cash approval listed the following: $60, 317.00 for the General Fund; $6,321.00 for the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund; $26,442.00 for the Broadband Enterprise Fund. Young also said that he has begun work on the FY 13 budget process and the FY 11 annual town reports. Hauling bid prices were discussed. Young said that Building Inspector Phil Delorey has the electrical inspector ready to inspect the Severance residence on Hockanum Road. Young said that the elevator passed its most recent inspection, and the current maintenance contract will be on the next agenda. New and Other Business-- Animal Control Officer Rosa Fratangelo Calcari informed the Board of a complaint she received on Sunday, January 22nd, that the dog "Dozer" had been loose on the Styles property on Chestnut Hill Road. The dog, who belongs to Kyle Whittier of 171 Shepardson Road, was the subject of a nuisance dog hearing in August of 2011. The dog was ordered confined to a kennel when outdoors. There was a consensus of the Board to hold another nuisance dog hearing on this matter. VI.Adjournment At 7:30 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari