Town of Warwick Selectboard January 26, 2009 Minutes Members present: Rick Abbott; Nick Arguimbau Member Absent: Patricia Lemon Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Calcari, Miryam Williamson, Keith Wilson (FRCOG), Board of Health member Dick Whiting, Les Goodman, Dawn Magi, Jon Calcari, Paula Robinson (Athol Daily News), Warwick Police Officer David Shoemaker Call to Order The Meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm at the Warwick Free Library by Vice Chair Abbott. Minutes Abbott MOVED to accept the Minutes of the January 12, 2009 meeting as presented. Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. Presentations/Discussions CDBG Grant - Young supplied the Board with a six-page checklist of tasks to be completed for the CDBG grant application. An Environmental Certifying Officer is required for the application. Abbott MOVED to appoint David Young Environmental Certifying Officer for CDBG Grant application. Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. Board of Health Report - The Transfer Station is operated as an enterprise account. Young said the law requires the Board of Health to bring their proposed budget for the coming year to the Selectboard four months prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. Spending authority is by appropriation at Town Meeting. The BOH request for FY10 is $43, 320.00. Abbott MOVED to approve the Board of Health's request for the Transfer Station FY10 budget. Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. Dick Whiting reported that last week the Board of Health interviewed for candidates to fill the Transfer Station Attendant position. While all were found to be qualified candidates, the BOH recommends the Selectboard appoint David Shoemaker to the Attendant's job, and Mary Thomas as the alternate. Per the Personnel Policy, the Selectmen must approve all new hires. Abbott MOVED to appoint David Shoemaker Transfer Station Attendant and Mary Thomas alternate, effective immediately. Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Joint Meeting of PVRS District's Selectboards - The meeting will take place February 18 at 7 pm in Bernardston. The Bernardston Selectboard is hosting the meeting. Dawn Magi said that when she was a member of the Finance Committee, she attended such meetings and found them to be valuable and successful learning tools. She spoke in favor of cooperation and collaboration between towns, especially in these rough economic times. Abbott said that he can not participate, as his wife is a PVRS teacher. Arguimbau expressed an interest in attending if he can find a way there, and also suggested that a member of the Finance Committee be designated to attend as well. 4. Selectboard Report: Abbott will attend the FRCOG budget meeting slated for Thursday, January 29. 5. Town Coordinator Report - Young said that we have received notice to proceed on American Tower installation. He thanked Dick Noel of Dick's Auto in Orange, for bringing his ATV pick-up to Town to move material to the service building at the Mt. Grace State Police tower. Radios, a cabinet and other equipment were moved in two trips. Installation of equipment will occur when the weather permits. At least three days above 25 degrees and with low winds are necessary. Young also said that he has discussed the OBRA accounts with Treasurer Terry Kemerer. These accounts are for deferred compensation, something like a 401(K). Currently, the problem for some employees is that fees consume most or all of their contributions. Kemerer is exploring alternative tax exempt investment instruments, and will come bring his findings before the Board at a later date. 6. Speed Study - Keith Wilson, transportation planning engineer for FRCOG, spoke about the recent speed study he conducted as the first step in the procedure to change speed limits. The main roads of Athol, Northfield, Orange, and Wendell were studied 24 hours a day for seven days in late October and early November. The minimum requirement of 100 vehicles traveling in each direction was far exceeded by this study, which collected samples of actual vehicle speeds and identified prevailing speeds under ideal conditions. Wilson explained that state law assumes 85% of drivers operate their vehicles at a safe and prudent speed. In a 100 vehicle sample, the speeds are ranked lowest to highest, with number 85 being labeled the 85th percentile. He said the proposed speed limits are reflective of drivers who drove what they felt to be a safe speed for the conditions. With the use of the display map for the study, Wilson went over proposed speed limit on each section of road studied. He noted that the Highway Superintendent and Police Chief recommend these proposed speed limits, and assured the Board that he would advocate their acceptance on our behalf. Arguimbau was disturbed by his belief that no police officer will ticket anyone going less than 10 miles over the posted speed limit. He viewed acceptance of the proposed speed limits tantamount to being in favor of speeds 10 miles an hour faster. He said that cars already go way too fast in this town. Concerned with the safety of the speed limits, or perceived lack thereof, Arguimbau was unwilling to vote on the matter and wished to continue the issue at the next meeting, and inquired about the ramifications of delaying the decision. Young explained that funding for signage comes from Community Police funding that expires February 22nd. In order for the bill to be paid prior to that date, the Board had to make a decision before the next meeting. Arguimbau was unwilling to listen to the assurances of those in attendance. He said that without a representative of the Police Department present, he would be unable to vote on this matter and insisted on speaking with an officer regarding the enforcement of speed limits. Young telephoned Officer Shoemaker who had just arrived home from a call and agreed to come to the meeting and address Arguimbau's concerns. Upon Shoemaker's arrival, Arguimbau questioned him on just what kind of enforcement the police will do with regards to the speed limits. Shoemaker flatly revoked the information Arguimbau had recently received from someone who is not a police officer. He refuted the claim that the police do not enforce the speed limits until someone is clocked as driving more than 10 miles over the limit and said he was speaking for the police department and that it was committed to enforcing the limits to be adopted, in particular a maximum of 50 mph and low speeds in the village center and Moore's Pond. He commented that presently there are missing signs, and the posted limits are from a speed study done more than thirty years ago when roads and vehicles were less safe. He also explained that enforcement will be made much easier with new, black and white posted speed limits, as there will no longer be any gray areas. The Selectboard, Police Department, and drivers all will know the signs are correct and placed in the proper places. Shoemaker predicted better control and enforcement of speeding with the new signs. Arguimbau MOVED to accept the Proposed Posted Speed Limits as presented in Warwick Speed Zone Study and submit the study to Mass Highways and then to RMV. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. IV. Public Comment None. V. Adjournment Arguimbau MOVED at 7:27 pm. to adjourn the meeting. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari