Town of Warwick Selectboard February 29, 2016 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne, Nick Arguimbau Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary and Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo, Broadband Committee Chair Tom Wyatt, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Police Sergeant Michael Gelinas, Police Officer John Stewart III, Matthew Karpeichik, Tree Warden Brian Miner, Miryam Williamson, Anne Raymond (MIT bicycle race), Bruce Kilhart, Nancy Kilhart, Steve Ruggiero, Jon Calcari, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall. II. Minutes Pruyne MOVED to approve the minutes of February 16, 2016 as printed. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. III. Presentations and Discussions 1. MGL 268:20D Exemptions--Tom Wyatt, Broadband Committee Chair and WiredWest Representative, needed to be granted an MGL 268:20D exemption to allow him to also serve as an election worker. Pruyne MOVED to grant a MGL Chapter 268 Section 20D exemption to Tom Wyatt so that he can serve as an Election Worker on March 1st . Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 2. Election Worker Appointment --Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo had asked the Selectboard to appoint Tom Wyatt as an Election Worker. Pruyne MOVED to appoint Tom Wyatt an Election Worker for a term expiring August 31, 2016. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 3. Warwick Police Department--Police Chief David Shoemaker requested that the Selectboard appoint Matthew Karpeichik as a Police Officer. He explained that Karpeichik had completed the Police Academy and while attending the Academy he participated in cruiser ride-alongs and departmental training. The Chief also said that Karpeichik will continue his field training after being appointed; noting that he would be a great asset to the Town and his appointment would bring the department closer to optimal staffing. The Chief noted that all officers in the department, including himself, are part-time, and no one can work over nineteen hours per week Arguimbau asked if more people from Town could be trained rather than those from out of town. Young explained that the Police Chief nominates officers for appointment as a Strong Chief, and the Board ratifies those nominations by voting to appoint them to the Police Department. He noted that we have a small, rural department with a low budget. Chief Shoemaker made it clear that the appointment of another officer would not impact the budget. He also said that in order to remain active in the department, each officer works a minimum of two patrol shifts per month. Currently there are six patrol officers, and the addition of Officer Karpeichik would make it more likely that someone would be available to work a shift. Pruyne MOVED to appoint Matthew Karpeichik as a Warwick Police Officer as per the recommendation of Chief Shoemaker. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. The Chief said that a bicycle race in Warwick is scheduled on Saturday, April 23rd. MIT cycling team member Anne Raymond handed out two maps of proposed routes for two separate sets of races. She explained that the first race will be a single file race down Route 78 and back that would take place between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The larger races would involve multiple times around a route that involves Athol, Hotel, Northfield, Wendell, Shepardson, White, Leland Hill, Flower Hill, Winchester, Robbins and Old Winchester Roads and take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. She said that there would be a total of between 200 and 300 riders expected, mostly college students. Chief Shoemaker stated that the race will be fully insured with a full medical and EMT staff, and that the Warwick Police Department would accept no liability. Young said that we should ask that the Town of Warwick be additional named insured so that MIT's insurance will also cover the town. Chief Shoemaker said that five officers have been requested by race administrators, and suggested exempting local traffic from any temporary one-way designations on certain roads while the races are underway. All three Board members welcomed Ms. Raymond to Town and were glad that the race would occur here. There was a consensus of the Board that the race should proceed on April 23rd. 4. MOA with Solid Waste District--Young said that the grant funding has been spent for collecting and recycling pellet bags at the Transfer station, so to continue this practice the Board must authorize a contract. Young said that the FY 17 cost will be $175.00. Pruyne MOVED to approve the execution of the Memo of Agreement with Franklin County Solid waste Management District for pellet bag collection for a cost of $175.00 annually. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 5. Highway Chapter 90 Report--Young said that Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney forwarded him an Email he had received from the DOT saying that the Town cannot use Chapter 90 funds to pay the salaries of town employees. Young replied to the DOT Email saying that Warwick understands that Chapter 90 funds cannot be used to pay municipal employee salaries, but we use Chapter 90 money to pay documented hourly wages of municipal employees only when working on approved Chapter 90 projects. He said that someone alerted the DOT saying Warwick is using Chapter 90 funds to pay the salaries of town employees, but a DOT representative assured him by telephone that everything is being done legally here. Arguimbau said that the Highway staff needs to know their protection against layoffs comes from Chapter 90 projects and not the Town, and that there must be sufficient funds in the Highway Department budget to cover the standard work of the department to keep roads in operation. Young said that in FY 17 he is looking to have 60% departmental budget and 40% Chapter 90 projects. Arguimbau expressed concern over the timing of Chapter 90 project approvals and wanted to revisit his desire to have the Selectboard vote a policy that a project must be approved by all relevant departments including the Highway, Planning Board and Conservation Commission prior to it being put into the departmental budget or being applied for as a Chapter 90 project. Miryam Williamson suggested that Arguimbau draft a policy and bring it before the Board for discussion and vote at a future meeting. 6. PVRSD Budget--Young said that there will be another School Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 2nd. He explained that a two-thirds vote is required to pass a budget in which the towns' assessments are determined. He said that three members of the 12-member School Committee are employees of the District and therefore have a conflict of interest that precludes them from voting. Young said that all three of Warwick's members voted against the budget with the increase of 2.5% for our assessment. He said that he hopes that the budget with 1.57% increase will pass, and pointed out that not all funds in a budget has to spent. 7. Town Park (Common) Hazard Trees --Young said that there are three very aged maple trees that Tree Warden Brian Miner proposes to have removed. Miner characterized one tree as dangerous to be removed right away and said that two that should be removed very soon. He said that the most dangerous tree is definitely a safety hazard that has been dropping sizeable limbs where people congregate which is why it needs to be removed immediately. Miner is looking to replace the trees, and is working with local nurseries in an effort to obtain donated trees. Young said that he is looking for funds to pay for the cost of the tree removal and replacement, and hoped that the Town Hall Maintenance account could be a source. The estimated cost of removal of trees, stumps and lawn repair is $2,211.00. Arguimbau MOVED to authorize removal of three Town Park (Common) maple trees located along Hotel Road between the sidewalk on the Common and the rear driveway of the Town Hall. Pruyne SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 8. Gas Pipeline--Miryam Williamson reported that the Coalition Against the Pipeline will hold a meeting on March 1st, and that she will come back to the Board with a report on that meeting if warranted. 9. Vacancies--Young said that he wanted to publicize vacancies including two Recreation Committee spots, Field Driver and Warwick representative to the Solid Waste District. 10. Broadband Reports--Magi said that there will be a meeting in Wendell on March 10th at 7 p.m. to discuss sub-regional hybrid broadband network. Towns joining the discussion include Warwick, Wendell, New Salem and Shutesbury. Young said that Warwick Broadband is continuing to work with a consultant to identify the best model for the town. Tom Wyatt said that MBI is starting to meet with various towns, and that MBI and WiredWest will have a negotiating meeting on March 11th. Wyatt said that he feels WiredWest is beginning to understand what towns are saying and hopes MBI will follow suit. 11. Ambulance Update--Young said that Chief Gates met with the Northfield ambulance last week. Chief Gates told Young that Northfield has paramedics on one shift six days a week, and the rest of the time they are on call. Young said that Winchester service is not paramedic. He said that he has yet to talk with Athol ambulance; Bruce Kilhart said that he wanted to know what Athol would offer. 12. FY 17 Budget--Young said that there will be a requested column and a recommended column in the omnibus budget presented at the May 2016 Annual Town Meeting. He said that if the School Committee approves the budget with a 2.5% increase then he will put a 4.5% wage increase for town employees in the requested column so the voters can have the option of awarding our employees the same raise as given to those who work for the School District. Young gave a "guestimate" of under $10,000.00 for the 4.5% increase. 13. Selectboard Reports--Arguimbau announced that he will resign from the Selectboard effective May 15, 2016. He said that he has become" tired and unreliable" and characterized 2014 as a largely lost year for him during which he was replaced as Selectboard Chair. He said that it was probably better for the Town to vote someone in to replace him. Pruyne said that he, Steve and Janice Kurkoski, Gregory Brodski and Elaine Reardon attended a meeting to formulate a questionnaire designed to assess the desirability to townspeople for solar projects in their homes. He noted that there would be a 7% discount from installers affiliated with the Solarize Mass project. 14. Coordinator Report--Young had nothing to add to his written report. 15. Public Comment--Bruce Kilhart said that he wanted the Town Coordinator to find out about Athol's ambulance service and their possible willingness in serving Warwick. He suggested that Young contact either the Town Administrator or Fire Chief in Athol. Kilhart noted that Athol is staffed 24/7 with paramedics, and that they serve Petersham at no cost to that town. Magi said that we should plan to keep exploring other options but probably pay Orange in FY 17. Nancy Kilhart asked if we can decide the amount to give to Orange Ambulance because historically we have considered the annual fee to be a donation. Young said that Orange will likely look for a contract in FY 17 and that we should appropriate the $17,500.00 even though we might not spend it. 16. New and Other Business Unanticipated at Time of Meeting Posting --None. IV. Adjournment At 7:50 p.m., Arguimbau MOVED to adjourn. Pruyne SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Documents consulted at this meeting: *Draft Minutes of the February 16, 2016 Selectboard meeting *Town Coordinator Report *Letter from Warwick Police Chief David Shoemaker to the Selectboard dated February 22, 2016 *Emails between Town Coordinator David Young and Recreation Committee member Denyse Dar dated February 24, 2016 *Maps of proposed bicycle routes in Warwick for the MIT Bicycle Race scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2016