Town of Warwick
Selectboard
April 7, 2008
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Jim Toth, Rick Abbott
Others present:  David Young, Rosa Calcari, Miryam Williamson, Jim
Deming, Nick Arguimbau, Chris Ryan, Dick Whiting, Tim Kilhart, Jon
Calcari,  Robert Raymond (Bernardston Selectman)
I.	Call to Order 
The Meeting was called to order at 6:07pm at the Town Hall by Chairman Lemon. 
II.   Minutes
Lemon MOVED to approve the minutes of the March 24 meeting as printed. 
Toth Seconded. VOTED. III.  Presentations/Discussions
1.	FY09 Omnibus Budget (Joint Meeting with Finance Committee) - Lemon
turned the discussion over to Finance Committee Chair Jim Deming, who
pointed out that as the proposed budget now stands, there is a
$13,579.00 deficit. He was quick to assure attendees that the balance
could easily be balanced. Young noted that there is $80,000.00 in
available revenue from Free Cash, and that if the purchase of a new
truck is approved by Town Meeting vote, the line item for repairs in the
Highway budget can be reduced by $10,000.00. Ryan estimated $3,000.00
will be credited to New Growth, and concurred with Deming that the
deficit is not insurmountable. Deming said that while it won't be
terribly difficult to erase the deficit and produce a balanced budget,
the tax rate would jump about $2.00 per thousand. He also said that, in
his opinion, there are not many places to cut the budget. Ryan said a
$2.00 increase on the tax levy would mean about $350.00 on the average
tax bill. It takes $84,700.00 to equal one dollar on the tax rate.
Deming noted that Capital Stabilization, with a current balance of
$90,000.00, is basically the only savings account the Town has. He
suggested that the Board of Selectmen consider collecting data on
salaries other towns pay their accountants and fire departments to help
them defend the requested increases at ATM.

Lemon said that the Town Coordinator needs more hours to accomplish
all necessary tasks in a timely manner and because without the
support he provides it will be even more difficult to persuade
townspeople to run for selectboard seats.  She also mentioned time
for grant writing, although all parties agreed that was not a
principal reason for needing more Town Coordinator hours. She said
Young has saved the Town more money so far this year than he has
been paid. Young mentioned the Landfill Closure Account, which was
intended for expenses incurred in closing the landfill. All expenses
have now been paid, so Young recommended converting this account
into an enterprise fund account for local receipts. Ryan advised
research to determine if a Town Meeting vote is required to do so.
2.	PVRSD Budget - Bernardston Selectman Robert Raymond expressed
concerns over the steady increases in the school budgets. He noted a 48%
increase between FY 02 and FY 09. He said that we need to be leaner and
have more common sense in approaching the school budget. He asked that
the Town of Warwick consider a one or two percent cut in the PVRS school
budget assessment.
3	Highway Department Truck and Chapter 90 - Highway Superintendent
Tim Kilhart spoke about the old dump truck and its escalating repair
costs in relation to its deteriorating condition. He listed numerous
problems with the truck he seeks to have replaced, including: corrosion
of fuel and air tanks, battery box; severe wear of back plates on the
brakes; exhaust system. He said Porter Diesel estimated a minimum of
$45,000.00 to repair the truck, and noted that repair costs so far this
fiscal year total $7,512.42. He said that if he orders the truck
immediately following Town Meeting vote approval, expected delivery
would be October or November. He will need to keep the old truck on the
road until the new truck arrives, as he cannot operate effectively with
just one truck. In response to Abbott's question about how long this
truck could be expected to last, Kilhart replied that better routine
maintenance on this vehicle will be performed on this truck, which will
keep repair costs down and ostensibly extend the life of the truck. Toth
asked how much should be expected for repairs to the old truck while
awaiting the arrival of its replacement, to which Kilhart replied
$10,000.00 could be removed from that line item of the Highway budget.
Kilhart laid out his plans for the use of the next two years'
Chapter 90 funds ($300k+) to repave and repair a section of Orange
Road.  Other priorities are portions of Winchester Road, Wendell,
and Flower Hill Roads. If any portion of the proposed truck purchase
is made from Chapter 90 funds, Kilhart said, there will not be
enough for his projected paving and pavement recycling goals.
Kilhart said that he feels he was hired to keep Warwick's roads in
good condition, that it is his job to insure the Town roads are in
better shape than roads in surrounding towns. He noted that 42 out
of the 56 miles of Town roads are paved. He pointed out that once
committed to paving or recycling a stretch of road, that entire
length of road must be finished, there can be no shortfall. Guarding
the Chapter 90 funds and keeping the money only for these projects
is Kilhart's prime objective. Williamson inquired as to the trend
over the past few years for the disbursement of Chapter 90 funds.
Kilhart said that the State has appropriated  $150 million over the
past few years, has allotted $175,000.00 each year to Warwick, and
the number is not likely to change. He explained that being level
funded in the face of constantly rising prices for materials means
less can be accomplished each year.
Deming said that it does not make sense to make a down payment on
the truck from the tax levy, which leaves Chapter 90 or
Stabilization as the only viable options.  Ryan advised including a
debt exclusion article in the ATM warrant.
Young recommended that the Board vote a 20% down payment from Chapter 90
funds. He said a 5-year borrowing for the remaining balance would be
secured, and the Town could get a better price by putting the old truck
out to bid ourselves instead of taking the trade-in amount offered by
the seller. Kilhart was adamant about preferring a trade-in to a direct
sale but agreed that it is the Board's responsibility to decide which
option is most beneficial to the Town.  Ryan said it would be good to
set a policy requiring a down payment on capital purchases with the
remainder funded from the best of available options.  Deming expressed
his preference for a 10% down payment. Toth said we should put our trust
in Kilhart and follow his lead. Toth Moved that no Chapter 90 funds be
expended for the new Highway truck. Abbott Seconded.  VOTED.

Lemon Moved to take 10% for the truck down payment from Capital
Stabilization. Toth Seconded. VOTED.

Toth Moved that while the requested amount be on the ATM warrant, the
Selectboard agree to support 98% of the overall school budget. Lemon
Seconded. VOTED.

4.   Surplus Declarations - Scrap metal surplus at the Highway Garage
includes two old sander bodies, old culverts, used plow blades, and
various scrap metal. Three CRT color monitors have been replaced by flat
LCD monitors in the Treasurer, Selectboard, and Accountant offices. No
town departments expressed an interest in them.
Lemon Moved that the Selectboard declare the scrap metal at the Highway
garage surplus and that the Superintendent be authorized to dispose of
it through a contractor who has offered to pay the Town at least 25% of
the total gross weight receipts. Toth Seconded. VOTED.

Toth Moved that the Selectboard declare three used working CRT color
computer monitors surplus and make them available at the transfer
station to anyone interested in adopting one. Lemon Seconded. VOTED. 
5.   Reserve Fund Request: Tax Collector Certification Bonus - At the
2007 Annual Town Meeting, it was voted that the Tax Collector would
receive a $1,000.00 bonus if he completed Massachusetts Municipal
Collector certification. Terry Kemerer did complete his certification,
but the funds were not set aside in the FY 08 budget, as the completion
of certification was not assured. Lemon Moved to appropriate $1,000.00
from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund, and to seek reimbursement at the Annual
Town Meeting. Abbott Seconded.

Members of the Finance Committee said that this could qualify as an
unanticipated expense, since there was no implied guarantee that the
Tax Collector would complete certification in FY 08. Young asserted
that the expense is unforeseen and/or extraordinary, as the Board
chose not to include the amount, despite its being requested by the
Tax Collector, in the May 2007 Annual Town Meeting warrant. The
Board at that time considered the need for such an appropriation
unlikely as it was contingent not only upon the Town Meeting vote to
accept the local option MGL, but also the Collector completing
certification.  Lemon withdrew her motion.

Lemon Moved that the Selectboard request a Reserve Fund transfer of the
Finance Committee in the amount of $1,000.00 to pay the additional
compensation due the Tax Collector for having become certified. Abbott
Seconded. VOTED 2-1. Lemon: Aye. Abott: Aye. Toth: Abstained.

6.	Speed Limits and Signs - Toth said he is not in favor of paying
for the signs out of the Highway's operating budget. In light of the
proposed FY '09 budget not yet being balanced, he said it might not be
prudent to place a warrant article for the estimated $4509.00 for the 75
signs needed. Toth and Kilhart discussed the proposed new system of
speed limits on town roads, as outlined in MGL Ch.90 §17. Acceptance of
the provisions of this law would establish a speed limit of 30 MPH in
the village center and around Moore's Pond.  The Warwick Community
School zone would continue to have a 20-MPH limit when the warning
lights are flashing and school is in session. The remaining town roads
would have a 40-MPH limit, with black-on-yellow advisory signs to warn
drivers where roads have multiple curves or hills that pose potential
hazards. "Thickly settled" signs would be placed on Route 78 northbound
at the cemetery and southbound just north of the school zone flasher
near the school, with an added panel noting the 30 MPH limit. Athol Road
would also have a 30 MPH limit approaching the Old Winchester Road
intersection.
7.		Chapter 90 Section 17 also requires drivers to maintain a
speed that is "reasonable and proper", which translates to slower than
the law allows where any specific hazard exists, be it road conditions
or weather related. Toth Moved to accept Massachusetts General Law
Chapter 90, Section 17, effective July 1, 2008. Lemon Seconded. VOTED.


Abbott Moved that the Highway department put up new signs as
funding becomes available, the signs to be placed where roads
enter town and all speed zones. Toth Seconded. VOTED.

Highway superintendent Tim Kilhart will start taking down obsolete
signs in July.  State law requires drivers to observe the 20-30-40
rule whether or not signs are posted. Drivers have an eighth of a
mile in which to slow down when they enter a thickly settled area or
a school zone.
7.   Town Coordinator Report - Young asked the Board if each member had
read his report electronically. All three confirmed that they had. He
recommended moving legal responsibilities on the zoning enforcement
issues an attorney who regularly practices this type of law.  Lemon said
she had been in contact with Michael Ciota of Fitchburg, who has offered
to help the Selectboard file the necessary paper work.
8.   Selectboard Report - Toth said that Philip D'Avanza will be coming
Wednesday, April 9, to continue repairs to the Town Clock.
IV.  Public Comment
None.
V.   Adjournment
Lemon MOVED at 9:37 pm. to adjourn the meeting.  Abbott Seconded.  VOTED. 

Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari