Town of Warwick
Selectboard
May 20, 2008
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Rick Abbott, Nick Arguimbau Others
present: David Young, Rosa Calcari, Miryam Williamson, Jon Calcari, Tim
Kilhart, Paula Lundgren (Athol Daily News)
I.	Call to Order 
The Meeting was called to order at 6:05p.m. at the Town Hall by Chairman Lemon. 
II.	Minutes
Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of the April 18 and May 5 meetings as
printed.  Abbott Seconded. VOTED. Lemon -  AYE;  Abbott – AYE; 
Arguimbau -Abstain, as he was not a member of the Selectboard at these
meetings.
III.	Presentations/Discussions
1.	Selectboard Reorganization - Customarily done when a new member is
elected to the Board.  Nick Arguimbau was sworn in by Town Clerk
Jeannette Fellows at 5 p.m. today.

Arguimbau MOVED to nominate Patricia Lemon as Chair of the Selectboard
and Rick Abbott as Vice Chair. Abbott Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Highway Truck - Kilhart reported that he had spoken with both vendors,
each of whom needs a letter from the Selectboard authorizing the
purchase of the truck. He said the anticipated delivery time is about
four months, because each vendor estimates about 8 weeks of build time.
Kilhart pointed out that it is advantageous to send the letters out now
rather than waiting until July 1, as many other towns do, since waiting
would delay delivery into snow season. Kilhart said the purchase price
for the cab and chassis plus options is $72,488.00, and the price of the
body and plow frame is $40,220.00. The extended warranty offered would
be $6,286.00 at time of order, which represents a 10% discount from the
price if it is purchased at time of delivery. The standard warranties
included are 2 years on the electrical systems, and 3 years on the
engine and drive train. Purchase of the extended warranty would provide
6 years on the electrical and 8 years or 7,200 hours on the engine. The
option of a wing plow and the additional costs associated with it was
discussed in considerable detail. Kilhart expressed his opposition to
the purchase and use of a wing plow. Lemon requested that in the future
Kilhart provide the Board with documentation of the possibilities he has
considered and the rationales for his conclusions, leading them through
the decision-making process rather than making a decision and then
lobbying for it.  Arguimbau said that while Kilhart had made a
convincing case for buying the truck, the election vote on the debt
exclusion ballot question had been so close that it was clear many are
not in favor of borrowing, as it will raise taxes. He said Chapter 90
funds should be given another look. The current plan involves borrowing
$120,000.00, with a $10,000.00 down payment from Capital Stabilization,
and a $4,000.00 trade-in for the old truck.
Kilhart indicated that the bids for fuel oil and the proposed roadwork
on Route 78 will come in by June 2, so until then he will not know where
he stands with funding and expenses.
Young said that today Kilhart needs only the letters from the
Selectboard authorizing the purchase of the truck. Since the vote passed
at both the Annual Town meeting and the Annual Town election, the
financing options have been put in place, and the funding decisions need
not be made at this meeting.
Arguimbau MOVED to authorize the purchase of a new Highway truck in the
amounts of $72,488 (base price plus options for the cab and chassis),
and $40,220.00 (body and plow frame), for a total of $112,708.00. The
Motion excluded the extended warranty and was made with the proviso that
Kilhart would come back to the Board with more information regarding the
extended warranty, and that the method of funding the purchase would
also be revisited by the Board. Abbott Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
3.	Fordson Tractor - Kilhart has submitted a letter to the Board
requesting that a 1950-ish Fordson 8N tractor with serial number
8N-500094 be declared surplus equipment.  In discussion, it was the
consensus that the tractor would be put in working condition before
being put on the market.  Young offered to place the tractor on Ebay if
appropriate, without charging the town for the service.
Lemon MOVED to declare the Fordson 8N Tractor, Serial Number 8N-500094
surplus equipment. Abbott Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
4.	Selectboard Liaisons - Lemon posed the question of whether this
Board wished to continue the practice of assigning individual Board
members as liaisons to Town departments and committees, or if it prefers
that the Town Coordinator act as a general liaison, leaving each Board
member free to work with these entities as they see fit. Abbott, noting
his general opposition to the liaison system, reluctantly agreed to keep
it as is for now, pending a review of the Job Description and desired
hours for the Town Coordinator. Arguimbau consented to accept the
liaison assignments formerly held by Jim Toth. Young will assist
Arguimbau if necessary. 
5.	Treasurer - Three applications were before the Board for
consideration. Each member reviewed the cover letters and resumes of all
candidates, and the issue of whether additional interviews were
necessary was discussed. Arguimbau said he felt that the only qualified
candidate was Terry Kemerer. Arguimbau Moved that, there being only one
qualified candidate, a candidate who had been interviewed recently, no
further interviews were indicated.  Abbott Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Lemon MOVED to appoint Terry Kemerer as Treasurer in accordance with the
Personnel Policy and Job Description. The appointment is to commence
July 1, 2008 and end June 30, 2009, to be paid at the rate approved at
the Annual Town meeting of May 5, 2008. Arguimbau Seconded. VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY.
6.	Building Inspector - Young reported that Building Inspector Lorne
Petrain had submitted a letter of resignation, effective June 30, 2008.
He said that traditionally a local person has held the job, but by
statute the Building Inspector is also the zoning enforcement agent, and
this is problematic because it potentially involves action against
neighbors and friends. Young recommended splitting the duties so that
the Building Inspector could appoint an assistant to handle the
enforcement portion of the job. If the Selectboard wished to appoint two
individuals separately, a Town meeting vote would be required.  Young
said a quote from FRCOG is around $9,000.00, which would allow the Town
to be covered as of July 1. Young said he will explore other options
locally, and inquire how other towns deal with the issue. He said he
will ask FRCOG to submit a formal proposal for the Board's review at
their next meeting.  FRCOG's fees for this task have in the past been
excessive for Warwick's needs, but are based upon a 3-year rolling
average of building permit applications, of which there have been none
for two years in Warwick, making their services affordable at this
point.  Williamson noted that she is in favor of an out-of-town person
performing the enforcement aspect of the job.
7.	Employee Evaluations - Young said he is in the process of
gathering examples of evaluation instruments from FRCOG and other towns.
8.	Selectboard Reports - Abbott said that two weeks ago the area for
the Veterans monument was assessed. The hole will be dug, the concrete
will be poured, and must set for one month.  He hopes for the project to
be completed by July 4, but he said the contractor will definitely have
it finished by Old Home Days.
Lemon reported that the Town has begun two separate zoning enforcement
procedures. Since in the past there, have been complaints that the Town
has been somewhat lax or remiss in this area, she wanted to make
everyone aware that things are now moving forward with assistance from
the state Department of Public Health, town counsel, Attorney Michael
Ciota of Fitchburg and officers of the Springfield Housing Court.
9.	Town Coordinator Report - Young asked that the Selectboard Chair
be authorized to sign two grants: DCR Forestry Grant and an Emergency
Management Grant from Vermont Yankee.
Lemon MOVED the Chair be authorized to sign the DCR Forestry Grant and
the Vermont Yankee grant. Arguimbau Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

Lemon MOVED to accept Access Plus Comm as our vendor for DCR for the
purposes of a memorandum agreement. Abbott Seconded. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Young reported meeting with the phone installer for the Warwick
Community School's proposed new phone system. Young said changes were
made to Town Hall wiring, and alarm port one was changed to a dedicated
line. Separate voicemail boxes were set up for the Selectboard/Town
Coordinator, Board of Health, and Building Inspector.
IV.  Public Comment
J. Calcari said that he had recently heard of a program in which
Governor Deval Patrick is designating money to parks on Cape Cod and in
the Boston area. He suggested someone take a video of the Mt. Grace
picnic area recently decimated by State logging and send it to the
Governor, to give him a new perspective on parks in need of funding for
restoration to prior glory. Lemon notes at this time [June 2, 2008] for
the record that she liked that idea and would like to begin organizing a
"Friends of the DCR" group with the potential of allowing for better
communication and increased opportunity for volunteers' involvement in
decision-making and work on DCR-owned lands in Warwick - in other words,
setting up an avenue for a return to the way things were done before the
Picnic-area debacle.
V.  Adjournment
Lemon MOVED at 8:13 pm. to adjourn the meeting.  Abbott Seconded.  VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari
				
Patricia Lemon, Chair		Frederick Abbott, Member		Nicholas Arguimbau, Member

		
Rosa Calcari, Secretary		J. David Young, Coordinator