Town of Warwick Selectboard June 28, 2010 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau (arrived at 6:20 pm) Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Nadia and Claudia Lewis (arrived at 6:53 pm), Jon Calcari, Paula Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Vice Chair Lemon called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. in the Town Hall. II. Minutes Lemon MOVED to approve the minutes of June 14, 2010 as written. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0. III. Public Comment None. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Supplemental Appointments -- Young explained this second round of appointments to fill vacancies. All appointment terms commence July 1, 2010. Lemon MOVED the following one year appointments except where noted: Julie Hubbard, FCSWD representative and Recycling Coordinator; Claudia Lewis, Solid Waste District alternate; Miryam Williamson, ZBA alternate thru 2013; Jessica Foote, Recreation Committee; Patricia Ernest and Helen Whipple, Crockery Committee. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0. 2. Chapter 90 Project Approval-- Young said that Highway Superintendent Tim Kilhart requested that the Board approve his proposed Chapter 90 paving projects on Flower Hill, Leland Hill and White Road. The cost will be approximately $140,000.00, and will leave close to $100,000.00 in uncommitted grant funding for FY 11. Young noted that this project satisfies Board Chair Arguimbau's desire that Chapter 90 funds not go for further work on Route 78, as well as being consistent with the plan Kilhart submitted to the Board in December 2009. Magi MOVED to submit to Mass Highways the Chapter 90 project request for paving overlay on Flower Hill, Leland Hill and White Road as recommended by the Highway Superintendent. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0. Equipment Sharing -- Young has been looking into the sharing of equipment between towns in the North Quabbin region, especially highway equipment. He said that a wood chipper and a bucket truck are two item identified as items towns are looking to share. Young said that he has spoken with Highway Superintendent Kilhart, who is willing to develop a method for sharing Warwick's wood chipper. Young recommended creating a machinery revolving account, which could be approved at a future Annual Town meeting. This account could be used to meet maintenance and repair expenses as well as replacement costs. He was looking to the Board for an indication of its being in favor of this concept. Lemon and Magi both support going forward. Arguimbau arrived at 6:20 pm and inquired about the Project 90 item, which had been discussed and voted upon prior to his arrival. Young said that this project was exactly what Kilhart's December, 2009 report proposed. Arguimbau wanted it noted in the minutes that he would have voted to approve the motion in IV.2. Selectboard Reports -- Lemon discussed the following topics as follows: * WiredWest: Lemon and Reva Reck had attended the Wired West meeting in Cummington on June 26th. They were told that the Massachusetts Broadband Institute will handle the "middle mile," and Wired West the last-mile build out. All towns that had been invited to participate had accepted Wired West at their annual town meetings and most of those were represented at this meeting. The representatives want a draft contract for the towns to review, discuss and vote on as soon as possible, and WiredWest board members may at least be able to prepare an outline for such a contract by the next meeting, which will probably be scheduled for the end of July. Lemon said the meeting was both interesting and well attended. * Historical Commission: Lemon had called the Ethics Commission regarding the Selectboard suggestion that she be appointed to the Historical Commission. She was advised to consult Town Counsel; Arguimbau authorized her to contact Fred Dupere. * Green Communities Program: Lemon asked what Arguimbau's initial objection had been. He responded that he had objected to the fact that siting approval is taken away from the towns that sign up to the program, and he felt that there was insufficient clarity and detail as to what the town was expected to guarantee to pass at the annual town meeting. Lemon said that Ted Cady told her he had felt he had insufficient time to act as point person for the program and that Claudia Lewis had agreed to act in that capacity. Lemon will contact the regional director of the program and ask that she or a representative from the GCP who would presumably be able to answer questions and concerns more definitively speak to the Board in the Fall. Arguimbau brought up a memorandum sent to the Mount Washington Selectboard from Eleanor Tillinghast regarding wind power. He said that he disagrees completely with the legal analysis, and wants to confer with Town Counsel. Lemon said that the Historical Society could pay for archival storage materials, and be reimbursed from the Selectboard and Interoffice accounts, as this action would be done to preserve Town history. Magi presented the Board with a book given by Charlie Brown listing the names of veterans buried in the Warwick cemeteries. She then reported on the Open Meeting Law training she attended last week. She said that complaints may be submitted only by using the official complaint form, which is available on the Attorney General's website. Complaints are submitted first to the Selectboard and then to the A.G.'s office. She learned that meeting notices must be available at all times and must be handicapped accessible. Young said that a lighted notice board could be placed by the handicapped entrance to town hall and use the one in front for posting of community events. Magi said that there is a mandatory fee for copies of minutes requested by members of the public: 20 cents per photocopy page and 50 cents per computer generated page. Young will check, as he believed this might be a maximum allowable fee. She also said that if Board members attend another Board's duly posted meeting for informational purposes, then that Board does not need to post it as their meeting/ joint meeting. Magi ended by noting that in the event that a quorum is not met for a meeting, then the meeting does not need to be opened, but it must be noted in the minutes. Arguimbau said that he and Lemon met in their individual capacities with the Historical Society, who agree that everything proposed to solve the moisture issues in their building needs to be done, but they want no part of doing it at this time. Their focus is on inventorying uncatalogued documents from more than two decades. The Historical Society will put in recommendations to the Buildings and Energy Committee for review, as this is in the Town's interest. For work done to address the moisture problems, the Historical Society has discussed the possibility of paying up to $15,000.00 for labor if the Town provides the materials. Arguimbau will look into the possibility of someone from the State Historical Society will volunteer to come out to evaluate the situation and make recommendations on what would be required. Lemon thanked Nadia Lewis for her time spent cataloguing at the Historical Society. 5. Coordinator Report -- Arguimbau asked Young about the anticipated solar farm meeting that has not yet taken place. Young said that the interested firm is looking to use the capped landfill for photovoltaic generation in hopes of selling the electricity. While it is the firm's preference to serve industrial and commercial users, Young has indicated that aggregating residential demand could be of interest to them as well. Lemon noted the retirement of the WCS debt. Young said it took place as scheduled and the Town received $68,300.00, which can be used once to reduce a future tax levy. Arguimbau mentioned prioritizing use of the Broadband profits. Young said that the first step is to pay off the debt to the Town; Arguimbau agreed that this is currently the top priority. Young said that he has requested a report from police Chief Brian Peters regarding the incident discussed during the June 14th Selectboard meeting's Public Comment segment. He also said that there will likely be additions to the Moore's Pond Beach Advisory Committee. Young pointed out that a problem with soft tar on Shepardson Road was fixed the same day under warranty by the contractor. He said that the Veterans Monument Committee has approached him about the need for restoration of the Civil war memorial at the cemetery. An ATM warrant article would be needed. Young ended his report by noting that the FRCOG conducted elevator bids and he accepted as it provides substantial savings over the current five-year contract with Bay State. This contract is not legal, as a Town meeting vote is required for any contract over three years in length, which may allow us out of the costlier contract. 6. New and Other Business -- Lemon thanked Claudia Lewis for being willing to serve as point person for the Green Communities Program and for becoming the Franklin County Solid Waste District alternate for Warwick. V. Adjournment Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 pm. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari