Town of Warwick Selectboard July 21, 2014 Minutes Members present: Nick Arguimbau, Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon (joined via Remote Participation at 7:30 p.m.) Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo, Firefighter Bill Lyman, PVRSD School Committee member Martha Morse, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Jon Calcari, Paula Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Arguimbau called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in Town Hall. Bill Lyman was recording the meeting. II. Public Comment None. III. Minutes Magi made a correction to the draft minutes of the July 7, 2014 Selectboard meeting by adding the word "and David Young" after the name John Bradford in the first paragraph of IV. 3. Magi MOVED to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2014 meeting with the correction. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Set Date for Gale Road Pole Hearing--Young said that a new date had to be set for the Gale Road Pole Hearing, as the previously scheduled hearing was not put on the agenda. He noted that the Commonwealth is the only abutter to be notified. Magi MOVED to set the date for the Gale Road Pole Hearing for August 18, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. 2. PVRSD Budget --Young said that the Pioneer District budget is in limbo due to the tie vote in Northfield on a Proposition 2 and override. He said that we were not dealt with fairly by the District, and that we had been were sandbagged in the FY 15 budget process. Young noted that it would be possible to revisit our appropriation at a special town meeting, before the tax rate is set. PVRSD School Committee member Martha Morse said that at the budget hearing held on February 11, 2014, only Warwick had no one present from the Selectboard or Finance Committee when the budget was first presented and there was an opportunity for questions to be asked by those from the member towns. Arguimbau concurred with Young that during a meeting attended by the full Selectboard the District appeared to approve the 2.5% increase that we said we could handle, but then we were ignored and now feel sandbagged. Morse explained that the budget is for the District, while assessment is what each member town pays, and said that the District FY 15 budget increased by 3.29% and the assessment for Warwick at our May 5, 2014 Annual Town Meeting was $49,662.00 higher than the figure recommended by the Selectboard and Finance Committee. She said that Leyden passed their assessment, Bernardston rejected theirs, and Northfield voted the full amount but the override vote resulted in a tie and would hold a recount on Thursday, July 24th. Morse said that she did not feel that there was any intention to sandbag Warwick. Young pointed out that for the first time in six years the amount recommended by both the Selectboard and Finance Committee was challenged at Town Meeting. Young said that the basis for a reconsideration of our assessment is the anticipated continued rise in taxes and the future reaction of taxpayers every year hence. Morse inquired whether the special town meeting would revisit only the PVRSD budget or all the other CY 15 budgets previously voted; Young answered that he intended only PVRSD. Morse noted that at the July 17th meeting Warwick's assessment was lowered, but was unsure of the exact figure. She said that the Board would be receiving written notification of the reduction. Young said that the DOR had told the District it is allowed to spend 1/12 of last year's budget each month until they have a budget for this fiscal year. Patricia Lemon joined the discussion via remote participation by telephone at 7:30pm. Morse said that the Selectboard has access to all steps of the budget process and encouraged Town officials, especially those from the Selectboard and Finance Committee to attend the budget meetings. She noted again that all towns except Warwick had Selectboard and Finance Committee members present at the February 11th budget hearing, and that she was the only person there from out town. She pointed out that the first budget meeting occurs in February every year. Lemon said that the District administration behaved irresponsibly and rudely towards us with respect to the technology budget and also ignored us on capital definitions and expenses. Morse said that there was a need to work for better communication. Lemon said that the District needs to listen and pay attention. Morse said that she has been on the School Committee for four years and wants to get to the bottom of the deteriorating communication and relationship between the District and the Town. Arguimbau said that this issue needed to be revisited, and there was a consensus of the Board to put this on the agenda for the next meeting. 3. Athol Road One Way Signage--Young said that at least once every day he sees someone driving the wrong way on Athol Road in front of Town Hall and make a potentially lethal turn onto Route 78. He proposed some signs that read "Wrong Way Go back" to be placed between the Historical Society and the Town Hall facing the wrong way traffic. He also suggested painting some angle parking lines in front of the Inn to improve parking there. Young said that he was looking for a directive from the Board to the Highway Department to purchase and place signs and paint the angle parking lines. Lemon MOVED to ask the Highway Department to look into the expense of each of David Young's suggestions and report back by the next meeting. Magi SECONDED Magi asked for input from Police Chief Shoemaker, who said that he sees what Young sees and that it is a dangerous road. He favored taking action and letting the Highway Department to get the signs and paint the lines. Lemon WITHDREW her motion. By consensus, the Board agreed to direct the Highway Superintendent to get the signage and put in the angle parking lines in front of the Inn. 4. Vote to Close Athol Road for Old Home Days -- Young said that this is done every year in front of Town Hall and the Historical Society for the Saturday of Old Home Days. Magi MOVED to close Athol Road in front of Town Hall on Saturday, August 23, 2014 for Old Home Days. Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 5. Report on WCS Roof Project--Young said that, weather permitting, work would begin Monday, July 28th and that he has hired Bill Lyman to be the site supervisor. Young said that the contractor was putting ten men on the job, which should be completed before school opens on August 27th. He said that he would be discussing specific material choices with the Chair of the Buildings and Energy Committee. Young said that R18.6 insulation would be used on the gym roof, and that the project was coming in on budget. 6. Surplus Declaration of old Sander Body--Young said that Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney had requested the Board declare an old sander body surplus property so that it can be sold, possibly for scrap value. Magi MOVED to declare the old sander body surplus property. Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 7. Seaboard Solar Revised Contract --Young said that Seaboard Solar has proposed a new contract which Town Counsel has been given for review. Lemon requested that Young send her copy; he agreed to do so. Arguimbau said that this should be voted on quickly and wanted it on the next agenda. 8. Correspondence--Young said that this matter had already been resolved, but a homeowner had his property marker dug up by the Highway Department during drainage work on Winchester Road. Young said that Larry Delaney had used a metal detector to pinpoint the location of the remnants of the boundary marker and reestablish the spot. Young said that there was no dispute over the location of the marker. 9. Selectboard Reports--Magi said that she attended the FRCOG meeting on July 17th. She gave highlights of the meeting: the Franklin County Emergency Communication Services (FCECS), which has been facing major problems, should be fixed by the end of July; FRCOG has been asked to assist with the last mile of broadband expansion; FRCOG has a new website HYPERLINK "http://www.FRCOG.org" www.FRCOG.org. Patricia Lemon left the meeting by remote participation at 8:03 p.m. Magi mentioned that she had been voted Vice Chair of the FRCOG Executive Committee. 10. Coordinator Report--Young said that he would be away next week, and that the agenda and meeting packets must be completed by Thursday the 31st, with the agenda posted by 7 p.m. and a copy sent to Ed Lemon for the website and an Email sent to the press. Young said that he would work on everything this week, but Board Chair Arguimbau and Town Secretary Fratangelo would be responsible for completing the task next week. 11. New and Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated Prior to Posting Notice--Arguimbau said that things completely turned around at the second ZBA hearing regarding the Wagon Wheel Campground and congratulated Young and new Town Counsel. He asked Young to send a thank you letter to the new Town Counsel. Young said that the ZBA voted unanimously to uphold the Building Inspector's cease and desist order. He said that they were informed by the Wagon Wheel owners' attorney that they would appeal in court. Young said that the ZBA voted unanimously that the Wagon Wheel is not a mobile home park and is acting as one. He noted that their ruling has not yet been issued. He also said that he would extend the Board's gratitude to Town Counsel. Arguimbau said that he wanted to see it be a policy of the Selectboard that the Building Inspector does a tour of the town every six months looking for violations of zoning and for failure to seek proper permits and report his findings to the Board. Young said that he would seek legal advice from Town Counsel on the Building Inspector's right to enter on to people's properties. He also said that he would invite Phil Delorey to a meeting in September. V. Adjournment At 8:12 pm, Magi MOVED to adjourn. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo