Town of Warwick Selectboard August 15, 2016 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne, James Erviti Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary and Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo, Highway Superintendent Larry Delaney, Broadband Committee Chair Tom Wyatt, member Miryam Williamson, Constable and Personnel Committee member George Day, Finance Committee member Steve Ruggiero, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Ashley Arseneau and Gary Kmapik (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 August 1, 2016 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-1; Magi and Pruyne: AYE; Erviti ABSTAINED, as he was not present for that meeting. III.Presentations and Discussions 1. Cultural Council Appointment --Lawrence "Doc" Pruyne said that he was resigning from the Cultural Council and Beth Gilgun would finish out his term, which ends on June 30, 2019. Pruyne MOVED to appoint Beth Gilgun to the Cultural Council to serve the remainder of Lawrence "Doc" Pruyne's term. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo asked Pruyne to please submit a written resignation as required for the files. 2. Election Items--The Town Clerk had submitted a list of 32 people to be appointed by the Selectboard as Election Workers. Pruyne MOVED to appoint the list of Election Workers proposed by the Town Clerk for a term from September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Those appointed are: George Day, Calvin Fellows, Bruce Kilhart, Beth Gilgun, Pat Vandenberg Clare Green, Dan Dibble, Jaylin Dibble, Fredericka Fellows, Ann Kendell, Arthur Long, Judy Johnson, Sheryl Fontaine, Carol Foote, Barbara Walker, Nancy Kilhart, Diana Tandy, Kasey Rolih, Kathryn Woods, Andrea Woods, Jessica Foote, Regina Curtis, Susan Wright, Karro Frost, Christine Duerring, Helen Whipple, Rod Whipple, Martha Morse, Tracey Weed, Rita McConville, Maria Ruggiero, and Dianne Suller. All Board members signed six copies of the warrant for the September 8, 2016 State Primary Election. Constable George Day took the warrants for posting. 3. Accounting Update--Young said that the next meeting with the financial team will be August 19th, at which time they will compare the Accountant's progress against the municipal calendar. Erviti will also attend as the Selectboard's representative. At this point Magi noted with sadness the recent passing of two War5wick residents: Terry Kemerer and Bruce Carr. 4. Personnel Policy --Magi said that her work on the FRCOG Personnel Committee caused her to review and update Warwick's Personnel Policy. She said her proposed changes include the use of the structure used by FRCOG. She noted that because the Town does not have permanent positions or employees, the term "permanent" used in our current policy in reference to an employee or a position should be stricken. Miryam Williamson asked why this is before the Board rather than the Personnel Committee. Personnel Committee member George Day said that personnel policies are determined by the Selectboard and that the Personnel Committee handles grievances. Magi read aloud her first draft of Proposed Structure of Personnel Policies and Procedures. Magi said that FRCOG has longevity compensation which should be discussed for Warwick; Erviti concurred. Day handed each Board member a copy of a proposed change to the hiring portion of our Personnel Policy, which read as follows - after the word advertised in the 6th sentence strike the word locally and replace it with: "For a minimum of 3 days in at least one locally published daily newspaper". There was a consensus of the Board that further review and discussion of personnel policy matters needed to take place at a future Selectboard meeting. 5. Broadband Update--Young said that the WBS upgrade is underway and that some of the wires on the towers will be replaced with inflexible conduit to improve durability. He said that about a week ago he submitted a financial readiness piece to MBI that includes the WBS project budget and sustainability analysis. There was a discussion of the possible necessity for an increase in the monthly subscription rate, but Young noted that we are in the early stages of exploring various options such as outsourcing billing and network monitoring and stated that in his opinion we are correctly priced as is. Young said that we could receive as much as $450,000.00 in grant funding from MBI and that in five or six years down the road we could have about the same amount derived from WBS revenue to invest in further upgrades. Young said that he will investigate the cost implications further and discuss his findings with the Broadband Committee. 6. Broadband Committee Report--Broadband Committee Chair Tom Wyatt said that the committee last met on August 8th and received an update on the WBS upgrade from David Young and John Bradford. He said that a reduced pricing tier was discussed. Wyatt said that the Broadband Committee recommends that the Selectboard considers withdrawing from WiredWest, citing as reasons that WiredWest is having trouble achieving a quorum at their meetings, towns are dropping out and Warwick is going in a different direction. Young noted that we are not doing fiber nor are we attending the meetings. 7. Formal Withdrawal from WiredWest with Thanks--Young said that Tom Wyatt had drafted a letter for the Town's withdrawal from WiredWest. Wyatt said that he would put something in the next newsletter telling people how to request a refund for their $49.00 pre-pay. Young said that he would also write a request for the release of all Warwick residents' down payments. Pruyne MOVED to withdraw from WiredWest with thanks. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Magi, as Selectboard Chair, signed the letter. 8. Perfected Orange Ambulance Contract--Young said that last week Orange sent three different versions of the ambulance contract which they had deemed acceptable. Young said that the important term is that on March 31, 2017 we can inform Orange in writing of our intent to withdraw from the contract effective July 1, 2017. Pruyne MOVED to authorize the Selectboard Chair to sign the revised contract for Orange Ambulance service. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 9. Town Hall Elevator--Young said that while he was out of town the Fire Department handled the annual elevator inspection. He said that the elevator failed inspection for the third time in a row, this time for a heat/smoke/fire sensor located in the hoist way. The State Inspector wants this sensor removed from the hoist way, and we have 60 days to comply. Young explained that the Town pays someone licensed to service elevators to stand by and oversee the work that is performed by the electrician. Erviti asked if the State Elevator Inspector can show a law or code that says the sensor cannot be where it is. Young said that he knows we face fines if we fail to comply with the order within the prescribed 60-day timeframe. There was a consensus of the Board to have Young check to see if a code or law exists to support the State Inspector's determination. Young noted that there are other sensors that will detect fire in or around the elevator. 10. Selectboard Reports--No reports this meeting. 11. Coordinator Report--Nothing was added to the written Coordinator report. 12. Public Comment--Steve Ruggiero gave notice of his intent to file a complaint against the Tree Warden for cutting down a tree in front of his parents' home. Young and Magi both said that the complaint must be made in writing; Ruggiero said that he would submit a written complaint. He also asked if the Town has an eBay account; Young said that Warwick does not. Ruggiero objected to the old Town Hall kitchen range having been hauled away for scrap by the people who delivered the new range rather than being put up for sale after being declared surplus property. Young said that Liz Whipple took delivery of the new range while he was away on bereavement leave and was told that the insides of the old stove were all burned out. Magi said that Mrs. Whipple did call her and she gave the OK for the company to haul away the old range. 13. New and Other Business Unanticipated at Time of Meeting Posting--None. IV.Adjournment At 7:02 p.m., Erviti MOVED to adjourn. Pruyne SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Documents consulted at this meeting: *Draft Minutes of Selectboard meeting of August 1, 2016 *Coordinator Report dated August 11, 2016 *List of Appointments for Election Workers from Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo *Proposed Structure of Personnel Policies and Procedures, first draft authored by Dawn Magi dated August 15, 2016