Town of Warwick Selectboard August 5, 2013 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Nick Arguimbau, Patricia Lemon (arrived at 6:26 pm) Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Jon Calcari, Paula Lundgren Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall. Public Comment Young said that he had received a petition accompanied by photographs dated in April of this year regarding the dust on Old Winchester Road. He noted that he will place the issue on the next agenda. Minutes Arguimbau MOVED to approve the minutes of July 22, 2013 as printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. MGL Chapter 268 Section 20D Exemption --Young explained that he had hired Reva Reck to perform additional work on the Warwick Broadband System database, to assess security on Town computers with an emphasis on virus protection, and the institution of cloud-based automatic backup on Town Hall computers. Arguimbau MOVED to grant Reva Reck a Chapter 268 Section 20D exemption for a contract with the Town not to exceed $800.00 for internet security, database maintenance and cloud back-up. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. 2. Library Trustee Appointments --Young said that the Library Trustees have requested that Elaine Reardon be appointed to serve out the remainder of Janet Alden's term, and that Andrea Woods be appointed to serve the rest of Ann Miner's term. Both Alden and Miner resigned last month. Arguimbau MOVED to appoint Elaine Reardon and Andrea Woods as Library Trustees to fill the unexpired terms of Janet Alden and Ann Miner, respectively. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0. 3. Franklin Solid Waste Management District Representative--Young explained that Julie Hubbard has resigned as the Town's representative to the FSWMD. He said that one of the Transfer Station Commissioners may be interested, but he will have to wait until their next meeting to find out who will be willing to fill the position. 4. Geese Control on Moore's Pond--Young said that he had ordered signs that have now shipped. The signs will read "do not feed wildlife". Young also noted that a letter went out to all residents of the Moore's Pond area advising them of the Selectboard adoption of a policy prohibiting the feeding of Canada geese at the Town Beach. Young also recommended that the Board begin thinking about possible actions to take during the next breeding season. J. Calcari mentioned hunting the geese, and Chief of Police David Shoemaker said that it is illegal to shoot across a road or within 150 feet of a road. A hunter may, with the property owner's permission, hunt from land as long as they do not violate any laws with regards to shooting across or near roads. 5. Police Department--Chief Shoemaker said that Route 78 will be closed to commercial traffic on Wednesday, August 7th while the Highway Department replaces a culvert in the vicinity of the Metzger property on Orange Road. He said that there will be a detour set up and extra patrols out to assist. The Chief said that there was another break-in, this time of an unoccupied dwelling on Hockanum Road. He said that the break-in occurred at night, and that about $10.00 worth of copper was stolen. The Chief urged that everyone be vigilant and call the Police at anytime if something seems suspicious. He pointed out that back-up is available to our police department from Orange, Northfield and Winchester. The Chief reported that his department now has two electronic control devices, also known as tazers. He and Officer Powling are authorized by the State to carry the tazers, and they will be training more officers within the next few months. The Chief encouraged the Board and the public to attend the practical tests the officers must pass before being allowed to carry the weapons. 6. Loose Dog Fee Schedule--Chief Shoemaker turned this discussion over to Animal Control Officer Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, after saying that he had read her Email containing the proposed changes and that he supported the idea of getting the fee schedule "out of the 70's". Fratangelo Calcari said that Board Chair Magi had asked her to draft a proposal to raise the loose dog fees for discussion at this meeting. She noted that the current fees were set by the Selectboard in 1999, and that they are way below the average for most towns. The ACO proposed to change the current fees of $25.00 for a first offense and $50.00 for second and subsequent offenses to $50.00 for a first offense, $75.00 for a second offense and $100.00 for a third and any subsequent offenses. She said that the Board could consider these fees as being over the lifetime of the dog, or per each fiscal year. The ACO further proposed that an additional fee of $20.00 be instituted if a loose dog is found to be unlicensed, and a $20.00 fee if the dog is found to be unvaccinated against rabies. She also suggested that the Pick-Up fee be raised from $10.00 to $15.00 and the daily Boarding Fee be raised from $3.00 to $5.00. Fratangelo Calcari said that now she only charges a pick-up fee if she picks up the dog, but recommended that this be changed so that if anyone else brings a loose dog to the ACO that the pick-up fee still be charged. She further recommended the adoption of a leash law and a set of updated dog control by-laws be brought before the Town Meeting in 2014. Lemon asked that the ACO write up a proposed fee schedule for discussion at the next meeting. She agreed to do so. 7. Warwick Fire Department and FRCOF Fire Service Survey--Young explained that FRCOG sent out a fire service survey that is due by Wednesday, August 14th. He said that he forwarded the survey to Fire Chief Ron Gates, but said that he needed a commitment from Chief Gates to complete the survey, or have a Board member fill it out. 8. Selectboard Reports-- There were no reports given at this meeting. 9. Coordinator Report--Young said that our Chapter 90 money has been solidified for FY 14, and that the Town will receive $227,983.00. Young noted that this amount is roughly half of what is needed to complete all necessary projects. Young said that resident Richard Field contacted him regarding staring up the Farmer's Market. He said that he would post something on the "L" and also ask him to set up at Old Home Days. Young said that he received a letter from property owner Steve Clark regarding land he owns that a solar developer has shown interest in purchasing. Clark wanted to know if the Town had any interest in keeping the land as open space. Young said that he forwarded the letter to the Open Space and Forestry Committees. Young said that he will include the dog fee schedule and dust on the roads issues on the next agenda. Arguimbau inquired about the change in the PVRSD assessment. Young said that about $8,000.00 has been cut from the funds voted at our Annual Town Meeting. 10. New and Other Business--Young said that Athol Road needed to be closed for Old Home days. This is done annually by a vote of the Board. Lemon MOVED to close Athol Road on August 24 and 25, 2013, for Old Home Days. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Lemon said that WiredWest will hold a meeting at Warwick Town Hall on Saturday, August 10th at 9:30am. She noted that this marks the second anniversary of the incorporation of WiredWest. Lemon mentioned the recent Selectboard vote in Springfield, VT that all apartments be inspected annually, as she thought this might be a good idea to adopt here in Warwick. Young said that he would have to see how the laws in Massachusetts govern this. Chief Shoemaker said that a main idea of inspections was to allow the fire department to identify the location of the utilities, exits, stairwells and roof access. Young said that he would discuss this matter with the Fire Chief. 11. Buildings and Energy Committee Appointment--Young said that the Buildings and Energy Committee has identified a potential new member. Kevin Smith had stepped forward to serve on the committee. Lemon MOVED to appoint Kevin Smith to the Buildings and Energy Committee to serve out the unexpired term of James Toth. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. V. Adjournment At 7:02 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari