Town of Warwick Selectboard August 9, 2010 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Linda Perkins, Jon Calcari, Paula Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Arguimbau called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. in the Town Hall. II. Public Comment None. III. Minutes Lemon presented the Board with her changes to the minutes of the previous meeting. Magi MOVED to accept the minutes of July 26 with Patricia Lemon's corrections. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Reconsider Minutes of June 28, 2010 -- Young said that Historical Society president Larry Carey took exception to the June 28, 2010 Selectboard minutes, which indicated that the WHS had committed to spending $15,000.00 for labor to remedy the moisture problems in the building. There had been discussion, but no vote was ever taken, and therefore no true commitment could be put on the record. Lemon MOVED that the minutes of June 28, 2010 be corrected to remove what is stated about the WHS that reflects a commitment or vote and replace that with "discussion". Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. 2. Consideration of Employee Grievance Hearing Request -- Young recommended that the Board grant the grievance hearing request. In anticipation of an affirmative vote, Young had posted the meeting for Tuesday, August 10th at 10 am in Town Hall. He noted that Town Counsel will be present. Arguimbau MOVED to grant the employee's request for a grievance hearing solely for the specific incident which resulted in his demotion and the accuracy of statements made by other witnesses, and what steps he is taking to insure no such incident will occur again. Motion died for lack of a second. Magi MOVED to hold a grievance hearing tomorrow, August 10, 2010, at 10 am. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. 3. Approval of Chapter 90 Wendell Road Culvert Project for Submission to DOT -- Young said that he and Highway Superintendent Tim Kilhart would like to submit the Chapter 90 project request to repair the Wendell Road box culvert. He explained that bids are opening in two weeks, but approval must first be received from the state before bids can be taken. The project would allow for repairs to be made during this construction season, provided the state approves the project and the Selectboard approves a bid. Lemon MOVED to submit Chapter 90 Wendell Road culvert repair project to Massachusetts DOT for approval. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Temporary Closing of Athol Road for Old Home Days -- This is done every year for Old Home Days. Lemon MOVED to close Athol Road between Route 78 and Hotel Road on August 28 and 29, 2010 for Old Home Days. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. 5. Special Municipal Employee Designation and MGL 268A:20(d) Exemption -- Young said that this should be done so that a Board of Health member, in this case Dick Whiting, could on occasion work as the Transfer Station Attendant and receive compensation. Magi MOVED to declare the position of Board of Health member as a Special Employee and to grant MGL Chapter 268A Section 20D exemption to Richard O. Whiting. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. 6. COA and Cooling Center -- Young said that he met with Council on Aging Chair Carol Foote, and they are both in favor of an appropriately sized window air conditioner for the Town Hall dining room. The COA will pay for the unit from grant funds; Young will procure the item. He will contact the Tech School to see if students can add a 220 volt circuit to accommodate the 25,000 BTU air conditioning unit. Young noted that the Buildings and Energy Committee voted 4-1-1 to advise the Selectboard that establishing a cooling station is not an appropriate town function. Young plans to proceed with the purchase of the air conditioner, and the COA supports this. 7. DCR Forest Survey --Young said that the Department of Conservation and Recreation is establishing new zoning for park lands and forest lands, which will result in some state land off limits to logging. The DCR is asking the Town to complete an online survey regarding state forest practices by September 3, 2010. He noted Planning Board Chair Ted Cady is familiar with this. Lemon MOVED that the Board have a wi-fi enabled computer available at the next regularly scheduled meeting, complete the survey collaboratively and to invite Ted Cady to participate. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. 8. Selectboard Reports -- Lemon said that Jim Barry, the Green Communities District Manager for the Western Massachusetts Region and a Selectman in Belchertown, is willing to speak to the Board for an informational session on green communities. He is unable to meet on Monday evenings, so the Board must schedule a meeting on a different day of the week or a different time on a Monday. Young pointed out that the scheduling of a meeting is legal to accomplish via Email, as it does not involve deliberation. Lemon said that she and Tim Kilhart met with Ellen Cummings from Verizon on August 6th regarding the poles for Gale Road. Lemon will follow up and keep watch on the situation until the poles are set and the project is completed. 9. Town Coordinator Report -- Young gave the Board six copies of the state primary election warrant, which require all members to sign every copy. The election will be held Tuesday, September 14th. Young said that the Community Development Block Grant has met the goal of six projects in Town, but as the cost was less than originally anticipated, leftover funds remain. He will be getting the information out to Warwick residents who may be eligible for a grant. Young showed Jack Cadwells' rendering of the ADA complaint message board to be placed outside Town Hall near the handicapped accessible entrance. The board will be lit and have two doors; behind each door there will be space for six 8 1/2" by 11" notices. Young reported that Brian Miner is working on the drainage around Town Hall. He said that Finance Committee member Kevin Alden showed him an article in the Greenfield Recorder about a school in Conway with roof and sprinkler system problems. Young said that he will be contacting the Massachusetts School Building Authority to see if any financial help can be found for WCS sprinkler and roof repairs. Young said that the Worker's Comp audit for FY 10 resulted in a refund of $481.00, and will also lower the basis for the next year's premium. 10. New and Other Business -- None. V. Adjournment At 7:13 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Magi SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari