Board of Selectmen APPROVED 2/23/09
Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2009

Present: Chairman Martell, Selectman Huber, Selectman Martin, Finance Committee Chairman John Trickey, Fred VanDerbeck, Gwen Hubler, K. Leahey

Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m.

Presentation of Selectmen’s Budget: Selectmen’s Assistant Kim Leahey presented her prepared budget for FY10. The budget is essentially level-funded. Chairman Martell asked if the Selectmen’s and Office expense lines could be combined into one line, Chairman Trickey saw no reason why not. Trickey said the budget was a “job well done” and the members of the Finance Committee left the meeting to meet with Treasurer/Collector Edna Holloway.

Approval of Minutes:  Selectman Huber motioned to accept the minutes of the Executive Session held on January 12, 2009; Selectman Martin seconded; motion passed unanimously. Huber motioned to accept the minutes of the meeting held on January 26, 2009; Martin seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Liaison Reports:

Fire Department: Martin passed out statistics of both Fire and Police departments.

Police Department: Martin passed out statistics. Huber asked if the board had discussed “breaking down further” the Motor Vehicle Violation line. Martin said that it had been discussed but not acted upon. Huber expressed that he thought it would be important to make “Speeding” one line item. Lieutenant Thomann said that he could do it whichever way the Board requested. After discussion, Thomann offered to break down violations as speeding and ‘other’ in the future. Selectmen agreed.

Library: Huber reports nothing new other than the Gates Foundation grant.

Schools: Selectman Huber reported that FY10 budgets are currently being discussed and that Pelham Elementary school principal Rena Moore has proposed $56,000 in cuts.

Energy Committee: Huber mentioned that a meeting is being set up with Umass regarding the possibility of buying electricity through systems being developed.

DPW:  Martell reported that the recent weather has made a lot of overtime necessary. Martell also reported that Superintendent Adamcek has informed him that the boiler at the DPW building needs to be re-gasketed. He believes it will cost “a couple thousand” dollars. There was discussion regarding putting it on the annual Town Meeting warrant.

Town Hall: Martell reports that the Hall is running smoothly.

New Business:

• Joe Larson spoke to the Selectmen regarding a grant proposal that he has authored which would provide funds to paint, repair windows and doors and repair or replace the fire escape of the old Town Hall. Joe reminded the Selectmen that he would be meeting with an engineer the next day to assess the Fire escape and invited them to join them. Joe said that he is going to push for a “ballpark” figure; he also indicated that he is uncomfortable asking for signatures before the ‘real’ budget is developed so he presented a document which would empower the chairman to sign all documents. Joe will approach Chairman Martell once he receives the budget figures. The Town Clerk must sign off attesting to the document being a “true copy”.
• Joe reported that the grant must be submitted by February 20 and that it is a matching grant for which the town must be prepared to pay half of the $45,000 total ($22,750).
• Joe also stated that the work cannot start until November 1, 2009 and then must be completed by June of 2010 and, that the town is required to have 75% of the total funds “available”.
• In response to a question, Joe stated that DPW Superintendent Adamcek is “confident” that the work can be completed in the time allotted.

Huber motioned to allow Martell to authorize the work by his signature only/Martin seconded/motion passed unanimously.

Old Business:

• Gates foundation grant: Huber made a motion to pledge $1,300 in anticipation of receiving the Gates Foundation grant for the Library/Martin seconded/motion passed unanimously.
• Amherst Road: what is the “next step”? According to our last communication with Kopelman and Paige, a letter needs to be sent to all the property owners. Kim will call Jeanne McKnight and inquire if the Selectmen should meet one on one with the owners or hold a meeting to impart the information regarding the realignment of the roadway.
• Selectman Huber informed the Board that he would be unavailable from the seventeenth to the twenty-fourth of April.
• Chairman Martell informed the Board that he would be out of the state from March 3 to March 12.

Martin motioned to adjourn at 6:52 p.m.; Huber seconded; meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Kim Leahey
Administrative Aide