Board of Selectmen      APPROVED 1/26/09
Meeting Minutes
January 12, 2009

Present: William Martell, Edward Martin, James Huber, Kim Leahey, Gary Thomann, Mary Carey, John Trickey, Michael Hussin, Tracy Farnham, Dave Goldin, Ray Murphy, Rick Adamcek, Joseph Larson, Tilman Lukas, Alberta Booth, Gail Berube, Gwen Hubler, Jonathan Woodbridge, Jeff Eiseman, Adam Novitt, Kathy Weilerstein

Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes:

• Selectman Huber motioned to accept, as written, the minutes of the Selectboard meeting held on December 8, 2008. Selectman Martin seconded, motion passed unanimously.
• Selectman Martin motioned to accept, as written, the minutes of the Executive Session held on December 8, 2008. Selectman Huber seconded, motion passed unanimously.
• Selectman Martin motioned to accept, as written, the minutes of the Executive Session held on December 22, 2008. Selectman Huber seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Liaison Reports:

• Ed Martin passed out a report from the Fire Department and Gary Thomann passed out a report from the Police Department. It was noted that both departments had a significant increase in calls due to the December 11th ice storm.
• There were no School or Library reports.
• Chairman Martell reported that the Town Highway department has been “out straight” and that the supply of sand and salt was “going down fast”.
• Martell also reported that things at the Town Hall are “going well”.

Roundtable Meeting:

Finance Committee Chairman John Trickey didn’t pull any punches informing the Board and the various Committee representatives present of the “dire situation” before us (as with the rest of the state/country) for the coming fiscal year. Trickey reported that both Chapter 70 and Lottery revenues are expected to be reduced by 10% each, a loss of about $44,000 for the Town. Trickey informed the Board that they should expect to cut $60 - $70,000 from last year’s appropriations. He also reported that Pelham’s regional school share is expected to rise to $59,000. Trickey assured those present that Town employees would be given a 3% salary increase but said that that amount would then have to be moved from other areas of department budgets in order to maintain level or reduced funding. Trickey reiterated that it will be a very difficult year and that he expects to “hear the worst of it” later in the month after meetings, etc. have taken place.

Trickey then inquired of the various committee and department heads present what their proposed Capital needs for the coming year would be:

• Lieutenant Thomann noted that the single, obvious need of the Police Department is the continued payments for the new Police vehicle. Trickey asked Lt. Thomann to ascertain “what we have put into” the old Impala cruiser in order to help determine the cost effectiveness of its continued use. Thomann promised to look into it.
• Selectman Martin noted that the current Capital plan addresses the needs of the Highway Department but asked Superintendent Adamcek if he anticipated any additional expenditures. Adamcek replied that he is looking into a “decent” ride-on mower and would expect to pay approximately $7,000 for one.

• Fire Department Chief Ray Murphy said that the fourteen units of self-contained breathing apparatus currently owned by the department need to be replaced. The units were purchased used from Amherst some years ago and have now reached the end of their life expectancy. The cost of replacing the fourteen units would be $76,000.
• Schools Committee chair Michael Hussin reported that the meeting to address the budget had to be postponed and, therefore, School needs had not yet been addressed. Hussin reported that the meeting would be rescheduled within the next week or ten days and the committee would then be able to relay the needs of the school.
• Library director Adam Novitt noted the small operating budget of the Library but also expressed concern for the continuation of the approximately $5,000 a year which they receive from the state based upon “matching” funds.  
• Conservation Commission Chairman Tilman Lukas had no requests for Trickey.
• Historical Commission member Joseph Larson informed the Board that the commission plans to apply for a state grant for matching funds which will provide for half of the cost of painting several historic buildings in Town.
• Assessor David Goldin said that the department’s expenses vary little from year to year but that he anticipates that abatements will be significantly lower in FY10 than they were in FY09.
• Zoning Board of Appeals had no requests.
• Building Inspector Chip Lapointe informed the Board that there are “a couple of fairly expensive houses coming online” soon which should help by way of property taxes.

Future Coverage of the Following:

Mema Contact/Emergency Options – after minor discussion, the Selectmen and Lt. Thomann agreed that the MEMA coordinator and the Civil Defense representative should be the same person and also someone who works full-time. Selectman Huber motioned to appoint Thomann as the MEMA and Civil Defense representative/Selectman Martin seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Animal Control Lieutenant Thomann relayed that Animal Control officer Nancy Long wishes to continue in the position but would like for someone else to handle the “paperwork” associated with it. After discussion, Selectman Martin made a motion to appoint Thomann as a second Animal Control officer specifically for the administrative duties/Selectman Huber seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Selectman Martin mentioned briefly that Police Chief Fleury had informed him that he would be resigning from his position on the Hampshire Council of Governments. If/when that happens, it will be the duty of the Selectmen to appoint a replacement until the election in May. Selectmen will take a ‘wait and see’ position and address it in the future, should the need arise.

New Business:

• Wellness checks – All three Selectmen received phone calls from an elderly resident during the recent ice storm which caused significant power outages. The caller wondered if anyone was concerned with checking on people in town who may be affected but unable to communicate with anyone regarding their circumstance. During discussion, Admin Assist Leahey suggested that she put a piece in the Slate asking people if they would like to be on a list of residents to be checked on in such emergencies. Leahey also said that she would speak to Council on Aging       Chairwoman, Alice Suprenant, and COA Outreach liaison Joan Hart for their ideas and input. There was also mention of bringing the topic up with Fire Chief Ray Murphy to determine if there is a place in town where people could be housed in a disaster situation. The availability of back-up generators was also discussed; it was mentioned that MEMA of FEMA may have some available for our use. Discussion will continue at future meetings.

• Selectmen discussed the proposed increase of Plumbing & Gas inspection fees as presented to them in a letter received from Inspector Andy French. After discussion, Selectman Huber motioned to accept French’s increased fee schedule; Selectman Martin seconded, motion passed unanimously.
• Selectmen reviewed a letter sent by an individual requesting permission to pass through Pelham as part of the route for a Bike Race scheduled for April 26, 2009. Selectman Huber motion to approve the request with the stipulation that the Police be contacted before the race commences/Selectman Martin seconded, motion passed unanimously. Leahey will let the petitioner know of the decision and the stipulation.
• Lieutenant Thomann and Leahey spoke of the need for a “ticket” book to be used for non-criminal citations. Thomann had already looked into the printing of tickets such as the sample he supplied from Hadley and reported that the printing company requires a $1,400 minimum order. Leahey told the Selectmen that she is researching other options and would let them know what she finds out.
• John Trickey brought the Selectmen’s attention to an Investment Policy that Collector/Treasurer Edna Holloway had developed in response to the recommendation of Thomas Scanlon and Associates after their last audit.
• Chairman Martell asked if Huber and Martin would agree that a Thank You letter should be written to Belchertown Town Administrator Gary Brougham, thanking him for his offer of two crews to clear roads during the December 11th ice storm and also for his offer of gas/diesel fuel from the Belchertown highway garage. Huber and Martin agreed that it would be an appropriate gesture. Leahey will work on writing the letter.
• Chairman Martell informed the Board that there is a shortfall of about $1,200 in the legal account and other charges are still pending. Selectman Huber motioned to transfer $5,000 from the Reserve account to the Legal account. Selectman Martin seconded, motion passed unanimously. Finance Committee Chairman Trickey requested of Leahey an accounting of all legal charges generated from the projects supported by the Kestral Trust. Trickey and the Selectmen recalled that, at least in the instance of the Keyes property, the Trust emphasized that there would be “no cost to the Town”. Leahey promised to get the numbers to Trickey as soon as possible.

Old Business:

• Amherst Road: In response to the Planning Board’s confusion over its role in the Amherst Road process, Rick will go to the next meeting with a pre-printed non-binding resolution for their signatures. Kim will email Jeanne McKnight requesting a simple one-page document that covers the bases. Selectmen discussed that, although it is beyond the 45 days for a response from the Planning Board and they could go ahead without it, DPW Supervisor Rick Adamcek is recommending that they pursue the Board for their input in order to minimize any questions later in the process.

7:30 p.m. - Chairman William Martell announced that the Board would be going into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to negotiations with non-union personnel and would not return to open meeting.

Martell voted to go into Executive Session.
Selectman Ed Martin voted  to go into Executive Session.
Selectman Jim Huber voted  to go into Executive Session.

The regular session of the Board of Selectmen’s meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.