Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2007
Present: Selectmen Hall, Martin, Martell, Gazette Reporter Mary Carey, Administrative Assistant Kim Leahey, Librarian Adam Novitt, the Library Board of Trustees, Fred VanDerbeck and Gary Thomann.

Meeting called to order by Chairperson Hall at 6 p.m.

Motion to approve the minutes of the October 22, 2007 meeting was made by Bill Martell and seconded by Edward Martin. Motion passed.

LIAISON REPORTS

Police Dept: There was no police report as the chief of police has been away on vacation.

Fire Dept: Chief Ray Murphy had dropped off a report earlier in the day, no discussion.

Library: The Board of Trustees was present to discuss funding and to introduce the new Library director.

Highway: Selectmen Hall and Martin reported that the Dept. has the mower for the next two weeks and will be busy with those duties.

Town Offices: Nothing to report.

INTRODUCTION TO NEW LIBRARIAN
Adam Novitt, recently hired to replace former librarian Rebecca Frank, introduced himself to the Board. He began working a “regular schedule” last week but had come in sporadically before that to assist with State Aid reports.

 His schedule will be: Mondays 1p-8p, Tuesdays 3p-6p, Wednesdays 1p-6p, Thursdays 1p or 3p-6p and every fourth Saturday.

Adam is a recent graduate of Simmons College with a masters in Library Science and, before coming to Pelham, had worked at the Forbes Library in Amherst and also part-time for the DPW in Northampton on their GLS project.

Adam reported having worked on Grant writing while at the Forbes Library and expressed his interest and determination to continue to search out and apply for appropriate grants while in Pelham.

REPORT TO LIBRARY TRUSTEES RE: ANTICIPATED BUILDING REPAIRS
Selectmen advised the Library Board of Trustees that recent problems with the boiler in the Community Building have created a situation of Fiscal concern. Chairman Hall reports that the most recent repairs to the system will cost approximately $5,000 to $7,500. Selectman Martell informed the meeting that this would leave $30,000 in the Building and Grounds expense line which is intended for the maintenance of not only the Community Building but also the Old Town Hall, the highway garage, and the Rhodes building. It is estimated that these funds would last approximately 4 or 5 months.

Selectmen reported that the override not passing “put us in a bind” and that the unexpected problem with the boiler required unforeseen expenditures.

The Trustees

• pointed out that the Community Building hosts 250 meetings a year and provides an invaluable service to the town.
• speculated that had townspeople “known the consequences” of defeating an override (loss of essential services) the vote may have been different – Selectmen offered that they cannot use a “threatening” tone when advocating for an override and repairs to the boiler only became necessary after the vote.
• reminded Selectmen that ongoing fundraising by the Friends of the Library, not Town funds, are what supports and maintains the Library.
• asked if utility costs could be shared with them – Selectmen were agreeable to this and promised to gather the appropriate information.

The Board of Selectmen

• reported that the boiler company is putting together proposals for the town’s consideration and, once they are received by DPW Superintendent Rick Adamcek, the options will be discussed and the Library Trustees will be invited to the discussion.
• report that the boiler is “fixed for now” but ‘for how long’ is unknown.
• assured the Trustees that closing of the Library would be a “last resort” and briefly discussed the idea that closing for the summer months could be a substantial savings due to the cost of air conditioning. (Not a planned action however.)
• in response to a question; reported that utility costs for the three entities (Library, Police and Fire) housed in the Community Building could not be separated out.
• reported that another override vote cannot be taken before Town Meeting in the Spring and then, it would be for fiscal ‘09
• expressed frustration that “the Town does not take in enough [money] to run the Town”.

OTHER BUSINESS

• After Kim reported that Wiring Inspector Doug Rae was requesting an increase in his fee to $30, which would be on par with surrounding towns, Hall made a motion to increase the fee to $30, motion passed unanimously.

• Kim updated the Selectmen on the state of the website and made a request to use the Technology fund to have a new website developed.

After learning that Crocker Communications will no longer support “Front Page”, the software that the site is written in and agreeing that the website is an important resource for the town, the Selectmen agreed to allow Kim to work with Blair Winans of Winans Creative Designs to develop a new website with a budget of $2000 to $2500. They also asked that she get 3 quotes for the hosting of the website.

• Regarding the consolidation of printers/copiers/phone lines, etc. in Kim’s office area: Selectmen approved a $350 expense for Bill Ploran to rewire the phones, remove the unused and underused copier, printers, and scan machines and to wire up and network a multi-use machine that will be copier, fax machine, printer and scanner all in one. The combined cost of the work and the machine will be about $700.

OLD BUSINESS
Ed Martin made a motion to accept Christopher Rice’s resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Martell seconded, motion passed.

Two meetings are left in the year 2007: November 26 and December 17

Edward Martin made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Martell seconded, meeting adjourned at 7:16 pm.

Respectfully submitted
Kim Leahey
November 14, 2007