Pelham Selectboard
Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2009

Meeting called to order by Chairman Edward Martin at 6:01 p.m. Administrative Aide Leahey was absent for the first few minutes of the meeting.

Approval of Minutes:

Selectman Martell motioned to approve the minutes of the October 5, 2009 meeting/Chairman Martin seconded/motion passed unanimously.

Liaison reports:
School Committee: No report.
Library: No report.
Fire and Police Departments: Activity reports provided.
DPW: Martin reported that the department continues to service the roads and also to cut up wood by the side of the roads.
Town Offices: Martin reported that half a dozen residents of Amherst Road had sent back their waivers of damages.

Citizen’s Comment:
None

New Business:

• Chairman Martin presented a letter written by Cinda Jones of Cowl’s Lumber regarding some illegal dumping of furniture and such that has happened recently on Cowl’s’ land located in Pelham. Ms. Jones acknowledged that the illegal dumping is ultimately Cowl’s’ problem but she also enumerated how other area towns with Cowl’s land deal with the issue: neighbors or boy scouts picking up the debris or having a dumpster brought in for a clean up day. Ms. Jones was looking for ideas and also warning that, if it continues, it may be necessary for Cowl’s to post their land and townspeople would lose access to the many recreational and esthetic uses.

Martin recalled that several years ago the Sheriff’s department had offered to send inmates to clean up the roadways but that the idea met with opposition from the DPW. He suggested that it might be an idea worth revisiting at this time.

Selectman Huber suggested that Ms. Jones be informed that we are in the process of rewriting the fineable bylaws and perhaps could include illegal dumping in that edit.

• Underground Storage Tank: Chairman Martin reported that the tank was tested today and, while it is not leaking, the ‘diodes’ that monitor leakage need to be replaced. In order to do that the tank needs to be dug up. Selectmen remarked upon the proposed new regulations which state, according to Martell, that by 2012 an ‘operator’ will need to be on duty during every hour that pumping will occur and three (3) employees need to be trained for the job in order to qualify for the duty. By 2017, the tank needs to be out of the ground.

Selectmen reported that DPW Superintendent Adamcek would like to remove the tank and replace it with an above ground tank.Given the expense involved, Chairman Martin suggested that the Town needs to come up with an alternative plan regarding gas storage or consumption. He suggested that the Town approach area gas stations to see if one would be willing to have the Town vehicles fill up at their facility and then bill the Town on a monthly or weekly basis. He reported that Red’s in Amherst has been approached and is reported to be agreeable to the concept.

There is purportedly 800 gallons of gasoline in the underground tank at this time. The Town has been told that it would cost $5/gallon to empty the tank. Martell suggested that, if it came to that, he would rather see residents of Pelham get ten gallons apiece for free and empty the tank in that manner.

Martin, Adamcek and Martell will be going to Shutesbury and Leverett the following day to see their (new) above ground tank systems.

The Board also discussed briefly that if the DEP demands action within thirty days, perhaps an emergency purchase could be made or an article put on the Spring Town Meeting warrant.

The Board noted that Adamcek paid $1.92/gallon recently and that for FY09, 3000 gallons was used by the Town.

• Town Meeting – The Board said that Gwen Hubler of the finance committee will be addressing questions regarding the first three articles and, they assume that in Joe Larson’s absence (he’s in Italy visiting family), he has made arrangements for a member of the Historical Society will answer questions regarding question #4.
• Energy Committee – Selectman Huber is looking for someone else to take over the “secretarial” duties of the Energy Committee. Huber says that the members of the committee are no longer “super motivated” and it has been difficult to get a quorum for meetings. He is of the opinion that the committee may be disbanded.
• Fred Vanderbeck suggested that the Board be prepared for questions during the Town Meeting regarding why the Warrant was not sent home. He also suggested that the various department and board heads be forewarned regarding budget cuts in anticipation of the cuts that the State is making and, finally, he wondered if money appropriated at the June 2009 Town Meeting for the repair of the fire escape will be returned given that the grant upon which the appropriation depended was not awarded.

Chairman Martin motioned to adjourn/Martell seconded/motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Kim Leahey