Board of Selectmen Minutes
February 4, 2008
Chairman Arcudi convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and moved into the agenda. Present: Selectman Michael Collins, Selectman Alan Ryan, Town Coordinator Eugene Phillips, Executive Assistant Patricia Goodwin and Artie Maggiore, videographer.
MSDV to approve the regular session minutes of January 7 and January 22, 2008.
Coordinator Phillips discussed the receipt of the cell tower closing statement with proceeds in the amount of $548,769.00 to be paid to the Town of Hopedale. All documentation is now ready for Chairman Arcudi’s signature of authorization, as approved at the last Board of Selectmen meeting held on January 22, 2008.
A Mass. Highway Chapter 90 Reimbursement Request has been prepared in the amount of $191,007.16 by the Highway department to cover expenses for the Northrop Street project, which requires the signature of the Board.
MSDV to approve the Chapter 90 Reimbursement Request as specified. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Selectman Ryan acknowledged the receipt of a letter to the Board from Joanne Francis regarding a parcel of land abutting her property which is being used by the abutting industrial business to dump debris and piles of earth. Her concerns are that the debris is unsightly; possibly poses a safety threat, and has a detrimental effect on her property value. She is requesting further investigation of the matter. Selectman Ryan asked that a copy of the letter be provided to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building Commissioner. Coordinator Phillips will provide copies to each for review to ascertain whether there are any violations.
The Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, Joseph Deliso, has requested to be placed onto the agenda at one of the upcoming Board of Selectmen meetings to update the Board members on the progress of the Blackstone Valley Infrastructure Mapping and Development Project. Coordinator Phillips will contact Mr. Deliso to schedule a date and time.
The Intermunicipal Agreement between Hopedale and Mendon for emergency ambulance services has been reviewed by Town Counsel and is being forwarded via overnight mail for signature by the Board of Selectmen. Coordinator Phillips requested that signatures be obtained prior to the meeting with the Town of Mendon on Monday evening, February 11th.
Selectman Ryan discussed a news article regarding a recycling incentive program being offered by a Philadelphia company, RecycleBank. They are now contacting various waste management companies in Massachusetts. All recyclables are discarded into the 64 gallon RecycleBank container, which has a chip embedded that will identify each home’s recyclables. The contents are weighed and the weight is translated into RecycleBank “dollars” that can be redeemed at 350 local and national rewards partners. He felt that this may be a good way to get residents to recycle and suggested passing along the article to the Board of Health.
Chairman Arcudi moved on to new appointments.
Police Chief Costanza recommended the promotion of Sgt. Mark Giovanella to the rank of Lieutenant. He is a fourteen-year veteran of the police force and holds a Masters degree in Criminal Justice. Additionally, Police Chief Costanza recommended the promotion of Donald Martin to the rank of Sergeant. Officer Martin is a nine-year veteran of the police force and holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and is working towards his Masters degree.
MSDV to accept the appointment of Mark Giovanella to the rank of Lieutenant, and to accept the appointment of Donald Martin to the rank of Sergeant for the Town of Hopedale. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Fire Chief Scott Garland recommended the appointment of Jeffrey Beckwith to Call Firefighter for the Town of Hopedale. Mr. Beckwith is a career firefighter in Framingham and is certified to the level of EMT-Intermediate. Fire Chief Garland also recommended the appointment of James Kellett, III as a Substitute Call Firefighter. Mr. Kellett is a certified PADI scuba diver and is enrolled in an upcoming EMT course.
MSDV to accept the appointment of Jeffrey Beckwith as a Call Firefighter and to accept the appointment of Mr. Kellett as a Substitute Call Firefighter for the Town of Hopedale. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
An announcement was made regarding the upcoming Police & Fireman’s Ball scheduled for March 1, 2008. Police Chief Costanza requested that for those interested in attending, he be contacted very quickly regarding tickets, as there is limited room.
Coordinator Phillips requested the opening of the Public Hearing session at 7:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussing Building department fee increases. Chairman Arcudi made the motion to open the Public Hearing. The fee increases were reviewed for the Building department, and Electrical, Plumbing and Gas fees. The current fee schedules are five-six years old and the newly proposed fees represent a 10-12% increase across the board. Selectman Collins asked how the new rates compared to surrounding towns. They are comparable to Milford and the towns east of Hopedale. Jim Carroll of the Finance Committee commented that they have also reviewed the proposed increases.
MSDV to approve the increase in the Building department, Electrical, and Plumbing and Gas permit fees. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Chairman Arcudi discussed the requested rate increase in the Zoning Board application fee from $100 to $200 in order to cover increased advertising expenses.
MSDV to approve the Zoning Board of Appeals application rate increase. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Chairman Arcudi requested questions from the audience. As there were none posed, the public hearing was closed and the meeting moved to the regularly scheduled agenda.
First on the agenda were new business items.
A new Class I license for Hopedale Motorsports and Electric Vehicles was reviewed by the Board. A special permit to operate was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals with restrictive conditions applied to the issuance of the license.
MSDV to approve the Class I license for Hopedale Motorsports and Electric Vehicles. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
A Special Event/Club License was requested by the Union Evangelical Church for one evening for the purpose of a Travis-Sawyer fund-raising dinner.
MSDV to approve the one evening Club License for the Union Evangelical Church. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Fire Chief Scott Garland reviewed the requested increase in the current ambulance fee rates, which were last increased in June of 2006 and represents an 11.5% increase.
MSDV to approve the increase in the ambulance fees. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Fire Chief Scott Garland reviewed the 2008 Medicare recommended rates from Coastal Medical Billing for the Fire department. Medicare pays 80% of the maximum allowable rate and the Fire department accepts what Medicare allows and they have a high collection rate for the balance, due to demographics.
MSDV to approve the recommended increases in the Medicare fee schedule. Lou Arcudi, Chairman – Aye; Michael Collins – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Coordinator Phillips commented that several months ago a temporary employee was hired to work in the accounting department to research the bills received from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the two schools that were built – the Memorial School in 1995-1996 and the High School in 2001 – for the purpose of determining if everything submitted was accurate and appropriate. The Authority reported substantial ineligible amounts that we have been investigating. It was discovered that several items for the high school should have been billed to the Memorial school. We will need to go back through the items to determine what should have been billed to each. There are 10 days from the receipt of the report to approve or disapprove the draft report. A letter or response was
forwarded to the School Building Authority stating that we were rejecting the draft report as presented and that we would further investigate the charges in question. There is also $75K in landscaping bills for the High School which they claim exceeded the window of opportunity, as defined by one year from the occupancy of the school. The delay is believed to have been weather-related. It appears that there is $1.5 million that we will not be reimbursed based upon the audit. A rebuttal to the School Building Authority is being prepared and Coordinator Phillips expects that he will be invited to attend one of their monthly hearing meetings.
Coordinator Phillips was contacted by Patricia Ruane, Superintendent of Schools regarding a problem with the roof leaking at the Memorial school. The leaks are in the old section of the roof, which was last replaced 13 years ago. The original specs called for a 15-year life expectancy on the flat portion of the roof, and 30 years on the remainder of the roof. The extent of the necessary renovations will need to be determined, as well as funding for the cost of the repairs. Any replacement/repair work will take place during the summer months. Chairman Arcudi requested ongoing updates on the status.
Chairman Arcudi moved to old business on the agenda.
The town flag design has been created which is based upon the town seal. The project is moving along and funding is being requested.
The Mill Street Bridge project is currently 2-3 weeks behind schedule. The installation of the footbridge is to begin this week and the footings are there. The Fire Chief commented that there have been no issues with public safety.
Coordinator Phillips commented that he has received most of the departmental budgets for 2009, with the outstanding budgets due today. From what has been received, the town is about $1,000,000 in the red. Budget reviews are being conducted.
With no further business before them at 8:15 p.m. a motion was made by Selectman Ryan and made unanimous by Chairman Arcudi and Selectman Collins to enter into executive session not to reconvene. RCV: Louis Arcudi Chm. –Aye; Michael Collins – Aye; and Alan Ryan –Aye.
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Louis J. Arcudi III, Chairman Michael E. Collins
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Alan J. Ryan
Hopedale Board of Selectmen
Moved, Seconded, Discussed and Voted **Roll Call Vote
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