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TOWN OF HOPEDALE 78 Hopedale Street - P.O. Box 7 Hopedale, Massachusetts 01747
Tel: 508-634-2203 Fax: 508-634-2200 |
Board of Selectmen Michael E. Collins, Chm. Alan J. Ryan Robert P. Burns
Town Coordinator Eugene N. Phillips |
Board of Selectmen Minutes
May 19, 2008
Selectman Collins stated that former Chairman Louis Arcudi had stepped down and introduced Robert Burns as the new member of the Board of Selectmen, having won the recent town election. Selectman Ryan nominated Selectman Michael Collins as the new Board Chairman.
MSDV to appoint Selectman Michael Collins as the new Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Robert Burns – Aye, and Alan Ryan – Aye.
Chairman Collins convened the meeting at 7:10 p.m. and moved into the agenda. Present: Michael Collins, Chairman; Selectman Alan Ryan, Selectman Robert Burns, Town Coordinator Eugene Phillips, Executive Assistant Patricia Goodwin, and Artie Maggiore, videographer.
MSDV to approve the regular session minutes of May 6, 2008. Chairman Collins – Aye and Alan Ryan – Aye.
MSDV to approve Police Lieutenant Giovanella’s contract for February 4, 2008 through June 30, 2011. Chairman Collins – Aye; Alan Ryan – Aye, and Robert Burns – Aye.
A review of recent correspondence took place.
Correspondence has been relatively slow over the past two weeks. There have been no new appointments or resignations. Selectman Burns suggested that the Board of Selectmen meetings should begin with a list of any vacancies on the various boards/committees so that residents are aware of what positions are available. This information is currently posted on the local cable station and town website.
MSDV to announce any vacancies on the various town boards and/or committees during the Board of Selectmen meetings. Chairman Collins – Aye; Alan Ryan – Aye, and Robert Burns – Aye.
Chairman Collins moved to new business.
Coordinator Phillips reminded all of the upcoming Annual Town Meeting, which is scheduled for the following week on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jr./Sr. High School auditorium. Bob Moro has agreed to participate as the acting Town Moderator, due to a prior commitment of Judge Larkin. The Town Clerk, Janet Jacaruso, will open nominations for Mr. Moro as acting Town Moderator at the commencement of the meeting. Mr. Phillips commented that Mr. Moro has reviewed all the articles in preparation for the meeting.
The budget for the annual town meeting has been finalized. Mr. Phillips suggested that a rule of the town meeting should be proposed and then voted on by the members to agree that any motions to add to the budget would require the identification of which budget the additional monies would be taken from. If the rule were to be rejected, an addition to any budget would require funding. In this scenario, the result would most likely require a Proposition 2 ½ override, which would require a town meeting vote by ballot within 90 days of town meeting.
National Grid has indicated that the cost of electricity for basic service customers will be increasing by 12% to 19% within the region, depending upon a customer’s location and usage. The increase, which starts in May, applies to the electric supply portion of the bill for basic service customers, which is the cost of electricity purchased from companies producing the electricity. Basic service prices reflect the current market prices for natural gas and crude oil, which are the fuels used to generate electricity. National Grid provided the following link for obtaining a list of suppliers licensed by the Mass. DPU that may be able to offer a lower price for generation supply: http:///www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/business/energychoice/4_supplier_list.asp
This notification letter was sent to business customers.
Chairman Collins moved to old business on the agenda.
Fire Chief Scott Garland commented that a proposed ambulance purchase did not get placed onto the warrant for the Town Meeting and that the purchase would not happen until the middle half of the upcoming fiscal year. Chief Garland asked whether it would be possible to place the ambulance purchase onto the next special town meeting in December and to have a discussion on this prior to that meeting. Chief Garland commented that he has not received proposals for replacement vehicles yet. Selectman Ryan suggested that the Chief put together a list of expenses involved in purchasing a second ambulance. Coordinator Phillips stated that Chief Garland would need to prioritize all capital planning items, which are scheduled out in detail. Selectman Burns
questioned why the Fire Department is upgrading the ambulance. Chief Garland stated that this is a scheduled replacement, due to wear and tear. Each year maintenance costs increase, as does down time associated with the maintenance. The Chief noted that there were three incidents of down time this past year, noting that a replacement would save the town money in the long run. Selectman Burns asked Chief Garland to bring documentation to the next meeting of the frequency, length and reasons for last year’s down time.
A continuing discussion took place regarding the McVitty parcel of land at 507 Green Street, which had been in tax title and was released by the town treasurer to the Board of Selectmen and Conservation Commission for conservation and passive recreational use. Town counsel informed Coordinator Phillips that the wording “passive recreational use” would not include ball fields. It was suggested that the wording of the motion be changed to “for recreation and other municipal purposes”. The recent environmental site assessment has been completed on Parcel A at Harmony Estates, and the parcel has received a clean bill of health. The Board will move forward with the plan to combine both parcels for recreational and municipal usage.
Coordinator Phillips continued a discussion of the Mill Street Bridge. The water level had dropped last Tuesday and Wednesday, basically turning the Spindleville Pond into a “mud flat”. Mr. Phillips contacted Mass. Highway to alert them to these unacceptable conditions. Mass. Highway worked on Friday and Saturday rebuilding the coffer dam to allow the water to rise back up to its previous level. The designs are being completed tomorrow and he expects that the boring will commence within three weeks, which should take 30 days to complete on the east side of the bridge. It is hoped that the permitting process will be completed in time for the boring to take place on the west side and to have the deck installed by December.
With no further business before them at 7:40 p.m. a motion was made by Selectman Ryan and made unanimous by Chairman Collins to adjourn the meeting and not to reconvene RCV: Michael Collins, Chm. – Aye; Alan Ryan – Aye, and Robert Burns – Aye.
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Michael E. Collins, Chairman Robert P. Burns
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Alan J. Ryan
Hopedale Board of Selectmen
Moved, Seconded, Discussed and Voted **Roll Call Vote
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