MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WITH ALL BOARDS AND ALL DEPARTMENTS
February 28, 2008
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen with all boards and all departments took place on Thursday. February 28, 2008. Present were Selectmen James Drawe and Kip Sears. Kip Sears called meeting to order at 7:20 PM. Attending were James Cerone, Building Inspector; Beverly Cooper, Town Accountant; Susan Warriner, Town Treasurer and Tax Collector; Brian Anderson, Finance Committee and Public Safety Building Committee; Dennis Forgea, Police Department, Finance Committee, Fire Department, and Water Commission; Karen Tonelli, Assessor; Allan Douglas, Conservation Commission; Robert Dextraze, Highway Department; John Maruskin, Board of Trustees, Bryant Free Library; Mark DeMaranville, Library Director, Bryant Free Library; Judy Moore, Good Will Messenger Town News Reporter; Theodore Lynds, Board of Health; Judy Bogart, Planning Board; Jack Earls, Board of Health and Board of Assessors; Carla Ness, Historical Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals; Barbara Goldsmith, Taxpayer and Volunteer Worker; Audrey Marcoux, Board of Assessors; and
Scott Keith, Finance Committee.
Kip Sears welcomed all attendees. Kip asked Mark Demaranville to begin with the Departmental Update concerning the Bryant Free Library. Mark reported that the town appropriations are meeting the needs of the Library and the Librarian’s house. The Library will qualify for State Aid. There has been a new roof on the House and the Barn and a concrete floor installed in the House. There is dampness in the House attic but a new ridge vent seems to be alleviating the problem. The attic floor has been insulated. On the to do list is the painting of the House. In the Library there is peeling paint on the south side. Pointing work needs to be done on the Library. Mark has applied for $300 in funds to be used to expand the current CD collection.
Judy Moore reported that she originated the idea of the all Board meeting. Communication problems among governmental bodies in town keep arising. Formal meeting could improve communication and give better understanding of each other’s work. The Good Will Messenger is up and running and Judy will serve as the Town Reporter. John Maruskin added that other articles could be submitted to him or Kathy Harrison. Subscriptions are $10 per year.
Ted Lynds reported for the Board of Health. Long-range plan is to replace the compactor center. He asked if there was another available site. One problem with the current site is the rear C&V wall is collapsing. A new compactor would be more efficient. The Board of Health will submit a budget at level funding. There will be a double or triple increase in hauling fees in the C&D trash will need to go to Chicopee instead of Northampton. That will result in higher sticker fees. The Board has considered a per bag system. The theory is that per bag will help with recycling. Ted is not convinced of that and Cummington has a very high recycle rate with the sticker method. There has been some illegal dumping behind the town shed. Mostly items that have fees associated with them such as tires and refrigerators. The refrigerators need to have the Freon removed at the cost of $35. Fees for capping the old landfill will come in at approximately $15,000. There will be guard rails put up and a sign off letter will be sent by DEP stating that all is covered and in compliance. Judy Bogart reported that there were 4 Perc tests this year compared to 20 last year.
Carla Ness reported for the Historical Commission. The second volume of Only One Cummington is in its last phases before printing. The Clark Museum is restoring and repairing the Ned Hayden painting that was damaged during the Break In in August 07. They are giving us a museum/town rate that is approximately half of market rate to do the work. The Bryant Vase was out on loan during the Break In and now is alarmed for protection. The Historical Commission is working of the preservation of the Collection and computerizing the card catalog. The Commission would welcome volunteers to help in completion of that task. Barbara Goldsmith commented that the Statue that is upstairs in the Building Inspector’s office has some damage to it. The eyes have been painted. Perhaps the Clark would restore that for us. Carla will look into it. Facilities projects are between cycles awaiting the publication of Only One Cummington. There needs to be better archival storage for the longvetity of the collection. There was some deterioration when the collection came to the Historical Commission. A moisture barrier is needed in the crawl space. Stephen Howes is working hard on the Cemetery stones. He is currently working on Dawes Cemetery. Barbara Goldsmith inquired about Gurney Cemetery on Mount Road. Rob reported the Highway Department mowed and raked it once last year.
Judy Bogart reported for the Planning Board. The Board came up with a new bylaw for ridgelines and slopes and it was presented to the Select board that felt it was not needed so the Planning Board shelved it. Sections 8,9,10 have been typed and proofed and sent to Jim Drawe for uploading to the Town of Cummington web site. The Board has worked on the Community Preservation Act. This is a tax that the Hampshire Council of Governments has put on property valued over $100,000. The tax would be a surcharge on current taxes at the rate of one, two, and three percent. The Commonwealth would match the money at a rate of 100%. The money could accrue and be used by Cummington to buy property for preservation and open space and to preserve historical buildings and for affordable housing. The Board will check with Almond Streeter to determine how much space is left in the Town’s cemeteries.
Beverly Cooper reported that the Town of Cummington is in the second year of the new Accounting system. She requested Departments sent the 09 Budget to her for input into the System. All accounts are balanced. The software company has created a vendor report that itemizes all the detail to be used in the Annual Report. The Planning Board requested they be included in the reporting cycle. Accounts Payable is processed every two weeks. Checks are distributed every other Friday. The Town Treasurer processes payroll in the same cycle.
Brian Anderson reported on the Public Safety Complex. There is a revised schedule with an end of April completion date. Brian is working with Sue Warriner, Town Treasurer, on the timing of the borrowing. The work is moving swiftly and Brian thinks the building may be complete by the end of March. Work is progressing much better than before. There was an informational meeting in January where the Committee explained the delays, frustrations, and difficulties with the general contractor and one of the subcontractors. The Committee has been focusing on the building completion. There is a $100 a day penalty in place, which began on November 26th. This penalty is not sufficient to address all the committees concerns. The committee has been supportive of Brian. There is a team who has been conflicting with the contractor. There is a change order for silt fencing and bales of hay because of the water line. There is a large change order to delete items to pay for the extra blasting. The is a change order because DEP changed the rules on the holding tank and the floor drains. There is a change order for a less expensive air purification system. The Committee will keep the town posted as to the changes and process. An operating account will be set up with the 09 Budget. Brian wants to get the contractor to start up the radiant heat. It will take five days to get the radiant heat up to the level of effectiveness and much less energy to keep the level constant.
Dennis Forgea reported that the Police Department responded to 245 calls last year. The State Police responded to 8. Lost Police Officer Lombardi who relocated to South Carolina. The Department has been fortunate with receive Grant Monies. Click it or Ticket Grant, Community Policing Grant, Enforcement Grant, and the Federal CEADEC Grant. The CEADEC will be used to purchase specialized computer equipment at approximately $35,000. The Police have installed security systems in Berkshire Trail and Hingham Elementary School. The system secures the external doors and there is a surveillance camera in the Principal and School Secretary’s office. The Police have signed mutual aid agreements with surrounding towns and a mutual aid agreement with the State. Dennis is working with the new Plainfield Chief Dave Wood. There have been serious accidents on Route 9. The most notable crime last year was the Break In at the Community House in August. The alleged burglars were finally caught and being held in New Hampshire. They will be prosecuted first in New Hampshire, then Connecticut and finally Massachusetts. Cummington did not suffer large loss of money. We suffered damages but have been reimbursed through our insurance. Police Department has new web site. People may use it to download forms. It is www.cummingtonpolice.com. The budgetary process for operating and payroll budgets have started. There will be no drastic increases for 09 budget. The Department needs to replace the 97 GMC Cruiser. The body is falling off the frame. Brian and Dennis are working on a grant to purchase a 4x4 for approximately $35,000. The Federal government will pay 1/3 and Dennis is working on plans to come up with 1/3. The final 1/3 will come from the town’s appropriations. County lockups are working excellently. There is a $910 fee per annum based on population. The State Police have to kick in some, as does the State Legislature. All the necessary facilities are available at the county lockup. The Police are not spending an extraordinary amount of time in Court. The police need to appear for the serious accidents.
Dennis reported on the Fire Department for Bernie Forgea who is vacationing in Florida. Bernie has scheduled an all town meeting for March 14. The meeting is required by MEMA. The basis of the meeting is the continuity of government in an emergency situation. Who will take over command for Selectmen for example? The town is fortunate that the Highway Department staff also serve as Volunteer Firemen. Dennis reported the Fire Equipment is in good shape.
Dennis also reported for the Water Department. The Water Department replaced the pump in West Cummington. The old pump lasted 8 years. The department faces buying two new pumps. One for West Cummington and one for the Ball Field. The ball field system was installed in 1989. Recalibration costs as much as new. New meters will be installed. There are presently 75 connections. A new system for starting and stopping the pump will be needed since Motorola will not support with parts the system that was installed in 1989. A rate increase should be expected. There was one citation from DEP for high lead level in one of five samples. The cause of the high lead was because the system had not been run in a month.
Lastly Dennis reported for the Finance Committee. There are concerns about this year’s budget. Winter road budget is overspent. The Highway Tool and Machinery is overspent. The Committee is awaiting the School Budget. There is very little new growth in town. Beverly has distributed the Budget worksheet for the departments. The departments should complete the budgets and return the worksheets to Beverly. Beverly will forward them to Barbara who will compile them for the Finance Committee to comply into the Town Budget.
Kip discussed the State Aid Figures. The Governor’s numbers are out. The House and the Governor have agreed on the Education numbers. In doubt is the Lottery numbers and the Casino numbers. The House budget will be out the 1st of April. Central Berkshire Regional School District Budget will be out next Thursday and the Town will go from there. Capital expenditures need to be made.
Karen Tonelli reported for the Assessors. Karen also reported problems with her phone since the installation of the new phone lines. Broadview handles all the phone lines and the T1 Internet line. Karen also reported problems with the upstairs rest room and asked that it be fixed. She mentioned that the walk was very snowy and possibly dangerous when she came into work in the morning. It has been a difficult winter and Mr. Dunham has worked hard to keep up with it, but because of the frozen rain it has been nearly impossible to shovel. Fire doors have also had snow and ice problems.
There is an issue with the revaluation. The Assessors voted to rescind the preliminary values and to start over. The detail of the vote is in the 1/10/08 minutes of the Board of Assessors meeting. There was a discussion to relook at the Sales Data to see if there is another method to use instead of front footage premium. Karen reported that the work would have to start at the beginning with the land values. After that are the house values and then commercial values. One builds upon the other. A new land schedule will have to be established. Every 3 years is a revaluation year. FY08 is a revalue year. Set valuations, set rate. It is now very late. Karen would have preferred to stay the course instead of staring over. Karen had received preliminary approval from the DOR. Karen is confident that her analysis was corrected. The vote to rescind was a vote of no confidence. Audrey only agreed to review the sales to see if there is a preferred method. Carla Ness noted that there are not a lot of land sales. Carla said she would be happy to help out by providing any other information such as percability. Karen said there were nine land sales that could be analyzed. The values are now rolled back to 07 levels. The front footage is something other towns have used but Cummington has never used this method. There will be a delay in the tax bills, which may lead to further borrowing if a method and implementation is not reached very soon.
Allan Douglas reported for the Conservation Commission. The Commission reviews the site and signs off before a spade goes into the ground. The Board was busy with the Request for Determination. The Commission has received a notice of intent for a new cell tower on Andrew Shaw Road. The cell tower will be a repeater.
Robert Dextraze reported for the Highway Department. There are roads to be finished once the snow ceases. Two roads need topping. Will be done with Chapter 90 money. Garage needs to be repaired. The doors are rotten and need to be replaced. The roof is in need of repair and the furnace has been welded and needs to be replaced. It is inefficient and unsafe. Trucks are running okay. There was a motor replacement in the Ford this year. People are using lots of salt this winter. The department is spreading the roads with a liquid mixture. Fairground Road and Lilac Road will need black top replacement.
James Cerone, the Building Inspector reported that building permits are down approximately 35%; there are two new building codes.
Judy Moore asked if any one would take over the duties of the Town Sign since Valerie Babcock will be relocating to Worthington.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45. The attendees felt the meeting was valuable and thanked the Selectmen for instituting the meeting. It was agreed the meeting should be a biannual event.
Barbara Murphy-Malinak
Cc: Boards and Departments