Report of the Board of Selectmen 2008
The Board of Selectmen welcomed David A. St.Pierre back aboard after the May Election. Fred B. Arnold II retired after 10 years of dedicated service.
The Board continued its commitment to education by working with our legislative delegation and regional school officials to obtain needed funding for the district. We supported a 6 percent increase in the assessment for the school budget along with an additional $144,975.00 to fund the commencement for full day kindergarten. We continue to work with school officials on a new building project through the MSBA program.
The South Longyard culvert headwall failure in December and replacement project became a major challenge for the town and it’s DPW due to limited resources. An action plan is underway to ensure the repair project is completed and the roadway is re-opened for public travel as soon as practical.
We continue to pursue a new DPW facility as the current building and location has outlived its lifespan. The working conditions and safety of the staff are vital and progress must be made to improve these conditions. The town has leased garage space in other locations to protect its investment in equipment. Road projects were undertaken to convert the remaining portion of Reservoir Road from gravel to paved. Honey Pot Road is under rehabilitation and work shall finish in 2009. The cooperation and support of residents for these projects is important in making these improvements a reality.
The Board worked with the City of Westfield Gas and Electric on a lease agreement that allowed for the construction of a 12 inch gas line under the Phase II Rail/Trail corridor. This delayed the Rail/Trail project but it was necessary to have all underground construction activities completed before commencing surface construction activities. The funds from the lease agreement income are being used to design/permit to the sewer parallel interceptor project further up the line in Westfield.
The economy and local aid concerns continue to be major challenges for the Board. We strive to find the right balance to provide services and accomplish projects with the least financial impact our citizens’ pocketbooks. We welcome ideas and suggestions to improve our citizen driven town government. The requirements placed upon us by the federal and state governments have not made the task any easier.
Members of the Board continue to put a lot of time into attending meetings and working with other Boards, Departments, Committees, Commissions, citizens, neighborhoods and organizations outside of Town.
We wish to thank all our volunteers on boards, committees and commissions for their time and commitment in making our community a nice place to live. The Board hosted a holiday luncheon gathering in December at the town hall auditorium and a cookout at the community center in September for volunteers and staff to demonstrate its' thanks to them on behalf of the townspeople. A special thanks to Cindy Pendleton, Robin Solek, Gail Cigal and Karl J. Stinehart for their assistance throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger B. Cataldo, Chairman
Arthur G. Pinell, Vice-Chairman
David A. St.Pierre, Clerk