Select Board Meeting Minutes
Meeting date:
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
All meetings of the Select Board are recorded
ATTENDANCE: | Chairman, Russell S. Fox |
Vice-Chairman, Doug Moglin | |
Clerk, Joe Deedy | |
Chief Administrative Officer, Karl J. Stinehart | |
Administrative Assistant, Sondra S. Pendleton |
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: See Attachment “A” - 1 Page(s).
6:30 p.m. The Select Board dedicated Route 10/202 to be the “Southwick Purple Heart Trail” honoring men and women who served their country and were awarded the Purple Heart. A proclamation and resolution were presented to Gene Theroux, who acted as representative of the organization.
6:50 p.m. Public Comments
None.
7:00 p.m. Payroll/Payables Warrant and Acceptance of Minutes:
- The Board acknowledged Payables Warrant 1721B, dated 2/13/17, in the amount of $368,467.46.
- The Board acknowledged Payroll Warrant 1717, dated 2/21/17, in the amount of $216,084.20
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve the minutes of 2/7/17.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve the executive session minutes of 2/7/17.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Fox (Vote-2 Yes, Mr. Deedy abstained) to approve the Budget Work Session minutes of 2/18/17 as amended.
7:05 p.m. Bills, Mail, Correspondence, Vendor and/or Personnel Contracts, Personnel Decisions, Policy Adoptions, Payroll Actions, Old Business, New Business, Etc, Possible Motions/Votes:
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to reaffirm a vote for a Change of Manager for Ransford W. Kellogg Post 872, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Inc. from George F. Fedora to Richard G. Sandman originally voted on at the Board’s 2/8/16 meeting, and to vote to accept new Officers and Directors to be:
Ryan T. Dietert
Richard G. Sandman
Fred J. Lavertue
- The Board had a discussion of time limits for Canvassing in Southwick and they will be address the issue at a later date.
- A Citizen’s Restoring Congamond letter was received stating they will assist with canal flow blockage in the Congamond Lakes (South Pond). This would be a 3 way split of the costs between CRC, Town of Suffield and Town of Southwick.
- Notification of a Public Safety Open House was received from the Police Chief and is scheduled for April 29th, 2017 from 10 to 2. A Connect City message will inform the residents.
- The next Open Space Plan process was discussed. Mr. Stinehart explained the process which will need to take place to update the Plan. A committee will be composed to aid in the updating of the Plan.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to move forward with Verizon’s request for a Cell Tower RFP in the Lexington Circle area.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve a Finance Committee Reserve Fund Transfer for Tax Title Operations in the amount of $10,000.00 to deal with recent legal expenses including a foreclosure at 193 Vining Hill Road.
- The Board reaffirmed their signatures of the Purple Heart Proclamation and Resolution.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve a Fire Extinguisher Recycling Program at the Transfer Station. It is requested that a flyer be available for educating the residents.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve the Southwick Fire Department Chief to attend an FDIC Conference in Indiana at the end of April. All expenses will be paid for by the Mass Fire Chief’s Association.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve PVPC Invoice #3, in the amount of $2,193.29.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to appoint Joshua Girard and Michael Shea as Fire Fighters to the Southwick Fire Department pending passage of HRD pre-employment physical and all other qualifications set forth by the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief informed the Board that Joshua is a step son and he has recused himself from the entire interview and decision making process for this round of candidates. All necessary Ethic Commission disclosures per MGL Ch. 268A were signed.
- A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to approve and award the above ground Fleet Fuel Station Bid to Lemelin Environmental Services in the amount of $143,900.00.
- The letters of interest and resume’s for interested parties for the sub-committee regarding zoning restrictions for Medical/Recreational Marijuana has been forwarded to the Planning Board for input.
Discussions:
Old Business:
- Community Compact – Mr. Stinehart and Mr. Moglin will meet.
- North Pond Land Grant – in process.
- Floater - A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-2 Yes, Mr. Fox abstained) to appoint Monica Coppa as a Floater effective 2/22/17.
- Mr. Fox toured the schools, all seemed to be in good shape.
- Mr. Stinehart attended another Regional Dispatch meeting last week.
New Business:
None.
7:20 p.m. A MOTION was made by Mr. Moglin, seconded by Mr. Deedy (Vote-Unanimous) to go into Executive Session at 7:40 RE: M.G.L. Chap. 30A, S20 (b), S21 (2) (3) & (7) Ch. 214, Section 1B and; CMR 29.03 (1) (b).
- Collective Bargaining w/union and non-union personnel and strategy for Collective Bargaining w/union and non-union personnel: DPW, IBPO, IAFF, Dispatch and Clerical
- Litigation
Exception #2:
Move to go into Executive Session to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, and to not reconvene into Open Session
Move to go into Executive Session to conduct collective bargaining sessions, with nonunion personnel and to not reconvene into Open Session.
Move to go into Executive Session to conduct contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, and to not reconvene into Open Session
Exception #3:
Move to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and that the Chair declare that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body, and to not reconvene into Open Session (Chair Must Declare).
Move to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, and that the Chair declare that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the body, and to not reconvene into Open Session
(Chair Must Declare).
Exception #7:
Move to go into Executive Session to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements, and to not reconvene in Open Session.
Respectfully submitted,
Sondra S. Pendleton