Board of Selectmen, December 2, 2013
HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 2, 2013
6:30PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Robert Lavigne, Kenneth Lipka, Anthony Renzoni,
Mark Ferguson, Jeremy Kurtz
Others Present: Jacquie Kelly, Town Manager
Peter Lukes, Assistant Town Manager
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Lavigne opened the meeting at 6:30PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Licenses – Appointments – Permits
The Board reviewed a list of Annual License renewals for 2014. Establishments in compliance were presented on white paper. Establishments not in compliance were presented on pink paper.
Motion by Sel. Ferguson, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE WHITE PAPER FOR THEIR ANNUAL 2014 LICENSE RENEWAL AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Motion by Sel. Lipka, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE PINK PAPER FOR THEIR ANNUAL 2014 LICENSE RENEWAL PENDING COMPLIANCE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Sel. Renzoni expressed concern regarding unpaid personal property taxes owed by Papa Gino’s for 2013 and 2014. The Manager said she would have the Tax Collector look into the issue and report back.
- James Robinson – HMLD 2014 Operating and Capital Budget Presentation
Mr. Jim Robinson, HMLD Manager presented the FY14 Operating and Capital Budget. He said that the objectives for 2014 remain consistent to maintain reliable delivery and stable rates, continue to strengthen the town’s electric system, and continue to program in order to obtain real-time system information. He said that the HMLD has been able to reduce rates four times since 2010. Deliveries to date are 4.5% ahead of last year. Mr. Robinson reported that since 2010, $1M has been added to the HMLD Rate Stabilization Fund, including $400,000 in 2013. Next year’s growth is anticipated to be 0.5% higher. In June 2013, the Light Department started a Residential Home Improvement Incentive Program. This program was created to audit/inspect residential clients regarding energy conservation programs and provide rebate incentives where applicable. Initiatives in 2014 include preparing for the pending retirement of several senior linemen by hiring another apprentice (one was hired in 2013) and developing staff from within, and adding additional IT support to handle the Department’s growing needs and more complicated systems.
Mr. Robinson’s presentation was interrupted at 7PM to proceed with Citizens’ Address.
- Citizens’ Address
Mark S. Ferguson, Bailey Road, addressed the Board to protest the continued presence of a police officer at Selectmen’s meetings (with no offense to the police officer who is trying to forge out a living.) He called the police officer’s presence an abuse of privilege and said that the Police Chief did not call him. He said the Board had charged the Manager with bringing in the budget below 2 ½%. He said Memorial Hall was a Hall of democracy and people have the right to speak their mind without intimidation. He said it was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Mr. Ferguson also spoke about unaccounted for water. He asked the Administration to speak for 15 minutes at a future Board meeting about unaccounted for water. He said he would be accompanied by a slideshow and two citizen volunteers. He said he was looking forward to a response from the Chairman or Town Manager.
- James Robinson – HMLD 2014 Operating and Capital Budget Presentation (cont.)
Mr. Robinson provided an overview of the Department’s Capital Program which will include payments to/for the Town in lieu of taxes, departmental services, and the CodeRED system, the purchase of new vehicles, the purchase of a real-time data acquisition system, improvements to the security system, exhaust gas sensor system and HVAC control system in the building, the purchase of new flags for Main Street, and facilitate connectivity to customers in the Industrial Park.
Sel. Renzoni inquired if the real-time acquisition system would include residential monitoring. Mr. Robinson said this system would only collect data from HMLD substations and would not be designed for capturing data from residential customers. He said he was still waiting for the technology to “shake itself out” before determining if the town should purchase a system for residential purposes. Sel. Renzoni said he was uncomfortable with spending money on a system that has residential technology capability or the ability to upgrade the system down the road. Sel. Renzoni asked for clarification regarding the hire of additional IT support employee. Ms. Kelly confirmed that the third IT position was not hired from last year’s budget and this is headcount carryover.
Sel. Ferguson said he was encouraged that the HMLD was making progress with connectivity in the Industrial Park but said he would like this activity placed on the front burner. He asked if there was anything the Board could do to help facilitate the process. Mr. Robinson said he was only looking for the Board to authorize the spending of the money for this purpose included in the budget being presented. He acknowledged that this project is of significant importance to the HMLD too. Sel. Ferguson commended Mr. Robinson on his efforts to purchase power and asked if the Board could help facilitate the process. Mr. Robinson said he did not envision the need to purchase more power at the current time and thanked the Board for its continued support. Sel. Ferguson asked why money to purchase the gas-exhaust system couldn’t be taken from the Stabilization Account. Mr. Robinson said the money was available and apologized that the issue had simply fallen to the bottom of the list. The system that was originally installed at the building 10-years ago is inadequate. Ms. Kelly said the exhaust issue was important but not immediately critical to the health and safety of the employees. Sel. Renzoni asked if the health of the employees in the building was in danger. Mr. Robinson said that exhaust fans were activated when necessary and the health of the employees was not in danger.
Sel. Ferguson and Sel. Kurtz inquired about the OPEB obligation. Mr. Robinson said this was the retiree medical account and did not involve employee pensions. According to a recent audit, the HMLD’s current contribution is right on track to fund its obligation. Ms. Kelly said that the Light Department cannot help to contribute to the Town’s obligation to fund the town OPEB account. These monies cannot be co-mingled.
Sel. Renzoni said he would move to approve the first three motions but asked the Board to table discussion on approval of the CY2014 HMLD Capital Budget until further information can be gathered regarding the real-time acquisition system.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT THE CY2014 HOLDEN MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $105,965 OF LIGHT DEPARTMENT FUNDS TO THE TOWN OF HOLDEN OPEB TRUST FUND IN 2014 ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE TOWN MANAGER.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO EXTEND THE EXISTING THREE-TIER POWER PURCHASE PLAN TO INCLUDE PURCHASES IN 2018.
Sel. Renzoni made a motion that was seconded by Sel. Ferguson for discussion to move to table approval of the CY2014 Holden Municipal Light Department Capital Budget until further information regarding the real-time acquisition system can be discussed.
Sel. Renzoni said he just wanted more information regarding the real-time acquisition system. Sel. Ferguson said he had seconded the motion because he too wanted to know what it is the town was buying. He said he was opposed to any type of residential monitoring. Ms. Kelly said that this system would only inform the HMLD where a power outage had occurred. It is an assurance to the employees to help them do their job to diagnose and correct problems. Mr. Robinson said he would gladly provide this information to the Board. However, not approving the budget will hold up other projects that the Department intends to begin. He asked the Board to authorize the budget with the exception of the real-time acquisition budget.
Sel. Lipka offered an amendment which was seconded by Sel. Lavigne to approve the budget and withhold the purchase of the real-time acquisition.
Sel. Renzoni said he was not opposed to the system as presented; he just wanted a little more assurance before approving it so that it does not involve individual upgrades or monitoring. He suggested that the Board table the discussion for two weeks.
Motion by Sel. Lipka, seconded by Sel. Lavigne, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO APPROVE THE CY2014 HOLDEN MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT CAPITAL BUDGET AND WITHHOLD THE PURCHASE OF THE REAL-TIME ACQUISITION SYSTEM.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Ferguson, it was VOTED 1-4 WITH 4 OPPOSED TO MOVE TO TABLE APPROVAL OF THE CY2014 HOLDEN MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT CAPITAL BUDGET AS PRESENTED. (OPPOSED: FERGUSON, KURTZ, LAVIGNE, LIPKA.)
The motion failed.
- Town Manager Miscellaneous
- Ms. Kelly announced the sad news that Police Chief Sherrill has announced his retirement at the end of January 2014. Sel. Ferguson discussed the need to outline how the hiring process will occur. Ms. Kelly said the position was within civil service and said she would update the Board as more information becomes available.
- Ms. Kelly reviewed a flier prepared by the Holden Fire Department that will be sent out in the light bills in December. The flier is a notice to remind residents that Chapter Two of the Town Bylaws state that street numbers should be provided for each dwelling, business, industry and other building in the Town. When an emergency occurs it is important that the fire, police or ambulance can easily read a house number from the street. Residents are encouraged to use numbers that are a minimum of three inches in height in a contrasting color from that of the house.
- Ms. Kelly informed the Board that Charter Communications has notified the town of new and existing products, services and fee adjustments for 2014. The Board reviewed a letter from Charter.
- The Selectmen reviewed a Selectmen Meeting Schedule for January through June 2014. Ms. Kelly noted that the second meeting in January 2014 has been moved to the Senior Center due to a meeting conflict with the regular Planning Board meeting.
Motion by Sel. Lipka, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE SELECTMEN MEETING SCHEDULE FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2014 AS PRESENTED.
- Selectmen Subcommittees
Sel. Lavigne: Winter Festival Committee: The Festival will be held on Saturday December 7th from 1PM – 6PM. Snow will be served!
EDC: Met 11/27 with three new members in attendance.
Sel. Renzoni: Water/Sewer: Met on 11/7.
Veteran’s Committee: Will meet on 12/12 or 12/18. The Committee is still looking to fill positions on the Committee.
Sel. Lipka: Municipal Light Department Advisory Board:
Affordable Housing: Has not met.
Sel. Ferguson: Not currently serving on a Committee.
Sel. Kurtz: EDC:
Memorial Day Parade: Next meeting is December 11th.
- Selectmen Minutes
There were no minutes submitted for approval.
- Selectmen Miscellaneous
None of the Selectmen submitted items for Sel. Miscellaneous.
- Follow Up to Citizens’ Address
Chairman Lavigne stated that the decision to place a police officer at Selectmen meetings was made by the Police Chief. He added that no member of the Board should expect a personal phone call from any department head to discuss a decision made by that department head.
- Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Lipka, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 2, 2013 MEETING AT 8:18PM.
Approved: December 16, 2013 as amended