TOWN OF EGREMONT, MASSACHUSETTS

MEETING OF THE SELECT BOARD

MINUTES

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Date:    June 17, 2008 

Time: 7:00PM

Place: Town Hall

Egremont


Present at the head table were Chairman Turner, Vice-Chairman Haas, Selectman Cumsky and Office Administrator Brazie.

Also present were William Wood, Karen Cumsky, Marj Wexler, Reena Bucknell(Police Chief), Chuck Ogden(Water Comm.), Charlie Flynn(Technology Comm.), Wm Weigle(FinCom.), Sandra Martin, Juliette Haas, Bev Almond, Fran Turner, Steve Shoenfeld, Penny Hudnut.


MINUTES:

             The minutes of June 12, 2008 were accepted as presented.


SCHEDULED ISSUES:

             Sandra Martin came before the Board to find out where the Board stood on the Police Station as far as support for the project and a location. Selectman Cumsky began by saying he totally supports new space for the Police Department but is not in favor of the location up the Cemetery Road. He also feels that the issue of planning for the whole Town Hall complex is greater than the Police Station issue and needs to be done first by a professional. He complimented the Committee and said he agreed that a modular construction was best. Sandra noted that all were consulted during the process and that this project needs to move forward. Chairman Turner noted that there has been no formal talk of moving the Salt Sheds and he was not aware of any violations. Information will be obtained from the Road Superintendent on this issue. Bill Wood said that maybe this discussion would be better served following the Library Building public forum on June 21. Vice-Chairman Haas said the Architect for the Library is taking into account the other buildings with current uses and future uses of the property. Chairman Turner said that the location just above the Fire Station is good and is a good use of the area. It is out of the way but near Town Hall and visible from the Road. He again expressed his desire to view similar modular constructions. Sandra will set his up. She expressed her concern over the need to resolve this location issue and the need for a united front. William Weigle noted his support of a new Police Station but as well has concerns over the location and felt maybe the builders should be consulted. This will be going out to bid and the site should be decided before hand. The building will be similar to those already on the Town property - a peaked roof, clapboard siding, white with double hung windows with a New England look and feel - though only a single story with a basement. After a great deal of debate it was decided to go with the public forum process to get started. Something has to be done with the Library and soon due to ADA issues and either way it will be costly.


CITIZENS:

             Chuck Ogden asked about the change in the fuel pumps at the Highway Garage. There may not need to be any change in the pumps though there may be a change in supplier.


             Penny Hudnut noted that the Millard Road Committee was meant to be a fact finding committee not a committee of opinions and the issue is not one of different camps against each other. One major outcome of the committee was to be the economic impact on the town. Chairman Turner thought the first set of minutes showed a fact finding meeting. The Committee did determine though that Millard is a road and this was based on the Town Clerk’s certification, the fact that the Town gets Chapter 90 funds for the road, and surveyor’s records showing the road to the New York line. The Town has not voted to abandon the road, but has not done full maintenance on the section of road in question. There was discussion surrounding Legal Counsel’s opinion or lack there of. As well there was concern over the committee’s planned site visit to the Kinney property to be led by Attorney McCormick and some felt this was a conflict. The Committee is making the site visit to view what the development of the land could be and this is a part of the economic impact. The site visit also is for those members of the Committee who have not been to the North end of Millard Road. Sandra Martin thought this conversation would best serve the Committee if it took place at the Committee’s meeting.


TOWN OFFICIALS:

             Chuck Ogden noted that the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has an Energy Audit program that Egremont should take part in. Office Administrator Brazie will follow up on.


             Chief Buckenll gave the Board a report from the hearings attended at the Police Academy. She asked the Board to consider bringing the officer back as a special part-time officer and said that discussions would take place in the future about what avenue to follow next.


APPOINTMENTS TO TOWN BOARDS:

             The Board made the following appointments.

A.D.A. COORDINATING COMMITTEE

             Bruce Turner Inspector of Buildings 

             Nick Ball

             Jeanne Peck       Sally Caldwell

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION:

             Carla Turner                                                                                                 2009

             Jennifer Brown                                                                                             2009

ANNEX/POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE:

Sandra Martin

             Richard Burdsall

             Tom Haas

             Reena Bucknell

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER:

             John Springstube                                                                                          2009

                          DEPUTIES: Lois Platt

                                                    James Olmsted

APPEALS, BOARD OF:

             Elliott Krancer                                                                                              2009

             Alternates:                                                                                                  2009 

                                         William Wood

BERKSHIRE COUNTY REG'L PLANNING COMMISSION:

Helen Krancer, Representative                                                                            2009

             Charles P. Ogden, Alternate

BERKSHIRE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY:

             Charles Ogden                                                                                              2009

BURIAL AGENT:

             Margaret Muskrat                                                                                        2009

CONSERVATION COMMISSION:

             Forest “Sam” Gossage                                                                                  2009

E-911 COORDINATORS:

             Vince Murphy                                                                                              2009

                          Mary Brazie, deputy

EGREMONT-ALFORD CULTURAL COUNCIL:

Susan Bachelder2009

             Hillary Penglase                                                                                           2009

             Adeline Frecentese                                                                                       2009

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR:

             Edward McCormick                                                                         2009

                          Assistant William Brinker

FENCE VIEWERS:

             Kevin Wheeler                                                                                             2009

FIELD DRIVER:

             Ron Brazie, David Sheldon                                                                          2009

FIRE CHIEF:

             William Turner                                                                                             2009

             Jim Olmsted, Assistant

FOREST WARDEN:

             William Turner                                                                                             2009

FRENCH PARK COMMITTEE:                                                                             2009

             Bruce Cumsky, Trustee

             Thomas Haas, Trustee

             Bruce Turner, Trustee

             Jennifer Brown, Susan Karp, Susan Trag, Gary Warner

GAS INSPECTOR:

             Art Hyatt                                                                                                  2009

                          Assistant: Robert Gennari

HAZARDOUS WASTE COORDINATOR:

             Edward McCormick                                                                                     2009

HEALTH, BOARD OF:

             Thomas Carpenite, Chairman                                                                2009 

                          Alternate & Agent Sandra Martin

HISTORICAL COMMISSION:

             William Wood                                                                                              2009

             Susan Bachelder                                                                                           2009

MUNICIPAL COORDINATORS:

             Edward McCormick                                                                           2009

PLUMBING INSPECTOR:

             Robert Krupski                                                                                             2009

                          Alternate: Mike Gilmore

POLICE DEPARTMENT:

             Full-time Patrol Officer: Eric Munson

             Part-time Patrol Officers: Justin Wehry                                                       2009 

                                                    Shannon Blodgett

                                                    David Monyahan

                                                    Rob Carter

POLL WORKERS:

             Margaret Muskrat, Town Clerk                                                                   2009

             Marlene Soudant, Warden

             Ellen Proctor, Warden

             Rosemary Besancon, Constable

             Barbara Shultis, Evelyn Willcox, Lisa Ecklund, Jeanne Peck, Rosemary Carpenite, Katherine Bos, Sarah Burdsall, Juliette Haas, Susan Turner, Georgeann Farnum, Nancy Soudant

POUND KEEPER:

             John Springstube                                                                                          2009

REGISTRARS, BOARD OF:

             Margaret Muskrat, Chair                                                            2009

             Jeannie Peck

             Marlene Soudant

             Ellen Proctor

SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD:

             Joe Lewis                                                                                        

                          Alternate: Katie Chebatoris

SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE MEDICAL RESERVE CORP:

             Jann Renert

SURVEYORS OF LUMBER:

             Peter Barrett                                                                                                 2009

TECHNOLOGY STUDY COMMITTEE:                                                               2009

             Charles Flynn

             Matthew Mervis

             Helen Krancer

             Vince Murphy

             Stella DeLuca

             Nick Fredersall

             John Wells

             Enid Rothenberg

TOWN ACCOUNTANT:

             Amy Lane                                                                                                    2013

TOWN COUNSEL:

             Firm of Hannon, Lerner, Cowhig, Scully & Bell                                         2009

                          Lead Attorney: Jeremia Pollard

TOWN HISTORIAN:

             Betty Duryea                                                                            2009

TRENCH INSPECTORS                                                                                      2009

             Inspector of Buildings

             Road Superintendent

VETERANS' AGENT:

             Peter Saunders                                                                                              2009

WIRE INSPECTOR:

             Richard Cappadona                                                                                      2009

                                       Alternate: Robert Clausen


The Board will conduct interviews for the School Committee on June 24.


The Board voted to lift the disciplinary status that Justin Wehry was under.


NEW BUSINESS:

             The Board voted unanimously to join the Southern Berkshire Technology Committee and to appoint Charles Flynn to serve and John Wells as alternate. This committee, spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce, is to fight to get highspeed internet service throughout Southern Berkshire County. A formal agreement will be signed by all town’s.


OLD BUSINESS:

             Selectman Cumsky gave the Board a listing of Town Hall office hours in Berkshire County. He feels the Town Hall should have hours that best meets the needs of the community and that 7:30am to 3pm does not do that. He is suggesting 8am to 4pm and late on Tuesdays when the other Town departments are in. Residents will be surveyed through the newsletter. Juliette Haas offered to conduct an employee meeting to see what the employees could do. Chairman Turner thought that the early morning hours were good for many people and that one later day would work.


SELECTMEN’S ITEMS:

             Selectman Cumsky asked again about not having the phone answered but letting the system direct callers to who they want. He feels it is very inefficient to have staff answering the phone. The system can accommodate this with out any changes. As well maybe some of the lines could be dropped.


             Selectman Cumsky suggested a Saturday meeting for second homeowners such as Monterey does very successfully. Consider for August. It would be an open meeting. Vice-Chairman Haas agreed that it was a good idea and Chairman Turner said he would think about it. The topics could be anything, with presentations if appropriate, or just question and answer sessions.


             The Board will meet at 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 24 in closed session with a town employee.



Meeting adjourned at 8:38 pm.


Mary Brazie,

Office Administrator


minutes.08/jun17