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