TOWN OF EGREMONT, MASSACHUSETTS
MEETING OF THE SELECT BOARD
MINUTES
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Date: August 24, 2010
Time: 7:00PM
Place: Town Hall
Egremont
Present at the head table were Chairman Cumsky, Vice-Chairman Burdsall, and Selectman Turner. Present and recording minutes was Office Administrator Brazie.
Present in the audience were Marj Wexler, Juliette and Tom Haas, Hillary Penglase, Priscilla Burdsall, William Weigle, Susan Bachelder, Stephen Schoenfeld, Tom Sierau, Peggy Muskrat, Charles Flynn, Nancy DuVall, and for parts of the meeting Reena Bucknell.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the August 10 meeting were accepted as presented.
SCHEDULED ISSUES:
William Weigle read the attached letter in to the record asking for an amendment to the minutes of July 27. When he attempted to read a statement regarding his reasons for his actions on July 27 the Board stopped him and asked him to bring that up at the next Board meeting on September 7. The Board agreed to amend the minutes to show that Mr. Weigle’s letter of July 27 is attached to the minutes.
Hillary Penglase and Stephen Schoenfeld presented the Board with the final plans for the new playground equipment at French Park. All of the funds have been raised. The Board approved the plan. Construction should begin early this fall. Plan and financial report attached.
Stephen Schoenfeld reported that the money for the dog park parking area has been raised. The cost to make a 75'x50' parking area is about $2,000.
Stephen Schoenfeld reported that the Egremont on Parade event raised about $9,000 which will be split up in several different donations to worthy causes.
Peggy Muskrat and Hillary Penglase presented two ideas from the Egremont Garden Club and thanked Nick Ball for his help with the French Park garden.
1. They would like to plant a flowering tree at the Egremont Library near where the big tree came down in memory of Bea Noble, who was a long-time resident, Garden Club member and user of the Library. This tree will be one that doesn’t get too large. They will look into the removal of the stump that is there. The Board approved this plan.
2. They would like to plant a small low-flowering garden on the triangle at the intersection of Route 23 and Creamery Road. Chairman Cumsky presented a plan in which he photo-shopped in the flowers and a sign that says Welcome to Egremont. The cost of the sign is about $2,200 and he proposed getting donations to pay for it. The Garden Club noted they plan to do all Town intersections in the future. The Board approved the garden and the concept of the sign for sometime in the future.
CITIZENS:
Susan Bachelder urged the Board to take action on having the South Egremont School included in the Town’s upcoming Energy Audit. The Board, after discussion, agreed to drop the Highway Department and include the South School. Juliette Haas will take care of this.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board unanimously appointed Tyler Race as a Full-time Police Officer at Step 1 on the current pay scale.
The Board unanimously approved the proposed recipient of this years service award while keeping the name anonymous for the time being. Office Administrator Brazie will gather data on the persons service with the Town.
The Board unanimously approved the Blacktop bid received from Tri-Town paving at $65.50 per ton. The work will be done on Baldwin Hill North.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board set a deadline of September 13 for articles for the November 6 Special Town Meeting. The information meeting for the police facility and the school agreement will be on Saturday, October 23 at the North Fire Station at 9:30am. KB and Modspace will both make presentations. The Library Trustees are doing their own meeting.
The Board set a date of Saturday, October 16 at 9:30am at the North Fire Station for its Fall Saturday meeting.
The Board will discuss the 3 park benches for the Village Green at its next meeting.
Selectman Bruce Turner read two letters in to the record regarding possible conflict of interest issues he may have as a result of being employed by the school district. Both letters are attached. Jeremia Pollards letter ruled him in conflict and the State Ethics Commission disagreed and cleared Selectman Turner from any conflict. Chairman Cumsky stated that the Board has done its due diligence, the opinion stands and Selectman Turner will participate as he feels is appropriate and that any one who sees a conflict may file a grievance. There was some displeasure expressed that our legal counsel seemed to not have the correct answer but there also seems to be some confusion surrounding the new ethics laws.
Office Administrator Brazie has talked with resident Lanny Broderick about a plan for new trees on the Village Green. It was recommended that Mr. Haupt also be approached.
FOLLOW UPS:
Chairman Cumsky asked that the following be put on the agenda for September 7:
Baldwin Hill drainage report
Snow Fence on Baldwin Hill
Water Department billing being done by the Town Hall staff
Board of Health supervision of the Board of Health Director. In discussion Chairman Cumsky said that was a management issue not a conflict of interest issue. He asked that all members of the Board of Health be present.
SELECTMEN’S ITEMS:
The Board has received a request for a two-month unpaid leave of absence from Transfer Station Attendant Lou Cecchinato beginning September 1 and ending November 3. The Board has not had time
to review it’s options so will recess this evenings meeting to Thursday at 12noon to discuss and decide on this request.
Office Administrator Brazie noted that Police Union negotiations will take place on Tuesday, September 7 at 10am.
Tom Sierau asked about the Board returning to every Tuesday evening board meetings. The Board will not be doing that as the every other Tuesday evening schedule is working well.
At 9:55pm the Board recessed its meeting to Thursday, August 26 at 12noon.
Mary Brazie,
Office Administrator
minutes.11/aug26
The recording of the minutes is on record at the Town Hall for 90 days. Anyone who wishes to may obtain a copy or listen to the recording at Town Hall. Attachments are on file at Town Hall.
TOWN OF EGREMONT, MASSACHUSETTS
MEETING OF THE SELECT BOARD
MINUTES
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Date: August 26, 2010
Time: 12:02pm
Place: Town Hall
Egremont
Present at the head table were Chairman Cumsky, Vice-Chairman Burdsall. Selectman Turner was absent. Present and recording minutes was Office Administrator Brazie.
Present in the audience for part of the meeting was Pat Mielke.
The Board reconvened it’s recessed August 24 meeting to discuss the request for a two month unpaid leave of absence from Transfer Station Attendant Lou Cecchinato.
The Board reviewed the Town’s policy and discussed costs to the Town and ramifications of hiring a temporary replacement. The Board unanimously agreed to approve the request and require Mr. Cecchinato to pay 100% of his health/dental/life insurance premiums for two months. Jim Fountain will be hired temporarily for 21 hours per week at $15 per hour. Mr. Fountain will train with Nick Ball and will be asked to enforce stickers, and list and track all commercial haulers and how much trash they bring in. Mr. Fountain has agreed to waive his rights to unemployment benefits even though it seems he is not eligible.
Upon Mr. Cecchinato’s return the Board will discuss management and policy issues at the Transfer Station.
The school agreement has not come back to the town as of yet.
Chairman Cumsky inquired about the office hours of Town Accountant Amy Lane.
The service award was discussed. The recipients family has been in contact with Office Administrator Brazie and will be gathering data regarding years of service. The family asked that the award not be made at the November 6 meeting as one family member who might like to attend will only be here later in the month of November.
Meeting adjourned at 12:48 pm.
Mary Brazie,
Office Administrator
minutes.11/aug26
The recording of the minutes is on record at the Town Hall for 90 days. Anyone who wishes to may obtain a copy or listen to the recording at Town Hall. Attachments are on file at Town Hall.