Shutesbury Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes September 11, 2007 Members present: Chairman Rebecca Torres, Debra Pichanick and Ralph Armstrong. Also Present: Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Walter Tibbetts, Town Administrator David Dann and Administrative Secretary Leslie Bracebridge, recording. Meeting opened at 7:04 P.M. Topics 1. Town Administrator David Dann reviewed the FY 2008 Municipal Sustainability Grant Application for Technical Assistance, as endorsed by the Energy Committee, in the amount of $45,300 for a wind turbine on a monopole behind town hall. (Chairman Torres noted that she could not, as a member of the Board, participate in the conversation or in the vote on advice of the Ethics Commission of a conflict of interest.) Julie Taylor commented by speaker phone, as a citizen, on environmental and fiscal responsibility: * Glad the previous grant for low income was not awarded to us when it could serve a greater need for a low-income community. * The price of the project has increased dramatically as time goes on. * Environmental and financial costs to mine the metal, manufacture the tower and turbine, transport, install and maintain the tower and turbine seem to far out-weigh the savings. * The money voted at town meeting, if used to buy compact bulbs for residents of the community would provide a far greater energy savings. * The educational value would be greater if there were a high school in town. * Appreciates the symbolism, but at what cost? * Has a hard time with grant money being used; feels there are other projects that would have a much greater impact for our or other communities. * Predicts a 45-year “payback” time. Julie concluded that she would feel irresponsible if these thoughts were not brought out. As a resident, Becky responded to Julie’s points: * “Low-income” is based on many standards; Amherst is considered a “low-income” community. * This project has solidly passed town meeting votes twice in the past year having heard Julie’s points and those votes serve as a symbol of the community’s will. * Costs have gone up over time. The reason the project didn’t go forward sooner, was sensitivity on the part of the Selectmen for noise concerns expressed by the Board of Health and from the neighborhood. Julie: * Appreciated the work put into researching the noise impact but felt the research should have been done before presenting the project to the community. * Did not agree that the votes showed over-whelming support. David: * Low-income eligibility on the previous grant was based on having the senior center being in the town hall. The grant funded 5 urban communities. * Increased costs are due to: change of tower style, increased manufacturer’s costs for the wind turbine, and the rebate reduction: from the $45,000 available in May of 2006 to the $30,000 presently available. Becky: A 45 year payback period is based on today’s energy costs; there’s a very strong likelihood that energy costs will increase in the future. Ralph emphasized that energy costs will increase. To a question, David said that the grant must be approved and signed tonight to be mailed tomorrow. Ralph: If the grant is awarded, what kind of questions will we entertain? David: If we get the grant, the energy committee would still have to apply to the Planning Board for a special permit which includes a public hearing. The energy committee felt very strongly that if money is available from the grant they will go ahead. If the money is not available, they will not seek the special permit. A motion was made, seconded and voted to sign the FY 2008 Municipal Sustainability Grant Application for Technical Assistance for a monopole and wind turbine behind town hall. Yes – 2, No- 0 (Becky did not participate in the vote.) 2. Becky volunteered to serve as Shutesbury’s Select Board representative on the Regional School Agreement Review Committee. Neither Ralph nor Debra expressed a desire to serve. The Committee will review the Education Deficiency Fund Cap and the transportation portion of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools agreement. New Topics 1. David reviewed the two articles on the October 9 Special Town Meeting warrant: Article 1: Participation in an Emergency Mutual Aid Agreement. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requiring that municipalities sign such an agreement in order to receive reimbursement (from FEMA) for federally declared emergencies. * Chief Tibbetts: It’s also “very prudent” to have a written agreement in place for towns to help each other. Police and fire already have their own written mutual aid agreements; this covers other departments such as Highway and Boards of Health. * Ralph: It will eventually be required for homeland security and other federal grants. Article 2: The strap grant (for the Wendell Road culvert) is fairly competitive; no one knows if the money will come through. If passed at town meeting, Selectmen will request the assistance of Senator Rosenberg and Representative Kulik in the award. Location of the Special Town Meeting will be dependent upon whether or not the elementary school requests an article for funding entry way security. 2. Announcement of the Planning Board serving cake and cider at their September 12 meeting/workshop triggered a discussion of random meetings where more than one Selectman shows up. Multiple questions concerning Open Meeting Law will be asked of Northwestern District Attorney’s Office Assistant Cynthia Pepyne at 2 PM on September 18 in the presence of Open Space Committee member Janice Stone. 3. Selectmen unanimously voted for Becky to sign the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing authorizing Police Chief Harding to sign for his department grants. 4. David presented and reviewed a revised request letter for extension of submission of the Lake Wyola Dam Emergency Action Plan. Revisions to the request letter included the two additional points that Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Office of Dam Safety official Joe Russell requires: First - The extension is only through October 31 and Second - This is the last extension request. * Town Administrator David Dann and Engineer Morris Root will meet with 2 engineering firms Tighe & Bond and Bay State Environmental to better understand what the deficiencies are in the current plan. * While wanting to work in cooperation, Selectmen expressed frustration because: o Shutesbury has only requested one prior extension, which was met. o The Office of Dam Safety has had the plan for 9 months without any notice to Shutesbury that deficiencies needed correcting. o Selectmen have not yet received a written statement of what the deficiencies are. o The inundation maps seem to be correct except that they do not have a required label. o There is a $500/day fine for non-compliance. * Richard Brazeau has been notified of the telephone calls regarding deficiencies. Richard worked hand-in-hand with engineer Morris Root to create the maps. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign the revised extension letter with the two wordings required by Joe Russell on the advice of and in agreement with Emergency Management Director Tibbetts that compliance is Shutesbury’s best shot at getting a plan approved before the $500/day fine is imposed. Debra and Ralph supported notifying Town Counsel of this letter/action. 5. Following discussion of who should be recommended to the Historical Commission in a letter from the Selectmen to the Historical Commission for a recommendation to the Selectmen of who should be appointed to the Historical Commission, Selectmen unanimously voted to sign a letter to the Historical Commission written by Becky and read aloud by Ralph concerning potential members on the Historical Commission. Selectmen feel appointments to the Historical Commission are overdue. 6. Due to the fragile nature of the original M.N. Spear Library foundation, changes will be made to the engineering plans. Selectmen are advised to take a look at the foundation for themselves. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Bracebridge, Administrative Secretary ?? ?? ?? ?? 070911 Select Board 1