Town of Warwick Selectboard April 6, 2009 Minutes Board members Present: Patricia Lemon, Rick Abbott; Nick Arguimbau Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Selectboard Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Miryam Williamson, Finance Committee members Dick Whiting, Chris Ryan and Les Goodman, Tax Collector/Treasurer Terry Kemerer, Dawn Magi, Jon Calcari, , Janet Conover, and Police Officer/ Transfer Station Attendant David Shoemaker. I. Call to Order Selectman Nicholas C. Arguimbau called the Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Warwick Free Library. II. Minutes Lemon MOVED that the board accept the Minutes of the March 23 meeting as printed separately from the agenda, with the correction that under sub-heading III, the number 8 be changed to read 7. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. III. Presentations/Discussions 1. Joint Meeting with Finance Committee - The Board and the Finance Committee held a joint meeting to discuss the FY '10 budget. Young presented everyone with copies of a draft version. The Finance Committee had not yet met to discuss the departmental budget submissions. This draft reflected the 2% COLA recommended by the Selectboard at its March 23 meeting, with which the Finance Committee is in agreement. The Revenue portion of the budget was reviewed first. Young said that the weakness in the budget is the uncertainty about expected revenue, especially from the Commonwealth. He said the bottom line was that, given current projections, there would be a slight increase in the tax rate, but it would still be less than the FY '08 rate. He drew attention to the significance of the just-under-1% decrease in the school budget, and the expected one-time FEMA reimbursement for expenses related to the December Ice Emergency. Under the General-Government heading, Young pointed out the increase in the Accountant's Meeting/Conference line item resulting from these expense lines now being shared by only two towns (instead of three) since she discontinued her work for [David: Please supply the town name]. He also pointed out the $1,000.00 savings in the Town Clerk budget due to the town's new capability for in-house printing and the halving of the requested appropriation for printing the Annual Report. Total General Government appropriation requests increased less than 1% ($353.00). The Public safety budget showed an increase in the Fire Department line item for Equipment and Supplies, as the turnout gear is due to be replaced. The discussion branched out to include a warrant article submitted by petition, which asks for $10,000.00 to compensate call firefighters for responding to emergencies. Lemon said that she will consult with Personnel Committee Chair and former Fire Chief George Day. Ryan wanted to know how many Franklin County towns pay their firefighters, and at what pay rate. Arguimbau wanted to set a date and time for a joint meeting of the Selectboard and Finance Committee to discuss this issue with the benefit of a report from the Personnel Committee. Lemon said that she had contacted the State Fire Marshall's office for guidelines on the warrant article to pay firefighters per call. She also said she will now research the issue of current pay for firefighters in Franklin County towns. Goodman suggested meeting with the Fire Department, noting that he would like to see a 5-year plan. The consensus between the Board and the FinComm was there are many questions, the answers to which must come from the Fire Department. Lemon wanted to invite the Fire Department to the next Selectboard meeting on April 21. Young brought up the suggestion previously made to him by Ryan that a donation be given to the Firemen's Association in lieu of compensation. Young said that such an amendment to the warrant article could be made on Town Meeting floor. He also said that, per a conversation he had with firefighter Joe Paul, firefighters might support a reduction in the amount to $7,500.00. Lemon MOVED that the board invite the Finance Committee and the Fire Department to a joint meeting during the Selectboard meeting starting at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 21st. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. The Public Safety budget discussion continued with a note that the required "donation" for Ambulance Service has been increased by $3,500.00 for a total of $7,500.00. Young said New Salem and Wendell also pay this rate to Orange for the ambulance service. Lemon brought up the Animal Control Expense line item, suggesting that the figure of $530.00 ($130.00 less than FY '08) was too low. ACO R. Calcari acknowledged that from the beginning of her tenure as ACO, she has, as much as possible, "begged for donations" of pet food and supplies and has also frequently paid out-of-pocket without reimbursement, as well. Calcari said that in these economic times, and in light of the call for all to keep increases to a minimum, she dared not request as much as is truly needed. While asserting that it is too little, Lemon MOVED to increase the proposed FY 10 Animal Control expense line item from $530.00 to $600.00. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. It was noted that the Highway budget shows an increase of 21% due to the machinery line item and a less unrealistic amount for snow and ice. Warrant articles were reviewed and discussed. The total proposed in all money articles is $76,550.00, an increase of $16,694.00 from FY '09. It was noted that the expenditure summary reflects a decrease of $8,393.00 from the current fiscal year. IV. Reports 1. Selectboard Reports - Abbott said that he had spoken recently with Highway Superintendent Tim Kilhart about capital expenditures. Kilhart is working on a plan. Young suggested planning a project eligible for Chapter 90 funds that could be carried out by Highway employees as a way of using Chapter 90 to subsidize the Highway budget. Abbott MOVED that the Highway Superintendent be directed to submit a draft plan for Chapter 90 expenditures by April 21 for Selectboard review and potential action. Lemon SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. Lemon noted for the record Warwick resident Amanda Patten's achievement in having been named to the Westfield State Dean's List in recognition of her exemplary fall-term grades. Lemon said that in the past congratulatory notes have not been sent to students, but she feels it is high time the Board started recognizing such achievements. All three selectmen signed a note of congratulations to Ms. Patten. Lemon also reported that a questionnaire had been sent to her as a representative stakeholder pursuant to the consultation process for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) re-certification of State lands managed by the principal agencies of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. She made it clear that this was done as an individual, not as a representative of the Town or its government - except insofar as she is a resident of Warwick - and said that she had forwarded the essential information to other townspeople who, she thought, might also want their voices heard. Lemon also noted that the Open Space Committee is working on the 2009 Open Space Plan. The Commonwealth requires updates to this plan every five years as a prerequisite for certain grants to the town. A survey questionnaire asking for townspeople's input will be forthcoming by the end of April. Arguimbau expressed his satisfaction with the annual Rabies Clinic. He had high praise for Rosa and Jon Calcari, the veterinarian and the impressive attendance. ACO R. Calcari reported that a record 141 pets had been vaccinated. 2. Town Coordinator Report - Young told the board that last summer Highway Superintendent Kilhart had borrowed technologically advanced gear to locate the plugged culvert that runs from the Town Hall catch basin to the area between the Library and the Inn. The pipe crosses the Inn parking lot and runs under the trees behind the underground Fire Department water tank. Young said he had received permission from the property owner for the town to cut three trees and excavate in an attempt to reach the pipe and open it up. If this venture proves successful, gravity will replace electricity as the power to keep the Town Hall basement from flooding. The property owner had also allowed the Town to dump snow on her property this past winter with the understanding that the excavation will include the unburying of the Inn's curtain drains, which have become blocked from years of having snow piled there. This spring the solar collector that lights the Veterans' Monument and flag will be relocated to the rear of the structure to make the collector less obtrusive. Steve and Janice Kurkoski had suggested making this endeavor an educational solar electric project, which Young also favors. Young is still collecting reports on the quality of Verizon telephone service. V. Public Comment Magi posed a question about the outlook for cell phone service in Warwick, and Young said that insofar as he is aware no companies have any plans to provide cell phone service to the Town - partly because of concerns about the potential for dropped calls. VI. Adjournment At 8:37 p.m., Lemon MOVED that the meeting be adjourned. Abbott SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari. Patricia Lemon Frederick H. Abbott III Nicholas C. Arguimbau Selectboard Chair Selectboard Vice-Chair Selectboard Member Rosa Fratangelo Calcari James David Young Selectboard Secretary Town Coordinator