Town of Warwick
Selectboard
September 8, 2008
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Rick Abbott, Nick Arguimbau
Others present:	Town Coordinator David Young, ACO/Selectboard
Secretary Rosa Calcari, Miryam Williamson, Board of Health chair Rita
McConville, Gerry Whitney, Fire Chief Gunnar Lambert, Paula Lundgren
(Athol Daily News)
I.	Call to Order 
The Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. at the Town Hall by Chairman Lemon.
II.	Minutes
Lemon MOVED to accept the Minutes of the August 25 meeting as printed in
the agenda.  Abbott SECONDED.  Arguimbau offered a friendly amendment to
the Motion, to change item III.2 to read "Apparent Highway Department
Damage..." and eliminate the phrase "by the bucket loader."  Lemon and
Abbott agreed to the amendment.  VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
III.	Presentations/Discussions
1.	Preparing Town Buildings for Cold Weather - Lemon presented a list
of tasks needing to be completed prior to the start of the cold weather
that she had assembled from Buildings and Energy Committee and other
residents' input. A discussion as to what needed to be done and who
should perform each task ensued. Young stressed that the most important
things were to shut all windows, seal things up, clean the oil burners,
and tune-up all heating systems. Lemon suggested that the Board
authorize Young to get the word out to the appropriate people.
Young agreed to do so and said that he was compiling data and gathering
owner's manuals in preparation for the first phase of an advanced energy
audit that should ultimately result in major savings to the Town.
2.	Authorize Highway Department Use of Wendell Road Stump Dump - This
is to minimize fuel costs by allowing the Highway Department to leave
tailings from road work close to the work site rather than truck them
back to the garage. No residents in the vicinity have offered their
property for the purpose. Abbott MOVED to allow the Highway Department
to use the Wendell Road Stump Dump. Lemon SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
3.	Field Driver Appointment - Young proposed reverting to an old
tradition of appointing the most recently married man, which would be
David Shoemaker, as Field Driver.  Former Animal Control Officer Gerry
Whitney, contending that that tradition actually pertained to the Fence
Viewer, instead, offered to serve in the position, himself.
Calcari suggested the establishment of a revolving account into which
fees paid by the owners of loose livestock captured and returned by the
Field Driver could be deposited and from which he would then be paid.
Lemon MOVED to appoint Gerry Whitney Field Driver, to work under the
aegis of the Animal Control Officer and help her develop recommendations
for protocols, procedures and remuneration for the position for the
consideration of the Personnel and Finance Committees.  Abbott SECONDED.
 VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
4.	Quarterly FSCA Meeting - The Franklin County Selectmen's
Association quarterly meeting will be held Thursday, September 11 in
Gill. Neither Arguimbau nor Lemon will attend, as they will be going to
the MSA Meeting in Whately on September 17.  Abbott felt it
inappropriate to have a social gathering on September 11th.
5.	Heating Assistance and Emergency Planning for Winter - Lemon  said
that she wants to be proactive rather than reactive to the needs of
Warwick residents who live alone and might be unable to get hold of
anyone or leave their home if the heat went out, and that this has
prompted her to speak with people from the Council on Aging and Civil
Defense in an effort to identify those who may be in need of aid. She
had discovered that the WCS is the only designated shelter in Town. 
Fire Chief Lambert said that he and Emergency Management Director Jim
Erviti have a list of those who have requested assistance in the past,
which could be very helpful in establishing a telephone tree for those
who need to be checked on.
Williamson suggested posting a call on the "L" for people who might need
assistance, or those who know of someone that might need help in a
winter emergency and agreed to take responsibility for that posting,
giving Lemon's contact information for anyone who wishes to respond.
Young offered to bring up this issue at a forthcoming meeting with Fire
Chief Lambert, Police Chief Peters, and Highway Superintendent Kilhart. 
Whitney suggested contacting the TRIAD Officer from the Franklin County
Sheriff's department as well.
6.	Elevator Inspections - Young explained that the normally light use
of the Town Hall elevator makes bi-monthly rather than monthly
inspections in addition to the legally mandated annual inspection
reasonable. Young recommended that the Board approve the five-year
contract submitted by Bay State Master Maintenance Service of Agawam,
which covers all inspections plus a repair and maintenance agreement at
a savings of $750.00 per year to the Town.
Lemon MOVED the Board authorize and sign the contract with Bay State
Master Maintenance Service. Arguimbau SECONDED. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
7.	Board of Health Report - McConville presented the Board with a
written account of an incident that took place earlier in the day as,
accompanied by a State Police Officer, she conducted a housing
inspection. She reported feeling very threatened, as the people involved
with the condemned dwelling have allegedly been walking on her property
and describing in great detail various aspects of her property, and now
wishes to step back on the condemnation issue and no longer be the
person at the forefront of the proceedings.
Young said the next step should be a return to Housing Court, as it
appears that people may still be living on the property in question
despite condemnation of the dwelling, their agreement with the judge
that the dwelling is unfit for habitation, and the expiration of a
permit to camp on the land.  Young and the Board concurred, Town Counsel
needs to be brought into the issue now.
8. Selectboard Reports - Lemon presented an official appointment letter
to Rick Abbott for his position as Veterans' Burial Agent. The Board
also reviewed the appointment letter for Highway Superintendent Tim
Kilhart.  The exact wording of the letter was agreed upon, signed by
Chairman Lemon, and will be given to Kilhart tomorrow at a meeting he
will be having with Lemon.
Lemon spoke about the upcoming trip to the Statehouse on Friday, October
17th. The Women's Guild is taking the WCS fifth grade and one teacher to
Boston for an 11 am ceremony in which they will present the Warwick flag
for display in the Hall of Flags.. The ceremony will be followed by
lunch with Senator Brewer for the fifth graders and a Statehouse tour
for all conducted by the Senator. Tickets for interested citizens are
$26.00, payable to the Warwick Women's Guild and given to Guild
Treasurer Nancy Kilhart by Monday, September 15. 
9.	Town Coordinator Report - Young said that Treasurer Kemerer is
working on the bond for the new Highway truck and short-term borrowing
for the Chapter 90 paving project slated to commence September 15.
He also mentioned the hearing on Thursday, September 11 at 7 p.m. in
Town Hall, to update the community development project list and plan and
Community Capital application.  This hearing, and two legal postings in
the local newspaper are legally required to insure Warwick's eligibility
for a Small Cities Block Grant. Young also said that the official word
on the adjusted debt on the WCS is that the debt has been reduced to
$39,000.00 annually, which will result in a decrease in the property
taxes for FY '09.
On the Broadband project, he reported having awarded the contract to
AccessPlus.com, and expects they will have the system up and running
within 90 days. The Town will make no payment until the links are
operational.  Williamson noted that Young has the full confidence of the
Broadband Committee, all members of which are most pleased with his work
and diligent efforts to bring Broadband to Warwick.
IV.  Public Comment
Lemon announced that the Women's Guild is selling note cards featuring
the design on the Town flag. The cards sell for $1.00 apiece, with all
proceeds going towards the purchase of more flags.
V.   Adjournment
Lemon MOVED at 7:32 pm. to adjourn the meeting.  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