Meeting Minutes – December 10, 2007
Meeting opened at 7:00 PM by Barbara Barry, President
Roll Call – Barbara Barry, present; Michael Magiera, present; John Sasur, Jr., present; Keith Parent, present; John Dinuovo, present; Matthew Lovell, present; George Backus, present; Paul Burns, present; David Whitney, present. Also present were Richard Fitzgerald, Town Manager and Patricia Kennedy,Executive Assistant.
Pledge of Allegiance – All
Consent of the Agenda Order – Council moved and seconded to approve the agenda as written. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Visitors Comments (for items not on the agenda) – none
Minutes of Preceding Town Council Meeting –
November 13, 2007 – Council moved and seconded to approve with amendments. Vote was 8 yes; 1 abstention.
November 27, 2007 – Council moved and seconded to approve as written. Vote was 7 yes; 2 abstentions.
Old Business:
Appointments – Casino Impact Study Committee – Town Council Sub-Committee for Appointments met and are recommending to the full Council the names of the five additional members to this committee. Council moved and seconded to approve the following additional members to the Casino Impact Study Committee: David Flebotte, Ranjan Ghosh, Carol A. Sugrue, Gene Olearczyk and Mark Shea. Vote was 9-0 in favor. Janice Fountain who was appointed at a previous meeting, sent a letter with her resignation from the committee. Town Manager Richard Fitzgerald announced that the committee would have its first meeting on December 19 at 7:00 PM at the Palmer Town Building. Mr. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Barry, Council President will be present at this “kickoff” meeting to present
the Charge to the committee and members will elect their officers. Councilor David Whitney moved to change the quorum on the committee to eleven members from seven. Motion was seconded and the vote was 7 no; 1 yes; 1 abstention. Motion failed. Mrs. Barry suggested that the reporting time for the Committee should be April, 2008 instead of March 2008 to report to the Council.
New Business:
Budget Resolution #2008-07 – Free Cash to Balance Budget – Council moved and seconded to transfer $41,450.00 from Free Cash to the General Fund to balance the FY08 budget. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Budget Resolution #2008-08 – Reduce Pathfinder Appropriation – Council moved and seconded to reduce the Pathfinder appropriation of $1,385,345.00 by $14,000.00 to $1,371,345.00 to adjust the amount appropriated to the actual assessed amount. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
7:05 PM – Hearing Tax Rate Classification – Council President Barry opened the hearing at 7:16 PM. Town Assessor, Beverly Morin, presented to the Council the estimated tax rates for FY08. The Council and the Fire and Water Districts voted on the Tax Rate Classifications as follows:
1. Tax Rate Classification – Council moved and seconded to approve a single tax rate. Vote was 8 yes; 1 no.
Palmer Fire & Water District – Voted at a previous meeting to approve a single tax rate.
Thorndike Fire & Water District – Moved and seconded to approve a single tax rate. Vote was 2-0 in favor.
Three Rivers Fire & Water District – Moved and seconded to approve single tax rate. Vote was 3-0 in favor.
Bondsville Fire & Water District – Moved and seconded to approve single tax rate. Vote was 2-0 in favor.
2. Open Space Discount – Council moved and seconded for no Open Space Discount. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Palmer Fire & Water Dist. –Voted at previous meeting NOT to allow an Open Space Discount.
Thorndike Fire & Water Dist. - Moved and seconded for no Open Space Discount. Vote was 2-0 in favor.
Three Rivers Fire & Water Dist - Moved and seconded for no Open Space Discount. Vote was 3-0 in favor.
Bondsville Fire & Water Dist – Moved and seconded for no Open Space Discount. Vote was 2-0 favor.
3. Residential Exemption –Council moved and seconded to allow no Residential Exemption. Vote was 9-0 in
favor.
Palmer Fire & Water Dist – Voted at a previous meeting NOT to allow Residential Exemptions.
Thorndike Fire & Water Dist – Moved and seconded to allow no Residential Exemption. Vote was 9-0
in favor.
Three Rivers Fire & Water Dist. -Moved and seconded to allow no Residential Exemption.Vote was 3-0
in favor.
Bondsville Fire & Water Dist. – Moved and seconded to allow no Residential Exemption. Vote was 2-0
in favor.
4. Small Commercial Exemption – Council moved and seconded to not adopt a Small Commercial Exemption.
Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Palmer Fire & Water Dist – Voted at a previous meeting NOT to adopt a Small Commercial Exemption.
Thorndike Fire & Water Dist – Moved and seconded to not adopt a Small Commercial Exemption. Vote was
2-0 in favor.
Three Rivers Fire & Water Dist – Moved and seconded to not adopt a Small Commercial Exemption. Vote
was 3-0 in favor.
Bondsville Fire & Water Dist – Moved and seconded to not adopt a Small Commercial Exemption. Vote was
3-0 in favor.
Discussion - FY09 Budget – Mrs. Barry invoked the “Rule of Necessity” as several Councilors have conflict of interest issues. Mrs. Barry brought up several budget items that were discussed at the last meeting to be considered by the Council for possible cuts:
Street Lighting -The possibility of shutting off some street lights was discussed by the Council. Several Councilors opposed this measure due to the fact that it would involve some safety issues. Council, after some discussion, moved and seconded to have the Town Manager contact the Safety Committee to look into and make recommendations regarding shutting off street lights. Vote was 8 yes and 1 no.
PVTA – Also being considered is the discontinuance of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Bus in town. Town Manager stated that the Council would have to hold hearings in order to cancel this service. Some Councilors were opposed to this measure and after some discussion it was moved and seconded to have the Town Manager schedule two public hearings for public input on this discontinuance. Vote was 8 yes and 1 no.
Senior Work Program – This program allows senior citizens the opportunity to work for the Town in exchange for credit on their real estate taxes. After discussion by the Council, it was moved and seconded to discontinue the Senior Work Program for 2008. Vote was 6 yes; 3 no.
Retirees Health Insurance Premiums – After a lively discussion on this issue, Matthew Lovell moved to set the premium cost for employees of the town of palmer retiring prior to July 1, 2009 at 75%/25% effective July 1, 2009. This motion was seconded. After more discussion, the motion was amended by Mr. Lovell to set the premium cost for all employees of the Town of Palmer who retired before July 1, 2008 at 75%/25% to be effective July 1, 2008. This amendment was seconded and the vote was 8 yes; 1 no in favor of the amendment. Vote on the amended motion was 7 yes; 2 no. Discussion followed for municipal employees retiring after July 1, 2009. The suggested rate for these individuals was 50%/50%. Also discussed was a gradual reduction of this premium. This issue will be taken
up at the next Town Council meeting.
Nuisance properties – Mr. Parent stated that there are certain properties in town that are blighted areas (across from the closed Wendy’s and the “Ice House”) that need Council attention. He was under the impression that the Nuisance Ordinance passed recently by the Council would deal with properties needing clean-up. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that certain areas were grandfathered and may not be affected by the Ordinance. David Whitney moved and it was seconded to ask the Town Manager to investigate options that the Council can use to identify and clean up nuisance properties. Vote was 9-0 in favor. Mr. Parent moved and it was seconded to have the Town Council, at the January meeting, create a sub-committee of the Council to look into these nuisance properties in town and
report to the full Council so that any new Ordinances or amendments may be tailored to specifically target these types of properties. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Sub-Committee Report – none
Town Manager’s Report – Town Manager, Richard Fitzgerald, reported on Casino study updates, insurance advisory committee updates, economic development in town, recycling updates and preliminary budget plans.
Councilor’s Round Table –
George Backus wished everyone a very Merry Christmas.
Paul Burns also wished everyone a Merry Christmas and reminded the public that Christmas for Kids program was ongoing and that donations are still being sought.
John Sasur, Jr. stated that this was his last meeting and thanked Pat Kennedy and Richard Fitzgerald for all their help during his 3-year term. He also thanked all the administrative offices in town and fellow Council members for their commitment to the Town. He thanked M-Pact and the newspaper reporters. He recommended to the new Council members that they keep an open mind, debate issues and come to appropriate conclusions in their decisions and votes. He was confident that the Town would move forward.
Michael Magiera thanked Keith Parent and John Sasur, Jr. for their commitment and advice. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.
Keith Parent stated that this also was his last meeting on the Council. He thanked Richard Fitzgerald and Pat Kennedy and all fellow Council members. He wished the new Councilors good luck and urged everyone to run for Town Council.
John Dinuovo wished everyone Happy Holidays. He thanked John Sasur and Keith Parent for their service to the Town. He urged everyone to drive safely and apologized for the discontinuance of the Senior Work Program.
Matthew Lovell wished everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
David Whitney saluted John Sasur and Keith Parent for their dedication, and thanked them as the “Fathers of the Charter” as they were on the original Charter Committee. He wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Barbara Barry stated that she had taught two History classes at the High School recently and found it to be a rewarding experience. She announced that the next meeting would take place on January 14, 2008.
Adjournment of Formal Session – Council moved and seconded to adjourn at 9:12 PM. Vote was 9-0 in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia A. Kennedy,
Executive Assistant
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