PALMER TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009, 7:00 PM
Town Council Meeting Room, Palmer Town Building
Minutes
1. Called to order at 1905
2. Roll Call
a) Present: Mr. Magiera, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Burns, Mr. Backus, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Remillard, Mr. Duguay, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Streeter
b) Absent: Ms. Barry
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Mr. Whitney moved, Mr. Burns seconded motion to accept consent of the agenda order
5. Agenda Items
a) 7:00 PM – Hearing – Ordinance 2009-04 (loan authorization) opened at 1909; no witnesses present; closed hearing at 1910
b) Vote – Ordinance 2009-04 (loan authorization)
i. Mr. Whitney moved, Mr. Backus seconded motion to waive reading of entire ordinance except purpose statement
ii. Moved by Mr. Whitney, seconded by Mr. Burns to authorize borrowing of funds
iii. Discussion: adoption history, not part of ordinance, has date typo
iv. Vote: Motion passed 8/0; unanimous to authorize borrowing of funds
c) Resolution 2009-20 – To set compensation of Town Council
i. Mr. Burns moved that town council salaries be set in the amount of $100.00 per/month for each member of the council, beginning January first, 2010. In the event that any employee in any town department is laid off due to budget concerns, salaries for all town council members shall cease immediately at the time such layoffs occur. Salaries shall be paid on the last payroll of each month.
ii. Motion seconded by Mr. Whitney
iii. Discussion:
(a) Only for F/Y 2010
(b) Town employees as stated includes library and school employees
(c) Discussed about putting items on ballot; this funding is not a valid voter question because this is a representative government instead of town meeting
(d) Council can only set compensation for elected officials in March per ordinance
(e) Council has an obligation to assign a value to these positions
(f) Reimbursable expenses are already included in the charter
(g) Difference between salary and stipend is eligibility for retirement after 20 years
(h) Council has to assign value in March but can rescind it at other times
iv. Vote:
(a) Mr. Burns, Mr. Magiera, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Duguay voted for the motion
(b) Mr. Remillard, Mr. Backus voted against the motion
(c) Mr. Hebert abstained
(d) Motion passed 5/2/1
d) Resolution 2009-21 – To set compensation of School Committee
i. Mr. Burns moved that School Committee salaries be set in the amount of $100.00 per
ii. month for each member, beginning January first, 2010. In the event that any employee in any town department is laid off due to budget concerns, salaries for all School Committee members shall cease effective immediately at the time such layoffs occur. Salaries shall be paid on the last payroll of each month.
iii. Motion seconded by Mr. Whitney
iv. Discussion: none
v. Vote:
(a) Mr. Burns, Mr. Magiera, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Hebert and Mr. Duguay voted for the motion
(b) Mr. Remillard, Mr. Backus voted against the motion
(c) Motion passed 6/2
e) Resolution 2009-22 – To set compensation of Planning Board
i. Mr. Burns moved that Planning Board salaries be set in the amount of $100.00 per
ii. month for each member, beginning January first, 2010. In the event that any employee in any town department is laid off due to budget concerns, salaries for all Planning Board members shall cease effective immediately at the time such layoffs occur. Salaries shall be paid on the last payroll of each month.
iii. Motion seconded by Mr. Whitney
iv. Discussion: none
v. Vote:
(a) Mr. Burns, Mr. Magiera, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Hebert and Mr. Duguay voted for the motion
(b) Mr. Remillard, Mr. Backus voted against the motion
(c) Motion passed 6/2
f) Resolution to compensate Ms. Barry for services rendered to town:
i. Mr. Dinuovo moved that the Town Council, Town of Palmer, vote to commend Councilperson Barbara Barry for the hours spent in her role as town councilor overseeing the operations of the treasurer-Collector’s office of the Town of Palmer, and that the sum of $7,500.00 be paid to Councilperson Barry for such services rendered.
ii. Motion seconded by Mr. Backus
iii. Discussion: many hours spent in the services of the treasurer/collector
(a) Saved the town very much money in taxes and fines
(b) Gave many hours of her personal time and vacation time to save the town money and resolve difficult situations
(c) More than 250 hours of her own time on evenings and weekends
(d) Saved between $25,000 and $50,000 in funds that didn’t have to be spent to do a forensic audit because of her work to keep us from the jeopardy of receivership
(e) Possible conflict of interest with the charter
(f) She did this without expectation of compensation for services
(g) Town should acknowledge commitment and sacrifice as extraordinary measure
(h) Discussed about possible violation of council town charter
iv. Mr. Hebert moved to amend amount to $10,000
(a) Motion seconded by Mr. Backus
(b) Discussion of amendment: Effort by council to properly recognize her efforts
(c) Vote:
a. Mr. Burns, Mr. Backus, Mr. Hebert for the amendment
b. Mr. Duguay, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Magiera against the amendment
c. Mr. Remillard abstained
d. Motion to amend was defeated, 3/4/1
v. Vote on Motion:
(a) Mr. Burns, Mr. Backus, Mr. Magiera, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Hebert, and Mr. Duguay in favor of compensation
(b) Mr. Whitney opposed
(c) Mr. Remillard abstained
(d) Motion to compensate Ms. Barry passed 6/1/1
g) Resolution 2009-23 – To set compensation of Town Clerk
i. Mr. Whitney moved that the Town Council vote to set the base compensation of the Town Clerk for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009 at $53,353 commensurate with a rate of pay of $31.5698 at the current 32.5 hour workweek schedule; and
ii. Be it further moved and voted by the Council that the Town Clerk may be eligible for a percentage increase above the aforementioned base compensation to match the average increase provided to Town Administration Department Heads as decided by the Town manager; said possible percentage increase to be decided at a future date; and
iii. Be it further moved and voted by the Council that should workdays or hours at the Town administration Building be adjusted and/or reduced due to budgetary constraints, the Town Clerk’s salary shall be paid proportionally based on the $31.5698 hourly rate.
iv. Motion seconded by Mr. Dinuovo
v. Discussion pertained to her invaluable service and her long tenure as Town clerk
vi. Vote was unanimous to approve the motion
h) Resolution 2009-24 – To establish a revolving fund for advertising on Palmer Public school & Palmer town athletic fields and facilities
i. Read and moved by Mr. Whitney
ii. Motion seconded by Mr. Mr. Dinuovo
iii. Discussion:
(a) Should be a limit on funds pooled per state law
(b) This fund is not for major capital expenses.
(c) Fund is protected and for specific purposes
(d) Discussed how much revenue could be raised, and projections for discussion of $50,000 as a maximum to be expended from that fund
(e) Question of clarification of Council authority over advertising at school fields
(f) Intent of the fund is to establish a joint venture with school committee
iv. Vote was unanimous to establish fund
i) Resolution 2009-25 - To create a committee to oversee and distribute funds received from advertising on Palmer Public school & Palmer town athletic fields and facilities
i. Read and moved by Mr. Whitney
ii. Seconded by Mr. Dinuovo
iii. Amendment to change wording to add “, or their designees” to motion
(a) Moved by Mr. Dinuovo, seconded by Mr. Whitney
(b) Vote was unanimous to amend motion
iv. Discussion: none
v. Vote was unanimous to create committee
(i) Discussion – Economic Development Advisory Committee
a. Appointment Review Subcommittee met and voted unanimously to approve two new appointments to the EDAC
i. Kathleen Riberdy as Common Business Partnership Representative
ii. Joe Turek as Community Representative
b. Moved by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Duguay to appoint these two reps to the EDAC
c. Vote was unanimous to approve appointments
(j) Discussion about scheduling Economic Development Committee hearings
a. There are other options on the table now with slot parlors
b. Slot parlors lead to casinos
c. We need to do more research on issues that have changed due to consideration of slot parlors
d. Casino issue is a cloud hanging over the town
(k) Budget Discussion led by Mr. Streeter, using PowerPoint presentation and related handouts, including discussion of the current fiscal crisis, the budgeting process used to arrive at estimates of revenues and service levels, proposed revenues and expenditures, noting that we have no capital expenditure budget item for 2010. Research and budget development is ongoing at this time.
6. Mr. Backus moved to adjourn at 2105, Mr. Burns seconded; vote was unanimous to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted by:
Ramon Dole
Recording Secretary
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