Southbridge Town Council Meeting Agenda - April 28, 2014

Southbridge Town Council Meeting

April 28, 2014

7:00 PM

Town Council Chambers

Agenda

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call 

3. Consider and Accept Town Council Meeting Minutes of Monday, April 7, 2014.

4. Subcommittee Reports:

            (a) General Government

            (b) D.P.W.

            (c) Education and Human Services

            (d) Planning and Development

            (e) Protection of Persons and Property

            (f) Town Manager Search Committee

5. Chairman’s Announcements

6. Town Manager’s Announcements

7. Swearing In/Presentation

            Donate Life Flag Presentation by Robin Lataille, Team NE Co-Manager

8. Citizens Forum

9. Shall the Town vote to approve of a measure proposed by petition on March 31, 2014 in accordance with Chapter 12, Section 3 of the Town Charter, as summarized below?

The measure proposes the filing of a so-called Home Rule Petition with the state legislature for special legislation to amend the Town Charter. If approved by the voters at this election, the proposed legislation would take effect upon enactment by the state legislature. The proposed legislation seeks to reestablish an Open Town Meeting-Board of Selectmen-Town Administrator form of government, as in effect prior to March 2, 1973 under the General Laws, special acts and bylaws of the Town of Southbridge. The legislation would abolish the 9-member Town Council and the position of Town Manage. The legislation provides that the process for calling for and holding an open town meeting would be governed the General Laws, special acts applicable to the Town, and the Town by-laws existing prior to March 2, 1973. The legislation would establish a 5-member Board of Selectmen, with each Selectman serving a a term of 3 years and limited to 2 consecutive terms of service. The Board of Selectmen would have the powers of the Town Council provided for under the current Charter and, further, would appoint all Town officers and employees, subject to the civil service laws or as otherwise may be provided by the General Laws and the Charter (a 15-member Finance Committee would be appointed by the Town Moderator). The legislation would also create the position of Town Administrator, who would serve at the will of the Board of Selectmen and exercise all the powers of the Town Manager as provided for under the current Charter. Any person appointed as the Town Administrator would be required to qualify as a registered voter of the Town within 6 months of the date of appointment.

10. Vote to approve Michael Struppa as a full time Firefighter/Paramedic for the Town of Southbridge for an indefinite term effective immediately following successful completion of physical.

11. Vote to transfer $14,000 from the Town Council Reserve Account # 1.132.5781 to Veterans Benefit Account #1.945.5771.0.596 to pay benefits for the month of May 2014.

12. Vote to transfer $8,636.01 from the Town Council Reserve Account to School Unemployment Account to pay March School Unemployment invoice.

13. Vote to transfer $7,645.00 from Repair Airport Hangar Door #3.589.5899.0.9080 to the Airport Revolving Fund #8039 to pay reimbursements to Mr. Latour per the Memorandum of Agreement dated March 20, 2014 for the purposes of effecting a termination of the Southbridge Municipal Airport lease agreement.

14. Vote to award the bid to Spartan ERV for the purchase of Triple Combination Pumper Truck in the amount of $381,924.00. The funds were approved for borrowing at the 5/20/13 Town Council meeting in the amount of $410,000.00.

15. Vote to commence the process to accept as a public road the subdivision known as Servants Way and refer to the matter to the Planning Board for a non-binding recommendation.

16. Vote to approve a one-time contract between the MassDOT  Highway Division District Office and the Town of Southbridge allowing the Town of Southbridge the drawdown of $72,821 for the reimbursement of specific road and road facility repairs resulting from this harsh winter.

17. Vote to authorize funds for architectural peer review for the Cumberland Farms special permit application to flow through the Town’s financial system, with funding from the applicant.

18. Vote to authorize the Town Manager to execute documents relative to the Town of Southbridge CDBG Housing Rehabilitation loan program for low/moderate income, owner-occupied occupants until June 30, 2017.

19. Vote to recommend to Town Council that a McCann Fields and Park Improvements Committee be created to provide input in the re-design of the Park, and that the following citizens be appointed to serve on the Committee:

            Charles Bickerstaff     Paulette Desorcy         Richard Marcucci
            Scott Tetreault            Patrick Tucker            Esteban Carrasco
            David Langevin          Shaun Moriarty

20. Councilors Forum

21. Discussion of next meeting date – Monday, May 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers 

22. Adjournment