(6/4/07)  The Select Board met Thursday, May 31st at 6:00 p.m. in the music room at the Middle School, prior to Town Meeting.  Gerry Weiss, Hwei-Ling Greeney, Anne Awad, Rob Kusner and Alisa Brewer were all present, as was Town Manager Larry Shaffer.

Public Comment

Jim Chumbley asked if there is a formal written policy regarding what Town officials can discuss in public forums, and whether Internet postings qualify as such.  He asked if there were a policy regarding members of Town boards and committees attending meetings of other boards and committees – such as Select Board members at Finance Committee meetings – and if they can marshal support for a position not formally taken by the board on which they serve.  Ms. Awad said that there was no specific policy but that all appointed and elected boards and committees are subject to the Open Meeting Law.   Mr. Chumbley said his concern wasn't about Open Meeting Law but rather about the potential for one member misrepresenting a board's position.  He said he appreciates the comments that so many Town officials contribute to Internet postings.  Mr. Weiss apologized that they couldn't offer much information on the matter.

Bill Elsasser asked about a particular pot hole near Grace Church and wondered if he or the Town might be able to take care of it and others.  Mr. Shaffer said that the “hot patch” budget for DPW is depleted and that dealing with pot holes is on hold until the new fiscal year beginning July 1st, and said that reserve funds were not available for such uses because they are already spoken for.

There was talk about the mess left at the end of the semester when students leave couches and such at the curb.  Mr. Shaffer talked about some towns having a “bulky pick-up” for large items, and said it is a very expensive service to provide. 

Discussion: Extra $10K from Public Works Budget

Mr. Weiss said that they should decide where they want to recommend putting the extra money that didn't go to line painting.  Ms. Greeney suggested putting it back in general government, but Mr. Weiss said that would require reconsidering and re-voting that budget area.  Adding the money to LSSE or the funds for human service agencies was suggested.  After some discussion, Ms. Awad moved that it be added to the human service funding, but that motion required Ms. Greeney to recuse herself, leaving the board without a quorum because Mr. Kusner and Ms. Brewer had not yet arrived.  It was decided to table that discussion and vote until later in the meeting on the hope that one or both members would arrive.

Capital Program – Equipment

Finance Director John Musante referenced the capital spending plan for equipment outlined in the Finance Committee Report.  He explained that some of the items are partially funded by grants.

Mr. Kusner, who had now arrived, asked if anyone had proposed amendments on the floor of Town Meeting that removed items from the equipment list to use those funds for other expenditures.  He was told that had not happened.

Ms. Greeney moved to recommend $1,095,378 for the equipment portion of the capital plan.  The vote in favor was 4-0, one absent. 

Discussion:  Extra $10K from Public Works Budget

They returned to the discussion about reallocating the Public Works money.  Ms. Awad again moved that the $10,000 be added to human service funding.  Mr. Kusner said that higher amendments would be expected from the floor and asked if the Board should take positions on such floor amendments.  Mr. Weiss said they don't usually do that, and Ms. Awad said that they have had opportunities during their Select Board meeting discussions to consider fully funding human services at last year's level but had opted not to do so. 

Mr. Kusner talked about reserves being higher than had been anticipated and the plan to have banked one million dollars had the override passed, versus the $1.3 million now anticipated and suggested spending the difference.  Ms. Awad said she always wants to give more to human services but doesn't support using reserve money.  Mr. Shaffer said that using money from reserves was the kind of lack of budgetary discipline that got the Town into its bad financial situation.  He cautioned against doing that, particularly with the looming regional assessment possibly needing to be funded that way.  He said that every dollar taken from reserves this year is a dollar less that is there next year and that it reverberates through the Town's financial future.

Mr. Musante explained that the one million Mr. Kusner was referencing that would have been put into reserves had the override passed was different: it was money that would have been raised from taxation in year one of the three-year plan, and banked for use in year three.  He said that that money doesn't exist because the override did not pass, and that the $1.3 million that the reserves are expected to increase by is not higher than anticipated – his February estimates had accounted for those figures and had not been revised.  He said that money includes a reimbursement of State funds from the Crocker Farm project and the paying back of reserve money that had been used to assist the health care trust fund.  He said that reserves are currently at 5% of operating revenue with a goal of growing that to 8% by FY10.  He recommended keeping to the Finance Committee's guideline of not using reserves.

There was more discussion about reserve use policy and Select Board members being allowed to change their minds about their votes on the floor of Town Meeting.  The vote to add the DPW money to human services was 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstaining, with Ms. Brewer, who had recently arrived, voting to oppose, and Ms. Greeney, who had recused herself from the discussion, abstaining.

Article 26 – Community Preservation Act: Open Space

Conservation Director David Ziomek said that this article sought $15,000 for the appraisals, surveys and other such upfront costs required in the pursuit of preserving farm and conservation land.  Without further discussion, the vote to recommend this article was unanimous. 

Article 27 and 28 – Community Preservation Act – APRs in North and South Amherst

Mr. Ziomek said he was seeking to have both of these article be referred back to CPAC in order to bring them back to fall Town Meeting.  He said that after consultation with Mr. Shaffer, Town Counsel, and a representative from the APR program, it was determined that the details for both parcels still need to be firmed up.  He said both deals are solid but the timing of the appraisals had delayed the process and that there had not been enough time to gather all the numbers and exclusions.

There was some discussion about the logistics of CPAC funds and their appropriation by Town Meeting, and the need to meet 10% allocation levels per area each fiscal year. 

Vince O'Connor said that CPAC hadn't discussed the referral back yet and asked the Select Board to not take a position until they do and can speak about it to the Select Board.

Mr. Ziomek agreed and emphasized that the referral back does not jeopardize or negatively influence the process in any way.  Mr. Shaffer reiterated points he has made recently regarding the proper sequencing of land deals and the necessity of starting with firm appraisals.  Mr. Kusner and Mr. O'Connor both spoke of that not having been necessary in the past.  Mr. Shaffer said that not doing so creates exposure to many potential problems, and that he would insist on that practice.

The Select Board took no action on the request to refer the articles back, pending CPAC's discussion of the matter.

Article 29 – Petition – Resolution for Social Outreach Worker

The Select Board and the Community Services Director discussed the petitioner's good intent with the article and the complications of fulfilling it.  There were concerns about the difficulties of making the $9,000 request an additional appropriation to the Survival Center to hire a Social Outreach Worker, and how that would run counter to the Community Development Committee's overall funding priorities.  It was mentioned that the money sought would probably not be adequate to fill the need it intends to address, and Mr. Weiss said that he had suggested to the Survival Center that it might seek a clinical supervisor to donate some time to talk to staff each week.  Ms. Greeney expressed concerns about the Town appearing to micro-mange the delivery of social services, as well as concern that the funding request hadn't gone through the usual Town financial channels and that the position and its goals were not well defined.

Ms. Awad moved to refer the article to the Community Development Committee.  The vote in favor was 4-0, one abstention, with Ms. Greeney choosing to abstain.

Articles 30 and 31 – Stabilization Fund and Free Cash

Discussion of these articles was put off to the following meeting.

Special Town Meeting June 6th – Article 2: Cherry Hill Privatization

Petitioner Larry Kelley talked about Cherry Hill's financial situation and how any loss incurred now will be viewed through the lens of the payment the Town would have received from the company that had bid to manage the course, had that bid been accepted.  He questioned the ability of the Town's new management arrangement to yield better results than those of the past. 

Mr. Shaffer cited current and projected revenues and expenses for the course for this year, and said that revenues are up about 10%.  He said he understands that the people expect quick changes there and wants to let in-house management have the opportunity to make those changes. 

Ms. Awad suggested that a detailed summary of the numbers be prepared for Town Meeting.  She said that Mr. Shaffer had followed Town Meeting's request to seek proposals to manage the course, and had kept the Select Board apprised of the situation at Select Board meetings.  She said that while the Select Board does not typically take a position on articles that seek to advise that body, she suggested that they might say that they support the Town Manager's position on the matter.

Mr. Kelley cited more numbers that he said showed that the course would be $20,000 over its operating budget this year.  Mr. Shaffer said that Mr. Kelley might be right, but that there were many new and expanded programs at the course including a women's golf clinic, a youth clinic, a UMass tournament, and a women's golf league which were all expected to yield better revenues.  He said that concessions were also in-house now, and were expected to help the bottom line as well.  He said that the company that had made the bid was a fine organization, but that they were looking for more of a partnership with the Town, which included leasing Town equipment.  Mr. Shaffer said he didn't want that kind of arrangement – he wanted the Town to either run it fully or not at all, but not to have partial involvement.  He reiterated previous points about not wanting to enter into a long-term deal on such a valuable asset in return for $5,000 plus a payment in lieu of taxes. 

Ms. Awad moved to not recommend Article 2. 

Mr. Kelley said that the previous bidder may no longer be interested, but that he knew of a local person who would be, if a three-year contract were an option.

Ms. Awad said that Mr. Shaffer was hired to manage the town, that she respects his judgment and supports his decision, and said that he needs the time to try to manage the Cherry Hill situation.  She said that maybe next year he would opt to put out another proposal request. 

Ms. Greeney said the situation seems to never change with the golf course and that discussion about it consumes a lot of Town time.  She asked if the Town Manager had a deadline by which the course had to stop losing money.

He said he did not, but that he was optimistic about its prospects with the new management plan and knows that people will be anxious to see better results quickly.

There was more discussion about Mr. Kelley's efforts, past management problems and new management potential.  The vote to support Ms. Awad's recommendation to not recommend the article was 4-1, with Ms. Greeney opposing the motion.

Announcement:  Norwottuck Rail Trail Advisory Committee

Mr. Weiss announced that the Select Board was seeking applicants for two citizen representatives to the Norwottuck Rail Trail Advisory Committee.  He said the group serves as liaison between governing bodies and advises the Department of Conservation and Recreation about use and maintenance issues for the rail trail.  He said they would make the appointments on June 6th and that interested applicants should e-mail or otherwise contact the Select Board.

Committee Appointments

Mr. Kusner recommended the appointment of Patricia Wagner as the Agriculture Commission's representative to the 250th Anniversary Committee.  The vote to approve her appointment was unanimous.

Other

Mr. Kusner said that he would like to revisit the elementary school budget on Monday, June 4th because he wanted that discussed in his presence. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.  The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. June 4th in the music room at the Middle School.

-- Stephanie O'Keeffe