Town meeting approves dam funding

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

NORTH BROOKFIELD - In less than an hour, 66 voters dealt with warrants for special and regular town meetings, a total of 37 articles.

Foremost on the special meeting warrant was the first article, which asked the town to authorize the selectmen to borrow $1.24 million for the costs of engineering, construction, Phase II inspection and all related work incidental to repairing Horse Pond Dam. The vote, contingent upon Monday’s election ballot debt exclusion vote, required a two-thirds majority. The final vote was 63 – 3 in favor.

A presentation by Scott Charpentier of Lenard Engineering of Auburn covered material presented at prior meetings by Water Department Superintendent Steve Jones and other Lenard engineers. Basic to this and all presentations was the necessity for the project to move forward for the protection of the town’s water supply, and also to avoid a looming $500 per day fine if the project is not completed by January 31, 2011.

The borrowing process, already underway, will place the town’s submitted application for a combination grant and loan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.

Jones had explained in the past that as much as 33 percent of the cost might be funded by a grant. It’s not by any means a done deal, but it’s a possibility; I’m told we’re in a favorable position,” he said.

In a meeting largely devoted to transfers between accounts within departments, approved unanimously, voters also approved amending the town by-laws to permit temporary repair of private roads that are open to the public “when required by public necessity and/or in the interest of public safety. Maintenance and temporary repairs on approved private roads at a time and in a manner determined by the highway superintendent: grading, including the finishing of gravel, fill, or other materials as required to properly repair the roadway surface. An annual expenditure limit on private roads might be leveled, and no liability to the town will be accepted. The highway superintendent will submit and annually review a list of approved private roads to the town clerk; that list will be approved by the board of selectmen at least 90 days prior to the start of the fiscal year. Approved private roads will be posted “Danger – Private Road” at cross roads or town lines.

That article, requiring an exact vote, was approved 59 – 2.

Finally, voters authorized selectmen to negotiate up to a 35-year lease with Quabaug Corporation for use of the portion of the North Brookfield Downtown Development (NBDD) site not occupied by the new police station.

All spending and budget items on the 20 articles on the annual town meeting warrant were deferred to June 25, when budget figures for FY2011 will be available.

Article 19, seeking to establish a Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund for the purpose of funding capital improvement projects was approved. Selectmen Mary Walter commented, in presenting the article that it is a policy of the town’s capital improvement plan policies, and the rate cannot exceed five percent of the annual tax levy. “Let’s plan ahead. The need for improvements is inevitable,” she said.

In a brief conversation following the meeting, former Selectman and NBDD Chairman James Foyle said, in response to a question, that he is pleased that negotiations with Quabaug Rubber Corporation have been ongoing. We’re pleased that Quabaug is here, and once details are ironed out, this will be a good solution to a problem that’s been ongoing for a number of years. I took on that project as a selectman, and I’m happy to say that by persistence and hard work on the part of a lot of people, a town eyesore and source of pollution will become a town asset. But we do need sidewalks there.”

He went on to comment on a subject pertinent to the board of selectmen. “I’m appalled at the great display of disrespect to Mary Walter on Tuesday,” he said. “It’s a break with long-standing tradition, but it’s more than that. Mary Walter has demonstrated throughout her time in office her ability, her willingness to work harder than anyone; she should be allowed the opportunity to serve as chairman, a position I’m confident she can fill easily and well. I know I’m not alone in that reaction to the disgraceful action of the other board members. Many other people, leaders in town, are equally as incensed as I am. I don’t believe this is the last we’ll hear of this,” he concluded.

Foyle’s comments related to the vote of the Selectman Robert Filipkowski and Chairman Jason Petriatis last week to retain Petraitis as chairman. Tradition, the person having served two years of a three-year term is elected chairman for his/her third year as selectmen, unless that person declines the position.

Petraitis, at last week’s meeting, said that “there may be further discussion at a future time.”