WEST BROOKFIELD SELECTMEN NOTEBOOK

By Cristy Bertini

Turley Publications Correspondent

Daley hired as highway superintendent

WEST BROOKFIELD – The board of selectmen announced at their June 15 meeting that James P. Daley has been hired as the new highway superintendent, effective July 1, pending a CORI check.

Daley appeared at the end of the meeting, to which the selectmen went into executive session to finish negotiations with Daley. After approximately 15 minutes, the selectmen made the announcement.

Daley’s salary will be $60,909.34 per year, including three weeks vacation time.

The position was initially offered to David J. Pierce, but he turned down their offer. When the selectmen were asked why he turned down the job, they said it “had to do with benefits.”

Daley said, “I feel great. I am very happy to work in West Brookfield.”

Tree issue

Jeremy Maclachlan appeared before selectmen to discuss the issue of a tree in front of his house that was struck by lightning. Maclachlan said that he updated some electrical utilities at his home three years ago and was told by the highway superintendent that he couldn’t go into the road, where the old setup was, so he had to go around his septic system underground, which was about 8 feet off the road. Maclachlan was told that it was actually town property. Because it was town property, he had to encase the utility in cement, which cost him approximately $500. Now that the tree has been struck by lightning, Maclachlan feels it is no longer structurally safe and should be removed before it falls over. He said the problem is nobody knows whose property the tree is on, whether it’s the town’s property or his own.

Maclachlan expressed frustration to the selectmen, saying, “Nobody knew three years ago whose property it was, and I still paid out of my pocket to encase the utilities.”

Chairman David Eisenthal told Maclachlan, “The policy of the board is that we need to determine ownership of the tree before we can take action.”

Maclachlan left the meeting and later returned with a plot drawing and he and the selectmen realized that the tree is in fact on Maclachlan’s property and the utilities that he put in three years ago were not in fact on town property but on his own property also. Maclachlan said, “Three years ago, instead of pulling this (plan) out and looking at it, it went to town counsel and got really ugly. I didn’t have to encase it in cement after all, and, I spent money out of my pocket.”

The selectmen asked Maclachlan to give them a day or so to see what they can do about the situation.

Appointments made

Anne Marie Nolan – Historical Commission (2013)

Charles Laperle – Sergeant (2011)

Matt Letendre – FT Patrolman (2011)

Eric Mawhinney – PT Patrolman (3 year rollover)

Kara Hartung – PT Patrolman (2012)

Eric Iwaniec – PT Patrolman (2012)

Herbert Duggan – PT Patrolman (2011)

Mileage on fire department Ford Explorer

Fire Chief Paul Lupacchino appeared before selectmen to discuss the mileage on his department vehicle.

Selectman Mike Frew raised a concern to the chief, as to the fact that the selectmen do not have a job description for the fire chief. Frew said that people see the fire chief in the vehicle and wonder if he’s on duty using it or using it for personal use. He said that if the chief has a job description, it will clearly state when and what the vehicle is used for. The chief stated that when he is out of town, his assistant will use the vehicle.

Lupacchino said he will have his job descriptions finished by Aug. 1.

Eisenthal told Lupacchio, “I’m very happy with the level of professionalism that you’re bringing to the fire department.” Frew agreed “You guys do one heck of a job.”