MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010

PRESENT: Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. (Chairman), Donal P. Anderson (Vice-Chairman), Lewis W. Stone (Selectman), Daniel W. Trabucco (Selectman), Edwin J. Thorne (Town Administrator), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), John Mattison (Pembroke Media Broadcast), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Steve Annear (Pembroke Mariner/Reporter), and others.

Selectman Willard J. Boulter, Jr. was not present this evening.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 6:30 p.m. in the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Town Hall, 100 Center Street, Pembroke, MA. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: A Retirement Party is planned for Deborah Mulrain on January 29, 2010 at the Monponsett Inn in Halifax from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $35.00 and can be obtained in the Treasurer/Collector’s Office.

SNOW REGULATIONS: The DPW announced that salted sand is available at the town shed for emergencies. Residents are asked to keep parked vehicles off streets during snow events to allow sanding and plowing operations. Also reminded residents that residents may not put snow onto a roadway which impedes traffic and that the town is not responsible for damage to objects within the town layout.

MINUTES: The Selectmen approved the minutes of their special meeting on Dec. 30, 2009 as prepared.

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE: The Board voted unanimously to approve the application to renew a Sunday Entertainment License for The Winery.

ABINGTON/ROCKLAND WATER WORKS: A letter was received from Mr. Boulter relative to the policy of the Abington/Rockland Water Works to ban the use of salt on roads in the area of Big Sandy Pond. Since Mr. Boulter could not be present this evening, this item was held over for discussion at next week’s Selectmen’s meeting.

OLD BUSINESS:

Emergency Management Report of the Water Crisis: Mr. Anderson would like to have this item removed from the list of old business. Mr. Boyle suggested that Mr. Thorne should contact Deputy Chief Emanuel for any further information on this event.

Surplus Real Estate: Mr. Anderson asked if the Selectmen would be interested in putting any of the previously listed lots up for sale. Mr. Stone suggested it should wait until Spring. Mr. Anderson suggested that the Town might be able to take advantage of the services of a realtor. Mr. Thorne will look into this.

Mr. Anderson also talked about the Pelham Street parcel owned by the Town and containing 5 acres. He would like to be sure the one acre lot that was carved out is recorded and he would suggest putting the other acreage into Conservation control. He made a motion to that effect but it died for lack of a second. Mr. Boyle wants to be sure that neighbors are notified that this subject will come up for discussion again next week when there is a full board to discuss it.

NORTH SOUTH RIVER WATERSHED: Mr. Thorne noted that the newsletter for NSRWA reported a story that Pembroke was the first community to receive the Blue Community Award for its proactive efforts to remove stormwater pollution that runs into Oldham Pond and the innovative practices including rain gardens, permeable pavers and porous pavement. Mr. Stone sent special thanks to the Mattakeesett Garden Club for their work in planting the various flowers and shrubbery in the rain garden outside the town hall.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE: The Selectmen will meet on Wednesday, January 13^th with the Pembroke School Committee at 7:00 p.m. in the North Pembroke Elementary School to discuss the budget. The chairman of the Advisory Committee was present and was invited to attend this meeting as well with another member of the Advisory Committee.

TREASURER/COLLECTOR INTERVIEWS: The Selectmen will meet on Thursday, Jan. 7^th at 7:00 p.m. to interview the three final candidates for the position.

MTBE: Mr. Anderson asked if the $870,000 received from the settlement of the MTBE suit will go to the Stabilization Fund by a town meeting vote. Mr. Boyle extended credit to former Selectmen and the Advisory Committee for their part in getting this fund established and he credited Terry Finnegan for establishing the Separation Pay article. Mr. Stone expressed that he feels the Capital Item funding has been a good financial tool for the town. Capital equipment funding has been a major quest. Mr. Anderson suggested that a mandatory 1% of the town budget could be set aside for capital items as another planning tool. Mr. Trabucco noted that it will take fortitude to stick to that 1% to be set aside.

ASK THE SELECTMEN:

Power Outages in No. Pembroke: National Grid has been communicating on this subject with the Selectmen’s Office and will advise what action can be taken.

Music Lessons in School: The Superintendent of Schools has responded to a letter regarding the offering of music lessons in school.

Traffic Studies: Mr. Stone reported that OCPC has completed their traffic study of the roads in North Pembroke and a management summary is being prepared. He will get it to Mr. Thorne and the Selectmen.

COLA Increase: Mr. Anderson told the Board that he has received a signed letter to the Selectmen asking that the Board of Selectmen remember that social security benefits will not be increasing and there is no cost of living increase this year from the federal government.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.