MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2010

VETERAN’S MEMORIAL HALL

PRESENT: Willard J. Boulter, Jr. (Chairman), Daniel W. Trabucco (Vice-Chairman), Lewis W. Stone (Clerk), Arthur P. Boyle, Jr. (Selectman), Gregory M. Hanley (Selectman), Diane M. Tobin (Executive Assistant), John Mattinson (Pembroke Media Broadcast), Becca Manning (Pembroke Express), Ben Bastianelli, Mike Virta, Jim McCollum, Chester Drown, Vincent Flahery, Michael Valenti, Carter Faye and Mark White from Environmental Partners, Matt McNeilly, Linda Peterson, and others.

Town Administrator Thorne was not present this evening.

The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

LANDFILL CAPPING PROJECT: Michael Valenti introduced Carter Faye and Mark White from Environmental Partners who presented the final design and schedule for the capping of the landfill. The design calls for for a 3’ soil cap, with the contours to be nearly the same as existing and the same stormwater drainage. They will realign the 18” pipe under the solid waste material and they will need to replicate 6,000 s.f. of wetlands. The present road to the Recycle Center will be temporarily closed for access to allow for proper capping and replacement of that road. In the meantime, there will be an alternate access route through Learning Lane which will be coordinated with the school. These final design documents will be submitted to DEP by mid-December. It is hoped that the job will be awarded by Feb. 2011 with construction starting in late spring. They hope to close the road while school is out for the summer and have it completed by Sept. They are currently stockpiling inexpensive fill on-site. Catch basin and street sweeping materials will be used at the front area of the landfill for capping as approved by the DEP.

Selectman Hanley inquired about using some of the filled land for a soccer field and other youth and high school sports. Mr. White noted that only the front area of about 3-4 acres would be useable for recreational fields. Mr. Hanley stated that he had suggested and encouraged earlier in this process to look into a multi-purpose recreation use for the capped landfill. Selectman Trabucco said that the priority right now is to get the landfill capped and feels there is nothing to preclude the development of recreational fields at a later time. Mr. White said they could flag an area for future post-closure recreational use. Selectman Stone expressed concern that the final plan should be ready by the December deadline and that no extra cost should be incurred for this recreational area designation. Mr. White said that the designation of a delineated area would not be an additional cost. He stated that the focus of their negotiations was to get the landfill capped as economically as possible for the town.

Mike Virta asked if the specs would be submitted with the plan and Mr. White responded that the corrective action design plans and specs will be submitted to DEP.

Selectman Hanley moved, seconded by Selectman Boyle, to request that Environmental Partners submit a delineated area for future recreational use on the plan to be included in the application to DEP for their approval with no cost implication and,

in the future, that the Board of Selectmen could request to expand on the design.

Voted 5/0 unanimously in favor.

MINUTES: The Board voted unanimously in favor to accept the minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting of November 22, 2010 as presented.

ADVISORY RESIGNATION: Mr. Boyle moved, seconded by Mr. Stone, to accept with regret the resignation of Thomas J. Pugliese from the Pembroke Advisory Committee. So voted unanimously in favor. The Selectmen encouraged volunteers to come forward to fill the two vacant seats on this board.

OLD COLONY PLANNING COUNCIL: Mr. Hanley moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to appoint Daniel Trabucco to serve as the Alternate to the Old Colony Planning Council.

Voted in favor 4-0-1 with Mr. Trabucco abstaining.

RECYCLING CENTER OPERATIONS: Jim McCollum read a statement to the Selectmen explaining his background as a bank auditor at a bank and stated that he had earned the respect of the bank CEO, COO and the Chief Auditor. He evaluated computer hardware and software in several cities.

Mr. McCollum stated that the response to the requests of the Solid Waste/Recycling Study Committee for reports and information could only be described as “obfuscation”. Mr. McCollum asked why the town has not been receiving money for the milk jugs for which we should receive 21 cents per pound? Selectman Boulter responded that he spoke with the town’s representative at Allied Waste, Dianne McGinn, who said that the old contract did not include milk jugs so the pick up fee was reduced in lieu of paying for jugs. Mr. Boulter did feel that Mr. McCollum was correct in his idea of compacting plastics. He said that Allied recommends negotiation of broader compacting of recyclables.

Mr. McCollum also questioned the need for so many telephone and alarm lines and a copy machine that is being leased at the Recycling Center. Mr. Valenti explained the use of these devices.

The Selectmen requested copies of the contracts between the Recycling Center and Allied Waste, A.E. Wood, and any others in existence.

TRI-TOWN ALLIANCE: Mr. Stone explained that three South Shore towns have banded together to act as a single entity to discuss a contract with SEMASS, expecting that they might be more successful as a group. They are willing to come to tell the Pembroke Board of Selectmen what they feel is the best way to reduce the cost of trash. They are asking for one hour to make their presentation. They want to expand to include six towns. Mr. Hanley noted that the negotiations with other towns are in executive session at this time. He suggests that the Selectmen should discuss these potential contract negotiations in executive session as well. Mr. Boulter will request a ruling from Town Counsel on the appropriateness of executive session in this matter.

FIRE MUTUAL AID: Mr. Stone inquired about the status of the review from Town Counsel on the Fire Mutual Aid Agreement presented by Chief Neenan. The secretary will follow up on that.

BONNEY STREET TRAILER: Mr. Stone asked if there had been any feedback from volunteers to help clean up this property. Mr. Boulter has not heard from anyone yet but it appears to be in the same condition as before. The Building Inspector will be requested to visit the homeowner again with a reminder of the condition of approval to stay in the trailer.

WAGE AND PERSONNEL: Mr. Stone will arrange to provide a job description for volunteers to this board.

BROCKTON POWER PLANT: Tom Driscoll from the Board of Health suggested that the Board of Selectmen should request a meeting with the Mayor of Brockton or other appropriate person to explain some of the issues and discuss the impacts of the Power Plant project. He would like to hear why they do not want to allow the use of wastewater to cool the towers. Mr. Boulter says that Town Counsel is looking into the original contract allowing the use of the water from Silver Lake by Brockton. Mr. Trabucco feels the counselor from Brockton would be a great resource at this meeting. Board of Health member, Liz Cytronowski encouraged that this meeting be open to the public to allow all interested persons to attend and also suggested that Sen. President Murray be invited.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Hanley moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to go into executive session to discuss non-union and union negotiation strategy, and upon completion of executive session, no further public business be discussed.

Roll Call Vote: Trabucco, yes – Stone, yes – Hanley, yes – Boyle, yes – Boulter, yes

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.