MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 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), Hilary Wilson, Frank Gay, Ben Bastianelli, Mike Virta, Jim McCollum, Pauline Dixon and others. Mr. Thorne was not present this evening as he is still rehabilitating from surgery.

The meeting was called to order by the chairman at 7:05 pm.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Chairman Boulter advised residents that they could go to the town website at www.pembroke-ma.gov to view instructions on preparedness for winter emergencies. This can be found under the Pembroke Emergency Management link.

Pembroke Community Group is in need of sponsors to adopt a family or a child to purchase gifts for Christmas. Please contact Linda Porazzo at 781-243-1103 or mail donations to Pembroke Community Group, P.O. Box 1387, Pembroke, MA 02359

Pembroke Community Middle School will present a program on Tues., Dec. 14^th at 7:00 pm on bullying and cyber bullying. All are welcome to attend.

Condolences were extended to the family of former Selectman Robert Crawford who passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5^th.

GATRA: Hilary Wilson and Frank Gay were in attendance along with Kathy Toole who is the new Council on Aging Treasurer, replacing the retired Jim Leydon. They explained the amendment to the GATRA contract because of the exchange of a 99 Dodge Ram for a 2009 Ford E350. Mr. Boyle moved, seconded by Mr. Trabucco, that the Board of Selectmen sign the amended contract with GATRA as presented. So voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Gay explained the schedule for rides to the Hanson commuter rail station. There will be three trips daily, Monday through Friday, and the shuttle will be based from Mattakeesett Street ballfields and behind the Community Center. Service could start on January 3, 2011. At this time, they have funding for 35 weeks. A & A Metro is the actual operator of the service. The DPW will put signage and paint lines for parking and additional parking may be available at the town barn. Residents would also be able to flag down a GATRA bus anywhere along the route. There is no fee for the ride at this time. Mr. Hanley moved, seconded by Mr. Stone to approve the contract with GATRA as presented. So voted unanimously in favor. Mr. Stone commented that the old van is now surplus property and the Selectmen would like to offer use of this van by a town group.

MINUTES: The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting of November 29, 2010 as written with the correction of the date in the heading.

SURPLUS GENERATOR: An old generator that used to be in the Police Station has been stored at the DPW barn and has been declared surplus. A notice was sent to all town departments to see if there was any use for it, but no department responded. Mr. Boulter would like to hold off for at least another week before donating this generator to the Town of Hanson to see if the Pembroke Boys Club might be able to use it. He will talk to the DPW about this.

TOWN HALL HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Mr. Stone would like to make public the hours that the town hall will be open for business for the holidays. He feels this should be made as soon as possible. Since Christmas falls on Saturday this year, the town hall would be closed on Friday and the clerical union workers would be required to work for half the day on Thursday, according to their contract. The concern is about those offices that may be closed on Thursday afternoon as well.The Chairman would like to hold off discussion on this issue until next week.

BRITISH BEER COMPANY: The Selectmen approved the application of Pembroke BBC, LLC d/b/a British Beer Company at 15 Columbia Road to change the manager from Scott Bridge to Elisabeth Aniolowski. This change had previously been approved last November but the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission insists they have no record of it.

BROCKTON POWER PLANT: Mr. Trabucco reports that the specific topic of water for cooling of the towers has just begun at the hearings before the Energy Siting Board. He attended the meeting of the Old Colony Planning Council and brought up Pembroke’s concerns about the plan for using Silver Lake water to cool the towers at the proposed Brockton Power Plant. A letter of support on Pembroke’s behalf was received from Senate President Therese Murray. Mr. Trabucco will keep the board apprised of any developments.

FIRE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT: The board is in receipt of a copy of correspondence dated June 1988 when a previous Board of Selectmen granted approval to authorize aid to other town fire departments. Mr. Boulter would like to check to see if the agreement is still valid since it was under another fire chief at that time.

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: The Chamber of Commerce event was very successful and very well attended. Thanks were expressed to Kathleen Keegan, Bill and Lisa Cullity, Rick Holbrook, Dave Shea and the many others who helped to put this program together.

300^th ANNIVERSARY: Mr. Boulter announced that Deborah Wall has prepared brochures that will be available in public places to preview what the 300^th Anniversary Committee is working on for the celebration of this milestone.

MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING

DECEMBER 6, 2010 – PAGE THREE

TOWN COUNSEL ACCESS: Chairman Boulter says he is not always happy with the response, or lack thereof, that he and other Selectmen have received from Town Counsel. He would like to know if the Selectmen call directly to Counsel for information on a particular issue, can that Selectmen have a conversation with the attorney. He feels that as a general course of action the Selectmen should be able to call individually to get a quick answer from counsel unless a written response is requested by vote of the Board.

Mr. Boulter stated that the Selectmen are looking for a better response time.

PEMBROKE MEDIA BROADCAST: Chairman Boulter would like the approval of the other members of the board to allow him to talk directly to Town Counsel regarding the bylaws of Pembroke Media Broadcast, Inc., more specifically Article 3 of that document where it refers to the Board of Selectmen. In an earlier response from Town Counsel, it was stated that this is a non-profit organization and not under the Town’s jurisdiction. Counsel needs to clarify the role of the Selectmen in this.

Mr. Hanley moved, seconded by Mr. Boyle, to allow the Chairman to contact Town Counsel directly for information regarding the Pembroke Media Broadcast, Inc. and its separation from the Board of Selectmen and the Town. So voted unanimously in favor.

UPCOMING ISSUES: Two applications have been received for the vacancies on the Advisory Committee. Joint appointments will be made in a couple weeks. Other interested persons are encouraged to apply.

RECYCLE COMMITTEE: Applications have been received from eight persons who would like to serve on the newly created Recycle Committee. Mr. Boulter noted that there is no deadline so more applications may be submitted to be reviewed. He would like to have interviews of these persons because it will be a permanent committee and the Selectmen should put some effort into making the right choices for appointment to this committee.

Pauline Dixon has applied and she noted that the Town Meeting vote to create this committee was taken in October and there have still been no appointments. Mr. Boulter reminded her that the committee will not be in charge of the operations of the Recycling Center but will be look at the best ways to recycle and to educate residents about recycling. This committee will make their recommendations to the Selectmen.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Boyle moved, seconded by Mr. Hanley, to go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and pending litigation, and upon conclusion of executive session no further public business will be discussed.

Roll call vote: Stone, yes – Trabucco, yes – Hanley, yes – Boyle, yes – Boulter, yes

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.