Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Selectmen's Agenda for Oct. 28th

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, October 28, 2009


1. 6:30 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Selectmen Talk with Police Chief Search Committee Volunteers

2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of October 14, 2009

3. Selectmen Approve and Sign Payroll Warrant W17P in the amount of $45,435.07 and Vendor Warrant 18B in the amount of $158,347.14

4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer to the Highway Regular Overtime Account for $225.30

5. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer to Police Expenses in the Amount of $5,882.00

6. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer to Historical Commission Expenses in the Amount of $54.20

7. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on Letter of Gratitude for Dondi LaRue’s Fifteen Years of Service

8. Request for Selectmen’s Appointment of Johanna Grutchfield to the Council on Aging

9. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of Resignation of Chris Wallace, the Highway Equipment Operator

10. Selectmen Update on the Ashby Open Space Plan (Conservation Commission and Land Use Agent)

11. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on Special State Primary Warrant for Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

12. Selectmen Briefing on CDBG Grant Program with Hubbardston (Shelly Hatch, MRPC)

13. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Agreement with the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission for the Administration and Implementation of the CDBG Grant

14. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Agreement for Housing Rehabilitation Services with Jack McCarthy, dba Home Tech, Inc.

15. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Agreement with Attorney Thomas C. Gustafson for Title Rundown and Recording Services

16. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Memorandum of Agreement with the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission for Group Procurement of Office Supplies

17. Request for Selectmen’s Selection of a Monday Date for the Special Town Meeting

18. Request for Selectmen’s Review of the STM Articles List and Decisions about what to Include on the Warrant

19. Town Administrator’s Report

20. Public Comments (if any)

21. Adjourn

Local Contractors Needed

The Towns of Ashby and Hubbardston were recently awarded Community Development Block Grant funds to conduct a housing rehabilitation program in both towns.

The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) has been hired by the Towns to administer the grant program. We are looking for local contractors that might be interested in participating in this new program.

The type of renovations that are covered within this program is roofing repairs or replacement; installing insulation; window and door replacement; upgrades to heating, plumbing and electrical systems; drainage and structural issues; removal of lead or asbestos; and repairs or replacement for failed septic systems.

If you are a licensed general contractor, lead remover, electrician, plumber, or septic installer, carry insurance, and are looking for local jobs, please contact Shelly Hatch at MRPC, 978-345-7376, x305.

Monday, October 26, 2009

New Ethics Law Requirements

On July 1, 2009 Governor Patrick signed into law Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009 (the “Bill”) making changes to the state’s conflict of interest law and the State Ethics Commission’s enabling act. On September 29, 2009 portions of the Bill that relate to the conflict of interest law go into effect.

Each municipal employee (as well as unpaid elected or appointed officials) is required to sign a written acknowledgement that he/she has been provided with a summary of the bill and such written acknowledgement must be filed with the town clerk. See and print Summary of the Conflict of Interest Law for Municipal Employees

The Bill also adds a new Section 28 to the conflict of interest law, which provides that every “municipal employee shall, within 30 days after becoming such an employee, and every 2 years thereafter, complete the online training program. Upon completion of the online training program, the employee shall provide notice of such completion to be retained for 6 years” by the city/town clerk.

The Commission currently has on its website an online training program, which, until such time as it is revised, should be the program used by municipal employees to comply with this training requirement. Upon completion of the program, employees should print out the completion certificate, keep a copy themselves and provide a copy to the city or town clerk.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Call for Entries in Quilt Show at Library

CALL FOR ENTRIES
Upcoming Quilt Exhibition at the Carol H. Steele Gallery of the Library.

You don’t have to be a professional quilter to show off your work. Quilts may be hand or machine pieced and quilted. The Exhibition will run from early December 2009through January 2010.

Send photos of up to three quilts by November 13 to the AFPL, PO Box 279, Ashby, MA 01431. Include the size of the piece and your contact information – name, address, telephone, and email. Maximum size is 36” – 60”. The work must be framed with attached wire, or supported by a rod for hanging purposes. For more information, contact Ann-marie LaBollita 978-386-7710 or aml1963@verizon.net.

Halloween Parking Restrictions

The traditional Ashby Halloween event-will be held Saturday, October 31, 2009 in Ashby Center from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. 

To improve safety through increased visibility, we are prohibiting parking on Main Street from South Road to the library from 4:00 p.m. until the event ends.

You will be able to access your driveways but we seek your cooperation and ask that you do not park on the street from 2:00 p.m.

If you have any questions please call 978-386-5652. Thank you for helping to ensure a safe Halloween.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Drew
Acting Chief of Police

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Selectmen's Agenda for Oct. 14th

Selectmen's Agenda pdf

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of September 30, 2009

3. Selectmen Approve and Sign Payroll Warrant W15P in the amount of $38,286.57 and Vendor Warrant 16B in the amount of $33,192.32

4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer to the Highway Regular Overtime Account for $225.30

5. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of Resignation of Dona Sue LaRue and Signatures on Letter of Gratitude for her Service

6. Request for Selectmen’s Consideration of Foreclosed Properties that are Ready for Auction (Treasurer)

7. Request for Selectmen’s Designation of Liaison to the Ethics Commission

8. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on GIS Authorization Letter to MRPC

9. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on Letters of Appreciation to Mike Bussell and Bruce Adams

10. Request for Selectmen’s Vote to Authorize the Superintendent of the North Middlesex Regional School District to Submit Statement of Interest for a Grant to fund the Repair/Replacement of the Ashby Elementary School Roof

11. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of Tamara Leclerc’s Resignation as Ashby Member at Large to the North Middlesex Regional School Committee and to attend a Joint Meeting with the School Committee and Three Boards of Selectmen on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Professional Development Center at the High School

12. Request for Selectmen’s Policy on placing certain Community Events Links on the Town’s Web Site (Alan Pease)

13. Selectmen Briefing on CDBG Grant Program with Hubbardston (Shelly Hatch, MRPC)

14. Request for Selectmen’s Decision regarding Support of Updating the Massachusetts Bottle Bill

15. Request for Selectmen’s Decision regarding Proclaiming October 24, 2009 as United Nations Day in Ashby

16. Selectmen Discuss Police Chief Search Committee

17. Selectmen Discuss Whether to Call a Fall Special Town Meeting

18. Town Administrator’s Report

19. Public Comments (if any)

20. Adjourn

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Council on Aging Seeks Volunteers for Meals on Wheels

Volunteers are needed this fall for two very important programs that support Ashby elders. Do you have an hour or so available in the middle of the day once a week? Meals on Wheels drivers are needed for Tuesdays or Fridays at 11:15 a.m. The Meals on Wheels program provides a nutritious, hot meal to homebound seniors five days per week. Drivers must be 18 years or older and have a valid driver’s license. Please call Angie Godin at 978-386-6800 to volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

A new program introduced this fall to support isolated Ashby seniors is the Friendly Visitor program. Many elders live alone and Friendly Visiting promotes better physical, mental and emotional health for seniors while creating lasting and meaningful relationships between seniors and volunteers.

Friendly Visitor volunteers are matched with an Ashby elder and volunteer one or two hours of their time each week. Time spent together can include talking, writing letters, playing cards, taking walks or rides, running errands together or reading. All Council on Aging volunteers are required to have a CORI check (criminal background). If you wish to be a Friendly Visitor please call Kathryn Becker at 978-386-2424 ext. 27.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Notice of Abandoned Checks updated Oct. 1, 2009

October 1, 2009
"Notice of Names of Persons Appearing to be Owners of Checks Issued by the Town of Ashby, Which Have Not Been Cashed and are Deemed Abandoned"

Information about each check may be obtained by a person expressing an interest in the check by addressing an inquiry to Kate Stacy / Treasurer of the Town of Ashby, 895 Main Street – Lock Box 12, Ashby MA 01431 Phone # 978-386-2424 Extension 23.



Name
Address
Town of City
State

Mary Krapf
1023 Piper Road
Ashby
MA

MCSA Treasurer / Charlene A. Fisk
2 Carpenter Street
Seekonk
MA

Robert P. Walsh
1530 Pearl Hill Road
Fitchburg
MA

Ryan M. Cerullo
18 Stone Brook Drive
Ashby
MA

Vega & Martha Adolfo
2 Scott Road
Ashby
MA

Patricia Warner
50 Beaver Dam Road
Ashby
MA

Gary Beals
61 Turnpike Road
Ashby
MA

Andrew & Catherine Miller
805 Fitchburg State Road
Ashby
MA


posted 10/2/2009

Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 3rd rain or shine at AES gym

Pumpkin Festival, will be held rain or shine on Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 10:00 - 4:00 at Ashby Elementary School Gym