Agenda for Dec. 19th Selectmen's Meeting

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
December 19, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of December 5, 6 and 11, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W23P in the amount of
$___________ and Vendor Warrant W24B in the amount of $__________
4. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on 2013 Liquor Licenses for:
 31 Store – Retail Package Goods, All Kinds of Alcoholic Beverages
 American Legion – Club License, All Kinds of Alcoholic Beverages
 Ashby Market – Retail Package Goods, Wines and Malt Beverages
5. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Common Victualler’s License
Renewals for 2013 for:
 31 Store
 4-H Camp Middlesex
 American Legion
 Ashby Market
 Mr. Mike’s
6. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on General (Video Games) License
for The American Legion for 2013
7. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on 2013 Class II and Class III Motor
Vehicle License Renewals and accompanying Conditions for P&S Trucks & Parts, Inc.
8. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on 2013 Motor Vehicle License
Renewals (including Class II Conditions) for:
 B&Z Enterprises Class II
 G&M Automotive Class II
 Tip Top Motors Class II
 Tracy’s Auto Body and Sales Class II
9. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Police Union Contract
10. Selectmen Discuss Employment Agreement Renewal Letter from Police Chief
11. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
12. Public Comments (if any)
13. 7:45 p.m. - Selectmen Enter into Executive Session to Conduct Collective Bargaining
Sessions with the Highway Union and to Conduct Strategy with Respect to Collective
Bargaining with the Dispatch Union and will Reconvene in Open Session
14. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
15. Adjourn

Agenda for Selectmen's Meeting, Dec. 5, 2012

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
December 5, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of November 15 and November 20, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W21P in the amount of
$___________ and Vendor Warrant W22B in the amount of $__________
4. Selectmen Briefing on Net Metering (Alan Pease)
5. 7:30 p.m. - Selectmen Continuance of License Application Hearing
pursuant to MGL Chapter 148 Section 13 for Flammable and Combustible
Liquids for Property Located at 603 Fitchburg State Road
6. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on License for M.B.
Realty Corporation c/o JC Madigan Inc.
7. Selectmen Discuss Liquor License Fees for Calendar Year 2013
8. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on ABCC Liquor
License Renewal Forms
9. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on State Contractor
Authorized Signatory Form for Bulletproof Vest Reimbursement
10. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
11. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
12. Public Comments (if any)
13. Adjourn

Tree Lighting Ceremony on The Common

Tree Lighting Ceremony will be this Sunday, December 2^nd at 4:00 p.m. on the Town Common.

Selectmen's Agenda, Nov. 20, 2012

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
November 20, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of November 15, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W19P in the amount of
$___________ and Vendor Warrant W20B in the amount of $__________
4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Police Union Contract
5. Request for Selectmen to Form a 250th Celebration Committee (Lillian
Whitney)
6. Cable Advisory Board Update and Request for Hearing Date
7. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
8. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
9. Public Comments (if any)
10. Adjourn

Girl Scouts, Scouting for Food, Saturday, Nov. 17th

Ashby Girl Scouts, Scouting for Food

The Ashby Girl Scouts annual SCOUTING FOR FOOD is Saturday November 17th. This food drive to help local families in need relies on community participation.  Please leave any dry goods or canned donations in white plastic grocery bags near your mail box or the end of your driveway by 9:00am on Saturday 11/17.  Your local Girl Scouts will pick up the donations that morning.  If you prefer, dropped off donations are welcome from 9:00-12:00 at the Maja Hall/Square & Compass Club on Erickson Road.  Please consider supporting this wonderful Ashby tradition! Any donation is greatly appreciated!

Agenda for Nov. 7th Selectmen's Meeting

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
November 7, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of September 26 and October 24, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W17P in the amount of $___________
and Vendor Warrant W18B in the amount of $__________
4. 7:15 p.m. – License Application Hearing pursuant to MGL Chapter 148 Section 13 for
Flammable and Combustible Liquids for Property Located at 603 Fitchburg State Road
5. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on License for M.B. Realty Corporation
c/o JC Madigan Inc.
6. 7:30 p.m. - Selectmen Hold Tax Classification Hearing (Harald Scheid)
7. Selectmen Update on Town Common Well (Mike Bussell)
8. Request for Selectmen to designate Alan Pease as Board of Selectmen Representative for
the Department of Public Utilities Hearing concerning Ashby’s Municipal Aggregation
Plan and to read the Prepared Statement at the Hearing
9. Request for Selectmen to Allow Unitil to Intervene in the DPU Hearing
10. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer
#13-03 in the amount of $15,000 to Veterans’ Benefit Expense (Joe Mazzola)
11. Selectmen Discuss Dispatcher’s Unanimous Decision to be represented by the Teamsters
Union Local 170
12. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Notice of Voluntary Recognition of
Teamsters Union Local 170 as the Bargaining Agent for the Police and Fire Signal Operators
13. Request for Selectmen to designate Chairman McMurray as Selectmen Representative for
Voting a New Municipal Representative for NMRSD Collective Bargaining Activities
14. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Subordination of Mortgage for
CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Recipient (MRPC)
15. Selectmen Discuss Updated Funding BAN Models for School Projects
16. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
17. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
18. Public Comments (if any)
19. Adjourn

Election, Tuesday, November 6th

Presidential Election Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm at Ashby Elementary School

Members Needed on Finance Committee

The Ashby Finance Committee is looking for members. The Fin Com is responsible for overseeing the town's budget and finances. No special certification or training is required. Meetings are held the second and forth Tuesdays except during summer months when we usually  meet once a month. During budget season ( February through April) more meetings may be required.

If interested contact Nancy Chew, Town Meeting Moderator at ncchew@hotmail.com or call5677      .

Trick or Treat Postponed

Trick or Treat in Ashby has been postponed to Saturday, Nov. 3rd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Agenda for Selectmen's Meeting October 24, 2012

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
October 24, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of October 4 and October 10, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W15P in the amount of
$___________ and Vendor Warrant W16B in the amount of $__________
4. Introduction of North Middlesex Regional School District’s New
Superintendent Joan Landers
5. Selectmen Discuss Proposed Payment Options from UniBank regarding
School Projects
6. Tree Warden Report on Unitil Town-wide Tree Trimming Request
7. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Request for Reserve
Fund Transfer #13-02 to the Emergency Management Expense Account in
the amount of $6,657.28
8. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on Letter of Condolence to Linda
Mikkola
9. Request for Selectmen’s Appointment of Alan Pease as Zoning Board of
Appeals Member
10. Request for Selectmen’s Appointment of Justin Baer as Zoning Board of
Appeals Alternate Member
11. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
12. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
13. Public Comments (if any)
14. Adjourn

Candy for Main Street Donations

Candy for Main Street 

The Ashby Elementary PTC is collecting donations of bagged candy to distribute to Main Street residents to help ease their cost for trick-or-treating. Donation boxes will be in the lobby of the school and at the Ashby Public Library through Friday, October 26.

Mason Road Paving to Begin Oct. 15th

Mason Road Paving

On Oct 15th the road reclamation will begin on Mason Rd from Heywood Rd to the N.H. line. During this process emergency & essential  vehicles (buses, postal, and road residents) will have access using caution. This process is estimated to take 4 days.

At the conclusion of the reclamation, paving is scheduled to start on or about the 19th.. Once the paving is started the road will be closed & reopened to traffic by sections. Due to the fact that the pavers haul trucks can’t go into N.H. the paving will start at the N.H. line and progress towards town. As a result loaded trucks will be backing in while empties are coming out. Unfortunately some residents may be inconvenienced but please, try and work with us and we’ll get the project finished as soon as possible. I apologize in advance for any difficulties to residents that this project may create. Sincerely; Bill Davis – Supt.  

Flu Vaccinations

Ashby Flu Vaccinations, October 23, 2012 from 11:00- 2:00 pm in the Library. Other Locations in the Nashoba Boards of Health Area

Ashby Pumpkin Festival, this Saturday

Ashby Pumpkin Festival:

Saturday, October 6th, 10AM - 4PM

The Friends of the Ashby Library invite you to join us at Ashby's 22nd annual Pumpkin Festival and Craft Fair. Come spend the day on the town common and enjoy the fall foliage while you engage in some family fun and find some unique gifts. There will be live entertainment throughout the day, food and craft vendors, games and activities for children, a pumpkin decorating contest, a tractor parade, and more. The Friends of the Ashby Library are a non-profit group of volunteers who support and fund the Library's educational needs. All of the proceeds from the festival support the educational programs at the Ashby Public Library.
http://www.ashbypumpkinfest.com/

Register to Vote

Last day to register to vote in the Presidential election is October 17, 2012.  The Clerk's Office will be open until 8:00 pm on that day for voter registration.

Truck Driver/Laborer Position Open

The Town of Ashby Highway Department is now accepting job applications for a fulltime Truck Driver/Laborer $16.00/hr.  Job responsibilities include:  operating trucks & attachments, general labor, and limited mechanical work.  Applicant must possess a Class A or B truck license with Air & General endorsements and a minimum Class 2B hoisting license.  Applicant will have to pass a pre-employment drug test & be enrolled in the Town’s drug and alcohol program.  Applicant must be able to work overtime when needed, including snow removal operations.  Interested parties may obtain a job application with general information at the Ashby Highway Department, 92 Breed Road, Ashby, MA  01431.  Please direct inquiries to William A. Davis, Highway Superintendent at 978-386-2424, ex. 26, M – F, between 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.   Applications will be accepted until position is filled.  The Town of Ashby is an EOE and AAE.

Agenda for Selectmen's Meeting, Sept. 26, 2012

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
September 26, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of September 12, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W11P in the amount of
$____________ and Vendor Warrant W12B in the amount of $_________
4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on UN Day Proclamation
5. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
6. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
7. Public Comments (if any)
8. Adjourn

Result of Recount of Override Election

Result of the recount of ballots cast at the August 28th Override election.
Yes 516
No 511

Job Opening, Accounting Clerk/Admin. Assistant

Accounting Clerk and Administrative Assistant

The Town of Ashby is accepting applications for the part-time, non-benefited position of Accounting Clerk and Administrative Assistant to the Police Department.  Duties include assisting Town Accountant with preparation of accounts payable, payroll, receivables processing, and maintaining accounting files.  A thorough knowledge of principles/practices of municipal accounting, financial computer applications and accuracy is a prime requisite. Police Department Administrative Assistant duties include bills and payroll submittals & tracking, electronic reporting for grants, data entry for firearms licensing, ordering supplies, filing and organizing and other clerical/accounting duties as deemed appropriate.  A background check including CORI check and finger print submission is required.  18 hrs./week during warrant weeks and 13 hrs./week during non-warrant weeks with schedule t/b/d.  Minimum two years of higher education preferred.

Send résumé & letter of interest to the Town of Ashby, Attn:  Jennifer Collins, 895 Main Street, Ashby, MA  01431.

Starting pay rate: $13.00/hr.  Deadline for applications: 10/04/12. EOE.

State Primary Election, Sept. 6, 2012

State Primary Election, Thursday, September 6, 2012 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm at Ashby Elementary School.

Election Results

Result of Special Town Election

August 28, 2012

Total Ballots Cast 1027

Yes	515
No	512
Blank

QUESTION 1.  2½ LEVY LIMIT OVERRIDE

Shall the Town of Ashby be allowed to assess an additional $ 159,439.67 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding a supplemental appropriation for the North Middlesex Regional School District budget for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and twelve?

Override Election, Tuesday, August 28th

Election, Tuesday, August 28, 2012, Noon to 7:30 pm
at Ashby Elementary School

Warrant

Ballot Question

QUESTION 1.  2½ LEVY LIMIT OVERRIDE

Shall the Town of Ashby be allowed to assess an additional $ 159,439.67 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding a supplemental appropriation for the North Middlesex Regional School District budget for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and twelve?

Yes                                         No                  

The polls will be open at 12:00 noon and shall close at 7:30 PM.

 

Assessors Evaluation
of the Impact on Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes

TAX IMPACT of 2 1/2 Levi Limit Override 8/28/2012
Amount to be raised:		$          159,439.67
divided by the total town valuation:		$  282,400,824.00
equals a tax rate increase of:		$                       0.57	per $1,000
times the average residential valuation:		$          212,281.00
equals an average annual residential tax increase of:		$                   121.00
divided by the current average annual residential tax bill of:		$               3,486.00
equals a percentage increase of:		3.47%

Selectmen's Meeting Agenda for Aug 29th

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
August 29, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of July 20, August 1 and August 15, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W07P in the amount of
$44,260.26, Vendor Warrant W08B in the amount of $48,227.79 and
Vendor Warrant W08B-1 in the amount of $4,975.61
4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Chairman’s Signature on Montachusett
Regional Planning Commission DLTA Grant Amendment (Alan Pease)
5. Request for Selectmen to Award Fire Tanker Bid to Crimson Fire, Inc., d/b/a
Spartan ERV (Fire Chief)
6. Request for Selectmen’s Permission to Use the former Grange Hall (Debbie
Moylan)
7. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Chapter 90 Request
8. Request for Selectmen’s Appointment of Joe Casey, Pat McPhee and John
Pankosky as Cable Advisory Board Members
9. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on a One Day Liquor
License for the Holmes-Curran-Bennett American Legion, Post 361 for a
Car Show at Allen Field on September 2nd (Rain Date 9/3/12)
10. Request for Selectmen to Call a Special Town Meeting
11. Request for Selectmen to Open the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting
12. Selectmen Discuss Possible Special Election Ballot Question and Whether
to Call a Special Election
13. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
14. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
15. Public Comments (if any)
16. Adjourn

Override Election Information Sessions

Joan Landers, new North Middlesex School Superintendent, will be speaking at a community information session about the prop 2 1/2 overrride at the Ashby Public Library at 5:30pm 8/22/12. She will be available for Q&A. 

Ken Brown, Ashby School Committee member, will be available to answer questions about the prop 2 1/2 override at an information table at the Ashby Band Concert on Ashby Common 7:00 8/22/12

The election will be held Tuesday, August 28th from noon to 7:30pm at Ashby Elementary School. Absentee ballots are available from the Town Clerk until noon on Monday, Aug. 27th

Video of Selectmen's Meeting

The video of the 8/15 Selectmen's meeting is now online. We are aiming to provide this service on a regular basis.
http://ashbyma.gov/Selectmen/bos-video.html

Results of the Special Town Meeting Aug. 14, 2012

RESULTS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
August 14, 2012

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES

Article 1. The motion was made and seconded to raise and appropriate, $159,439.67 for the
operating budget of the North Middlesex Regional School District, in addition to the sum voted under the
May 5, 2012 Annual Town Meeting, Article 11 for said operating budget, provided that no funds shall be
expended unless the Town has first voted at an election to exempt this expenditure from the provisions of
Proposition 2½, so called, and further provided that the Town of Pepperell and/or the Town of Townsend
also votes to approve and fund its proportional share of such additional appropriations.
VOTE: Yea 87   Nay 32

Article 2. The motion was made and seconded to amend the vote taken under the May 5, 2012
Annual Town Meeting, Article 10 for the operation of the Recycling Center and Transfer Station by
specifying the funding sources for the appropriation therefore, the sum of $31,814 to be appropriated as
follows: Recycling Center revenues: $29,310 and Retained earnings: $2,504 for the ensuing fiscal year,
FY2013, beginning July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013.
VOTE: Passed

Agenda for Selectmen's Meeting Aug. 15th

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
August 15, 2012
1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of July 2 and August 3, 2012
3. Selectmen Approve and Sign on Payroll Warrant W05P in the amount of
$__________, and Vendor Warrant W06B in the amount of
$____________
4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on CDBG FY10 Agreement
for Housing Rehab/Septic Program Participant Ashby Case #12 (MRPC)
5. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on CDBG FY10 Agreement
for Housing Rehab/Septic Program Participant Ashby Case #13 (MRPC)
6. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Agreement for
Paramedic Intercept Services (Fire Chief/EMS Director Bill Seymour, Jr.)
7. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on State PrimaryWarrant
(4) (Town Clerk)
8. Request for Selectmen’s Vote on Final Municipal Aggregation Plan
9. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on Highway Union Contract
10. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of the Resignation of Jessica Johnson as
Accounting Clerk and Administrative Assistant to the Police Department
11. Request for Selectmen to form a Cable Advisory Board for November
Cable License Renewal and Appeal to Citizens for Potential Members
12. Any Other Business Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman
13. Assistant to the Board of Selectmen’s Report
14. Public Comments (if any)
15. Adjourn

Special Town Meeting, August 14th at 7:00 pm

Below are the articles to be voted on. Link to the official warrant


In the name of the Commonwealth, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the
Town of Ashby, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet at the Elementary School
Auditorium in said Ashby, Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. to act on the following articles:
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES

Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or
borrow $159,439.67 for the operating budget of the North Middlesex Regional School District, in
addition to the sum voted under the May 5, 2012 Annual Town Meeting, Article 11 for said
operating budget, provided that no funds shall be expended and no bonds shall be issued unless
the Town has first voted at an election to exempt this expenditure from the provisions of
Proposition 2., so called, and further provided that the Town of Pepperell and/or the Town of
Townsend also votes to approve and fund its proportional share of such additional appropriations,
or act in relation thereto.
Finance Committee action:   Approved
Brief Explanation: This article represents the additional monies requested by North Middlesex Regional School District over and above the proportional new growth and tax levy monies as voted at the May 5, 2012 Annual Town Meeting under Article 11. One other town will be required to vote the budget at the same level.

Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to amend the vote taken under the May 5, 2012 Annual
Town Meeting, Article 10 for the operation of the Recycling Center and Transfer Station by
specifying the funding sources for the appropriation therefore, the sum of $31,814 to be
appropriated as follows: Recycling Center revenues: $29,310 and Retained earnings: $2,504 for
the ensuing fiscal year, FY2013, beginning July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013, or take any
action thereon.
Finance Committee action:   Approved
Brief Explanation: Under the May 5th2012 ATM $31,814 was appropriated, but the motion failed to
identify the source of revenue. This article properly identifies the recycle and retained earnings as the
source of revenue for this appropriation.

Last Day to Register to Vote for Override Election

The Last Day to Register to Vote for the August 28th Election is August 8th. The Clerk's Office Will be Open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. on the Wednesday, August 8th.

Override Tax Impact

The tax impact of the override scheduled for an election on August 28th is available at http://ci.ashby.ma.us/override_8-28-12.html