To: Board of Selectmen
From: Brian J. Bullock
Town Manager
Date: June 16, 2006
Subject: Miscellaneous
1. Town-Owned Land After our last meeting, a list of town-owned parcels acquired via tax title was shared with the Selectmen. Subsequently, the disposition of one particular parcel, the 72 acre (former) Holden Youth Sports (HYS) land, was forwarded to the Master Planning Committee for their input. The Chairs of the Master Plan Steering Committee asked that the auction process for all the parcels be put on hold until the Committee had further time to review the list and make recommendations.
Postponing the sale of the HYS parcel makes sense in that it is the largest parcel on the list and has potential for significant impact to the community regardless of the nature of its final disposition. However, most of the remaining parcels, with the exception of two lots (Salisbury Street and Mixter Road), are not buildable, and their sale would likely only be of interest to direct abutters. We will meet with the Chairs of the Steering Committee to discuss this matter and recommend that we proceed with auctioning the remaining parcels on the Treasurers tax title list. For your information, we have already marketed both the Salisbury Street and Mixter Road lots, and their sale was not finalized due to various reasons. The sale of these two lots and the remaining lots would garner the town much needed cash and would return them to our rolls
for future tax revenue. An email concerning this matter is attached.
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2. Save the Date Flier We have drafted and updated a Summer/Fall Save the Date flier to be inserted in the Town utility bills early next month. Please review the flier and let us know if you have any changes or additions.
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3. Annual Distribution of the Wachusett Fund Enclosed is a letter from Roland A. Marinello, Divisional Director of Financial Reporting at UMass Memorial, notifying us that the thirteenth annual distribution of the Wachusett Area Emergency Services Fund (Wachusett Fund) is scheduled to be made on July 1, 2006. Attached to his letter is a statement of assets and auditors report. The annual distribution amount to the eleven participating towns is equal to 6 ½ % of the average market value of Fund for the prior calendar year. The market value on December 31, 2004 was $3,135,416; the value of the Fund increased to $3,146,417 as of December 31, 2005. Holdens 23,71% share of the distribution is $52,492, an amount $950 higher above last years distribution.
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4. Holden Days Saturday, August 26th is the Holden Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored Holden Days Around the World. Thomas Tyman, Chairman of Holden Days 2006 has provided the enclosed additional information on the festivities.
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5. Selectmen Follow-Up Enclosed is a list of Selectmen business and action items from the month of May 2006.
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6. Town Web Site We are in the process of upgrading our Web site to streamline its content and make it more user friendly. We are also redesigning the look of it by adding a banner along the top, town seal, drop-down menus, etc. Our address www.townofholden.net will remain the same. We hope to launch the new Web site this summer. Enclosed is a mock- up of the banner that will appear along the top of each page. To promote the work of local artists, we have selected an acrylic painting by Mary E.L. Shepherd, a member of the Holden Arts Council, as our initial banner. Her original work Hometown Holden is a unique representation of what we think captures the charm and spirit of Holden.
To showcase the original work of homegrown talent, we would like to rotate our banner to display other local artwork (with permission, of course), perhaps in six month intervals. This not only gives our Web site a totally unique appearance, it promotes the beauty and distinctiveness of our Town.
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7. Name the Newsletter Contest The Friends of the Council on Aging received 29 entries in their Name the Newsletter contest. They selected Among Friends as the new name for the monthly newsletter. The winner received a $25 gift certificate to Vals Restaurant.
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8. Storage of Ambulance Medications In response to an issue that arose at the last Selectmens Meeting, Chief George Sherrill reports that any medications that are sensitive to heat or cold are removed from the ambulance in a save and secure container and manner, and stored properly inside the ambulance offices. Obviously, this adds another step to be taken when a call for the ambulance comes in because the ambulance operators must make sure they take the stored medicines with them to the ambulance.
The proposed Public Safety Facility has space designed to appropriately garage the ambulance and its onboard medications.
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9. HPD Update Chief Sherrill has provided an update on recent community activities at the Police Department:
Student Police Academy On Wednesday, June 14, twenty-seven Mountview Middle School students graduated from the Departments Student Police Academy, a program modeled after the WRHS class. Run by Officer Robert Himmer, it provides participants with information on careers in criminal justice and law enforcement.
State Police Road Race On Sunday, June 11, eleven HPD Officers and family members participated in the 29th annual State Police 5-Mile Road Race in Framingham. The HPD Team placed 2nd overall. Sgt. David Armstrong and retired Sgt. Gary Gaskin placed in their age groups. Congratulations to all who participated.
USPS Amber Alert Stamp On Friday, June 23 at 2:00 p.m., Jefferson Post Office, the Selectmen and residents are invited to the unveiling of a new USPS stamp featuring the Amber Alert System. The Amber Alert System is used by Law Enforcement to quickly notify the public through local news media, radio and television about a possible missing/abducted person. The event on June 23rd in Jefferson will be attended by state and local officials as well as the parents of Molly Bish. In June 2000, the Holden Police Department worked closely with the Bish family to produce the first composite drawing of the suspect in the Molly Bish disappearance and murder.
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10. FY07 Preliminary Tax Bills The FY07 preliminary tax bills are being prepared and will be mailed on June 30th.
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11. Main Street I have been in contact with the Mass Highway regarding the drainage problem at the intersection of Routes 122A and 31. Dennis Manseau, Area Engineer with District 3, indicated that a crew will be on-site within the next 30 45 days to correct the problem. The schedule to repair this problem was delayed due to the pending change in fiscal years and the need for the State to contract with a vendor to perform the work.
The Light Department and Highway Division have developed a plan to correct approximately 18 manholes on Main Street. This work should take place over the summer months and will require the rebuilding of each structure and replacement of the covers.
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12. Town Offices Summer Hours Just a reminder that we will be going to Summer Hours effective June 26th through September 1, 2006 as follows:
8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Accounting Assessors
Fire Department Growth Management
Police Department Public Works
Senior Center Town Clerk
Town Manager Treasurer/Collector
7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Public Works Administration
Public Works Engineering
Water/Sewer Division
Light Department
We will notify the Landmark and post a notice at each location.
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13. Friday Night Outdoor Movies This summer, outdoor movies are back at the Senior Center on the lawn on the following four Friday evenings: July 14 and 28, and August 11 and 18. We will keep you updated on this activity, which received very positive feedback and attendance at last falls premier movie night.
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14. Pool Opening! The pool opens on June 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. daily. Come on down for a cool splash and bring the family. Gourmet treats (and not so gourmet) are always available at our Snack Shack which provides friendly service to customers and good work experience for the students who are in charge of its operation. Thanks go to Denise Morano, Recreation Director, her crew, and to our Building and Grounds personnel who have prepared the facility for another great season.
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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning these matters.
_________________________________
Brian J. Bullock
Town Manager
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