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Date: 4/8/2020
WILBRAHAM – The Wilbraham Select Board and the finance committee convened a joint meeting on April 6 to hear budget requests from town department heads.
Nick Manolakis, chair of the capital planning committee, said there are two major projects that should be tackled immediately. The first is an HVAC system on the roof of the Wilbraham Middle School, estimated to cost $75,000. Manolakis said that the HVAC system needs to be replaced soon and since the roof is already being replaced, it is most efficient to do the work at the same time.
The second item was $200,000 for the Department of Public Works garage, $600,000 was allocated last year’s town meeting, but he said the estimate was too low as prices have increased.
Manolakis said there are approximately $10 million in school projects over the next 10 years. These include parking lot paving a roof for a school, new lockers and asbestos removal. Eventually, the boilers at Stony Hill School, Soule Road School and Mile Tree will need replacing, as well.
Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Director of Finance, Operations and Human Resources Howard Barber said some of those projects are eligible for grants through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
Aside from school projects, Manolakis said, the Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department in the Tree Warden all have slated projects.
Stoughton Smead, chair of the community preservation committee requested funding for 10 projects, the largest of which includes $250,000 for a Spec Park storage facility, $220,000 to acquire just over 71 acres of land for conservation and $147,753 to bring the Old Meeting House up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The board and the finance committee discussed the best way to use the $83,000 available to be appropriated while still staying under the levy limit in this year's budget. Select Board Chair Susan Bunnell suggested putting up the money into the capital spending account, which would add approximately $20 to the average household property tax.
“There's a lot of value from that $20,” Finance Committee Chair Carolyn Brennan said.
Committee member Mark Ducey countered that they may need that money as a buffer in case the town’s economy begins to suffer. Treasurer Tom Sullivan agreed.
“If anything, you should put that money into stabilization, in case we do have a recession,” Sullivan said.
Moving away from the budget, Brault said that Hampden is considering signing an agreement with the Chicopee-based Dispatch Center WESTCOMM, but has also expressed interest in a potential memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the town in which Wilbraham would have control of the dispatch and would charge Hampden for handling its emergency calls. Brault said regionalization has been broached with the town previously three times but never approved.
After reaching out to the state 911 office, Brault said that the original understanding that the state would pay all municipal costs of the service the first year and diminishing costs for the three consecutive years was incorrect. The incentive from the state would use that scale to pay the town’s assessment, not for the entirety of the service costs.
Bunnell said she was more open to an MOU agreement between towns than the structure with WESTCOMM, in which a committee would deliver a firm budget to the town.
Board member Robert Boilard said he didn’t see the benefits for Wilbraham, and board member Robert Russell expressed skepticism, saying, “I want to know what the downside is.” Bunnell admitted they would have to crunch the numbers to see if there would be cost savings.
Dispatch Supervisor Anthony Gentile estimated that he would have to hire one to two more people but also noted regionalization makes the town eligible for more grants. Gentile said if the state ever moves to require regionalization they will already fall under that category
“What's in it for us,” Police Chief Robert Zollo asked. He said the town already had a “great system,” and added, “they’re the ones who need us. I don't see how we’re going to improve.” He said that while he was not opposed to an agreement, he wanted to see the numbers first. Andrews agreed.
The board agreed that Gentile would have to develop a budget that included Hampden and then they would review it. A decision isn’t expected until after the COVID-19 crisis subsides.
As head of the town’s emergency management team, Andrews updated the board on the status of the COVID-19 response. Andrews said first responders are answering one to two calls per day that meet the criteria for COVID-19. Two firefighters are currently in quarantine and another was scheduled to be tested on April 7 due to showing symptoms.
Andrews said Wilbraham has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment, but to keep up with demand he has put in orders for more masks from the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association and Wilbraham Monson Academy.
The chief also referenced the possible use of the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds as a testing site. That location was confirmed earlier in the day during a press conference by Gov. Charlie Baker as a site for drive-through testing of first responders.
Public Health Nurse Jill Consolino said students in a hospital training program have begun helping her trace cases and track people with whom patients have had contact.
Department of Public Works Director Tanya Basch informed the board that there are new guidelines from the state regarding both public and private construction that the town must enforce. When contractors pull a permit they will be referred to the new guidelines and will have to acknowledge their compliance. The town will verify the guidelines are being followed when the inspection is done at the end of the project, Basch said.
On a related note, Building Inspector Lance Trevallion said Wilbraham is currently not issuing permits for non-essential private construction in an effort to eliminate unnecessary contact between individuals.
Town Administrator Nick Breault reminded residents to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. He said playground areas have been closed in town along with the Community Gardens Greenhouse to deter people from gathering in public.
Bunnell reported that she had been contacted by concerned residents about social distancing on hiking trails and suggested the board use the robocall alert system to remind people to maintain proper distancing. Boilard and Russell agreed but cautioned against the overuse of the system as to not inundate the public.
Carole Tardif, the town clerk, asked the select board to formally postpone the town meeting and elections. The town meeting was postponed from May 11 to June 15 and the new date for the town elections is June 20. The annual town meeting warrant article deadline is on April 10.