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Date: 10/22/2020
WILBRAHAM – Public Health Nurse Jill Consolino gave an update on the status of COVID-19 cases in town to the Wilbraham Select Board at its Oct. 19 meeting. The two-week average of cases is at 7.37 cases per 100,000 residents. This puts Wilbraham in the “yellow” moderate risk range on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 Community-Level Data Map. She reported a total of nine active cases, however, she noted that two people were scheduled to come out of isolation on Oct. 20. Consolino said that the uptick in cases is the result of social gatherings.
Police Chief Robert Zollo requested a reserve fund transfer of $1,000 to cover the insurance deductible for repairs to the radio tower on Hovey Road, one of two outdoor microwave units that allow emergency communication in town. Zollo said that the company that services the equipment speculated that it was damaged in one of the severe storms that have hit the area in recent months. The reserve fund transfer request was voted on and forwarded to the finance committee.
Similarly, another reserve fund transfer request to pay for storm damage came from Director of Veterans’ Services Jared Sasen. He reported that the flag pole at Glendale Cemetery had been damaged by high winds in the Aug. 4 storm. He received an estimate of $1,049.58 to replace the pulley at the top of the pole. That request was also forwarded to the finance committee.
Town Administrator Nick Breault updated the board on the ongoing negotiations regarding a regionalized dispatch agreement between Wilbraham and Hampden. He said Hampden is interested in an agreement based on the Ayer-Shirley regional agreement.
“It looks promising but they want to talk about some of the details,” Breault said. Emergency Dispatch Director Anthony Gentile said, “I think we could take the responsibility of dispatching Hampden over easily,” and added that it would benefit both towns.
Breault also informed the board that the tree warden had already used $57,000, nearly all of the budget, for tree removal due mainly to storms. Breault said that the finance committee had recommended using $7,800 of free cash to supplement the budget, Alternatively, Breault said that a reserve fund transfer is possible.
The board approved a community host agreement draft that was presented by Town Attorney Steven Riley for the USA Waste facility at 120 Old Boston Rd. The company is seeking to increase the volume of industrial material it processes and transports via rail.
Select Board Member Robert Boilard said that his main concern is a slow increase in volume at the site. He said the town will monitor the truck traffic as they increase their capacity.
Department of Public Works Director Tonya Basch said that USA Waste has worked with the town to help it dispose of its recyclables. “They’ve done a number of things in good faith with the community,” she said.
Former Select Board Member Sue Bunnell, who worked on the agreement during her time on the board, joined the call and opined that she is “really pleased” and thinks the agreement will work out for both the town and the company. Bunnell now serves on the finance committee.
Glen Garvey and Scott Wade came before the board to ask that the used car sales license formerly held by Wilbraham Auto Sales at 2030 Boston Rd. be transfered to them under the name Wilbraham Auto Group. The two plan to open “a smaller car business,” with a business model that is “more of a per order search for cars,” rather than having an extensive inventory on hand. The business will operate in the back of the building, without a showroom, and will have no more than one to six cars on the premises. The license transfer was approved.
The board also approved a 60-month lease agreement for office copiers, an electricity supplier contract which will save the town $0.19 per kilowatt hour (KWh) and the use of the Spec Pond Complex for a Halloween Parade on Oct. 24 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.