Blandford residents turned out for a Special Town Meeting on Monday.
BLANDFORD – The town of Blandford held a Special Town Meeting on Monday to vote on a new fire engine and truck for the highway department, and on whether to reduce the salary of the Town Administrator to $1, brought forward by a citizen’s petition that would effectively eliminate the position. A similar citizen’s petition had put the same question to the Annual Town Meeting in May, and was postponed indefinitely at that time. The position of Town Administrator is currently held by Angeline Ellison of Sturbridge. Ellison started on the job in September, 2016, at a part-time salary of $40,000, the same amount as is in the FY18 budget.
Prior to the meeting, Adam Dolby, chair of the Board of Selectmen, had said that he would much rather be talking about the other, more important articles to be voted on, such as the $283,000 to transfer from Free Cash or borrow to purchase a mini-pumper, “the first new (fire) truck in 20 years,” or the $231,250 to purchase a 2018 Mack GU713 for the Highway Department.
Blandford Fire Chief Ed Harvey.
The meeting went Dolby’s way on Monday, as the fire truck was unanimously approved after a short discussion by Blandford Fire Chief Ed Harvey. Harvey explained that the 2016 demonstration model mini-pumper, which fits into the 9 foot clearance garage and will replace the 1988 Engine2 GMC pumper, has an added system for compressed air foam, and will assist with medical calls and jaws of life. Eric McVey of the Finance Committee said the truck would be paid for with $40,000 from capital expenditures, voted at the Town Meeting, and $240,000 to borrow short term until Free Cash is certified, to be repaid from Free Cash.
Similarly, the Highway Department purchase was overwhelmingly approved with one no vote. Brad Curry, highway superintendent, said the 2018 Mack GU713 would be fully loaded with 12-foot slide-in sander, 4-way plow and an extended warranty, and will replace a 1999 International which he said was pretty much gone. McVey said the truck would be paid for similarly, with $30,000 from the capital fund, and the rest borrowed until Free Cash is certified.
Town Moderator David B. Hopson put limits on dicussion of TA at Blandford STM.
Moderator David B. Hopson introduced the vote on the Town Administrator. He said due to questions regarding the legality of the citizen’s petition, he had consulted with the town’s legal counsel and with the commonwealth, which had found it to be legal.
However, Hopson said that because the article involves labor and management issues, he would not allow anyone to speak about the TA’s duties or performance, or the management of the TA or other town employees by the Board of Selectmen. He said he would give a warning to anyone bringing up those issues, and the second time they would be asked to leave. He also said, due to the potentially contentious nature of the vote, it would be taken by secret ballot.
Former selectman Andrew Montanaro, who supported the petition then moved for a recess of 12 minutes in response to Hopson’s parameters, which was seconded by former Finance Committee member Anthony J. van Werkhooven, who presented the petition. Resident T. J. Cousineau objected, saying, “They put out a handout which taints the article.”
The handout to which Cousineau referred outlined the reasons for the petition, most of which spoke of disputes between the TA and town employees and the response by the Board of Selectmen, none of which would be allowed to be discussed under Hopson’s guidelines.
The motion for a recess was voted down. A motion was then made and seconded on the question, with Hopson making the amendment that a transfer of the current salary in excess of $1 goes to the general fund, as it could not be legally transferred to Free Cash.
A motion was then made to postpone the question indefinitely, which was seconded, and passed by a majority of hands, as it had at the Town Meeting in May. A motion was then made to adjourn the meeting.
Following the meeting, Mark Reich of KP Law, who serves as the town’s legal counsel said that Hopson as the Town Moderator makes the ultimate decision based on legal counsel, and can decide if a discussion is going to be appropriate or not. He said that by law the town can’t prevent any petition to come to a town meeting if there are enough signatures, but the moderator decides how it is run.
“We knew this was going to be a discussion that wasn’t appropriate within the bounds of the article. I decided to address it in the beginning,” Hopson said.
Montanaro and van Werkhooven seemed resigned, although unchanged in their opinions. Van Werkhooven said he would not be pursuing the matter.
2016 mini-pumper. Chief Harvey said it will be lettered for Blandford and a variety of equipment will be mounted by the dealer as part of the purchase.
“I think it’s a huge step for the town. I think the purchase of the vehicles is huge. We haven’t made capital purchases in 20 years,” said Dolby, adding that he was happy to have the same result as the Annual Town Meeting for the TA. He said it shows the town is confident in the Board of Selectmen’s ability to manage town employees.
Selectman William Levakis was also happy about the new trucks. “We need a rotation now. We’ve just been keeping our heads above water with used vehicles. This is a good start,” Levakis said. He said because the fire truck was a demo, the town “got a really good price on it.” He said the compressed water and foam will allow them put out fires quicker, and with the new equipment, they will be able take care of anything on the turnpike, which emergency vehicles can access in Blandford, without having to wait for Westfield. “Save lives, save vehicles,” Levakis said.
As for the result of the vote on the TA, Levakis had little comment. “The town spoke. The town is my boss. They spoke loud and clear on that,” he said.
