The August 26 Select Board meeting agenda included a presentation on the Flock camera system, which had to be postponed until September 23. The rest of the agenda was followed as posted.
Chairman John Brown opened the meeting with an announcement from the Fire Chief that there will be a 9/11 ceremony on September 11, starting at 9:45am, on the Town Green. All are welcome to attend.
There was a solicitation request from House Account, Inc., that was approved by the Board, in effect from August 24 through November 24, during the hours of 9am until 7pm, or dusk, whichever comes first. Next was an approval for a one-day liquor license for Riverside Sports Complex.
Brown made a motion to accept the resignation of Andrew Wandell from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and also a motion to appoint Heather Tremblay to the CPC. Each motion was passed without discussion. John Brown thanked Andy for his service to the CPC.
The next item on the agenda was review of the warrant articles for Special Town Meeting in October. There currently should be seven articles as follows:
Article One: Balancing the current year budget. This comes, as it always does, when the snow and ice line item must be paid. When asked about the amount, Bill Chenard, Town Manager, said "We are reviewing this and it (the amount) may change if there is another path to get this money".
Article Two: This article will fund unpaid bills. The amount is still being finalized, but the current amount is around $12,000.
Article Three: Capital items to be purchased. The purchase of capital items has been restricted, Chendard said, but there are three for this article that were deferred from Spring Town Meeting. A police cruiser, Fire shift Commander replacement vehicle, and a Community Service pickup truck. Chenard also noted that the police cruiser was a less expensive Dodge Durango costing around $78,500 down from the Chevy Tahoe that runs close to $92,500.
Article Four: This article is a placeholder for any by-law change that will address the topic of the BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).
Article Five: This will be approval of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funding recommendations. At the time of the Board meeting, these were the applications that were submitted but not yet approved. All applications will have been reviewed by the CPC, the Select Board and the Advisory Board at the time of Town Meeting. Currently, there are applications for $82,000 to replace the wells that have failed at the ball fields on Mattakeesett Street (Pembroke baseball will pay part of the cost, but this is the town's amount), $288,170 for the Veterans Memorial Park construction, and $60,500 to secure the Hatch Building (repair back windows, and make roof weatherproof). Dan Trabucco asked about the contractor that was using the building during the constructions of the Community Center, who was supposed to do work on the roof in exchange for using the Hatch Building, rather than have to pay for construction trailers. Chenard answered that they had done the roof work, but the storm Pembroke experienced about two months ago took off part of the roof, so it is again open to the weather. Repairs to the small roof over the front door will also be included in this amount.
Article Six: Will fund the collective bargaining agreements.
Article Seven: The Treasurer Collector has requested funds for an executive assistant.
Steve Ciciotti asked where the number of $288, 170 had come from for the Veterans Memorial Park, and Chenard said it was the contractor total amount that included all costs. Sean Keegan was surprised, saying that he was on the working group for the Memorial, and was under the impression that all funding would be coming from grants and fundraising. John Brown pointed out that this was a municipal project, and the Town will need to look into it. Bill Chenard reiterated that these were just applications that had come in for CPC funding and that everything needed to still be reviewed before final recommendations were made and brought to Town Meeting.
The Town Manager's report included recent personnel changes, including Sabrina Chilcott, previously the assistant town manager for Pembroke, had accepted the position of Town Administrator for Whitman. Board of Health administrative assistant Shelia Landry retired, the Treasurer payroll assistant Michael Cicerone has left to pursue a new career and Casey Driscoll, assistant Assessor, received a promotion to principal Assessor for the Town of Pembroke.
The paving project that includes work on Plymouth, Union and South Streets is expected to be completed in three to four weeks. The water main in the area of West Elm Street and Dwelley Street is on or slightly ahead of schedule, and the Town Manager acknowledged the inconvenience to the residents that drive in that area.
The meeting then moved to adjourn to executive session to consider three issues. The first is the non-union negotiations regarding the assistant Town Manager position, the second is the current BESS litigation, and the third is the possible real estate license between the Town of Pembroke and Weathervane at Pembroke Country Club.
The next Select Board meeting is planned for September 9, and you can see all the videos of Pembroke Select Board meetings on the You Tube Channel Pembroke Meetings: Local Seen Streaming Channel.
