|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
SPENCER – On May 18, the Board of Selectmen reorganized, approved an insurance cost-share change with employees, and heard about upcoming repairs.
Gary Woodbury was voted in as chair, Jonathan Viner voted to remain as vice chair and Chris Woodbury will serve as clerk.
Chris Woodbury and Norman Letendre Jr. were elected to the Board of Selectmen last week.
The board agreed on an upcoming summer meeting schedule of June 1, June 29, July 27 and August 31. In September and beyond, Selectmen will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
Town Administrator Jeff Bridges noted there may be a need to call special meetings in July and August if there are specific items the board needs to address.
Health insurance cost share changes made
In what Bridges called a “big move,” town employees will pay 30% of health insurance costs instead of 40%. The town hopes to retain and attract personnel by making the ratio more in line with what other communities offer.
“It’s 40 years in the making,” Bridges said of the change. “Outstanding.”
Selectmen also voted to keep the cost share at 60/40 for retirees, only for medical and not dental. In addition, the police contract states that 25% of their members’ savings would be donated to OPEP funds should the share decrease. (The police contract was approved last year).
“They have kind of a unique deal,” Bridges explained, adding they would have to create individual accounts for each person who contributes to keep track in the event they leave before they start accessing retiree benefits.
“So, they’ll get money back plus whatever interest was credited to the trust,” the administrator said.
Library elevator, boiler issues explained
In other business, Bridges noted there is a “big problem” with the library’s elevator. “It’s been up and down,” he quipped about the difficulties. The elevator is not working and needs its “mechanics gutted.”
A new oil tank is needed as well as a pump and piston, which the administrator described as “shot.”
He said at first they thought changing the oil which was thick “like molasses,” would suffice. However, Bridges said he would be in contact with Worcester Elevator to get a price for the work.
He said the board may need to meet to vote on a cost up to $20,000.
In addition, he said one of the Town Hall’s boilers needs replacing over the summer.
“That’s been off and on forever,” chair Gary Woodbury said of the problem.
Bridges said the town and finance committee had set aside $74,000 for emergency repairs that could be used.
Change orders, fiber evaluation approved
Selectmen approved a change order for Mill and Valley Street improvements. The administrator said federal funds would cover the costs to replace some sewer pipes found to be “in a bad state.”
On the O’Gara Park grandstand repair project, a change order was approved because when the old wood was stripped, additional wood and rot was found.
Bridges said there was money in the improvements account to cover costs of approximately $10,000.
Home fiber evaluation to be done
Also, the board accepted a proposal from Whip City Fiber to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the town’s fiber-to-home project.
Member Jared Grigg said the proposal would give the town realistic data on what to expect from fiber-based Internet services.
The goals, he said, are to generate revenue, get better service and have a cheaper alternative to Charter.
Bridges explained it would be a two-or three-year process to accomplish with two Town Meetings likely necessary. Grigg said it could take up to five years depending on how it is “built out to highly populated areas.”
“This is the first step to roll the ball down the hill,” Bridges said.
He explained this evaluation was for a public-based fiber-based possibility. It is completely separate from the private network installation for emergency services/police communications underway.
Member Chris Woodbury asked that on a future agenda, the board talk about the four-way stop sign on Pleasant and Meadow Streets, to “see what we can do as a town,” to address concerns residents have expressed.
