Dudley Selectmen make appointments

begin process for street light shut-offs,
reopening of Lower Perryville Road

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY – At their June 18 meeting, selectmen endorsed the appointment of Anne Marie Safaee as Library Trustee, replacing Joy Glynn, with a term to expire 6/7/13. They next approved  one-year reappointments expiring 6/30/13 as follows: Sheila Donohue, Animal Control Officer; Robert Anders, Assistant Building Inspector; Theodore Baron, Sr., Cable Access Coordinator; Thomas Holt, Central Mass Regional Planning Delegate (alternate); Peter Jankowski, Chief Procurement Officer/Municipal Hearing Officer; Margaret Bussiere, Council on Aging Coordinator; Ellis Bateman, Electrical Inspector; Karol Gago, Assistant Electrical Inspector; Dean Kochanowski, Emergency Management Director/Forest Fire Warden; Paul Konieczny, Deputy Emergency Management Director; Jay Spahl, Plumbing/Gas Inspector; Roger Dubois, Municipal Hearing Officer (MGL 148A); Nancy Runkle, Interim Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator for Quinebaug River; and Richard Carmignani, Jr., Sexual Harassment Officer. After the final appointment of Mr. Carmignani, Selectman Paul Joseph urged the appointment of a female Sexual Harassment Officer since the current appointee, Pam Daniels, has a term that is set to expire on 6/30/12. Town Administrator Jankowski will follow-up on this appointment as soon as possible.

Additionally, three-year Town appointments with terms to expire on 6/30/2015 were approved as follows: Wesley Mroczka, Building Inspector/Fence Viewer; Fran Mikolajczak, Conservation Commission; Virginia DiDonato, Cultural Council; Elaine Martin, Dudley Historical Commission; Peter Fox, Capital Improvement Planning Committee; Margo Richard, Andrew O’Keefe, and Barbara Zurawski to the Economic Development Committee; and Brian Canty, Zoning Board of Appeals.

ew public business included a presentation by Dudley resident Matt Orsini requesting and being granted approval to host a 5K Run/Walk on 11/3/12 in memory of his mother, Dorothy Orsini. November is “Lung Cancer Awareness Month” and all proceeds will be donated to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Interdepartmental transfers were then approved to fund a 2012 Veterans Service Benefits’ deficit of $9,041. Transfers from the Town Collector salary account of $2,638, Municipal Expenses legal account of $3,621, Building & Grounds seasonal account of $750, and Building & Grounds DMC account of $2,032 covered the deficit.

Discussion was then held regarding the reopening of Lower Perryville Road, the pros and cons of one-way versus two-way traffic, and the approximate cost of $30,000 for the road’s resurfacing as presented by Dan Gion, Highway Superintendent. Mr. Gion indicated that since “the road was in borderline fair condition it should be resurfaced in the next 1-3 years and the longer the wait the more expensive resurfacing would be.” Further discussion was tabled in order that a Public Hearing be held at the next Selectmen’s Meeting on Monday, July 2.

A new Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda format was then reviewed after research done by Michelle Jervis, the Board’s Administrative Secretary, at the request of Chairman Jonathan Ruda. Mr. Ruda suggested streamlining the agenda format so that public comments would be heard at the beginning of Selectmen’s meetings. It was also suggested that Old Business be listed at the commencement of the meetings as well. The concept of the agenda was unanimously approved.

A brief discussion ensued regarding net metering (electrical purchasing) by EPG Solar which was tabled for further discussion. Highway superintendent Gion then reviewed surplus equipment at the town recycling center, which referred to a recycling bailer that was no longer in use. The bailer will be sold in a bid process to bring in additional cash to the Town.

Selectman Peter Fox presented his second reading of Goals and Objectives for department heads, with most discussion centered on performance reviews of town employees.

Police Chief Wojnar came before the Board to discuss budget proposals and funding for the next annual budget process advising the board that any article needs to be in the Secretary of State’s office by August 1 to be included on the November ballot. The board took this under advisement. Continued discussion of the “One Stop Customer Service Desk” at the Town Hall resulted in the recommendation that Town Administrator Peter Jankowski have recommendations/suggestions completed by June 30 for the board’s consideration.

Of the 700 street lights in town, the criteria for shutting off selected lights due to budgetary constraints would be provided by Town Administrator Jankowski in the near future. Safety will be the priority and Police Chief Wojnar would be involved in the selection process.

Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski then reviewed his findings on his search for a new ladder truck for the Town as the current unit is 32 years old, is unsafe, and has had multiple repairs due to continuous breakdowns. Selectmen Paul Joseph suggested that Nichols College be contacted for assistance in the search for funding and vehicles as the ladder truck is necessary for fire support on their campus. The Fire Chief will also address the step-by-step procedures necessary for the new Fire Department Building Committee to move forward and will make his findings known at the next Selectmen’s’ Meeting.

Board members present at tonight’s meeting included Chairman Jonathan Ruda, Peter Fox, Paul Joseph, and John Marsi. Vice Chairman, Steven Sullivan was absent. Also in attendance were Michelle Jervis, Administrative Secretary, and Peter Jankowski, Town Administrator.