Ice dangers, storm water grant, new police sergeant

Dudley Selectmen’s’ Mtg. – January 23, 2012

by Janet Stoica

Police Chief Steven Wojnar addressed the board regarding the official declaration of a Sergeant position opening in August.  Chief Wojnar recommended Officer Philip Megas for training at the Police Academy and also reviewed Officer Megas’ accomplishments of the past year including his initiative of working three shifts weekly and the fact that Officer Megas is fluent in additional languages including Romanian and Greek.  Officer Megas said he “would appreciate the opportunity to serve.”

Funding for the new Sergeant’s salary will come from the department’s salary account.  The board approved the selection and Officer Megas will attend the March 12 Police Academy class.

The board reviewed the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Mutual Aid Agreement between Dudley and 48 additional  municipalities.  The agreement consists of standard procedures for regionalizing operations using S.W.A.T. Teams, accident reconstruction teams, etc., allowing Dudley to share regional resources for such activities.   The board unanimously approved the agreement.

The next agenda item was a Letter of Support for a $310,000 grant for regionalizing municipal storm water management in Central Massachusetts through collaborative policy development.  The grant’s lead applicant was the Town of Spencer.    Additional towns participating include:  Auburn, Charlton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Oxford, Paxton, Shrewsbury, Sturbridge, Webster, and West Boylston.   The purpose of the multi-town initiative is to address common priorities relating to storm water management and to develop a regional approach for protecting water quality for current users and future generations.  This joint effort is designed to achieve service efficiencies and realize cost savings through the collaboration of education and training, sharing a common database management system, and the standardization of policies and procedures.  The Board unanimously voted to approve the motion to send the Letter of Support.

Town Clerk Ora Finnn advised the selectmen of the need for a new Constable after the departure of Constable Steven Sutton, who had moved out of Dudley.   The term was for a one (1) year unexpired term and the Board unanimously approved the motion to place the opening on the upcoming election lists for May 7, 2012.

Other items then accepted and approved included acceptance and approval of warrant articles dates:   Open Warrant, 2/6/12; Warrant Closure, 3/2/12 @ 1:00p.m.; and Posting Deadline, 5/7/12.

A review of upcoming Earth Day activities ensued with a public request for additional volunteers and groups to participate.  Dan Gion, Highway Superintendent, noted that the Highway Dept will provide a dumpster as well as trash bags.   It was suggested that groups and individuals wishing to participate and to make Earth Day a success should contact the Board of Health at 949-8017 or the Board of Selectmen at 949-8001.   Selectmen unanimously granted permission to hold Earth Day on Saturday, April 21, from 9am – 12noon at the Highway Garage on Indian Road.   Rain date would be April 28.

Selectmen then approved the use of the Clarinda Wood Fund to pay for preventive health immunizations for Dudley residents held in December 2011.

Mr. David Theriault of Circle Drive came before the board to review drainage easements for Lot 14 on Circle Drive mentioning that these issues dated back to 2004 and precluded Dudley’s acceptance of  Circle Drive as a Town road.  After the Board’s review, Selectman Joseph requested that Town Administrator Jankowski obtain copies of Town Counsel Bracket’s opinion(s) on the situation further stating that “all parties must get together to try to resolve the matter.”   The drainage easement issue would be revisited at a later date.

Selectman Joseph then invited Fire Chief Kochanowski, Police Chief Wojnar, and Highway Superintendent Gion to the presentation table for a general discussion of Town issues in their areas of expertise.  Fire Chief Kochanowski discussed the Fire Department’s pumper truck test results and the recent snow-mobiling accident.  He praised the Webster Fire Dept’s hovercraft rescue assistance as well as the Charlton Ambulance Squad’s timely response to the snow-mobiling accident.

The Chief reviewed the ice dangers on local ponds and lakes.   He elaborated on how ice appears thick but in reality is a layer of ice built upon a frozen slush which is greatly deceiving to those who may choose to use it’s unsafe surface.   Snow will then accumulate upon the ice making it appear solid when, in reality, it is a cover of unexpected danger.    He stressed strongly that there is absolutely no safe ice in the Dudley area at present.

Highway Superintendent Gion reviewed the 3 recent snowstorms and the fact that one of the Department trucks had been broad-sided by a private passenger vehicle recently.   The truck had been towing a branch chipper that was also knocked over from the impact.   Both vehicles were awaiting insurance appraisals.  Mr. Gion also reviewed ice melt products used by Dudley as opposed to the types used by neighboring towns.   Selectmen then praised the use of text messaging keeping them apprised of events occurring with the Town depts.

The two last items on the Board’s agenda included Administrator Jankowski’s notice to the Board that the Town now had a contract with the Massachusetts Division of Standards for a Sealer of Weights & Measures for the sum of $2,500 vs. the previous private contractor’s sum of $2,850 as well as a unanimous Board approval to reschedule their April 16, 2012 meeting (Patriot’s Day observed) to April 23, 2012.

Board members present for the January 23rd Selectmen’s’ Meeting included Peter Fox, Paul Joseph, and Jonathan Ruda.   Additionally, Peter Jankowski, Town Administrator, and Michelle Jervis, Administrative Secretary, were also present.   Board members not present due to illness were Steven Sullivan and Nancy Runkle.