DRAFT
TRI-TOWN BOARDS OF SELECTMEN MEETING
FOR TASK FORCE ORGANIZATION AND REVIEW
OF THE PENTUCKET SCHOOLS’ REGIONAL AGREEMENT
JULY 27TH, 2005 @ 7:00 P.M.
Selectmen’s Meeting Room – Groveland Town Hall – 183 Main Street
Present: Merrimac Selectmen: Bonnie Collins and Robert Sinabaldi; West Newbury Selectman: Ann O’Sullivan; Groveland Selectmen: Chairman Bette Gorski, Barbara Sheehan, and William Darke; Pentucket School Committtee: Chairman Tom Atwood; Senator Bruce Tarr’s Office Representative: Barry Pett;
a member of West Newbury’s Finance Committee; Daily News Correspondent: Jen Solis; Nancy Lewandowski and an interested individual.
Meeting was called to order at 7:20 P.M.
Selectman O’Sullivan distributed a draft of the Minutes of the meeting held in West Newbury on July 13, 2005. Groveland Chairman Gorski asked that the minutes be amended to reflect that she was in attendance and Selectman Sheehan was absent. Mr. Pett asked whether Sentator Tarr’s Aide, Matt Conway, had been present at the meeting in W. Newbury, stating that if he had been then his name should be noted in the Minutes. Selectman Collins expressed concern that the second sentence of paragraph #3 on page #1 may not be accurate and it was agreed that the sentence “The down side of this, ………..” will be stricken. Tom Atwood noted that the last paragraph on page #2 stating that the SC would ask a selectman from each town to participate in contract negotiations, that if more
than one wants to volunteer they would be welcomed, and that the end of that sentence that states that all contracts will be “subject to Town Meeting agreement” is something DOE Commissioner Driscoll has mentioned may be enacted into law but is not as yet. Selectman O’Sullivan told the group she will ask her Board’s Assistant to make the requested changes to the Minutes.
O’Sullivan moved, Gorski seconded, and it was, unanimously
VOTED: To accept the Minutes of the July 13th, 2005 Tri-Town Selectmen’s
Meeting with the changes requested above.
The group briefly discussed what the name of the Task Force should be, agreeing to call it the “2005 Pentucket Regional Agreement Task Force”. Selectman Darke stated that the group agreed at the last meeting to have their appointees decided and charge them with specific issues the group wants to see
TRI-TOWN SELECTMEN MINUTES-PAGE #2
JULY 27, 2005
changed or clarified. Groveland’s members will be Selectman Darke and Andrew Wildes unless his job responsibilities change; Merrimac’s members will be
Selectmen Sinabaldi and Collins and Sandra Venner who served on the original Task Force; and West Newbury’s members will most likely be Selectman Gadd, Finance member Mary Harada and Selectman O’Sullivan stated she would probably “back them up” as alternate.
The group then addressed the following areas they would like the committee to look at:
Page #1
Section I-1. A. Membership of the Regional School Committee currently consists of twelve members, four from each town. Should we change the membership number?
Section I-2. A. Quorums. This was changed at the 2005 Town Meetings. DOE needs to approve the quorum # change.
Section I-2. B. VOTES. Task force to look at weighted votes.
Page #2
Section II B & C and Section III B. Selectman Collins feels “Note 3” should be stricken because it is misleading. The votes that were passed in 1999 were contingent upon approval of a school building plan for a new high school and that vote failed. Selectman Darke asked if there was a time frame on that; that if a vote was taken three years from now, would the vote still stand, and wondered if it should be left in. Ms. Collins stated she feels it is confusing and Selectman Sinabaldi agreed he would like to see it stricken; that a lot of people in Merrimac had been sold to take K-6 into the district by promises that they would never lose control of the sixth grade; that the attempt to reconfigure did not sit well with the majority of Merrimac parents. Sinabaldi stated he would like
to see an election ballot vote in the towns if there is ever a need in the future to consider reconfiguring grades.
Section III B. The term regional “magnet” classes should either be defined or deleted if no one is sure of what it means.
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JULY 27, 2005
Section III. C. Leases have never been approved. Task Force should look at length of term. Atwood suggested School Committee is forming a subcommittee group to work on the leases. Selectman Sheehan asked if they have a copy of the drafts of the previous Leases that were never signed and Atwood responded in the affirmative. Selectman Darke expressed concern that the school committee would be doing the Lease and Atwood stated that the wording of the vote was for the subcommittee to work with the three Finance Directors.
Selectman Sheehan asked “if a town builds a new elementary school would it be the responsibility of the District” and Atwood responded that SBAB requires that the bond for a new school would have to be in the Districts name; that there will need to be some sort of language put in the agreement that if a new school is built or a major renovation and that town decides to leave the District then it would be held responsible for repaying that cost; that we will need some guidance from DOE in providing the proper wording.
Selectman Sinabaldi stated he would like to see the term of the Leases considered for renegotiation; that the towns lease their buildings for 10 years rather than 20 years. Atwood stated that bonding companies would require 20 year leases when seeking financing for renovations or building and it was suggested that the leases could be 10 years for buildings that have no financing and 20 years for those requiring financing. Selectman O’Sullivan suggested that maybe this issue of length of lease term doesn’t belong with the Task Force.
Selectmen Sinabaldi and Collins questioned the meaning of “All equipment, supplies, and materials shall be turned over to the District upon the acceptance of this agreement by the Regional School District.” Merrimac just spent a considerable amount of money on upgrading their schools’ computers and Sinabaldi expressed concern that the District may be able to remove them from the elementary school and place them in another school such as the High School. Atwood responded that when the vote is taken to spend money on the computers, it’s taken that the equipment is for a specific school and the motion is accepted as such. Selectman Darke asked if this was done at Annual Town Meeting and Sinabaldi responded there was no vote, the computers were bought with technology money received from their cable
provider. Collins asked if the PTO provided funds would that be accepted by school committee versus town meeting and Atwood responded in the affirmative. Collins acknowledged that Merrimac would now need to do the same for the computers purchased by the technology monies from their cable provider.
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JULY 27, 2005
Page #4 - Section V-1. Definitions. A. Budget.
V-1. C. The group agreed that the Task Force needs to look at this section, specifically “When can additional monies be given by a town for funding a special purpose, i.e., staff, programs, equipment, at it’s elementary school.” Agreement currently states only at annual town meeting.
Section V-2. Method of Assessing Costs of the Regional School District
Group agreed this entire section needs to be looked at. Also, Selectman Sinabaldi would like consideration given to how building operating costs are assessed; that he feels they should not be figured on population but should be 1/3, 1/3 and 1/3.
Page #5 - Section VI. A. Stabilization Account. Atwood stated the wording that “only for funding additions or major replacements of items allowed for ten (10) year bonding” makes it difficult to use the $400,000+ Pentucket has in a stabilization account for such things as the heating system.
VI. B & C. Both paragraphs need to clarify who pays for what. O’Sullivan asked if this should be removed and placed in the Lease. Sheehan agreed and Sinabaldi agreed provided it is in all the leases.
Section X. 1. The Budget Process. This was changed at this year’s Annual Town Meeting; that budget must be finished by March 1st. Atwood said the Business Manager will work with the towns Finance Directors early in the process. Darke would like to see wording put together for the agreement so that the town and school Finance people work together each year.
The group was in agreement that the methods for assessing will all be looked at by the Task Force. Selectman O’Sullivan stated she likes the process of the budget; that it doesn’t seem to be faulty and the others at the table agreed. O’Sullivan also noted that some people have suggested they wanted to amend the agreement at Special Town Meeting instead of just Annual Town Meeting as the Agreement now states and she hopes the Task Force would not touch that portion of the Agreement (doing so in the middle of the year could blow up the budget). Everyone agreed Annual Town Meeting should remain for changes.
Section X. 6. 3 out of 3 requirement needs to be looked at.
TRI-TOWN SELECTMEN MINUTES-PAGE #5
JULY 27, 2005
Notes (attached to Agreement) Selectman Darke said questions remain as to whether Special Legislation was sought and whether responsibilities for maintenance of elementary buildings are uniform across the district.
Should the Agreement be reviewed by towns every so many years? Atwood suggested the Selectmen should review the Agreement maybe every three years to make sure everyone (all towns and district) are in compliance with its terms.
If the Agreement is amended, the amendments require DOE’s approval.
Task Force will be expected to have their recommendations ready by December 31st, 2005.
The group agreed to hold their next meeting on Wednesday, August 10th in Merrimac at 7:00 PM, place to be determined later.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, Sheehan moved, Darke seconded, and it was
VOTED: To adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 8:48 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Lewandowski
Administrative Assistant to
Groveland Board of Selectmen
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