Clarksburg Appoints Interim Town Administrator
.jpg) Resident Scott Garvey sat down with the Selectmen to find out why the town cut his hemlocks. |
The board had tried to parcel out the duties of the town administrator two weeks ago but ran into trouble when they realized the money voted by town meeting for that post couldn't be shared along with the duties. The funding left for that line item could only go to a town administrator or replacement.
"We need to rescind the vote that was taken of March 1, 2012, to appoint Debbie Choquette, Melissa McGovern (tax collector) and Mike Williams (police chief) as interim town administrators until a new administrator is hired," said McKinney.
Choguette was then appointed as the sole interim.
The town was left without an administrator last week when Michael Canales began his new job as administrative officer for the city of North Adams. A search committee turned up a dozen candidates but there ended up being no finalists for the post.
McKinney said after the meeting that the board — comprised of he and Lily Kuzia — had not discussed the composition of another search committee or even if there would be another one.
The chairman also said the town is continuing to pursue its appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund repairs to the East Road Bridge. The bridge was due for replacement but became unusable after being damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. It's also pressing the state on road funds after being denied grants because town's roads aren't used enough.
Both Kuzia and McKinney stressed the amount of "emergency" heavy truck traffic hauling gravel, stone and dirt that "pounded and pummeled" roads on its way to Vermont in the aftermath of Irene. The need was great, they said, but the state should recompense the town.
"That our roads do not carry the amount of traffic required is a bone of contention," said McKinney. "We don't even know what was on our roads ... we expect the state to step up to the plate."
In other business:
â–º Scott Garvey of 340 Henderson Road said town workers had cut down the hemlocks on his property during the week of Feb. 13 without contacting him. He provided documents, including a landscape estimate for replacement, and pictures. McKinney said the trees may have been on town controlled property but he would look into. Garvey asked if there was a policy for contacting property owners. "If there isn't, there will be," said McKinney.
â–º The town hired Bishop & Associates of Agawam to do the 2013 revaluation for $3,500.
â–º The board adopted language signifying that any professional service individuals hired by the Northern Berkshire Industrial Park & Development Corp., a regional job development organization to which Clarksburg belongs, are considered special municipal employees. The adoption does not affect the town financially.
â–º Read a communique from town counsel Kopelman & Paige offering assistance at town meeting, with consultations at no charge, and to review the warrant.
â–º The town's cost to the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste District next year is $3,965, or $2.33 per capita.
Tags: Irene, roads, town administrator,
