August 23, 2010
Present was Robert J. Garrity, James M. Tomaszewski, James C. Lehan, Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator and Marian Harrington, Executive Assistant.
Rob called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Rob announced that the meeting is video and audio taped. Jack Hathaway read the agenda.
COUNCIL ON AGING
Present was Executive Director Norma Shruhan, Jay Talerman, Council on Aging Chairman and Rich Connors and Tom Mirabile, Council on Aging members.
Rob Garrity said that we have a Proclamation in honor of Active Aging Week. Norma named the different things that they will have to celebrate the week. They will have a wine tasting on Monday. There will be health fair. Jay said they have been trying to do more activities for the seniors. This group has really been working. He said Norma has done a great job running it. Jay said that they would love everyone to come in and see what they do and use the resources. They are looking for members if anyone is interested.
KP SCHOOL COMMITTEE
KP School Committee members present were Wendy Robeson and Linda Andrews (rep. from Norfolk School Committee). Present also was Elizabeth Zielinski, KP Superintendent and Pat Francomano from Plainville.
This meeting is being held to interview candidates for a Norfolk member to the KP School Committee, replacing Maureen Howard who resigned. KP School Committee members from Norfolk and the Board of Selectmen must jointly appoint a member for Norfolk.
Candidates are: Jonathan Smith, 26 Robin Road. Jonathan mentioned the structure of the committee and challenges that they will meet. He submitted an article a few years ago that special ed funds should be handled by the state and it passed. He mentioned the importance of communication. He has no kids in the system now, but is still very interested. Jonathan is a big advocate for the band, and is an advocate for what happens inside the building, as well as the structure itself.
Jonathan was asked what you would want to accomplish. He said bring people together to understand all the issues involved, using his years on both committees. Jonathan said he would not run for the position in May.
Jim T. doesn’t think we have marketed enough to the public that we need more funds for KP. How will you change that? We are the lowest or second lowest in the rankings. Jonathan said they can go for district wide overrides.
Rob asked what’s right. Jonathan said energetic faculty that encouraged students. Also, the number of students that went on to military school.
Jim L. said if you had a passion on one particular area where you could make a difference, what would it be? Jonathan said the funding is the most important issue; and how the public feels about the system.
Linda said it’s all about budget and policy. What was the disconnect you mentioned? Jonathan said he understands its policy and budget. You would need to go to a higher level to accomplish those goals.
Wendy questioned do you have the time to put in twice a month, since you have a full time job. We want attendance at every meeting. Jonathan said he can be there.
Jim T. asked why you would want to come back for one year. Jonathan said to come back and do things right.
Jim L. is concerned about what you can do in 9 months without running again. Jonathan said he couldn’t believe no one applied, so he jumped in.
Linda asked what your people skills are. Jonathan said he has worked with various people over 20 yrs. His skill is implementing or writing policies.
Jim Giebfried, 34 Robin Road
Jim has been involved working with the Town for over 25 years. He also worked with the MWRA. Jim said he worked with state officials, various town officials in Norfolk and other towns. He was a Norfolk Selectman. He was involved in the construction of H. Olive Day, middle school and high school. He was involved in budgets with KP. Jim was a member of the Conservation Commission, and the Medical Reserve Corp. Jim worked with school nurses at KP for vaccinations for the flu. He has taught on university level. He is a certified clinical inspector, and treats patients in hospital setting. Jim has his MBA to help him understand budgets. He has done all types of advertising.
Jim feels there is so much at stake that he threw his hat in the ring. You need to provide the students with resources and capabilities.
Jim T. asked how he would advocate for more funding. Jim G. said get the community involved and excited about what’s going on. Why do students leave middle school and go to a private school? Public education: students should have a right and capability to an education. They should talk with the Supt. and teachers.
Rob asked his thoughts about the difficulty of having a split district? Jim said always the funding. Look at all billing options to bring in revenue. He believes in regionalization.
Jim L. asked will you run in May. Jim said he would strongly consider it.
Jim L. said the last two years have been difficult. How would you fix KP? Jim said no one person. Possibly with grants and revenue. He doesn’t see any good answer.
Linda asked about lobbying. Jim said he has contacts with many state people.
Wendy asked what topic you would want to work on first. Jim said not one specific item. He would be humble, listen and see where he best fits in.
Jim L. said you have done a lot, but never particularly in schools. Why now? Jim G. said he has been. You must make sure how you mean participate. He had been with the Clerk of Works for the school building project, teacher for the day, grants, funding, budgets, meet with teachers in school settings, and negotiations.
Jim has no children in the system.
Michael Gee, 9 Mohegan Street
Michael gave three reasons that he was interested in serving on the KP School Committee – personal, committed to public education; he has 4 kids, and he has published curriculum materials for 23 years. Michael said he is going through budget issues at work and because of that thinks he can help KP. He does manage large budgets. Michael is a newcomer to town committees.
Rob said what is right. Michael said good teachers and programs. It is a relatively low budget but we have high achieving kids.
Jim L. asked what the needs other than funding for KP are. Michael said Middle School is a challenge as to whether to even send the kids to KP or private school.
Jim L. asked will you run in May. Michael said he has every intention.
Linda said when addressed by a parent and put on the spot, you need to be neutral because a lot is confidential and you have to be careful. Michael said he holds a lot of confidential information.
Wendy mentioned issues we’re facing. Michael said administration needs to be hired, budget issues, regionalization in different forms, contracts, for a few.
Jim T. said funding is a more critical issue to him. We will get the 3 towns together regarding the budget process. How would you market this for the 3 towns? Michael said he is impressed how everyone rallied here. Jim said people shouldn’t be shocked at the figures at town meeting. The shock should happen way before that.
Rob asked do you have the time commitment. Michael said yes.
Jim L. asked how you can bridge parents in elementary and KP. Michael said he would rally the point that will bring people together from both groups of kids.
Wendy asked what is it about you that would make us pick you. Michael said his passion for education and his ability to communicate and bring people and ideas together. He is able to come up with collaborative problem solving.
Jim Lehan said we are a K-12 system and we need to promote that.
BENJAMIN MCCARTY, 19 Cleveland Street
Ben said that he has three kids at KP. He is an attorney with the Coast Guard/Air Force.
Ben said he has handled labor negotiations in private practice. He has handled budgets and cut staff. He has done budgets for the Federated Church. He has coached soccer and referee. Ben said he has a direct interest with students. He created a parent organization at KP Middle. He is a co-chair with the parents’ network.
Jim L. asked if he would run in May. Ben said yes, a four year commitment at least. Jim L. asked why now? He said his kids are at KP.
Ben said the greatest challenge right now is tying in the curriculums at elementary level and get continuity so all the towns come to the KP level on the same level. Some towns are ahead of others. Challenge is teachers and communication.
Linda mentioned budget and policy. Do you have time? He has skills and time. The person you go to is usually the person already doing the job.
Jim T. said this position you need to be professional, easy to work with, and have fun doing it. Jim T asked why people would want to work with Ben. Ben said he will ask for help, or ask the question.
Rob questioned parent involvement. Many parents are considering private schools; you are not losing students, you are losing parents. There has been a strong effort to get people at town meeting. How do you change that? Ben said a phone line. Talk at soccer. Give assignments or volunteers. Put them in charge of something.
Jim L. asked what he thought of shared services. Ben said it may or may not be a match. It needs to be looked at.
Wendy asked what you can say about virtual high school. Ben said we should look at this or similar programs that are out there. KP not putting out other avenues is disappointing. They don’t do GPA’s in the first year.
That was the end of interviews. Rob noted that Eileen Stetter had indicated an interest, but had to take her daughter to college out of state and didn’t know if she would be back in time. She said she understood if we needed to move on without her.
Rob asked should we wait or move on. Linda and Wendy said they feel we have enough to go on. Jim T. and Jim L. would like her to have an opportunity. It was decided to go forward.
Rob said we will each choose two names. Then from the two, we will pick the successful candidate.
They all acknowledged that all the candidates were excellent. However, the two finalists chosen were Michael Gee and Jonathan Smith.
Linda and Rob said we need new blood. Jonathan can go on another committee. Linda said we see the same faces on committees. Michael has children at KP. J.
Jim T. said it comes down to new blood or experience. He feels Jonathan’s funding experience is valuable now.
Jim L. felt the candidate needs to run in May. He wants to see what’s started, continued. Jim will pick Michael because of his strong commitment. We need that.
Jim Lehan moved to appoint Michael Gee for the unexpired term until the election in May, 2011. Linda Andrews seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Wendy Robeson, aye; Jim Tomaszewski, aye; Rob Garrity, aye; Jim Lehan, aye; and Linda Andrews, aye.
ACTION ITEMS.
Jim Tomaszewski moved to open the Open Discussion for Public Comment for water and solid waste rates today and close on December 20, 2010. Residents should forward comments to the Department of Public Works. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Rob Garrity moved to proclaim October 28th as United Nations Day in Norfolk. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was so voted.
OLD BUSINESS
School Building Committee/Project
Jim Lehan said we positioned the Board of Selectmen to have supervisory oversight over this committee when we changed our bylaw. Jim explained the School Building Committee (SBC) and what transpired at the last meeting. The SBC and Board of Selectmen voted to dismiss the Project Manager and lead architect. They did not dismiss the firms, just the representatives.
Jim said there was a whole discussion on the septic system.
Jim T. said one item was whether to have the Superintendent’s office here or at the school. Mr. Lesser will be Project Manager. Simon Tempest, architect by trade, has done 7 schools, and similar project in Revere like ours is.
The School Committee will vote at their meeting on the first for the access road.
Jim L. said that the Selectmen’s concerns had nothing to do whatsoever with the committee. They weren’t getting the information they needed.
The Board thanked Bob Bullock as being instrumental in finding and communicating the issues. The access road brought many of these issues to light.
Jim Lehan moved to declare as surplus equipment, old computer equipment at the Library, per Robin Glasser’s email. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was so voted.
Jack said that the 9-11 Committee is planning something for the 10 year anniversary of September 11th. They want to have a re-dedication. The monument is deteriorating, and they would like to repair it. The cost is $10,000. They applied to CPC and were not invited to review their application.
Jim L. will contact the CPC regarding this.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Jim Lehan moved to accept the minutes of May 25, 2010; June 14, 2010; June 21, 2010; June 25, 2010; July 12, 2010; July 13, 2010 and July 26, 2010, regular and executive session. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was so voted.
Jack announced the 9-11 ceremony at the Fire Department should anyone want to attend.
At 10:10 p.m., being no further business, Jim Tomaszewski moved to adjourn the meeting. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of August 23, 2010.
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James C. Lehan, Clerk
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