TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH 2008 ANNUAL REPORT TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH 2008 ANNUAL REPORT Cover Photography – Patty Hitchcock: “The Gasholder” Winning Photograph in the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s 2009 State Calendar Contest 2008 Annual Report Committee: Keith A. Mueller and Judith Chafetz-Sulfaro Printing: Sir Speedy Printing, North Attleborough, MA Editor and Coordinator: Judith Chafetz-Sulfaro Photographs courtesy of Patty Hitchcock The 2008 Annual Report of the Town of North Attleborough has been dedicated to the memory of the employees, retirees, and committee members who passed away in 2008. Your contributions to our town have been immeasurable. You remain in our thoughts and will live on in our hearts forever. Rest in Peace, Dear Friends. Town of North Attleborough Employees, Retirees, and Committee Members Who Passed Away in 2008 DEPARTMENT, BOARD NAME DATE OR COMMITTEE Edward G. Lambert, Jr. January 10, 2008 Chairman, Retirement Board George E. Landry January 28, 2008 Highway Department; RTM Carol Paquette February 15, 2008 Town Clerk/Tax Collector Renaldo J. Chelotti February 23, 2008 School Department Harriet Wilmarth February 29, 2008 School Department John Flynn March 2, 2008 Bus Driver, Council on Aging Arthur Gelichauf, Jr. March 6, 2008 Town Accountant William J. McKeon March 29, 2008 Fire Department Gerald F. Dugan May 12, 2008 NAED Susan Nelson May 21, 2008 Board of Selectmen, 1st female Gilberte M. Hebert September 7, 2008 Secretary, Retirement Board John L. Thorp September 7, 2008 Fire Commissioner; RTM Town Moderator, Advisory Board to Veterans’ Council Katherine E. Dupelle October 24, 2008 School Department Lester E. Caldwell November 24, 2008 Chief, North Attleborough Fire Department; Board of Selectmen Eugene R. Nardelli November 30, 2008 Fire Department; Park and Recreation Angela A. DiRenzo December 23, 2008 Clerk, Zoning Board of Appeals BOARD OF SELECTMEN The Annual Report of the North Attleborough Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator for calendar year 2008 is hereby respectfully submitted: The Board of Selectmen worked diligently to fulfill their obligations under various state laws and regulations, as well as Town By-laws, to be responsible for the general direction and management of the property and affairs of the Town. As Licensing Authority, the Selectmen held hearings and issued licenses as they considered prudent and served as the Appointing Authority for the many volunteers who serve on town boards and committees. The Board scheduled Special Town meetings as needed and held hearings on a host of subjects. The Board of Selectmen is very grateful to the hundreds of citizens who volunteer to serve in various capacities in our Town government and help make North Attleborough the Town it is. In calendar year 2008, the Board of Selectmen met fifty-seven times in open session. All meetings were televised and covered by the local media. Additionally, the Selectmen invited Department Heads, Boards and Commissions to meet with them in order to obtain an update of each particular department or committee and to keep abreast of that which transpired. During the year, the Board endeavored to deal with many issues: ¾ Inviting citizen input and meeting with the prior Charter Commission, as well as various State officials, to help make recommendations for changes in local government to improve its effectiveness ¾ Changes its public bus transportation routes provided by GATRA ¾ The Afghan Painting ¾ The FY08 and FY09 Budgets ¾ Hickory Woods Development issues ¾ Establishing a local Historic District Study Committee ¾ Reactivated the Business and Industrial Commission ¾ Under the authority of the municipal Relief Act, worked with the Finance Committee to make inter-department budget transfers ¾ Adopted various policies and procedures to improve the efficiency and consistency in the day to day operation of government ¾ Dealt with various environmental requirements involving the Courtois Property and the Landfill ¾ Worked with the Downtown Association of North Attleboro to address parking issues ¾ Adopted Roberts Rules of Order for conducting meetings. ¾ Reviewed the yearly Financial Audit Report from Powers and Sullivan ¾ Established the new Solid Waste User Fee ¾ Took part in an Emergency Management Exercise ¾ Property Tax Classification ¾ Complied with the Requirements of the Government Accounting Standards Board’s Statement #43 and completed an actuarial study of Other Post Employment Benefits. ¾ Renewed a three-year contract with North TV to provide Public, Educational and Government locally originated programming ¾ Established an Ad Hoc Government Study Committee to review a previously submitted Special Act Charter for a Mayoral form of government ¾ Based on the recommendation of the Election Commission, established a second polling place at the Show Case Cinema to serve Precincts 3 and 9 ¾ Appointed the Building inspector as the permitting authority for the state mandated Trench Safety Regulations 1 BOARD OF SELECTMEN As has been done for years, the Board of Selectmen’s office staff was involved with approximately twenty third-grade classes from all town schools who participated in the “Tour of the Town”, where they learned about different phases of government from Town Clerk Max Gould, Veterans’ Agent Jim McCann and Board of Selectmen’s Administrative Secretary Judi Chafetz-Sulfaro. Five students were also chosen each week to serve as Board members, sit in the Selectmen’s seats and participate in mock Board meetings, which included a presentation for a request for a permit and the Selectmen’s vote for approval. The Board unanimously voted a 3% pay raise to Town Administrator Mark Fisher. Mr. Fisher, however, deferred the pay raise until the Town is in a better financial state. The Board of Selectmen bid a fond farewell to long-time Selectman Marjorie Kraskouskas and Selectman William Moffit. Newly voted Selectmen Mark Williamson and Michael S. Thompson were welcomed to the Board. During reorganization, John C. Rhyno was voted Chairman and Dale S. Langille was voted Vice-Chairman. The Board developed their goals through June of 2009: ¾ Ensure and enhance financial planning in effective fiscal management of town resources ¾ Increase resource sharing options between town departments ¾ Explore government reform options ¾ Enhance the communication and cooperation between departments ¾ Develop and implement consistent and effective methods to assure outreach and advocacy for our town at the state level ¾ Facilitate the implementation of steps to help simplify the permitting process in Town. ¾ Gave its support to the new project to relocate Madonna Manor to Route 120 The North Attleborough Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator express their appreciation to the many individuals who have provided support with town matters in the year 2008 and further thank town departments, boards and commissions for their ongoing cooperation and assistance. We look forward to maintaining our constructive working relationships in the future and pledge to continue to provide prompt, considerate service to the citizenry of North Attleborough. Respectfully submitted, John Rhyno, Chairman Dale S. Langille, Vice-Chairman Paul J. Belham, Sr. Mark Williamson Michael S. Thompson Mark C. Fisher, Town Administrator 2 The people of North Attleborough sincerely respect and are grateful to our “senior citizens”, whose wisdom, passion, and determination have been essential to the growth of our community. We thank you, wish you happiness and good health, and continually learn from you! 1906 SEPTEMBER 25 Mary E. Krise 1907 APRIL 28 Doris M. McAllister 1909 JULY 28 Gladys Bronowiski SEPTEMBER 25 Mary Davenport OCTOBER 28 Alice S. Battersby NOVEMBER 20 Annette C. Lambert DECEMBER 6 Germaine C. Hindle 1910 JUNE 22 Ralph R. Bumpus July 9 Robert H. Matthews AUGUST 16 Beatrice A. Desmarais 3 OCTOBER 5 Frances M. Wagstaff 1911 JANUARY 1 Ellen A. Monast 29 Phyllis Harvey MARCH 26 Helen M. Chaves JUNE 9 Beatrice M. Gaboury JULY 16 Georgina L. Griswold OCTOBER 29 Bertel V. Hoecke NOVEMBER 20 Mary J. Withington 1912 June 12 Herbert R. Snell July 18 Miriam B. Belcher September 27 Evelyn B. Harris November 7 Helen E. Depari 1913 January 6 Irene Ruhman February 17 Lillian Sumner March 25 Deborah Eaton June 2 Maria Fenocchi September 18 Katherine E. McCarthy November 9 Maria Alix 17 Viola F. Bowser 1914 JANUARY 19 Eugene A. Plante FEBRUARY 5 Cameron A. Forbes MARCH 24 Charlotte I. Evans APRIL 22 Yvonne Phoenix 4 MAY 22 Helen R. Grzenda JUNE 1 Claire Prefontaine AUGUST 29 Catherine T. Brennan SEPTEMBER 10 A. Agnes Byrnes 18 Harry L. Norteman 21 Rita Paulus OCTOBER 26 Helen Shumila 28 Alice A. Tenglin NOVEMBER 26 Lillian A. Ossipoff 1915 FEBRUARY 25 Ruth G. Adams MARCH 3 Helen C. Carmichael 3 Rita M. Dargis 10 Cecilia A. DeVries 30 Edna B. Milson APRIL 22 Jacob J. Schubnel MAY 15 Elsa Diotte 17 Nancy Posata 18 Nettie L. Simpson 22 Beryl K. Foster 22 Edna M. O’Connor JUNE 3 Isabel S. Engler JULY 16 Miriam B. Sfinas AUGUST 9 Marion A. Holbrook 10 Norman Precourt SEPTEMBER 2 Helena I. Farrell 4 Frank V. DeYorio 22 William Gardner NOVEMBER 28 Doris Achin 1916 JANUARY 17 Everett J. McConnell FEBRUARY 9 Anita M. Ouimet 16 Grace Bates MARCH 5 Marguerite R. Davis 5 11 Margaret M. Roessler 27 Evelyn A. Jaron APRIL 8 Irene R. Holleran 18 Normand C. Prefontaine MAY 6 Ruth A. Simpson 9 Rita LeBoeuf 24 Virginia A. Spooner JUNE 12 Loretta Soullier 15 Dorothy R. Fleming JULY 15 Donat H. Ruest AUGUST 5 Elizabeth R. Ryder 23 Marion Vose 24 Mildred B. Richardson SEPTEMBER 18 Martha M. Binoeder 26 Blanche R. Stanford NOVEMBER 1 Hazel L. Potter 3 Sr. Blanche Bergeron 12 Mildred G. McHoul 12 Ann Sperdigliozzo 15 Eva M. Blake 23 Maria L. Simas DECEMBER 17 Roland L. Ouimet 24 Joseph J. Sullivan 1917 JANUARY 17 Mary Ellen Precopio 23 Peter Santoro FEBRUARY 2 James J. McKeon 4 Hedley A. Dupelle MARCH 30 Leona C. Paquette APRIL 16 Ernest Bonifazi 19 David A. Longbottom MAY 4 Ora C. Belcher 9 Gertrude A.