The street listing or census will be arriving at Savoy households this week, ( January 16th). This annual process is necessary to keep information about the town and its population up to date. The town is able to determine the amount of aid it needs from the state through the information from the census. Residents are asked to please check the form, make any corrections, sign the document, and return it in the stamped addressed envelope as soon as possible. It is very important that all children in your household are listed on the form as well as others living with you. Aid to the schools, programs and grants, depend on this information. This is also the time of year that dog owners are reminded that dog licensing for 2006 has begun and will run through April 30th. All dogs, six months or older, residing in Savoy, require an annual license. All dogs and cats in Massachusetts must be vaccinated against the rabies virus, but only dogs in town need to be licensed. Dog tags can be issued only with proof of a valid rabies certificate. Included in the census mailing is information regarding the cost of fees, the kinds of licenses available and the Town Clerk's hours. Dog tags can be requested by mail. Each year the Town Clerk's office and the Fire Department try to arrange a local rabies clinic to help residents get their dogs vaccinated. As soon as information is available it will be posted.

Also included in the mailing this year is a questionnaire from the Savoy Agricultural Commission. Residents are asked to fill out the form and return it with the census in the envelope provided for your convenience.

Stickers are now available at the Town Office for use at the Transfer Station. The cost of an annual sticker for your motor vehicle is $35, plus $2 for each additional vehicle's sticker. Stickers can be purchased from the Town Clerk's office on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 5PM. They are also available each week-day, Monday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM from the Office Manager, and on Tuesday evenings between 7 and 9PM. All vehicles will require a sticker beginning February 14th. Orange trash bags marked with the name of the town are still required and can be purchased at the Transfer Station. (Bags are not available at the Town Office.) from the Town Clerk

Select Board meeting Tuesday, January 3, 2006 was attended by all select board members. Joe gave a report on the Transfer Station. Sale of stickers is going smoothly.

Chad reported on progress with the highway department on the issue of discontinuance of maintenance of roads. The procedure will be for Ray to submit a list of roads for consideration of discontinuance of maintenance. The Select Board will agree on which roads should be considered. After the decision, the roads will be advertised in a local newspaper, a notice will be posted for 14 days, and abutters will be notified by mail. An informational meeting will be scheduled. The final decision for discontinuance of roads will be made by the Select Board.

Chief Steve Dean reported that ‘hunting and fishing licenses’ will no longer be available in Savoy. He has only had a few requests. The required paperwork by the state agency to support the continuance of offering these licenses in Savoy is not cost effective. Residents have been purchasing their licenses at other businesses.

The Select Board will begin working on the Annual Budget this month. The Finance Committee is expected to being this process in February.

NOTICE: The Town of Savoy is looking to fill a position for a part-time appointed Dog Officer. This position would be on an "as needed" basis. For more information or to receive an application, stop by at a Select Board Tuesday night meeting at 7 PM at the Senior Center, 720 Main Road. by Brenda Smith

The select board held their last meeting for 2005, Tuesday, December 27. The meeting was brief. DSL (Broadband Internet Service) will be installed in the Town Hall in January.

Dan Tatro has been hired to do the maintenance for the Town Hall.

Chad has discussed with Ray the roads that need to considered for ‘Discontinuance of Maintenance. The roads will not be closed but maintenance will be discontinued. After the list is compiled, the Select Board will decide which roads qualify and discontinue maintenance on the selected roads.

Steve Dean has been notified the Savoy Police Department will receive a grant for $11,299.00 from the Community Police Grant for FY2006.

The Transfer Station is ready to implement stickers. Below are items of interest for the residents who use the Transfer Station:

You must display the current Town of Savoy Permit/Sticker on your vehicle. Failure to renew by February 14 may result in denied access to the facility. Recycling is mandatory.

The Town voted to implement a program of recycling in conjunction with ordinary waste disposal at the Annual Town Meeting on June 20, 1989.

Residents must separate waste materials into the following categories before depositing for disposal: 1) Glass and Can 2) Paper 3) Other Waste

If no separation takes place, waste materials shall not be accepted at the disposal location. Repeat offenders may be either fined up to $300.00 or other action taken as deemed appropriate by the Select Board.

GENERAL FEE SCHEDULE for the Transfer Station Recycling Sticker: Primary vehicle sticker fee is $35.00. Additional vehicle sticker will cost $2.00.

Stickers/purchases can be made at the Town Office:Monday - Friday: 9AM- 1PM with the Office Manager; Tuesdays and Thursdays: 1-5PM with the Town Clerk; Transfer Station hours: Wednesday - 4:30 PM to 8:30PM; Saturday - 8AM to 1PM (Hours for the Transfer Station are subject to change).

Cash and/or checks accepted. Checks are to be made payable to the Town of Savoy, 720 Main Road, Savoy, MA 01256. Vehicle(s) type and registration number will be needed for the application.

Bags can be purchased at the Transfer Station only at the above posted hours. Cash and/or checks are acceptable. Checks are to be made payable to the Town of Savoy.
Fee for bags: 1 roll of 25 bags - $20.00; 2 rolls of 25 bags - $40.00. by Brenda Smith

What has happened since the last entry for this blog! The town’s two new Select Board members, Joe Bettis and Chad Wagenknecht have joined Emile Mazur to complete the Select Board. Both Joe and Chad have been active in their new positions.

Highlights from previous meetings:

November 15:
The General Fund has received $69,217.00 and put in free cash. The Select Board will determine where they want these monies to go.
Tom Zelazo, Savoy State Forest Superintendent, attended the meeting and wanted to know about the town’s plans for Sherman, Tannery, Adams, and Bannis Roads. The Select Board is working with Ray LaBonte on a plan to discontinue portions of roads. Mr. Zelazo does not want to see either Tannery or Adams Roads discontinued. Ray said he has had a request from about 300 snowmobilers to keep roads open for their trail rides.
Tom Krutiak asked the Board if they have a plan for the road in town. He was unhappy with the roads and efforts to get them repaired. The Board would like to be able to bring all the roads up to standard. They would like to repair one road a year until all roads are up to standard. This work will require coming up with funds.
John Delasandro requested a sand barrel be placed on Griffin Hill Road. He volunteered to sand the road to avoid anyone having an accident due to ice and slippery conditions. Ray didn’t think it would be a good idea. The road crew would not be able to adequately plow if a barrel was in their way. Also, the crew would not be able to use the wing plow for pushing snow as the barrel would be in their way. The Board denied the request. Sand has always been available to the townspeople by the town shed.
At the Special Town Meeting, the townspeople voted to allocate $60,000 for road repairs due to the October storm. In the spring an assessment will be made to determine what other damage was a result of this storm. Emile said the town hopes to recover 75% of the expenses from FEMA.
The Select Board discussed other issues facing the town. Level funding has to change. The town is always playing catch up. Snow/ice and wages have to be separated. There is never enough money in the snow/ice account for the winter. Wages have to be removed from the "snow/ice line item" and put in the "houly pay line item". The townspeople need to understand a tax increase is inevitable.

The following is taken from the Select Board minutes for November 22. (I could not attend this meeting).

- Meeting called to order at 7:25 P.M.
- Chad read highway report
- New business discussed, no one from the public present. Joe Bettis to attend a meeting for Board of Health issues in Williamstown 1/11/06.
- Discussion about implementing town transfer stickers.
- Meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.

November 29:

A new sign has been hung at town transfer station with the new hours of operation. The Highway Superintendent gave the Select Board a list of people who plowed snow across public highways. The town has a by-law that prohibits this practice. The Chief of Police was sent the list so he could serve notice. After the warning, fines will be levied.
Beginning January 1, 2006, the transfer station will have a transfer station sticker requirement. The fee is $35.00 per calendar year with a $2.00 sticker fee for each additional car. This fee is in addition to the cost of the bags. Residents have until January 31 to purchase the required sticker.
The Windsor Select Board attended to discuss the issue of plowing and sanding Griffin Hill and Bush Road. The highway superintendent’s main issues were the time that it would take for maintenance upkeep due to drifts that blow in. At present Windsor sends their school bus up the road to pickup one student. This causes problems for the Savoy highway department. The highway department’s first priority is to plow Savoy’s bus routes. The highway department would have to discontinue plowing Savoy’s bus routes to accommodate the Windsor bus. Windsor Select Board said they would talk to the parents of the student. If she can bring her child to the bottom of the road to meet the school bus, this might help the situation. For now, each town will plow their own roads.
The Highway Superintendent is putting together a quote for a parking lot addition at the school. Currently, the plan is to place the lot between the basketball court and the weather station.
The discontinuance of roads is an ongoing topic. Jane Phinney has been doing research to find out if there are records of roads that have been discontinued.

December 6:

The town has received $9,247.99 for stumpage fees. These monies are in the General Fund to go to free cash. Emile recommended using for next year’s snow and ice account.
The Board will look into formulating a policy for plowing and sanding town roads. There are complaints about how the road crew plows and sands, how road are prioritised, and when the roads should be plowed.
Emile suggested looking into changing the town’s telephone service provider. The town now uses Richmond Telephone Service. To use the computers the town uses Richmond NET. The service is slow as best. If the town changes to Verizon, DSL will be available. DSL is a much faster service and will provide needed improvement for computer communicating. by Brenda Smith

The Special Town Meeting held Monday evening, November 14th, was well attended. Thirty of the town's registered voters asked questions, offered suggestions, and after intelligent and probing discussion with the Select Board and Highway Superintendant Ray LaBonte about taking the proposed $100,000 from the Stabilization Fund account for the repair of the roads, voted unanimously to reduce the amount to $60,000. The amended article passed overwhelmingly. LaBonte said that FEMA would be reimbursing the town 75% of the money they spent and that the initial amount was in anticipation of what they would need to get the work done, but did not include snow and ice costs. When asked if he would be hurt by a decrease in the total amount he would have to work with, he said he could manage with the lesser amount until spring. Mazur said he needed the input of the voters to decide which way the town had to go about raising the money to get the highway work done. "This town is in trouble!", he said. He warned the only other way the town could raise the money would be to raise taxes.Two other articles on Fire Department issues also passed without oppositionl. The meeting began a few minutes after 7PM and was ended thirty minutes later. The town's two newly elected Selectmen, Chad Wagenknecht and Joe Bettis were in attendance at the meeting. From the Town Clerk

A Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 14, 2005, at the Savoy Fire Station at 7:00 PM to vote on the transfer of $100,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund Account to the Emergency Road Maintenance Account.

The town will, also, vote to transfer the sum of $1,500.00 from the Engine 1 Repair Account to the 1983 Mack Truck Repair Account. The sum of $3,288.76 will be voted to transfer from the Engine 1 Repair Account to the Fire Department Equipment and Maintenance Account.

Residents who are qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs are requested to attend this meeting. Residents who are not qualified to vote can also attend. by Brenda Smith

Interest in the Special Town Election was high as 25% of the town's 495 registered voters went to the polls on Tuesday, November 8th, to elect two selectmen to fill the vacated spots left by resigning Select Board members, Rita Pierce and Peter Kelleher. Chad Wagenknecht easily won the 1 1/2 year position with 109 of the 125 votes cast. Write-in candidate, Joe Bettis, received 89 votes to John D'Alessandro's 20, winning the 2 1/2 year term. Mr. Bettis was notified by telephone of the results and agreed to serve as the newly elected Selectman. All three candidates were notified of the outcome by telephone as soon as the votes had been counted. Mr. D'Alessandro was not available for comment, but a message was left on his voice mail. The new Selectmen will begin their duties as soon as they have been sworn in. from the Town Clerk

Savoy residents Bob Veronesi, (Agricultural Commission), Joe Bettis,(Conservation & Agricultural Commissions), and Don Phinney (Planning Board & Town Park Commission), attended a meeting sponsored by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) on Wednesday evening, November 2nd, at the BRPC offices on Fenn Street in Pittsfield. The meeting addressed the organization, benefits, and role of Agricultural Commissions currently being implemented in rural towns in the area. Savoy recently passed a 'Right To Farm' by-law at its Annual Town Meeting in June. The Savoy Agricultural Commission was created at that time to serve as a local voice advocating for farmers, farm businesses and farm interests in the community. The meeting was to introduce the newly formed organization to the role of Agricultural Commissions. Speakers included Doug Gillespie, Commissioner of the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources and representatives of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Co-sponsors included the American Farmland Turst, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Nathan Karns, Executive Director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, introduced the speakers and welcomed the more than thirty representatives who attended.
...from the Town Clerk

The Special Town Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8th at the Senior Center. Polls will be open from noon to 8PM. Rumors that others would be seeking one of the open Select Board seats have been floating around town for some time, but only one name, that of Joseph Bettis of Loop Road, has been confirmed as a possible candidate. Mr. Bettis has agreed to serve on the 2 1/2 year term if elected by enough write-in votes. The only two names that will appear on the ballot are those of Chad Wagenknecht and John D'Allessandro.

The current Select Board will ask voters to consider the transfer of $100,000 from the Stabilization account to the Emergency Road Maintenance account to address the damage to town roads from the recent storms. A Special Town Meeting will be held at the Fire Station on Monday, November 14th at 7PM. Two other articles will also appear on the warrant to address Fire Department expenses. ....from the Town Clerk

Absentee ballot applications are available from the Town Clerk's office for voters who want to vote in the Special Election on November 8th, but will not be able to do so. You can call and have an application sent out to you or drop in to the office and fill out an application. The number is 743-3759 and the office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5PM.
Please note: The deadline to register to vote in the Special Town Election has passed. If you are not a registered voter (as of October 19th) you will not be able to cast a vote.

The Town Clerk will not have office hours on Tuesday, October 25th. from the Town Clerk

I have combined the Select Board meetings of October 11 and October 18. The meetings dealt with the recent storm and damage to the roads of Savoy.

Work has begun to fix the culvert on Chapel Road. A letter was sent to Chapel Road residents informing them of the work. Anyone using Chapel Road should be prepared for delays. The general public will have to wait if there is equipment in the road. Emile Mazur said ‘residents will have to be patient’.

The Transfer Station will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays. The hours of operation will remain the same as summer hours. The Select Board discussed Transfer Station stickers for vehicles. Also, proper bags must be used to dispose of trash. There are individuals who use only the recycle areas and dispose of their trash in store purchased bags that are not approved. This practice puts the attendant in a compromising position. He does not feel he should have to confront the individuals. Electronics have been placed in the metal bin, contaminating the bin. These materials must be removed before the container can be emptied.

The energy audit was completed on the Fire Station. When existing fixtures fail, the department will receive a rebate for replacing obsolete fixtures with proper, energy efficient fixtures. The heating system should be replaced when it breaks down. It was also recommended an ‘on demand thermostat’ be put in place. This will help to reduce cost of heating an unused building.
Chad Wagenknecht volunteered his time and truck to assist with road repair on Saturday, October 8, and Monday, October 10.

A letter has been written to the Bureau of Accountants requesting the town be allowed deficient spending to get money to the highway department to repair roads.

FEMA and MEMA were scheduled to visit the town Wednesday, October 19, to review the damage. These organizations have been in Western Massachusetts looking at damage and what will be the cost to the towns to get work completed. Savoy will have to pay for the materials and additional assistance to get the roads passable for the winter. Ray LaBonte said the town should be reimbursed 75% for these expenses. The question was brought up as to how the town would pay for these expenses. The Select Board has scheduled an 'emergency special town meeting' for November 14 at 7pm at the Fire Station. The townspeople will be asked to support the transfer of $100,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund Account to the Emergency Road Maintenance Account. Mr. LaBonte stated he does not think this amount will cover the repair of roads. There are 19 roads in need of repair. Mr. LaBonte stated that the roads will be 90% repaired when the road work is complete. Mr. Mazur said the Select Board would have to get a bank note to get the work completed. There is no way the highway department can be prepared to remove snow unless the roads are at least 90% repaired.

Fire Chief Krutiak has requested he be removed as the head of Civil Defense for Savoy. Mr. D’Alesandro asked Mr. Mazur if he could take over this position. Mr. Mazur said this would have to be looked into after the election in November. The position is appointed by the Select Board. Mr. D’Alesandro said he wants to set up an emergency plan. He felt that this storm showed the deficiencies in the town’s readiness to respond. Mr. D’Alesandro, also, thinks the highway department needs to have a plan that prioritizes work that needs to be done after a major storm.

'TREAT OR TREAT NIGHT' will be on Saturday, October 29, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. If you want to have kids stop at your house you must leave an outside light on. If you do do not have a light on, drivers of cars are asked not to stop or bother residents. Let's make this a safe Halloween for all the kids by following this simple request. by Brenda Smith

The ballot for the special town election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8th, will list only two candidates for the two open seats on the Select Board. Nomination papers were submitted and certified for John F. D'Alessandro and Chad J. Wagenknecht. D'Alessandro is seeking the two and a half year term open when Rita Pierce resigns on November 1st and Wagenknecht is running for the remaining one and a half years of Peter Kelleher's term. Mr. Kelleher resigned on August 31st. The candidates are both well known to the community. John D'Alessandro, 46, of 4 Griffin Hill Road is a computer programmer and his political party is listed as 'Unenrolled'. Chad Wagenknecht, 34, of 44 Harrington Road is an electrician and he also is listed as an independent or 'Unenrolled'. Although rumors persist, no individual has declared running a write-in campaign. Individuals who are considering this type of campaign should contact the Town Clerk for information. All candidates for town office are subject to the rules of campaigning and campaign finance reporting.

Savoy residents who are not registered voters of the town who wish to vote in the special November 8th town election, must register to vote by 5PM, Wednesday, October 19th. Voter registration forms are available at the town office. Completed and signed forms can be mailed to the Town Clerk or left at the town office for processing. The town office is open on Monday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM. Tuesday evenings between 7 and 9PM. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5PM. For information on voter registration or the special election contact the Town Clerk at 743-3759.

Notices that the Attorney General has approved the RIGHT TO FARM by-law and amendments to the HANDICAP PARKING, MAILBOXES, LITTERING fees, and the NUMBERING BUILDINGS by-laws have been posted throughout town to inform the residents that these rules are now in effect. The by-laws were voted on in June and approved by the Attorney General in September. From the Town Clerk's Office

The Select Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, was cancelled. If you have any news items you wish to share, you can e-mail to SavoyNews@aol.com. We will post on the blog. Thanks.

Just a reminder that the Lion's Clubs are always looking for used Eye Glasses and Hearing Aids. If you have any that you want to get rid of There are boxes in Windsor at Friendly Freds and in Savoy at the Senior Center. They can be left at the Savoy General Store.
Or if you like call 743-5346 leave a message if not answer and some one will pick them up. by Alice Liebenow

The September 27 Select Board Meeting began at 7:03 PM. Select Board members Rita Pierce and Emile Mazur were ready to carry forth with the agenda. Prospective Select Board candidates Chad Wagenknecht and John D’Alesandro were in attendance.

Mr. Mazur read a letter from George Witek commending Ray LaBonte and his crew for the work they did on culverts. Mr. Witek writes ‘the culverts look like a ‘first-class job. Mr. Mazur said the Select Board often receives letters from residents commending Mr. LaBonte and the road crew for the outstanding job they do to keep the town roads in good shape.

The Select Board in looking into changing the days of the Transfer Station. Mr. Zavattaro has received requests to keep the current schedule as long as possible. Mr. LaBonte suggested that for the winter months maybe the hours should be changed and keep the Transfer Station open longer on Saturdays. Do we really need two days? Wouldn’t longer hours on Saturday be more convenient? Wouldn’t the town save money?

Mr. Wagenknecht, at the request of the Select Board, looked into lighting for the Transfer Station. The choice is between a standard light and a floodlight. After a brief discussion, the decision was to go with a floodlight. There would be more area coverage for the Transfer Station.

Mr. Wagenknecht reported to the Select Board he had contacted WMECO to do an energy audit on the Fire House. WMECO will provide suggestions on what should be done to improve efficiency. This service is free to the community.

The Savoy Karary Kats applied for a permit for a lottery cash calendar to sell lottery tickets. This one-time request was approved for September 27, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

The discussion on Discontinuance of Maintenance of Roads is ongoing. Mr. LaBonte said the roads need to be marked from the point where the roads will not be maintained during the winter to the end of the road.

Mr. Mazur said he had tried to get help from the community, but to date no one has been willing to assist with this task. Mr. LaBonte explained that Discontinuance of Maintenance of Roads is different from Discontinued Roads. Discontinued Roads have to go before the town for approval. The road then reverts to the landowners on those roads.

The question of posting the roads was raised. Mr. LaBonte said a sign, which cost $150, had been posted at the intersection of Adams and Center Road. Vandals have removed the sign. Mr. LaBonte said to continue spending money to post signs would not alleviate the problem. As soon as they are put in the ground, they get lifted. The Town needs to find some means to notify the public and community that certain roads are not maintained by the Highway Department during the winter months. People either do not abide by sign postings or the signs do not remain to warn people to stay off the roads. There have been occasions when people traveling these roads get stuck and need assistance to get out. Mr. LaBonte said tow truck operators would not come to Savoy to assist stuck vehicles on these roads. People then call the Highway Department to get then out of their rut. If tow truck operators will not go down these roads in the winter, the Highway Department should not have to endanger either the road crew or town trucks to try to get people’s vehicles out. The issue is still under review as to the best course of action so the town is not liable for individual’s folly.

The Tax Classification Hearing was easy to resolve. The Town will remain ‘residential’. The tax rate has been lowered from $13.19 to $13.06 as a result of new growth and a tight budget. By Brenda Smith

Select Board Meeting for September 13 was cancelled. The meeting for September 20 was held with Rita Pierce and Emile Mazur present. Both Chad Wagenknecht and John D'Alesandro attended the meeting. The highlights of the meeting are noted below:

A letter relating to the work done on the ditch on Bernie Malloy’s property was read into the minutes. Mr. Malloy signed off that the work was completed September 8, 2005 in the amount of $6,152.34. (Note: At the August 30 meeting, Mr. Malloy asked about the work to be done on his property. Erosion started on Mr. Malloy's property after the highway department started a 'ditch project' last year. Mr. LaBonte went to the Select Board in the Spring to see if there was enough money available to fix Mr. Malloy's property. After a heated disagreement, Rita Pierce asked for the Select Board to go into Executive Session to resolve this issue. When the Executive Session was over, Mr. Mazur said the Select Board had agreed to fix Mr. Malloy's property.) Mr. Mazur stated these monies would come out of highway department funds. Mr. Mazur wanted the townspeople to know how much the work cost. When there are requests for road work, there won't be money.

A letter has been received from the District Attorney, David Capeless, informing the select board all the police departments in the county will be receiving state-of-the-art digital audio-visual recording equipment. Professional installation of the equipment is also being provided.
This donation by Mr. Capeless’s office is made possible through the use of funds forfeited from drug dealers as a result of investigations by the Berkshire Drug Task Force.

Mr. Capeless writes ‘this recording equipment will be used for documenting the interviews of suspects in criminal investigations, in compliance with the mandates of the case of Commonwealth v DiGiambattista, 442 Mass 423 (2004).’

Mr. Don Phinney, Park Commission, attended the meeting to request the Select Board permit Ray Labonte to cut steel beams and drag them over by the picnic tables. These beams will be placed across the river. The Select Board agreed Ray could do the work.

To be in compliance with the DEP, the Select Board will have a sign posted at the ‘dump’ with the name of the facility and hours of operation.

There will be a Tax Classification meeting September 27 at 7:30 pm to set the tax rate for Savoy, and to decided whether to keep the current “residential classification”.

Select Board Chair Mazur said all town committees must keep minutes of their meeting. Minutes of meetings are also available to any town’s person who wants to review them. Mr. Mazur recommended the committees use a loose-leaf binder. A copy of the minutes is to be provided to the Town Clerk and the Select Board.

Susan McGrath provided the following from the ‘Municipal Advocate, Vol. 22, No. 1. What are the requirements for minutes of a public meeting?

“ The Open Meeting Law (M.G.L. Ch. 39, Sec 23B) as well as the Public Records Law, requires every governmental body to maintain accurate minutes of all its meetings. At a minimum, minutes must set forth the date, time and place of the meeting, the identity of the members present or absent, and all “action taken.” Action taken includes not only votes and other formal decisions made at a meeting, but also discussion or consideration of issues for which no vote taken or final determination is made. Each discussion held at the meeting must be identified; in most cases this is accomplished by setting forth a summary of each discussion. A verbatim record of discussions is not required.
The Open Meeting Law contains no provisions regarding the form in which minutes of meetings must be maintained. The longevity requirements for record preservation under the Public Records Law, however, require that a governmental body eventually put its minutes into a written form. Such a requirement is also consistent with the Open Meeting Law’s intent of providing ready access to legible minutes. For the same reason, typed minutes, though not required, are preferable.” by Brenda Smith

The ballot for the town's special election, scheduled for November 8, 2005, will list two residents as candidates for the open Select Board seats. John D'Alesandro, 46, of Griffin Hill Road, is running for the remaining 2 1/2 year term left open when Rita Pierce resigned. Chad Wagenknecht, 34, of Harrington Road, is hoping to fill the remaining 1 1/2 year term vacated by Peter Kelleher's resignation. Both candidates submitted nomination papers to the Registrar before the deadline to do so, (5PM, Tuesday, September 20th), and both had secured more than the required number of signatures of registered voters of the town. Nomination papers had been requested by two other residents, but were not turned in for certification.
Rumors persist that the campaign may include some individuals who will run on a 'sticker' or 'write-in' vote. Anyone interested in doing so would be helped greatly by notifying the Town Clerk of their intentions. There are rules that apply to all campaigners. Knowing what these rules are could save a lot of time and help both you and the voters at the polls. If you are considering a write-in or sticker run for one of the two selectboard seats, please contact the Town Clerk at 743-3759. Office hours are 1 to 5, Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also leave a message anytime.

Appointees who have not been sworn in for the 2005-2006 fiscal year are required to do so. New members of the Finance Committee and a few other positions on town boards need their members qualified to serve and this can only be done by taking an oath of office. Please contact the Town Clerk as soon as possible to be sworn in. from the Town Clerk

Sandy Totter resigned as chairperson from the Council on Aging. Althea Maynard has agreed to be the Acting Chair until someone comes forward to fill the position. The COA is actively looking for a volunteer to be chair. Contact Althea if you are interested. Althea reminds the community you do not have to be a senior citizen to be on the COA Board or chairperson. Althea was the chair for many years. She is also currently editor of the Savoy Senior Newsletter. Since the Newsletter has been sent out, Althea requests the following the included.

SAVOY STOMPERS REGISTERED FOR MEMORY WALK

The Berkshire Memory Walk will be held on Saturday, September 17th and will follow the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Registration is at the Farnam’s Road Causeway. There are 1-mile, 2-mile, and 3-mile walks marked. You can depart any time between 9:00am and 11:00am. If you would like to make a donation, you can make it there or at the Savoy Senior Center. The money raised from the Memory Walk stays in our community to support, educate and improve the lives of those with Alzheimer’s and their families.

COA BOARD ADDRESSES PUBLIC SAFETY

One night this past spring, an ambulance enroute to an injured Savoy senior made a wrong turn. Neither the road where they should have turned nor the one they took had a street sign. The Council on Aging Board at their August meeting vowed to work to correct this situation so that this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

Reflective street signs are a non-negotiable public safety necessity. Our goal is to be able to have street signs in place within the year. We are trying to find out if there are public safety grant programs. Each sign and pole costs between $85 and $110. We have also begun to gather support for our effort.

We are five very determined women, but can certainly use all the help we can get. If you have any information or guidance to offer us, please get in touch. “The life you save could be your own”. from the Council on Aging

TOWN OF SAVOY, FIRST ANNUAL FALL CLEAN-UP
Sandy Totter presented the Select Board information for a clean up to be held on Saturday, October 1 and October 2 from 8am to 1pm at the Savoy Transfer Station, Chapel Road.

Although Sandy has resigned from her town position as representative for the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste District, she will donate these two Saturdays to see this task completed. She told the Select Board she would take care of every thing and they would not have to do anything but get the information out to the townspeople.

What is bulky waste? Bulky waste is a term used to describe large household items that can’t be disposed of like regular household trash. It includes such items as couches, chairs, mattresses, tables, appliances, carpet and the proverbial kitchen sink.

How much does it cost? Using contracts negotiated by the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste District, the costs are the lowest possible. The Town of Savoy and the District have coordinated this collection and staffed it with volunteers to give residents the opportunity to get rid of these difficult items.

Who can bring stuff? This collection is for Savoy residents only.

Questions? Call the Solid Waste District Office at 743-8208.

THE DISPOSAL PRICE GUIDE is online in our photo gallery at www.Savoynews.SmugMug.com.

The Savoy Select Board has accepted a second resignation from a member of its board. Rita Pierce joined Peter Kelleher,(who resigned a week ago), in notifying the Town Clerk that she also will resign her post. She states health problems as her reason for leaving. Her resignation will become effective as of November 1, 2005. Mr. Kelleher left on August 31st.
Plans to include the second Select Board vacancy on the ballot at the Special Election scheduled for November 8th, have been cleared with the Secretary of State’s Office. Individuals considering running for either of these seats must be residents and registered voters of the town. Candidates must take out nomination papers if their names are to appear on the ballot. The papers are available now through Friday, September 16th. The Town Clerk’s office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5PM. You can also call the Town Office and request the forms and they will be left for you to pick up. At least twenty (20) signatures of registered voters of the town are required to get your name on the ballot. Nomination papers are due in the Registrar’s hands by Tuesday, September 20th for certification.
The remainder of the current term for each of these seats must be filled. Peter Kelleher’s term will end in May of 2007, and Rita Pierce would have completed her term in May of 2008. Candidates should consider the length of service to complete these terms before they can run for a three year term. Emile Mazur, the remaining Selectman in office, will complete his current term in May of 2006. At that time his seat will also be up for re-election. For more information call the Town Clerk (743-3759) or the Selectmen (743-4290). From the Town Clerk


So, you want to be a Selectman? A Short course in Town Government 101:
It is no secret to this community that the current select board has not been one of our best. Departures by other town officials due to the problems within the select board have contributed greatly for some time now to the difficulty in keeping the town running smoothly. It has not been an easy time for the voters, nor has it been a pleasant time for the individuals serving the town. As Town Clerk, I see most people on an individual basis as well as collectively at town meetings. I try to impart to those who ask about a particular town office the importance of knowing why they want to serve and what that responsibility is.
Not everyone is cut out to be a Selectman. It is a time-consuming, often stressful and constantly thankless job. The monetary compensation is a few pennies above zip and the satisfaction for a job well done is the lonely experience of the individual and is rarely expressed by the voters and other townsfolk who often find everything wrong with the way the town is run the fault of the Select Board. It can also be a rewarding experience and a great feeling of satisfaction of having served your community. When projects and plans turn out well and to the benefit of the community, it is the Selectmen who can usually take credit for what has been accomplished.
Who makes a good Selectman? Not everyone, that’s for sure. A person with a personal gripe against the Highway or Fire Department, the School Board or any individual is not a good candidate. A personal agenda is a waste of time and is the cause of many problems in town government. An individual who thinks the selectmen run the town is also on the wrong planet and if that is the reason for seeking the position, it will be a very difficult awakening once in office.
The ‘TOWN’ = the voters. The Town elects certain individuals to perform tasks we, as voters, do not have the time to do ourselves. In simple terms, the Tax Collector takes the money we pay for our property and keeps a record of it. The Treasurer invests that money for the good of the town and works with it to better serve the needs of the town. The Town Clerk records the history of the town and keeps the town records safe. The Assessors value our property. The Planning Board works to keep laws of the town current and able to cope with new ideas for the community. The Conservation Commission must deal with the laws of the state concerning environmental issues in the community. The Select Board oversees the business of the town. It is their job to prioritize the demands that come into the town office and present it to the voters at town meetings. When the voters decide what should be done by a vote, it is the Selectmen who must work with the state, the budget, the workers, other towns and other town boards, in order to accomplish what the voters want. Often, they find themselves literally between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. It is not an easy job.
There are a few members of the community who have actively campaigned to have one or all of the current select board removed. This activity was well underway before any resignation was submitted by a select board member. If it contributed to one or more of the resignations, it is not for me to say. I will say this; if there are some who feel they can do the job, please step up and be counted. Put your actions where your mouth is, to be blunt. Prove that you can do a better job. For those of us who did not find this board effective, good for the town, whatever….remember they, at least, were willing to try to serve and should be given some credit for that. It is very easy to find fault with others, especially when we are not willing to do the job ourselves.
This community needs the help of its people. It especially needs the input from younger residents. The future of the town belongs to a younger population and the offices and officers serving should reflect that. Those who constantly criticize the way the town is run should step up and take a chance at doing the job. You may find it a very rewarding experience and the town could benefit from your involvement. a personal reflection by the Town Clerk