By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
The Acushnet Selectboard held its first virtual meeting on Tuesday, 4/7, since the COVID-19 crisis began and the state allowed for meetings to be held remotely. Because there were no public hearings, the public was only allowed to watch on Comcast channel 18. The meeting is also available on the town’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQLn-V7X9rp0JdWXh445neQ
Chairperson Roger Cabral welcomed the viewers to the “Hollywood Squares” meeting of the Selectboard.
“I’m just trying to find some humor in our current situation,” he said.
Humorous, it was not. Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar was not present, leaving a discussion between Mr. Cabral and board member David Desroches in a stalemate, pushing the topic out to another meeting.
The two members disagreed on a Department of Public Works Union Memorandum of Understanding. Town Administrator Julie Hebert reviewed the MOU that was written with the assistance of Mr. Gaspar and stated the DPW during this pandemic would be split into two different groups, “A” and “B,” with each group working one week on, one week off.
Ms. Hebert explained that the two different groups would be isolated from each other, a team of nine individuals, hopefully to prevent a Coronavirus outbreak among the DPW workers as they are considered essential employees.
Mr. Cabral stated he was concerned about the two different teams and essentially paying them to be off one week to stay home. He said he would like to see a better plan. Mr. Cabral said he could logically understand the concept but felt that there was a way to isolate the two groups from each other, by doing perhaps other work around town that was not necessarily their job before this situation.
He suggested they could do more outside work, tree trimming, cleaning up the streets of Acushnet, parks, etc. He said he did not understand the work week on/off concept.
Mr. Desroches stated it might not be the best solution during this time, but it is a solution. He said there were some parts he did not agree with one hundred percent, however he was in favor of the MOU. He said that the current situation makes the decision necessary. He said they needed to take a stand on it, because the DPW had already begun the schedule as of this week.
“I don’t endorse this concept,” said Mr. Cabral, adding that he would like to see the vote tabled to their next meeting, as he was not going to budge on his decision, and the two could not agree.
Ms. Hebert stated it was definitely a tough situation they were in and they were just trying to find a resolution.
Mr. Cabral stated he did not agree with how it was done and he was not going to vote in favor of it. Mr. Desroches and Mr. Cabral decided to table it to the next meeting.
“If I have to be the one against two, then that’s what I’ll be,” Mr. Cabral said.
In other business, Town Clerk, Pamela Labonte reviewed the Town Meeting and Town Election dates with the board. She stated that currently the Town Meeting has been scheduled for May 11, and the Town Election for May 16.
Ms. Labonte asked the Selectboard to consider moving both to dates in June. Her concern, she said, was mainly having the staff to run an election.
The Selectboard agreed to change the Town Meeting date to June 22, 2020 and the Town Election to June 27, 2020.
Ms. Labonte said she would also like them to consider, as there are no contested races in Acushnet, to perhaps have a smaller window for voting in the election. Ms. Labonte suggested a 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. window. She said there will be every opportunity for anyone who wanted to vote in the election; there will be early voting and absentee voting as well. The board took the suggestion under advisement and will decide at a later date.
The board also discussed the FY21 budget with Ms. Hebert, who told the board that potential revenues from the state may be short. With the assumption there may be a decrease of 5% from the state, which is $410,000 for Acushnet; her plan was to cut all capital expenses. She stated they have $1 million in free cash, and she would like not to touch it so, if they have a revenue shortfall, they have that money.
Ms. Hebert said she had spoken to department heads and have asked them to create another budget with a 10% reduction of expenses only and a 1% level funded budget. Once compiled she stated she would have them for the Selectboard to review.
Ms. Labonte advertised a Public Service Agreement asking that all Acushnet residents fill out the Federal Census paperwork that has been sent out. She stated it was very important that all residents fill out the federal census as it results in money that the town receives for every resident that lives in Acushnet.
In other business, the board voted to approve up to $12,000 for the Cable Committee to purchase new equipment. The money comes from the fees from Comcast subscribers .
The Selectboard also voted to allow the date change for the half Marathon to September 5, 2020.
The Selectboard announced there were seven identified Coronavirus cases in Acushnet at this time.
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