Selectboard Meeting of June 2, 2009.

The skate park you see in the banner-picture above with the title “Welcome to the Holland Blog,” will be history soon. Many other topics were discussed at last night’s selectboard meeting, read more The meeting of June 2, 2009 was called to order at 19:08 hours, Present were the three members of the Board of Selectmen, James Wettlaufer, chairman, Earl Johnson, and Christian Petersen. Also present were Sergeant Brian Haughey, acting Chief of Police and officer Herb Duggan.

To read the Agenda click here!

Acting Chief Haughey gave his first community Report as acting Chief of Police. Haughey joined the HPD back in 2001 and informed the board of selectmen and the public about the progress made in his Department since Gleason’s resignation. Acting Chief Brian Haughey delivering his first Community Report These officers are excited and motivated as I have not seen it before. Gleason’s resignation was overdue and these guys seemed like freed from a heavy burden weighing on their moral. Acting Chief Haughey and his crew addressed pre-emptive, issues like bullying with the 6th graders, they plan a “lock-down” drill of the Holland Elementary School, public safety day, and in general are seeking to improve their interactions with the public. With little money, app. $500, Haughey and officer Herb Duggan remodeled the police station as announced during a meeting between the Board of Selectmen and the Holland Police Department back on Wednesday May 13, 2009. The changes are impressive. By erecting two walls, the station has now a separate lobby just behind the door at the bottom of the staircase. As you enter the (small) lobby, straight ahead is a window with a small open space to exchange documents etc. View from the bottom of the staircase into the HPD station
To the left is a door leading into the police station. As you can see, they did a great job, they even kept the color scheme the same as upstairs. The door has no lock yet. Door from the lobby to the office
Also in the small lobby just to the right of the entrance door is a small bench, not screwed to the floor yet. Acting Chief Haughey, “I think we are still going to change that, it needs to be wider.”
Bench in the small lobby
The station is not cluttered anymore as it was under Gleason. It looks organized and clean; Desk, clean and uncluttered
like a real police station. I have seen it before and can appreciate the work they did. There are now three desks to work on. Haughey’s desk
Haughey gave credit to three members of the Fire Department for their help, assistant Fire Chief John Cozen, Fire Fighter Joseph Kosinski, and Dylan Lajeunesse. It is obvious that they are very motivated to improve the station in any way possible and it shows! An adjacent small room, see door to the right of one desk) will be converted into an interview room. It was former Chief Gleason’s office (hide-out). I remember Gleason arranged the toll file cabinets at the former location on Mashapaug Road in a way so he could hide behind it. The change was possible as there was no construction company involved and due to a discount on the building material from Howell Lumber.

Next on the agenda was a group of residents that live on Lake Shore Drive. Gerald Tabb, living with his wife Martha for 15 years on 45 Lake Shore Drive took the microphone. He was seeking advice and help in how to stop his neighbor Allen Molin from using too much and blocking his right-away with a dock and a jet ski, a slide, and other toys. Mr. Tabb allegedly approached Gleason years ago with his complaint and Gleason never did anything about it. With Gleason gone, he is taking another attempt to exercise his rights.

The selectboard talked about renewing of two SAAN loans for the Highway Department.

Next on the agenda was an application for a business permit. Dick Hoyt bought Fenders on Mashaupaug Road and will open it soon with the same menu as Fenders had. For those who don’t know the Hoyt’s click here to visit their webpage. Dick and his Son Rick are celebrities known around the world. For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 69, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick. Dick Hoyt with Son Dick en route
The Hoyt’s live at 241 Mashapaug Road and will open Fenders under the fitting name “Team Hoyt’s Finishline.”

Next was the announcement of the possible closure of the Skateboard Park at the north end of Hitchcock Field. Chairman of the Selectboard James Wettlaufer read a Memorandum with the details. There will be a meeting with the Recreation Committee on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at the Skate Park at 6:30 PM. The banner picture with the yellow writing "Welcome to the Holland Blog" shows the skateboard park. The picture was taken Sunday March 15, 2009.

This coming Saturday is a fashion show at Tantasqua High, tickets are $15 and proceeds are used for a fundraiser.

The town is looking for a new company to clean the town hall.

The board also moved to assemble a committee to search a new Chief of Police consisting of five members, there members with a law enforcement background, one member from the community, and one member from the selectboard. Wettlaufer suggested that Chief of Police Daniel Charette from Southridge and Robert Desrosiers, Chief of Police of the town od Paxton, among with an officer (Vail?) from the state police, will serve on the committee.

At 20:02 hours, the board moved to go into executive session according to G.L. c.39, s.32B par (1),(3),(8),(9).

Peter Frei