Select Board upbeat and grateful

Kristi Morris was re-elected chairman of the Springfield Select Board on Thursday during the board’s reorganizational meeting, and Select Board member Stephanie Thompson was re-elected vice chairman of the panel.
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Select Board upbeat and grateful By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer | March 06,2015 SPRINGFIELD – Kristi Morris was re-elected chairman of the Springfield Select Board on Thursday during the board’s reorganizational meeting, and Select Board member Stephanie Thompson was re-elected vice chairman of the panel. Earlier in the meeting, Select Board member Peter MacGillivray and newcomer Walter Martone were sworn in to their new three-year terms on the Select Board. Martone, a member of the Springfield Budget Committee, was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s town meeting balloting, with MacGillivray second in the four-person race. Challenger Carol Cole came in third. Select Board member David Yesman failed to win re-election. Morris said that the board was very pleased with votes of support from the townspeople on the $10.7 million town budget and several money articles which included the establishment of a reserve fund for demolition of blighted properties in town, and a $100,000 appropriation to fund it. “I’d love to thank the voters,” said Morris, who is starting his eighth year on the board — his sixth as chairman. He said the margin of approval – more than 400 votes – was particularly gratifying. “I’m convinced we can work together as a board,” said Morris. “There are a lot of things on the horizon.” Select Board member George McNaughton, who had proposed the two blighted property articles, said that the board was thankful for the support of the town’s effort to crack down on dilapidated properties. “There was a lot of hard work in the past year by the board, and it’s been recognized by the citizenry,” said MacGillivray. Since the newly approved $100,000 toward demolition of blighted properties won’t be available until July 1, when the new budget year takes effect, the town is already facing how to pay from the current budget for the emergency demolition of a dilapidated property on Furnace Street last Friday night. “The town will have to foot the bill, and then we’ll go after the building’s owner,” said Morris. McNaughton said that the Furnace Street building, which had already been on the town’s target list, was an emergency case and needed immediate attention. Town Manager Tom Yennerell said the building essentially “tipped over with a boom” once the excavator touched it gently. Yennerell said that the town was waiting for a permit from the Agency of Natural Resources to remove the debris. If the debris is determined to be asbestos-free, it will cost a lot less for disposal, he said. Another priority of the new board, Morris said, is reaching a contract with solar companies to provide electricity to the town. Voters gave the Select board permission to enter into a long-term contract.