DISCLAIMER
These notes are not meant as a substitute for the Select Board approved minutes, any errors or omissions are mine alone. Approved minutes are the final word. Because of Open Meeting Law, minutes have to be reviewed and approved at a subsequent meeting which delays the posting. Any text in brackets [ . . . ] are my additions to the notes and not part of the meeting. —Pat McGahan pmcgahan75@gmail.com: Actively engaged in the Heath community: ongoing attendance at SB meetings for three years; newly appointed Vice President of Friends of the Heath Public Library: Ex-Officio of the Parks & Recreation Committee, retired member of the Heath Herald staff after 7 fun years; former member of the town Building Use Committee; ongoing membership in the Heath Agricultural Society for 11 years, 6 years as Premium Secretary, past producer of the Premium Book, and past maintainer of the Heath Ag website; part of the team that installed the pollinator garden by Community Hall; co-organizer of the Community Cafes with live music held at the Community Hall. 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Public Comment, Review Minutes: 4/2/24, 4/9/24
6:15 p.m. Parks & Recreation Committee—Mike Cucchiara, warrant article, current projects
FY 2025 Budget Planning
Capital Expenses Employee Wages - salary changes are part of the latest budget Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles Budget Discussion with Finance Committee, as needed.
MTRSD Agreement Articles:
Community Hall Windows Fundraising
Select Board and FinCom left as friends despite some hotly discussed items. Items 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 3/26/24 6:05 p.m. FY 2025 Budget Planning—with Finance Committee and Accountant Operating Budget (Article 3)
There was a lot of discussion about how to fund these expenses and below have not all been finalized.
MTRSD Agreement Articles & possible meeting
Sue Lively attended a meeting of a newly forming group, A Coalition for Rural Community Stability. This is an important effort focused on bringing the issues facing rural communities to the state legislature. [Add a draft letter] To be verified Left in accounts to use: $164,000 ARPA $60,00 Free Cash $200,000 Chapter 90 These notes are skimpy, I recommend listening to the audio, or at a minimum to the Natalie Blais portion. SB 2024-04-02 N BlaisSectionofAudio.mp3
Full meeting audio: SB 2024-04-02 Audio.mp3 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 3/26/24 6:00 p.m. Meeting with State Representative Natalie Blais
Recommendations:
6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 2/19/24
6:15 p.m. FY 2025 Budget Planning (FinCom requested to wait until next week for mtg). Went over the draft budget worksheet. Discussed building maintenance in relation to rising fuel costs. Salaries: Expressed concern that some employees are below the median, many had not received COLA in some past years so there is a need to catch some people up. Items planned to be discussed with FinCom
MTRSD Agreement Articles & possible meeting
HilltownYouth Performing Arts—review of requests, vote possible
8:20 7:50 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 3/12/24,
Public Comment - none 6:05: Community Hall/Sawyer Hall—Mold Remediation update
8:58 MTRSD Agreement Articles & possible meeting
["The primary duty of the Animal Inspector has recently become rabies control in the domestic animal population. Municipal Animal Inspectors are also responsible for barn inspections and may be called to assist with domestic animal disease quarantines in the event of an outbreak." --https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-animal-inspector-resources ]
Ambulance Discussion
Gary Ponce, Director of Colrain Ambulance Service spoke regarding the escalating costs of service which are becoming unsupportable. He presented two options for charging:
Operating Budget
6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 2/13/24 6:15 p.m. Budget Hearings—with Finance Committee 6:15 p.m. Fire Department—Fire Chief Anzuoni: requested budget, yearly update,
4:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order
Review Agenda 4:05 p.m. Budget Planning Discussion—with Finance Committee & Town Accountant Review Minutes: 1/23/24, 1/26/24 5:30 p.m. Community Hall Windows Fundraising Committee—Discussion of Fundraising Plans and Progress
— 2. What would you protect at all costs and could not do without (your non-negotiables)? — 3. What are the challenges and/or weaknesses of the districts/schools (tension points, gaps, and/or things you'd like to change/improve)? — 4. What options and potential solutions should be considered to build upon the district's/school's strengths while addressing challenges/gaps? — 5. What is your vision for the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont districts in 10 years? — 6. Is there anything the research team should know and take into consideration as the Sustainability Study is launched? Advice and suggestions are welcome. — 7. Are there any particular questions you have for the research team and/or topics you'd like to see addressed in the future — 8. What is your connection to the school districts? Flag Policy—review—vote anticipated
Other business that could not be anticipated 48 hours in advance 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 1/11/24
Public Comment - none 6:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Committee, Conservation Commission: update on P & R work, review of areas of authority in Shapiro Land.
District Local Technical Assistance Project Requests—review & rate requests—vote anticipated
Heath received $30,000 from the state given to towns impacted by August and September storms MTRSD anticipates a 7.5% increase in school budget |
Acronyms & References
. STM 2023 Truck Handout ADA Accessibility of Sawyer Hall SB Public Statement on AT&T Tower Archives
January 2025
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