SB Notes Tue, Apr 21 2026

​Call Meeting to Order
➢ Review Agenda ➢ Consent Agenda, Meeting Minutes: 04/07/2026; 04/14/2026
➢ Select Board Discussion/Decision Items
o Select Board Annual Town Meeting Hand Outs – Review/Discuss Handouts & Final Wording to be Included
Budget

• The SB worked on explaining increases on various budget line items. 
•  One significant increase was   VADAR  Municipal software that replaces a previously home-grown system which is a significant increase in our budget.  
• Northeast IT cost has gone up. Have one laptop that needs an upgrade. Server warranty extension was also significant.
• Some increases that appear on the budget come from adding money from existing revolving account for that line item and are not actual increases to the budget.

Warrant

• There is an article to move money in revolving funds to more appropriate accounts.  See last bullet above.

o JRMC Parking Proposal – Review/Discuss

• A community member submitted a proposal to add parking spaces on the left side of the oval at Jacobs Road and other areas of the oval. Both the Highway Dept and Fire Dept felt it is a good plan.

o Parks & Recreation Committee Annual Assessment – Review/Discuss

• Discussed the needs for the center area playground and agreed some were of immediate need such as removing the dome play structure.

o Lease Agreement, Hilltown Youth Performing Arts – Review/Discuss Proposed Edits

• Not much to note on the HYPA lease. 
• Artist wanting to rent upstairs in the Community Hall has not signed a lease yet.

o Town Nurse – Discuss Next Steps & Position Posting – Vote Possible

• Tabled

o Office Assistant & Boards’ Clerk Positions – Review/Discuss Next Steps; Job Descriptions

• Initial interviews to start for the Office Assistant position.

o Town of Colrain Surplus Police Cruiser – Review/Discuss Vehicle Information, Memorandum of Understanding, and Bill of Sale

• No updates

➢ New Information/Updates
o Community Hall – Elevator & Cupola

• Seeking a bucket lift or ladder truck from nearby towns to reach the cupola to remove the last two decorative pieces before they fall (the last two did).Tyson to make calls to determine possibility of a loan.
• The Community Hall elevator part that failed is no longer manufactured. It has been sent down to Florida for repair. Cost to date from the elevator company  is $1200 for research and shipping.

o Highway Department

• Need a definite date for Palmieri to do the electrical work of connecting the salt shed electrical to the Highway Dept electrical.   Palmieri needs to coordinate with the Highway Dept. who will need to dig a ditch across the road.

o ADA Compliance – Website; Transition Plan; Upcoming Grant Opportunities

• Deadline for website ADA compliance has been extended, and we do not need to take immediate action. Town website host, Montague Webworks, has implemented ADA compliance on the site.​

New
Heating problems in both JRMC and Sawyer Hall. Tim is investigating.  
➢ Public Comment

• Resident requested a candidate night for the two SB members. 
• Resident praised the Community Resource Fair as well organized and worthwhile.

➢ Mail List - If anyone wants the mail packet, let me know.
 C. Curtis (DRWA) re. Grant Application for Woodlands Partnership (3 pgs.)
 B. Lattrell re. Bridge Damage on Taylor Brook Road (1 pg.): Bridge repair needed from when a Fed X truck hit the bridge.
 T. Lively re. Community Hall Lift Update (2 pgs.)
 P. McGahan re. JRMC Parking Proposal (3 pgs.)
 P. McGahan re. Parks & Recreation Committee Annual Assessment (4 pgs.)
 W. Baker re. New Printer/Copier for Front Offices (1 pg.)  Update on new copier
 D. Clark re. Equipment Transfer for Colrain Surplus Police Cruiser (1 pg.): Email refuting the high cost of the light bar for the Colrain vehicle.
 D. Parsons & N. Anzuoni re. Colrain Surplus Police Cruiser (7 pgs.)
 M. Maloni re. Community Compact IT Grant & WCAG ADA Compliance (2 pgs.)
➢ New business that could not be anticipated 48 hours prior to the meeting