Agenda 
Robyn absent.
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order (Meeting was recorded.)
Review Agenda
5:05 p.m. Appointment: Finance Committee—FY 2026 Budget Planning Scheduling & Review

• An introductory meeting to talk about focus and objectives of FinComm.
• ​Discussion of tax rate and property values.
• CAF II Funds ($58,000) are due and must be used for broadband. Could prepay on broadband loan principal or loan payment.
• FinComm was given read-only access to Town financial reports

6:00 p.m. Appointment: Art Schwenger, MLB chair, for final meet and review of Bailey Cole, for MLP Manager position

• Had two good candidates, Baily was appointed.
• Baily has broad experience, software and computer skills, BA, has sensitivity to customer needs, a flexible schedule, currently a residential case worker. Lives in Heath and is ready to start immediately.

Public Comment - 1 general comment on stabilization accounts
Reviewed Minutes:  1/14/2025, 1/16/2025
Other Business
Letter to Residents 

•  Discussed the letter to the residents on Town business to be  sent out with the tax bills​

​Salt Shed Project Update

• RFP was sent out to potential bidders
• Tyson has produced a checklist on what needs to be done to prepare 
• Site visit scheduled for Thursday at 10 PM

Community Hall Windows Project Update

• Contractor Don Haywood to update a proposal following a visit to CH next week

Appraisal Update

• No updates since last week when Hilma showed an appraiser the spaces
• Appraiser said there is difficulty getting comparables due to Heath location
• Hilma  has found some RFPs  as examples

DLTA (District Local Technical Assistance) survey
​Items in brackets are my additions

• ["Thanks to the Healy  Administration and the Legislature, the FRCOG is pleased to once again be able to offer member towns technical assistance on a wide variety of priority issues. Among the priorities that can be addressed using these DLTA funds are the Massachusetts Community Compact Best Practices."   https://frcog.org/project/municipal-resources/​ ]
• FRCOG survey looking for feedback on technical needs to assist in putting together FRCOG programs for towns.
• Barbara suggested (1) ways to assist with communication such as a  better way to record meeting, and (2) ways to monitor speeds on our roads.
• Will and Elissa  voted priority order of  (1) Municipal Succession Planning,  (2) Shared Services, and (3) Regional Sheltering and Heating. 

HYPA list of talking points

• Still waiting for feedback from Jonathan Diamond on the new lease agreement.
• Rental amount will remain the same until the new lease is signed and the new agreement will not be retroactive.
• The next meeting with HYPA will be a dedicated meeting.

​New: Tucker Jenkins was appointed to Mohawk  District School Committee
No mail not previously discussed.

5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda
CAF II (Connect America Fund Phase II) Certification—vote anticipated

• [ Through CAF Phase II, the FCC provides funding to service providers to subsidize the cost of building new network infrastructure or performing network upgrades to provide voice and broadband service in areas where it is lacking.]
• SB approved the certification. 

Approval for placement of new kiosks—Pat McGahan, Parks & Recreation Committee.

• Placement of kiosks  in the center of town and Jacobs Road was approved.  [Kiosks similar to  the kiosk on Flag Hill  Road. Will have maps showing Heath trails]
• A third kiosk mentioned was one just outside HO Cook forest which is under the purview of the Highway Dept. 
• P&R to work with Hilma and Tim on placement in Town Center and Jacobs Road

National Grid Pole Hearing Information—review information
[The pole hearing with National Grid is scheduled for Thursday, Jan 16 form 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm]

• ​Robyn would like to know how many poles will be effected on Avery Brook Road vs Burrington Hill Road as this will be a cost to the town to move the fiber.
• Will felt the outages were not crucial enough to justify the three phase power.
• Ned pointed that the agreement to pay for the cost of putting the fiber on the pole was part of the broadband buildout only, not a subsequent project. Ned agreed with Will that the $70,000 between the two routes is not a significant amount for National Grid.
• Wanda Money made a good case for burying the power lines in the Heath Historic area.

HYPA License Comments—Discussion  

• No notes/comments received from HYPA on the license yet, so the discussion and meeting is postponed.

Agenda Items
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Minutes: 12/30/2024, Review Agenda
5:05 p.m. Appointment: Budge Litchfield, MTRSD School Committee Representative - unable to attend
5:30 p.m. Appointment: Susan Lively, COA Chairperson, survey results report

• The survey had 205 responses.
• The  response by  gender was about even, the 65 and older age group had the largest number of responders (92). 
• The split between employed and unemployed was about even.

5:45 p.m. Appointment: Art Schwenger, FCTS School Committee Representative
Two new FCTS Programs have been added using  $9 million in competitive grants: Aviation Maintenance and Veterinarian  Assistant.

• Scholl enrollment is 640 students (590 are within the school district). There are  13 from Heath at $8700 cost per pupil.
• FCTS has been approved for a new building or renovation.  The current 50 year old building has required extensive maintenance, no longer cost effective to continue repairing. 

Public Comment

• Bob Gruen has done extensive research on installers.
• One of the  issues is that some persons do not do storm windows so Hilma will separate the storms from the window restoration.
• Hilma contacted a Mass Historic Preservation group looking for restorers. Many were far away, no results to date. 

Other Business
Salt Shed Project Update 

• Two quotes to demolish shed— both equivalent in work, chose $6,400 Richard Hillman.
• Electrician - has upgraded  the panel in fire station needed for alarm equipment 
• Internet - WhipCity  is due Jan 16 to run new  cable from EOC to Highway dept.   Northeast IT will move and reconnect the equipment on Jan 17.

Community Hall Windows Project Update

• Deadline reached, no bids yet. Robyn to call bidders to find out why they are not bidding.

Appraisal of Town Buildings Update

• One appraiser wanted to come  up to visit, but has not scheduled it with Hilma.
• Robyn - we may need to create a request for rental proposals and allow HYPA to respond to proposal.
• Need to decide whether leasing in this building makes sense. We should still continue with the appraisal process depending on the cost.
• Select Board feels that it makes good business sense to continue leasing.

HYPA License - there was a general discussion regarding leasing/licensing. There had been hope that an appraiser could help determine the rental value, but we have been unable to get that so far.
Mary Sumner, Town Clerk, will be sending out the street list to all residents and wanted to know if the SB would like to include a letter.