5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 2/11/25
Public Comment - praise for the wellness checks done by the fire dept, Tim, and other volunteers
5:15 p.m. Nuisance Dog Hearing—Kurowski and Wecker

• Purpose is to determine if Shams, dog owned by Kurowski and Wecker,  is a nuisance or danger. 
• Kyle Dragon report: Two year old male.  Dog wanders , 11 reports filed that the dog was at large,  2 citations were received. A Mohawk Beach Drive owner asked the dog owner to pick up the dog, but was asked the to bring the dog to them [the owners car was not available at the time]. When Mohawk Beach Drive resident took him by the collar  to put him in the car, the dog bit down on the person's arm. No injury resulted.   A work crew had to stop working because of the dog's aggressive behavior.
• Michele Cutter at 10 Royer Rd reported that the dog had approached her. Her concern is that the dog is out on cold nights and is often on Royer Road.  One neighbor had a dog in heat which was a concern and had actually driven the dog home. 
• Andrew: grew up with labs which didn't wander. In the beginning Andrew and Meredith  had their guard down because the dog had initially not wondered.  They are now trying to keep him leashed or in the house or with them at all times, but he does bolt.  The person nipped insisted that it was not an issue.  They are working with a shock collar trying to make him come when called and plan to have him neutered within the next month.  SB requires that the dog be retained in the owner's control at all times effectively immediately until the SB makes a decision at the next meeting.

6:00 p.m. Nuisance Dog Hearing—owner Casey Clark (Mobey's owner)

• When Murphy (complainant's dog) was being walked, Mobey ran across the street, picked up the dog,  and shook him causing bites that required antibiotics and pain killers. Vet bill was $250 plus.
• Murphy was attacked by Mobey a second time, grabbed and shook several times.
• One walker's hand was punctured when try to separate the dogs.
• Mobey does not have another complaint and normally wears a collar for an invisible fence. On both occasions the dog got out before the collar was put on (he doesn't wear it in the house).  The incident happened in the same place both times . The walkers were on the far side of the street on both occasions.
• The Dog Office said that the SB can make a determination of either a  nuisance or a dangerous dog. 
• SB made a motion that the dog be deemed a dangerous dog and be humanely restrained using a leash, trolley system, or a physical fence, effectively immediately.

Other Business
Salt Shed Project Update—vote anticipated

• SB awarded contract to Iron Horse for $147,000

Community Hall Windows Project Update

• The process of getting the grant money is moving forward.
• Hilma to get a quote for the storms.
• Contractor to receive a deposit of $4000.

Rental Space RFP/Appraisal Update

• No updates

Mail

• Email re sustainability study forwarded to Budge Litchfield.
• Request from Board of Health to write a letter of support  for Mosquito Control funding.
• A $10,000 grant was awarded to the Fire Dept for equipment.

This meeting was canceled due to power outage.
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Orde, Review Agenda , Review Minutes:  2/11/25
Public Comment
Other Business 

• Community Hall Windows Project Update—vote anticipated
• Rental Space RFP/Appraisal Update 

5:30 p.m. Appointment: Accountant & Finance Committee

• new expense report explanation; 
• FY26 budgeting, particularly in relation to Free Cash

6:30 p.m. Appointment: Fire Department Budget Hearing
 6:45 p.m. Appointment: Highway Department Budget Hearing with capital requests, 

• ​Salt Shed Project Update—vote anticipated 

​Mail

6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda , Review Minutes:  2/4/25 
Public Comment - None
Other Business  
Salt Shed Project Update 

• For 52' x 70' shed there were 2  bid prices $147,000 (Ironhorse)  and $175,000  

Community Hall Windows Project Update 

• Need to give the contractor the completion date  required by the grant.
• Robyn has started to work on storm window cost. Has 2 sources that she will see about quotes.  

Rental Space RFP/Appraisal Update

• Robyn contacted Mark Reich at KPLaw to ensure that the SB is doing the RFP process the right way. 
• The RFP process allows for more than a one-year lease. 
• It will cover 3 rooms in Jacobs Road, and I believe two rooms in Sawyer Hall   (large room upstairs and the former library).
• Checked on what restrictions municipalities have on who they can lease to. As a municipality the Town can not subsidize non profits.
• Robyn has communicated with HYPA making them aware of the RFP process.

Employee Reviews

• Some reviews are behind and need to be done.
• One approach Robyn uses is to get together with the person and do the review process together.
• Assignments were made to cover persons needing reviews.

Select Board 2024 Annual Report/Town Report Dedication 

• Elissa and Robyn will draft the SB part of the annual report due March 14.
• Dedication needs to be determined.  SB members to send in recommendations.

Preliminary Discussion of Transition Options in Town Coordinator Office 

• Hilma plans to retire sometime in the next fiscal year.
• ​Budget considerations are involved— we need money for overlap and training of new person.
•  Need to determine how much time is needed for that overlap and training and budget that.
•  There are salary considerations  for the person coming in.

7:00 p.m. Appointment: Hilltown Youth Performing Arts—rental license discussion 

• Now that the RFP process (which is a lease) is  going to take place there is less need for a  license discussion
• Although the SB needs to get a license in place to bridge the gap between Jan 1 and the RFP.
• Jonathan was not aware that the license is not retroactive and the rent amount will be $2000 until the RFP.  Owes $2000 a month for Dec, Jan, and Feb.. Dec check for $2000 was paid following the meeting.
• Lease will end with the RFP process.
• Hilma stated that nothing will disrupt Jonathan's end of March performance.
• He may only seek an RFP for one room and use rental blocks for the summer and winter programs.  Jonathan wants to retain the storage closet in the gym and keep the storage container on the grounds.

Mail

• Kyle Jarvis has submitted his resignation.
• Fire Chief report
• MTRSD assessment errors that don't affect Heath.

5:05 p.m. Appointment: Tyson Howard, Highway Superintendent— 3-month performance report and wage consideration

• Good review, SB was pleased with performance, especially given the challenges of this winter so far.
• $1 per hour wage increase was approved.
• Tyson would like to know the sources of the full funding for the salt shed. Chapter 90 money can be used, but FinComm and the SB need to know more about costs.

5:30 p.m. Appointment: Planning Board—initial discussion of possible zoning bylaw change proposals 
Doug Mason outlined 3 bylaw changes the Planning Board wants to bring forward to ATM

1. Revisit solar bylaws in light of new regulations.
2. Update bylaws to include 5G.
3. Look at back lot road frontage - need to change the number for this. 

• Clarification is needed regarding road frontage. Hilma needs to consult with Town Council on statutory private ways.  The county discontinued roads they were maintaining thereby creating statutory private ways.
• Currently there is no new pole hearing is scheduled at this time.  It was noted that Charlemont has found that even old poles need pole hearings if there is a major change. Charlemont has a letter from a lawyer regarding this, and if so, this gives town's more leverage.

Public comment: Roads have been great. You can see the improvement when you enter Heath.
6:15 p.m. Appointment: Finance Committee—FY 2026 Budget Planning Scheduling & Review

• FinComm would like to know when they will see the budgets. Hilma will send them along.
•  FinComm will look at the SB recommendations for raises and  have input.
• The accountant will come on Feb 18 and will give a tutorial on reading the reports based on the new accounting system.  Budget meetings will also start that day with various departments.
• During this discussion Robyn mentioned that the Town may have to seek new legal council as the KPLaw hourly rate is notably hire that what other Towns were paying for legal.

Review Minutes:  1/7/2025, 1/21/2025
Other Business:
Salt Shed Project Update:  

• A bid is coming in on Monday for the structure, Brian DeVriese was a significant help with the bid proposal. 
• Site work and demolition has been an ongoing discussion as to how much the highway dept can do. 
• Superintendent Tyson and Foreman Kyle feel the Highway Dept can do some of the site work and are working on finalizing how much they can do.
• The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) building demolition and associated requirements such as moving oil tank and electrical are in process.  Richard Hillman is scheduled to do the  demolition.

Community Hall Windows Project Update

• Don Heyward provided a proposal of $29,050 for replacing the windows. This does not include the storms. The costs may increase if he finds problems.  SB voted to accept the proposal.
• There is approx. $40k  between fundraising and the grant which may leave some money for storm windows as long as no costly issues are found when replacing the windows.

​Rental Space RFP/Appraisal Update

• SB has a received a proposal for the appraisal of rentable space in Sawyer Hall and Jacobs Road.  Could be done by April 1 for $3350.  There is a lack of comps which will make an appraisal difficult.
• It was agreed that the Town  should do an RFP for the 3 rooms that are currently being rented and one room in Sawyer Hall and not pay for an appraisal.

HYPA list of talking points

• Jonathan Diamond has stated that the current lease amount  is not sustainable for HYPA.
• The SB understands where Jonathan is coming from, but the Selecyt Board needs to write an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the spaces.
• Robyn stated that the license SB has sent needs to be agreed upon and signed.  [I believe this would make HYPA a tenant at will].
• The SB will send out RFPs and HYPA can respond.
• It was mentioned that  being in the rental business requires oversight and may not be manageable.  

​Mail 

• Need to do appointment for the new School Committee meeting rep, Tucker Jenkins