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​SB Meeting Notes, April 27, 2021

4/27/2021

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Special Projects budgeted for $15,000, focus on safety issues. We have more needs than $15,000 allows for. Some items will have to wait.
• Salt Shed – must be a two-piece truss to get inside shed, one of the vertical posts badly cracked as well. Estimated $500 material cost, estimated $3000 overall cost for the project.
• Install emergency exit signs in second floor of Sawyer Hall, need to be lighted signs with a battery backup.
• Leak in North wall of Community Hall, $1200.
• Replace Community Hall doors & hardware, $5000.
• Community Hall step repair
• Fire building degraded electrical.
• Temporary repair of Sawyer Hall stairs
• Exhaust port from highway garage
• Extensive discussion of emergency egress from Sawyer Hall. Suggestion to roll it into a CDBG grant- replace ramp in front, fix step in the back, needs more investigation as to how to go about repairs.
Budget Meeting with Finance Committee
• Fairly long discussion of new budget format which is hoped will simplify the budget discussion at town meeting and allow more flexibility for department heads.
• Article 3 Approved with one amendment
• Warrant Articles – The warrant articles were reviewed, but it was difficult to follow the discussion. I will send warrant out as soon as it gets posted.

Salt Shed Replacement – we don’t have enough cost and design information at this time, so this is on hold while the repair goes forward.
Hilltown Recovery Theatre - Jacobs Road rental request - approved. Discussed a more flexible model of charging that would benefit town as well. Space requested: gym, 1 classroom, stage, outside areas. Hotspot would move to the Cafeteria is it is to continue past June 30.
COVID-19 Municipal Protocol, Concerns, Updates
Building reopening for face-to-face meetings - Wait until first meeting after ATM to discuss.
Foot clinic can continue at Jacobs Road.
National Grid has offered to plant some trees, Board accepted offer, Hilma to facilitate.
• Wi-Valley Application for Pole Placement – attorney said the town could require Wi-Vally to prove location is in a public right-of-way before even scheduling a hearing. Could require analysis in terms of safety, pole is much higher than a typical utility pole in a high wind area. Application for hearing is still pending. There is another way for Wi-Valley to do this by
putting up poles for the 5 unserved customers. Doug Mason proposes we tell our attorney that our inclination is to deny the request and not have a hearing.
•Green Communities Grant Update
o Brian is trying to get an extension to the grant but needs some financial information to send the letter requesting extension.
o Rise Engineering Company put together a proposal for HVAC design services [Community Hall?]. Needs approval from [FRCOG?].
• Regionalization Study Committee update – Looking for a boilerplate contract for services, Brian says team should contact Amy [FRCOG?].
• Sawyer Hall sign repair: Berkshire Sign Studio - $285 to replace broken parts and relocate sign.
• American Recovery Plan Act – Hilma attended an informational meeting on funds being released from the federal government to the state, and towns. 50% of money released first year, other 50% the following year. Guidelines not issued yet as to how the funds can be used. One designation is for broadband.
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SB Meeting Notes for April 6, 2021

4/6/2021

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These are my own notes. Check the website for approved notes when they become available.
Facilities Committee Interim Report on 4 Months Work
• Focused on safety related repairs and upgrades
• Developed a prioritizing scale to target most important issues. The priority list starts at page 8 of PDF [I could not find the report on the website, but will check with Hilma and post a link on our site.]
• A subcommittee has begun to secure pricing for anything that is 8 points or above on a 1 to 10 scale.
Quotes
• $2,500 paving jobs behind CH (extension of stairway), JR gym exit
• $3,500 to regrade by CH door by Tom Danick
• $3,450 for electrical service upgrade at fire department/Eoc building Flammable liquids are in fire building and need to be moved to flame-safe storage.
• No quote yet for EOC eye wash station, portable stations are available.
o CDBG (Community Development Block) grant program will cover some of the accessibility issues.
▪ Chapter 149 has limit of $10,000
▪ Chapter 30 Construction has limit of $30,000
Finance Committee
• Recommends 1.5% COLA and adjustment for minimum wage, come to 2.06%
• Budget worksheet – tech support for town hall, $10,020 (12 month support fees for NEIT) – does not include anything about equipment for internet hookup. FinCom asked if can we use CCG (Community Compact Grant) to pay some connection costs.
• Jacobs Road – total utilities expense to date=$32,382 (8.5 months). Estimated remaining cost is $10,000 for this fiscal year. $41,382 needed? [Not sure why this is not $42,382].
• Line item for JR = $48,382 on budget for school. $5030 currently in JR revolving fund from rental income, $10,000 left in Mohawk money. FinCom recommendation = $48,000 - $15,000.
• The cost of a Cat6 cable upgrade at Jacobs Road is estimated between $7,500to $10,000. Existing Cat5 cable is sufficient for now but need to plan for the upgrade.
Budget Line Items
• $66,500 – There is a Mohawk capital assessment in addition to the approx. $900,000 assessment.
• It was said that Mohawk assessments will raise levy. [broadband will as well, but was not noted ]
Town Coordinator
• Recommends 2 separate warrants to make is easier to postpone TM if on a separate warrant.
o 1 for elections
o 1 for town meeting
• Police Office door: laminate is separating. Contractor to include in his estimate.
• Internet Hotspot: Hilma asked if we could open up to neighboring communities. Approved.
• There will be an article on warrant to reimburse the Town of Colrain for $11,523 for A Heath student transfer from Mohawk to Franklin County Technical School that was included in Colrain’s assessment. DESE would not adjust assessment.
• Wi-Valley: pole placement application. Florida has not signed non-disclosure agreement. Hilma to contact Town of Florida.
• Green Communities: Brian met to talk about approval for engineering design costs for HVAC at Community Hall which is a major issue right now.
• Sawyer Hall sign – Hilma to contact company that made and installed sign to do re-installation.
• There is a complicated registration process for DOE regionalization study grant which Hilma is working through.
• Attended Planning Board Mtg –
• The PB received an application to construct a 180-foot mono-pole off Rowe Road. Program called First-net —wireless coverage for emergency services. Would also provide cell service. Cal Carr thinks it may mean consulting with town counsel.
• Pollinator plan – high pollination growth areas in town may prompt changes to bylaws so that has to be considered in zoning.
• Citizens’ petitions for town meeting
1. to have all meetings in ADA compliant buildings
2. to require the Select Board to keep all town offices in the two center buildings.
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    Picture
    Acronyms & References

    ​STM 2023 Truck Handout

    ADA Accessibility  of Sawyer Hall
    ​
    SB Public Statement on AT&T Tower
    Facilities Task Force Report

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