Sb Meeting Notes, Tues April 26
FY23 Operating Budget and Warrant Review
       Free cash:

• Take free cash amount of $59,000 and move into a Flag Hill Road Improvement account which is close to the estimate of the cost. The highway department will do the work but will need materials

     $44,000 MTRSD error (Article 10 removed)

• FinCom and SB agreed  to remove Article 10 from the warrant while awaiting a response from the MTRSD on questions asked.
• FinComand SB agreed to move the issue of the error to Article 24, which is a non-voting article,  to allow discussion of the issue.

     Municipal Plant Management Overage (Article 12)

• Article 12:  Municipal Light Plant Manager Overage. The $5035 salary overage for MLP manager.  will come out of MLP account rather than a taxpayer account.

Parks & Rec request for letter of support

• Request a letter in support of a grant for the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership, http://www.mohawktrailwoodlandspartnership.org/  which will benefit Heath. SB approved the letter.

Community Hall Windows Update

• Tim had selected one window on each side of the hall that would not require a great deal of repair.
• J. Mortimer(?) will replace sash cords on the two windows in late June as a gift to the town

Town Coordinator’s Report  (items not covered above)

1. Town report sent to print shop and is has been printed. It is expected to be picked up soon. The written version is posted on the Town website.
2. The final Municipal Vulnerability Plan workshop has been completed.  Public meeting to be held to discuss 5-year plan.
3. The Town warrant has been sent to town counsel and updated with that feedback.
4. Community Hall use: The second floor does not have adequate ventilation. Building is closed therefore not available for use. [This is in conflict with the BUC's understanding that when the ventilator was installed on the lower level that level could be used and the BUC has been operating on the basis.]

Clean Sweep/Bulky Waste Day: Saturday, May 14 from 9 am to noon, Mohawk Trail Regional School, Northfield Highway Garage, Whately Transfer Station.

Sue Gruen, BoH:

• COVID cases are up, Sue suggests a ROBO call to inform residents.
• Sue has some test kits: call  337-4235 for a drive-by pick up at 3 East Main St next to Sawyer Hall.
• There will be a vac clinic on May 18 from 2:30 TO 6:30. Detail should be in the Robo call.

Dave Wasialewski:
A concerned citizen from Dalton. His message: our waste management is failing, Toxins are being  released into the environment. Paul Penn from Local Power based in Williamsburg presented to the SB.  Public health issues surrounding waste: sewer sludge is being dumped on farms in Maine which is permanent damage to the soil.  PFAS go straight through sewer treatment plants, trucked away as sludge, or burned. PFAS causes many health issues.
[ https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc/index.cfm​ 
 "PFAS are a large, complex, and ever-expanding group of manufactured chemicals that are widely used to make various types of everyday products. For example, they keep food from sticking to cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective. PFAS are used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and military.
PFAS molecules are made up of a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. Because the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest, these chemicals do not degrade in the environment. In fact, scientists are unable to estimate an environmental half-life for PFAS, which is the amount of time it takes 50% of the chemical to disappear."]
We need a regional approach to a process to convert waste into hydrogen and limestone.  Ways2H is a joint venture between U.S.-based Clean Energy Enterprises, and Japan Blue Energy Corporation. Looking to engage a number of towns to express interest in the initiative. ​

[These are  a little crude and are not yet checked against the meeting audio.]
Infrastructure study. MLP - Dave Gordon

• Just received a proposal from Whip City Fiber for providing redundancy and reducing cost.
• Partner towns are Charlemont, Colrain, Leyden, and ????, 
• Working on Community IT Grant with partner towns. Hope to get enough from grant to cover the costs of redundancy.

MLP - Sheila Litchfield

• There is $300,000 in three accounts. Received $214,00 in drop subsidies.  Another $400,000 is available.
• $180,000 in excess revenue is expected.
• Closeout of the state grant portion of the project certifies that Heath construction is complete. Have 352 active customers.  In 2015 Town voted at Town meeting to do the borrowing.  We will be able to declare 100% complete. Closeout document provides total project cost and list of milestones.  Total cost for Heath was $3,986,043.  The $200,000 from stabilization is not added into the cost. Take rate was 68.46%, MLP was targeting 70%.  Project was able to make broadband available to 99.6% of residents.   [Without having the closeout document in front of me this was difficult to follow,]

Mask Mandate

• SB voted to continue mask mandate for at least another two weeks.

BoH

• The process for opting out of mosquito spraying is clearer. Heath may be able to opt out  of aerial or have more targeted spraying.  Process requires public meeting with public comment and a certified vote.  Only date that works for SB is May 17.  BoH will recommend to opt out only from aerial spraying, not targeted ground spraying (which will only be down if determine necessary)

MTRSD error
A letter will be sent out with caveat that more questions may come later.
Budget
Need an amount for special projects

• CH- replace steps and rail - $5000
• CH- replace doors
• Repair two windows deemed repairable  with major work
• Hilma to check what is in various accounts to use on projects

Free cash

• Need money for plow
• Need $4336 for unpaid vacation for retired library employee
• Need $6800 for unpaid vacation for retiring highway employee 
• Boards Clerk - 10 hrs a week at $16/hr
• Unpaid legal fees so far are $15,00 for Jan and Feb, no data yet for March and April

ARPA Funds
Infrastructure study: Can we get ARPA funds for consulting for plans for salt shed and to look at all properties and advise Town on best way to solve pressing repair issues. The possible cost may be $25,000.  Question was asked if  part of this study could be addressing accessibility Issues.  Hilma feels there may be grant money for this. Could utilize a CDBG grant for accessibility.
Highway Dept
Jeff Johnston wants a significant amount of money moved from free cash to highway stabilization so that he can be working towards getting the needed highway vehicle.
CH Window Repair
J Mortimer, Hartford Window Restoration, to meet with Hilma and Tim to look at windows that may need smaller repair than others—sash cord repair and handles.
Green Communities
Agreement signed with Tech school to do outdoor lighting. at Jacobs Road. There is not enough  money  to replace  interior lighting with LED lighting and tech school does not do this type of work.. . Brian is awaiting a contract agreement for air sealing and insulation work at Jacobs Road.
July 2021 storm reimbursement,
Senator Hines was able to get partial money. Heath is listed at approx. $12,000 which is 1/3 for what was spent.
MVP Workshop was  April 13 in cafeteria of Jacobs Road.

Community Hall window repair

• Due to fire code regulations doors should not be propped open. 
• Question was asked if some of the upper floor windows in better shape could be repaired. Tim feels one on each side may be opened if the sash cord could be replaced and the bottom of the window had handles to assist in raising the window.
• Hilma has contacted a vender  for a price and is awaiting a response.

Green Communities update

• The Franklin County Tech school has submitted a proposal for installation of outside and new parking lot lighting. 
• There is a quote for supplies and equipment from Needham Electric Supply'
• Cost for the project is $6,200. The SB voted to move forward with lighting project assuming DOER approval

6:30 p.m. Financial Matters—Joint with Finance Committee
1. FY22 1 MTRSD School Assessment Error

• A strong letter is to be sent to the district asking for the source of the error and stating that we need to have more answers and will not be rushed into a decision.

2. FY23 Budget 

• Building Maintenance: Oil prices may impact building usage in the future. 
• Highway Budget: Jeff Johnston withdrew his request for new highway truck. This is not a good year for buying a truck.

• Salaries: Senior coordinator position currently does not have funding
• Salaries: Discussion of Cost of Living Increase percent but no vote.
• Salaries Boards Clerk: Need more information from the BoH.  The estimate for the Boards Clerk  position is no more than 10 hours a week. Tabled until next week.
• Pre-school funding: No other town funds pre-school. Last year the SB made the decision to spend down what we have and then funding would end.

Special Projects/Salt Shed/Planning & Management - this was a lengthy discussion and it was difficult to capture it all.

• The Town must start looking at the overall issues of the salt shed repair, and the complete renovation of  the hwy dept at the current location or move it to another location. 
• It has been determined that the salt shed can be located at Bray Road.
• Town needs to determine where the fire department will be located.
• The town  needs to deal with planning for these critical issues and will need to hire someone to help with the planning. Must start moving forward.
• Brian to pull together an estimate for an outside consultant for next week.

Other Expenses/Fund Source
Other Town Coordinator not included above,

• Request from Parks and Rec to move money out of the stabilization account to facilitate taking advantage of matching grants rather than waiting for a town meeting vote. Sb would need a specific purpose for money moved.
• Donna Tanner has been engaged for general cleaning while Tim is  on vacation.
• Town Report - most committee reports are in.  Jail will be able to do the printing. Liz Canali will do the formatting.
• Highway person retiring in July. Unused vacation is worth $6,200. 
• Bridge money of $3000 reimbursement per person on required officer training for this fiscal year.