6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 5/16/23
6:05 p.m. Public Comment

• Contact the Town Coordinator: [email protected] to sign up. This does not preclude speaking but may determine order of speaking.
• Three-minute comment limit per person.
• Public Comment period will end at 6:20 pm, or before then, if there are no further comments.

Other Business
Parks & Recreation—participant waiver [for race ending at the Heath fairgrounds during the fair]

• SB would like the form to have a place for entrants to write in the specific event that the form applies to. The form was approved as amended.​

Community Hall—estimate for basement floor repair for damaged tiles from winter pipe break 

• Robyn verified with contractor that the $7000 price for the floor did not include the bathrooms.
• Robyn is waiting on an epoxy quote .
• Robyn ask resident, Will Emmett,  if he would share cost of his recent epoxy floor installation in his workshop.
• As Will's cost was not that far off tile replacement , the Board did not want to move forward without the epoxy quote.

Trailer Complaint—Complaint about trailer in disrepair on Bray Road

• Robyn has written a letter to the complainants that this trailer does not fall under the purview of the SB and will cc the BoH. 
• A discussion followed about  how to deal with trailers in violation of the zoning bylaws. Doug Mason said that at one time the Zoning Board had written a letter giving residents two years to comply with the zoning bylaws regarding trailers in violation. The letter was never sent—Doug to retrieve the letter and the Planning Board  will meet with the Select Board on how to move forward.
• An email had been sent by a concerned resident about equality in enforcement when dealing with trailers.
• Robyn agreed that there should  be equality, but expressed concern about where to start as there are many trailer and automobile zoning violations in Heath.

Special Town Meeting (STM)—discuss need and set date, if needed.

• The purpose of the meeting would be to move money.
• The Finance Committee recommended to let the money in question rollover to free cash and not have the expense of a STM.

11 Bellor Road—update [cannabis farmers  zoning violations and legal action may be required]

• TrueCannabis responded that they have met with  FRCOG and they are not in violation. Doug Mason (Planning Board chair)  feels they are in compliance with the fence and that storage containers are allowed in Heath.  The containers had been used as work areas which is not allowed.  They did not get a permit for the electrical work and the  electrical has been removed and they are now in compliance. 
• Residents Barbara Rode, Craig Gerry, and Mike Freeman were allowed to speak on the topic.
• Hilma had a phone conversation with one owner, Chris [last name not stated].  The farmers intend to pay the legal fees as promised. He said that the  Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) had recommended the storage containers. They plan to build a barn and then remove the containers.
• The Select Board is not getting any communication from the farmers.   All  communication is  with the FRCOG with neither party including the Select Board. 
• There was supposed to be a yearly public hearing  with the farmers which has not happened and is overdue.
• The Select Board needs a timeline and clarity on the status of the host agreement.

Telephone System—review proposal for services and vote [the Town wants to get a better financial option than current]

• SB approved using Granite Telecommunications. for our phones —15 lines.

Review of appointed Boards and Committees—planning

• Farmer's Market - see if there is interest in reviving
• Board of Health (BoH),  Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and  Cultural Council have many openings.  There are no members of the Agricultural Commission.
• Need to look at Building Use Committee (BUC) and Building Facilities Committee roles, do we need both?
• Created a SB liaison to the BoH. Robyn suggested Elissa who accepted.
• SB members reviewed their many liaison positions to various boards and committees with some changes.  Sue L will take over from Robyn as the  liaison to the Highway Dept.

Transfer Station Attendant—employee appointment [two applicants, both from Heath]

• Two applicants applied—both very qualified candidates making the choice very difficult.  
• The hiring committee made  a recommendation of Lee Lively based on his years of experience with hydraulics.  The  SB approved Lee Lively.
• The two candidates were to be notified  on Wednesday. of the results.
• The Board also discussed how to communicate that new transfer permit stickers are needed July 1 and where to get them.

Transfer Station Bag Sticker Fee—Franklin County Solids Waste Management) FCSWMD (recommends  raising to $2 per bag

• Our current expense for trash is approx. $55,000, permits and stickers bring in approx. $35,000 with the Town  paying the difference of approx. $20,000. Raising the stickers to $2 will reduce  this to approx. $10,000.

Municipal Light Plant--method of income transference to town [how does broadband money come back to Town]

• There will be a meeting on Wednesday, May 31  to discuss this  (Sheila Robyn, Hilma, and our town accountant)

Fuse Energy--[FUSE wants Heath to signup for a share in a solar display at no cost to the Town. Sponsored by  DOER (Dept of Energy Resources) to lower carbon footprint.]

• The Select Board  feels there are too many unknowns to commit to a 25 year agreement.
• The Board contacting other towns that had joined the plan and did not get positive feedback.
• The Board voted not accept the proposal.

Financial Planning--discussion [initiated by a letter from a resident concerned about long term financial planning]

• Robyn stated that the first step belongs to the Finance Committee as elected officials. 
• Discussed the need for more long range forecasting rather than working  year-by-year and  Elissa added that we need to communicate better on the budget with town's people and with more lead time up to Town Meeting. [My Note: In early spring meetings between FinComm and the SB both boards expressed this as goal. Long term forecasting would help make this possible.]
• Hilma mentioned the need for a capitol planning schedule and said that the DOR had a long range forecasting sheet. 
• Robyn suggested the June meeting with FinComm for transfers would be an opportunity to begin discussion of long range forecasting and begin working on the budget with this in mind in September. 
• There was a suggestion to create a document/letter/ request to FinComm detailing what the  Board  would like to get for this effort.
• Ned Wolf from FinComm recommended we take advantage of resident Ken Rocke 's offer to help with understanding the MTRSD amendment to our District agreement.
• Robyn suggested we look into what FRCOG Annual Report services other towns take advantage of.
• One long range perspective brought up was a town administrator skill shortage that other towns are experiencing.  Hilma's eventual retirement needs to be included in forecasting.

Communication—methods of dispersing information to residents 

• Elissa raised the question about how to better keep the residents informed.  
• Robyn responded that  there are periodic mailings from the Select Board (SB), phone calls to all residents about upcoming meetings of importance,  a SB report in the Heath Herald, information on the Town sign board outside Sawyer Hall, and most importantly, the Town website has Select Board Agendas  and minutes,. 
• Robyn recognizes that  this is not working for all residents, but feels that to some degree it is the responsibility of the resident to be better informed when there is so much information available. She pointed out that the SB meeting is open to all residents, but not well attended.
• The SB talked about mailing a brochure that would detail sources of information,  and referenced the  welcome packet [recently proposed by Bob Bourke and Elissa] for new residents with needed information.
• An email from a resident regarding  remote format for SB meetings was discussed.  [My Note: This had been discussed at previous meetings and usually lost momentum when cost was raised.] 
• Robyn said that hosting Zoom meetings and running the SB meetings was not efficient as it was distracting and made everything take longer. It is not something she would do again. 
• Hilma was asked about the live broadcasts done by the Heath Union Church.  Hilma to get more info from organist, Dennis Ainsworth, who set up the church's live broadcasts.
• How to fund something similar to the church was discussed and both Elissa and Barbara Gordon (chair of the Cultural Council) suggested grants as a possibility. [Not sure if there was a follow up to this].

6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 5/1/23, 5/6/23
6:15 p.m. Appointment: Calvin Carr—MGL ch. 30A, sec. 20 (g), [Meetings of a public body to be open to the public]

• Cal expressed concern about people not being allowed to speak at "meetings." [The meeting in question as called was an executive session for an employee exit interview where the employee waived his right to have a closed meeting .   The meeting was frequently interrupted by shouting and noise directed at town officials present from  residents attending.
• Sue Lively pointed out that  the executive session was following MGL ch. 30A, sec. 21 .

 "If an executive session is held, such individual shall have the following rights:
 i. to be present at such executive session during deliberations which involve that individual;
ii. to have counsel or a representative of his own choosing present and attending for the purpose of advising the individual and not for the purpose of active participation in the executive session"

• Cal pointed out that it is not the law ( MGL ch. 30A, sec. 20g)  that persons cannot speak,  the chair has the discretion to let people speak or not speak, and the Select Board should give people an opportunity to speak.
• Cal agreed with Robyn that comment should be respectful and not get aggressive. Robyn said  Public Comment will resume now that the work of Town Meeting is done, but would not be held on those occasions when there was too much to cover or too many appointments.
• Cal felt the meeting would have gone better if people had felt listened to.

Annual Town Meeting Review
Truck Vote

• The SB expressed concern that the truck was voted down, Robyn felt there was a lot of emotion in that vote.
• We have to replace a truck or we may only have 2 reliable trucks this winter. The  2012 truck is in constant need of repair and the 2004 is only suitable as a backup.

 Jacobs Road

• Robyn brought up residents' concern that costs of maintaining Jacobs Road are not clear.
• [My understanding of the discussion]: Rent money from the Recovery Theater goes into a revolving account established at the 2021 ATM from which expenses can be paid.  There are also line items for Town buildings on the budget for maintenance and utilities including Jacobs Road.   We need to know the actual cost of operating the building.

Low Attendance at town meeting. 

• Robyn expressed concern about low attendance and proposed a study committee on how to better do the warrant, see what other towns do.
• We need to simplify the warrant and get it to the residents sooner

Other Business
Cartographic Associates, Inc. contract (Assessors mapping expense) 

• ​SB voted to approve​

Liaison to Salt Shed study

• Brian DeVriese was appointed as liaison to the engineering firm consulting on the salt shed

Fire Alarm Systems—need for repairs, review quotes and vote

• Systems in all buildings were inspected
• SB approved money for repairs out of existing accounts

Community Hall—floor repair update

• We have an estimate of $7324 to replace tiles damaged by a water pipe break this winter. 
• The insurance check will cover the main floor and kitchen. Robyn will check with the bidder to determine if the bathrooms are included in the estimate.  Tiles are coming up in the seam between  bathroom area and the main floor.
• SB would also like an estimate for epoxy, Robyn to get the estimate.  
• There were pros and cons discussed about tiles vs epoxy with Tim Lively expressing some concerns that epoxy floors can be slippery without additives, but additives make a floor harder to keep clean. 

Trailer Complaint—status update

• The trailer on Bray Road is in disrepair, but is on private property in an agricultural and residential district, not historic.
• From a zoning standpoint, the trailer is a job site trailer, so it does not fall under Heath zoning bylaws, therefore the SB does not have jurisdiction over this issue. It's not clear what public body does.  From a health and safety standpoint there are many trailers in town in the same or worse condition and one resident can not be singled out.

Special Town Meeting—discuss need and set date

• Not sure if there is  a need, no date set . An STM has a cost associated.

Select Board Meeting and Public Comment Policy

• Legal has reviewed the updated Public Comment policy for meetings and the SB voted to approve it. Hilma to post on Select Board page of Town   website,   https://townofheath.org/g/46/Select-Board
• Public comment will continue to be held except when there is a agenda too full to support it.
• Discussed time limits, and possible signup for public comment (which may determine order to speak)

11 Bellor Road, Cannabis Farmers—update [Farmers are not in compliance with zoning bylaws and host agreements]

• FRCOG update: 
  • Two cease and desist orders have been issued  
  • ​Farmers dispute the orders and say they have not abandoned the project
  • No further notice is needed prior to enforcement litigation being enacted
  • Farmers have not made any promised payments to the Town

Telephone System—review

• We have several Verizon accounts, one Crocker account
• We need to add 2 to 3 more extensions
• Hilma and Bill Fontes have met with Intermedia United and Granite Communications
• Current phones are too old to be updated to current technology.  
• May be able to get rid of Verizon line costing $100/month
• SB voted to proceed with Granite Communications for our phone system

Review of appointed Boards and Committees-- planning

• Hilma to send out appointment list to SB and research committee  charges
• Sb will keep this on the agenda doing an ongoing review
• Barbara Gordon raised issue that Conflict of Interest recertification is not happening

Transfer Station Bag Sticker Fee

• FCSWMD recommends an increase for bag stickers
• Most towns charge $2 a sticker, Heath charges $1.50
• Hilma to report on revenue and expenses

Summer Meeting Schedule

• May 30, June 13, June 20. July 11, July 25, Aug 8,  Aug 22, Sep 5, Sep 19

New Business

• Fuse Energy Company contacted Hilma regarding giving the town shares of existing and to-be-built solar arrays.  
• Sponsored by  DOER (Dept of Energy Resources) to lower carbon footprint.
• Heath would get a 10% credit on electric bill.

Broadband

• Broadband wants to know how to turn over  funds to the Town.  
• We need to understand Mass General Law. Is all broadband money under the authority of the SB?
• What is the role of Wired West?

Mail

• Parks & Rec participation waiver form for race on Sunday of fair
• Palmeri Electric donated time and lift for lighting work at Jacobs Road
• Long term financial planning is needed
• Notification from National Grid Vegetation Management Plan regarding work taking place now​
• Police Chief, John McDonough, applied for a grant and received a mobile speed sign worth $7000.   Avery Brook Road, Number 9 Road, and Route 8A were enthusiastically nominated for initial placement.

Agenda Items

• 6:05 p.m.—6:20 p.m. Appointment~Sam Lane re: formation of new committees: salt shed & community co-op
  • Proposed a ​Salt Shed Committee to work on the best way financially to work on buildings.
  • Would like to start a Community Coop at Community Hall.
  • The SB would need to discuss and agree to create a charge for each committee. Would be done after new SB member is in place.
• Review Minutes: 4/25/23, 4/27/23
• Annual Town Meeting Preparation: Joint meeting with Finance Committee
  • FY24 Budget and ATM Warrant. The warrant is posted.

• Transfer Station update & review of job posting
  • Change wording on some items from required to preferred to open the position up to as many people as possible.
  • to be advertised on the website and Jacobs Road, Sawyer Hall around, post at the transfer station.
  • Interview Committee possibilities: Jeff Johnston, Hilma, Steve Thane. Backup Will Emmett
• Town Nurse position description—update to reflect hours`
  • Job description and number of hours do not agree.
  • 'Job description will need to be reviewed and update in next fiscal year.
  • SB voted to change hours on job description from 7 to 8.
• Update from engineers on salt shed
• Bray Road Trailer
  • Not in the historic district, is in the agricultural and residential area
    
  • Is a job site trailer, not under the jurisdiction of the SB

Brian's last meeting
A reception followed for Brian ending his 24 years of service as a Select Board member. He was awarded an oil painting done by local artist Fred Burrington from grateful Heathans.