Robyn  asked about double poles

• Verizon is responsible for the removal of the double pole as the last attacher.
• National Grid alone is pushing this project. NG says: Heath is receiving insufficient reliable power.
• Why do poles have to be 45' tall? Ng SYAS:  Shorter poles are not allowed for 3 phase power.
• Heath is responsible for reattachment costs. Can NG help with this cost? ng SYAS: No one-off financial assistance for Heath.
• What is happening on Avery Brook Road? ng SYAS: Looking at an alternative design, not an additional project.

Attendees Questions and Comments

• Wanda Mooney asked the SB to deny the petition for poles on Burrington Hill Road where they never were before.
• Phil Pless, a Realtor from Ashfield, commented on the value of the Mooney property. Estimated a $250,000 loss of value  if the view is obstructed.
• An abutter to Wanda asked that the project not be approved as it stands.  Brought up Green Mountain Power which is burying their power lines.
• Doug Mason said we don't know our costs,] and there seems to be no alternatives. Felt we have no choice but to turn down the permit.
• Bill Fontes: 86 poles on Burrington Hill Rd requiring reattachment of our fiber network, 46 coming up Avery Brook. Felt like this was jammed down our throat. Response was that NG just became aware of how dire the situation is.
• David Gordon:  Utility is required to remove poles in 90 days but there is no enforcement. We should try to get a commitment from Verizon and NG  to remove poles with 90 days per MAss General Law.
• Ned Wolf asked about the work on the intersection of Bray Rd and Colrain Stage Rd. The response was that the work is independent of this project but will help with the project.
• Tony Bocaccio commented that he Bray Rd work is a critical part of the project suggesting that to say it is not part of this project is disingenuous.
• Devon Clark: How many people will this help? Response was only 1 feeder comes out of Bear Swamp substation. Response: Phase 1 effects Charlemont and Heath, Phase 2 happens in Rowe. Once done there will be 2 feeders coming out of the Bear Swamp substation.
• Will Emmet: Have they done a tradeoff of burying on Burrington Hill or going up Avery Brook Rd?  Response was the the crew that works on buried lines comes out of Worcester, the other crew comes from No Adams. NG is looking at Avery Brook Rd as an alternate , but may not have numbers until late Dec of early Jan.  
• Tom Lessor: Wandy Mooney lawyer. Green Mountain Power in VT is burying the lines.  Clearly burying is safer for line workers and burying is more reliable.  DPU confirmed that the SB has the power to decline the Burrington Hill permit request.  Mooney's hired JS Rae to give an estimate for burying  which came to $139,000. 
• Bob Burrington: NG has to do the right thing.  
• Art  Schwenger: Do these MG representatives at the meeting have the authority to make the decision? Response: No they can just escalate
•  Wanda's sister:  Eversource just buried the lines without contesting it. If Eversource can bury without a problem, why can't National Grid?  Why can't NG with all its money, just bury the lines without a problem.   There needs to be some kind of a compromise. 
• Barbara Gordon: Why are we discussing Burrington Hill Road when NG is looking at Avery Brook Rd. Response: NG  was being pro-active.
• Briell Gibson:  Recently moved to town on Burrington Hill Rd and is concerned that we may have to this again. if "Smartgrid" comes along.  Response is that the term is too ambiguous. What is being done now is in line with greater efficiency. 
• Robyn asked for justification as to why we have to pay to reattach to these poles when we are still paying for new poles for our fiber project. She said she did not want to hear the answer that we signed a contract.  There was no way to anticipate this project.

The hearing was continued into January so that NG can get answers to questions that were asked at the meeting. 

Agenda Items
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 11/12/2024
Public Comment - 3 
5:10 p.m. Highway Superintendent & Department Update—Tyson Howard
Review of Pole Hearing requests - [Highway Dept input into pole placement]

• Poles need to be 4' off the road (any road), but some are marked fairly close.  Putting in poles may require some tree removal. Some trees to be taken down are dangerous trees anyway. 
• Avery Brook Road—The Town has no information from National Grid regarding the work being done  there.
• Cutting of asphalt and patching is a concern for potential buckling.  Two culverts will be effected.
• Burrington Hill Road - two poles are still marked as being in a ditch after request by Highway Dept to move them out.

Salt Shed updates

• Salt Shed structure: Robyn will try to have the plan for the structure by the first week of December. On the site plan the shed needs to be updated to reflect raising the shed by a foot from the base to mitigate a water issue.
• EOC (Emergency Operations Center) demolition: The quote for 2 storage containers  20' in length  is $8023 including delivery. The purpose is to provide a place to store what is in the EOC building which will be demolished. SB voted to accept the proposal. ARPA money will be used. 
• Salt Shed and EOC: Buildings must have a  hazardous inspection before demolition, Quote for inspecting both buildings of $1770  to be paid for from ARPA funds was approved by SB.

6:00 p.m. Municipal Light Board & Municipal Light Plant Manager
MLP Manager Job Description—review of recommended changes-vote anticipated

• Sheila is retiring from the position
• Hours actually worked now are less because much of the work has been done. Keeping the  5 to 10 hours a week even though it is not usually needed.
• There are 2 or 3 meetings a month that need to be attended

Review of Pole Hearing requests - [MLP]

• Bill Fontes counted the number of poles that would require transfers.  Burrington Hill Road ​- 86 pole transfers, Avery Brook Road  - 46 pole transfers. By contract the Town has to pay for these transfers.

7:00 p.m. Mohawk Trail Regional School District—meet with officials to discuss latest 2D8T sustainability
study report. Official comments:

• Dawning among towns that we are all in this together
• Realization among towns that something has to happen with flat state aid
• There is a need to continue to spread the word 
• Need housing in the area to attract families.
• Other discussions: transportation costs, home schooling, Berk12  modeling completion in December, district needs to pick a model once the Berk12 job is done.
• Towns need to spread the word that a decision point is coming up.

Other Business

• Salt Shed bid documents— votes detailed above
• Rental Licensing & Appraisal—update
  • No updates on appraisals for Sawyer Hall and Community Hall
  • Working on updates for the Hilltown Youth lease
• Community Hall Projects--update
  • Windows: Three bidders have been identified 
  • Doors: Quote from Donelson for new double doors was $6500. SB voted to accept the quote.
• Approved a new library substitute request by Kate Barrows.
• Hilma attended a webinar given by the MMA (Massachusetts Municipal Association) regarding holiday decorations.   Presentation
• Town is accumulating a significant amount in  legal fees due to a lawsuit filed by a land owner against an abutter  regarding Vincent Road access.  The plaintiff's lawyer has pulled the Town into the suit.
• Hilma will be getting quotes on changing the sign on the Jacob's Road entrance from Heath School to Heath Municipal Center.

4:07 p.m. Call Meeting to Order - Meeting recorded
Review Agenda
Public Comment - 1 comment
4:10 p.m. Highway Superintendent & Department Update—Tyson Howard

• Beaver dam issue remediated
• Leaves have been cleared from all the roads
• Patched a sink hole on Number 9 Road
• Plows are ready to go, still working on nailing down winter plowing contractors
• Started tree work along the road to eliminate trees that are encroaching or dangerous 
• Planning
  
  • Have a construction plan for paving Sumner Stetson Road
  • Have a plan for Number 9 Road to do culverts work and some road repair
  • Working on quotes for spring truck maintenance

Past issues needing attention

• Lower parking area of Community Hall icing up
• Water in the Sawyer in the basement

Other Business
Demolition of Salt Shed & former EOC office, review of Bid Document—vote anticipated

• Fire Department needs to be moved so the EOC building can be demolished, but the Fire Department doesn't  have money for storage containers.  
• The Highway Department may be able to do some or all of the demo depending on other needs.

Salt Shed Progress & Review of Bid Document for Construction—vote anticipated

• Town received an ​invoice of  $1578 as a final payment on the design phase. The total project design cost is below the $20,000 budgeted.
• The Town needs to move forward with the next stage of the project to use ARPA funds which expire, rather than Chapter 70 funds.

Indoor Pickleball Court Proposal—vote anticipated

• SB voted to approve pickleball courts in Jacobs gym

Appointment of Veterans’ Representative—vote anticipated

• Gene Garland was appointed to be veteran's representative

Rental Licensing & Appraisal--update

• ​HHS license is all set, but have not received payment yet. 
• Lease by contractor of Assessors office is in place
• Still working on refining Hilltown Youth lease going forward

Review Minutes: 10/22/2024
Community Hall Windows

• CH Fundraiser has reached $22,879.
• Committee is working on getting bids.

Business Not Anticipated

• ​Tech school has completed their work  on lighting.
• Brian contacted Palmieri to get a quote on replacing the high lights which will require a lift, cost to be covered by a Green Community Grant.  Quote is for $50,600 for 15 new gym fixtures, 14  atrium fixtures, lift and installation.
• Green Communities Report - annual report required to show savings in energy consumption done by FRCOG with info from the Town. SB approved the summary for FY24.

Mail

• 2Districts8Towns update
• Pole hearing notice to abutters, letter from resident
• Info from BoH, Town Nurse, Lifepath, FCSWMD​