Robyn out due to family need.
 
Public Comment - None
 
FY2023 Budget Planning Discussion~~Finance Committee

• The tax rate  is $21.51 down $1.01 from last year.
• Alice would like to have a FinComm liaison with departments on budget status to make the process more timely.
• Alice would also like to implement rounding of cost of living numbers to avoid account transfers of less than one dollar which are time consuming and inefficient.
• Need to have end dates for budget reviews.
• Select Board and FinComm agreed that April 15 is the date the budget should be ready to be signed. April 29 is the legal deadline, but does not have to drive the town warrant

 
Hawlemont Regionalization Study Team—update with team members

• Colrain is the designated elementary school where Heath students are guaranteed a place and bus transportation.
• Each member town contributes to the capital costs of that school.  There is currently no outstanding debt. A future driveway project is estimated the cost $100,000 to be shared between Heath and Colrain. Share percentage to be determined by the number of kids that will be going to Colrain school,
• There will be an open house to welcome potential students to the Colrain school after first of the year.

 
Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre

• Small changes are being made in the lease agreement and are being reviewed by town counsel.
• Since the equipment closet is part of the agreement and the town must have access to the equipment, there is now a painted line to delineate a walkway that must remain clear.
• Hilma is getting a quote from a plumber to raise toilet and sinks in pre-school bathroom.

 
Northeast IT report & quote
Hilma met with Northeast IT personnel to do a year end review. All upgrades are complete except to migrate Patriot software onto Alice’s computer and the towns central server.  Town needs more memory space and special licensing which will be purchased from Microsoft.  Northeast IT cost is  $1301. The Patriot software charge is $1800.   There is not enough in tech support account to cover the cost. May need to transfer from another fund. SB approved, pending finding a source for the funding.

• Server work may be done by Jan 4
• Police to be moved Jan 4
• Town computers will need to be replaced over the next 5 years. The suggested sum to be set aside for this purpose is $5000 a year.

 
COVID-19 Municipal concerns

• Masks continue to be required in all buildings.
  • Town has received 90 test kits to be distributed, priority determined by the BoH.   

 
Relocation of Offices

• Will not happen until beginning of January due to tax bill processing and the fact that the treasurer is out next week.
• Jacobs Road generator: Cement pad is set, the generator in place, and the electrician finished the hookup work. The only remaining work is hooking up propane tank.

Green Communities update

• Community Hall: The Energy Advisory Committee met with the lead engineer on the project and learned the price was in mid $200,000s which is much higher than the original budget, and exceeds what is in the Green Communities Grant. Brian asked if the project could be done piecemeal, but the response was negative. Equipment costs have escalated, and the ductwork is very complicated. The mini-split project is not doable under the Green Grant. If done it will have to be a special project.
• Green Grant did cover insulating the hall.
• There will be a review of eligible projects to determine what we can do to spend down the grant.
  • Community Hall furnace: There is no advantage to replacing the furnace and would not be approved for the grant.
  • Community Hall windows:  Green Grant will only cover storms, not rebuilding or replacing the windows, which is what is really needed.

Broadband

• The Select Board approved a sum to be paid from the Broadband account [for approx. $8300, did not catch exact amount]
• Town needs to request the drop reimbursement from the state because we have reached 70% drops.

 
Transfer station Hours
Closed this Saturday for the holiday.
Open Wednesday, Dec 29 and Sunday, Jan 2 instead of Saturday.
 
Council on Aging is requesting the use of a room at Jacobs Road.  Discussion deferred to next meeting.
 
Executive Sessions:

1. Hilltown Theatre Lease at Jacobs Road

II.. AT&T pole

 COVID-19 Municipal Protocol, Concerns
 

• BoH collaboration meeting had positive feedback and there is a desire for additional meetings.
• Opening of the town buildings will be put off due to the new variant.
• Appreciation expressed for the BoH efforts to strengthen communication and working together among different groups in town.
• There was a recommendation to set up a committee that would have a rep from certain sections in town to work on a consistent strategy for COVID planning including building openings.
• Office relocation
  • Robyn received a quote for office partitions.
  • There are technology issues having offices in different buildings.
  •  Hilma say there is a need to move as soon as possible.
  • There were some computer issues last week that effected the assessor’s office in Jacobs Road.

Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre

• Have a reviewed lease from town council with several comments needing review. Moved to executive session for discussion.
• Next step is to give back to Hilltown Theater

 
FY2023 Budget Planning Discussion

• There is a tremendous amount of time put into budget planning and Robyn would like to see more efficiency  in the process and a more proactive approach from the Finance Committee.
• FinComm will bring their ideas for Budget Planning to the Select Board. One effort will be to get departments to submit their budget requests io Hilma in a timely manner.
• Would like to have the budget set two weeks before Town Meeting to give resident time to review.
• Want to have dedicated budget discussions on the Select Board off weeks.
• Hilma has a budget calendar to track when things get done. There will be a planning meeting at the next Select Board meeting. Heads up to be sent to departments to start thinking about their budget.

 
Broadband Docusign--voted to approve an MLP (broadband)  invoice for $24,399.88 for Westford Gas & Electric for service drops.
 
Energy Advisory Committee

• New member appointee approved – Ed Whittiker. He has good background for the committee.
• Still waiting on Rise Engineering for a proposal. This is a big issue for moving forward.
• Carson Ovitt indicated that some of Rise’s engineering specs are challenging.

 
Propane Tank Installation

• Community Hall
  • Verified that town owns the propane tank(s) at Community Hall.
  • Town will need to add a larger propane tank for mini splits and relocate what is currently at Community Hall. Otherwise, we would have to pay for disposal.
• Jacobs Road
  • Hilma has quotes from Osterman and George Propane, and waiting on Sandri.
  • Reviewed quotes for either 1 or 2 tanks for 2000 gallons, either above ground or inground with installation and initial fill up fee.
  • Select Board voted to accept the Osterman lease proposal pending KP Law review

Route 8A Bridge – Letter to state government agencies still being worked
 
Generator at Jacobs Road

• Electrician installed the conduit.
• Highway department excavated for the form and the cement pad was poured by Grace Concrete.

Fire Dept

• Nick Anzuoni and Hilma completed work on a grant for $1500 to purchase new safety equipment.
• Lost some turnout gear due to rodent damage and mold.

HWY Dept Called Out to Clear a Tree on 8A

• Working to clear the tree, a limb dislodged damaging a side window of the backhoe and a lever.
• Jeff Johnston was hit in the leg by the limb, which he said it is just a bruise.

CARES Act
Hilma submitted the final COVID relief  report, no additional money is available.
 
Tax Classification Hearing
Select Board needs to set either a single or multiple tax rate.

Axon/Cannabis Update

• Axon wants additional street numbers, Ken Gilbert to assist.
• Community Outreach meeting was reported to be attended by 14 people.
• Each farmer is starting applications to the Planning Board for special permits and have submitted their required applications to the state.

I. Executive Session  
For deliberation and strategy for entering a long-term lease of space at the 18 Jacobs Road municipal building with Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre
II. 7:30 p.m. Executive Session  
For deliberation and strategy in New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility v. Town of Heath, Town of Heath Planning Board