SB Notes Tuesday, October 4

Public Comment:
A question was asked about  Green Community Grant money spent on Community Hall. Brian listed insulation and LED upgrades as some of the projects done at Community Hall.  He noted that the $200,000 estimated cost for the heat pump project was not affordable.
Community Hall 150th Anniversary Celebration

• Updates on all the many activities taking place
• Praise for Jean Gran who did the work preparing the old photos.

Town Buildings & Office

• Deadline to submit name suggestions for Jacobs Road is Oct 15.
• Jacobs Rd. office assignments –
  • Hilma sent out an email to employees , need to hold office hours and what those hours are, and that their office is officially at JR. Hilma will work with individuals regarding where their offices are.
  • Room off the library will be for small meetings or individual use.
  • Nurse’s office – now that th lack of a generator is no longer an issue the nurse should be available for events sponsored by the COA. I t makes sense that office hours should be at Jacobs Road. The chair of the BoH did not see any issue with the move and it will go on agenda
  • Need to get rid of excess furniture at Jacobs Road – small chairs have been advertised.
• Winterizing Community Hall
  • There was confusion by residents as to what winterizing meant. This was described as keeping the thermostat at a low level and the ladies room door closed to prevent pipes that feed Sawyer Hall from freezing.
  • The Select Board decided not to winterize the building and to look at measures to mitigate the cost, and monitor the expenses.
  • There was a discussions of costs—the 2017 – 2018 winter months used $2000 gallons of oil and the current price of  oil is $4.44 per gallon for an estimated cost of $8,880 out of the $13,000 plus voted at Town Meeting for maintenance & utilities.
  • Robyn expressed concern that there is no rental income from the building and that would have to be revisited.
• Annual maintenance contract for all 5 town generators
  • Level 1 – voted to contract out for a total $1155
  • Level 2 – Jeff Johnston said this could be done by the highway dept.
• Emergency Shelter designation
  • Voted to be Jacobs Road.
  • Brian would like to turn one bathroom into a shower with this use in mind.

AT&T v. Town of Heath

• Update – intervenors have reached out, wanting to have a meeting with SB, and AT& T. Robyn went and there has been communication back & forth.  The mtg was appreciated, useful, off the record, and gave more flexibility.
• Intervener concerns – clear cutting of access road, sound suppression and they suggested an alternate site. AT&T is still looking at current site. Intervenors have some shared and some diverse concerns. Robyn felt they need to have a common goal. If intervenors are going to prevent a legal route, a decision must be reached soon.

Town Coordinator’s Report

• Discussions continue on the MTRS assessment error. Persons involved are now researching minutes and the agreement with the district when the school closed.
• All fire alarms at JR are old and need to be upgraded. The quote to replace all detectors is $6238 which includes the cost of the lift to reach the lights in the gym.
• MTRS Superintendent Stanton is initiating monthly meetings with admins, primary purpose is to keep Select Boards better informed on the budget process and plans in the district.
• Jeff Johnston and Hilma met on highway project
• A section of 8A will be closed for 2 months for the Brook Bridge project which is completely covered by grants. The work to start before school gets out. Detour will be up thru VT or down thru Colrain.
• A culvert replacement project is also covered.

Mail

• HHS wants to speak re use of space in Sawyer Hall for controlled storage
• MLP – $100,000 to be transferred back to the town to repay the stabilization fund
• Letters from citizens on CH

Upcoming Meeting

• Salt shed needs attention- Robyn feels relocation may be inevitable

Executive session on Mohawk assessment error