Notes for Tue March 10 2026

Call Meeting to Order – THIS MEETING MAY BE AUDIO RECORDED
​ Will Emmet not present
➢ Review Agenda - moved to later in the meeting
➢ Appointments - moved to later in the meeting
5:00PM
Highway Superintendent, Tyson Howard – Budget Hearing w/ Finance

• ​Priority for road repair with Chapter 90 money: (1) Colrain Stage Road (CSR) from town line to Bray Rd  since it is a route for emergency vehicles (est. $541,000), (2) Number 9 Road (est. $417,000), and (3) Sumner Stetson Road (est. $140,000).  Discussion around whether work will be binder and/or chip seal in an effort to spread coat over more than one year. Tyson would like to wait on Sumner Stetson Road until next year.

Recycling Dividend Program (RDP) Project Ideas; FY ’27

• Consensus is to use the dividend to replace the platform to the recycling bin. 
• Tyson suggests wood because the platform is in constant need of repair due to damage by trucks picking up the bin.  When Tyson calls about the damage the response is "what are you gonna do?" indicating that there is nothing they can do about the problem.  Tyson is not in favor of a metal ramp or one with wheels because these are problematic in their own way.

Power and lights to the Salt Shed and power to the Fire Garage (?).

• Robyn to call Palmieri. Unable to trench to the propane tanks until the earth thaws.

Salt Shed "door"  

• Iron Horse claims that the building is not designed for a door, but Robyn has been given plans for one.
• After discussion, the decision is to not go forward with a door at this time

5:30PM
​Finance Committee – Budget Hearings w/ Highway Superintendent

•   Revisiting the roads discussion with FinComm.   Alice  W sees CSR as a  priority since it is an EMS route. Tyson is ok with doing just the chip seal on CSR and then do all 3 roads.
• Culverts were discussed as something that needs to be addressed when the road work was done
• Highway Garage and Fire Garage doors- FinComm feels they should be replaced but money should come from free cash.  Motors are $18,000 each for Fire Dept doors.   Highway dept only needs doors not motors. 
• Capital request for mower: Tyson withdrawing  the request, going to try other things
• Capital request for a truck: had one truck down in the last storm. Another truck has no heater and has to go back to the dealer. FinComm favored waiting one more year before buying a truck. Tyson is ok with waiting a year.
• Lengthy discussion of summer vs winter help and what accounts they should go under. It is pretty dull nit-picky stuff and my mind wandered.

6:00PM Police Chief, John McDonough – Budget Hearing w/ Finance Committee

• Getting complaints about traffic. It would be helpful to get these in email or as a phone message.
• Ticking has its issues since it requires an officer to go to court if the ticket is appealed. Ths costs the town, so it is hard to say if ticketing is a loss or gain for the town.
• Spoke of putting in for grants for more solar powered roadside speed signs.
• Chief is doing all required maintenance on the police vehicle
• Chief is budgeted at 14 hours per week.
• Asking for 80 additional hours for part time officers (not sure of time period)
• Heath Fair comes out of the Chief's budget. Ag Society does not pay for this detail. Dena B feels a police presence at the fair is a good thing and supports more hours for the police dept. Elissa to take back to Ag Society to determine any public safety issues.  Alice W feels we need to have a written detail rate for services. Elissa mentioned the Ag Society quid-pro-quo arrangement where the Fire Dept holds their chicken BBQ at no charge and the Highway Dept stores vehicles over the winter in return for work on the pulling track. 
• Mohawk Estates makes a donation to the Fire Dept when they hold their fireworks.
• An admin would not reduce much time for the chief as a lot of his admin work is with firearms permits which has to be done by him. 

COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) discussion 

• I didn't see this on the agenda, but maybe the admin discussion led into it. 
• I believe FinComm agreed to the current % which was 2.5 or 2.8.

➢ Review and consent to Agenda
Approve Meeting Minutes: 01/13/2026 (ES); 02/24/2026; 02/24/2026 (ES)
o Accounts Payable & Payroll Warrants
➢ Select Board Discussion/Decision Items
o Citizen’s Petition – “Resolution in Support of “Act Establishing Medicare for All” –
Review/Approval for Inclusion on Annual Town Meeting Warrant – Vote Anticipated
o Liquor License – Decide if an Event needs a One-Day Special Permit
o Route 8A Over Underwood Brook Culvert/Small Bridge Project – Discussion re.
Easements
o Appointment of Library Substitutes – Molly A. Lane and Caitlyn Irene Semanie
o Board’s Clerk Resignation – Discussion & Acceptance – Vote Anticipated
o FY ’26 Department of Ecological Restoration (MassDER) Culvert Assessments –
Review Proposal to Evaluate Culvert Conditions in Heath; Letter of Support
➢ New Information/Updates
➢ Public Comment
➢ Mail
➢ New business that cou