Notes for Tues, Oct 21

5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order
Review Agenda
5:00 p.m. Appointment: Colrain Selectboard—discussion for possibly forming a district police & fire district

•  Police work has different levels: Chief, policing, admin.
• What should be the priority in these three levels? The Towns have similar issues in determining this.
• Robyn asked "Can some of the administrative tasks be done by other than the chiefs." Response from both Colrain and Heath chiefs, yes, permitting and payroll could be done by  an administrator, but not higher level report [to the state?]
• Colrain chair: we need to look at the needs in totality  to help determine what makes sense.
• Manpower and staffing is the hardest thing to fill during the day.  How to you keep a person in the office all day. 
• State requirements are something that causes additional work.
• Both towns are interested in going forward to investigate possibilities.

6:00 p.m. Highway Department Updates—Superintendent Tyson Howard

• Product to go into salt shed next week.
• Electrician will be out to see about tying all the electricity together
• Separate service for the salt shed, may only need one generator.
• Preparing summer equipment for winter storage.  Road side mower has problems that need fixing. Will Emmet and Tyson looking into other more cost effective options.
• Three quarters of street signs have been installed.
• Grants available for hydroseeding which is better than than lining ditches with rocks.
• Looking for call-in drivers for storms
• Have been working on upgrading the interior—adding insulation and repairing equipment .  Having a licensed technician come to work on brakes.

6:30 p.m. Appointment: Mia Francesconi, applicant for Town Coordinator position

• Has a lot of municipal experience, Elissa has very impressed with her.
• A lot of her family have been involved with the Town of Cheshire so she has been around it all her life. 
• Executive assistant for the Town working with many  boards.
• Feels comfortable with grant writing.
• The  screening committee  interviewed 6 applicants and choose 3 as possible candidates.  Mia had the most municipal experience, but was lacking in the financial area.

Review Minutes: 10/07/2025 
Public Comment - Community Hall dehumidifier is not sufficient, there is still a mold issue.  HYPA has not followed through with assurances made. 
Other Business
Hilltown Youth Performing Arts—review of lease—vote possible

• The Select Board voted to approve the lease as amended to be sent to HYPA.

Town Coordinator Transition Plan update
Spyglass Telecommunications Analysis

• Select Board chose to not move forward, but rather contact Verizon to investigate the situaction with 4 phones on separate billing.

FY 2025 Special Account 
Select Board voted to approve changes to special accounts

• Special Revenue Deficit Accounts to Move to Raise & Appropriate
  29-123-3590-29016 COVID-19 Related— $13,821.98
  29-123-3590-29044 I-191 School Regionalization— 2,321.00
  29-123-3590-29017 MIIA Insurance Grant— 1,850.00
  29-421-3590-29062 Small Bridge Grant— 7.00
  29-433-3590-29066 Rowe Rd Washout— 0.20
  29-434-3590-29021 DEP Small Scale Initiative Grant— 993.68
  29-541-3590-29032 FCHC Medi Mgmt 2008— 100.00
  Total Amount: $19,093.86

Facilities Report—review and planning

• Robyn to consolidate reports on facilities to include a submitted accessibility report.

JRMC Gym Roof Update

• Only have a single quote, need another. Titan quoted,  and waiting on a  Vermont company.
• Will Emmet investigated replacement tiles for the ceiling. Found Armstrong tiles at Lowe's that were not too expensive.

Council on Aging

• Wishes to create a Health and Wellness Fair and COA is seeking permission to form a committee or working group. Want it to be a Community orientated, Educational, and Multi-generational event.

STM, tentatively on Nov 17 at  6:30
Discussion about the possible need for a Special Town Meeting for permission for an employee to work past 65 and to vote on the warrant to change all designations of roads, byways, private roads, ways to "street".
Mail
Request to use the Hall for the Art Show in September 2026 and wave the fee. SB voted to approve.