Notes Tue, Feb 10 2026

Call Meeting to Order – THIS MEETING MAY BE AUDIO RECORDED
➢ Review Agenda
➢ 5:00PM Appointment: Planning Board Chairman – Warrant Article Deadline

• Deadline for the warrant article agreed on by the SB and FinComm has caused a compressed schedule for the planning board.   A public hearing is required for Planning Board changes to the bylaw, March 11 was proposed.
• There is a wording on accessory dwelling units that needs to go into the warrant
• Planning Board plans to add a 6% tax on short term rentals
• Will hold off on wireless bylaws

➢ 7:00PM Appointment: Hilltown Youth Performing Arts (HYPA)  Rental Updates; Discussion

• HYPA expressed concern that P&R badminton area might interfere with the Hilltown Youth summer program.
• Pat McGahan assured that P &R   will not interfere with HYPA's [not stated, but there will not be badminton during the HYPA summer program]
• The current lease terminates on March 31, HYPA wants to continue to lease spaces in the building.
• HYPA payments are up to date.  
• If there is a 6-month lease, HYPA would like it to be a rolling lease.

➢ Review Minutes: 01/27/2026
➢ Public Comment - Will Emmet spoke in praise of the Highway department  during a difficult winter.
➢ Other Business
➢ Parks & Recreation Committee – Enforcement Order; PARC Grant FY ’26 Discussion;
Enforcement Order

• Someone has been contacted to give a quote on the work to proceed on correcting the culvert on the Burnt Hill Trail. Feels it will be simple to be fixed.  The Conservation Committee has a meeting on the Enforcement Order that Robyn feels that Mia should attend as Mia is knowledgeable on conservation issues.
• Communication should be between ConComm and the SB, P & R should not be involved.

Kiosk

• Kiosk in the center will be moved out of line of sight of any neighbors, next to the existing sign by Community Hall

Basketball/Pickleball Court

• The requirement to have the court designated as a park in perpetuity is a significant obstacle 
• The SB will keep it on the agenda for another week, but it is likely that the project can't go forward due to this requirement

Delegate Signatory for Woodlands Partnership FY ’26 Contract – SB voted for Robyn to sign
➢Fire Department Fee Schedule – Inspection Fee Increase – Vote Anticipated

• Will Emmet to follow up with questions for Ken Gilbert

➢ Sawyer Hall Rental Proposal – Discuss Draft Lease Agreement Details

• ​Eliss and Mia to get together for further discussion

➢ Green Communities Grant Project - Heat Pump/Mini Splits for JRMC Front Offices – Vote Anticipated

• There has been an increase in cost which is over the grant money amount
• Robyn and Mia to meet to go over accounts to see if there any money that may be available
• New costs need to be paid:  door hardware, work by Palmieri
• Need to make a decision soon as the rebate will go down over time

➢Municipal Light Plant – Fund Transfer – Vote Anticipated

• SB voted to accept the $60,000 from the MLB (Municipal Light Board)

➢ Office Assistant/Town Coordinator Transition – Discussion; Chief Procurement Officer

• Need to determine Hilma's role going forward
• Mia has progressed enough that Hilma and Mia feel not as much office time is needed
• SB can do a part time temp employee, and this is acceptable to Hilma
• Chief Procurement Officer (the town must have one) – SB voted to appoint Mia 
• A second sort needs to be done on the files
• SB voted to bring Hilma back as a non-benefited part time employee and on call for reminder of the existing transition fund

➢ Board/Committee Email Addresses – Discussion; Post Office Email Address

• An email address was suggested, [email protected], to cover ConComm, Planning Board, BoH, Zoning Board of Appeals
• Elissa to reach out to the different boards to determine their feeling on the email addresses
• Request by Charlene for a Post Office email address. This would be a budget conversation.

➢ CodeRed – Update on Services [service has been restored, people may need to resubscribe]

• Mia and Tim are the only people who will be authorized to send out alerts

➢Emergency Services Regionalization, Request for Meeting with Colrain Select Board re. Emergency Services

• ​SB is backed up with budget hearings
• Mia to ask if the Colrain SB could hold off until after Town meeting.

➢Town Nurse Position – New Information

• There is a grant that helps fund health services—CPHS (Commission on Public Health System)

 ➢ Franklin County Technical School Budget Presentation – Superintendent

• SB needs to schedule a time as it involves a significant financial assessment

➢ March/April Select Board Meetings – Schedule
 ➢ Community Hall Storm Windows - Replacement Updates

• Town has not been reimbursed form the grant because part of the award was for storm windows
• Mia to check into a partial payment for the work has been done

➢JRMC Security Camera System – Discussion/Review – Vote Anticipated

• No vote: There is some holdup regarding the inclusion or lack of reference to prevailing wage

 ➢ Memorandum of Understanding – ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan – Vote Anticipated

• SB voted to go forward with the plan

 ➢ ADA WCIG IT Grant – 15 Town Collaboration – Introduction & Discussion

• There is a $200,000 grant for ADA compliance to be shared among 12 towns.
• Shelburne is applying for the grant

➢ Route 8A Over Underwood Brook Culvert/Bridge – Engineering Next Steps

• Project changed hands, but SB has not been kept up to date
• Eligible for $1 mil as long as we do drainage work along with culvert work
• Need easements
• 8A is supposed to be paved in 2028

➢Sustainable Purchasing Policy – Yearly Acceptance - SB voted to approve
➢MTRSD/HRSD 2D8T Plan of Action – Discussion/Update

• Robyn attended a meeting where reps were there from all the towns except Colrain
• Currently in Phase 3 looking at the one campus option
• Looking at changes required to the regional agreement, how assessments will be made, and what will school committee representation will look like
• The meeting chair was pushing the SB to start having meetings with resident
• Robyn wants an update on where students are going, ages of the students, and how many are home schooled
• Transportation is a significant issue

➢ Mail - not already discussed

• Communication from Ken Rocke to MTRSD
• Email from Tim regarding replacing door hardware on JRMC. SB voted to have the replacement done.
• Communication between Will and Natalie Blaise, not sure of the topic.
• Parking concern at JRMC

Not anticipated

• Mail comes after 12 so Charlene would like to shift hours to 10 AM to 2 PM so she can get people's mail to them sooner that day