Notes Tue, Jan 27

5:00PM Appointment: Council on Aging – Patio Discussion/Presentation

• Margaret Freeman  presented a grant proposal to put a patio in the area in front of the senior room
• The grant is given by Lifepath. The Select Board (SB) asked for verification that there would be no cost to the town and were assured that was true. 
• The Select Board agreed that the application could be submitted.

6:00PM Appointment: Municipal Light Board  & Municipal Light Plant– Financial Update & National Grid 3-Phase Project Discussion:. Board Chair, Art Schwenger,  Members, Ann Emmet, David Peters.   MLP Manager, Bailey Cole

• The MLB is sending $60,000 back to the town
• Baily Cole gave a status report that should be loud enough on the tape to hear.
• Baily Cole is working on a one-time exemption for moving the wires from the old poles to the new poles. This cost would otherwise fall on the town.

7:00PM Appointment: Finance Committee – FY ’27 Budget Planning Initial Discussion

• Concern was expressed that with CAF II [Connect America Funds] money going away and broadband costs to the town rising with inflation, this may impact the payment of the broadband debt.
• It was not clear at Town Meeting when broadband was presented, that everyone with land would pay the premium for broadband whether or not they have the benefit.
• Stipend review is on the FinComm agenda for this week.

Review Minutes: 12/09/2025, 01/13/2026
Public Comment - none
Other Business
➢ Parks & Recreation Committee – Discussion re. Grant(s) Status, Budget, Project(s) Status, & Burnt Hill-Catamount Trail Enforcement Order
Center Basketball/Pickleball Court

• No documents can be signed until town meeting.
• Land must be subdivided to designate the park area which would require a survey.  P&R needs to propose how much space/what area would be included.
• There would need to be a warrant article to designate the court as a park.
• SB is concerned about using all the P& R funds on this one project.
• There seems to be many obstacles to the project and the SB asked if P&R still wanted to move forward.
• Pat to raise issue with P&R, but did state that the committee was committed to the project. P&R needs to suggest what space to designate as park area.

Culvert Enforcement Order 

• Not covered at this meeting.

Wayfinding Trail Kiosks 

• Kiosks placement in Town needs to be reviewed in relation to zoning bylaws.  Bob Dane to get back to the SB on placement.
• Kiosks were paid for by a grant which also paid for the new street signs in town.

➢ Sawyer Hall Rental Proposal - SB voted to rent the former meeting room to an artist for $350 a month the first year with the renter compensating the town for the lower rent with free classes desirable to residents.  The rent to go up to $500 a month the following year.
➢ Warrant Article Submission Deadline

• ​Alice would like to see the warrant posted 3 weeks before Town Meeting (3rd week of April)

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

• Per Brian DeVries who has been working on the grant, this will save money by only heating and cooling these offices if the rest of the building is not in use.

➢ Northeast IT (NEIT) Annual Contract

• The contract is up for renewal.  An upgrade is required to the town's server. Instead of the upgrade NEIT proposed the town move to remote storage.  More review is required to compare costs of a server upgrade verses online storage.
• ​Some of the departments will need PC/laptop upgrades for Windows 11.

➢ CEC, Inc. (Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc) Change Order – Tri-Town Landfill

• SB signed an updated contract for environmental testing of the former landfill on Burrington Road that was used by the towns of Heath, Charlemont, and Hawley.

➢ District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Request

• FRCOG  offers member towns technical assistance on a wide variety of priority issues.  Municipal Resources – FRCOG
• SB prioritizes what areas where they would like technical assistance.

➢ Community Hall Storm Windows - Replacement

• Robyn been trying to get quotes for the storms but has not been successful yet.
• SB needs to review the donation account for the window repair to determine what is left towards storm windows.

➢ JRMC Security Camera System – Vote Anticipated

•  I left the meeting so I don't know if this was discussed—the room was 60 degrees and I couldn't take it.

➢ File Sharing Software

• Same as above

➢ Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU)– ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan

• The former Town Coordinator (Hilma) submitted a grant to have the town grounds and buildings evaluated for ADA coompliance.
• Once the evaluation is done, the town can apply for a grant to have the work done.
• The SB reviewed the plan for required additions and/or deletion

Mail Not Previously Discussed Above

• ​CodeRED contract may not have been auto renewed which may explain why the link to it on the web page was broken.  The Town Coordinator to check on the issue.
• Concern about cars parking in front of the building on both sides making it difficult to get through.
• Email from the Town of Buckland about affordability of Franklin Tech expansion

Extension of Hilma's agreement 

• Discussion regarding extending the transition agreement of the former Town Coordinator to assist the new Town Coordinator.

CodeRED

•  CodeRED contract may not have been auto renewed which may explain the broken link on the webpage
• There was a data breach at the company which may have been something to do with the problem.

Meeting Adjournment
Posted in accordance with the provisions of MGL C. 30A §§ 18-25 by Mia Francesconi
HYPA 

• Half of the $1000 security deposit ($500) is still outstanding. 
• Must be paid by Feb 10 when HYPA meets with the SB

Parking at JRMC

• Resident is concerned about congestion caused by persons parking on both sides of the driveway and that persons working in the building all day are taking up space for persons doing short term business.
• SB discussed signs and will work on possible options to solve the problem.​

Plowing

• Wing plow is currently not in use 
• Discussion of the past use of the wings 
• SB member, Will Emmet, to speak with highway superintendent to determine why wings aren't in use.

Front Door Issues at JRMC and Sawyer Hall

• Sawyer Hall doors have been fixed
• Building Manager, Tim Lively, has called a locksmith and parts have been ordered for the JRMC doors.

​