Notes Tue Nov 19 at 5 PM

Agenda Items
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 11/12/2024
Public Comment - 3 
5:10 p.m. Highway Superintendent & Department Update—Tyson Howard
Review of Pole Hearing requests - [Highway Dept input into pole placement]

• Poles need to be 4' off the road (any road), but some are marked fairly close.  Putting in poles may require some tree removal. Some trees to be taken down are dangerous trees anyway. 
• Avery Brook Road—The Town has no information from National Grid regarding the work being done  there.
• Cutting of asphalt and patching is a concern for potential buckling.  Two culverts will be effected.
• Burrington Hill Road - two poles are still marked as being in a ditch after request by Highway Dept to move them out.

Salt Shed updates

• Salt Shed structure: Robyn will try to have the plan for the structure by the first week of December. On the site plan the shed needs to be updated to reflect raising the shed by a foot from the base to mitigate a water issue.
• EOC (Emergency Operations Center) demolition: The quote for 2 storage containers  20' in length  is $8023 including delivery. The purpose is to provide a place to store what is in the EOC building which will be demolished. SB voted to accept the proposal. ARPA money will be used. 
• Salt Shed and EOC: Buildings must have a  hazardous inspection before demolition, Quote for inspecting both buildings of $1770  to be paid for from ARPA funds was approved by SB.

6:00 p.m. Municipal Light Board & Municipal Light Plant Manager
MLP Manager Job Description—review of recommended changes-vote anticipated

• Sheila is retiring from the position
• Hours actually worked now are less because much of the work has been done. Keeping the  5 to 10 hours a week even though it is not usually needed.
• There are 2 or 3 meetings a month that need to be attended

Review of Pole Hearing requests - [MLP]

• Bill Fontes counted the number of poles that would require transfers.  Burrington Hill Road ​- 86 pole transfers, Avery Brook Road  - 46 pole transfers. By contract the Town has to pay for these transfers.

7:00 p.m. Mohawk Trail Regional School District—meet with officials to discuss latest 2D8T sustainability
study report. Official comments:

• Dawning among towns that we are all in this together
• Realization among towns that something has to happen with flat state aid
• There is a need to continue to spread the word 
• Need housing in the area to attract families.
• Other discussions: transportation costs, home schooling, Berk12  modeling completion in December, district needs to pick a model once the Berk12 job is done.
• Towns need to spread the word that a decision point is coming up.

Other Business

• Salt Shed bid documents— votes detailed above
• Rental Licensing & Appraisal—update
  • No updates on appraisals for Sawyer Hall and Community Hall
  • Working on updates for the Hilltown Youth lease
• Community Hall Projects--update
  • Windows: Three bidders have been identified 
  • Doors: Quote from Donelson for new double doors was $6500. SB voted to accept the quote.
• Approved a new library substitute request by Kate Barrows.
• Hilma attended a webinar given by the MMA (Massachusetts Municipal Association) regarding holiday decorations.   Presentation
• Town is accumulating a significant amount in  legal fees due to a lawsuit filed by a land owner against an abutter  regarding Vincent Road access.  The plaintiff's lawyer has pulled the Town into the suit.
• Hilma will be getting quotes on changing the sign on the Jacob's Road entrance from Heath School to Heath Municipal Center.