Select Board Meeting Notes Nov 23, 2021

MEETING AUDIO

​6:08 p.m. Call to order delayed due to zoom bombing.
Robyn had to set up a waiting room to screen callers as hackers were intruding on the call. Users should show their full names so Robyn can identify callers and allow them into the meeting.
Public Comment - none
6:15 p.m. Building Use Committee: Pam Porter, chair

• Pam Porter discussed clarification to municipal sponsorship in the Building Use Policy.
• SB approved the updated policy wording.
• JR is now a certified kitchen. BUC is working on the website  to advertise kitchen at Jacobs Road, Also working on establishing a Community Kitchen at the Community Hall.
• Doug Mason: Stove is not certified for Massachusetts. If converted to automatic ignition, stove could be certified. Pam to call Gilette Equipment Co about this possibility.
• Sue Gruen: Any time one enters a public building they must be masked. We have 6 cases of COVID in Heath.
• Pam: When is HVAC work to be done at Community Hall?

Brian spoke with Roger Harris from Rise Engineering who had met with sub-contractors this week. Roger expects to get a quote in 2 weeks from them. Robyn feels there may be delay in getting the needed equipment.

• Pam: Can air filters be borrowed from Sawyer Hall. Robyn does not have an issue with the concept of borrowing, but would like to understand how they would work upstairs in the Community Hall.
• Pam: BUC has been unable to get a financial report. Hilma to assist Pam with this.

 
7:00 p.m. Axon Properties/Crucial: Development Agreement with 11 Bellor, LLC.
Mark James, Lawyer and Ryan Jundt for Axon were present. Sue Lively stressed that the Select Board has spent numerous hours working through the agreements and have been as thorough as they can be.
[Having attended Select Board meetings for over 18 months I can appreciate the enormous amount of time Hilma and the Board has spent on this individually, with town counsel, and in meetings.]  
 
The development agreement is with the entity purchasing the property at 11 Bellor Road (55 acres) and includes a list of items that both the developer and the Town of Heath have agreed upon. The development plan includes the allowance for 4 Host Community Agreements with 4 separate farmers.
 
Host Community Agreements are maintained between the town and the farmers using the property. These HCAs are approx. 2 acres each.

• Development Agreement with 11 Bellor, LLC. — Approved
• Host Community Agreement with Alchemy Cannabis, Inc.—Approved
• Host Community Agreement with Vega Cannabis, Inc.— Approved
• Host Community Agreement with True Cannabis, Inc.— Approved
• Host Community Agreement with Vybz, Inc.— Approved

 
There will be a Community Outreach with the HCA farmers on Nov 29, notices posted in town and also in the Recorder.
 
COVID-19 Municipal Protocol, Concerns
There will be a Dec 1 meeting with the Select Board and Board of Health to discuss COVID planning/strategy/common policy.
Sue Gruen: COVID numbers have tripled in the area in the last 6 days.

• Trying to get 100 kids who are over the age of 5 at Hawlemont vaccinated. VAX bus returning in 3 weeks.
• Working to update the BoH Emergency Preparedness Elders list. Need to get all community members on the Robo call list.
• Post Office will be closed Friday due to COVID as there is no one to cover for Charlene that day. Services may be limited as substitutes have varying degrees of  training.
• Greenfield Community College is the best place to be tested for COVID.

Other Business

• Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre: Long-term lease discussion tabled until next Tuesday.
• Rt 8A Branch Brook Bridge – Jeff Johnston is still trying to get needed information from the state.
• Fire House – Hilma is working on pulling together a letter for state officials including reports from fire and emergency management. Brian is expecting a report from Brian Halloway, a structural engineer, on the condition of the existing buildings which will be included in the letter to the state.
• Green Communities update – Annual report was submitted. Roger Harris, an engineer at Rise Engineering will be submitting a proposal which is expected by mid-December. It is unlikely the work will start until after Jan 1 and not completed until early spring.

Town Coordinator’s Report on items not previously discussed

• Jacobs Road generator: HWY Dept finished the trench for the electrical conduit and prepared site for cement pad for the generator. Jeff Johnston working on getting cement poured.
• Propane Tanks: It’s difficult to get comparable estimates, 3 vendors have come to the site, Hilma has 1 estimate so far.
• EMPG –The  Emergency Management Planning Grant of $2500  which Tim applies for each year was awarded. The SB voted to accept as required as part of the grant process.

Mail & Email

• Paper Shredding Event: Turned out to not be worthwhile. Heath cost was $189.25, but only 6 residents participated.
• Senior survey results
• Nancy Thane is the only applicant for Office Assistant Position. Interview scheduled.
• Interest expressed for position on Parks & Rec. SB wants to wait until they review and update the committee charge.