​SB Meeting Notes, April 27, 2021

Special Projects budgeted for $15,000, focus on safety issues. We have more needs than $15,000 allows for. Some items will have to wait.
• Salt Shed – must be a two-piece truss to get inside shed, one of the vertical posts badly cracked as well. Estimated $500 material cost, estimated $3000 overall cost for the project.
• Install emergency exit signs in second floor of Sawyer Hall, need to be lighted signs with a battery backup.
• Leak in North wall of Community Hall, $1200.
• Replace Community Hall doors & hardware, $5000.
• Community Hall step repair
• Fire building degraded electrical.
• Temporary repair of Sawyer Hall stairs
• Exhaust port from highway garage
• Extensive discussion of emergency egress from Sawyer Hall. Suggestion to roll it into a CDBG grant- replace ramp in front, fix step in the back, needs more investigation as to how to go about repairs.
Budget Meeting with Finance Committee
• Fairly long discussion of new budget format which is hoped will simplify the budget discussion at town meeting and allow more flexibility for department heads.
• Article 3 Approved with one amendment
• Warrant Articles – The warrant articles were reviewed, but it was difficult to follow the discussion. I will send warrant out as soon as it gets posted.

Salt Shed Replacement – we don’t have enough cost and design information at this time, so this is on hold while the repair goes forward.
Hilltown Recovery Theatre - Jacobs Road rental request - approved. Discussed a more flexible model of charging that would benefit town as well. Space requested: gym, 1 classroom, stage, outside areas. Hotspot would move to the Cafeteria is it is to continue past June 30.
COVID-19 Municipal Protocol, Concerns, Updates
Building reopening for face-to-face meetings - Wait until first meeting after ATM to discuss.
Foot clinic can continue at Jacobs Road.
National Grid has offered to plant some trees, Board accepted offer, Hilma to facilitate.
• Wi-Valley Application for Pole Placement – attorney said the town could require Wi-Vally to prove location is in a public right-of-way before even scheduling a hearing. Could require analysis in terms of safety, pole is much higher than a typical utility pole in a high wind area. Application for hearing is still pending. There is another way for Wi-Valley to do this by
putting up poles for the 5 unserved customers. Doug Mason proposes we tell our attorney that our inclination is to deny the request and not have a hearing.
•Green Communities Grant Update
o Brian is trying to get an extension to the grant but needs some financial information to send the letter requesting extension.
o Rise Engineering Company put together a proposal for HVAC design services [Community Hall?]. Needs approval from [FRCOG?].
• Regionalization Study Committee update – Looking for a boilerplate contract for services, Brian says team should contact Amy [FRCOG?].
• Sawyer Hall sign repair: Berkshire Sign Studio - $285 to replace broken parts and relocate sign.
• American Recovery Plan Act – Hilma attended an informational meeting on funds being released from the federal government to the state, and towns. 50% of money released first year, other 50% the following year. Guidelines not issued yet as to how the funds can be used. One designation is for broadband.