SB meeting Notes Tue, Oct 17

6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 10/10/23
Public Comment - none
6:30 p.m. Appointment: Police Department

• Recognition of Lee Lively's 18 years of service with commendations from the Massachusetts government."
• Chief McDonough played a recording in recognition of Lee Lively. Excerpt:  "The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy, and a gentleman.  And, of course, he'd have to be a genius... For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary." --Paul Harvey , Journalist,  PAUL HARVEY’S “POLICEMAN” 

Other Business
11 Bellor Road LLC—update on renewal of HCA; building commissioner oversight

• There was communication from the lawyer for Greg and Barbara Rodes (who are abutters) to Jim Haskins at FRCOG. 
• SB needs to get feedback from our counsel before taking any action. 

Heath Historical Society: Sawyer Hall Room Lease - Review Response from Town Counsel

• Legal has responded that there is a difference between a license and a lease.​
• What the SB previously agreed upon is not valid.
• A license would be easier but would not provide the guarantees the HHS wants.
• The SB would like to get the HHS in the building as soon as possible and a license would do this.
• No vote could be taken since it wasn't on the agenda.

MTRSD Proposed Assessment amendments—discussion and possible vote on holding an STM

• Decision is whether or not to hold an STM per the district's request. 
• SB Comments: We have two sets of numbers with different end results. To have an STM now would be rushing things. We need to understand why there are different sets of numbers. STMs do not have enough residents in attendance at STMs for this issue.  We need more time and this decision needs to brought to a larger audience than normally at STMs.
• SB needs to abide by what they said at ATM that this would be brought back to ATM. They did not come by this decision easily.  SB is not sitting idle but rather spending a large amount of time trying to understand the issue. 
• This is not meant as resistance but a way to educate ourselves. We dealt with the closing of the  Heath school, trying to regionalize with Hawlemont,  choosing between Colrain and Buckland- Shelburne as our district school, and now being faced with this amendment without the time to process the long term implications.
• After much deliberation and discussion the SB voted not to hold an STM.

Special Municipal Employees—review of positions

• The designation of Special Municipal Employee is so that people can serve on more than one committee which the law would normally allow.
• This allows for some flexibility in the Conflict of Interest law.

7:30 p.m. Review and possible award of truck bid with Highway Superintendent
Mail
Slate repair on Sawyer Hall roof

• Titan Roofing made a bid for $2700.
• SB voted to accept the bid.​

Heath Cultural Council was awarded a $17,000 matching grant for window repair (through major effort by Barbara Gordon and Hilma Sumner). Need a set fund raising committee. 
Truck Bid

• Jeff Johnston presented a bid for a used highway truck using ARPA funds.
• It has had low salt usage, mainly used on black top.
• The truck that is decommissioned will be traded in for approx. $5000 and taken off the cost of the purchase.
• SB voted to approve the purchase.

HRA (Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority) 

• 13 house in Heath have benefited from repairs and renovations

"It is the mission of the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to enhance the quality of life for the residents and communities of rural Franklin County and the North Quabbin region by accessing and delivering resources to address their housing, community development, municipal infrastructure, public facilities, economic, and social service needs. Further, HRA strives to promote environmental awareness and to be respectful of the unique characteristics of our rural region."