SB Meeting Notes, Tuesday, July 27, 2021

SELECT BOARD Meeting Notes July 27, 2021

• There is a table of my acronyms at the end of these notes. I have a few acronyms of my own:

SB=Select Board, CH=Community Hall, SH=Sawyer Hall, JR=Jacobs Road

• Usual disclaimer: these are my notes and in no way official.

 
6:05—Hawlemont Regionalization Study Team Update

• The team’s goal is to get an agreement into the hands of the SB, and the Hawlemont School Committee and the three towns of Hawley, Charlemont, and Heath.
• OPED is a significant issue [some type of retirement liability if Heath leaves the Mohawk School District].  Question asked by study team: Is it worthwhile to determine this liability?
• Ken Rocke is working to condense a large amount of information into a manageable format.

 
7:45—Fire House Conditions, Nick Anzuoni

• Ongoing Fire Station problems, had to throw out gear due to mo.ld
• Animal investigation [racoons] is a problem with chewing on things and odor from urination.
• Need to make the place more livable in the short term.
• Robyn to meet with Nick about pest control and ventilation in the bay area.
• Around 12 to 14 fire fighters now, but fluctuates somewhat.

 
COVID-19 Municipal Protocol, Concerns
Reopening Offices – Next Steps, Protocol

• Discussion on how to use Sawyer Hall.
• Safest & most cost effective plan for the town is to use JR. It’s in best interest of the town and employees.
• Cost of retrofitting CH and SH is not worth it when we already have an adequate facility. Good to have supervision in there.  Hilma, Tim, a SB member, and maybe one other to create a working group to come up with a plan in tow weeks for the move.
• Important items to consider for move:
  • IT pieces—phones and internet.
  • Need to determine how this will work w Jonathan’s theatre program and Police Chief.
  • Commercial kitchen use.
• Motion made and passed to relocate offices to JR.

 
Mask-wearing policy for public buildings

• Will continue with mask policy as is, masks inside and distancing outside

 
Road closure request

• Harry Hallman and art group requested to close off the road in front of CH during art reception, on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  Motion passed.

Charlemont IGA (Inter-Governmental Agreement) Amendment

• Related to Heath broadband serving an additional edge case in Charlemont. MLB voted to recommend.

Road conditions

•  HWY Dept – Rowe Rd has been rebuilt and reopened; the cost has been submitted to MEMA for reimbursement.
• 8A has a section of road washed out which will need repair

 
Police Department revised job descriptions

• John reviewed job description for Police Officers and Chief.
• All will be required to complete a new [state mandated?] training at $1000 per person.
• Revised descriptions were approved.

Board of Health Meeting Request

• Request by BoH for a joint meeting with the SB without other business.
• SB response - not perceived as an emergency and not necessary to have it be a dedicated meeting.
• Any Heath Fair issues within the SB purview (Ag Society is not part of town government) can be dealt with at a regular meeting.

Special Projects—CH Doors, Salt Shed repair

• Robyn will have numbers soon for salt shed rebuild.
• Hilma spoke with Carson Ovitt who is coming to remeasure the CH doors. Needs to remove the inside trim and look at roof leak. If he can repair roof, he’ll do it. Robyn recommends Carson speak with John Lively who is doing the door hardware.

FY22 Board, Committee and Position Appointments

• Sue Lively appointed to the COA.

Senior Center/Council on Aging

• Eileen Lively has returned feedback comments on Senior Center Coordinator position
• New COA will be scheduled to meet with the SB in two weeks if they are ready

Hilltown Theatre Long-term Lease

• No updates

Green Communities Update

• Brian & Tim removed some paneling covering duct work for Roger Harris to inspect HVAC system.
• Dept of Energy will not allow the Town to charge engineering cost to the grant so it needs to be part of another proposal.

Ag Society put in a request for a permit to pour alcohol - Approved

• Hours of noon to 9 PM Saturday, noon to 4 PM Sunday
• Ag Society wants to do it themselves are in process of getting required insurance

Town Coordinator’s Report Not Already Covered

• Hilma was contacted about setting up a business account so each department can order directly rather than go through Hilma
• Ken Gilbert raised issue that street numbers need to be visible. Three out of four town buildings do not have street numbers on them. Hilma to look into options other than the blue sign for the buildings.
• Sawyer Hall phones were nonfunctional on Saturday. Axia [phone company?]came midafternoon.  Cause was battery backup went down.
• Hilma met with Pam Porter on rental agreement policy and document will be updated.
• Spoke with a Crocker technician on phones at JR. Hilma to take a phone to JR and then call Crocker technician so they can troubleshoot. Brian said the phones require power through an adapter to work.

 
Mail & Email Not Already Covered

• MLB Plant Manager wants information on ARPA funding.
• There is a government $1000 grant available for culvert replacement.
• Upcoming paper shredding event. Does Heath want to participate at $250 an hour.
• Resignation notice  from accountant[?], Melanie. 
• Request for a SB member to do a presentation for Keith Sherman at the Fair. Brain will do it.
• Pre-school after school tuition: Sue Lively fine-tuned distribution plan to be more equitable among the 7 children covered and still stay within what was budgeted at Town Meeting.
• Request by HHS for 5 Ledges Rd to put a climate-controlled building on for artifacts.
• FRCOG will give the Town a credit for emergency radio equipment.