SB Notes Tue Dec 19, 2023

6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda , Review Minutes: 12/5/23
Public Comment - none
6:30 p.m. Discussion with Board of Health and Town Nurse re:

• Town Nurse Position Description—recommended changes
  • The BoH added changes that would increses the duties of the Town Nurse.
  • The SB expressed concern that the revisions would exceed the 8 hours already allocated for the position and it was unlikely that the hours would be increased at ATM.
  • Claire went over what she was already doing already part of the position description.
• Boards Clerk—position description review
  • The BoH members attending (Gene Garland, Susan Gruen, Sheila Litchfield) made a case for their particular need for someone to take minutes at their meetings.
  • It is unclear how this will be resolved. SB to continue looking at the position.
  • BoH members can not focus on their discussions and take minutes at the
• BoH members are required to take 35.5 hours of training to be on a Board of Public Health.
• Average age of BoH members is a concern as well as BoH recruitment.
• Property updates 
  • There are a number of camper and trailers in violation of zoning bylaw
  •  One trailer is in Town right-of-way and considered a plowing hazard by Jeff Johnston.
    • There was a Dec 15 visit by FRCOG to speak to owner of the trailer —no update.
    • Proposed coordination between Police Chief and FRCOG
    • Update from Police Chief on visits to the owners: Owners are not opposed to moving it, but it’s currently stuck in place. They have started to rip it apart. It seems the owners are making a good faith effort to get rid of it, but that is difficult. 
• MA Workforce Training - Public health performance standards and BOH training.
  • State BoH requirements are extensive:  State requires 35.5 hours of training to be on a Board of Health.  This is a significant commitment.. There are 34 programs to be completed by March.​ Performance-standards-for-local-public-health
• CodeRED—review of access
  • BoH would like access to code red. Gene Garland proposed Sheila Litchfield as a tertiary after Hilma and Tim Lively.
  • CodeRed contract is $2000 per year, two levels of calls: (1) natural disasters and (2) general messaging—we get a certain number of minutes per year.  Charge for non-emergency minutes: there are 430 call recipients  in Heath times the length of mins.
  • No decision reached on tertiary person.

7:30 p.m. Highway Department Update—Superintendent Jeff Johnston

• Plowing:
  •  Contractor, Saladino, has as issue with plowing contract regarding liability
  •  Robyn recommends working on the contract wording to address the issue.
  • Jeff does have a list of backup contractors at $30 per hour for a minimum of 4 hours.
  •  If a person is called in Jeff recommends a minimum of 4 hours at overtime rate.
  • Who is shoveling Town property, Tim or Highway Dept? Jeff works with Tim to get it done.
  • Plowing priority is bus routes. Jeff has a backup plan if he only has 3 people able to plow.
• Trucks:
  • The newly acquired used truck needs to get registered, one truck needs $12,000 in repairs, one truck is no longer operational.
  • Kyle is investigating a military grade truck for the dirt roads.
  • For the recent rain storm, the Highway dept was able to get an excavator (their ditcher is down)  from VT through a contract of Kyle Jarvis, and were able to replace a culvert.
  • The ditching done in the fall paid off , over than the one culvert requiring replacement , water did not jump into the roads.
  • Brunelle Road at 8A needs immediate attention.
• Budget
  • Equipment and materials will be going up.
• Tree work
  • Avery Brook Road looks more open. A lot of hazardous trees were removed. The work area was left clean.  There are still some trees close to the road.
  • There is some National Grid tree work to be done, some of which is on private property. Letters are sent to those homeowners where tree work will be done.
  • Resident wood left too long by the side of the road will be cleaned up by the highway dept. to avoid damage to plows by frozen logs hidden under snow.
  • There are some trees infected by Emerald Ash Borer. Trees are being cut down, branches chipped,  and logs just left.  Surprise was expressed that the wood is not being burned, [Not sure who is doing this work, but it's not the highway department.]

Other Business 

• Mr. Gutter—review of revised quote for Community Hall
  • Quote upped to $​1755  for additional hangers needed due to length of the room. SB voted to accept quote amended to $1607.
• Resignation of Susan Gruen from Building Use Committee—SB thanked Susan and voted to accept.
• Web Administrator—review description & make appointment 
  • ​Volunteer position and charge was approved. Pat McGahan was appointed.
• 11 Bellor Road LLC—update 
  • ​The remaining farmer to put together a package to present to the SB.
• Community Hall Window Fundraising—update
  • ​Committee met twice, Bob Gruen was elected as Chair, Gloria Fisher as Vice Chair.
  • Plans in place for Recorder article and fund raising activities.
  • $550 collected and an additional  $750 committed. It was noted that the SB can't accept conditional donations.
  • Donations go to Community Hall Fundraising account, the first $17,000 of which goes to the windows.  Any additional funds will go to other Community Hall needs. 
  • Donations will not be refunded if the goal is not met. The funds will be used for other projects.
  •  Donations can be made by check to the Town of Heath with a note to indicate it is for CH windows. They can be mailed, dropped off in grey box in Sawyer Hall, or given to Hilma.  If paying in cash, this must be given to Hilma.
  • Call Bob Gruen, 413-337-4255, with any questions. Cash donations should be given to Hilma.
• Community Hall and Sawyer Hall — Update on Current Building Projects, Discuss Potential Winter Projects Inc. Mold​
  • GEM Environmental  is the preferred contractor for mold remediation for both buildings. SB voted to approve GEM. Tim to contact. Cost will be covered by insurance.  
  • Community Hall gutter work.  Mr. Gutter—revised quote to cover any rotted facia boards, SB voted to approve new quote.
• MTRSD Proposed Agreement Changes​
  • Workshops will be held by Ken Rocke to explain the methods used to calculate our assessments.
  • Currently open to SB, FinCom, and two members from other district schools. [Space is limited. If you have interest I would contact Hilma to see if it can be arranged.]
• Salt Shed—update
  • Robyn is putting together a budget for both locations. Could be up to $600,000.
  • The question was asked if  (1)  we can downsize our salt shed and (2) can the Highway Dept do some of the work? Jeff indicated they could demolish the existing. [The report submitted by the  consulting firm listed a salt shed twice the size of the existing one.—current is 40 x 60 (Task Force Report), the proposed is 60x 80]
• Parks & Recreation report—review with vote possible
  • Listed grants awarded to P&R for trail work.
  • P&R Would like the SB to authorize $6250 for groomer. The SB was not sure the grant for the groomer had sufficient funds to cover the cost.  Reimbursement method was questioned and no vote was taken.
  • It was noted that the Shapiro land is under the control of the Conservation Commission and P&R needs to be working through that committee for any usage.
  • Robyn noted that she would like to see more of the other P&R activities besides trail work.

Other business that could not be anticipated 48 hours in advance.

• Emergency Preparedness Grant - $2500. SB voted to accept the grant
• Animal Inspector has a conflict of interest with one family in Heath that has farm animals. Kyle Dragon could do this inspection. 
• Andrea Woods of FRCOG who has worked with the SB in the past is retiring. 
• Budget Planning—FinCom may approve the letter to departments at their meeting this Thursday.
• Age Friendly Communities—paperwork for membership needs to be submitted.
• Hilma is out of the office all day Thursday to complete procurement training.