SB Meeting Notes for May 17

• MVP -Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness presentation.  Extremally well done and important to Heath. I will post the link to the presentation when it comes up. 
•  State Cannabis Control Commission sent form letter seeking assurance that True Cannabis cultivation is in compliance with our local bylaws.  Hilma was authorized to fill out compliance form in the positive.
• MTRSD: Barbara Rode will continue until July 1 as representee to MTRSD.  The Town received documents requested from the district. Robyn would like feedback from the finance committee. Some of Heath's FinCom members were meeting with Colrain's FinCom members regarding district finances.  Recorder has requested an article be written about the error issue.
• Auditor coming on Monday, May 23.
• IT Grant:  Hilma submitted the final report on $45,000 IT Grant received by Heath.
• Mosquito Spraying Opt Out program.  Sue Lively attended the BoH meetings on the state's program for spraying. BoH recommendation is to opt out of aerial spraying only, but be part of targeted ground spraying if a need arises.  If a public health emergency comes up related to mosquitos Heath would need state assistance so it is not wise to opt out completely. Heath  has had no positive mosquitoes in the last two years.   Heath is a member of PVMCD  (Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District) which does background trapping for $1000 per year.  PVMCD could share information with the state for aerial spraying in public heath emergency. Not every town is allowed to opt out of aerial spraying, but a strong part of way Heath was able to was we  belong to a mosquito control district (PVMCD). Barbara Gordon recommended that we budget to become full members of the PVMCD to get more traps and better surveillance. SB voted to follow BoH recommendation.
• Zoom Meeting Technical Problem: the meeting incurred technical problems. Question arose if it were caused by broadband, Zoom, or peoples' own equipment. 
• ATM
  • The SB discussed confusion on Article 22 at the end of town meeting where people were unable to say thank yous to people, and make announcements as in the past. The SB did clarify that it was never intended as a political soapbox or a public comment period.  The SB did not have input to the abrupt end and entered into a discussion with legal regarding a topic they had wanted to address through Article 22.  This had been previously requested of the moderator. The decision on the floor between legal and the moderator concluded that town business was at an end. 
  • Brian refuted public comments made that  " 'Town meeting takes a vote and the Select Board does whatever they want' is blatantly false and the people saying it should know better."
  • Robyn would like to reopen the conversation about where employees are and our buildings and town offices  Goes into building accessibility and usage. Plane to discuss next week. Ususally after ATM the SB goes to meeting every other week. 
  • Indoors vs outdoors: 90% of town meetings in the state were indoors.  Brian expressed concern that people say stuff and there is no way to correct it.  The SB needs a vehicle to say "This is how we made this decision, it was a reasonable decision, and it wasn't done recklessly."  An informal survey of multiple towns indicated that most town meetings were held indoors and only one required masks and that was Heath.   Heath's decision was more safe than other towns in that the mask mandate was in place. At the time the decision was made all information from the state and the BoH was taken into consideration.
  • Barbara Gordon commented that some towns have pushed their meeting into June to allow for more flexibility with timing the meeting.
  • Sue Lively:  she attended the last BoH meeting and there was discussion on when does personal choice become the lead in what we are doing.  Before determining to have the ATM indoors the SB considered input from the BoH; the State; the FRCOG Health agent, Randy Crosier; other towns; considered the square footage of the space, air circulation requirements, and chair spacing.  At what point and how do we put more responsibility into the hands of the individual.  Sue is comfortable with the research done and the decision
• Building Accessibility and Safety:  moving to next week when Library Trustees are attending.
• Green Communities: awaiting a contract on insulation project, tech school has brought up their trailer and did preliminary work on the lighting project at Jacobs Road outside lights.
• Mail:  SB vote to accept letter of resignation from Kate Peppard for BoH Clerk
• Waste management: prices are still high enough  on recycled materials so Heath is still getting money back rather than having to pay in.
• Public Comment period: this is a dilemma for me as I am trying to keep these notes factual and unbiased while what I hear at public comment is not.   I may address comments on the Reader's Chime In page.