Notes 5 pm Tue Oct 8

Agenda Items
5:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order (Meeting will be audio-recorded.), Review Agenda
5:05 p.m. School Committee Update: Representative Budge Litchfield
Budge Update:
School Safety

• all external doors are locked during school hours,
• video cameras are at the main entrance, persons must state business before access
• all classroom doors have locks and shades,
• here video cameras in "unsupervised spaces.
• besides fire drills there are now lockdown drills: doors get locked, shades go down.
• there is a meeting place in the event that the building needs to be evacuated
• there is a sweeper in the event of an evacuation to ensure that all persons are out of the building
• staff meets with the Resource Officer in order to know how to work together
• all critical staff are carrying walkie-talkies
• all classroom phones now can call 911 directly
• build a social and emotional community where there is an awareness if someone is having a hard time. Social media can be a catalyst for problems. 

Public Comment - none
Review Minutes: 9/24/2024
6:00 p.m. Meeting Municipal Costs of Fiber Cable Relocation: Charlemont Select Board, Heath & Charlemont Municipal Light Plant Boards. Charlemont Representatives:  Bob Handsaker, Cheryl Handsaker, Val Reed. Heath MLP Representatives: Art Schwenger, Sheila Litchfield. Estimated cost due for Whip city to attach wires to new poles: $23,000.  Also National Grid is replacing poles that already have  three-phase wire. A question was raised about residents paying for poles twice since we already replaced approx. 242  for broadband.   Robyn from Heath and  Val Reed from Charlemont will lead an effort to contact the Department of Public Works (DPU) and Paul Mark regarding the justification for the process and the costs. Both Municipal Light Boards will be engaged with them.
[My comment:  Eversource does not require towns to pay for poles and  is sensitive to such things as the marring of an exceptional view we enjoy going down Burrington Hill Road.
It would be worthwhile to listen to the clip of the tape that covers that meeting:
National Grid portion: SB_2024-10-08_Audio_NGridPortion.mp3
National Grid has a page for the Heath to Charlemont.
Heath to Charlemont Improvement Project. It's light on information, but does list the route that will be taken.]
7:30 p.m. Highway Superintendent Interview: Tyson Howard, applicant—from Colrain, interested in community involvement, has been a fireman, has a lot of experience.  SB voted to make an offer to Tyson Howard for the Highway Superintendent position, Tyson accepted the offer.
Other Business

• Appliance Disposal Permits—Lee would like to sell special permits for appliances rather than send people down to the PO to get the permit.  SB voted and approved.
• Highway Department Update with Review of Temporary and Modified Positions— 
• Highway Superintendent Position Update - Grading is done for the year, ditching has been successful. New leaf blower is working well, plow truck is being outfitted for snow.  Steve Thane has been extended for three months or less depending on status of of potential hire.  They are anticipating a grant due in October. Every culvert on No. 9 Road ( 42) has been inventoried. 
• Rental Licenses—vote to approve a license to rent a room in Sawyer Hall to C D Davenport Trucking for office use while they are constructing a bridge on Cyrus Davis Road in Rowe. Lease cost is $400 a month. SB approved a license to rent the former Accessors office. Potential 2- year license. 
• Hilma met with Wanda Mooney who agreed to write up a statement of value for Sawyer Hall.
• State Election Warrant—review warrant for November 5th state election—Mary Sumner has a warrant ready to be signed. There are 5 questions. SB approved the signing of the warrant. 
• Police Chief, John Doherty, said a check came from the County Opiate Task Force.  John would like to know how the money should be applied.
• Community Hall - is being painted by the Sheriff's Department, interior work is completed.  

Mail

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