Notes Tue Jul 16 2024

6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda
Public Comment - None
6:05 p.m. Highway Department Update - Steve Thane, interim superintendent

• $200,000 has come in from the Mass.gov Chapter 90 for the highway dept.
• Robin would like a schedule of work to be done, and Will asked that estimated times be included.
• Day 2 is going smoothly, mostly ditching.
• Steve would like "Truck Entering" and "Trucks Crossing" signs at the Highway Dept.
• Town has received 3 application which will be reviewed for qualifications.
• The snow plowing contractor reported that the cost of additional insurance would be $10,000 to plow in Heath so that wasn't viable.

Salt Shed Update

• Robin received sketches from the contractor. The design was for a building 52' wide and 70' long. The current salt shed is 40' wide x 60' long. 
• Templeton and Montague both have the same structure, but different lengths and widths.  Robin would like the highway dept to do site visits.
• Should the EOC building come down at the same time as the salt shed to take advantage of the dumpster?  If so there is a list of items that need to be addressed before the EOC building can be taken down? Steve and Kyle to create the list.

6:30 p.m. Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District—John Briggs and Heath Board of Health

• 8 pools have come back positive for Triple E
• Seeing lots of high numbers. Come out in spring.
• Barbara Gordon: how many traps are there in Heath. Answer-2. Are there any around the fairgrounds?  There will be more frequent testing around the fair time.
• BoH, Sue Gruen: climate change causing increase in the problem.  Take the precautions listed in the various available literature. From BoH webpage: The 5 D's of Mosquito Protection.    BoH, Tim Lively and Claire Rabbit took part in a drill  on how to deal with an emergency.   
• Will Emmet: how do you reconcile beaver dams creating standing water which breed mosquitos.  Town can get permission to put in devices to prevent dams.

Review Minutes: 6/20/2024, 7/2/2024
Select Board FY25 Appointments: offices, representatives, boards & committees—votes anticipated

• Conservation Commission - Sue Draxler
• BUC - Amy Webb, Mary Findley

Other Business
Conflict of Interest Exemption for David Conlon, MTRSD employee—vote anticipated

• Hired to teach at Buckland Shelburne school, and also employed at Colrain school
• SB approved holding two positions in MTRSD (all district towns must vote)

FY2024 End-of-Year Transfer Discussion and Review of Accountant Reports

• Budget is too tight, does not allow for contingencies. 
• Can not continue to ask departments to level fund, costs go up every year.
• Must not try to maintain the tax rate at the cost of fiscal responsibility.
• Because we are in the black, there need not be line by line transfers.

HYPA Lease Update

• Insurance form needed for Hilltown Youth
• Trapeze is a separate insurance
• HYPA is 3 months behind in payment, has not signed new lease. 

Vincent Road—update on lawsuit and appeal of building permit

• ZBA or PB had a hearing, 4 people attended, ZBA had questions for all parties and for legal.  ZBA has 100 days to make a decision, but can request an extension.

Community Hall Windows Fundraising

• An additional $800  has been donated.
• Benefit concert is Friday, July 26 at 7 PM.

Community Hall Update

• Upstairs is clean, Exit light batteries replaced, curtains need to be cleaned, appliance company came and sanitizer is fixed.
• SB voted to reopen Community Hall

Town Building Appraisal Project: Discuss steps forward

• SB received a letter suggesting that the SB was derailing or delaying the effort to move forward on HHS using the former Assessors' office in Sawyer Hall.  The SB has no intention of derailing or delaying the effort.
• The chair has been working with Kim Levitch, a broker in Charlemont, who maintains he can do the report the SB needs, but was delayed due to medical issues.

Municipal Light Board Communications/Meetings

• SB proposed quarterly meetings with the MLB/MLP
• Concern about check coming in for returned wire
• Need to get rid of 3 remaining spools left by Tri-Wire

Other Business

• SB voted to approve a letter of support for the Heath Ag Society grant to replace the well house

Mail

• SB to have a representative, Will Emmet, attend the Informational Session on Alzheimer  and Dementia on Friday July 26 at 10:30 AM in the Senior room at Jacobs Road.
• Reports from Fire Chief and Police Chief
• KP Law update on fair labor standards