Select Board Notes Tue Jul 2 2024

e 6:00 p.m. Call Meeting to Order, Review Agenda, Review Minutes: 6/18/2024, 6/20/2024
Public Comment - none
6:15 p.m. MTRSD School Committee Representative, Budge Litchfield—update

• Mentioned the Sustainability study, would like updated links on the town website, and have the school committee come under Boards and Committees.
• Would like more school links, and to make the MTRSD school information more accessible.
• Budge looked back over six decades and the one thing that stands out is that Heath students lack stability unlike other towns in the district—5 school sites over time.  
• He detailed Heath's unique quest for a school of its own. He stressed the importance of awareness of all parties to the experiences Heath has gone through trying to have a school—first working with Rowe, building our own school, making an agreement with Hawlemont, and finally joining the district for elementary students making the Colrain school it's home school. During this  process Heath elementary students have spread across 4 different schools, only 9 elementary students going to Colrain.  He has provided the BERK12 Sustainability study with a report covering this quest.  
  

6:30 p.m. Highway Superintendent Position—update

• Will and Steve Thane met with Jeff Johnston to learn his contacts, the hwy garage computer password, access to Mass Chapter 90 Grant Central website, covered status of jobs being completed and where materials come from, equipment needed, vehicle maintenance needs.
• Highway dept needs its own access to sand pit and will be making one.
• Went over accounts, Steve Thane spent time with Jeff on this.
•  during
•  Reorganization of Duties & Compensation—SB voted to approve salaries for a 3 month period.
  • Will reviewed the duties in light of Steve Thane working as acting superintendent.
  • Will presented a breakdown of foreman duties vs acting superintendent for the interim period. Items that are considered long range planning were removed for now. 
  • Steve and Kyle will share the 24/7 on call duties.
  • Steve will get Jeff's hourly wage of $33.50 for 20 hours/week barring emergencies for 3 months, to be revisited as needed. Kyle will get an increase of $2 during this time until a superintendent is hired.
  • Will asked Rep Natalie Blaise about the process of getting CDL licenses which currently costs $4000 to $5000 for schooling. Will wants to know if the training requirements have been relaxed.

Select Board FY25 Appointments: offices, representatives, boards & committees—votes anticipated

• ​PO Substitute list of 4 names provided was approved.
• Historical Commission: Dane Davidson, Kathy S [did not catch the name]
• CHFRC: current member list was approved.

Other Business
Order of Taking for property along Rte. 8A by W. Branch Brook bridge—SB voted to approve

• Temporary taking for the purpose of relocating utility poles for the bridge construction
• The property owners have donated the temporary taking to the town

FCSWM Annual Agreements for Services—SB approved the agreements

• Three standard agreements: General, third party inspection of transfer station, hauling contract for transfer station.

Lawn Mowing Agreement—Snows Landscaping—SB Approved
Vincent Road—update on lawsuit and appeal of building permit

• July 10 there will be a public hearing on an appeal to a building permit for garage/barn type building. 
• There is an ongoing lawsuit regarding whether or not Vincent Road is a private road. 
• One of the landowners as filed a lawsuit claiming the road is privately owned by them which would bar other landowners access to their land.
• Heath has been named as a defendant by the plaintiffs lawyer because they recently clarifed the status of the road in anticipation of a trail easement.

Community Hall Windows Fundraising—update & review of charge—vote anticipated
Community Hall Update

• Dish sanitizer has not been repaired yet so kitchen is not available.
• Downstairs can be used except the kitchen, upstairs needs to be cleaned.

Mail - items  already covered in the agenda.
Other business that could not be anticipated 48 hours in advance.

• ​Ambulance Service contract needs a vote. SB approved the contract.