SB Notes, Tuesday, Dec 21

Robyn out due to family need.
 
Public Comment - None
 
FY2023 Budget Planning Discussion~~Finance Committee

• The tax rate  is $21.51 down $1.01 from last year.
• Alice would like to have a FinComm liaison with departments on budget status to make the process more timely.
• Alice would also like to implement rounding of cost of living numbers to avoid account transfers of less than one dollar which are time consuming and inefficient.
• Need to have end dates for budget reviews.
• Select Board and FinComm agreed that April 15 is the date the budget should be ready to be signed. April 29 is the legal deadline, but does not have to drive the town warrant

 
Hawlemont Regionalization Study Team—update with team members

• Colrain is the designated elementary school where Heath students are guaranteed a place and bus transportation.
• Each member town contributes to the capital costs of that school.  There is currently no outstanding debt. A future driveway project is estimated the cost $100,000 to be shared between Heath and Colrain. Share percentage to be determined by the number of kids that will be going to Colrain school,
• There will be an open house to welcome potential students to the Colrain school after first of the year.

 
Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre

• Small changes are being made in the lease agreement and are being reviewed by town counsel.
• Since the equipment closet is part of the agreement and the town must have access to the equipment, there is now a painted line to delineate a walkway that must remain clear.
• Hilma is getting a quote from a plumber to raise toilet and sinks in pre-school bathroom.

 
Northeast IT report & quote
Hilma met with Northeast IT personnel to do a year end review. All upgrades are complete except to migrate Patriot software onto Alice’s computer and the towns central server.  Town needs more memory space and special licensing which will be purchased from Microsoft.  Northeast IT cost is  $1301. The Patriot software charge is $1800.   There is not enough in tech support account to cover the cost. May need to transfer from another fund. SB approved, pending finding a source for the funding.

• Server work may be done by Jan 4
• Police to be moved Jan 4
• Town computers will need to be replaced over the next 5 years. The suggested sum to be set aside for this purpose is $5000 a year.

 
COVID-19 Municipal concerns

• Masks continue to be required in all buildings.
  • Town has received 90 test kits to be distributed, priority determined by the BoH.   

 
Relocation of Offices

• Will not happen until beginning of January due to tax bill processing and the fact that the treasurer is out next week.
• Jacobs Road generator: Cement pad is set, the generator in place, and the electrician finished the hookup work. The only remaining work is hooking up propane tank.

Green Communities update

• Community Hall: The Energy Advisory Committee met with the lead engineer on the project and learned the price was in mid $200,000s which is much higher than the original budget, and exceeds what is in the Green Communities Grant. Brian asked if the project could be done piecemeal, but the response was negative. Equipment costs have escalated, and the ductwork is very complicated. The mini-split project is not doable under the Green Grant. If done it will have to be a special project.
• Green Grant did cover insulating the hall.
• There will be a review of eligible projects to determine what we can do to spend down the grant.
  • Community Hall furnace: There is no advantage to replacing the furnace and would not be approved for the grant.
  • Community Hall windows:  Green Grant will only cover storms, not rebuilding or replacing the windows, which is what is really needed.

Broadband

• The Select Board approved a sum to be paid from the Broadband account [for approx. $8300, did not catch exact amount]
• Town needs to request the drop reimbursement from the state because we have reached 70% drops.

 
Transfer station Hours
Closed this Saturday for the holiday.
Open Wednesday, Dec 29 and Sunday, Jan 2 instead of Saturday.
 
Council on Aging is requesting the use of a room at Jacobs Road.  Discussion deferred to next meeting.
 
Executive Sessions:

1. Hilltown Theatre Lease at Jacobs Road

II.. AT&T pole