Thumbnail for Part 2 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 8/28/23

Board Appointments, Intermunicipal Agreements, and Town Operations Review

Original title: Part 2 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 8/28/23

These meeting notes are AI-generated and unofficial. They are provided for convenience and are not official Town records or approved municipal minutes. Verify all details using the source video and official Town documents.

Meeting details

Date

August 29, 2023

Duration

51m

Decisions

10 recorded

Action Items

13 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen addressed a diverse agenda, including appointments to town committees, an intermunicipal agreement for a school chiller/HVAC project, and the implementation of new facility project oversight procedures. Key personnel decisions were made, such as the approval to post an Assistant Superintendent position and a promotion within the Highway Department. Discussions also covered critical infrastructure needs, including fire department equipment and the USDA wastewater project, alongside proposed changes to sewer abatement regulations and updates on capital planning and PFAS lawsuits.

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Discussion Highlights

Acknowledgment of a complaint regarding an open law meeting and referral of the attorney's response to the Attorney General's office.
Appointment of Margaret Riser to the Council on Aging.
Discussion regarding appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), with one motion failing and another tabled for more information.
Approval of an extension for the Hardwick Rod and Gun Club's 'Rifle Rampage' event until 11:00 PM on October 14, 2023.
Proposed intermunicipal agreement for a school chiller/HVAC project to fix town apportionment shares based on October 2022 student enrollment, ensuring equitable payments.
Introduction of a new pre-construction checklist/process for all facility projects to enhance oversight and coordination with local departments.
Development of a program to train local youth as EMTs and firefighters, leveraging funds from the Hardwick Rescue and Emergency Squad.
Successful completion of a mini police academy with plans for expansion to address police shortages.
Recommendation and approval to post a new Assistant Superintendent position.
Approval of Zachary Barrett's promotion to Foreman within the Highway Department, with a requirement to obtain a CDL within six months and a willingness to sign a two-year agreement.
Discussion on sewer abatements, including granting a specific abatement and proposing a change to the application period from six months to 30 days to improve fiscal management.
Ongoing issues with the Fire Department's aging truck fleet, with a pending grant application and a recommendation to pursue a town override if the grant is unsuccessful.
Capital Planning Committee is compiling a list of town assets and liabilities.
Updates on the USDA wastewater project, including upcoming bidding for the first treatment plant and efforts to secure 'wet water wastewater' services.
Progress on the FY23 closeout and anticipated free cash certification.
Exploration of new heating options for the municipal building, with plans for an alarm system to monitor the current system.
Damage to Page Library fields during a fair, leading to a recommendation for future event parking to be directed away from grass areas.
Approval to proceed with signing for Ware River and Hardwick in PFAS lawsuits.

Transcript (7,309 words)

Lightly cleaned for readability. Each timestamp opens the video at that point.

00:00:00
Thank you we want to move to acknowledge the complaint in the legal sure I would make a motion to acknowledge receipt of the complaint of
00:00:18
A law meeting and I will also move to acknowledge the response from our attorneys that will be sent to the Attorney General's office regarding this complaint a second discussion all those in favor all right I will also make a motion to
00:00:37
Have Nicole sorry forward that before obviously to make our response because we do have a deadline to respond to that back yep okay
00:00:56
[Applause] all right
00:01:30
Okay uh can I visit our comments before we get started next time appointment busts
00:01:52
Rising counseling agent yep we have that letter and right now we only have Ned Kelly on the board and the Outreach coordinator also recommended her so she came highly recommended by Council on Aging
00:02:12
I would move that we appoint Margaret rise to the Council on Asia second discussion all right zoning board of appeals for this siren did you get my emails that I forwarded
00:02:32
You today the first online was also interested in but this is okay I have a letter here you know how many people around the CBA right now two two and Harry coverford
00:02:51
Is it I'm I don't know if it's five I don't know the only thing I could find was this that had two so we need to get more information on how many

[00:00:00] thank you [00:00:02] we want to [00:00:04] move to acknowledge [00:00:07] the complaint in the legal [00:00:10] sure I would make a motion to [00:00:13] acknowledge receipt of the complaint of [00:00:18] a law meeting and I will also move to [00:00:22] acknowledge the response from our [00:00:24] attorneys that will be sent to the [00:00:26] Attorney General's office regarding this [00:00:28] complaint a second [00:00:31] discussion all those in favor [00:00:35] all right I will also make a motion to [00:00:37] have [00:00:38] um [00:00:39] Nicole sorry forward that before [00:00:41] obviously to make our response because [00:00:43] we do have a deadline to respond to that [00:00:45] back yep okay [00:00:56] [Applause] [00:00:59] all right [00:01:30] okay uh can I visit our comments before [00:01:34] we get started [00:01:39] next time [00:01:43] uh appointment busts [00:01:52] Rising [00:01:54] counseling agent [00:01:56] yep we have that letter and [00:01:59] um right now we only have Ned Kelly on [00:02:02] the board and the Outreach coordinator [00:02:06] also recommended her so she came [00:02:09] highly recommended by Council on Aging [00:02:12] I would move that we appoint Margaret [00:02:14] rise to the Council on Asia second [00:02:18] discussion [00:02:22] all right [00:02:25] zoning board of appeals for this siren [00:02:29] did you get my emails that I forwarded [00:02:32] you today the first online was also [00:02:35] interested in but this is okay [00:02:39] I have a letter here [00:02:43] you know how many people around the CBA [00:02:46] right now two two and Harry coverford [00:02:51] is it I'm I don't know if it's five I [00:02:55] don't know the only thing I could find [00:02:58] was this that had two [00:03:02] so [00:03:04] we need to get more information on how [00:03:06] many [00:03:08] um [00:03:12] it just had yeah just lists it and I [00:03:15] did have I did want to reach out to Ryan [00:03:17] today but we got both got busy and he [00:03:19] was here he's not who he was yeah he's [00:03:24] still here yeah sorry [00:03:26] I think it's in the bylaws it's fun [00:03:37] I've moved that we appoint this siren [00:03:40] and uh [00:03:42] I recommend it to the zba [00:03:44] I'm gonna do this separately [00:03:51] we need to find this time for a second [00:03:56] five five [00:04:08] I can't section [00:04:11] can you make another motion I moved that [00:04:14] we appoint Elizabeth siren to the CBA [00:04:19] second [00:04:24] motion guys for like a second I would uh [00:04:27] now like to move that we appoint rip [00:04:30] Romano for the zba in a second okay [00:04:46] thank you [00:04:48] give yourself yeah [00:04:51] I'll second that one [00:04:55] second [00:04:56] it was in favor [00:05:08] do we know what someone I guess but my [00:05:12] problem is I don't know what anyone does [00:05:13] on [00:05:16] Instagram I was on the CVA of my town [00:05:17] for a long time I mean it's it's all [00:05:20] legal it's all if you get denial of [00:05:22] fulfilling perfect I guess that's my [00:05:24] concern is [00:05:25] like what they need to know in their [00:05:28] background for that I used to be on it [00:05:30] and [00:05:33] as you go leaning on Town Council but it [00:05:36] was exceedingly rare that it came up and [00:05:40] I think that that helped us not have [00:05:43] meetings you know and there was nothing [00:05:45] to do but it certainly could become [00:05:49] important [00:05:53] can we table this [00:05:56] sure [00:06:01] bring it back up when we have some [00:06:03] information [00:06:04] we'll remove a pointed Rick [00:06:09] one to one so it was then [00:06:14] then [00:06:16] I [00:06:18] guess I wanted I should have spoke up [00:06:20] before I [00:06:22] right yeah I wanted more information [00:06:27] all right [00:06:28] um [00:06:35] Quest [00:06:36] extension five hours to 10 pm to 11 pm [00:06:42] on October 14th for special event [00:06:45] see one [00:06:47] -on-one Tech value so you're looking for [00:06:49] a one day yeah just go to 2300 seven [00:06:53] o'clock I'm starting at seven to eleven [00:06:55] can you explain what it's going to be so [00:06:58] what can you explain what it's going to [00:07:00] be that's a rip fire Rampage which is a [00:07:03] Countrywide [00:07:05] match [00:07:07] and we've just they've stepped up a [00:07:09] little bit and it looks like it looks [00:07:09] like a light activity and on the lights [00:07:12] all safety commissions [00:07:15] it's a precision rifle I don't know if [00:07:17] you ever this is rifle 22s I mean the [00:07:20] average ride lost five thousand dollars [00:07:22] it's got a very low reports of 22. [00:07:26] the state says ordinance Insurance of 10 [00:07:28] but last time we added we went a little [00:07:31] bit over and we looked we did Awards to [00:07:33] sell the generation running [00:07:35] PD showed up was popping noise was a [00:07:37] generator run out of gas is what apply [00:07:40] it to 11. so [00:07:42] does the PD have any concerns I emailed [00:07:45] them and they didn't understand [00:07:47] [Music] [00:07:54] next year [00:07:58] have you spoken to the cop to the police [00:08:01] department [00:08:02] yeah he told me he comes to you guys [00:08:06] do we have a lot of complaints up there [00:08:08] I haven't zero [00:08:11] I don't know [00:08:13] I would say as long as the PD's aware of [00:08:16] it and they're they know so that they [00:08:18] don't you know show up because right [00:08:19] States will trip up I don't have any [00:08:21] issues with that [00:08:24] someone could say it's a real low report [00:08:25] it's gonna be cold almost people don't [00:08:27] like to get a summer it's not like a [00:08:28] Centerfire rifle [00:08:31] what's your normal hours pardon what [00:08:34] what are the normal hours that you might [00:08:35] get yeah what what are your normal hours [00:08:37] to all to stuff like like [00:08:42] so that time of year is what six o'clock [00:08:45] probably it just get dark so [00:08:50] like a finals the state says like [00:08:52] there's over 10 whatever come so you [00:08:54] guys go past 11. [00:08:56] it's just in case we run over a little [00:08:58] bit [00:08:59] so you're not necessarily going to be [00:09:01] shooting until 11. no it's the it's the [00:09:04] function itself you're just trying to be [00:09:06] cautious okay [00:09:07] it might be a little bit larger so they [00:09:10] might run a little bit [00:09:16] just to make it official sure [00:09:20] um I would make a motion to um [00:09:23] approve that the hardware Rod and Gun [00:09:27] Club put their event on October 14 2023 [00:09:33] but starting at 7 pm the room fire [00:09:36] Rampage and will not exceed past 11 pm [00:09:40] second I'll second it [00:09:44] uh any more discussion [00:09:47] all's in favor [00:09:52] all right thanks guys [00:09:59] well might as well culture Tom thank you [00:10:02] thanks guys thank you [00:10:05] so she's gone let the school discuss [00:10:08] they came in tonight to discuss a couple [00:10:11] things with us [00:10:12] um just kind of move you guys up on the [00:10:14] agenda okay great [00:10:17] um so I'm calling behind the interim [00:10:19] superintendent in school so thanks for [00:10:21] having us [00:10:22] um this is Kevin Clark he's our director [00:10:24] of building and grounds for the problem [00:10:26] Regional School District so a couple [00:10:28] things we've been sending out a [00:10:29] district-wide email that something will [00:10:31] continue to do I think Nicole you've [00:10:33] been receiving that from us we tried to [00:10:35] put you guys on our mailing list so this [00:10:37] left boards would all have it Council on [00:10:39] Aging just so we could be transparent so [00:10:41] you all know what's happening uh from [00:10:43] month to month in the district so if [00:10:45] anyone wants to get that and doesn't let [00:10:47] us know Board of Health would like that [00:10:49] okay great we'll send that out we'll [00:10:52] remember that [00:10:54] um and then the other thing we want to [00:10:55] talk about was in the spring we have a a [00:10:59] chiller an HVAC project at our Middle [00:11:02] High School and so all the towns voted [00:11:06] um [00:11:07] to fund that differently so both new [00:11:10] Braintree and ocam said at that time [00:11:12] they were going to pay up front while [00:11:14] Hardwick and Barry and Hubbardston said [00:11:17] they were going to seek borrowing from [00:11:20] the school districts so we had a meeting [00:11:23] to talk about that and after looking at [00:11:28] our regional agreement and people at the [00:11:31] meeting Nicole was there [00:11:33] um bringing up a concern if we're a town [00:11:36] who can pay ahead of time we pay based [00:11:39] on our apportionment the number of [00:11:41] students we have in the district as of [00:11:43] October 2022 but for the towns that [00:11:47] needed to borrow their apportionment [00:11:50] would change over the life in terms of [00:11:53] the loan so if your student enrollment [00:11:54] went up a little bit you paid a little [00:11:56] bit more next year if your student [00:11:58] enrollment went down you paid a little [00:12:00] bit less [00:12:01] so [00:12:03] um there was a question about whether [00:12:04] that was sort of Equitable between the [00:12:06] towns that could pay ahead of time and [00:12:08] the towns that had to seek funding so we [00:12:11] looked into it we've been working with [00:12:12] our legal counsel and they suggested [00:12:14] that we enter into something called an [00:12:16] inter-municipal agreement basically all [00:12:19] of our towns all five towns no matter [00:12:21] how you're paying for the project would [00:12:24] have to sign off that on this one-time [00:12:26] project we would not follow the language [00:12:29] of the regional agreement which says [00:12:31] that uh the borrowing is apportioned [00:12:35] over time but instead everybody's [00:12:37] apportionment would be as of October [00:12:40] 2022 so it stays consistent for you as [00:12:44] you borrow over time so we have that [00:12:47] legal council has gotten that to us [00:12:49] we're waiting for a little bit more [00:12:51] feedback and if you guys were on board [00:12:53] with that then we'll have all the five [00:12:55] select boards signing off on that [00:12:58] and we'll be good to go do you have any [00:13:00] questions about that [00:13:03] um sounds pretty cut and dry honestly [00:13:06] normally we've never had a situation [00:13:08] where some of the towns have stayed up [00:13:10] front normally we do this with really [00:13:11] large projects and people are like thank [00:13:13] you that's great as our enrollment [00:13:15] changes it makes sense that our amount [00:13:18] changes but in this particular case [00:13:20] because some of the towns could afford [00:13:22] to pay up front was a smaller project it [00:13:25] just sort of changed the Dynamics of [00:13:26] that so that's something that we'll be [00:13:28] reaching out to you again to set up a [00:13:30] meeting again all five towns have to [00:13:32] sign off on it we did set the [00:13:36] terms of the loan for five years which [00:13:39] is what [00:13:40] um all the towns [00:13:42] so if sometimes don't want to sign that [00:13:45] then does it fall back too so if all [00:13:48] five towns don't sign it then it would [00:13:50] fall back to the regional agreement but [00:13:52] Kevin and I have visited [00:13:54] um you're our fourth out of out of the [00:13:56] five towns and everyone seems to be on [00:13:58] board with it so I don't anticipate a [00:14:00] problem at all we don't need to have a [00:14:02] town meeting for them yeah we already [00:14:04] voted to do it no we just have to do it [00:14:07] yeah yeah that was on our last annual [00:14:10] meeting right [00:14:14] thank you [00:14:16] if I may um I've wondered for a while [00:14:19] and it's not just about this issue but [00:14:20] what is how do you figure an enrollment [00:14:23] and specifically I'm wondering [00:14:25] here at Hardwick the enrollment in the [00:14:29] private Regional School District is is [00:14:31] what exactly how to how to uh [00:14:34] how does school choice figure that out [00:14:36] of Home Solutions Figures [00:14:38] it's a great question so we submit to [00:14:42] the state uh report [00:14:44] um twice a year and in the first report [00:14:47] is October 1st so every year October 1st [00:14:50] they certify our students and our [00:14:52] students are coded by a town that they [00:14:54] reside in or if their school choice [00:14:57] um homeschooling so on and so forth and [00:15:00] so they figure out [00:15:01] Chapter 70 based on the students who are [00:15:04] in your school [00:15:06] from your town right so that's how we [00:15:09] get our reimbursement from the state but [00:15:12] also it's how we know exactly what your [00:15:14] numbers are so if you have school [00:15:15] chewiest students who go to Hardwick we [00:15:18] don't consider them [00:15:20] um Harvard students the students of [00:15:22] Hardwick are your students in our [00:15:24] schools and the homeschoolers if they [00:15:34] you're welcome [00:15:36] um and so the last thing we have is just [00:15:39] uh we encountered a strange situation [00:15:41] and sort of for us an opportunity to [00:15:45] improve our systems and structures I'm [00:15:47] sorry it's okay [00:15:49] um but one of our towns entered into a [00:15:53] Greener community's grant for one of our [00:15:56] school buildings and what that was what [00:15:59] is the town sought the funding to pay [00:16:01] for the project [00:16:03] so the school didn't have any oversight [00:16:05] over that project [00:16:07] um [00:16:07] because it was something that the towns [00:16:10] can seek and not the schools per se so [00:16:13] this Project's been going on for how [00:16:15] long Kevin a few years a few years [00:16:18] um and over the summer [00:16:20] we had some people come into our school [00:16:23] building they were working and there was [00:16:26] a problem [00:16:27] with um [00:16:30] a sprinkler system [00:16:32] am I right about that heating sorry [00:16:35] heating Uh Kevin not say more about it [00:16:37] uh but while they were in the building [00:16:39] and the challenge we had was none of our [00:16:41] staff was in sight on that building the [00:16:44] people are in the building working [00:16:45] independently and we were unaware of the [00:16:47] situation as was the local fire and [00:16:50] police departments so we realized that [00:16:53] we had to put a procedure in place so [00:16:55] that when we have projects like this we [00:16:57] can all be on the same page and when [00:17:00] workers are going into our facilities we [00:17:02] really need to [00:17:04] um no one understand what's happening [00:17:06] and be able to have some final say on [00:17:07] that so what I have in front of you is a [00:17:11] document that we sort of created as [00:17:13] guidelines sort of if you think of it as [00:17:15] in Kevin's world he calls it like this [00:17:18] pre-construction [00:17:19] checklist and and process [00:17:22] um so that we can all ensure that we're [00:17:26] we know what the project is people who [00:17:29] need to be involved are informed of that [00:17:31] including our local [00:17:33] potentially Highway Department fire [00:17:35] police so on and so forth and we have a [00:17:38] clear process for who's responsible [00:17:41] um as a situation might arise we don't [00:17:43] anticipate this happening very often at [00:17:46] all normally we oversee all of the [00:17:48] facilities projects it's very rarely [00:17:51] that something like this would happen [00:17:53] but what we're asking for is that we [00:17:57] would have [00:17:58] um exactly that like a pre-construction [00:18:00] meeting we'd identify our timelines our [00:18:03] calendar when the work is going to be [00:18:05] done we would like the work to be done [00:18:07] so it's least disruptive to the students [00:18:10] obviously and also [00:18:13] um when our staff can be there so [00:18:15] primarily you know we'd want a project [00:18:18] to be happening during the hours that [00:18:19] our custodial staff is working things [00:18:22] like that [00:18:23] um and then after the project is done [00:18:25] you would follow up with like an after [00:18:27] Action meeting and things like that so [00:18:30] we brought this to four of the towns [00:18:33] we've gotten some really great feedback [00:18:34] we've made adjustments to it so we ask [00:18:37] you to read it over and if you have any [00:18:39] additional suggestions or things like [00:18:41] that we'd appreciate hearing them and [00:18:43] like I said we don't anticipate using it [00:18:45] very often anything [00:18:48] basically we're trying to protect the [00:18:50] Integrity of the building so we want to [00:18:52] make sure that if there is a [00:18:54] construction project going that one a [00:18:56] member of my staff that's very familiar [00:18:58] with the building you know the [00:18:59] functionality of it Etc is actually [00:19:01] there in case something goes wrong in [00:19:03] the case that we're referring to there [00:19:05] was nobody there nobody knew people were [00:19:07] even in there and there was an issue and [00:19:10] there was nobody there to address it we [00:19:13] just want to protect the building [00:19:14] protect your building protect our [00:19:16] belongings Etc and just make sure the [00:19:18] project goes you know click any typical [00:19:21] construction project [00:19:23] [Music] [00:19:26] are you guys going to be putting [00:19:28] something out like some kind of an [00:19:30] agreement letter that we would sign off [00:19:33] just to state that we would not [00:19:36] necessarily [00:19:37] um I think we thought of this as kind of [00:19:39] like our checklist that we would use [00:19:40] going into all these projects so I [00:19:43] imagine at that time if people had [00:19:44] concerns with the process that's where [00:19:47] we would either start make adjustments [00:19:49] that kind of thing [00:19:52] kind of procedure thing yeah exactly and [00:19:55] one of the big attributes to this is [00:19:57] also during a pre-construction meeting [00:20:00] just addressing you know who's in charge [00:20:02] of it whose phone numbers who to call [00:20:04] when something happens because in the [00:20:05] instance we're referring to I actually [00:20:06] got a call from the police department [00:20:08] telling me there was an issue and I [00:20:10] didn't know anything about it and they [00:20:11] just kept going down the list and nobody [00:20:13] knowing about it so it's just we're [00:20:15] trying to eliminate issues before they [00:20:17] happen [00:20:18] fair enough it's pretty common in the [00:20:21] construction world too yeah for sure we [00:20:24] realized we had that problem [00:20:28] referencing [00:20:38] well it was one of our other towns so [00:20:41] it's really happened here in Hardwick uh [00:20:43] well it doesn't I mean it doesn't really [00:20:47] matter excuse me in an elementary school [00:20:49] yes it happened to one of our elementary [00:20:51] schools yet and so we took it out as a [00:20:54] learning opportunity as everything is [00:20:56] right so we can do better every year [00:20:57] yeah [00:21:01] um I did at our last at our last town [00:21:04] meeting I just went into Eric say to you [00:21:06] you had mentioned to me in the parking [00:21:08] lot you probably don't remember this but [00:21:09] training our kids to become EMTs and [00:21:12] firefighters I want to let you know that [00:21:14] we are working on that [00:21:16] um we've been in contact with our local [00:21:18] fire chiefs and we're hoping to have a [00:21:20] program up and running once we get a [00:21:22] little bit more information but I wanted [00:21:23] to make sure that I followed through on [00:21:25] that because I know that's a need for [00:21:27] our towns and actually the hard work [00:21:30] rescue and emergency Squad still exists [00:21:33] is [00:21:33] board of directors and we have some [00:21:35] money that we've decided to put into [00:21:38] this kind of thing [00:21:41] you've started paying for people's EMT [00:21:44] courses so I'm eager to talk to you [00:21:47] about okay great we'll connect are you [00:21:49] working with a gentleman from West [00:21:51] Boylston who put that they have one [00:21:55] there there actually there are a lot of [00:21:56] local communities that have them in our [00:21:59] Oakham fire chief [00:22:00] um and our hubblestone fire chief were [00:22:02] sort of gathering all the information [00:22:04] and talking to local departments that [00:22:06] run these programs so yeah more to come [00:22:09] on that that's a real win yeah [00:22:13] we did we actually did we had a mini [00:22:16] Police Academy at the middle high school [00:22:19] we had 13 cadets for a week and it was [00:22:22] amazing the state helicopter came in the [00:22:25] dogs came in they did all kinds of [00:22:28] training and they're going to expand [00:22:29] that for next year as well so that's [00:22:31] really cool considering that on the news [00:22:33] right before I came it was all about [00:22:36] like huge shortages yeah with police [00:22:38] Across the Nation really but at least [00:22:42] that's great enrollment and made fun to [00:22:44] expand it so [00:22:50] thank you [00:22:59] I saw on the agenda Personnel committee [00:23:02] and recommendation new position Highway [00:23:05] uh assistant superintendent promotion [00:23:09] for Ohio labor to Foreman of Zach [00:23:14] Barrett so [00:23:18] we get that we did discuss that at the [00:23:20] Personnel committee [00:23:24] I noticed that something was sent to [00:23:27] know today I did not have a chance to [00:23:28] read it it was just a it was a tweaked [00:23:30] description a job description yeah for [00:23:33] assistant superintendent yeah [00:23:39] can you guess [00:23:43] as far as I'm already looked at it right [00:23:46] yeah [00:23:53] sure [00:23:55] I would make a motion to accept [00:23:59] the [00:24:00] um posting for the new position [00:24:02] assistant superintendent [00:24:05] so that it can be posted and I think [00:24:09] Lori wanted to um [00:24:16] so I would second that motion [00:24:21] for the discussion anything else in [00:24:24] favor all right [00:24:26] all right yeah [00:24:28] I would also make a motion to allow the [00:24:34] highway department to do the promotions [00:24:36] from Highway labor to format for Zachary [00:24:38] Barrett [00:24:40] second [00:24:42] discussion [00:24:45] hi hi [00:24:51] do we have anybody here from the fire [00:24:53] department [00:24:55] no no [00:25:05] to do [00:25:20] I have the backup I just didn't want to [00:25:22] put it in the packet because it was so [00:25:23] big so if anybody who cares to see so [00:25:26] everything back up everything [00:25:28] yeah it's just it was a big pack it's [00:25:31] like if it's too big I can't pee you [00:25:33] have to email it [00:25:35] it's there is it just the two [00:25:39] I think it's just one there was it [00:25:42] the application and the second page is [00:25:44] the actual engagement that I just said [00:25:47] that you signed and then when I Jaws [00:25:49] yeah [00:26:00] saying that the apartment is big [00:26:11] back and since February [00:26:16] it's just that six months now this isn't [00:26:19] six months they have to apply and this [00:26:22] is what I'm next on the agenda that I [00:26:24] wanted to talk to you guys about and it [00:26:26] should be somewhere yeah [00:26:27] they have to file within six months of [00:26:30] them getting their bills so that's what [00:26:31] that is [00:26:39] right [00:26:40] the abatements for three 6.44 so that's [00:26:43] good yeah [00:26:50] foreign [00:27:00] [Music] [00:27:22] about one more discussion [00:27:40] all right [00:27:42] now what you want you want the [00:27:44] application process for sewer abatements [00:27:46] so if you look at this front page that [00:27:49] you have and how the application works [00:27:51] they have to approve they have to apply [00:27:54] this abatement within six months when [00:27:56] you do the sewer bill which does not [00:27:58] work for fiscal years [00:28:01] um [00:28:01] so I called a couple of other wastewater [00:28:03] treatment plants and they do 30 days and [00:28:06] I think it would be more prudent to do [00:28:09] 30 days so we keep it within within the [00:28:11] fiscal year [00:28:12] these abatements are just going all [00:28:15] wonky all over the place they're not [00:28:18] staying within the year and if there's [00:28:20] one thing that I've learned from [00:28:21] financial management it's that you keep [00:28:24] everything in the same year regardless [00:28:26] if it's an Enterprise fund so [00:28:28] um you know six months you're never [00:28:30] you're never within the same physical [00:28:32] year [00:28:41] probably you write that up [00:28:48] yeah great greater regulation okay [00:28:52] okay yes I'm not opposed to that no I [00:28:55] don't think I think that definitely I [00:28:57] think yeah you get it send it in for the [00:28:59] abatement or you don't get it yeah [00:29:02] and you know we we are working on these [00:29:05] regulations right currently and you know [00:29:08] we'd like to it's utility so they are [00:29:12] entitled to some sort of abatement [00:29:14] because they're not using the utility [00:29:16] but to use the to use [00:29:19] their reasoning if they don't want to [00:29:22] rent it out it does that's not [00:29:25] um you know it's counter productive when [00:29:28] we have all these vacant homes because [00:29:30] then they go into disarray and then they [00:29:32] get abandoned and then they become our [00:29:33] problem so to encourage people to you [00:29:36] know keep them occupied and keep them up [00:29:38] to date is is really what we should be [00:29:40] encouraging and not like just come in if [00:29:43] you think don't want to rent it out and [00:29:44] we'll give you an abatement [00:29:46] so that's I'm working on that too [00:29:49] um so yeah I that's fine I just yeah I [00:29:53] wanted to um [00:29:55] you know here we're already we're into [00:29:57] almost September and this is for last [00:29:59] year last year so like now I'm gonna [00:30:00] it's just it just doesn't make sense [00:30:03] so yeah I could do that [00:30:11] for regulations [00:30:14] it makes sense to get them changed [00:30:18] I know especially as we're working on [00:30:19] the regulations anyway so [00:30:24] all right [00:30:25] next is the superintendent's report see [00:30:28] Scott's not here tonight you know he was [00:30:31] going to but he's sick he was at work [00:30:33] but now he's sick so I couldn't make it [00:30:40] I don't really have anything [00:30:44] yet [00:30:56] I guess we can just say we accept it [00:30:58] yeah [00:31:03] thank you [00:31:05] um [00:31:09] meeting night approvals for June 12th [00:31:13] June uh Juliet [00:31:28] I don't know if we accept meetings [00:31:30] meeting minutes for June 12th [00:31:33] 2023 second [00:31:53] meeting minutes for July 18th [00:32:00] [Music] [00:32:03] second [00:32:05] our discussion all those in favor all [00:32:08] right [00:32:10] July 24th [00:32:18] [Applause] [00:32:27] of everything promotions too accept the [00:32:30] meeting and it's from July 24th 2023. [00:32:36] any more discussion all those in favor [00:32:48] of business [00:32:50] Christmas on the common committee [00:32:55] so you had asked [00:32:58] me to find out the procedure of creating [00:33:01] a new committee and I was talking with [00:33:03] Ryan about it and there is one person [00:33:05] who is interested so I put it in your [00:33:07] packet but Ryan had an excellent point [00:33:09] that this is you know it's not really a [00:33:11] town committee or so per se it's more of [00:33:14] a volunteer kind of committee and to [00:33:16] just let them have their committee on [00:33:19] their own that it doesn't need to be [00:33:22] um you know nominated by the board they [00:33:25] can just be their own committee that [00:33:27] works I like that idea okay so I'll just [00:33:30] tell Angie that just go ahead Emily and [00:33:33] the other people from the do Christmas [00:33:35] on the common [00:33:37] do whatever you need to do I would just [00:33:39] ask that maybe they come in beforehand [00:33:41] so if that we know what's going on in [00:33:43] case of anything [00:33:45] Before Christmas you know like carnival [00:33:47] rides or something like yeah yeah yeah [00:33:49] yeah right I mean a touch of you know [00:33:51] sure sure absolutely [00:33:53] I'm in contact with Angie all the time [00:33:55] because she's on other boards so we'll [00:33:57] make sure there's no liabilities there [00:33:59] yeah [00:34:05] you know it's a good idea all right [00:34:08] going on to the Android screen our [00:34:10] struct Fields ambulance agreement we're [00:34:12] just resigning you're just resigning it [00:34:14] because when he sent it to me and I [00:34:16] printed it out and we're all in [00:34:17] agreement that it was the same as last [00:34:18] year changed the dates he only sent me [00:34:21] like the first two pages so I just [00:34:23] didn't feel I just wanted you to resign [00:34:26] it I didn't feel like I want I wanted to [00:34:28] just take your signature page and put it [00:34:30] on here I wanted you just receiving [00:34:31] everything yeah [00:34:35] okay [00:34:37] yep [00:34:43] through here [00:34:48] [Music] [00:35:04] all right so that's any other old [00:35:07] business you might want to discuss [00:35:11] foreign [00:35:19] yeah actually can I back up to [00:35:25] the highway [00:35:29] yes when we were talking about the you [00:35:32] know promoting Zachary and I believe [00:35:35] he's gonna have to get a CDL within a [00:35:37] time frame yeah within a year does that [00:35:40] work I think six six months [00:35:43] is that like enforceable is that [00:35:46] something we can't do [00:35:48] good [00:35:51] well my concern was having him stick [00:35:53] around and giving him sort of like a two [00:35:56] or three years [00:35:58] Mansion yeah okay and then as I was [00:36:01] thinking that it's hard to enforce that [00:36:03] you know unless we have a contract and [00:36:07] then if if somebody flies away we have [00:36:09] to pursue it in court [00:36:13] just maybe just having signs of them and [00:36:15] he's gonna stay agreement [00:36:18] yeah I was going to have it but Marty [00:36:22] said two okay [00:36:24] um and he did he said he's going to try [00:36:25] to have him get it before the snow flies [00:36:27] so he's trying like immediately okay [00:36:32] I mean if we're gonna you know if we're [00:36:34] gonna pay for nothing I think yeah so [00:36:36] he's willing to sign that he said he's [00:36:38] safe for at least two years and [00:36:41] um and get it as soon as possible so it [00:36:43] won't I'm sure it won't take two years [00:36:45] this is a discussion that Murray's [00:36:47] already having yeah perfect yep he has I [00:36:52] assume but I just wanted to make sure [00:36:53] that I brought that up here [00:36:59] um [00:37:00] we probably should touch on this because [00:37:02] as far as the truck but I did have [00:37:06] conversation with the chief about this [00:37:08] but [00:37:11] it's not here so but the fire trucks are [00:37:15] exceedingly expensive one of our two [00:37:19] responding engines is widely out of 12. [00:37:25] and uh you know they have a Grant [00:37:30] application to tell right now but uh [00:37:40] [Music] [00:37:43] they sent out a letter saying you know [00:37:46] everything is cool [00:37:52] now it's coming up in the next month or [00:37:55] two they should know but yes it is [00:37:58] always a long shot and [00:38:01] um every year the engines get older and [00:38:04] uh the chief's point right now is that [00:38:07] the Pierce [00:38:09] actually it's a beautiful fire engine [00:38:11] but it doesn't meet any kind of [00:38:13] requirement and it [00:38:15] plus eight thousand dollars to do [00:38:18] necessary repairs and the truck's worth [00:38:20] five thousand dollars so we're stuck [00:38:24] that way and and this is perennial you [00:38:28] should be putting [00:38:31] him up here because we're always going [00:38:33] to need absolutely [00:38:35] absolutely so right now they got the [00:38:37] pumper they got the tanker and they've [00:38:40] got [00:38:41] this [00:38:44] conversation well the problem with our [00:38:46] boys and why we didn't I think why we [00:38:49] stay away from the miracle was because [00:38:50] federal funds and federal funds can't [00:38:54] right so right the grant [00:38:57] yeah but that's a big if well obviously [00:39:01] it doesn't look like it's going well [00:39:03] um [00:39:04] I mean I I honestly think my [00:39:06] recommendation would be if they don't [00:39:09] get the grant [00:39:12] then they should go for try to get [00:39:15] enough support in town bolts it through [00:39:17] okay okay [00:39:26] [Music] [00:39:28] but I would push for that I mean if we [00:39:32] start now maybe in a year you know we'll [00:39:34] have the money and then you have to wait [00:39:37] for the entrance for a while they were [00:39:40] looking for a [00:39:41] Quint [00:39:42] it's essentially a small ladder truck [00:39:45] they could probably get along with just [00:39:48] another country and another engine yeah [00:39:52] but so we got to do something [00:39:55] so [00:40:04] they'll be in November they can have a [00:40:07] ballot [00:40:10] there you go you gotta see if you got [00:40:13] support yes [00:40:16] there's there's going to be a day there [00:40:19] both those defaults are trucks are not [00:40:22] in great shape no even the Nora truck is [00:40:25] not no they all have problems [00:40:29] and we borrowed one already can vary for [00:40:31] three months before [00:40:35] yeah and it's kind of to keep tips and [00:40:37] yeah it's a kind of a waste of money at [00:40:39] this point [00:40:43] all right committee reports [00:40:46] our meeting is next Tuesday so I gave [00:40:51] them to you at the last meetings [00:40:54] I'm supposed to report on the uh [00:40:59] the chair he asked me to speak and just [00:41:02] say they were on it and we've asked [00:41:04] Nicole for a list of assets Talent [00:41:07] assets and uh [00:41:11] items [00:41:12] yet but we're starting to get into it [00:41:16] see if they list the liabilities [00:41:19] they probably would go on the same list [00:41:22] right that's pretty much [00:41:26] um miscellaneous correspondence anything [00:41:28] no [00:41:31] administrator report I'm sorry they're [00:41:34] not in your packet but here they are [00:41:48] this stuffy feels the most important [00:41:51] okay [00:41:54] um [00:41:55] so we always give an update to oh [00:41:58] regarding the USDA project uh the first [00:42:01] treatment plant will be going out to bed [00:42:02] soon I don't have the exact dates but [00:42:04] um the rfqs for the sub bidder and [00:42:07] general contractor are due Wednesday [00:42:09] August 30th at 10 A.M we have lots of [00:42:12] lots of bids coming in the debt [00:42:16] repayment is still being discussed [00:42:18] and the oversight you and you sent a new [00:42:21] a new um RFP and so I've been looking at [00:42:25] that and working on that and still [00:42:27] trying to get weight water Wastewater [00:42:28] because [00:42:30] we've only gotten the Blue Heron so far [00:42:32] so there's that it's moving along [00:42:35] fantastically actually and were you on [00:42:39] the phone into [00:42:40] um what last Thursday retardy is [00:42:42] um the week in the 19th yeah [00:42:45] yep they'll be back this uh September [00:42:48] 19th or something that week yeah excuse [00:42:50] me you sent out Kelly sent out something [00:42:54] to look at can we decide to use that and [00:42:57] I think it needs to be tweaked a little [00:43:00] bit I mean it's very [00:43:02] basic but I think it touches everything [00:43:05] that we thought we [00:43:07] wanted [00:43:09] and I think you know you probably need [00:43:11] legal jargon okay you know right I'm [00:43:14] just you know if it's gonna go out to [00:43:17] you know bid per se probably should have [00:43:20] some town maybe Town Council just well [00:43:23] can we can we [00:43:26] deal with that I can send it and [00:43:31] objective job to Graves engineering [00:43:34] they're willing to look at this and bid [00:43:37] on them give us a press and blue heron [00:43:40] seemed fine so [00:43:44] wanna keep tweaking it or I think we [00:43:48] need to yeah [00:43:51] did you look at it and then [00:43:54] um do I remember [00:43:58] it was very I mean because I don't so [00:44:01] again I think it needs some [00:44:03] contract charging in you know inserted [00:44:07] into it I literally just took from it [00:44:11] okay that was just so if everyone can go [00:44:14] through it and yeah I guess you know add [00:44:17] or subtract [00:44:20] just for its you know I'm sure yeah [00:44:25] thank you [00:44:28] so FY 23 should be closed Soon Michael [00:44:31] the first week of September the first [00:44:32] year I was here it was almost in [00:44:34] December but it really should be done by [00:44:38] the end of July we are very limited with [00:44:42] sap so I can see how it would take a [00:44:44] little longer but I absolutely want to [00:44:47] make sure that um that at least the last [00:44:51] week of August it's done [00:44:52] um but they're working on it they're [00:44:54] very close they're already reporting to [00:44:55] dor so we should be looking good for a [00:44:59] free cash certification like hopefully [00:45:01] within the next six weeks [00:45:05] Greenwich Road drainage project is being [00:45:07] conducted currently [00:45:09] um there there's also Limited in staff [00:45:12] so it's taking extra time expect delays [00:45:14] please if it's possible seek alternate [00:45:18] groups [00:45:20] um [00:45:21] with the restructuring of the highway [00:45:23] we're exploring new heating options for [00:45:26] this building we we're told we're going [00:45:29] to have to deal with it for this winter [00:45:30] season and we're just going to have to [00:45:32] be more diligent on the flushing and [00:45:35] maybe get some sort of [00:45:40] Bell or something or something like that [00:45:42] some sort of notification alarm system [00:45:44] that tells us if it's starting to fill [00:45:47] up too much so [00:45:48] hopefully we'll have that very soon [00:45:52] that won't have uh Melissa alarms like [00:45:54] someone's cell phone too or something [00:45:56] yes you'll hear it if you're here no no [00:45:58] way to have to go it would be like up [00:46:01] the police Highway Ryan me and we would [00:46:04] all be getting it like somebody has to [00:46:07] get here and flush the world [00:46:11] I'm pretty close too so keep that in [00:46:13] mind yeah I'm right here oh yeah right [00:46:16] okay [00:46:18] so there was some damage to the page [00:46:20] Library fields from the fair uh the [00:46:23] committee is working on getting a quote [00:46:26] to have it repaired there was no parking [00:46:28] on the fields and we sent out a code red [00:46:30] and we made sure that they barricaded [00:46:32] the fields that people Park in this year [00:46:34] because they were so saturated but I [00:46:36] think they just overlooked the library [00:46:38] and that's where people Park and they [00:46:39] just know that they can park there and [00:46:41] unfortunately [00:46:43] um [00:46:43] so I think going forward I think it's [00:46:47] probably best that everybody just parked [00:46:49] at Eagle Hill and knock on these these [00:46:52] uh grass slots but it's okay on the [00:46:54] drive during a dry summer but not this [00:46:56] summer and then people just get used to [00:46:58] it and they just want to park there [00:46:59] anyway so [00:47:01] um Capital planning that on Monday [00:47:02] August 21st there's several requests [00:47:04] from departments regarding Capital needs [00:47:05] a lot of them were building repairs and [00:47:08] we have another meeting next month and [00:47:10] we can report on all the fun after that [00:47:12] because we are still getting [00:47:14] um [00:47:16] the reports in and requests and so [00:47:22] um and that's that's that and [00:47:26] um [00:47:26] beyond the website [00:47:32] all right well you guys signatures I do [00:47:36] have [00:47:37] chapter 90 [00:47:39] and then she actually put exactly where [00:47:41] everybody needs to buying questions [00:47:44] I know [00:47:58] I guess also [00:48:00] um I could add if you don't mind um [00:48:03] tomorrow I have a meeting with the [00:48:04] Hubbardston Town Administrator to go [00:48:07] over other intermunicipal Regional [00:48:10] agreements that we might need be able to [00:48:12] capitalize on from a report that was [00:48:15] done in like 2018 it wasn't [00:48:17] um you know fully nice so I'm meeting [00:48:20] with him tomorrow at 10. see what [00:48:22] happens with that [00:48:28] thank you [00:48:30] one page [00:48:34] yeah I think she she only uh [00:48:39] Captain [00:48:41] um [00:48:43] uh Nicole I asked Nicole about the [00:48:46] retainers for the pfest lawsuits [00:48:51] and she said you said you would get to [00:48:54] the attorney [00:48:56] well like they're pushing me to to sign [00:49:00] I've signed for Gilbertville water [00:49:02] district but not wheel right and [00:49:06] Hardware [00:49:07] and these are Big lawsuits you can sign [00:49:11] it I just never got back to him sorry [00:49:13] you can find me oh okay yeah you know I [00:49:16] heard back from illegal but I just [00:49:18] forgot to tell you I'm sorry oh what'd [00:49:19] they say he said there's no no nothing [00:49:21] wrong with joining it nothing that's [00:49:23] going to you know put Jeopardy put hard [00:49:26] work in Jeopardy at all right [00:49:27] that's what I was worried about us being [00:49:29] on the hook for something [00:49:43] I don't have anything else [00:49:49] [Music] [00:49:52] discussion okay [00:49:56] bring us to the last item [00:50:03] it's like wait there's something outside [00:50:05] yeah [00:50:07] I'll suck at that same stuff [00:50:24] do you want to keep the paper no because [00:50:27] I I will recycle indeed from every guy [00:50:30] if you guys don't want to just leave it [00:50:31] on the table and I will recycle and well [00:50:34] okay [00:50:50] I put pens out for you guys in case you [00:50:53] forget them if you want to take it you [00:50:55] absolutely can I think I got that at a [00:50:58] conference [00:51:06] it's so convenient [00:51:09] you know to use that work I think it's [00:51:12] right I find that even then I have my [00:51:16] computer on I have a backup screen again [00:51:18] so I have to say I don't