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Hardwick Select Board Meeting: Budget, Infrastructure, and Administrative Updates

Original title: *01/13/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

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

January 14, 2025

Duration

31m

Decisions

9 recorded

Action Items

8 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board convened to address a range of municipal matters, including the progression of proposed solar energy facility language, the approval of a revised permitting checklist, and an 18-month extension for the Hardwick Mill Greenery Post Community Agreement. Significant attention was given to the Town Administrator's performance review, resulting in a salary adjustment, and a comprehensive report on various town improvements and financial preparations. The meeting also covered upcoming special elections, grant updates, and ongoing budget finalization efforts, concluding with discussions on an auctioneer payment and the scheduling of future executive sessions.

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Discussion Highlights

Proposed language for solar energy facilities will be posted on the town website for public review, aiming to balance state regulations with local control and planning documents.
The board clarified the intent of USDA prime farmland designations in solar development, aiming to discourage installations on such land without outright prohibition.
A cleaned-up building application approval checklist, incorporating departmental suggestions, was reviewed and approved.
The post-community agreement for Hardwick Mill Greenery was extended by 18 months due to project delays and construction challenges.
Town Administrator Justine's performance review concluded positively, with feedback highlighting her approachability, knowledge, and effective support for her position.
Updates were provided on various town infrastructure projects, including the removal of the Rubble's Hill oil tank, state-funded hydrant repairs, Town Hall building improvements, and the installation of a new phone system and panic buttons.
Budget finalization is underway, awaiting state and health insurance numbers, with department budget meetings completed and bi-weekly financial management meetings ongoing.
Concerns were raised regarding the Animal Control Officer's operations, specifically the need for a dedicated kennel and a formal contract for its use.
A $150,000 grant was secured for new dispatch radios to operate on the same frequency as surrounding towns.
A special town election is scheduled for January 18th to vote on the purchase of a fire truck, emphasizing the urgency due to potential cost increases and delays for future replacements.
The cost per student for the Hardwick school was clarified as approximately $18,000-$19,000 annually, split 50/50 between the town and the state.
Discussion occurred regarding potential payment to an auctioneer for incurred costs related to a future auction.

Transcript (5,607 words)

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

00:00:00
After we got it back from here we be posting the proposed language on the website alongside you know the existing like what we got bylaw the redlined Y yeah yes right right so that's all we're
00:00:18
Looking for is to is to move on to the next step after months of contemplation you're here do do we do that now we just say thank you yeah it's and goes back if you guys have any questions or any anything yeah I'm comfortable with this
00:00:37
With it question moving yeah well then we would uh do you have questions yeah I I have questions for you though um the section on the nine the solar energy facilities um paragraph 9.1 at the very bottom I will the second paragraph down it says the solar array
00:00:57
Facilities shall be consistent with Community planning do doents including but not limited to the town's master plan open space and Recreation plan so what is I'm just trying to figure out what is the intention if somebody wants to come and do a solar array and presents to the planning board how does
00:01:16
The master plan and open space and Recreation plan how how does that all work together well this and many other things would be a best able maybe to be addressed asked by or answered by everybody who's at at the hearing okay with their different inputs into what it means but
00:01:35
I would say that all all that saying and this is very possibly borrowed language from other approved you know AG approved towns that have done that but um to me it just reads that whatever we do is hopefully in line with the master
00:01:56
Plan in the open space so in other words if something if the open space plan says well we want to have this solar this is not for solar or this is a a ball field or something like that then maybe maybe that a solar facility there wouldn't be consistent with that so it's just saying

[00:00:00] after we got it back from here we be [00:00:02] posting the proposed language on the uh [00:00:08] website alongside you know the existing [00:00:11] like what we got bylaw the redlined Y [00:00:14] yeah yes right right so that's all we're [00:00:18] looking for is to is to move on to the [00:00:20] next step after months of uh [00:00:23] contemplation you're here do do we do [00:00:26] that now we just say thank you yeah it's [00:00:30] and goes back if you guys have any [00:00:32] questions or any [00:00:34] anything yeah I'm comfortable with this [00:00:37] with [00:00:37] it question moving yeah well then we [00:00:40] would uh do you have questions yeah I I [00:00:42] have questions for you though um the [00:00:45] section on the nine the solar energy [00:00:48] facilities um paragraph [00:00:51] 9.1 at the very bottom I will the second [00:00:54] paragraph down it says the solar array [00:00:57] facilities shall be consistent with [00:00:58] Community planning do doents including [00:01:01] but not limited to the town's master [00:01:03] plan open space and Recreation plan so [00:01:08] what is I'm just trying to figure out [00:01:10] what is the intention if somebody wants [00:01:11] to come and do a solar array and [00:01:13] presents to the planning board how does [00:01:16] the master plan and open space and [00:01:18] Recreation plan how how does that all [00:01:20] work [00:01:23] together well this and many other things [00:01:25] would [00:01:27] be a best able maybe to be addressed [00:01:29] asked by or answered by everybody who's [00:01:31] at at the hearing okay with their [00:01:33] different inputs into what it means but [00:01:35] I would say that all all that saying and [00:01:38] this is very possibly borrowed language [00:01:40] from other approved you know AG approved [00:01:44] towns that have done that but um to me [00:01:47] it just reads that whatever we do um [00:01:52] is hopefully in line with the master [00:01:56] plan in the open space so in other words [00:01:58] if something if the open space plan says [00:02:00] well we want to have this solar this is [00:02:04] not for solar or this is a a ball field [00:02:08] or something like that then maybe maybe [00:02:10] that a solar facility there wouldn't be [00:02:12] consistent with that so it's just saying [00:02:14] in the in the process of deciding where [00:02:17] these things can be or should be take a [00:02:19] look at the town's overall planning [00:02:21] documents it doesn't say it can't be [00:02:24] it's clearly can be if town was to [00:02:26] approve it but it's just making [00:02:29] reference to that along you know okay [00:02:32] the future [00:02:33] so I'm sure that question and others [00:02:36] will come up in the hearing right right [00:02:38] I one other regarding the USDA it was It [00:02:42] was kind of vague but uh that of the [00:02:45] prime or Statewide importance per the [00:02:47] USDA [00:02:49] why wouldn't the state have a say over [00:02:53] the USDA and I'm just wondering like [00:02:56] what ref trying to get from the USDA [00:02:59] believe [00:03:02] that that's an effort again not just [00:03:05] shared not originating here but various [00:03:07] towns have said um all right we don't [00:03:11] there's a problem when there's a problem [00:03:12] with a solar installation it's often [00:03:14] that it clears a whole lot of trees [00:03:17] that's one right or it goes on it goes [00:03:19] on pasture land which may be okay but [00:03:23] this is saying ideally it's not going to [00:03:25] go on prime prime Farmland okay you know [00:03:29] so again it doesn't say it can't but [00:03:32] it's it's it's not intended it's not [00:03:35] encouraged to be to go on Prime USDA [00:03:39] okay soil that's that's a designation [00:03:41] they have okay so that's all all right [00:03:45] you know the whole thing as we'll talk [00:03:47] about later more the whole thing is a [00:03:49] balancing act between what the state [00:03:52] allows in terms of Regulation [00:03:55] restriction of these developments you [00:03:57] know installations they really want to [00:04:00] encourage them so they say no [00:04:01] unreasonable regulation so what is [00:04:02] unreasonable regulation we've tried to [00:04:05] come up with reasonable regulation that [00:04:08] will pass the [00:04:10] AG's in know Rie and give the town [00:04:14] reasonable control [00:04:16] over the impact of facilities like that [00:04:19] which bottom line we welcome in the [00:04:21] right places it's going to you know it's [00:04:23] alternative energy and it's it's money [00:04:25] to the town but we don't want to just [00:04:28] say bring it on no I I get I get it [00:04:32] that's why I was just asking thank you [00:04:34] thank [00:04:35] you are we all comfortable with the [00:04:38] going back to the planning board so we [00:04:39] can continue [00:04:40] their process [00:04:44] okay very [00:04:53] good it doesn't have to be formal one [00:04:56] yeah it just goes back to them all right [00:04:59] and they can on and so they'll they'll [00:05:01] you'll schedule your your hearing [00:05:03] and yes hopefully we meet tomorrow [00:05:06] actually so we saw in the box that we we [00:05:09] know now that you've s to receive that [00:05:11] we'll make [00:05:13] EXC thanks [00:05:15] B okay uh discussion and vote on [00:05:18] permitting [00:05:19] checklist that was um presented to us a [00:05:23] little while ago and now it's been [00:05:24] cleaned up um yep uh so it's more of a [00:05:28] more of a final document at this point [00:05:31] um it went out to all the Departments [00:05:33] that are listed on it um I met with [00:05:35] Becky on it I took probably 90% of their [00:05:38] suggestions and here it is so um with [00:05:40] the boards um besides the one spelling [00:05:44] error um that I just noticed sitting [00:05:46] here um if the board thinks it looks [00:05:50] good um we can start implementing it if [00:05:54] if if you'd like to vote on it [00:05:56] tonight I'm good with it [00:05:59] good yeah can I have a motion sure um I [00:06:04] make a motion to approve the building [00:06:06] application approval check list with the [00:06:10] spelling with the one spelling direction [00:06:13] thank you second it any [00:06:16] discussion all in favor I [00:06:19] I all right discussion and vote to [00:06:22] approve poost Community agreement draft [00:06:24] with hard withth Mill Greenery was in [00:06:27] the packet yep so [00:06:30] it's if you think back I know it's been [00:06:32] a while but uh back in December I [00:06:34] included in your packet the Cannabis [00:06:36] Control Commission sample um post [00:06:39] committee agreement that they've been [00:06:41] approving so that is essentially what [00:06:43] this document is with a couple um yellow [00:06:46] highlights from Town Council um [00:06:50] so um there was one thing I do wanted to [00:06:52] bring up I did want to bring up to the [00:06:53] board uh to get your authorization on [00:06:57] which would be on page three [00:07:01] um Town council's note is this can be [00:07:03] included for businesses that are not [00:07:05] operational we recommend 12 to 18 months [00:07:08] um so Section 5 C compliance if you're [00:07:12] comfortable with that I'm also [00:07:13] comfortable with including either a 12 [00:07:15] or an 18 months um I don't I think I [00:07:19] think it should be more of a short-term [00:07:21] agreement with there's so much fluidity [00:07:23] going on in the Cannabis Control [00:07:24] Commission um I think that's what we [00:07:26] talked about additionally as well so I [00:07:28] just wanted to to um have you guys look [00:07:30] at it and if if there's anything um any [00:07:32] questions or anything that you want me [00:07:33] to take back or if I can answer them I [00:07:35] will but if you're fine with it then [00:07:37] we'll put it in a final final draft for [00:07:41] I mean a final document for um her will [00:07:45] GRE of course youd still have to sign it [00:07:47] but I wanted you to at least look at a [00:07:48] draft Yeah do do we do a year or do we [00:07:51] do 18 months are we give them 18 months [00:07:54] that's what I would recommend just [00:07:56] because of construction you don't know [00:07:58] like he talks about the transform and [00:08:00] possibly having them if he doesn't get [00:08:01] them stuff like that it just the point [00:08:04] from Town Council was the the commission [00:08:06] is evolving daily on what they accept [00:08:10] and what they don't accept they've [00:08:11] already changed it several times yeah [00:08:13] they have so stand if you don't mind [00:08:17] just a question um is that posted online [00:08:20] that [00:08:22] agreement I look for before meeting no [00:08:24] not this one no because we haven't done [00:08:26] anything with it okay right um if I [00:08:29] recall The First Agreement the town went [00:08:32] with 1 1/2% but there's a a there was a [00:08:36] higher number I think the state allowed [00:08:38] right no they don't allow anything [00:08:40] anymore oh no that's why we have to redo [00:08:43] it there's no agreement the state the [00:08:46] state has taken that out it's not part [00:08:48] of any unless we can [00:08:52] really um like if there's impact to the [00:08:54] town and we generate an invoice on that [00:08:58] impact [00:09:00] that's what we can build them but [00:09:01] there's no 3% anymore there's no percent [00:09:05] anymore there's nothing the state has to [00:09:08] approve it because in that First [00:09:10] Agreement or the way it was originally [00:09:11] structured I don't think the town would [00:09:13] have come out with much anyways because [00:09:15] I think the retail for that is primarily [00:09:18] like in Shirley or somewhere so that's [00:09:22] okay that we aren't losing it's not yeah [00:09:24] um when you say a um an expense to the [00:09:28] town [00:09:30] I I like the idea of the a limit on the [00:09:33] time of the contract because it kind of [00:09:35] keeps them in a performance mode but um [00:09:39] at some point if they don't start doing [00:09:41] something aren't we losing some money [00:09:45] somehow by taxes or so they have been [00:09:48] doing stuff and they have been paying [00:09:50] their building fees like their permits [00:09:52] and so we're good they have been it's [00:09:54] been a very painful slow process um it [00:09:58] like everyone knows Co put kind of a [00:10:00] halt on a lot of stuff and um I mean [00:10:03] we're still seeing that in construction [00:10:05] so they're still intended to they are [00:10:07] yeah and they have done they have done [00:10:09] work to the interior yeah yeah I know [00:10:12] and you had mentioned it bill that I [00:10:14] talked to the owner at one point and [00:10:16] they were having trouble getting [00:10:17] Transformers MH but so maybe that's part [00:10:20] of the and they dealt with the shrimp [00:10:23] crabs and and they just finally got that [00:10:26] oh right or the clam shrim whatever clam [00:10:29] shrim thank you not quite wrapped up but [00:10:32] it's but it's getting there so that was [00:10:33] a big that was a process [00:10:37] too any questions or anything U send me [00:10:39] an email okay thanks [00:10:43] so um so yeah 12 or 18 months are you [00:10:46] comfortable with 18 I'm okay with 18 I [00:10:49] want them to get going and yeah do [00:10:52] something yeah but they have done they [00:10:55] fixed the roof yeah they fixed all the [00:10:57] windows it's much better building right [00:11:00] now it was yeah a lot um then I have a [00:11:05] motion well we're going to wait and sign [00:11:09] it at the next meeting well but are we [00:11:11] going to make it a final draft so that [00:11:13] we can sign it at the next meeting and [00:11:14] send it to them because they they [00:11:16] haven't seen it either so we make a [00:11:19] motion just to [00:11:22] proceed 18 month yeah [00:11:26] yeah um I'll make a motion to [00:11:29] add the 18 months to the Hardwick no [00:11:32] Greenery host Community [00:11:34] agreement and send it off [00:11:38] to all in [00:11:41] favor [00:11:44] okay uh discussion and vote on Town [00:11:46] administrators contractual requests so [00:11:50] at the last meeting uh Justine brought [00:11:52] up that she her 90-day probationary [00:11:55] period was up and when we spoke to her [00:11:58] initially and did our negotiations with [00:12:01] her um we she had asked for [00:12:06] 90 and we started her at [00:12:09] 85 but budgeted for 90 so she is looking [00:12:12] for that additional PMP in her pay and [00:12:15] so we said we would do a little kind of [00:12:18] review at this meeting and discuss that [00:12:21] um that pay increase so here we are so [00:12:27] um I had sent you all [00:12:29] a little [00:12:31] evaluation form did you did you look at [00:12:34] that in review and at the request of an [00:12:37] one of the board members we did reach [00:12:39] out to other uh you know the departments [00:12:42] in the town other employees and got [00:12:45] feedback from there so I'll start by [00:12:47] saying that um I 90% of the feedback or [00:12:51] 95% of the feedback was very positive [00:12:54] Justine people enjoy working with you um [00:12:57] they're you're very approachable you [00:13:00] know what you're you know talking about [00:13:03] you're you've got the knowledge you know [00:13:05] backing the position so um one thing was [00:13:11] um maybe just staying on course with [00:13:16] your role as the Town Administrator as [00:13:19] opposed to other boards and um other [00:13:22] elected officials that was just one um [00:13:25] one note there um I took the valuation [00:13:29] forms that you sent and I I kind of [00:13:31] marked them up um the only one I didn't [00:13:35] mark was attendance cuz I'm not here to [00:13:36] see when you come and go so I'm I'm [00:13:39] assuming that you are here on a regular [00:13:41] basis and showing up on T and then some [00:13:43] so I'm not you know I'm not going to [00:13:45] Mark you up on that but um you know [00:13:49] overall I I gave you threes threes fours [00:13:52] and fours um so out of the 52 points you [00:13:56] could have gotten from me you got like [00:13:57] 50 uh 47 I think so um I'm very pleased [00:14:02] with what you've done in the 90day I [00:14:05] mean this isn't a long time you know [00:14:08] it's three months to pretty much figure [00:14:10] out that why am I in heart no [00:14:15] joking so we're happy she's here and um [00:14:19] that's that's my input to you and I'll [00:14:22] open it up to the other board members [00:14:24] obviously [00:14:25] so I I think you're doing a great job so [00:14:28] I really no issues as far as that goes [00:14:32] um [00:14:34] and I'm happy with your work performance [00:14:36] I mean I don't deal with you that often [00:14:39] but that's why I requested like get the [00:14:41] department head feedback and stuff like [00:14:42] that so people who deal with you on an [00:14:45] ongoing basis we can get feedback and [00:14:47] see how you're doing you're doing great [00:14:50] so you're not sticking me yet no we want [00:14:52] you to [00:14:53] stick I would also mention that I would [00:14:56] um be in favor of increasing in her at [00:15:00] this point so that's just backtracking a [00:15:02] little bit go [00:15:05] ahead well we've uh it there have been [00:15:08] some rocky places but uh we move along [00:15:12] and gab you threes and fours too [00:15:16] so I think uh that sounds good I think [00:15:20] Chris wanted to say something too I'll [00:15:23] take comment thank [00:15:26] you no it's um part of finance committee [00:15:29] we we're going to be working very [00:15:30] closely with Justine and and so far the [00:15:33] experience has been very positive good I [00:15:35] think she's bringing a lot of um a lot [00:15:38] of uh financial management to the town [00:15:41] so the budget process so far has been [00:15:42] very very good um it's been very [00:15:45] positive so we're looking forward [00:15:47] to um really getting into this and uh [00:15:50] com through the the full budget cycle so [00:15:52] appreciate the the hard work and um I [00:15:56] certainly would recommend them increase [00:15:59] as well [00:16:01] perfect any other comments anyone want [00:16:04] to timee in I just wanted to bring up [00:16:06] one note that um u a little bit of [00:16:09] research done with larger towns and [00:16:13] administrative assistance with more [00:16:15] experience um the norm is about 990,000 [00:16:19] and uh we're a smaller town and a person [00:16:23] with less experience so um it's just as [00:16:27] a note of you know 90 seems to be a a [00:16:31] term an amount for people with more [00:16:33] experience in larger towns I didn't find [00:16:36] that in my research but thank you Liz [00:16:38] I'm not administrative assist [00:16:41] either she's the Town Administrator [00:16:43] she's not an assistant well you know do [00:16:48] we we want to vote on the increase would [00:16:51] you like make a motion please um I make [00:16:54] a motion to increase Justine's pay by [00:16:56] $5,000 to her existing f [00:17:00] second all in [00:17:03] favor thank you just thank you so much [00:17:06] um I've mostly enjoyed my time in [00:17:08] Hardwick um I you know the staff is [00:17:12] amazing um I found all three of you just [00:17:15] so far very approachable and I'm really [00:17:17] excited to be here and um see what we [00:17:19] can do and uh work hard and I'm I'm I [00:17:23] appreciate it thank you welcome thank [00:17:25] you thank you all right approval of [00:17:28] minutes from November 25th [00:17:37] 2024 um I just have one change oh sure [00:17:41] on the vote for the auction I actually [00:17:45] voted no on that I didn't abstain okay [00:17:48] if you can just have Sandy change [00:17:50] that thank you other than that find [00:17:53] minutes [00:17:54] okay I'm okay with it yeah motion all [00:17:57] right make a motion um motion to approve [00:18:00] the hardw work meeting minutes board [00:18:02] meeting from November 25th [00:18:04] 2024 P correction yes look that corre [00:18:09] second it all in [00:18:11] favor Town administrative [00:18:15] report um so something that's not on my [00:18:17] Town Administrator report um so they [00:18:21] drained the oil tank in the reels Hill [00:18:24] okay um and it's going to be removed on [00:18:26] Thursday um and then Eric and I [00:18:30] second wellhe and I talked about uh in a [00:18:32] couple days then they'll do the oil [00:18:34] testing um so that's being ongoing good [00:18:37] yes um also to the 15,000 that we got [00:18:42] from the state for um hydrant is going [00:18:44] to fix two of them and the two that are [00:18:46] going to be fixed are the one on [00:18:47] Hardwick Road and down here on Main [00:18:49] Street um and that's going to be done [00:18:51] the next couple weeks we have all the [00:18:53] parts okay so we're just waiting on [00:18:55] Marty in the highway when they have time [00:18:57] obviously with the winter it's been a [00:18:58] little [00:18:59] um crazy another thing that's not on [00:19:01] here cuz it just happened um is we are [00:19:06] going to receive the $50,000 from the [00:19:08] state for improvements to this building [00:19:10] um that was a state earmark so I signed [00:19:13] the contract for that today perfect so [00:19:17] good um the new phone system is being [00:19:20] installed they were here a day last week [00:19:22] they're going to be here again tomorrow [00:19:25] um we signed a new lease with a new [00:19:27] postage machine that was was also [00:19:29] delivered today that the town clerk [00:19:31] installed um Panic buttons were [00:19:33] installed in every office in town hall [00:19:35] every active dust now has a working [00:19:37] panic button um and all the old ones [00:19:39] with all the wires and all that was [00:19:40] taken out and it's gone um the town the [00:19:44] town clerk's office my office and the [00:19:47] assessor and building inspector's office [00:19:48] our three doors have now been fixed um [00:19:51] so that's so they don't have the big [00:19:52] holes in them anymore cuz we did that [00:19:55] during Co so that people could slide [00:19:57] papers through so just so everyone [00:19:59] understands that and the Panic buttons [00:20:02] um arose because of an incident that did [00:20:04] happen here um a few months ago so just [00:20:07] so people have an understanding why why [00:20:09] we're doing [00:20:11] that um so I took a one- day advanced [00:20:14] topics and procurement class as part of [00:20:16] my continuing education as part of my [00:20:18] Massachusetts um Chief procurement [00:20:20] officer designation so I did that um [00:20:24] Department budget meetings have been [00:20:26] completed um we still have our bi [00:20:28] financial management planning meetings [00:20:30] with the assessor accountant and [00:20:31] collector I met with the finance [00:20:33] committee chair on the budget which [00:20:35] we've been kind of communicating and [00:20:36] doing that semi-regularly so I will have [00:20:39] the at least the department budgets and [00:20:42] as much as I can um the books and stuff [00:20:45] together to you guys it they'll be done [00:20:46] by the end of January so the start of [00:20:48] February you guys will at least have an [00:20:49] idea we're waiting on the numbers from [00:20:52] the state so I'm hoping to get that at [00:20:53] the my [00:20:55] um MMA conference at the end of the [00:20:57] month as well as our Maya health [00:20:59] insurance numbers I'm also working with [00:21:02] um another Property and Casualty [00:21:04] Insurance company that will do like our [00:21:05] workers cop RAR Duty and property [00:21:08] insurance so that number is going to [00:21:10] fluctuate less so um there's just a [00:21:13] couple like there's a few things that [00:21:15] are just so do you think by our first [00:21:17] meeting in February we'd have those [00:21:18] books to at least start poking through [00:21:21] exactly yes cool perfect um nothing from [00:21:24] the school yet uh no no no we were on um [00:21:28] I'm meeting with them and we still don't [00:21:30] have a number um I attended a cdbg [00:21:34] progress meeting with the town account [00:21:36] and cmrpc um the RFP for the Highland [00:21:39] Terrace project has been published um I [00:21:42] just talked about attending a a budget [00:21:44] meeting with the school department um [00:21:46] today I joined a grant webinar with mass [00:21:48] do to see um they talked about a ton of [00:21:50] grants that we may be eligible [00:21:52] for be hired a new work en foran um so [00:21:58] start kind of contract discussions with [00:22:00] employees that have contracts that [00:22:01] expire at the end of the fiscal year we [00:22:03] will have six so those conversations [00:22:06] have happened again as putting the [00:22:08] budget together um just to kind of give [00:22:11] you a heads up of where we are when will [00:22:13] we start meeting an executive session [00:22:16] next me next our next board meeting okay [00:22:19] I'm hoping to have an executive session [00:22:20] okay beforehand yeah yes with you guys [00:22:23] to get your priorities and everything [00:22:25] thank you I just don't want to wait till [00:22:26] the last minute and I'm trying to [00:22:27] stagger them yeah so they're like one [00:22:29] after the [00:22:31] other um attended the holiday [00:22:33] Massachusetts Managers Association [00:22:35] meeting on ethics then our monthly [00:22:37] department head meeting I met with the [00:22:38] Animal control officer um there were [00:22:40] things that were brought up in that [00:22:42] conversation that um definitely need to [00:22:43] be addressed like finding a kennel and a [00:22:46] contract with a kennel because right now [00:22:49] we don't have one so she's using her [00:22:51] house she's using scary they do right I [00:22:55] was interviewed on the radio again um um [00:22:59] I want to recognize Lieutenant Kevin [00:23:01] landine he has worked with our [00:23:04] legislators and in the 10 communities [00:23:05] that are part of our dispatch and he was [00:23:08] just able to he just received [00:23:11] $150,000 of a $3.5 million project so we [00:23:14] will be able to get some radios and [00:23:16] stuff that are on the same frequency as [00:23:18] all the surrounding [00:23:19] towns um so he's been working on that [00:23:22] for a [00:23:23] while by three [00:23:26] radio if that [00:23:29] um so we are having a managers training [00:23:31] for department heads and assistant [00:23:33] department heads on February 11th from [00:23:35] 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. um anyone that has [00:23:38] staff is it's mandatory for them to [00:23:40] attend but any department head is [00:23:42] welcome to come but um just some [00:23:45] positive management techniques and [00:23:46] dealing with difficult situations we [00:23:48] have a special Town election being held [00:23:50] at the Hardwick Elementary School from [00:23:52] 12 to 6 on Saturday January 18th and [00:23:56] then something else came in after the [00:23:57] fact [00:23:59] there's going to be a blood drive at [00:24:01] quav and Regional Middle High School [00:24:03] February 27th from 10:00 to 4:00 in the [00:24:05] high school [00:24:08] gym um of course you can backing up to [00:24:11] contract [00:24:13] negotiations do you want someone from [00:24:16] thcom to be present when it's the board [00:24:20] in executive [00:24:22] session that'd be nice talking about [00:24:24] that yeah I mean it affects the budget y [00:24:28] so on the 27th do oh you're going to be [00:24:30] here anyways for [00:24:32] um do you want to come to the meeting [00:24:34] okay thank you [00:24:37] yeah um and that's really all that I [00:24:39] have right now although I might think of [00:24:41] other things that come [00:24:44] up Selman Round Table select board Round [00:24:50] Table well it's kind of covered the [00:24:54] Saturday election noon to 6:00 for the [00:24:56] fire truck y I know [00:24:59] there's been talk and people think you [00:25:00] know the price is kind of high but at [00:25:02] the same [00:25:03] time this is an opportunity the truck [00:25:06] exists right now and if we don't don't [00:25:11] take this opportunity and we say no that [00:25:14] truck is going to go somewhere else and [00:25:15] it's going to be gone and you're talking [00:25:17] replacement wise you place in order for [00:25:20] a fire truck today it's minimum 2 years [00:25:23] possibly three before you have a fire [00:25:25] truck just to keep a lot more money and [00:25:28] it's going to probably be in the range [00:25:30] of a million2 to a million three for the [00:25:32] exact same vehicle just just wanted to [00:25:35] put it out to the community so you think [00:25:37] long and hard I know it's a tough vote [00:25:40] but think long and hard and please show [00:25:42] up and [00:25:43] vote can I ask a question right now um [00:25:47] on that I had heard a little chatter [00:25:49] about you know a number of the hydrants [00:25:52] not actively working which I see the two [00:25:55] are going to be which I think is great [00:25:56] news so there was bit of chatter about [00:25:59] what's the point of having a new fire [00:26:00] truck if we don't have working hydrants [00:26:02] so I'm wondering is there a strategy for [00:26:05] getting the other hydrants have been [00:26:06] working are we actively tracking down [00:26:08] money for that right now y oh yeah um so [00:26:12] some of that $50,000 that I do you mind [00:26:14] if I go ahead okay some of that $50,000 [00:26:17] that I was talking about for this [00:26:18] building I'm going to use some of that [00:26:19] to fix that one um and so I am actively [00:26:23] you know we are looking for okay so that [00:26:25] would give so how many hydrants are we [00:26:26] looking to fix six yeah so three will be [00:26:29] done so three will be done okay so that [00:26:31] seems reasonable and this is a slight [00:26:33] deviation but I had heard a figure [00:26:35] thrown around that it cost $20,000 a [00:26:37] year to send a student to our hardw [00:26:40] school is that accurate that's a rounded [00:26:43] up number um it's more like 18 you'd [00:26:46] have to look we we could get that number [00:26:48] but it's around either 18 or 19 based on [00:26:52] the so much it's all based you want me [00:26:56] to answer this all right [00:26:59] I mean it's a number that the state the [00:27:02] the Department of Education actually [00:27:04] designates based on the entire budget [00:27:08] versus students we pay half of that and [00:27:11] the state pays half of that right okay [00:27:14] and it's based off of the Quin Regional [00:27:16] budget that they put together for the [00:27:18] school district and based on enrollment [00:27:20] and per town it's broken up what what [00:27:23] town what percentage they pay and [00:27:25] contribute and they it's an it's [00:27:28] value that they put on the cost to [00:27:30] educate a child [00:27:32] right so our cost is half of that [00:27:35] correct thank [00:27:40] you it's a pretty big number it's a [00:27:43] pretty big number it seems like just [00:27:46] from what I've been hearing it's quite a [00:27:47] bit of the Town budget run the the [00:27:50] school budget is half of our overall [00:27:52] budget yeah it's a big [00:27:55] number okay thank you welome [00:28:02] anybody else we good I just have one [00:28:04] thing for the board as sign so we can [00:28:06] send um all of our liquor license [00:28:08] applications and everything to the state [00:28:09] I just need your signature yeah that uh [00:28:12] your signatures we're still around [00:28:14] table just want to thank everybody in [00:28:18] the room all the [00:28:20] work good thanks [00:28:29] you want me to use my real [00:28:31] name that [00:28:34] be Kelly can I just ask what's the RFP [00:28:37] for the Highland RFP for the Highland [00:28:39] Terrace project what's that about Road [00:28:41] uh Road repairs to Highland [00:28:45] Terrace I think they do something with [00:28:47] sewer too yes I think there is a little [00:28:49] bit of sewer work there [00:28:52] definely it's been ongoing for [00:28:56] um November was that when the contract [00:28:59] was voted for the auction that you said [00:29:01] your vote was not recorded correct [00:29:03] correct so you voted no I voted not to [00:29:07] table it was it was it was voted to [00:29:10] table it was the vote on the on the [00:29:12] floor what from someone the motion was [00:29:16] to table the option like in other words [00:29:18] put it on hold I [00:29:20] voted oh oh but now it's being [00:29:23] reconsidered it sounds like the contract [00:29:26] it's probably what it's probably further [00:29:29] away than so initially we voted to move [00:29:31] forward with the contract it was [00:29:34] Ed right but now I mean you made several [00:29:38] references to Town Council I'm ass I'm [00:29:39] assuming the town has a lawyer who's [00:29:41] looked at this I mean I kind of had to [00:29:43] agree with what Liz was saying that yeah [00:29:45] you know you can't agree to a contract [00:29:47] where you have no minimum bid and [00:29:49] there's a lot of lot of problems with it [00:29:51] and I I just kind of still up what none [00:29:54] of that is was that wasn't part of the [00:29:57] contract RPC this was a [00:30:00] cmrpc okay so but this business of the [00:30:03] auctioneer getting some money that [00:30:05] sounds not right if you know it's four [00:30:08] months away and I mean you just [00:30:10] referenced earlier we're going to owe [00:30:11] them some money I don't know who you're [00:30:13] referring to that we may if they've [00:30:15] incurred cost like they' already bought [00:30:17] signs well they just posted some [00:30:19] pictures on a website I mean you mean [00:30:20] for the auction correct okay but it's di [00:30:23] Minimus right it's not like a no correct [00:30:26] okay good yes yes [00:30:30] have a motion a motion to adjourn second [00:30:33] thank you all in favor I thank you [00:30:37] everybody thank you