Thumbnail for 4/8/24 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectman Meeting

Key Appointments, Financial Approvals, and Administrative Transition

Original title: 4/8/24 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectman 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

April 8, 2024

Duration

37m

Decisions

3 recorded

Action Items

18 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen addressed several key items including appointments to the Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, revisions to the Morse Scholarship guidelines, and approval of the annual town election warrant. Financial matters involved approving transfers for revolving accounts for the Townhouse and Recycling departments, and discussing the Pathfinder budget assessment. A significant discussion centered on the critical roof repair for the old Highway Department building, with a motion passed for full replacement. The meeting also covered the dedication of the Common Report, approval for a Rod and Gun Club event, and updates on the Creamery Road Bridge closure and the 94 Main Street project. A major announcement was the Town Administrator's resignation for a new position, prompting immediate discussion on the hiring process.

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Discussion Highlights

Consideration of Janet Skaggerland for appointment to the Conservation Commission.
Consideration of Luke Wright and Kurt Stillman for appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals, following a required resignation.
Review of the Morse Scholarship essay guidelines, specifically concerning the inclusion of SAT scores.
Pathfinder announces scholarships at graduation.
Communication received from Ryan Witkus suggesting a dedication for the Common Report.
Request from the Hardwick Rod and Gun Club to hold their "Rimfire Rampage" event, a night shoot scheduled for April 20, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM.
A shorter election period (9 AM - 1 PM) was proposed for the annual town election warrant to save money, as there are no contested races.
The Pathfinder budget assessment increased by approximately $44,000, described as a "painful assessment."
The Finance Committee will review the Pathfinder assessment and plans to meet with Pathfinder.
Hardwick's enrollment at Pathfinder increased by 5 students.
Both the Townhouse and Recycling departments exceeded their revolving account spending limits.
The Recycling revolving account has a $500 limit but currently holds $5,000.
The Townhouse revolving account, originally designated for cleaning, was utilized for other expenses such as an electrical outlet and a structural engineer to evaluate roof problems.
Overspending in revolving accounts technically should be denied, but the accountant advised against it to avoid issues with unpaid bills.
Revolving accounts accumulate funds, which can reduce the amount available for the regular budget, and many have specific usage restrictions.
Funds exceeding specific account limits (e.g., $10,000 for the Board of Health) are transferred to the general operating budget to prevent an excessive number of revolving funds.
The old Highway Department building is currently used for storage by the Highway Department, Fire Department, Hardwick Fair Committee, and Historical Society.
The roof of the old Highway Department building is in very poor condition, with a hole described as the size of a vehicle.
Three approaches were presented for the roof repair: temporary tarping, partial repair (south side), or complete replacement.
The Capital Planning Committee recommended replacing the entire roof with a metal roof.
The estimated cost for a full roof replacement is under $40,000, with potential savings by purchasing materials separately.
The proposed funding method for the roof replacement involves setting aside $40,000 and taking out a 4-5 year loan from the capital preserve.
The Finance Committee has already voted and is agreeable to the proposed roof replacement.
Mass Central Railroad will conduct herbicide applications for vegetation control on May 17-28, June 19, and August 16.
A notice was received regarding a local business with parking on the State Highway layout, which was a MassDOT notice to the business with the town CC'd, requiring no action from the town.
An update on the wastewater treatment plant is available on the website.
Installation and stairs are being completed at 94 Main Street (The Mill) project.
Delays in equipment placement for 94 Main Street are due to National Heritage not picking up clam shrimp.
The Creamery Road Bridge experienced an emergency closure on April 3rd, having originally been slated for replacement in 2026.
The town is working with MassDOT to expedite the Creamery Road Bridge replacement process.
A public hearing for a zone change for a property on Patchoag Hollow Road is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th, at 6:30 PM at Hardwick Elementary School.
Bulky Day is scheduled for April 13th, 8 AM to noon, with prices available on the recycling page of the town website.
The Library will host events on April 13th; details are available on the website.
The Town Administrator has been selected for a new Town Administrator position in Southwick.
The Town Administrator expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the town for the past three years, emphasizing the move is a personal career advancement to a larger community.

Transcript (6,072 words)

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

00:00:00
We could pledge allegiance pled Al to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for
00:00:20
All I had to tell Andy woman widget stands was not a person was like I think of ref freshman in high school visitors comments new business see you there's my
00:00:39
Comment good to see you oh well good to see you um new business uh we have a somebody that wants to be on the Conservation Commission Janet skagg
00:00:58
Scagg sounds excellent y we make a motion that we accept the recommendation from the Conservation Commission to appoint Jan Janet gagger land um to the commission to the Conservation Commission do they
00:01:16
Have a a year like when it would be up we are doing just 24 and then they'll be reint okay all of the new appointments just be just till June okay so a second favor I I uh zoning board of appeals
00:01:35
Appointments we have a letter from Mr cumerford Luke Wright and Kurt Stillman both want to be appointed to the zoning board of appeals um do we need to accept the resignation in order to do the two
00:01:53
Appointments doesn't matter I don't know if yeah um you think they'll be over crowded there for a moment wondering so I'm going to accept the letter of resignation from Glenn moek to uh resign from the zoning board of appeals effective immediately or actually this letter is dated March 25th 2024 is that
00:02:12

[00:00:00] uh we could pledge [00:00:03] allegiance pled Al to the flag of the [00:00:06] United States of America and to the [00:00:08] Republic for which it stands one nation [00:00:12] under God indivisible with liy and [00:00:14] justice for [00:00:20] all I had to tell Andy woman widget [00:00:23] stands was not a [00:00:26] person was like I think of ref freshman [00:00:29] in high school [00:00:31] visitors [00:00:36] comments new business see you there's my [00:00:39] comment good to see you oh well good to [00:00:41] see [00:00:43] you um new [00:00:48] business uh we have a somebody that [00:00:51] wants to be on the Conservation [00:00:54] Commission Janet skagg [00:00:58] scagg um [00:01:02] sounds excellent y we make a motion that [00:01:05] we accept the recommendation from the [00:01:07] Conservation Commission to appoint Jan [00:01:09] Janet gagger land um to the commission [00:01:14] to the Conservation Commission do they [00:01:16] have a a year like when it would be up [00:01:20] we are doing just 24 and then they'll be [00:01:23] reint okay all of the new appointments [00:01:25] just be just till June okay so a [00:01:28] second favor I [00:01:32] I uh zoning board of appeals [00:01:35] appointments we have a letter from um um [00:01:40] Mr cumerford Luke Wright and Kurt [00:01:43] Stillman both want to be appointed to [00:01:45] the zoning board of [00:01:47] appeals um do we need to accept the [00:01:51] resignation in order to do the two [00:01:53] appointments doesn't matter I don't know [00:01:55] if yeah um you think they'll be over [00:01:58] crowded there for a moment wondering so [00:02:01] I'm going to accept the letter of [00:02:02] resignation from Glenn moek to uh resign [00:02:06] from the zoning board of appeals [00:02:08] effective immediately or actually this [00:02:10] letter is dated March 25th 2024 is that [00:02:12] a motion yes I'll second it only favor I [00:02:16] I and then I will furthermore um move to [00:02:21] appoint Lucas Wright and Curtis Stillman [00:02:24] to the zoning board of [00:02:26] appeals and again that ter I guess okay [00:02:29] that term will run till um June 30th [00:02:34] 2024 I'll second it I favor [00:02:39] I uh the more scholarship essays uh [00:02:44] Nicole came up [00:02:47] with a [00:02:48] model which I thought was fine except I [00:02:52] did have one suggestion I'd like to lose [00:02:56] the SAT [00:02:58] scores that uh I don't think it's [00:03:02] necessary that we know that their sat [00:03:05] scor especially since on the [00:03:07] other page it talks about if [00:03:12] applicable seem a little [00:03:15] invasive [00:03:17] um I think it's kind of standard to be [00:03:19] honest I don't think that it's [00:03:21] invasive [00:03:23] uh I only thought that if it was on [00:03:26] there and we did get a good turnout of [00:03:28] applicants if two or [00:03:32] close it could be a either a way [00:03:37] of were you uh did you help put this [00:03:41] together [00:03:43] no and they don't I mean sats are [00:03:47] optional so some that's why it's if [00:03:48] applicable because some people just [00:03:49] don't take them but that's why I'm [00:03:51] saying it could be yeah kind of um [00:03:56] asymmetrical that's fine I mean [00:04:01] okay with [00:04:05] you yeah okay so just we're going to [00:04:09] take out the SAT [00:04:11] scores to leave everything else up [00:04:14] everything else great for me I think [00:04:16] that's yeah I think the other [00:04:18] information is excuse me it's pretty [00:04:25] standard all right I would uh seek a [00:04:27] motion to uh get these out there have we [00:04:30] heard from uh Pathfinder I spoke with [00:04:33] Pathfinder and they are um I didn't [00:04:36] speak with QSC but Pathfinder is [00:04:39] announces their scholarships at [00:04:40] graduation so they you know because [00:04:42] everybody's there and it's the end of [00:04:44] the year and there's a heart to really [00:04:46] get everybody together so um you know if [00:04:49] you guys are good with September 17th [00:04:51] and 20th you we can just let the school [00:04:55] yeah yeah that what did I say [00:04:57] September wait September be all [00:05:00] right their graduations aren't their [00:05:03] graduations are in June right so they [00:05:05] should get this opportunity to Sweet oh [00:05:09] they announce the recipients announce [00:05:11] the recipients but then the school will [00:05:14] announce it to the to the students at [00:05:16] graduation you can be there if you want [00:05:18] to be as a representative but typically [00:05:20] they said the schools announce it they [00:05:23] have they have it's award night and then [00:05:25] it's baloria and then it's graduation [00:05:27] and they serve great food [00:05:33] um okay so uh we get this out to Quin [00:05:37] and Pathfinder and great that's it yeah [00:05:42] we'll do [00:05:46] tomorrow and those are our regular [00:05:48] meetings [00:05:50] what do maybe he he's the one that deals [00:05:52] with the scholarship and the [00:05:54] funding [00:05:56] so I just hear you say Pathfinder and [00:05:59] Bob I only wondered if uh if [00:06:03] homeschooling kids College Bound would [00:06:06] be if they'll see about the opportunity [00:06:09] and possibly be able to we did talk [00:06:11] about that didn't we how do we get the [00:06:12] word out to them I don't know our [00:06:15] website [00:06:17] and does the school keep track of [00:06:19] homeschooling I believe they do they're [00:06:22] required to be updated the same [00:06:24] information so if it goes to the qu can [00:06:27] push it to okay perfect [00:06:30] you but we could put it on our website [00:06:33] too okay and get it out there on [00:06:36] Facebook and the maybe the um maybe [00:06:43] um yeah and because I'm drawing a blank [00:06:45] at her name the website s Julie thank [00:06:48] you yeah you put it out sure absolutely [00:06:50] send it to her it's called the website [00:06:52] no the email the the list surf that are [00:06:56] on Virtual [00:06:58] com [00:07:00] yeah Lisa Cohen runs that but I I always [00:07:02] give everything to [00:07:04] Julie email like send an email out if [00:07:08] it's information she helps her in that [00:07:09] she's one of the monitors [00:07:11] right okay [00:07:15] um we have a communication from Ryan [00:07:19] witkus suggesting that we dedicate the [00:07:23] town report this year to Lily and [00:07:27] Holden pinky I make a motion to do just [00:07:31] that I would second it hardly yeah all [00:07:35] in favor I [00:07:38] I thank [00:07:40] you all [00:07:43] right rim fire ramp [00:07:47] page the Ry Gun Club wants [00:07:51] to have a shoot in the [00:07:56] evening April [00:07:58] 20th [00:08:00] and we they've talked to you guys about [00:08:04] it [00:08:07] no there's one in October yeah there's [00:08:09] two and they said that once you approve [00:08:12] they'll reach out to the [00:08:14] police just to let them know like they [00:08:17] did last year so it's on it's on April [00:08:21] 20th and the letter is addressed to both [00:08:23] the selectman and the hardwood Police [00:08:28] Department run to uh start at [00:08:31] 7:00 and they want to conduct it under [00:08:34] the [00:08:35] lights [00:08:37] approximately it doesn't talk about an [00:08:39] end date this event should only last a [00:08:42] few hours not all [00:08:44] night did were there any issues in the [00:08:46] past with the other ones that they [00:08:51] did nothing out loud usually just the [00:08:54] common the neighbors right up the street [00:08:57] always have a a Grumble about all the [00:09:00] and I did think I I do think we advised [00:09:02] last time just to [00:09:05] notify did that proba courtesy add up so [00:09:08] they can go out to dinner or something [00:09:10] come back few hours later yeah maybe we [00:09:12] just suggest that they notify their [00:09:15] their neighbors to be good neighbors [00:09:17] okay and I'll do that call Mr Le [00:09:23] okay do we need a motion we make a [00:09:26] motion all right I would make a motion [00:09:28] to allow the Hardwick Rod and Gun Club [00:09:31] to hold there uh Rimfire [00:09:35] Rampage uh night owl on April 20th 2024 [00:09:41] beginning at 700 [00:09:44] p.m. [00:09:46] second all in [00:09:49] favor we used to shoot candles out with [00:09:52] our muskets [00:09:56] that's okay uh May four is the election [00:10:00] here's the [00:10:03] warrant 9 in the morning to 1:00 in the [00:10:06] afternoon there are no contests so Ryan [00:10:10] thought that shorter would save [00:10:14] money I'm finding up are you yawning [00:10:18] ma'am I thought you were getting ready [00:10:19] to say something no thank [00:10:23] you okay just need a motion to approve [00:10:26] sure and make a motion to approve the [00:10:28] annual Town election warrant for May 4th [00:10:31] 2024 second all in favor [00:10:35] I probably have a good one to sign I [00:10:41] just I I see [00:10:58] today [00:11:05] right what else budget assessment from [00:11:15] Pathfinder looked at this I don't know [00:11:18] what we do with [00:11:21] it well no it's it's it's what will go [00:11:25] into the budget right right I just [00:11:28] wonder what the was or whatever the was [00:11:34] that they do a real good job yeah [00:11:40] do they have good [00:11:43] food really if you have a chance to go [00:11:46] when they're going to feed you yeah I [00:11:48] know they culinary I've been yeah it's [00:11:52] good do you know he's in the middle of a [00:11:54] meeting right now so he asked if you [00:11:55] could off until the end okay do you know [00:11:59] what the the increase in in this budget [00:12:01] for a Pathfinder was it was about [00:12:03] $44,000 I forgot the exact percentage [00:12:06] but it went up quite a [00:12:08] bit [00:12:10] um for the same reasons that Cavin [00:12:17] did [00:12:20] oops oh my Lord so I you know I told [00:12:25] Julie who was on the board right um you [00:12:28] know that this is this is a painful [00:12:30] assessment and that finance will look [00:12:34] into it and they'll probably want to [00:12:35] meet with Pathfinder yeah so they're [00:12:37] meeting with cs right now so they'll [00:12:39] probably meet Pathfinder as well [00:12:43] 15% [00:12:45] $4,000 yeah yeah and so she just said [00:12:49] let her know you know [00:12:51] uh there's you know how it goes with the [00:12:54] regional schools so we just um do the [00:12:57] best we can to get them at a reasonable [00:13:00] amount uh that's manageable for the [00:13:02] towns and hopefully there's good [00:13:05] communication um do we know if their [00:13:07] enrollment has increased um Hardwick [00:13:10] went up by I believe five people five [00:13:13] five students so that's that's some of [00:13:16] it [00:13:19] yeah okay well we [00:13:22] just expect that [00:13:26] the budget would be looked at by the [00:13:29] Finance commit [00:13:31] yeah and I had a conversation with Mark [00:13:34] and he'll come in whenever he's free and [00:13:36] and told him we squeeze them right [00:13:39] in um and that's about roof repairs to [00:13:42] the Old Highway [00:13:44] Barn uh we have revolving account [00:13:47] transfers townhouse and [00:13:52] recycling yeah so I put a little [00:13:54] spreadsheet in your packet uh they went [00:13:57] over their limits and the finance [00:13:59] committee and select board have to [00:14:00] approve the transfers and then the [00:14:03] accountant will transfer it over and she [00:14:05] emailed both departments where didn't [00:14:07] Emil oh she emailed um [00:14:10] Lucinda she emailed Lucinda and she [00:14:13] emailed [00:14:14] UMR email Abby either and Abby's the [00:14:19] chair of that [00:14:22] committee they overspent yes why do we [00:14:26] have limits when they get to overspend [00:14:28] it I don't know [00:14:29] the limits of [00:14:32] $7,000 have been pretty much the same [00:14:35] for a few years and the oil prices and [00:14:39] everything went up I don't have any [00:14:41] problem about using the money from the [00:14:45] revolving account towards the building's [00:14:49] expenses I want to be sure it's going [00:14:51] towards that this is your revolving [00:14:54] account that is at a $500 limit there's [00:14:57] $5,000 in in there currently so we need [00:15:00] to put $700 in there to get it back to [00:15:02] where it's supposed to be and then [00:15:04] you'll have [00:15:05] $442 left so I don't I didn't I didn't [00:15:09] look to see where these expenses are [00:15:11] coming from out of this revolving [00:15:12] account so I don't know what you're [00:15:13] spending that on okay we don't spend it [00:15:18] on the cleaning which what it was what [00:15:20] it originally was because even though I [00:15:23] want to clean the bird poop off the [00:15:25] windows up at the townhouse I can't [00:15:27] spend the money that way if you can't [00:15:29] have the cleaning you need done down [00:15:31] here really uh so we spend it on things [00:15:36] like uh electrical outlet that we needed [00:15:41] a uh we paid for the structural engineer [00:15:45] to evaluate the roof problem and uh Phil [00:15:50] warbass may send a bill for evaluating [00:15:54] the eaves where that opening is that we [00:15:57] need to have fixed [00:15:59] um we we're careful how we spend it [00:16:02] that's the point and you have a Grant [00:16:05] application in for the EES and that [00:16:08] front door Pro it's not in yet I'm in [00:16:12] the process still I talked to Mr Holtz [00:16:15] last [00:16:16] week so I just want to make sure I'm [00:16:19] reading this [00:16:20] right so the budget for the recycling [00:16:23] was [00:16:24] 6,500 [00:16:26] and no these are revolving these are [00:16:29] revolving accounts that you approve [00:16:32] every year at meeting for that's the [00:16:34] limit that they can so technically they [00:16:36] should have been [00:16:38] denied but the accountant said If you [00:16:41] deny them then sometimes you get you're [00:16:43] in more trouble by not paying the bills [00:16:45] so sure okay but I I what you know this [00:16:49] isn't part of our regular budget these [00:16:51] revolving bud I don't get I don't get [00:16:53] the reports that's what I'm trying to [00:16:54] like just wrap my head around a little [00:16:55] bit [00:16:57] so because they over spent [00:17:00] 6236 we're going to [00:17:02] take what's the 9 99,100 that's the [00:17:05] current balance in in the revolving in [00:17:07] the revolving account right now so they [00:17:10] can put it in there but they have a [00:17:11] limit set by time meting of what they [00:17:13] can spend okay but then they overspend [00:17:16] but then they overspend so this just [00:17:18] reminded me that I need to pay more [00:17:20] attention to the revolving accounts as [00:17:22] well because we don't have a an [00:17:24] accounting of how the what money was [00:17:27] spent well that's is I'm not looking I [00:17:31] look at you know the regular budget [00:17:33] every day for expenditures this these 24 [00:17:36] accounts um or these revolving funds are [00:17:39] not in that so I need to just pay more [00:17:42] you know run that report more often and [00:17:45] make sure that they're because really [00:17:47] that's what the accountant should be [00:17:48] doing if we had a fulltime accountant [00:17:50] okay and we don't see them unless we ask [00:17:53] for them like every 3 months or [00:17:55] something lendo will ask for them MH so [00:17:59] she puts checks in and [00:18:03] just looking at them [00:18:06] right what do you want to do you want to [00:18:08] give them the money you want to put them [00:18:09] out on the street or what no I well we [00:18:12] have to transfer the money the bills [00:18:13] have been paid so and you know do we [00:18:16] need to make a motion for that all right [00:18:18] so then I would make a motion to [00:18:19] transfer 623 [00:18:23] [Music] [00:18:24] 6,236 uh into the recycling [00:18:27] commission out of of their revolving is [00:18:30] that what you say out of revolving [00:18:31] account yes okay and then I would also [00:18:35] make a motion to transfer 700 to the [00:18:39] townhouse committee out of their [00:18:41] revolving account to clean up over [00:18:43] spending I'll second that [00:18:47] and all in favor hi do have to sign no [00:18:53] she just told me that vote you have to [00:18:56] vote in finance committee has that part [00:18:58] of them too [00:19:00] tonight so how do you want to uh handle [00:19:04] more bills that may come in for instance [00:19:06] usually in's an elevator [00:19:09] inspection and should come out of your [00:19:11] regular expense account yeah and our oil [00:19:15] everything should come out of the [00:19:16] regular expense account like you said [00:19:18] this account which should why is the [00:19:19] small amount limit of $500 is for [00:19:22] cleaning regardless of what the other [00:19:24] buildings get that's what it's really [00:19:25] for okay um so everything else should be [00:19:29] coming out of youry out of your expense [00:19:30] account and you're bringing in money by [00:19:33] yeah that's how it got up to that amount [00:19:36] of money the revolving [00:19:39] yeah and that just sits there it does it [00:19:42] just sits there and and that is less [00:19:44] money that we get into our operating [00:19:46] budget obviously with all of these um [00:19:49] revolving funds and and they are you [00:19:52] know a lot of them are specific for what [00:19:54] they can be used for some of them aren't [00:19:56] but a lot of them are specific so yes [00:19:58] they it sits there what other ones do we [00:20:01] have we have another one we have a lot a [00:20:03] lot the all the [00:20:05] inspectors that's the Board of Health [00:20:07] now theard of Health has one yeah so [00:20:10] like for inspection fees and [00:20:12] yeah which that that makes sense to me [00:20:15] because it's paying for you know for the [00:20:18] services yes this just you so what I I [00:20:21] had originally thought that this is the [00:20:23] limit of what they get in the account [00:20:25] and then anything else goes into the [00:20:27] general fund but that's not the [00:20:29] that should if we want like if you only [00:20:32] want $10,000 to ever go into the Board [00:20:34] of Health account then that gets voted [00:20:36] on it town meeting that anything over [00:20:37] $10,000 will come into the general uh [00:20:41] operating budget because honestly if [00:20:43] everybody if you have so many revolving [00:20:45] funds then no money is it's not it's not [00:20:47] coming the general [00:20:50] fund [00:20:52] yeah well that's something to think [00:20:54] about thank you I understand it better [00:20:58] yeah [00:20:59] it's conf I I was looking at it and kind [00:21:02] of like scratching my head to be honest [00:21:04] with you like [00:21:06] yeah well it's common for the building [00:21:09] inspector that kind of right that makes [00:21:11] sense to me cuz you're paying for that [00:21:13] service somebody must just sat on their [00:21:15] keys the other one probably other over [00:21:18] there so I don't think it's [00:21:20] me all [00:21:23] right I'm going to check my key Lo [00:21:27] myself out of the car [00:21:35] oh it's um red truck it's a boardon that [00:21:38] just quieted down like a big red truck [00:21:43] yeah he probably like this in his [00:21:48] sweet got big nice Sports other new [00:21:52] business oh cuz he just moved you can [00:21:56] hear him he he set his own alarm up did [00:21:58] you set your alarm [00:22:00] off yeah I was looking for the police to [00:22:04] keep me [00:22:05] from are you the school committee set so [00:22:09] you can get out of thee oh my [00:22:12] God that's s on the [00:22:17] record Mr corac are you ready to start [00:22:20] or would you like a minute to collect [00:22:22] your no I more than happy to get Stu so [00:22:27] um just let me pull this out as you [00:22:30] recall when I was here last time we did [00:22:33] we also talked about doing a town [00:22:36] inventory and we've been working on the [00:22:38] town inventory 41 Parcels of land 22 [00:22:42] structures and [00:22:44] 1708 [00:22:45] Acres [00:22:47] um I've now been to most of those [00:22:49] structures so so what we're doing here [00:22:52] is making a recommendation from the [00:22:54] capital planning about the Old Highway [00:22:56] Department building which uh I have [00:22:59] walked through [00:23:00] extensively uh and that's located for [00:23:02] those of you that don't know where it is [00:23:04] it's right behind town meeting house and [00:23:08] Historical Society uh this uh building [00:23:11] is occupied by and used by the highway [00:23:14] department fire department hardw recair [00:23:17] committee and it looks like the [00:23:18] Historical [00:23:19] Society um a roof is in a real bad shape [00:23:23] and I have the record here provided you [00:23:26] some photos of that building first page [00:23:30] is the hole in the roof it's the size of [00:23:32] a vehicle these are the vehicles that we [00:23:35] store there and there's the south side [00:23:38] of the building facing the [00:23:42] cemetery so anyhow uh I have been [00:23:46] working with uh Marty on this and Marty [00:23:49] got been getting bids and it appears [00:23:52] that we could replace and repair this [00:23:55] building uh the roof on this building [00:23:57] for about 40,000 for less than [00:24:01] $40,000 um Marty if we do go ahead with [00:24:04] doing any of this Marty's agreed to [00:24:06] supervise it [00:24:09] um so um there are three ways we can [00:24:12] approach this put a tarp like the police [00:24:16] department did on your building and and [00:24:19] or [00:24:20] does uh and and covered a hole and [00:24:23] kicked the can down the road like we've [00:24:24] done with this building for years the [00:24:27] second is that [00:24:29] fix the south side it's like the south [00:24:31] side of the building take it all off um [00:24:36] as you can see some of the rafters are [00:24:38] already gone well beyond repair need to [00:24:40] be sistered up with some others and I [00:24:43] quite frankly think there may be some [00:24:45] structural damage in the far end of that [00:24:46] building but that's not for me to decide [00:24:48] but uh Marty and and some of the [00:24:51] contractors have gone through it [00:24:53] extensively and of course then is just [00:24:55] do the whole thing and do it right um so [00:24:58] the capital planning [00:25:00] committee uh wants to recommend that you [00:25:04] replace the entire roof with a metal [00:25:07] roof uh that would mean taking the uh [00:25:10] all of the shingles off all of the [00:25:13] underlayment off and then putting on [00:25:15] pearings and putting the metal roof on [00:25:20] um that would be under 40K with some of [00:25:23] the bids that are already coming in that [00:25:25] we think it could be done we would [00:25:26] actually the the the the contract to do [00:25:29] it would take the materials out the es [00:25:32] the estimated materials is in the [00:25:34] $40,000 but we can go buy those like for [00:25:37] instance we can go get the metal from [00:25:39] harri Farmers Co-op and we can get the [00:25:42] lumber for sistering up the rafters [00:25:46] probably from local like Hampshire or [00:25:48] something in Barry um but we'd recommend [00:25:51] do the whole thing U took it upon [00:25:54] ourselves to also bring it to the [00:25:56] finance committee they [00:25:59] um recommend that we uh do the whole [00:26:02] roof uh we would we would recommend you [00:26:06] know putting aside [00:26:08] $40,000 and similar to what we were [00:26:10] going to do for the cruiser that we [00:26:12] couldn't do uh we would say take out a [00:26:15] loan for four or five years make [00:26:18] payments coming out of the capital [00:26:24] reserve that's already been meeting [00:26:27] right [00:26:28] um no because you vote every year to let [00:26:31] Jessica borrow for necessary things so [00:26:34] you can do it under that way yep it [00:26:36] would be a ban it would be temporary and [00:26:38] I don't know what the interest rate is [00:26:39] at the moment it's probably around 5% so [00:26:42] 40 might turn into a little more but [00:26:45] it's if it's under 50 then it's just [00:26:47] soliciting three [00:26:49] bids well and then it's done and it's [00:26:52] not a continuing repair and there's [00:26:55] uh we do have a lot of stuff in there [00:26:59] and I guess the part this personal [00:27:01] recommendation didn't come from the [00:27:02] capital but you know while we've got [00:27:05] Mario was going to put the dump truck [00:27:06] inside they're going to dump the refu [00:27:09] from the the roof demolition uh we had [00:27:13] to get every Department that's got stuff [00:27:15] in that place and throw it all away [00:27:19] there is junk in there absolute junk we [00:27:23] have to clear it out anyway yeah right [00:27:25] well yeah essentially but we [00:27:28] in our wisdom we might put it all back [00:27:30] in after we're done so well not if it [00:27:33] goes right into a dump truck that's what [00:27:36] I'm hoping that Marty's going to take [00:27:37] all the vehicles out right back up the [00:27:39] dump truck the the construction crew is [00:27:42] going to be throwing stuff into the dump [00:27:43] truck right through the roof and while [00:27:45] we're there we got to [00:27:47] get the U hard repair committee to go in [00:27:50] there and throw out the stuff they don't [00:27:51] need find a corner that they can call [00:27:54] their own and leave it there fire [00:27:56] department's got a ton of stuff in there [00:27:58] besides you know there's a there's the [00:28:01] uh forestry truck the forestry truck the [00:28:04] rescue boat the uh a ton and a half of [00:28:08] old hoses yeah there's a ton and a half [00:28:11] old hoses and stuff like that but [00:28:13] there's the [00:28:14] U Marty's keeping the uh bucket truck in [00:28:17] here too so there's there's a lot of [00:28:19] space being used with you know [00:28:22] protecting good assets that the town has [00:28:24] so so it's this is not a building that I [00:28:28] suggest you tear [00:28:30] down and finances agreeable to them [00:28:33] they've already voted on [00:28:35] it so I mean we can we'll send you some [00:28:38] kind of formal something in writing if [00:28:40] that's you'll need that if unless you're [00:28:42] if you don't need to use town hall [00:28:45] meeting action then I guess we just we [00:28:48] can get Chris to come back in and tell [00:28:50] you that we already voted on it so well [00:28:52] I knew this was coming I think we should [00:28:54] do [00:28:55] it I would make a motion to move forward [00:28:57] on the repair of the uh Old Highway barn [00:29:03] roof I'll second it I favor I I no thank [00:29:08] you thank hopefully I don't find [00:29:10] anything else that needs fixing right [00:29:12] away this is kind of one of those well [00:29:14] maybe it's a gaping Hall it's worse than [00:29:18] most of them yeah do you guys do you [00:29:20] guys have enough tarps to cover the [00:29:22] streer building I got to go get some [00:29:24] more okay we're tarping up the back end [00:29:28] of that building [00:29:30] too but it's not it's not in emminent [00:29:34] danger like the townhouse was like the [00:29:37] highway Barn [00:29:39] is like the rugle street school is I [00:29:42] could go on and on and on we're trying [00:29:45] to take these things yeah you know on a [00:29:48] priority basis this building needs to [00:29:50] get [00:29:52] done well thanks for doing it thanks for [00:29:56] going to all those buildings you can't [00:29:59] believe it okay good well I appreciate [00:30:01] it thank you very much and if there's [00:30:02] anything else you need let me know thank [00:30:05] you [00:30:11] okay meeting minutes [00:30:13] approval uh March 25th yep I would make [00:30:17] a motion to approve the meeting minutes [00:30:19] from March 25th [00:30:21] 2024 we second it both in favor I [00:30:25] I old business [00:30:29] that's old [00:30:30] business any old [00:30:33] business is that a joke [00:30:36] any I we write any new business too [00:30:39] usually other new business committee [00:30:42] reports have read [00:30:47] them miscellaneous [00:30:49] [Music] [00:30:50] correspondence we have a [00:30:53] couple [00:30:56] notices um you have something from the [00:30:59] Board of [00:31:01] Health that's the report but uh Mass [00:31:05] Central Railroad is going to be doing [00:31:10] some uh vegetation control so they want [00:31:13] to let you know [00:31:14] that [00:31:17] um herbicide applications May 17th to [00:31:21] the 28th and June 19th no May 17th to [00:31:25] June 28th and July 19th August [00:31:28] 16th amtr grafted and Upton Railroad and [00:31:31] mass Central railroads from Tech [00:31:34] Associates and then there's also a um [00:31:40] notice that you were just cced on to um [00:31:43] talking about a business in town that [00:31:46] had parking on the state highway [00:31:49] layout oh we don't really have anything [00:31:52] to say about that no it was just the You [00:31:54] Know M doot to the business and we SE so [00:31:59] I think the business is handling [00:32:02] it [00:32:07] good and uh kind administrator [00:32:11] report so I don't know how much you want [00:32:13] me to go over uh the typical USDA update [00:32:17] um which is again on the website on the [00:32:19] uh Wastewater Treatment Plant Page um I [00:32:23] I did get an update from 94 Mill from 94 [00:32:26] Main Street the mill update [00:32:28] he uh George Lane the owner came in to [00:32:30] see me on March 26th they're finishing [00:32:31] installation and stairs now they'll be [00:32:34] contacting the building inspector [00:32:35] regarding a building permit and then [00:32:37] requesting a license from the CCC um and [00:32:42] they're working with National Grid is [00:32:43] they need two Transformers for all of [00:32:45] their power and they're they've been [00:32:47] waiting so long that they're thinking [00:32:49] they're just going to go out and buy [00:32:50] them themselves so uh it's it's very [00:32:53] much moving along National Heritage [00:32:55] still hasn't come and got the clam [00:32:56] shrimp so so they're a little bit [00:32:58] impeded with being able to do any uh you [00:33:01] know leave any equipment out there and [00:33:03] things like that so there's that but um [00:33:06] unfortunately we had creary Road Bridge [00:33:09] closed and an emergency closure on April [00:33:11] 3rd but we're working closely with [00:33:13] mastop because that bridge was going it [00:33:15] was slated for um replacement but in [00:33:21] 2026 so you know we're working [00:33:24] diligently with them now we're actually [00:33:26] getting all the paperwork together I [00:33:27] gave Marty some things he's going to the [00:33:29] East quav and land trust meeting tonight [00:33:31] to get the signatures they're going to [00:33:33] donate um you know the permanent [00:33:35] easements and the and the temporary [00:33:37] easements and I'm trying to get in touch [00:33:38] with the other owners and you know we [00:33:40] did go through the whole town meeting [00:33:42] we're just we're process processing much [00:33:44] quicker to hopefully go out to bid this [00:33:47] summer they hoping by August yep to to [00:33:50] move some funding around and and get [00:33:52] ours up ahead of time so yeah we were [00:33:53] signing this uh the easements and stuff [00:33:56] like that just recently so it is [00:33:59] moving 26 so it's going to be a long [00:34:02] time right so hopefully it'll if it goes [00:34:05] out to bid this year it'll start you [00:34:06] know two years sooner than it it would [00:34:09] have and then the planning board is [00:34:10] having a a public hearing for a zone [00:34:13] change for the sell property on P [00:34:14] Patrick Halla Road Tuesday April 9th at [00:34:17] the Hardwick Elementary School at [00:34:19] 6:30 um bulky day set for April 13th [00:34:22] from 8: to noon the website has prices [00:34:25] on the recycling page and the library is [00:34:28] also having a lot of events on the 13th [00:34:30] to check the website for more [00:34:33] information okay I'm going to go to that [00:34:36] meeting tomorrow [00:34:37] night I'm going to sit in the [00:34:41] back you going [00:34:48] absolutely going to hear what it's all [00:34:56] about anything [00:35:02] else we going to not talk about the [00:35:06] departure that's coming I didn't really [00:35:10] know thought I'd leave it to [00:35:14] you still subject to negotiations still [00:35:17] subject to negotiations [00:35:20] oh but yes and then I have been selected [00:35:25] to be the New Town Administrator in [00:35:28] another community in Southwick um you [00:35:31] know and I told them and I will tell [00:35:33] everybody here too that uh you know [00:35:36] thank you for the opportunity to have me [00:35:38] here for the past three years and that [00:35:40] you know I'm not a I'm not just a jumper [00:35:42] we all I think know this I didn't apply [00:35:45] for every single job out there this just [00:35:47] seemed appropriate for me um you know [00:35:51] it's it's more um of a promotion [00:35:54] considering you know it's a larger town [00:35:56] so there's more residents and um more [00:35:59] opportunity for me so this was [00:36:00] completely personal it had nothing to do [00:36:02] with the town I love the town um I think [00:36:05] we did a lot of good work here in the [00:36:06] last three years and I really want to [00:36:09] thank you for really giving me the [00:36:11] opportunity three years [00:36:16] ago I do think that we need to think [00:36:18] about what we're what we're going to do [00:36:21] to advertise [00:36:23] or well let's uh see if Robert can come [00:36:27] in for the next meeting and we can put [00:36:29] our brings together [00:36:32] and and have something sooner than later [00:36:36] we can't afford to be [00:36:39] without with everything that's through [00:36:41] coming down the we've done that it's not [00:36:45] pretty used to help Katie in that room [00:36:48] over there it wasn't [00:36:49] pretty yeah so my contract says that I [00:36:52] give a 60-day notice so it'll be [00:36:54] somewhere in that time frame um that [00:36:57] I'll be going yeah we have a little time [00:36:58] okay [00:37:01] M well you were saying you were going to [00:37:03] be out in 45 days well there's you know [00:37:06] some Logistics and and so maybe you stay [00:37:09] for 60 it we I have to sit down and [00:37:12] really go over um you know Day by you [00:37:15] know the week by week and see what I [00:37:17] have for time [00:37:18] Etc all right she says we can call her [00:37:22] anytime [00:37:25] yes all right oh well we'll figure it [00:37:28] out [00:37:29] but we got just one [00:37:32] more [00:37:34] motion to adjourn yeah make a motion to [00:37:38] adjourn second it thank you all fa I [00:37:43] thank you