Thumbnail for 2/12/24 Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting

Hardwick Addresses Infrastructure, Honors First Responders, and Sets Policy

Original title: 2/12/24 Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen 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

February 12, 2024

Duration

32m

Decisions

5 recorded

Action Items

2 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen held a public hearing regarding the relocation and replacement of utility poles by National Grid and Verizon New England, which was subsequently approved. The meeting also featured a significant recognition ceremony for Officer Patrick Alstrom and the Ambulance Crew for their life-saving actions during a medical emergency. Additionally, the Board approved an increase in pole fees and supported the 2024 legislative priorities put forth by STAM, while also discussing the appointment of an interim Deputy Fire Chief and updates on the Matrix project.

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Discussion Highlights

National Grid and Verizon New England presented a plan to replace two old utility poles (33 and 34, dating back to the late 1950s/early 1960s) and relocate them from wetlands to the public way along North Road and Taylor Hill Road for improved access and maintenance. Two other poles (95 and 92) will also be replaced in their current locations.
Power outages during the pole replacement are expected to be minimal, potentially around half an hour, with prior notification to affected residents.
Officer Patrick Alstrom was recognized for performing CPR and applying an AED during a medical emergency on January 21, 2024, which directly led to the patient regaining a pulse.
The Ambulance Crew, including EMT Leah and Paramedic Dan (Chief), were also commended for their team effort and high-quality CPR and AED application, which was crucial in saving the patient's life.
The importance of early recognition, intervention, and proper equipment for first responders in rural areas was highlighted.
Discussion regarding increasing pole fees from $100 to $200 to cover administrative costs, including public hearing advertisements.
The Board discussed supporting the 2024 legislative priorities proposed by the Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts (STAM) to advocate for small towns' funding and other needs at the state level.
An update on the Matrix project indicated a new contact person, Steve, and the need for a survey to gauge public interest in high-speed fiber internet.
Concerns were raised about the Townhouse portico, specifically a 1.5-inch drop and 10-inch threshold, with settling 2-inch thick slabs, suggesting a need for a 5-inch riser to a stone top, then another 5 inches into the building, estimated at $3400 and weighing 1700 lbs.

Transcript (5,318 words)

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

00:00:00
All right first order of business is public hearing we have a poll hearing can I read that yeah right from there uh do I have enough of it here the whole the whole public hearing notice in accordance with the provisions
00:00:18
Of section 22 chapter 166 of the Massachusetts general laws who were hereby notified that a public hearing will be held at the Hardwick municipal office building 307 Main Street Gilbertville Mass on the 12th of February 2024 at 6:30 p.m. on the petition of the
00:00:39
National Grid Verizon New England request permission to locate holes wires and fixtures including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures along and across a public Way North Road and Taylor Hill Road so the hearing is open could you
00:01:01
Say sure so the project basically entails two polls poll number 33 and 34 there's currently existing poles 33 and 34 that we're actually trying to remove out of existing wetlands and they're quite Old Poles I think uh for my
00:01:19
Records I dug up they were about late 50s early 60s that they've been there so quite a long time so they needed to be upgraded along with that we wanted to remove them out of the wet l into the public way along the roadway so that we could easily maintain and access them for the future so that is really the
00:01:39
Extent of the project both polls 95 and 92 which are on both sides of these two polls in question are also getting replaced but they are not moving per se they're just getting upgraded in place and that's that's the extent of the project all right
00:02:02
Anybody here to speak to this sir I just want to know how long do you think the power will be out so with a switch over when it comes to the pole Replacements typically unless there's any sort of significant outage it there shouldn't be any real significant outage

[00:00:00] all right first order of business is [00:00:01] public [00:00:02] hearing we have a poll [00:00:05] hearing can I read that yeah right from [00:00:09] there uh do I have enough of it here the [00:00:11] whole the whole public hearing [00:00:16] notice in accordance with the provisions [00:00:18] of section [00:00:19] 22 chapter 166 of the Massachusetts [00:00:23] general laws who were hereby notified [00:00:26] that a public hearing will be held at [00:00:27] the Hardwick municipal office building [00:00:30] 307 Main Street Gilbertville Mass on the [00:00:33] 12th of February [00:00:35] 2024 at 6:30 p.m. on the petition of the [00:00:39] National Grid Verizon New England [00:00:42] request permission to locate holes wires [00:00:46] and fixtures including the necessary [00:00:48] sustaining and protecting fixtures along [00:00:51] and across a public Way North Road and [00:00:54] Taylor Hill [00:00:56] Road so the hearing is open could you [00:01:01] say sure so the project basically [00:01:04] entails two polls poll number 33 and 34 [00:01:08] there's currently existing poles 33 and [00:01:12] 34 that we're actually trying to remove [00:01:15] out of existing wetlands and they're [00:01:17] quite Old Poles I think uh for my [00:01:19] records I dug up they were about late [00:01:21] 50s early 60s that they've been there so [00:01:24] quite a long time so they needed to be [00:01:26] upgraded along with that we wanted to [00:01:28] remove them out of the wet l into the [00:01:30] public way along the roadway so that we [00:01:33] could easily maintain and access them [00:01:36] for the future so that is really the [00:01:39] extent of the project both polls 95 and [00:01:43] 92 which are on both sides of these two [00:01:45] polls in question are also getting [00:01:47] replaced but they are not moving per se [00:01:50] they're just getting upgraded in place [00:01:53] and that's that's the extent of the [00:01:56] project all right um [00:02:02] anybody here to speak to this sir I just [00:02:06] want to know how long do you think the [00:02:07] power will be [00:02:09] out so with a switch over when it comes [00:02:12] to the pole [00:02:14] Replacements typically unless there's [00:02:17] any sort of significant outage it there [00:02:19] shouldn't be any real significant outage [00:02:23] longer than maybe a half an hour but [00:02:25] that's all [00:02:26] approximate um they should have a [00:02:30] notification system where they will [00:02:33] notify those who are in question to be [00:02:36] out for any amount of time but uh it [00:02:39] shouldn't be very long okay thank you [00:02:42] for I didn't know that you'd call yeah [00:02:45] they typically put together what they [00:02:47] just call an outage list and if they [00:02:49] need to disconnect power which I do [00:02:51] assume in this one that they will need [00:02:53] to disconnect and run new overhead wire [00:02:56] because of the span distances from these [00:02:58] two poles out [00:03:00] I think they're measured to be about 50 [00:03:02] ft away from roadway so they have to get [00:03:05] something we call a track machine in [00:03:06] there remove the two polles and then [00:03:09] swing new cable over but they do that so [00:03:12] quick they do it in tandem they have two [00:03:14] crews out in the road and then they have [00:03:16] the track machine in there so it's they [00:03:18] essentially run the new cable over and [00:03:21] it's essentially dead until they're [00:03:23] ready to disconnect and reconnect it's [00:03:25] very very quick it's very efficient the [00:03:27] gentleman just thinks the stay address [00:03:30] for the public there could you state [00:03:31] your name and address please I'm Henry [00:03:34] al50 [00:03:35] North [00:03:38] i h a u PT m a n n no not f h a u [00:03:47] PT M A NN two and you said 50 North is [00:03:53] that correct sir 1050 105 I'm the one [00:03:56] that granted you the oh perfect you must [00:03:58] have uh spoke with with um maybe a Jill [00:04:01] Wilson so I'm here on her behalf and [00:04:04] with your attorney too so okay [00:04:06] understood yes makes all all makes sense [00:04:09] yeah it already came out oh perfect yeah [00:04:12] good that was surprised yeah I I I'm too [00:04:15] surprised I haven't been [00:04:18] good okay um I'll close this [00:04:23] hearing [00:04:28] 635 call for a [00:04:32] vote a motion uh I would make a motion [00:04:36] to Grant the [00:04:39] um replacement and addition of Poes as [00:04:43] noted in the public [00:04:46] hearing [00:04:48] second all in [00:04:50] favor we're all set all right thank you [00:04:53] so much selectman thank you so much for [00:04:55] your time this even sure and stay safe [00:04:57] tomorrow for however much sow we get who [00:04:59] knows who knows it's probably just a we [00:05:01] and see yeah that's all ever is Inland [00:05:04] have a good night thank you thank you [00:05:06] thank [00:05:07] you happy guy [00:05:13] at yeah finally season Stu all we got a [00:05:17] lot of uniforms in the room so we won't [00:05:20] make you [00:05:22] wait uh we're here for [00:05:27] you thank you I'm here for officer [00:05:30] Patrick [00:05:33] Alstrom whereas every day residents of [00:05:36] Hardwick directly benefit from the [00:05:38] dedication and commitment of the town of [00:05:41] Hardwick [00:05:42] employees those public servants and [00:05:44] unsung heroes that keep Hardwick running [00:05:46] and whereas on Sunday January 21st [00:05:52] 2024 officer Patrick Alstrom responded [00:05:55] to a medical call within Hardwick and [00:05:58] performed C CP PR as well as applied the [00:06:01] AED which led to the individual [00:06:04] regaining a pulse whereas thanks to [00:06:07] life-saving efforts of Officer Alstrom [00:06:10] taking immediate action and recognizing [00:06:12] the severity of the medical emergency [00:06:14] resulting directly in saving the life of [00:06:17] the individual a failure to act or [00:06:19] action after delay could have led to a [00:06:21] tragic outcome now therefore we the [00:06:25] select Board of Hardwick Massachusetts [00:06:27] do hereby recognize and hold in high [00:06:30] regard officer Patrick [00:06:33] alst thank you thank you that's a big [00:06:40] deal statistics on that stuff's terrible [00:06:44] you did real good it's climbing but it's [00:06:47] it's still it's what it's climbing but [00:06:50] it's better it's getting [00:06:53] better Mr chairman can I read ours two [00:06:55] pleas of course so this is on behalf of [00:06:58] the chief Sunday January 21st 2004 to [00:07:01] approximately 11:32 a.m. officer Patrick [00:07:04] Alstrom was dispatched to a residence on [00:07:06] Patra Hall Road for a male party that [00:07:09] was unconscious not breathing in Cardiac [00:07:11] Arrest officer Alon cleared a call that [00:07:14] he was currently on and responded to [00:07:16] this priority call on arrival the [00:07:18] patient's wife who had started effective [00:07:21] CPR officer Alston quickly assessed the [00:07:24] assist assembled and attached the AED to [00:07:27] the patient after several SU uccessful [00:07:29] shocks numerous rounds of effective CPR [00:07:33] Rusty breathing the patient began to [00:07:35] show signs of responsiveness and life [00:07:38] officer Armstrong's quick response [00:07:40] recognition of the severity of the [00:07:42] medical emergency immediate actions with [00:07:44] the AED and effective CPR resulted in [00:07:47] the directly in the saving of the male [00:07:49] patient's life on behalf of the hard [00:07:51] brry Police Department we commend [00:07:52] officer Patrick Alstrom for his [00:07:54] professionalism and life-saving actions [00:07:57] of that day and he is being awarded the [00:07:59] life saving award by our [00:08:01] department thank [00:08:08] you we have a presentation [00:08:13] also ahead this is a big [00:08:19] deal [00:08:25] coordinator get a couple pictures um I I [00:08:29] think that you you both have said it uh [00:08:32] very well um officer Alstrom has been a [00:08:36] um great supporter of us and tremendous [00:08:38] help to us on multiple [00:08:40] calls um especially this one high [00:08:43] quality CPR and AED is what saves lives [00:08:48] um all the medication that we push the [00:08:50] Airways that we put in those are all [00:08:52] helpful but without CPR um none of this [00:08:55] would be [00:08:56] possible um so the first [00:09:00] award that I have is for officer Alstrom [00:09:03] than and your PIN congratulations [00:09:08] you [00:09:11] job um the next one that I have um is [00:09:17] actually for our ambulance crew that [00:09:19] evening um our ambulance crew consisted [00:09:22] of EMT Leia and paramedic Dan our chief [00:09:28] um this was a huge team effort again uh [00:09:30] without all of them working together the [00:09:32] way that they did none of this would [00:09:35] have been possible uh this particular [00:09:38] gentleman he gets to spend another [00:09:39] holiday with his families um and that's [00:09:42] pretty unheard of so like our chief said [00:09:45] those numbers are climbing um but they [00:09:48] don't happen every day we don't always [00:09:50] get to find out that that particular [00:09:52] individual got to go home so Leah here's [00:09:57] your pen [00:10:04] congratulations [00:10:06] congratulations thank you for your time [00:10:09] thank you for uh y taking care of us we [00:10:11] take advantage of these moments because [00:10:13] we don't get that many of them right so [00:10:15] but it's clearly an example of what you [00:10:18] know we do in the field and this is a [00:10:20] good example of that of just early [00:10:22] recognition and early interventions that [00:10:24] saved lives yeah you know equipping [00:10:26] these guys with aeds and the knowledge [00:10:29] to to to go there I mean I know Pat's an [00:10:31] EMT but the First Responders all the [00:10:34] other offices they they are far well [00:10:36] trained and they know what to do and [00:10:38] they have the equipment that's important [00:10:40] that's what sa lives the community and [00:10:42] to add what to dance it's funny it's not [00:10:45] funny but I go I've been to other first [00:10:47] responder training for police [00:10:48] departments and it's kind of a joke it's [00:10:50] a 4 Hour have it lunch and kind of do [00:10:52] nothing our guys do first responder [00:10:55] training they do the Hands-On they [00:10:57] participate in it they want to know the [00:10:59] knowledge they ask the questions and [00:11:02] they want the equipment to do what [00:11:03] they're trained to do which I find is [00:11:05] huge for us especially out here waiting [00:11:07] for cruise you're likely the first one [00:11:09] on scene absolutely and that's huge [00:11:13] yeah you mind y thats [00:11:16] it very very good not having a hospital [00:11:19] is even more [00:11:27] vital very thank you [00:11:30] yeah I'm glad the guy is uh doing he had [00:11:32] he ended up having a cabbage he had a [00:11:33] 90% alusion to uh a few of his arteries [00:11:36] in his heart so it's just a really good [00:11:39] outcome for him I'm glad he's home he's [00:11:42] home now resting so do you want to say [00:11:44] something it's a win man I think [00:11:46] everybody's pretty much covered it all [00:11:49] so I'm just glad that I was able to be [00:11:51] close by and got there quick the problem [00:11:53] is we don't like the recognition you [00:11:56] know what I mean we do our job cuz cuz [00:11:59] it's our job yeah but you're all here we [00:12:02] are but we don't want the [00:12:04] recognition there was any way out of [00:12:08] this and I asked him to say something [00:12:11] and he doesn't want to [00:12:12] so no all right I appreciate the award [00:12:16] and the recognition it's [00:12:18] awesome smile everyone smile you're on [00:12:21] camera we're on [00:12:24] TV you're on [00:12:27] camera hopefully they had my good side I [00:12:31] always turn my back that's my best side [00:12:34] and I would like parle yeah that was [00:12:37] close is it uh like I said I'm glad [00:12:39] we're close by made a difference coming [00:12:42] from the station it might have been a [00:12:43] little a little different of an outcome [00:12:45] it's good all [00:12:48] that well we have other things to do if [00:12:51] you'd like to [00:12:52] stay thank you for your time Jee [00:12:55] no thank you thank you so thank you [00:13:00] thank you guys very much thanks for [00:13:02] coming to the fire this is refreshing to [00:13:04] see too so thank you you guys have a [00:13:07] good nighto good night take care thank [00:13:10] you night thank [00:13:13] you I don't think we could make him [00:13:24] cry I get teary when I see a fire you go [00:13:27] go by it just kind of brought it all [00:13:30] back yeah I hadn't thought about that [00:13:32] but you know him very well very well [00:13:35] yeah for a long time he's a real nice [00:13:37] guy I'm glad we didn't [00:13:40] is okay back to [00:13:43] work uh discussion should we increase [00:13:47] poll fees we should have kept the kit [00:13:49] here put to the question he doesn't have [00:13:51] any idea about it anyway right no he [00:13:53] didn't even know we did [00:13:55] it should we increase both fees from 100 [00:13:58] to 200 [00:13:59] justes uh I looked at the I saw the the [00:14:03] cost of the ad so I'm assuming that's [00:14:05] what some of that takes care of [00:14:07] absolutely right um that was like call [00:14:11] it 7s yeah 80 bucks right um what else [00:14:15] goes into it well besides our time our [00:14:17] time administrative time and S you have [00:14:19] to fill out all you have to fill out all [00:14:21] of the butter notices and send them out [00:14:23] M oh yeah so you do that mhm oh yeah [00:14:26] okay I'm okay with that then yeah [00:14:29] absolutely um yeah so you know I just [00:14:33] thought they should be covering all of [00:14:35] the fee honestly and and and then some I [00:14:38] mean it just I feel like they should be [00:14:39] covering all of the cost the [00:14:41] administrative cost the the costs for [00:14:44] and sometimes it's longer than this ad [00:14:46] you know sometimes so it's more involved [00:14:49] yeah [00:14:50] yeah well should it be a fee plus the [00:14:53] cost to run the ad it it will never be [00:14:57] over 200 so so you don't think okay I [00:14:59] don't think even with the time to okay [00:15:02] okay as long as you feel that's covered [00:15:04] and then the number of a Butters goes up [00:15:06] and down yep but that's a lot of [00:15:08] printing and a lot of stamping I mean [00:15:11] they do send the cards but we still have [00:15:12] to fill everything out because we set [00:15:14] the set the here you know we set the [00:15:18] dates okay [00:15:21] so find that you want a motion sure I [00:15:24] would make a motion that we increase the [00:15:26] pole fee uh no the is that what it is [00:15:29] yep the pull fee from $100 to $200 [00:15:32] effective immediately I'll second it all [00:15:35] in favor [00:15:39] I [00:15:40] Stan would you like to speak to this yes [00:15:43] please so we have you know that I'm on [00:15:45] Stam and on the subcommittees and that [00:15:48] we uh you know are constantly just [00:15:50] trying to fight for the small towns and [00:15:52] the imbalance that we have in funding [00:15:54] and you know the the differences that [00:15:57] really B Boston in that area just [00:15:59] doesn't see our struggles you know and I [00:16:02] I don't want to go over it all again I [00:16:04] know you know this is new but um you [00:16:07] know we've been talking about it for a [00:16:08] long time I showed you our priorities [00:16:09] the last time when I was on this the [00:16:11] first sub committee the legislative [00:16:13] committee and uh you know we all brought [00:16:16] ours all together and then we you know [00:16:19] tried to combine them as much as we [00:16:20] could and streamline it to just be you [00:16:23] know a certain amount and this is what [00:16:24] we came up with like this I mean for the [00:16:27] most part um there they were all of [00:16:30] Hardwick's uh priorities um and then [00:16:33] there are some more thrown in here you [00:16:35] know the prevailing wage and procurement [00:16:36] thrh so um so the stam members are we [00:16:42] all were you know we on the list serve [00:16:44] and they'd like to have this you know [00:16:47] voted on and adopted from the select [00:16:49] boards uh because we think that will [00:16:51] hold more weight up on Beacon Hill if [00:16:53] you know the town's really behind it [00:16:55] priorities the if we adopt these [00:16:57] priorities this is I put Hardwick's um [00:17:00] St but this is everybody has the same [00:17:03] and then they put their own uh seal on [00:17:04] it so um we have a lot of towns so far [00:17:08] that have done it and some are doing it [00:17:10] tonight and tomorrow night so we're [00:17:11] trying to get it um adopted so we can [00:17:15] really you know be more firm in in it [00:17:17] it's not just Stam or not just the town [00:17:19] administrators that are constantly [00:17:21] seeking the funding but it's the town [00:17:23] and the select board that have also felt [00:17:25] that it's important the leaders of the [00:17:27] Town exactly I think um [00:17:28] I think this hits [00:17:30] on a lot of things that are um lacking [00:17:34] yeah so it's good it's good um I'm good [00:17:37] I'm good to support this I am too um I [00:17:40] would make a motion to support the 2024 [00:17:43] legislative priorities put forth by Stam [00:17:46] I'll second [00:17:47] it all in favor I um do we like a letter [00:17:53] or something are you going to I would [00:17:55] just say that you know that your regular [00:17:57] scheduled meeting meting you [00:17:59] voted the priorities [00:18:03] perfect just don't say that there were [00:18:05] only two of [00:18:06] us there was Corum [00:18:09] yep okay um sign the prop Warren here it [00:18:15] is on Ryan's heavy [00:18:20] paper discussion appointment of [00:18:23] Deputy fire [00:18:26] chief Deputy fire chief Nicholas Gand I [00:18:30] know [00:18:35] him he's uh [00:18:39] remarkably [00:18:44] trained I don't know the problem with [00:18:47] this no I don't either he's is it is it [00:18:51] inim though like how does that work when [00:18:53] it's an interim Chief right that's what [00:18:55] I think you guys needed to discuss um is [00:18:58] it which was why he wasn't able to just [00:18:59] appoint him because he's interim right [00:19:01] so you might want to have him be interim [00:19:04] as long as the chief is you know well [00:19:07] yeah it could be uh for one thing it [00:19:10] makes his title even longer and more [00:19:14] Awkward uh but uh [00:19:18] if if at the end of the fiscal [00:19:22] year Josh doesn't like it we don't like [00:19:26] Josh uh something goes wrong [00:19:29] it would be good to have somebody ready [00:19:31] to step [00:19:32] in um and that's what a deputy would do [00:19:37] so I don't mind calling him Deputy fire [00:19:39] chief for [00:19:41] now but if you want to add into [00:19:45] that's well I guess I just I I because I [00:19:48] don't know how it works if he's [00:19:50] appointed [00:19:52] Deputy can we change that or can only [00:19:56] the chief like cuz I know it's a strong [00:19:58] like I just don't know the D how that [00:19:59] works no we can change that we can [00:20:01] change that what we're doing here by [00:20:03] appointing him is stating that that's [00:20:06] the case okay you know Josh didn't know [00:20:10] and I said no you guys don't appoint [00:20:12] each other you have to go through the [00:20:14] yeah [00:20:15] okay then I'm fine with [00:20:19] that okay so make a motion to a point [00:20:24] want yes please okay I would make a [00:20:26] motion to a point [00:20:28] um Nicholas [00:20:31] Gand to deputy [00:20:34] chief second all in favor [00:20:39] I I assume you're saying I I sorry yes [00:20:45] I yeah he used to be a kid at the youth [00:20:47] center yeah I know I know who he is I [00:20:50] know yeah I've met him before I just I [00:20:53] don't know well yeah well he's taken [00:20:56] he's firefighter 1 and two I did see [00:20:59] that in the letter so that was got good [00:21:02] training all right minutes [00:21:05] approval January [00:21:08] 22nd of this year and November 29th of [00:21:11] two years ago um I can make a motion on [00:21:15] January 22nd but the other one may have [00:21:17] to wait until we have a quorum because [00:21:19] you can't vote on right correct all [00:21:21] right so I will make a motion to accept [00:21:24] the meeting minutes from January 22nd [00:21:27] 202 for I'll second it all in favor I I [00:21:32] and we'll have to table the minutes from [00:21:36] November 29 [00:21:41] 20222 did anybody get any word from [00:21:47] Robert okay uh old business [00:21:51] reconsideration Whistle Stop everything [00:21:54] in order and we just sign it yeah so [00:21:57] there were some errors and omissions in [00:21:59] their first application so it wouldn't [00:22:02] wasn't able to be approved by the ABC [00:22:05] and so I had um Cat come in and we went [00:22:09] through it again with all of the [00:22:11] recommendations from the investigator so [00:22:13] it is now complete and I'll be able to [00:22:15] send it in once that's once you guys [00:22:18] have voted on okay the reconsideration [00:22:20] if anybody wants to look at the full [00:22:22] application this year um I would make a [00:22:24] motion to [00:22:26] reconsider an approve Ral of the [00:22:29] reconsideration yeah the reconsideration [00:22:32] for the Whistle Stop at 248 Main Street [00:22:35] G okay I'll second it and we're in favor [00:22:39] I all we should bottom left right down [00:22:55] here okay colors on the punch station [00:22:59] were we in agreement yes and if you look [00:23:01] at the meetings the minutes it says that [00:23:04] we voted on everything oh of course we [00:23:07] didn't have that I was like I'm pretty [00:23:09] sure we all understood that it was it [00:23:11] was the color and then black for [00:23:13] everything else flat black yeah and a [00:23:16] and a kind of a brick red yeah that uh [00:23:18] Autumn Brown was what it was called so [00:23:20] yes we can conf with that because that [00:23:23] was already done [00:23:25] okay okay Matrix [00:23:28] I spoke with the newest guy today so the [00:23:31] other one is gone or I don't know where [00:23:33] he went he's just not our contact and he [00:23:36] talked about um you know the [00:23:38] implementation of it and bringing the [00:23:40] fiber in and really actually doing a [00:23:42] survey first to see um who would be [00:23:46] interested in having this high speed cuz [00:23:49] much higher than what we get through [00:23:52] Comcast um but he was supposed to send [00:23:54] me some links and things like that today [00:23:56] and he didn't so I don't really and I am [00:23:58] his lingo and mine just are not the same [00:24:01] so when he talks about 100 over 100 or [00:24:03] 25 over 30 and I I said you I need some [00:24:08] I need some paperwork I need something [00:24:09] to digest so he he was supposed to send [00:24:11] me links and things like that maybe he [00:24:12] didn't get to it today so uh hopefully [00:24:14] tomorrow and we'll have more information [00:24:17] next [00:24:19] time do you understand that stuff a [00:24:22] little bit but you [00:24:25] know it's just the speed and the and the [00:24:28] you [00:24:34] know all right and I'll uh I told Nicole [00:24:38] I'd get involved with that if she wants [00:24:41] cuz she was saying the same thing [00:24:44] yeah uh okay committee [00:24:48] reports I would uh I'll report on the uh [00:24:52] Capital planning [00:24:54] committee uh Mark corac and I went to [00:24:57] see [00:24:59] USDA and uh met with them and talked [00:25:04] about the project and even though Mark [00:25:07] and I agreed that we weren't going to be [00:25:09] looking in the re view we got to deal [00:25:12] with what's in front of [00:25:14] us uh they actually got in Steve who's a [00:25:18] local he married to Joe Boise's daughter [00:25:21] Travis yeah yep um he he put a lot of [00:25:26] you know history on it [00:25:28] I learned a lot of things about the [00:25:30] timing because I was kind of absent for [00:25:33] a while but uh bottom line is [00:25:37] where uh they're hopeful and [00:25:40] sympathetic there weren't any surprise [00:25:45] gifts our um time [00:25:49] of the time of the whole project it can [00:25:53] be extended the we were coming to an [00:25:56] expiration dat or something and that's [00:26:00] in the wind that's not necessary to [00:26:02] worry about and there could be money [00:26:06] further in the future that we could [00:26:08] borrow but [00:26:10] uh that's uh that's it we had a lot of [00:26:13] fun trying to find the place they were [00:26:16] nice guys and that's about it good I [00:26:20] thought I'd wanted to come back with a [00:26:22] rabbit out of the hat but [00:26:26] no uh [00:26:28] what else I think overall though it's [00:26:30] been good working with them yeah 100% [00:26:33] with the USDA guys yeah yeah and the [00:26:36] engineers for that matter like it's it's [00:26:38] been good good well [00:26:41] we're we're [00:26:43] approaching time to borrow more so um [00:26:49] see [00:26:50] this I'm not against I'm against the [00:26:53] plan from the very beginning but [00:26:55] obviously we're dealing with it [00:26:59] necessary yeah to be done I wanted a [00:27:03] greenhouse sewage treatment facility but [00:27:07] can't have [00:27:08] everything uh also I've been [00:27:11] working uh one thing that I brought up [00:27:14] at the capital planning meeting uh was [00:27:17] the fact that I I sit I'm proud to sit [00:27:20] in front of the town house on the at the [00:27:23] fair Friday night and of course I see a [00:27:28] thousand people so that I love that and [00:27:32] probably one out of 10 of them [00:27:35] stumble getting up onto the Portico cuz [00:27:37] there's about an inch and a half drop in [00:27:41] those [00:27:42] flags so uh that and the fact that the [00:27:46] front um door threshold is 10 in from [00:27:51] the portical floor too big so um uh [00:27:58] Randy Noble and I have talked about it [00:28:01] and uh traded stories and now I know I [00:28:04] think why [00:28:06] the slabs are settling and they're only [00:28:09] a couple inches thick it's not going to [00:28:11] be a big deal to lift them and [00:28:14] regrade and put them back so that [00:28:16] there's no trip on uh as far as a [00:28:21] stone and we are agreed he and I that it [00:28:25] should be a stone to step up up to and [00:28:28] then into the building it really has to [00:28:31] be [00:28:32] deeper the the tread has to be deeper [00:28:36] than [00:28:37] normal uh because it's just two and it's [00:28:40] an odd height so it' be a 5 in riser to [00:28:46] a stone top and then 5 in to get into [00:28:49] the building Stone will cost [00:28:53] $3,400 it'll weigh 1,700 lb so he's got [00:28:58] a price he's got it designed with a [00:29:02] supply obviously nothing's happened but [00:29:06] that could come up in the future that's [00:29:09] what we're [00:29:10] talking so that's a informal committee [00:29:15] report and that's all I [00:29:18] got can I just I just want to um remind [00:29:22] everybody who's watching that we're [00:29:24] having the the hazard mitigation hearing [00:29:27] and [00:29:27] 5:30 at 5:30 on uh February 26th and [00:29:31] then the cdbg public hearing at 6:30 [00:29:35] here um if anybody's interested in [00:29:37] coming out to support or otherwise and [00:29:39] then our Board of uh Selectmen yeah then [00:29:42] the board of Selectmen these are just [00:29:44] the public hearings yeah so we be here [00:29:48] do we need to come at 5:30 that night [00:29:50] okay they'd like you to yeah this is the [00:29:54] hazard [00:29:55] mitigation public hearing we I was [00:29:58] planning on putting it as the first item [00:30:01] on the agenda we did part we did the [00:30:03] first of that already right that we [00:30:06] talked they've done one Public [00:30:08] Presentation now they'll do the second [00:30:10] one we've wrapped up uh we've gone over [00:30:14] the the plan from five years ago um and [00:30:18] uh changed [00:30:21] things filled things in lost completely [00:30:24] lost a couple of things I realized [00:30:27] finally asked her can can we just lose [00:30:30] this and she said oh yeah I said okay [00:30:33] because some of the stuff from the [00:30:35] hazard mitigation plan 5 years ago [00:30:39] said everything should be nice and [00:30:42] things like that you know and this that [00:30:45] and it was just and you couldn't [00:30:46] disagree with any of it but I didn't see [00:30:49] where there was anything to do so I [00:30:51] started putting [00:30:53] agreed and she said FEMA doesn't like [00:30:56] that so [00:30:58] so she's worked that up I'm talking [00:31:00] about Jamie Kaplan and uh we've gone [00:31:03] quite tight with her uh Sandy and I sit [00:31:06] in sy's office and resume so they'll be [00:31:11] presenting to the public and there'll [00:31:13] still be time to tweak it but it'll [00:31:17] pretty much be wrapping up there's one [00:31:19] more committee meeting after that and [00:31:21] then it goes to the state and if the [00:31:25] state says okay it goes to FEMA and once [00:31:28] FEMA passes it now we can in fact maybe [00:31:32] use it to uh help pay for the [00:31:36] sewer just maybe MVP all that stuff [00:31:41] right might pay off so we'll [00:31:45] see that's all I [00:31:50] have that's all you have [00:31:54] y [00:31:56] d [00:31:57] think [00:32:00] that so I had these printed up on behalf [00:32:04] of the town of Hardwick select board I [00:32:06] would like to thank the Peter sham fire [00:32:08] department for responding to a structure [00:32:10] fire in our town on Friday February 9th [00:32:14] no one was injured and the house was [00:32:15] saved Mutual Aid is a great thing [00:32:18] sincerely me that all right with you [00:32:21] absolutely okay and I assume it's going [00:32:24] to all the towns that of them yeah [00:32:28] yeah we did 39 of these after the big [00:32:30] fire at the Mill yeah [00:32:35] so right motion to adjourn second