Thumbnail for Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 7/17/23

Hardwick Select Board Addresses Operations, Contracts, and Personnel

Original title: Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 7/17/23

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

Meeting details

Date

July 18, 2023

Duration

1h 19m

Decisions

8 recorded

Action Items

12 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen meeting commenced with a recognition of Edward T. Pollock's 21 years of dedicated service in law enforcement. Key actions included the unanimous approval of a new cable television license and a motion to apply for a grant to replace electric vehicle chargers. Significant discussion centered on proposed amendments to the Police Chief's contract, with one amendment to remove off-duty detail reporting passing. The Board of Health's complex relationship with the Leicester Regional Public Health Consortium and ongoing challenges with permit processing were extensively debated. Financial matters, including end-of-year transfers and the urgent need for a new town accountant following Markham's service termination, were also addressed. The meeting concluded with concerns raised about unsafe building conditions in town and a discussion on potential solutions for residents.

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Discussion Highlights

Edward T. Pollock was recognized for 21 years of dedicated service in law enforcement for the town of Hardwick, Massachusetts.
The town's cable television license was discussed, noting it was 'a little bit overdue,' and the provider agreed to all town requests, including PEG access changes.
Discussion resumed regarding electric vehicle (EV) chargers, with two proposals presented and a grant available for $40,000, reducing the town's estimated out-of-pocket cost to $3,000.
The Police Chief presented three items for reconsideration regarding his employment contract: reporting off-duty details, administrative days, and in-town details.
The Board debated the Chief's off-duty detail reporting requirement, which was initially a temporary measure due to past 'excessive' details, and ultimately voted to remove it.
The Chief's request for 7 administrative days was discussed in the context of his contract already having elevated benefits, such as 6 weeks of vacation.
The Chief's request to work in-town details on his time off was considered for its potential to increase his visibility and address currently unfilled details, but a motion to allow it failed.
The Board of Health's contract with the Leicester Regional Public Health Consortium was a point of confusion and contention, particularly regarding communication issues and an unreceived contract.
Concerns were raised about the complexity of the permit application process and the increased workload for the permit clerk (Trisha) due to process updates and budget overruns.
A revolving account for permit fees, approved at the annual town meeting, has not yet been set up, preventing the deposit of collected fees.
Frustration was expressed over the convoluted multi-step permit process and the need for simplification.
A speaker expressed concern about an 'unprofessional relationship' between 'Lark' and 'Hardwick' regarding contract issues.
A resident inquired about the process to remove a septic system and well at Hardwick Pond, noting demolition occurred without a permit.
The Board of Health is working to automate its processes to address larger health problems, combine watersheds, facilitate shared services, and secure grants.
End-of-year transfers were signed by the Finance Committee, with minor changes needed for final budget actuals.
Assistance is needed with FEMA history to apply for reimbursement by August 15th, requiring proof of purchase from the town.
Markham, the town's accounting firm, notified the town of service termination by July 31st, necessitating an urgent search for a new accountant.
The broken streaming equipment has been fixed, and new vehicle chargers have been approved.
The building project, including flooring, ceiling, and electrical work, is nearing completion, with carpeting for the Assessor's and Clerk's offices scheduled.
The administrator is exploring shared accounting services with other towns (Princeton, Hadley) to attract a stronger pool of applicants.
A speaker raised concerns about 'terrible buildings and apartments' and unsafe living conditions encountered while assisting families in the community.
Discussion included how private citizens can file complaints about unsafe building conditions with the Board of Health or Building Inspector.
An inquiry was made about municipal grants or initiatives to install solar panels on apartment buildings, with suggestions to contact solar companies and the Community Development Office in Ware.

Transcript (11,125 words)

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

00:00:00
Recognize recognize a lot all your years of Duty how many has it been 21 21. thank you
00:00:18
Plus all the other stuff you're on your own time you're very much appreciate that boy thank you I got the call from Eric and I was like trying to escape and he wanted to raise value and all in any call me oh my God
00:00:37
They're all my friends and I gotta say I work for the best of that probably a mistake on the chief AR all the training when we first got here 21 years ago I was out there in my uniform wouldn't change on cruises up in the parking lot
00:00:55
In the snow storm now we got all four-wheel drive cruises a nice heated garage and constantly everyone who were training weapons trained I mean if it wasn't for that I had to call from time to time
00:01:15
They will rock be on his vacation three o'clock in the morning and in bed for two hours but you know I love these guys any time of day I could call them up and ask them a question it was no issues at all the towns have died within the Braintree
00:01:33
They don't realize that who they have working for them how dedicated they are and you said you're going to make me cry you're not going to cry but I just wanted to make sure that everybody knows them the true professionals absolutely thank you guys but most
00:01:53
Sincerely thank you for like dedication thank you all it's gonna be a little longer
00:02:14
All right settle down settle down whereas Edward T Pollock retiring esteemed police officer of Hardwick Massachusetts has served in law enforcement for the last 21 years and is well respected by his fellow law enforcement officers civilian employees and volunteers and

[00:00:00] recognize [00:00:02] recognize a lot [00:00:11] all your years of Duty [00:00:13] how many has it been 21 21. thank you [00:00:18] plus all the other stuff you're on your [00:00:21] own time you're very much appreciate [00:00:23] that boy thank you [00:00:25] um [00:00:26] I got the call from Eric and I was like [00:00:28] trying to escape and he wanted to raise [00:00:31] value and all in any call me oh my God [00:00:37] they're all my friends and I gotta say I [00:00:40] work for the best of that [00:00:42] probably a mistake on the chief AR all [00:00:46] the training [00:00:49] when we first got here 21 years ago I [00:00:51] was out there in my uniform wouldn't [00:00:53] change on cruises up in the parking lot [00:00:55] in the snow storm now we got all [00:00:58] four-wheel drive cruises a nice heated [00:01:00] garage and constantly everyone who were [00:01:03] training weapons trained I mean if it [00:01:07] wasn't for that [00:01:12] I had to call from time to time [00:01:15] they will rock be on his vacation [00:01:18] three o'clock in the morning and in bed [00:01:20] for two hours but [00:01:22] you know I love these guys any time of [00:01:24] day I could call them up and ask them a [00:01:26] question [00:01:27] it was no issues at all [00:01:31] the towns have died within the Braintree [00:01:33] they don't realize that [00:01:35] who they have working for them how [00:01:37] dedicated they are and you said you're [00:01:39] going to make me cry you're not going to [00:01:41] cry but I just wanted to make sure that [00:01:44] everybody knows them the true [00:01:47] professionals um [00:01:50] absolutely thank you guys but most [00:01:53] sincerely thank you for like dedication [00:01:56] thank you all [00:02:03] it's gonna be a little longer [00:02:14] all right settle down settle down [00:02:17] whereas Edward T Pollock retiring [00:02:20] esteemed police officer of Hardwick [00:02:22] Massachusetts has served in law [00:02:25] enforcement for the last 21 years and is [00:02:27] well respected by his fellow law [00:02:29] enforcement officers [00:02:31] civilian employees and volunteers and [00:02:34] whereas in appreciation of your 21 years [00:02:36] of oil and dedicated service to the [00:02:39] people of Hardwick Massachusetts whereas [00:02:42] we Mark your time with us by honoring [00:02:44] and recognizing who you are and your [00:02:47] immeasurable contribution and dedication [00:02:50] to the police department of Hardwick now [00:02:53] therefore we the select Board of [00:02:55] Hardwick Massachusetts to hereby [00:02:57] recognize and congratulate Edward T [00:03:00] Pollock I would like to say that I was [00:03:03] always kind of a new guy on the fire [00:03:05] department and every time you were [00:03:07] around at a fire call I felt like you [00:03:09] were really solid and then I want to [00:03:11] thank you to make me feel at home thank [00:03:14] you thank you [00:03:31] oh yeah [00:03:45] thank you [00:03:51] you know there's no real retirement [00:03:53] heart attack just so you know I know [00:03:55] they've been already trying to recruit [00:03:56] me again [00:04:03] sign them up for something else yeah [00:04:05] okay I'll talk to you later alrighty all [00:04:09] right [00:04:11] next door business uh [00:04:14] cable license [00:04:16] this is a little bit overdue [00:04:20] um but they were finally going back and [00:04:23] forth yes and agreeing to all of the [00:04:26] requests that we had you know afterwards [00:04:28] we had talked about you know the peg [00:04:31] amounts and things like that it was all [00:04:33] the changes were in your packet [00:04:36] so now it's just execution [00:04:49] to accept the cable television license [00:04:53] for hard like terms of 715 2023 to 7 14 [00:04:58] 20 33. [00:05:01] second [00:05:02] okay discussion [00:05:30] okay [00:05:35] um [00:05:44] so I [00:05:46] also sent you an email with these two [00:05:49] proposals again the one year warranty [00:05:53] for 120 instead of the 480 so if we'd be [00:06:00] inclined to accept that we can just I [00:06:03] can do this that's all we would go at [00:06:06] that point because it was the difference [00:06:08] the other it's um we had to pay 14.46. [00:06:14] yeah okay for each one and then they're [00:06:17] warranty and then we could have annual [00:06:21] maintenance for the first year or not if [00:06:23] you don't want to do that so it's it's [00:06:25] whatever you want I'll check [00:06:28] so it's still it's not going to be five [00:06:30] but it's going to be three absolutely [00:06:33] I don't know [00:06:35] um and that would only give us a year of [00:06:38] warranty versus what was the first [00:06:41] it was 48 for [00:06:46] four years [00:06:47] so this is so it's essential [00:06:49] yeah basically [00:06:52] um but this one died after like [00:06:55] six years so it wouldn't be out of 14. [00:07:02] within the first four years [00:07:06] yeah [00:07:09] and we've been plugging the electric car [00:07:12] into the wall [00:07:13] because that we have the car came with [00:07:16] an adapter that floats right into the [00:07:17] wall outside [00:07:19] because we do drive it Ryan took it we [00:07:22] we dried it so [00:07:24] um you know the alternative I guess [00:07:26] would just be to remove them completely [00:07:29] welcome [00:07:36] but this would bring us two new charges [00:07:39] yeah a double and then the original and [00:07:42] the one a single [00:07:50] kind of feel like they're there [00:07:55] I'm parked right in front of it [00:07:59] did you plug into it no but I don't want [00:08:02] to hang it you know not everywhere [00:08:12] yeah this is for removal and [00:08:14] Replacements it looks away of course [00:08:18] the feet just to remove them [00:08:29] um [00:08:42] it's about a forty thousand dollar [00:08:44] friend [00:08:49] yeah [00:08:50] that's why I kind of feelings to be [00:08:54] responsible [00:08:56] um [00:09:00] it is a brand of forty thousand dollars [00:09:14] and we're responsible [00:09:17] for about three thousand dollars [00:09:33] grant money is our money but [00:09:40] um [00:09:41] [Music] [00:09:43] I think we should do it I would make a [00:09:46] motion that we can have um [00:09:49] people apply for their brand knowing [00:09:52] that the other popular [00:09:53] three thousand dollars [00:09:59] any discussion [00:10:02] Taylor hi opposed [00:10:18] station you can achieve [00:10:21] contractors [00:10:31] now just to be clear you could have [00:10:33] listening yeah [00:10:51] thank you [00:10:57] I'll give you a copy here [00:11:08] all right there's three things in my [00:11:09] contract I'd like to discuss and at the [00:11:11] point [00:11:12] the first thing is on page five of my [00:11:15] current contract [00:11:17] section 10 subsection C States I sound [00:11:20] report to the board [00:11:22] quarterly throughout the year [00:11:25] there's no other department head norfoli [00:11:28] that's required to do that [00:11:30] sound like they're going to be [00:11:31] considered language [00:11:41] what time of year do I do all my [00:11:43] timeline weekend tonight vacation time [00:11:46] if I do it for someone [00:11:49] you got other department heads doing [00:11:51] overtime [00:11:53] they don't applicable so [00:11:56] I think there's the fear that [00:12:01] look [00:12:06] you're talking about work out of town [00:12:07] wherever yeah right now I can only work [00:12:10] out of town that's another writing line [00:12:12] here [00:12:25] do you want to go swimming sure [00:12:29] the next item is [00:12:31] yeah it's hard to yeah [00:12:43] the next thing is the union Works a four [00:12:46] and two schedule a four on two app which [00:12:48] is good it gives them time to recharge [00:12:50] their batteries which comes up to almost [00:12:53] 14 days off more a year [00:12:57] the lieutenant his contract to get 14 [00:12:59] days off the same but he was working [00:13:01] seven days admin days to be banned [00:13:05] I asked for them to have the same same [00:13:07] seven days in Ministry that I was denied [00:13:09] so I'm asking the Lord to reconsider [00:13:11] that [00:13:15] thank you [00:13:16] and then the last thing [00:13:18] is on page five of my contract it states [00:13:21] I am allowed to do details out of town [00:13:23] on my time off [00:13:25] I'm asking the board to reconsider that [00:13:27] an ad in town as well [00:13:29] there if I'm [00:13:31] on a holiday for our vacation day or at [00:13:34] night time or weekend [00:13:36] there are several other full-timers on [00:13:38] the bottom of the barrel so if a job [00:13:40] gets to me and if I'm able to do it I'll [00:13:42] put a bid in for it now with it people [00:13:44] get to see me more [00:13:47] you know our stations up in the [00:13:48] Braintree which works well and I'm [00:13:50] appreciative that they offered us to be [00:13:52] up there but I can't afford to eat every [00:13:54] meal in the restaurant in town so people [00:13:56] can see me more so this is another angle [00:13:59] where they used to be able to see me all [00:14:00] the time I did for almost 20 years [00:14:02] people can stop talk to me and their [00:14:04] concerns a little bit easier I think [00:14:07] it's like high-level Community [00:14:08] efficiency [00:14:11] and that's basically it those three [00:14:13] things [00:14:17] I mean I personally have zero issue with [00:14:20] number three I mean that that's kind of [00:14:23] an easy one for me I think it does put [00:14:25] you back in town [00:14:27] I've heard a lot of a lot of discussion [00:14:29] throughout town that they aren't seeing [00:14:31] you because they just face everybody [00:14:33] sorry a lot on the roads and stuff and [00:14:35] you are available [00:14:40] seven days I mean there is here [00:14:51] and yeah but at this point we we are not [00:14:55] applying across the board that people [00:14:57] have to be working hours [00:14:59] what they're doing their off time so [00:15:01] until we make that policy [00:15:05] why we probably should not have it [00:15:10] that's my opinion [00:15:13] thank you [00:15:14] I am I'm gonna disagree [00:15:16] we're a year into this contract we sat [00:15:19] down a year ago and worked all this out [00:15:22] not everything is the same in [00:15:24] everybody's contract that's why [00:15:27] either we don't have contracts or or we [00:15:30] do and they're individualized to the [00:15:32] person they thought what we did was fair [00:15:36] I don't agree with in-town details [00:15:40] so my opinion [00:15:42] the reason why I'm here today is we have [00:15:45] three member board now two member boy [00:15:47] that can at least do things that way [00:15:49] fair enough no I'm just I'm voicing my [00:15:52] opinion [00:15:54] laughs [00:15:59] I think having to report what you're [00:16:02] doing on your off time is [00:16:04] ridiculous [00:16:06] I had no part in this contract writing [00:16:10] for most people saw before my time so I [00:16:13] don't know kind of what went on uh [00:16:19] seven administrative days that's beyond [00:16:21] me I don't really [00:16:23] feel one way or the other [00:16:25] but I'd like to see you around town [00:16:28] I'm thinking back to the first time we [00:16:30] wrote a contract and I didn't I want the [00:16:34] chief out of there doing details but if [00:16:38] you're the last [00:16:40] in a roster and everybody gets a chance [00:16:43] and nobody wants it [00:16:45] then I don't see any problem with that [00:16:49] you know I wouldn't [00:16:52] start picking at the seven [00:16:53] administrative days [00:16:55] necessarily but the first and third [00:16:58] might be all for [00:17:00] so [00:17:02] well how do you guys want to proceed [00:17:04] Rihanna [00:17:07] either way and just again this way we [00:17:10] give them some finale [00:17:12] individually on these things and whether [00:17:14] you prove it or not we can move on can I [00:17:18] say something because they're negotiated [00:17:20] with me so when we're negotiating [00:17:23] um [00:17:24] I wanted the chief to have the best [00:17:26] contract because he is the highest you [00:17:28] know level employee of the police [00:17:30] department and he was given 60 to [00:17:33] vacation and I know Kevin gets four [00:17:35] weeks of vacation so there's a little [00:17:36] bit difference with that in his his [00:17:38] vacation time is different because [00:17:39] buyback time is different all of those [00:17:42] are elevated [00:17:44] so it's it is in my opinion at the time [00:17:48] when we were doing this a better [00:17:49] contract [00:17:50] um the details the reason for the detail [00:17:54] for the um report was because the [00:17:57] excessive amount of details that was [00:17:59] done the year before for almost forty [00:18:00] thousand dollars so the board thought [00:18:03] that you know okay you can do them [00:18:05] minimally out of town because we want [00:18:08] you to be our police chief so we want to [00:18:10] know when you're doing them so that was [00:18:11] the reason for the recording of when he [00:18:14] was doing details out of town that was a [00:18:16] temporary thing that you were going to [00:18:18] revisit to see if you wanted to take [00:18:19] that out [00:18:21] um and then the detail we got Town [00:18:24] council's opinion that yeah but you [00:18:26] shouldn't do details yeah but we also [00:18:29] have not had details filled [00:18:32] another problem [00:18:34] I think the you know the main street is [00:18:38] because it's [00:18:40] a temporary project this is taking up a [00:18:42] lot of detail for sure we need a lot of [00:18:44] detail for this project [00:18:48] yeah we achieved it working actively [00:18:50] using [00:18:50] these environment warranty [00:18:55] a lot of other Chief's been [00:18:57] lost Brookfield North Brookfield I [00:19:00] personally had several different Chiefs [00:19:02] or details from you so you know I'm [00:19:06] always in charge of the department [00:19:08] of question what's the answer would be a [00:19:11] problem [00:19:12] we'll be back and I'll be back [00:19:18] I guess I think we should just move [00:19:21] through them one at a time because [00:19:25] yeah [00:19:28] I know that we [00:19:32] lose the ruling about [00:19:35] reporting in what you do on your [00:19:38] off time [00:19:40] second [00:19:43] further discussion on that one [00:19:46] that was in favor [00:19:52] all right [00:19:54] let's change [00:19:56] so we can amend the contracts [00:20:02] my work [00:20:08] um [00:20:24] section 10 c yeah [00:20:38] motion do you want to take any [00:20:39] assignment advisement [00:20:47] I wouldn't want to [00:20:50] the second one because I don't know [00:20:53] their whole contract it's a nice Nicole [00:20:56] says they're probably different one to [00:20:59] one [00:21:02] yeah [00:21:05] let's see if I move that way a lab Chief [00:21:09] to do details in town [00:21:12] assuming any tips the last he's not [00:21:16] keeping any other officer from it [00:21:18] just getting [00:21:20] work [00:21:27] more discussion on that [00:21:30] all's in favor [00:21:37] all right so [00:21:41] do you [00:21:42] want to just take 200 advisement and [00:21:46] take time to look at it or do you want [00:21:48] to [00:21:49] not [00:21:51] I mean either way we can move it if you [00:21:54] can vote it down you can take an [00:21:57] advisement and you look into it and make [00:22:00] a more educated decision I mean we kind [00:22:05] of sat through the [00:22:07] yeah I just knew what it would be new to [00:22:09] me [00:22:10] I I suggest that we uh [00:22:16] I do this table it and wait to see if [00:22:19] the chief wants to reapproach the board [00:22:21] kick it down the road [00:22:25] I guess some sense but then they give [00:22:27] you a chance to [00:22:35] that's fine [00:22:38] is that okay with you Chief thank you [00:22:53] do you have any other items for us [00:22:55] tonight that's it thank you for what you [00:22:58] did for ready that was nice [00:23:00] I appreciate you too he's a good guy [00:23:02] he's gonna be a tough one to uh [00:23:05] fill those shoes but [00:23:07] like them [00:23:10] I thought I saw a little glistening I'm [00:23:12] just saying [00:23:15] all right thank you thank you thank you [00:23:18] stay safe thank you [00:23:21] thank you [00:23:30] visitation Florida Leicester [00:23:35] sorry visitation before to help let's [00:23:37] just agreement [00:23:40] okay I called him the me Board of Health [00:23:42] just [00:23:43] just order [00:23:44] what time is it [00:23:46] about seven o'clock we came to [00:23:51] discuss Leicester Regional Public Health [00:23:54] Consortium and returning to [00:23:58] um [00:24:00] Earnest is not here [00:24:02] Lester asked and required a new person [00:24:06] on a newly elected person on the board [00:24:09] to engage with them [00:24:12] and we chose [00:24:15] Ernie [00:24:15] and he's not here tonight [00:24:18] um [00:24:19] and so you're new too so do you want to [00:24:25] um [00:24:25] preview what happened [00:24:28] I know when Trevor was at our Board of [00:24:30] Health meeting [00:24:31] you were there as well [00:24:34] um [00:24:35] we come to the conclude well not the [00:24:38] conclusion but the finalization and when [00:24:40] we're going to accept them back for the [00:24:42] remainder of the year the one year left [00:24:43] on the contract [00:24:45] of the certain stipulations we told them [00:24:47] ours they agreed [00:24:49] Ernie went to them to hear what they [00:24:51] wanted and it was supposed to send us a [00:24:53] contract and we're all going to review [00:24:55] it and sign it and we never got a [00:24:56] contract [00:25:00] nothing's coming through us it seems to [00:25:01] be going through all the Departments [00:25:03] before we even know about it [00:25:06] so great day of the night going through [00:25:08] what we asked [00:25:09] what other departments do you mean what [00:25:11] well [00:25:13] me Nicole [00:25:14] Elizabeth [00:25:17] I'm gonna have to talk about it so it's [00:25:19] no problem [00:25:20] and uh the way I saw it is we did vote [00:25:24] to go back we would love to use the [00:25:27] agents the town people love the agents [00:25:30] and we are stipulations were that they [00:25:34] need to communicate to the Board of [00:25:36] Health [00:25:37] and that we now have a new Hardwick [00:25:41] agent and I consider him an agent [00:25:45] manager I think rob you met uh Matt the [00:25:49] night we appointed you and thank you for [00:25:53] coming to our meeting because [00:25:55] communication has been the problem and [00:25:59] personalities and we're trying to build [00:26:02] and have built in the last uh well since [00:26:06] January and in all of the last term [00:26:11] built a court of Health that can stand [00:26:14] on his own [00:26:15] and [00:26:17] um [00:26:18] and math is Matt Fortier is our new [00:26:23] agent manager I like I sort of imagined [00:26:27] this position where he will [00:26:30] hear of incoming business [00:26:35] Channel always Drew Hardwick through [00:26:37] Trisha our Clerk and then Trisha will [00:26:40] contact Matt and he will determine uh [00:26:44] whether it's a septic installation and [00:26:48] so on [00:26:49] um who's going to do the work and [00:26:51] hopefully give it to Lester [00:26:54] and we ask that Lester report only to us [00:26:58] at the Board of Health namely to Trisha [00:27:01] and Matt Fortier and [00:27:05] and [00:27:06] I talked with Nicole and she would [00:27:09] prefer not to be engaged in her busy [00:27:13] schedule with Lester either [00:27:16] so [00:27:18] being [00:27:20] excluded from all these discussions I [00:27:23] haven't called we haven't contacted [00:27:25] Lester [00:27:26] um [00:27:27] and [00:27:31] I don't know what else you want to know [00:27:34] I want to tell you that we want to move [00:27:37] forward and I have made efforts to [00:27:40] engage in a different Coalition of of [00:27:44] providers [00:27:45] working with where the Quabbin health [00:27:48] district [00:27:49] which is Belchertown where in Pelham [00:27:54] that's flying up the left side of the [00:27:57] Quabbin and Matt Fortier is or was now [00:28:03] he's resigned to be the clerk of the [00:28:06] town of orange and I'm not sure but [00:28:08] maybe the manager but he will be our [00:28:13] health agent [00:28:17] they have a coalition the north Quabbin [00:28:21] Health Coalition and I can't tell you [00:28:24] exactly but we asked if we could join [00:28:27] that one and Matt said yes we could but [00:28:30] they'd have to vote us in [00:28:32] and we'd have to wait six months [00:28:36] so those and then I worked with uh China [00:28:40] nine which is um [00:28:43] Community Health [00:28:46] Network associations funded by Hospital [00:28:50] taxation [00:28:52] they just produced a study of the health [00:28:55] needs [00:28:56] of because [00:28:59] Bay State is required to create this [00:29:03] health needs survey [00:29:05] one fact I remember is that there's one [00:29:09] doctor for every 1 000.8 people [00:29:14] in that includes where and and all the [00:29:18] other towns that Palmer The Wing [00:29:21] Hospital serves [00:29:23] but Hardwick is even further removed [00:29:27] from that we all know we're missing a [00:29:30] a hospital and Rapid access [00:29:34] so [00:29:35] um [00:29:36] joining a coalition of a China group [00:29:41] it seems more distant [00:29:44] meanwhile this law to [00:29:48] tax the water [00:29:51] sent to the east [00:29:53] uh five cents per thousand gallons by [00:29:57] Gene comfort from Amherst [00:30:00] and [00:30:02] um what's his name Sanders [00:30:04] Saunders from Belchertown [00:30:09] uh which would replace the Quabbin [00:30:14] mwra which used to be the MDC and they [00:30:19] the lot the bill proposes [00:30:24] we kind of need to talk about Lester [00:30:27] yeah I know in a roundabout way you got [00:30:29] to tell us something but I need to know [00:30:31] what we kind of need to know what's [00:30:32] happening with us well I'm telling you [00:30:34] nothing happened and we're sort of like [00:30:39] whoops we don't know so we need a [00:30:42] contract from Leicester so we can review [00:30:43] it and sign it [00:30:45] whether it's a contract so before I [00:30:48] started before I started on July 8th of [00:30:51] 1981 of 2021 [00:30:55] um you all including the Board of Health [00:30:57] signed a contract that expires on June [00:31:00] 30th 2024 with the extension of another [00:31:03] three years so the discussion yes she [00:31:07] absolutely has this contract [00:31:10] um a few times and we did not sign that [00:31:13] okay so the band signed that contract as [00:31:16] the chair of the board of house [00:31:20] so the town was never out of this [00:31:23] agreement to you correct he signed and [00:31:26] then it was nullified because [00:31:29] our our [00:31:32] um budget which they weren't supposed to [00:31:35] touch the Board of Health budget [00:31:37] and so contact was never enough no [00:31:43] well it's not been nullified at all so [00:31:45] this is the thing so do they had the [00:31:47] meeting they had a meeting the next [00:31:48] morning she came to me and said the [00:31:50] board voted to stay with Lester so [00:31:54] uh Lester called me and said we need to [00:31:57] know for dph and they need something in [00:32:00] writing so I emailed and said the Board [00:32:02] of Health at their regular meeting voted [00:32:04] to stay with Lester and that satisfied [00:32:07] the dph to include us in their Grant [00:32:09] round so so we are included in the [00:32:13] upcoming grants I I have known I have [00:32:18] that I have told [00:32:20] um [00:32:21] the board that they should now start [00:32:23] calling Lester when you get an [00:32:25] application in and they're going to [00:32:26] process everything we want to hear from [00:32:29] Lester if they agree to our terms Lester [00:32:31] should have called us and we I need [00:32:34] Authority from the select board who [00:32:36] signs the contract [00:32:38] before I'm going to add besides I was [00:32:42] muted [00:32:43] and and and [00:32:45] Ernie and [00:32:47] I know I guess my confusion here is I'm [00:32:51] we're confused well I know but and me [00:32:54] sitting over here let me explain to you [00:32:55] what okay Rob you guys have Tina correct [00:33:00] have what yeah sorry [00:33:03] so she's your your like clerk correct [00:33:06] right all right so you need some way [00:33:09] that if you don't want things to go to [00:33:12] the Board of Health of Leicester people [00:33:14] need to have access to permitting [00:33:18] information right right so we agree on [00:33:21] it's all there so the problem is I don't [00:33:23] know how many hours a week you work or [00:33:25] how many how many hours [00:33:29] because yeah because I've been um the [00:33:32] updated the fee schedule and I've had to [00:33:34] redo all the paperwork then get it back [00:33:36] onto the web so people can get the [00:33:39] correct form streamlining it what's your [00:33:42] average that you work weekly [00:33:44] um [00:34:00] so I think [00:34:01] we need to just make it so everything [00:34:04] goes to her because she exactly that's [00:34:08] what we wanted right all right so we [00:34:10] need to figure that out that I think [00:34:12] that's what we need to figure we figured [00:34:14] that out and we know how to do it we [00:34:16] just need to tell last year that that [00:34:19] those are our demands our criteria but [00:34:23] it's people when they go to get [00:34:24] information are going to Leicester so [00:34:27] why are they not why are they going to [00:34:28] Leicester first we don't want them to go [00:34:30] Leicester [00:34:32] what is the website they should be [00:34:34] coming directly to the right to the [00:34:36] Board of Health and then Trisha will see [00:34:39] what type of permit it is and then [00:34:41] she'll call Lester and then Lester will [00:34:43] do the performance and Matt will okay [00:34:46] Matt apparently is going to be their [00:34:49] manager to tell the Leicester Board of [00:34:52] Health what they're supposed to be doing [00:34:54] unnecessarily in my opinion but that's [00:34:57] their own board do you have enough money [00:34:58] and [00:35:02] that comes to another problem is we we [00:35:05] got a revolving account voted for in the [00:35:08] annual town meeting correct and now we [00:35:11] are collecting permits and need to [00:35:14] deposit it but I ask everybody today [00:35:18] and they said I have to come to you but [00:35:20] we don't have a number and that account [00:35:22] is not set up right so we're [00:35:25] accumulating checks well but the idea is [00:35:28] that everything that's permits will go [00:35:31] into the new revolving account [00:35:34] and eventually we will pay Matt [00:35:39] out of that and so the permits and the [00:35:42] work of it and she is also going to be [00:35:46] paid out we appointed her as the permit [00:35:49] work [00:35:51] and the whole fee schedule is based on [00:35:54] how much the clerk gets for the permit [00:35:57] and how much the work is taken by the [00:36:00] agent for the permit [00:36:02] we raise the permit fees to be [00:36:06] compared to other towns around us so now [00:36:09] we're and we adjusted them in the news [00:36:13] so you don't what you're telling me [00:36:14] right now is you got Matt doing a job [00:36:17] that you don't have money to pay yeah no [00:36:20] we do he has a fee he has an agent to [00:36:24] have dollars [00:36:29] oh I forget what it is on maybe it's 8 [00:36:33] 000. [00:36:34] in our budget our budget was cut in half [00:36:37] yes because we should be using less [00:36:39] Stars no that's not what the grant for [00:36:43] the contract [00:36:44] meant and Nicole bless her she's been [00:36:48] trying to save the town money [00:36:51] but that in some people's estimation is [00:36:56] double dipping on Hardwick [00:36:58] of people who who uh want to do we get [00:37:03] free agents and we charge them and put [00:37:06] it in our trip let me walk you through [00:37:08] what you're asking people to do [00:37:10] it all right so you're asking to file a [00:37:12] permit with her and passing that permit [00:37:14] to a guy named Matt [00:37:16] ERS who's going to take your permit so [00:37:19] if he if she finds a problem with you [00:37:21] call a person back fix this he finds a [00:37:24] problem he calls these people back fixes [00:37:26] and then it's going to go less and [00:37:27] lesser funds problem with a few fixes [00:37:30] well this is what's going to happen to [00:37:32] people [00:37:33] so I'm what I'm trying to try to help [00:37:35] you do is you need to streamline your [00:37:37] process because people will not get [00:37:39] permits if you make it difficult it's [00:37:42] not difficult [00:37:44] well you've been streamlining it since [00:37:47] January and since and since Stan came on [00:37:51] the board of health and so that we can [00:37:54] stand alone [00:37:56] I I guess I don't [00:37:59] I don't know I understand Lester [00:38:02] has a contract with us so that's [00:38:05] questionable [00:38:08] memory signed on January 9th they've [00:38:12] left us high and dry [00:38:15] agents [00:38:21] who both retired about [00:38:24] um I'm not sure we're going to get [00:38:25] anywhere without mustard right I think [00:38:27] this is a conversation because well [00:38:29] there seems to be some confusion here [00:38:32] and I I would understand why the people [00:38:33] of hiring if the luster agents are [00:38:36] coming out we've talked the lesson I [00:38:39] mean I I don't I understand it's not [00:38:40] right but I understand it doesn't matter [00:38:43] what agent does your work [00:38:46] but if that's the person if they call [00:38:49] Shelley or whoever the person is they're [00:38:52] dealing with just making a name up here [00:38:53] but they if she's the one who came and [00:38:56] did the inspection they have an issue [00:38:58] probably the person you're going to call [00:39:00] that that tends to be how people do [00:39:03] things well now I'm not saying it's [00:39:05] right I'm just saying maybe we need to [00:39:07] just get Western here to help just [00:39:09] clarify this to make this easier because [00:39:11] this seems like we're really pushing [00:39:13] hard on this thing that shouldn't be [00:39:15] that difficult I mean we've been back [00:39:17] and forth to this over a year now [00:39:19] and I don't want to make your life [00:39:21] difficult I don't want to make any of [00:39:22] your best life difficult I would really [00:39:24] like to make this easier but I don't [00:39:26] want to I really don't even want to hear [00:39:28] about this I know but it's really [00:39:30] frustrating it's really been like [00:39:33] as many hours that I'm putting into it [00:39:35] Lester has the ball [00:39:38] I will get a hold of Lester and I'll [00:39:40] have a list or call them they may be [00:39:41] confused maybe they can just maybe [00:39:44] they're not maybe this is just the way [00:39:45] they want to do it and maybe you're [00:39:46] correct maybe we need to look for an [00:39:48] alternative but this is something I [00:39:49] think that we just need to discuss [00:39:52] the way our things ran is we would go [00:39:55] back with them for the remainder of the [00:39:57] year on this first part of the contract [00:39:59] to see if we can work together like [00:40:02] adults [00:40:04] because it's been very unprofessional [00:40:06] the relationship of of LARP and the hard [00:40:11] way and it's been it's neutered us and [00:40:15] uh and made us look foolish in front of [00:40:19] our own townspeople and now we have a [00:40:22] system that is [00:40:26] self-perpetuating [00:40:28] and that won't double dip on the people [00:40:30] of hardwood and that will pay higher [00:40:33] prices for the services that we can use [00:40:37] Matt only in emergencies [00:40:40] to to fill in [00:40:43] when they can't come the distance from [00:40:45] Leicester like used to happen [00:40:47] you know and people are waiting with [00:40:50] water and holes and park tests and and [00:40:54] I don't know if it was Shelly but [00:40:56] somebody got sick and her child and she [00:40:59] couldn't go so so that'll go [00:41:03] but we're not going to use him as an [00:41:05] agent we're going to have him say oh [00:41:08] here's what you do [00:41:10] you know I [00:41:12] like [00:41:14] um [00:41:16] Cynthia came to me about the hardwood [00:41:20] Pond what do I have to do to take out [00:41:24] the septic in the well [00:41:26] so I I went to our permit list [00:41:30] and I need number 32 and 38. [00:41:35] well so I gave her all that and it has [00:41:39] the law and how you do it and everything [00:41:41] from our new permit list and uh [00:41:45] they went ahead and demolished and I [00:41:48] don't think they pulled a permit [00:41:50] and I checked the other day and the [00:41:52] tanks are gone and I don't know about [00:41:55] the well [00:41:56] so [00:41:58] what do I do do I find them or do I call [00:42:02] up and find it was a contractor involved [00:42:05] in all that he should have pulled [00:42:07] permits right you know every day every [00:42:11] day you know is something minor like so [00:42:15] we would love to have Lester and the [00:42:17] Agents well if it's not going to work [00:42:19] I'm fine with [00:42:21] like if it's not going to work [00:42:24] um [00:42:25] it's gonna be difficult [00:42:28] all right but they're almost here I kind [00:42:31] of I kind of feel like this there's just [00:42:33] something missing with the contract and [00:42:35] I agree with you the Communication [00:42:37] business right but I know there's some [00:42:40] hard feelings to do personally with this [00:42:43] whole thing and I I appreciate you you [00:42:46] staying up you've been staying off to [00:42:48] the side to allow that to not be [00:42:50] effective I appreciate that [00:42:53] um thank you [00:42:56] so let's let's try to get Lester in here [00:42:58] let's see if maybe we can get some [00:43:01] discussion between you and Lester and if [00:43:03] this is just not going to work yeah [00:43:05] Trevor would come back [00:43:08] and talk to the new people [00:43:11] I won't even be here maybe [00:43:15] Ernie's was going to come today but he's [00:43:18] so busy [00:43:21] also I just want to say [00:43:24] I'm not going to run for office and I [00:43:27] have spent uh three full years full-time [00:43:31] almost [00:43:32] On The Board of Health it it requires a [00:43:35] lot and we've almost gotten it so where [00:43:39] it can be automated [00:43:41] and we can start working on big problems [00:43:44] of Health like [00:43:46] combining Watershed towns and and [00:43:49] getting shared services and getting [00:43:51] hospitals back and getting rapid access [00:43:54] and getting grants and and I'm I'm very [00:44:00] hopeful [00:44:01] and [00:44:02] hopefully the Board of Health will [00:44:05] function independently of you guys but [00:44:08] you have to keep on top of it [00:44:11] you can't just give it to your [00:44:14] administrator to run anything in this [00:44:16] town [00:44:19] so [00:44:21] if you work half as much as I have in [00:44:24] the next year I'll give you [00:44:27] um gold medals [00:44:29] thank you very much [00:44:32] a great thought [00:44:37] I move we adjourn [00:44:39] you better stop this here [00:44:43] all right [00:44:45] so next time on business end of the year [00:44:48] transfers thank you guys [00:44:50] here they are these are the ones finance [00:44:53] committee already signed you did have [00:44:55] them in your packet but I did today get [00:44:57] the final [00:44:59] um budget versus actual so I did have to [00:45:02] make a couple of changes [00:45:04] um in in mind so or not mine but the [00:45:08] highway did their own the police did [00:45:10] their own the treasurer did her own and [00:45:12] then I did the rest of them [00:45:15] because I don't know how the process [00:45:17] exactly works I know that the accountant [00:45:19] had told all departments to send them to [00:45:22] them at Markham [00:45:24] um but that didn't happen so we just did [00:45:27] it ourselves [00:45:31] foreign [00:45:45] the only one that's different is the one [00:45:47] that I created [00:45:54] yes [00:46:16] I don't remember exactly I know there [00:46:17] was some couple of fire department [00:46:19] expense lines [00:46:22] the townhouse had like [00:46:26] the PLC it was 9 000 something on the [00:46:29] one I sent you Thursday and then after [00:46:31] this pouring it went up a little bit [00:46:39] I'm gonna need some help with my EMD [00:46:42] history [00:46:44] so I can apply for reimbursement [00:46:47] until August 15th and I can put it [00:46:51] together on my end and I need [00:46:53] any purchase from the town sure okay [00:46:56] even without an accountant did you hear [00:46:59] about an accountant there are a few [00:47:00] things I can do it's those dor reporting [00:47:03] things that are just way above my pay [00:47:05] grade [00:47:10] expertise Area events for two seconds [00:47:19] you need emotions [00:47:29] and when we accept the transfers [00:47:32] second [00:47:34] discussion I was in favor all right [00:47:40] yes please [00:47:44] I have no idea why I signed it but [00:47:47] oh useless here [00:47:52] um [00:48:12] those are the two things but I don't [00:48:15] have the exact [00:48:17] the exact amount at the end because I [00:48:19] needed to work with the accountant so I [00:48:21] need a little more time on that so I [00:48:22] don't have the exact amount so [00:48:28] your watch [00:48:30] fieldworks are in that green packet they [00:48:33] just need your signatures [00:48:40] um [00:48:41] yeah I think that's fine um if you want [00:48:43] me I can find the one that [00:48:45] shows exactly who the awards went to [00:48:50] that we put that in the packet [00:48:54] sorry [00:49:03] all right now [00:49:05] hello that's for a different town or [00:49:08] something oh gotcha yeah okay [00:49:14] you know though [00:49:22] so I think you just have to sign the red [00:49:24] ones I guess she has the uh [00:49:27] it's in the letter yeah letting them [00:49:30] know [00:49:39] do we have to accept this [00:49:44] cmrpc does the fitting we didn't put it [00:49:46] out today [00:49:56] so where will we be getting the fuel oil [00:49:58] from [00:50:00] I have to do that you sent me a template [00:50:03] right I will do that tomorrow to let [00:50:05] everybody know where they're going to [00:50:06] get the feeling [00:50:07] I'm pretty I think everything stayed the [00:50:10] same but [00:50:16] we call it correctly or we can stay the [00:50:18] same except for propane propane [00:50:25] so if you have a propane tank you're [00:50:28] gonna have to call them if you put on [00:50:29] the town all the time to change that [00:50:32] which is really awesome [00:50:39] good night private homes [00:50:41] no this is just for time yeah [00:51:03] don't worry about the shield figure that [00:51:05] out I don't know why would you I don't [00:51:07] know why she would give them yeah yeah [00:51:10] all right keep it together [00:51:16] everything [00:51:22] yeah just need you to decide it's [00:51:25] exactly the same [00:51:27] um [00:51:28] twenty four thousand four hundred [00:51:30] dollars [00:51:35] we did varies last month but I slipped [00:51:38] by me or they didn't send it to like [00:51:46] foreign [00:52:11] so when we had the agreement for legal [00:52:15] services for USDA they had a not to [00:52:18] exceed amount of 125 000 and they were [00:52:21] going off of [00:52:23] you know all the work that they were [00:52:24] doing for all the changes that we were [00:52:27] doing the change order and then all of [00:52:29] the legal work and USDA is like that's [00:52:32] too much go back and so they dropped it [00:52:34] down to 90. so if you don't mind um [00:52:39] yeah if you want to say [00:52:45] that sorry can we send it back again [00:52:48] down for like 70. yeah something like [00:52:51] that [00:52:53] like that [00:52:59] do you have an unstable coffee before he [00:53:01] breaks his cleaner sorry [00:53:04] you know I do I stapled it because he's [00:53:07] like where's the agenda this guy where [00:53:09] did this go [00:53:10] I am pretty good [00:53:16] um [00:53:19] all right committee reports anybody [00:53:21] actually here there were some in here [00:53:25] Fire Department [00:53:32] all right Emergency Management [00:53:34] departments do [00:53:38] finishing up the branch [00:53:42] uh miscellaneous correspondence [00:54:04] been begging her to work with me or [00:54:06] since I started [00:54:08] thank you [00:54:10] [Applause] [00:54:12] I don't know if you want me to go [00:54:13] through the report or just like why [00:54:15] don't you give us an overlay like the [00:54:16] new stuff because some new stuff came up [00:54:18] here [00:54:24] you know what instead of doing new [00:54:26] business ABC I got basically all of [00:54:29] these new ones needed their own [00:54:31] instead of being an A B School position [00:54:37] um so for USDA the equipment for project [00:54:40] two has been awarded to Aqua aerobic [00:54:41] systems the goods and services contract [00:54:43] is ready for your signature I sent that [00:54:46] to you in an email it's 154 pages so I [00:54:49] didn't print it out uh the wheel right [00:54:51] wastewater treatment plant should be [00:54:52] going out to bid in the next couple of [00:54:54] weeks [00:54:55] debt repayment is still being discussed [00:54:57] I have been going back and forth with [00:55:00] every state agency I can think of to try [00:55:02] to get anything other than betterments [00:55:05] because it is a utility so no parcel in [00:55:10] town [00:55:11] really is exempt from paying for [00:55:13] utilities [00:55:15] um but in going back and forth through [00:55:18] this with the state and with the [00:55:20] attorneys they don't see a way of [00:55:23] vehicle a possibility for us to be able [00:55:25] to assess tax exempt properties [00:55:30] an assessment because [00:55:33] that's there that we there's just [00:55:34] nothing in Massachusetts that allows us [00:55:37] to do that besides a betterment [00:55:39] um [00:55:40] so you know because I was saying to them [00:55:43] it's like debt exclusion [00:55:45] but for everybody because if you debt if [00:55:48] you do a debt exclusion Eagle Hill [00:55:50] doesn't pay churches don't pay smok [00:55:52] doesn't pay the ones that are on the [00:55:54] system that our users don't pay and uh [00:55:57] you know the biggest user of the of the [00:55:58] system should obviously be helping the [00:56:01] repayment so [00:56:03] um [00:56:03] short of maybe approaching these on [00:56:06] system [00:56:07] entities and you know asking for maybe a [00:56:11] pilot something that's something I [00:56:12] really didn't explore yet but the as far [00:56:16] as I can see right now I we're stuck at [00:56:19] that at betterments [00:56:22] um which are never a good solution right [00:56:25] it's always difficult to to us to [00:56:28] enforce that or or to try to manage it [00:56:31] but [00:56:33] um I I just I don't know I'm still you [00:56:35] know it's not something that's so [00:56:36] pressing that we need right now but it's [00:56:38] something that's really on the Forefront [00:56:40] yeah so still looking into trying to get [00:56:43] it so so it's fair for everybody in town [00:56:45] because it is a town utility [00:56:49] um so the oversight I sent you those [00:56:51] over I sent you those rfps and then [00:56:54] White Water Wastewater wants to meet [00:56:57] sometime this week possibly just to kind [00:56:59] of go over like what I think you guys [00:57:01] want to maybe give also [00:57:04] um you know a price proposal to to see [00:57:07] exactly if they would be in I keep I [00:57:09] drive by on my way to work this truck [00:57:11] this is White Water Wastewater and I [00:57:13] can't I couldn't connect with them and [00:57:14] last week I guess they had a lot of [00:57:16] Vacations so still trying to work with [00:57:18] that to try to get [00:57:20] um you know somebody on board to maybe [00:57:23] before the plants are the bids come back [00:57:25] and that kind of work starts the only [00:57:28] thing with them is they are subsidiary [00:57:31] large white [00:57:47] we're thinking is very simple yeah so [00:57:50] someone with the knowledge and [00:57:52] experience to understand the process [00:57:54] right you know overseas and just oversee [00:57:57] as a liaison [00:58:00] extra set of eyes like it's not anything [00:58:04] I and I appreciate all those are [00:58:07] peas but I think it's too much I think [00:58:10] that's too much I think that's for when [00:58:13] we need them to be there because of the [00:58:16] letter of condition to do the running of [00:58:18] them I think that's more what those are [00:58:20] geared towards [00:58:22] um I I think what we're yeah like so for [00:58:25] example I went over the um [00:58:31] the goods and services contract with [00:58:33] aqua aerobics right with with Scott with [00:58:35] the engineers we did the RMV that is [00:58:39] something you would rather have them be [00:58:40] doing [00:58:42] like this person it's just a it's a [00:58:44] question to have is somebody who can [00:58:46] you know look at it I mean you got to do [00:58:49] the work [00:58:51] bills but [00:58:52] you know and I think what I'm thinking [00:58:54] is we have somebody that's just keeping [00:58:56] an eye out you know uh I would call [00:59:00] Graves engineering they [00:59:04] understand so they check in a couple [00:59:05] times a week like and then just right [00:59:08] right yeah computers documents right [00:59:10] make sure hey you want to get a warranty [00:59:12] on this or something like that right [00:59:14] yeah [00:59:15] in the world they'll go they'll go look [00:59:18] at the payroll to make sure everybody's [00:59:20] on the QT [00:59:21] but I mean that's a bigger job probably [00:59:24] that doesn't need to happen well that's [00:59:27] what I certify those payrolls every time [00:59:29] they send them to me okay but then you [00:59:31] certify all the invoices and everything [00:59:34] else I mean it really yeah it's a lot [00:59:37] because it comes out of one account so [00:59:39] this is one small project yeah when [00:59:42] these get going you're not gonna be able [00:59:44] to do all that so and your job right I [00:59:47] know that's our concern I don't like the [00:59:49] pain when you say the invoicing so [00:59:52] they're going to submit the invoices to [00:59:54] the account oh no they're going to be [00:59:55] looking at credits when something [00:59:57] happens [00:59:57] and it needs to be reworked there's a [01:00:00] change order there's [01:00:03] material returned whatever it doesn't [01:00:05] have to be [01:00:08] not necessarily small stuff just kind of [01:00:12] overall [01:00:13] keeping it's it's uh so would you say [01:00:16] you could call Graves engineering I I [01:00:18] would be happy to call Graves [01:00:20] engineering and they could send us a [01:00:23] perfect we're thinking you know we need [01:00:26] to get we need to put it out to other [01:00:28] people yeah yeah just to see and you [01:00:32] know you guys know [01:00:34] this is outfits in this world right yeah [01:00:37] I mean I don't know this is kind of a [01:00:40] specific very unique qualification [01:00:43] construction all these contractors that [01:00:45] fit the next two jobs are going to have [01:00:47] to be pre-qualified to even fit the work [01:00:49] right so and there's a lot and it's USDA [01:00:52] watching out I understand that yeah but [01:00:55] I I really would feel better if we had [01:00:57] somebody outside well I think we owe it [01:01:00] to the townspeople to do that because [01:01:02] we've sat here and said how we didn't do [01:01:05] that on other jobs and things went [01:01:07] through it I screwed up on Wheels that's [01:01:09] what I'm saying we've sat here and said [01:01:11] things went wrong because we didn't do [01:01:14] that so it would only I don't know [01:01:17] that's that's the way I'm looking at it [01:01:18] it'd be shame on us again if we didn't [01:01:21] have some sort of liaison [01:01:23] we just go next door half a million [01:01:26] dollars because of the gas money [01:01:31] that stuff [01:01:42] it really like water mains sometimes all [01:01:46] of a sudden you're trying to run [01:01:47] something in the water mains [01:01:50] on a pipe well that's a special all [01:01:54] right [01:01:54] it had to go over heels yeah we've been [01:01:58] seeing that all along this road yeah [01:02:00] this they're they're putting in potholes [01:02:04] I swear they push it now coming this [01:02:07] direction it's really hard to avoid them [01:02:09] there's an extra one just a couple days [01:02:11] ago but [01:02:13] um [01:02:15] okay so we'll I'll keep on that um I'll [01:02:18] call Graves yeah that'd be great send [01:02:21] something to us [01:02:22] or give me a call and yeah [01:02:25] maybe another me [01:02:26] to talk to getting the Blue Heron no I [01:02:29] haven't I can call it definitely reach [01:02:31] out to them okay they're close by yeah [01:02:35] the only thing was that they were on the [01:02:37] waist they were on the wheel break [01:02:38] project that's the only thing that I was [01:02:40] apprehensive about [01:02:45] [Music] [01:03:08] um so [01:03:11] a new accountant who was assigned to us [01:03:15] another accountant has just been [01:03:16] assigned to us this week so Markham [01:03:19] assigned us an accountant but then [01:03:21] changed and assigned us another one [01:03:24] um so for the whole month of Jan for [01:03:26] July for the most part I haven't really [01:03:28] heard much from Markham today they [01:03:31] they wrote to terminate Services by July [01:03:34] 31st so I'm working on getting somebody [01:03:36] else [01:03:37] um on board hopefully within the next [01:03:40] couple of weeks [01:03:43] um I did ask so [01:03:45] Lori delolio who was the accountant for [01:03:48] us through Marco resigned and in the in [01:03:52] the contracts and it's like this with [01:03:54] all vendors they can't they can't work [01:03:55] for the towns for a year [01:03:58] um however I called Markham and kind of [01:04:00] expressed concern over the end of year [01:04:03] and that you know if they would relax [01:04:05] that or amend that part of it of the [01:04:09] contract with Glory uh to allow her to [01:04:11] assist us with that and she said she [01:04:14] didn't have a problem with it but she'd [01:04:15] have to talk to HR and then I just asked [01:04:18] for that in writing so I'm hoping that [01:04:20] that's going to come through for us have [01:04:21] you talked to Lori about that [01:04:23] yeah [01:04:25] um is she agreeable [01:04:26] she is [01:04:31] okay so streaming equipment that's been [01:04:33] broken is fixed as of today so we should [01:04:35] be all set uh the planning board was [01:04:37] talking today about wanting to start [01:04:38] having them recorded and uploaded to [01:04:41] YouTube too so maybe that might happen [01:04:43] in the future and any other meetings any [01:04:46] other boards are encouraged to have them [01:04:49] here at this building [01:04:51] um you know to to be able to have the [01:04:54] communication in the in the availability [01:04:56] for recording [01:04:59] and then the new vehicle chart the [01:05:01] vehicle charges Chargers you just [01:05:04] approved so we'll get that going [01:05:07] um the flooring basically everything is [01:05:10] complete here there's a little bit of [01:05:11] work that needs to be done and some [01:05:12] ceiling some electrical [01:05:15] um but we are pretty much complete with [01:05:18] other well there's two rooms so the [01:05:19] assessor's office and the clerk's office [01:05:21] are supposed to be carpeted this Friday [01:05:23] and then it'll be complete and I need to [01:05:27] talk to somebody I was hoping that I was [01:05:29] going to see Glenn tonight that he [01:05:31] wasn't meeting up to the meeting [01:05:32] regarding this boiler issue and what we [01:05:34] can do to prevent this from happening [01:05:36] because October's on the horizon so [01:05:41] um and that's really all for new [01:05:43] everything else is ongoing that's on my [01:05:47] administrative report that's on the [01:05:49] website [01:05:56] yeah that's here we actually have a [01:05:59] couple [01:06:00] oh don't do that [01:06:03] um [01:06:04] so where'd she go so this is the thing [01:06:07] this no good either [01:06:09] well we'll do it for now this is Markham [01:06:12] and these are the accountants because [01:06:13] Elizabeth brachio was our accountant for [01:06:15] some of the contracts and now this [01:06:17] individual is supposed to be for us but [01:06:20] if you could just sign them in whatever [01:06:21] invoices we have we will [01:06:24] um [01:06:33] you have to have Ryan [01:06:37] oh I'm a notary I can do it oh either [01:06:39] one yeah um and then you guys sign [01:06:42] yourself ready [01:06:45] the goods and services the agreement [01:06:47] needs to be assigned it says yes the [01:06:49] goods and services needs to be signed [01:06:51] but my name is on there oh okay so what [01:06:54] I think that you need to vote to [01:06:55] authorize me to sign the goods and [01:06:56] services [01:07:01] it's not in your packet it was separate [01:07:03] it was a separate yeah in the email but [01:07:05] the separate business here it's this one [01:07:08] yeah so like Peaks one and five or [01:07:11] something like that are supposed to be [01:07:12] saying [01:07:20] sure okay I would make a motion to allow [01:07:23] Nicole to send to send to sign the goods [01:07:27] and services contract with aqua aerobics [01:07:33] all right [01:07:36] yeah [01:07:36] [Music] [01:07:39] anything else [01:07:41] nope everything that was over there you [01:07:43] signed already [01:07:46] [Applause] [01:07:50] so we did kind of touch on the account [01:07:52] which was probably [01:07:54] the biggest process [01:08:01] I know you've talked about shared [01:08:04] services [01:08:04] well I was going to reach out to so that [01:08:08] when we wrote the [01:08:10] um job description with cmrpc I did it [01:08:12] with Sherry patch in um [01:08:15] Princeton and they you know it we kind [01:08:19] of dragged our feet a little bit so they [01:08:20] voted to stay there with the other [01:08:21] accounting firm [01:08:23] um so I wanted to reach out to her but I [01:08:26] also know Hadley who has Markham also [01:08:29] wants to do shared services and they're [01:08:32] Boris lechman I I know their Town [01:08:34] Administrator and we see each other at [01:08:37] conferences and we have like this [01:08:38] monthly luncheon that on Fridays and [01:08:41] they're very interested in doing a [01:08:43] shared service so you know we would [01:08:46] really have to just kind of get down to [01:08:48] the nitty-gritty of [01:08:50] um the difference in the budgets and the [01:08:52] difference of percentages and you know [01:08:54] we would want two days here two days [01:08:57] there one remote day that we all you [01:09:00] know basically I do a little damn Friday [01:09:02] and so you know we have those people [01:09:04] here dedicated to our town [01:09:07] um we have to find an account we have to [01:09:09] find an account but with a shared [01:09:11] service we'd be able to pay better and I [01:09:14] think attract a better pool of [01:09:15] applicants right because when we went [01:09:18] out to [01:09:20] Princeton yeah [01:09:22] [Music] [01:09:28] but you might get a pull from in between [01:09:30] each one [01:09:32] yeah I know each [01:09:34] the towns are exactly the same amount of [01:09:37] distance from my house [01:09:38] here into Hadley so maybe somebody like [01:09:41] that is it Howard's been interested in [01:09:44] my losing my mind [01:09:46] um I don't know I oh no hubbardson has [01:09:49] I'm getting hot hubbardson has a remote [01:09:53] um no you don't have to turn it on [01:09:59] has a remote um accountant that lives in [01:10:02] Florida oh boy okay yeah [01:10:06] new Braintree has a brand new elected [01:10:08] accountant who is very green I like it [01:10:11] yeah okay [01:10:16] and I think the other towns around us [01:10:17] have a full-time accountant so we would [01:10:19] you know need somebody who's basically [01:10:22] part-time in each time Melanson gave us [01:10:25] like I think it was like 10 hours a week [01:10:27] and it was mostly just 18. the high [01:10:30] level stuff was very very low I think if [01:10:32] we can find someone good if it would [01:10:34] make a big difference [01:10:36] absolutely breaking the treasure [01:10:39] collector's office I think there's still [01:10:41] some work to be done there [01:10:43] so you've been through so many all right [01:10:47] oh I've I've been through seven [01:10:50] I told Lori you're my seventh yeah [01:10:52] honestly [01:10:54] yep [01:10:56] all right [01:10:57] um are you guys got anything else for [01:11:01] um [01:11:08] yeah I was just gonna ask how we're [01:11:10] gonna run tomorrow [01:11:12] so that it's [01:11:14] oh uh basically I'll open the meeting [01:11:17] and then I'm gonna pass it off to you [01:11:21] know basically all it is is a [01:11:23] presentation [01:11:24] and [01:11:26] if it's for the slack board and we'll [01:11:29] just they just want to discuss the [01:11:30] process here and [01:11:33] coming to the town it isn't this isn't a [01:11:37] public hearing there will be public [01:11:39] hearings so I just want you to feel you [01:11:42] guys need to stay out of it I am waiting [01:11:45] for a little bit of I had a second [01:11:47] question so I'm waiting for a little bit [01:11:48] of clarification from my end [01:11:51] once I get complete clarification then [01:11:53] I'll let you know what I can do but I'll [01:11:56] just open the meeting for you and then [01:11:59] I will not be doing anything and who's [01:12:02] going to run the geek for the gizmos [01:12:05] yeah and I'll keep the chat shut off [01:12:07] yeah it's very that's what again this is [01:12:11] a presentation for the board and just so [01:12:13] people in public understand what's up [01:12:15] yeah because we don't have anything yet [01:12:17] right I didn't get anything at all I [01:12:19] don't know what exactly is going on [01:12:20] that's another reason why I haven't [01:12:22] finished I'm like kind of making sure to [01:12:25] see what's going on here so I can get a [01:12:27] true definitive answer it's hard to [01:12:30] answer legal questions [01:12:33] but you'll both be there I I will be [01:12:36] yeah of course yeah [01:12:38] I'll wear a shirt don't be soaked [01:12:40] perfect maybe [01:12:43] I love the shirt I'm gonna wear the [01:12:45] pants too nobody will know nobody will [01:12:47] know [01:12:50] um I'm sorry I missed the do you have a [01:12:51] question I just wonder if I could take [01:12:54] another five minutes [01:12:56] if you're um wearing my food pantry hat [01:12:59] but talking about Municipal build about [01:13:03] buildings in this community [01:13:06] um [01:13:08] I'm in and out of [01:13:10] terrible buildings and apartments and [01:13:15] I'm I'm I don't know the system I don't [01:13:20] know who to talk to about that [01:13:24] um yes the Board of Health yes the [01:13:26] building inspector I don't know how a [01:13:29] building inspector is brought in what [01:13:32] has to be you know what the issues have [01:13:35] to be and [01:13:36] so what brings the Board of Health to [01:13:39] them because what I am the people I work [01:13:43] with are individual families [01:13:45] but the conditions that I walk into when [01:13:49] I walk if I'm going to visit a [01:13:52] particular family or get them you know [01:13:56] take them some food or sit down with a [01:13:59] couple and talk something out [01:14:01] it's just [01:14:04] people should not have to be and I'm not [01:14:07] saying that you know there are tenants [01:14:10] who just make a mess of things in their [01:14:12] Apartments but you should not have they [01:14:16] should not have to walk into a building [01:14:18] where the stairs are are worn in the [01:14:22] it's just a mess and I really [01:14:25] I'm upset about it as you can tell [01:14:29] um [01:14:31] how do I for instance address [01:14:36] someone's this and write a letter to you [01:14:39] can make a complaint [01:14:40] and then it has to be dealt with [01:14:44] I can make an appointment a complaint [01:14:46] against [01:14:49] to the board of health or for the [01:14:52] address well the Board of Health but if [01:14:54] it's a safety issue with the building [01:14:56] it's the building inspector right and [01:14:59] the Board of Health right and I don't [01:15:01] ask who God bless you I don't [01:15:05] you know I don't know [01:15:08] um [01:15:11] I don't know what to call unsafe in [01:15:14] certain ways and so I'd like to be able [01:15:17] to I don't want to be nuisance reporter [01:15:21] but it just seems to me that [01:15:25] um [01:15:27] it doesn't have to be an emergency [01:15:30] someone has to to look at this and say [01:15:33] we're better than this and people who [01:15:36] are paying fourteen hundred dollars a [01:15:38] month for small apartments [01:15:41] um should be able to expect more than [01:15:44] this [01:15:46] if I may [01:15:48] you could [01:15:50] find out through the assessors who owns [01:15:53] the building and right now right [01:15:58] the owner I'm trying to keeping my [01:16:00] language clean write the owner and say [01:16:03] that [01:16:04] say who you know who you are that you do [01:16:07] this kind of work in town and [01:16:10] you know you find this uh [01:16:13] offensive unnecessary dangerous if you [01:16:17] think that it's I will do that it's [01:16:19] difficult because so many buildings are [01:16:22] overseen by a place called VP Property [01:16:25] Management in Chicopee and you know that [01:16:28] the landlords turn over the accounts to [01:16:32] them so they don't you know so it's very [01:16:35] hard to get to the landlords right [01:16:37] there's layers of there's letters to the [01:16:39] editor [01:16:40] I mean you can start you can try to make [01:16:42] noise [01:16:44] the town bill Spector and the Board of [01:16:47] Health are going to be you know they're [01:16:50] going to act as well [01:16:53] just as a private citizen [01:16:57] yeah sure building inspector and say go [01:17:01] to such and such Bridge Street or Bridge [01:17:03] Court and take a look at this I believe [01:17:08] believe so even though I'm not a tenant [01:17:10] right [01:17:12] I don't mind commenting with you [01:17:14] but I don't think you can do that and I [01:17:19] think [01:17:20] you're so concerned which I can see is [01:17:23] draft draft a letter [01:17:26] and leave out the person but write the [01:17:30] letter as a [01:17:32] [Music] [01:17:34] I don't have to address it can have [01:17:37] several copy of these letters and just [01:17:38] let the people put in their name and [01:17:40] sign it so it comes from them to for the [01:17:44] Board of Health I think or the buildings [01:17:45] but to act upon it it's a great idea you [01:17:48] have they have to be invited in to see [01:17:50] the problem and yeah people are afraid [01:17:53] of getting evicted we had put on a [01:17:57] website well then I'll know if it's [01:17:59] still there but um Worcester County [01:18:02] provides free legal services for people [01:18:04] in that situation there is a free legal [01:18:07] service that will support them okay [01:18:11] good good [01:18:13] last comment a totally different are [01:18:16] there any grants and municipalities do [01:18:19] you think to put solar on the top of [01:18:21] apartment buildings something that's [01:18:25] fairly [01:18:26] overarching and Innovative [01:18:30] are there any sort of Municipal projects [01:18:33] that are that [01:18:35] affect [01:18:37] um private home private buildings [01:18:42] what I bet you're better off talking to [01:18:44] like Trinity solar or one of those [01:18:46] companies and maybe the Community [01:18:48] Development Office and where [01:18:50] okay [01:19:00] it's kind of more of a specialty thing [01:19:03] that's it okay I mean incentive programs [01:19:08] I guess [01:19:09] okay thanks very much [01:19:12] thank you for all you do [01:19:15] uh [01:19:24] thank you [01:19:37] second that was in favor