Thumbnail for 11/12/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Hardwick Select Board: Tax, Fire Truck, Community Planning

Original title: 11/12/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

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

Meeting details

Date

November 12, 2024

Duration

1h 40m

Decisions

10 recorded

Action Items

21 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board addressed key municipal issues, including the unanimous decision to maintain a single tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025 and the scheduling of a special election for January 18, 2025, to approve funding for a new fire pumper truck. Updates were provided on the Hardwick Mapping Project, aimed at enhancing eco-tourism, and the ongoing efforts of the Healthcare Task Force to develop a rural healthcare model, particularly concerning the future of the Mary Lane property. Extensive discussion also took place regarding a proposed Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) policy and the complexities surrounding conservation restrictions, with a motion to sign a specific restriction failing due to lack of a second. The Town Administrator concluded the meeting with a comprehensive report on various departmental activities and ongoing projects.

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Discussion Highlights

The Board of Assessors recommended retaining a single tax rate for all property classes for FY2025, citing minimal benefit for residential taxpayers and a significant burden on commercial, industrial, and personal property taxpayers under a two-rate system.
A shifted tax rate would result in approximately a 50% increase for commercial/industrial properties, from $13.50 to $19.73 per $1,000.
Discussion on the special election for the fire truck debt exclusion included proposed dates, polling hours, and logistical requirements, with the Town Clerk noting a 35-day commitment period.
An update on the Hardwick Mapping Project detailed Phase 1, which involves developing a digital 'story map' to promote eco-tourism, with public input being gathered through surveys.
The Master Plan Steering Committee is actively working on community involvement, marketing, and branding initiatives, including discussions on incorporating trails on private property and the exclusion of schools from the map for security reasons.
The Healthcare Task Force is developing a rural healthcare model for Hardwick, addressing the closure of local pharmacies and the town's exclusion from previous regional healthcare planning.
The future of the Mary Lane property remains complex due to Baystate ownership and the Gilbert Will's stipulation for 'healthcare forevermore' zoning, with ongoing disputes regarding land use and trust disbursements.
A proposed satellite healthcare model includes urgent care and pharmacy services, with partnerships being explored with CVS, UMass, and Mass General, and a need for a 3,000 sq ft facility.
Challenges and significant investment required for renovating the old Senior Center building were acknowledged.
Discussion on a conservation restriction with the East Quabbin Land Trust involved language adjustments, including indemnification and removal of clauses permitting agritourism and green energy structures.
Concerns were raised regarding the East Quabbin Land Trust's responsibility for emergency incidents on trails, the impact of conservation restrictions on town insurance, and the potential for new restrictions to set a precedent for future agreements.
A Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) policy was debated, with concerns about the proposed 5% rate, a 'catch-up surcharge,' and the need for broader input from various town departments.
The Town Administrator provided a comprehensive report on ongoing municipal projects, including phone system upgrades, sewer project progress, MVP grant application for the elementary school, Highway Department repairs and staffing, IT improvements, and various community engagement initiatives.

Transcript (17,091 words)

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

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2024 if everyone would stand for a Pledge of Allegiance Pledge Ali United States the
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Stand justice for all thankk you any visitor comments before we go into a hearing I just like to ask this I assume you're going to take things pretty much in the order of your agenda particular interest
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In some of your old business that's coming up later but I'm going to step over and here the hearing next door at the Board of Health I'll be I'll be back I'll be back in a while for that but thank you and then one other thing very briefly the um i' had mentioned to a couple of
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You about the the uh p School trust and I just wanted to say that Lori was helpful today I was talking to her we're trying to piece together the history and the balance and the requirements for use of the page School trust which might have some money and
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Use um as you decide what to do with the school because the Center School page School Ruggles Hill school all of that is the same thing and there's some money there just to see what what happened to it what it is and sort that out so I'm hoping with
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Her help we'll be able to talk to you about that in a couple weeks and asking you on the agenda for that thank you for chasing all that Easter EGS okay that being said um in
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Accordance with mgl chapter 40 section 56 we will hold the classification hearing on Tuesday November 12th 2024 at 6:30 at the municipal office building 307 Main Street Gilbertville on the issue of tax allocation among the property classes for fiscal year 2025
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[00:00:00] 2024 if everyone would stand for a [00:00:02] Pledge of [00:00:07] Allegiance Pledge [00:00:09] Ali United [00:00:11] States [00:00:13] the [00:00:18] stand justice for all thankk [00:00:24] you any visitor comments before we go [00:00:27] into a hearing [00:00:32] I just like to ask this I assume you're [00:00:34] going to take things pretty much in the [00:00:35] order of your agenda particular interest [00:00:38] in some of your old business that's [00:00:40] coming up later but I'm going to step [00:00:41] over and here the hearing next door at [00:00:44] the Board of [00:00:45] Health I'll be I'll be back I'll be back [00:00:49] in a while for that but thank you and [00:00:51] then one other thing very briefly [00:00:53] the um i' had mentioned to a couple of [00:00:57] you about the the uh p School trust and [00:01:00] I just wanted to say that Lori was [00:01:03] helpful today I was talking to her we're [00:01:05] trying to piece together the history and [00:01:07] the balance and the requirements for use [00:01:10] of the page School [00:01:13] trust which might have some money and [00:01:17] use um as you decide what to do with the [00:01:21] school because the Center School page [00:01:24] School [00:01:25] Ruggles [00:01:26] Hill school all of that is the same [00:01:30] thing and there's some money there just [00:01:32] to see what what happened to it what it [00:01:34] is and sort that out so I'm hoping with [00:01:37] her help we'll be able to talk to you [00:01:39] about that in a couple weeks and asking [00:01:41] you on the agenda for [00:01:45] that thank you for chasing all that [00:01:48] Easter [00:01:51] EGS okay that being said um in [00:01:55] accordance with mgl chapter 40 section [00:01:58] 56 we will hold the classification [00:02:00] hearing on Tuesday November 12th 2024 at [00:02:03] 6:30 at the municipal office building [00:02:06] 307 Main Street Gilbertville on the [00:02:08] issue of tax allocation among the [00:02:10] property classes for fiscal year 2025 [00:02:13] taxpayers are invited to present oral or [00:02:16] written information on their views at [00:02:18] this time following the public hearing [00:02:20] the board will vote on a tax rate um I [00:02:23] will entertain a motion to go into a [00:02:25] public hearing I still move a second all [00:02:30] in favor I [00:02:33] I Jen do you want [00:02:35] to Lucinda yeah uh the board of assesses [00:02:39] pending final certification of the [00:02:40] fiscal year [00:02:42] 25 tax rate may uh by the uh Department [00:02:46] of Revenue hereby recommends that the [00:02:48] board of Selectmen retain one tax rate [00:02:50] for all classes of property the board [00:02:52] feels that the relatively small benefit [00:02:55] to the residential taxpayer that could [00:02:57] be achieved using two tax rates not war [00:02:59] warranted considering the dramatic [00:03:02] increase in taxes to be paid by the [00:03:04] commercial industrial and personal [00:03:06] property taxpayer our group is a largely [00:03:09] residential Community Supply that simply [00:03:11] does not have enough of a commercial [00:03:14] industrial personal property based base [00:03:16] to make classification worthwhile the [00:03:20] protm taxes rates are as follow a single [00:03:23] tax rate would be3 [00:03:25] $135 and the shift tax rate would be U [00:03:29] residential [00:03:32] $252 and Commercial and the commercial [00:03:35] industrial personal property would be1 [00:03:37] 19 [00:03:40] .73 okay any [00:03:49] discussion there wouldn't be [00:03:52] enough there wouldn't be enough income [00:03:54] from the [00:03:56] commercial because there's not that much [00:03:59] that's what they right and they they [00:04:02] only value wise they they are only [00:04:08] 8.72% um of the town's taxes whereas the [00:04:13] residential is [00:04:15] 91 [00:04:17] 27% so predominantly residential very [00:04:21] little commercial industrial and [00:04:23] personal property so it's the three [00:04:25] things combined we can actually lose [00:04:27] money and we well we could hypothetic te [00:04:29] Al we could you know Drive everybody out [00:04:32] of town well but you know if the shift [00:04:35] is that [00:04:36] large you're not bringing in as much for [00:04:39] residential exactly right but you're [00:04:41] bringing in the same amount because the [00:04:44] shift is gone to the commercial to okay [00:04:47] I see you know you're still Gathering as [00:04:49] many taxes as you need to run the town [00:04:53] but got you're just shifting it [00:04:57] [Music] [00:05:00] can we ask a question okay [00:05:03] so what percent do you know what [00:05:05] percentage of the business tax might be [00:05:10] at a point if we got to that where it [00:05:13] would [00:05:13] warrant a higher classification right [00:05:16] now it would be [00:05:19] $19.73 but you said it's 8% of the tax [00:05:23] she's wondering what how would it have [00:05:25] to grow percentage wise to Warrant [00:05:28] having a shift rate [00:05:30] well where has so many businesses they [00:05:33] don't [00:05:34] shift um I don't think Palmer even [00:05:38] shifts so it takes a lot of businesses I [00:05:41] think for the towns to decide to shift [00:05:44] that tax [00:05:46] rate ask well um this comes up I believe [00:05:50] every year right it [00:05:52] does have we ever had other than a [00:05:54] single rate we never have okay and you [00:05:58] mentioned what the rates of be for the [00:05:59] residential shifted and current U which [00:06:03] maybe was about 10% um does that me but [00:06:06] it's about 10 nine times as big as the [00:06:10] industrial commercial B so would that [00:06:12] mean that if you did shift if town did [00:06:16] shift that the that the commercial [00:06:19] industrial rate would go up dramatically [00:06:22] right it does I mean like double or more [00:06:26] we would go down goes up 197 from what [00:06:30] from from 135 yeah right now it's 1350 [00:06:34] for all of we got 50% or something like [00:06:38] that in order to allow right less than a [00:06:40] 10% decrease res on [00:06:44] commercial is all the same amount of [00:06:46] money here so it's the same amount of [00:06:48] money we're just shifting the rate so [00:06:51] the res the commercial would bear more [00:06:53] of a burden of the tax rate than the [00:06:56] residential so as a board of Select of [00:07:00] assessors we recommend not to shift um [00:07:04] because it it seems like it would be an [00:07:06] unfair burden on the commercial [00:07:09] residential and personal property tax [00:07:11] payers being so [00:07:15] few thank you any other comments or [00:07:21] questions not we close the [00:07:24] hearing CL he second all in favor I I I [00:07:30] I would take a motion for a [00:07:34] vote move that we continue with the [00:07:36] single tax rate for residential and [00:07:39] Commercial I'll can we just add what it [00:07:43] is 13 15 yeah that's pending though [00:07:47] that's we still have to do the recap but [00:07:50] that's what you're recommending at this [00:07:52] point yeah that's what the numbers is [00:07:54] showing right now [00:07:57] okay all in favor [00:08:00] all [00:08:02] right thank you thank [00:08:14] you are ran are you just waiting for the [00:08:16] election yeah can I'm just going to skip [00:08:19] ahead I don't know if you're wrapping up [00:08:21] your day or not so if you if you don't [00:08:24] mind um discussion and vote on the [00:08:26] special election this would be um for [00:08:28] the fire TR it it [00:08:31] passed um at special town meeting but [00:08:34] now it has to go to a special election [00:08:36] in order to do um the debt exclusion to [00:08:40] be able to buy the fire truck so we're [00:08:42] just trying to set a date for that [00:08:48] um mam chair yes I'll just go on record [00:08:51] again from the last time I just i' [00:08:53] prefer the 25th but certainly within [00:08:55] your relm is to what you decide to do [00:08:58] and either 12 6 or 10 to 6 on on that [00:09:01] day what was that either 12 to 6 or 10 [00:09:04] to 6 sorry I'm fine with so I yeah I'd [00:09:08] only have a I'd worry that we'd get [00:09:11] stuck if there's a deadline at the other [00:09:13] end the price goes up right South you [00:09:16] know on the 31st and where something [00:09:19] happened do we have an I'm just saying [00:09:21] we have to make sure we have enough time [00:09:24] between and and this is where I was [00:09:26] hoping that the chief would have said [00:09:28] okay you know [00:09:30] look the com you know I do a certificate [00:09:32] of vote town meeting voted this way [00:09:35] here's the article town meeting voted at [00:09:37] this election to approve this have Town [00:09:40] Council addresss I don't know what else [00:09:41] they need you know I don't I honestly so [00:09:44] I mean I'll leave that I'll leave that [00:09:46] up to you I need at least 35 days from [00:09:49] your vote and receive I technically have [00:09:51] to receive it from you so if you do vote [00:09:52] on it tonight I need it I need [00:09:55] everything exactly how you want it to be [00:09:58] what when the date is where the times [00:09:59] and what the question is to be on the [00:10:01] ballot so I need that in writing so and [00:10:03] it would have to be 35 days so uh be it [00:10:06] the 18th or the or the 25th it would [00:10:08] have I'd have to get it by sometime in [00:10:10] December so there still another four [00:10:11] weeks so I did talk to the Chief and it [00:10:14] does just have to be committed my only [00:10:16] um I had a conversation with Ryan [00:10:18] earlier my only concern was so once we [00:10:21] have the town meeting I mean sorry [00:10:22] special election and they decide yes [00:10:26] hypothetically it's going to take the [00:10:28] finance Department some time to do what [00:10:31] they need to do and that was my only [00:10:33] concern why I was kind of hoping for the [00:10:35] 18th um if that but if that doesn't work [00:10:38] for for Ryan [00:10:40] um I don't know what the turnaround time [00:10:43] is going to be for finance for um ly and [00:10:46] Jess so they they need a commitment as [00:10:49] far as the votes the yes so we should [00:10:55] then we should be okay if Finance takes [00:11:00] you know a couple weeks because if if if [00:11:04] we're committed to doing it yeah that's [00:11:05] what they need yes that's that's what I [00:11:08] got from the fire chief [00:11:10] so so we don't have to have our numbers [00:11:12] all in in order necessarily by the [00:11:16] January that's what it sounds like yes [00:11:20] yeah committing yourself you're [00:11:22] committing yourself with the vote right [00:11:23] and with the town meeting action the [00:11:26] paperwork is almost I don't want to say [00:11:28] negligible but committing yourself [00:11:30] because the town meeting action [00:11:31] stipulated that it was conent upon the [00:11:33] passage of that corre if it does pass [00:11:35] you've met all the criteria you know [00:11:37] yeah okay other than you know I don't [00:11:40] know what he's got in the contract of [00:11:41] people so if you have to go to the 18th [00:11:43] I can make it work it's not it's not [00:11:45] huge I'm just saying my preference was [00:11:47] the 25th if you have to go to the 18th [00:11:49] you will you know that's we make it [00:11:51] we'll make it work with the it's going [00:11:54] to be a Saturday yes Saturday is a 23 [00:11:58] January oh Janu in January oh talking [00:12:05] November daysan what no no no no January [00:12:10] okay January how how much trouble is the [00:12:13] 18th it's it's it's just added it's just [00:12:15] with everything else that's going on in [00:12:17] the beginning of January it's just more [00:12:19] but it's it's not it's not that much [00:12:22] more difficult it would just be it would [00:12:25] give me some breathing room if it was [00:12:26] the 25th that's all but it's not a huge [00:12:28] thing so you need to go to the 18th if [00:12:30] you feel comfortable then go I'm [00:12:32] wondering if I'm just worried to someone [00:12:34] go wrong I well I [00:12:37] yeah I just I again I I do want to [00:12:40] forewarn you it's the middle of winter [00:12:42] right I mean there's that too you know [00:12:44] so I don't you know the vote by mail [00:12:47] applications will be on our website so [00:12:48] people can certainly submit those if if [00:12:51] they want to do so um but I don't know [00:12:54] what you're going to get for turnout [00:12:55] with it being de winter well we got [00:12:58] either weekend will be the same way that [00:13:00] way exactly yeah yeah okay [00:13:04] um I don't know I kind of kind of think [00:13:08] maybe we should do the 18th if it really [00:13:10] isn't a [00:13:12] huge um just to have some time yeah I am [00:13:16] yeah yeah that's fine I mean should we [00:13:19] have the January 25th as a backup day [00:13:22] it's like we have a snow day on the 18th [00:13:24] I don't can you do that with unless [00:13:26] unless we unless we going well it did [00:13:28] happen time with with the town election [00:13:30] Barry and a few other towns did go to [00:13:31] court and they were able to postpone if [00:13:34] we were to deal with something like that [00:13:35] would have contingencies it's not town [00:13:37] meeting it's an election yeah we [00:13:38] wouldn't be able we would have to go to [00:13:40] court if we had a bad snowstorm we would [00:13:42] have to go to court to have them okay um [00:13:46] take it to another day right otherwise [00:13:48] it's held the 18th okay yeah right fair [00:13:50] enough put your snow shoes on sh well I [00:13:54] move that we uh call the special [00:13:56] election on the 18th of January [00:14:00] 2025 I'll second it okay any other [00:14:04] discussion what time oh we got to yeah [00:14:07] uh either 10 to 6 or 12 to [00:14:11] 6 12 to 6 12 to 6 it gives people the [00:14:15] morning to shovel [00:14:19] out be raking me right well also Madam [00:14:23] chair you do need to put within your [00:14:24] motion what the question's going to be [00:14:26] that's going to be on that on the we [00:14:28] have that [00:14:29] [Music] [00:14:49] y you want to come back to it so can we [00:14:53] just say to vote on [00:14:55] the it has to be in the motion he's [00:14:57] saying it has to be in thetion it needs [00:14:59] to be the exact wording as to what the [00:15:02] question is going to be on the ballot so [00:15:05] I mean we [00:15:07] do for think I included it is it in our [00:15:10] packet I included it in the last one I [00:15:12] didn't include in this [00:15:14] one um if you want to go back to it I [00:15:16] can pull it up on my [00:15:19] phone I just want to be done with this [00:15:22] one thing just so we can move on [00:15:35] Val question last very last uh [00:15:42] phone at the bottom here [00:15:48] yep this open Microsoft is right in the [00:15:51] middle of it so I would take a I would [00:15:53] take a motion to hold the special Town [00:15:57] election on Saturday January 18th 2025 [00:16:02] from 12: to 6:00 at the Hardwick [00:16:03] Elementary School for the ballot [00:16:05] question to read shall the town of [00:16:07] Hardwick be allowed to exempt from the [00:16:09] provisions of proposition 2 and 1/2 [00:16:12] soall the amounts required to pay for [00:16:14] the bonds issued in order to pay costs [00:16:17] of purchasing and equipping a new fire [00:16:20] pumper truck for the fire department [00:16:22] including the payment of all costs [00:16:25] incidental and related there to we some [00:16:29] move a second all in favor I I thank you [00:16:35] for your patience yes no no worries [00:16:40] okay back to where I was all right thank [00:16:44] you [00:16:45] Ryan do you want to give us sure a [00:16:48] progress update on the hardw work [00:16:50] mapping project yep absolutely so over [00:16:53] many years a lot of towns folks have [00:16:56] been involved in various plans the [00:16:57] master plan open space plan [00:17:00] reconnaissance plan one commonality that [00:17:04] came out of it is that the town would do [00:17:06] well to um expand [00:17:10] ecotourism and so we embarked a few [00:17:14] months ago with a small Grant from cmrpc [00:17:17] Central Mass Regional planning to [00:17:20] develop what I call phase one of it [00:17:24] which essentially is developing a they [00:17:26] call it a story map um it's a map of [00:17:30] hardware it will be digital we can also [00:17:32] have physical copies of it and what [00:17:35] accompanies it digitally is a [00:17:39] description of the [00:17:41] various places things and so on that [00:17:45] have been identified on the map so for [00:17:47] example we've identified the Moose Brook [00:17:51] Valley as a an ecotourism area and the [00:17:53] birding that's uh W there uh We've [00:17:57] identified the historic [00:17:59] districts um some of the buildings um [00:18:03] East quab and land trust all of their [00:18:05] Trails have been mapped the Fitness [00:18:07] trail and so on um and by the end of [00:18:12] December we will have this math um [00:18:16] completed um between now and then we are [00:18:19] we've done a lot of research we've [00:18:22] gotten to a point where we're at final [00:18:24] final draft on the descriptions of the [00:18:27] items that we've identified we did get a [00:18:29] lot of public input and interviewed a [00:18:31] lot of people in the course of gathering [00:18:34] so will this it will be online yes with [00:18:36] a link from the town website to it and [00:18:40] many other towns have been doing this [00:18:42] kind of thing to to build ecotourism or [00:18:45] just to to Market and brand their [00:18:48] Town [00:18:51] um tomorrow we'll probably send out a um [00:18:59] let's see public we're making the notice [00:19:03] now that people can go to the town [00:19:05] website to get the link to go and [00:19:07] complete a survey by reading all of [00:19:10] these descriptions and if they want to [00:19:13] make Corrections comments additions Etc [00:19:18] so Community input absolutely and uh [00:19:21] that we'll get that the day before [00:19:23] Thanksgiving I think is the deadline and [00:19:25] then with that input cmrpc will final [00:19:29] ize um the and pretty it up and all that [00:19:33] kind of thing so that's phase one um it [00:19:38] begs the question of okay we end up with [00:19:40] this wonderful pool at the end of the [00:19:42] year it doesn't do anything for us [00:19:45] unless we get eyeballs on it from people [00:19:48] to bring them it will be interesting to [00:19:51] see um how people respond within town to [00:19:55] having people come in but as I say it [00:19:58] has been [00:19:59] identified as a key thing that harick [00:20:02] should do in just about every single [00:20:04] plan um with the master plan steering [00:20:09] committee working on things and with the [00:20:11] grant we've gotten from them we'll be [00:20:12] doing a lot of community involvement so [00:20:15] we kind of in tandem start building out [00:20:18] well how do you market and brand the [00:20:21] town hopefully it will also um encourage [00:20:26] more cottage industries to sprout if [00:20:28] we're going to have a few more people [00:20:30] coming around of various types so the [00:20:33] community input on that hopefully will [00:20:35] spark some ideas um on people's part of [00:20:39] what they might like to do so that's [00:20:42] where we're at we do have [00:20:45] um [00:20:47] um some questions or issues for the [00:20:50] select board or things to make you aware [00:20:53] of um one question that we thought the [00:20:58] select board should answer is whether we [00:21:00] could should include trails that go [00:21:02] through private property on the story [00:21:04] map there's public trails and then they [00:21:06] suddenly become private and so on so we [00:21:10] wanted to be cautious about that and we [00:21:13] and we have been um cautious about that [00:21:17] um I know in the um the Dall range [00:21:20] there's a lot of private property so we [00:21:24] we've identified where Chris buo said [00:21:26] you could tell people to go and try to [00:21:28] find the the bugle and so on right but [00:21:31] that that was one um one question you [00:21:34] know in the state if it's not [00:21:37] posted you know you're you're okay so [00:21:41] it's a it's a fine line though I think [00:21:43] too yeah I don't see it being a [00:21:46] significant that all a sudden so many [00:21:49] people going to flock out to exactly [00:21:52] yeah I think I would agree with you okay [00:21:55] um we do want to make you aware that we [00:21:57] were cognizant of this don't we're not [00:21:59] including uh information about [00:22:02] indigenous people's sites or or where [00:22:04] because we don't have enough good [00:22:06] information at this point but when we do [00:22:08] updates we'll we'll update this annually [00:22:11] I think that's an issue that that maybe [00:22:14] the town would like to um acknowledge [00:22:17] that things things were here a long a [00:22:20] lot longer than the uh the [00:22:22] townhous um was so um it's just a an [00:22:26] issue to to make you aware of [00:22:29] um we did go to most of the businesses [00:22:33] and confirm they would like to be on it [00:22:35] we asked them for their description of [00:22:38] their business uh we did do some modest [00:22:42] editing because we can't have everybody [00:22:44] saying they have the best coffee in [00:22:47] Hardwick so we did a little bit of [00:22:49] editing to uh to do take care of those [00:22:52] kinds of things [00:22:54] um we're not listing either the element [00:22:58] El school or Eagle Hill they're active [00:23:01] schools and for an issue of security um [00:23:05] people will probably question Eagle Hill [00:23:06] because that was just about everybody [00:23:08] said oh you got to put Eagle Hill on the [00:23:11] map but we've made the decision um that [00:23:14] not when there's children on a campus [00:23:17] that you you they don't want people [00:23:19] driving around on their campus anyway [00:23:22] right and then um finally an issue we're [00:23:25] still struggling with a little bit is [00:23:28] there's um private residences that have [00:23:30] a lot of historic value the the [00:23:33] architecture of them like the cin Page [00:23:35] House the mixture houses and so on and [00:23:40] um we've gone all over the map on just [00:23:43] put them on and let people put a little [00:23:46] disclaimer please just drive by and [00:23:48] enjoy it or not have them on the other [00:23:51] issue we have is we don't have all of [00:23:53] them [00:23:55] so we're wondering if we should we'll [00:23:58] see what what the may you get feedback [00:24:01] about that we'll see what the input is [00:24:02] about that we're we're just trying to be [00:24:05] very cognizant of not having people oh [00:24:08] why is it my house on there right or why [00:24:11] is somebody you know coming up my [00:24:13] driveway right yeah either way exactly [00:24:17] yeah yeah so um it's been good working [00:24:20] with them um phas two of how do you [00:24:24] really use this there is a feasibility [00:24:27] of applying for a a [00:24:29] another um cmrpc dlta Grant to assist [00:24:34] and [00:24:35] actually getting the social [00:24:38] media up and running to reach out Beyond [00:24:42] Hardwick and I would say that it would [00:24:45] be helpful when we're ready to um we may [00:24:49] even want to consider do we do we need [00:24:51] kind of a Eco tourism Eco agry history [00:24:56] tourism um group that kind of helps [00:25:00] spearhead this to an any Next Level so [00:25:03] I'm just putting that out as something [00:25:05] probably down the road in in a few [00:25:09] months can I add something sure um I [00:25:12] just want the board to know that me has [00:25:14] been driving this the entire time she [00:25:17] made sure my first week here that she [00:25:19] got on my calendar to let me know about [00:25:21] this project and I just think she [00:25:23] deserves a lot of Kudos absolutely you [00:25:26] thank you [00:25:30] so do you need anything from us [00:25:32] specifically at this point then no but [00:25:35] um but you're welcome to click on the [00:25:37] link yourself definitely we'll also be [00:25:39] sending an email with about this to um [00:25:43] all of the Departments and CH committees [00:25:46] the chairs of the commissions and [00:25:48] committees and so on so that um they're [00:25:50] aware of this and they can share this [00:25:52] will be up on the website tomorrow for [00:25:55] people to click the link either tomorrow [00:25:56] or the next day okay so by end of the [00:25:58] week yes they should see and it's due [00:26:00] before Thanksgiving yes November 27th [00:26:03] okay the day before you name this map I [00:26:06] mean if you put a if you put the oldest [00:26:08] house in town on this map and the people [00:26:12] that live there decided they didn't want [00:26:14] to be there this is amendable right it's [00:26:17] just a simple thing to take it off the [00:26:19] map not not as simple as I would have [00:26:21] thought unless we took over doing that [00:26:24] work we' we'd have to request cmrpc oh [00:26:28] okay right to do it so we'll do an an [00:26:30] the plan is an annual update and we [00:26:32] would probably have to use a couple of [00:26:35] hours um that we get yeah that we get [00:26:39] from [00:26:40] them [00:26:43] thanks that's wonderful thank you okay [00:26:46] right uh Judy healthc care Task Force [00:26:49] update update yes okay couple of things [00:26:53] um this will take about as as long so [00:26:56] patience lots of lots of pillars here as [00:26:58] you know I broke this into pillars [00:27:00] because it's it's focusing on different [00:27:02] areas some of which we have some control [00:27:04] and some of which we don't for Justine [00:27:07] um the task force itself um it's myself [00:27:12] um Eric Neil Halen outside support of [00:27:14] Ste Steve grin however the planning [00:27:16] board has recommended instead of them [00:27:19] being on the task force they have [00:27:20] recommended us us to add someone on the [00:27:22] master planning committee which seems to [00:27:24] make a lot of sense considering you need [00:27:26] Healthcare in your master plan so we [00:27:30] need to work on that and um I have been [00:27:33] working uh with that group to to see if [00:27:37] we can move that along to get someone [00:27:39] from that group from the from our group [00:27:40] from the task force on the master [00:27:42] planning which makes all the sense in [00:27:43] the world because we do have to have [00:27:46] healthare in this town and a couple of [00:27:48] things I'm going to tell you tonight it [00:27:50] it'll probably um Elevate that feeling [00:27:52] once you hear this so um Food For [00:27:56] Thought working on that um I had [00:27:58] actually talked to um Bill Cole on this [00:28:02] and we'll see if we can move this along [00:28:04] finance committee recommended we present [00:28:07] uh as needed basis versus having them [00:28:10] join um at this time and Neil Halen [00:28:14] recommended who's also on our who's on [00:28:16] our task force recommended we actually [00:28:18] add a Community member because when you [00:28:20] work in healthcare um the churches [00:28:23] become a really big piece of the [00:28:24] delivery of healthcare so recommended we [00:28:27] add somebody such as the Tri County [00:28:30] somebody from Tri County church or [00:28:31] something someone along that front which [00:28:34] makes all the sense having worked in [00:28:35] this industry for a long time when we're [00:28:38] working in Rural and less advantaged um [00:28:41] um communities it's very helpful to have [00:28:44] that so I would uh agree with that so [00:28:47] justing uh we can talk about that later [00:28:50] um and try to refund this part A okay [00:28:53] pillar one um Mary Lane [00:28:55] demolition okay it has been clar IFI [00:28:58] 100% Mary Lane property is owned by Bay [00:29:01] State uh it is not in the Gilbert will [00:29:04] there is no provision in the Gilbert [00:29:05] will as far as um the ownership of that [00:29:09] that was voted on by the Mary Lane board [00:29:13] it is owned by Bay State however the [00:29:16] Gilbert will did set out the [00:29:18] zoning of that property which said that [00:29:22] property shall be Healthcare forever [00:29:24] more um which which creates a whole [00:29:27] another of complexity um so bottom line [00:29:31] land is not tied to the trust this going [00:29:34] to be really important when I start to [00:29:36] talk about this at later meetings of how [00:29:38] they're going to handle that the [00:29:40] historical commission is involved [00:29:42] because fromont one portion of that land [00:29:44] is under [00:29:45] historical um alignment as well so now [00:29:49] you have three things going on on that [00:29:52] property none of G is owned by um the [00:29:55] town nor the uh what for the trust so a [00:30:00] little bit of infighting there more on [00:30:02] that later but at least the [00:30:03] clarification is there um the friends of [00:30:06] Mary Lane want to enforce that the land [00:30:09] be used as medically related only so [00:30:12] they're really pushing the envelope on [00:30:14] this um based on the words in the [00:30:16] Gilbert trust naturally you can imagine [00:30:19] there's a lot of push back from Bas [00:30:21] State and of course we would like to see [00:30:23] some of that land used for a [00:30:25] taxable um situation so a little bit of [00:30:28] infighting against we're not in the mix [00:30:30] of this we're just staying on board with [00:30:33] what's going on there and I meet with [00:30:34] these folks on an ongoing basis um there [00:30:38] has been something else that has [00:30:39] happened the buildings continue to get [00:30:42] destroyed you know again owned by Bay [00:30:45] State so you know there's uh a little [00:30:48] bit little they could do but what they [00:30:49] can do is they have to make it safe so [00:30:53] um at the last where select board they [00:30:55] met with a they're meeting with the fire [00:30:58] and building departments to make sure [00:30:59] everything is safe they're trying to um [00:31:02] get an outside contractor for inspection [00:31:05] Etc to maintain the safety apparently a [00:31:08] lot of the demolition was done outside [00:31:10] of what was supposed to be done and so [00:31:13] again let's put that in we's bucket but [00:31:15] I'll just keep you up to speed on that [00:31:17] lots of complaints Etc All Right Moving [00:31:19] On by the way uh you'll have this packet [00:31:22] and if you want the entire thing of [00:31:25] what's going on to wear it's all here [00:31:26] for you pillar two is the trust this is [00:31:30] where we get a little bit closer um we [00:31:32] need to stay in uh conversations [00:31:34] regarding the trust um the the Gilbert [00:31:37] trust there's there's multiple trusts [00:31:40] Gilbert trust is the one that we are [00:31:42] named in um most of the previous [00:31:45] payments um once Mary uh B State took [00:31:48] over actually took those trust [00:31:51] dispersements and put them out in [00:31:53] Springfield into Bay State they actually [00:31:55] were not applied um to Maryland or to [00:31:59] Wing um so this is going to become a big [00:32:02] deal and a lawsuit um Gilbert trust is [00:32:05] thought to be about $7 million which [00:32:07] only kicks off about 300K a year it's [00:32:09] not a big dollar amount basically pays [00:32:11] for not even electric bill but it's [00:32:14] something there's also additional [00:32:16] smaller trusts um thought to be about 10 [00:32:19] million um but they're all over the [00:32:21] place and they didn't have the same [00:32:23] language that um said you have to use it [00:32:27] for the good of wear in Gilbertville [00:32:30] they were this Wing that Wing so little [00:32:34] stickier there Bank of America is still [00:32:36] the trustee Bas State's still the [00:32:37] beneficiary at this point um and the [00:32:40] goal is obviously to remove Bas State as [00:32:42] that beneficiary um so there is an [00:32:45] outside lawyer hired so this is moving [00:32:47] and inching along I will tell you the [00:32:49] outside lawyer has got to be the slowest [00:32:51] lawyer on the entire planet and this is [00:32:53] moving extremely slow considering this [00:32:55] is pretty straightforward but won't get [00:32:58] into that part okay pillar three [00:33:00] Hardwick Healthcare model this is where [00:33:03] we're working as a task force what do we [00:33:05] need here for this um we got some really [00:33:08] good stuff so we obtained the surveys [00:33:10] from where regarding the health care [00:33:12] needs of that community so they actually [00:33:14] gave us their survey um we also got the [00:33:17] 2022 Community Health needs assessment [00:33:19] for Wing that is a Fally funded um um [00:33:24] assessment that's done to determine the [00:33:25] needs of the communities we will [00:33:28] actually we are uh close to being [00:33:31] approved for having one for this area [00:33:33] and how did we get that well again a [00:33:35] couple of documents I've given you when [00:33:38] Bay State um decided to merge uh wing [00:33:43] and decided to merge Mary Lane um our [00:33:46] communities were excluded from the [00:33:50] paperwork of um saying that it would be [00:33:53] able to accommodate um Hardwick [00:33:56] Gilbertville or any other community [00:33:58] they stopped at we mon mson wiam Leo [00:34:03] belter town and basically anything West [00:34:06] nothing East so that means we were never [00:34:09] even considered when these things were [00:34:13] done so yes it needs to be in our master [00:34:17] plan because apparently we were left [00:34:18] behind in all of this so we are working [00:34:22] together to try to figure out how to um [00:34:25] boost this because we are eligible for [00:34:27] 14 additional grants on top of this [00:34:29] study so another study sorry about that [00:34:31] but at least that 30,000 will be covered [00:34:34] all right um next thing Rutland and [00:34:38] Berry phies as you know closed creating [00:34:40] a further Pharmacy Desert for us um [00:34:43] which is a very big deal um we that [00:34:47] obviously bolsters our position we met [00:34:50] with thank you very much the staff of [00:34:52] Peter pet donon and we are preparing a [00:34:55] presentation for him he's invited us to [00:34:58] put forward what we believe should be [00:35:00] good for the town but we want to make [00:35:02] sure our ducks are on a world before we [00:35:04] do that we're still in discussions with [00:35:06] Barry and UMass for options for [00:35:07] personnel and satellite and um I have [00:35:12] met with the CEO this was a dicey one of [00:35:15] 32 32 if you want your heart rate to [00:35:18] start really going here um they're [00:35:21] buying out all our safety net Healthcare [00:35:23] um Insurance programs so they bought out [00:35:26] Harvard Pilgrim they bought out toughs [00:35:29] they're buying they bought out Bas State [00:35:31] Health um that's private Equity Group [00:35:34] and they're Cutthroat um so this is [00:35:36] going to create some challenges for [00:35:38] healthcare in our area if we don't make [00:35:41] sure whatever we design gets covered by [00:35:44] their plants so this is going to be this [00:35:47] is when we get to put our big big girl [00:35:49] pants on and we got to fight to make [00:35:51] sure that we get what we want um and we [00:35:53] will don't worry thank you Peter that's [00:35:56] going to make it happen um the what [00:35:58] we're looking at is a satellite model [00:36:00] small Urgent Care satellite Pharmacy we [00:36:03] have some agreement for CVS to help us [00:36:05] with that a triage that allows us to um [00:36:08] use the data that we're getting from all [00:36:09] of the uh call volumes from all of the [00:36:12] towns from the the fire department and [00:36:14] police departments to know what kind of [00:36:15] calls are going out um van and satellite [00:36:18] units additional training residents [00:36:20] emergency Personnel thank you very much [00:36:22] Eric and strategic placement of aeds and [00:36:25] training things like that so we're [00:36:27] building a complete rural model because [00:36:29] we will not have a hospital to depend on [00:36:33] um we are leaning toward base State I [00:36:35] mean sorry UMass is being our home base [00:36:39] um but we're also talking with um um [00:36:43] Mass [00:36:45] General uh last page sorry guys I know [00:36:47] it's long almost there oh this is easy [00:36:50] because we haven't done it um there's 14 [00:36:52] grants not that part there are 14 grants [00:36:55] we're in discussion and and getting [00:36:56] those um and I'll talk to you about [00:36:58] those um location we still haven't [00:37:01] determined where we can find a location [00:37:03] around here to make this happen for us [00:37:05] um still working on that and then pillar [00:37:07] five which will come with the rest of [00:37:09] this is partners and funding any [00:37:14] questions it's a lot to [00:37:17] absorb um you talked about CVS and [00:37:20] satellite locations can you talk a [00:37:21] little more about that yeah so with CVS [00:37:24] is um CVS is is going I I don't know if [00:37:27] you've also been watching the news CVS [00:37:29] and Walgreens are closing down locations [00:37:31] one of those two locations is closing it [00:37:33] looks like Walgreens is going to be the [00:37:34] one CVS is still there yeah fortuitously [00:37:39] this is unbelievable the way this [00:37:40] happened but Karen ly she used to be the [00:37:42] CEO of uh CVS and I had actually talked [00:37:45] to her about doing a satellite and she [00:37:49] decided to resign probably forcibly but [00:37:52] as Le would have it my old boss is now [00:37:54] the CEO so I just talked to D Joiner [00:37:58] who's the new CEO of CVS and he's [00:38:00] willing to take on and allow this to [00:38:02] continue to happen so that was just [00:38:05] 100% luck better be lucky than good um [00:38:09] so what that would mean is satellite [00:38:11] we'd have an office that delivers the [00:38:13] medications to our our our site and a [00:38:18] couple of times a week folks could come [00:38:20] in and have that pharmacist explain [00:38:22] their medications Etc and also have them [00:38:24] delivered to the homes [00:38:27] that's what that model is [00:38:30] yes well thank you for all this hard [00:38:34] work pain in the tail aot yeah I've [00:38:38] lived with it for 40 years and I think I [00:38:40] think a member from the community is a [00:38:43] good idea yeah being want like from the [00:38:45] charge so I I agree with that I yeah I [00:38:48] think it's really important maybe the [00:38:49] next meeting we can revise the charge if [00:38:51] yeah yeah let's put that on so that make [00:38:53] it you know appreciate so that's the [00:38:55] only ask at this point in time except [00:38:57] for the work that I would like to do at [00:38:58] just at this point [00:39:00] to other things yeah thank you very much [00:39:04] thank you for the any [00:39:06] questions anyone else B if I may thank [00:39:09] you um so you mentioned the area [00:39:13] location for such a facility urgent care [00:39:16] and Pharmacy and so forth 3,000 ft is [00:39:19] what we need 3,000 squ building on [00:39:22] wouldn't be that much no is there some [00:39:25] thought about uh combining it with any [00:39:28] other Public Safety facilities in which [00:39:32] case it'd be much bigger yeah we're [00:39:34] seeing you know close to the capital [00:39:36] committee Etc because I think that's [00:39:38] really important because that's a really [00:39:39] good idea that you have a central you [00:39:42] know location that you could combine [00:39:43] this I think it's a very bright idea [00:39:45] because we only need 3,000 sare ft it's [00:39:48] not like we have to but we do need um [00:39:51] good access um and parking [00:39:57] yeah because the one reason the mill [00:39:59] doesn't work it's not very easy for [00:40:02] people who are not well to be able to [00:40:04] get into that that you know so we have [00:40:08] challenges with some of the [00:40:11] build and is some of the possible grant [00:40:15] money to acquire that that's land and [00:40:20] build the [00:40:23] something isn't that you that's [00:40:33] question yeah it's already been [00:40:34] mentioned in a meeting yeah it's been [00:40:36] mentioned um if you're interested in the [00:40:38] white building for a possible setup like [00:40:41] this yeah and and the only the only [00:40:43] drawback of the white building is it [00:40:45] takes a fuge investment because we just [00:40:47] so everyone knows what we're talking [00:40:49] about it's the old Senior Center that's [00:40:51] right like four buildings down just [00:40:55] which is an amazing building perfect [00:40:57] parking um You probably have to fill in [00:40:59] that basement that is scary um but uh we [00:41:04] did tour that and and actually had [00:41:06] somebody come through that could [00:41:07] renovate those types of buildings so [00:41:09] that's not off the table that is a great [00:41:12] building so just takes a lot of work so [00:41:15] it take a lot of investment so the [00:41:16] question is what kind of investors do we [00:41:18] bring in it' be probably bigger than a [00:41:20] grant it' probably take an investor on [00:41:22] that [00:41:23] okay okay well thank you for the update [00:41:26] to you appreciate all the work [00:41:30] yeah okay [00:41:33] um up next we have a proclamation for [00:41:38] Jacob if you would like to maybe come up [00:41:42] here [00:41:42] please um and I'll I'll read this it's a [00:41:45] certificate of appreciation this [00:41:47] certificate is proudly awarded to Jacob [00:41:50] stles and recognition of your many years [00:41:53] of honorable and dedicated service to [00:41:55] the town of Hardwick now therefore we [00:41:58] the Hardwick select board on behalf of [00:42:00] the town of Hardwick do we present this [00:42:02] gesture of gratitude with great [00:42:04] admiration and it's dated today November [00:42:07] um 12th 2024 so thank you very [00:42:19] much [00:42:21] unofficially thank you very much thank [00:42:22] you very much I enjoy doing it by the [00:42:25] way I know you did this town done a lot [00:42:27] of things for me too and the people in [00:42:30] so yeah well we miss you at recycling [00:42:35] too [00:42:37] back that's okay he doesn't need to come [00:42:39] back we miss [00:42:43] him [00:42:45] okay uh Town Administrator requests um [00:42:49] the the to possibly uh the working on [00:42:53] the day before [00:42:54] Thanksgiving so I'm coming before the [00:42:57] board because I would like to close Town [00:43:00] Hall at 12:00 the day before [00:43:02] Thanksgiving to give the employees time [00:43:04] to cook and prep uh for Thanksgiving um [00:43:07] we had done it in a couple of the other [00:43:08] towns that I worked in um so it's not [00:43:11] uncommon um but I just wanted to bring [00:43:13] it before the board to get your thoughts [00:43:15] and hopefully um a decision on [00:43:18] that I'm fine with [00:43:21] it I don't have any issues [00:43:24] yeah can we get a motion [00:43:27] sure um make a motion that the town hall [00:43:31] closes at noon time the day before [00:43:33] Thanksgiving second call in favor all [00:43:38] right thank you you're welcome [00:43:42] um cmrpc grants update um so the one [00:43:46] that I specifically want to talk about a [00:43:48] little bit is the [00:43:49] cdbg um grant that was awarded um that [00:43:52] was for the Highland Terrace project um [00:43:55] before I started well there's a lot of [00:43:57] steps that are coming um that are coming [00:44:00] forward and there's going to be a lot of [00:44:01] things that need to be signed it's a [00:44:02] project that's that's about close to a [00:44:05] million dollars um so I wanted to I know [00:44:07] the board gave me signatory Authority um [00:44:11] like a couple meetings in when I started [00:44:13] but I wanted to talk about this one [00:44:14] specifically to just let you know that [00:44:16] there's a lot of um a lot of steps and [00:44:19] there's going to be a lot of signature [00:44:21] um required um so I wanted to come [00:44:23] before the board and get your Okay [00:44:25] because it is such a large amount and I [00:44:27] did tell you the board that I would come [00:44:30] if it was going to be you know a [00:44:31] significant amount of money and this one [00:44:33] being close to a million dollars I feel [00:44:34] like was worthy of me coming before you [00:44:37] so I just want to make sure because [00:44:38] there's a lot of planning design [00:44:40] engineering um so I just wanted to come [00:44:42] before the board to get your [00:44:44] okay any comments or concerns [00:44:48] or okay all right you want a motion I [00:44:51] was just to have it on record [00:44:55] exactly I move the uh we let the Town [00:44:59] Administrator handle the Highland [00:45:02] Terrace Grant [00:45:06] from second motion right all in favor I [00:45:10] I [00:45:12] Community gr [00:45:15] yes okay uh we have an appointment for a [00:45:17] working Foreman for the highway [00:45:19] department I know W um so the interview [00:45:23] panel was made up of myself uh the clerk [00:45:25] for the department and the Highway [00:45:27] superintendent uh we checked references [00:45:30] um performed a Cory um he's starting [00:45:33] ASAP um he was fully licensed he was the [00:45:37] only person uh that we interviewed with [00:45:39] a CDL which we needed desperately um to [00:45:43] drive truck in the winter for snow [00:45:44] plowing um so we did finagle we did do a [00:45:47] little shifting in this department um [00:45:50] instead of hiring three operators we [00:45:52] hired one and we're going to use the [00:45:54] rest of that money to hopefully with [00:45:55] your approval hire this foran because he [00:45:58] is he does have experience and I did [00:46:00] attach his application um he does have a [00:46:02] CDL and we want to make sure that he [00:46:04] sticks around for a really long time [00:46:05] because we think it's a really good hire [00:46:11] so any any concerns any questions any [00:46:15] comments good with [00:46:21] it I don't have the name George baraso [00:46:24] George baraso I moved over we hire [00:46:27] George [00:46:28] baraso a second um as a working foran [00:46:32] for the highway [00:46:35] department um all in favor I [00:46:41] I all right we already did that so um [00:46:45] the conservation restriction with the [00:46:46] East clav and land [00:46:50] trust so I did send out um to the board [00:46:53] ahead of time uh the response that we [00:46:55] got from Council uh working East qu Land [00:46:57] Trust Council and a new document uh with [00:47:01] those items uh [00:47:04] [Music] [00:47:06] removed [00:47:08] find I can talk about [00:47:13] what um the land trust agree to remove [00:47:17] the language permitting a tourism and [00:47:20] green energy structures yeah um and then [00:47:24] and agreed to empify the town [00:47:32] did we get an answer from our insurance [00:47:35] I don't have a clear-cut answer um that [00:47:37] it wouldn't be substantial um but would [00:47:40] probably have to be done every year with [00:47:42] renewal and renewal season so like July [00:47:45] 1 of every year we have to that's when [00:47:46] we have to that's when we have to update [00:47:48] our insurance um so it doesn't seem like [00:47:51] it's going to be a Hu like $1,000 it's [00:47:54] not nothing substantial [00:47:58] is that for all of them or just this one [00:48:01] property not just this one property I [00:48:03] didn't [00:48:04] really I didn't really want to just talk [00:48:07] about one property cuz I I I said um I [00:48:10] talked to um slman tanker and we asked [00:48:13] for if it was approximately 700 Acres [00:48:16] that was just a rough guess because I I [00:48:17] need to General right right it wasn't [00:48:20] exact was to be clear right that's that [00:48:23] so that's my question yeah so it would [00:48:25] cover anything that came down [00:48:27] that came down the road [00:48:31] okay do you have [00:48:34] questions well I have questions as far [00:48:36] as impact of services from East glavin [00:48:40] land [00:48:40] trust that affects the [00:48:43] town how does how do you contribute to [00:48:47] that as far as like Emergency Services [00:48:49] fire [00:48:50] police [00:48:52] infrastructure stuff like that [00:48:55] specifically related to this particular [00:48:57] conservation restriction document like [00:48:59] your properties as far as police being [00:49:02] called out to your properties to find [00:49:04] lost civilian stuff like [00:49:09] that I'm not on the police force so I [00:49:12] don't know how many calls people have [00:49:13] placed that to that to the police in [00:49:16] terms of being lost or found that's not [00:49:19] information that I'm particularly aware [00:49:21] of um that would be something that they [00:49:24] would have done directly i' I've never [00:49:27] had the police tell me that they've had [00:49:30] to go look for somebody on one of our [00:49:34] properties not that I'm aware of okay [00:49:37] and obviously as Meg mentioned I'm I'm [00:49:40] sure during her AGR tourism that the [00:49:43] trails that are on EAB Land Trust [00:49:45] properties are a key component of that [00:49:47] so the town is promoting the use of the [00:49:50] trails and of course the rail trail mhm [00:49:53] um within it so I'm not sure well the [00:49:55] incident I'm aware of happened November [00:49:58] 2020 a mother and three children went [00:50:01] missing on your Trail called [00:50:03] 911 um they had to call in the state [00:50:06] helicopter drone 2 K9 units um seven [00:50:11] different agencies [00:50:13] responded that's nothing that I'm aware [00:50:16] of [00:50:17] uh but I'm not sure that's um I'm not [00:50:20] sure how that's our responsibility well [00:50:23] the services aren't free you're tax [00:50:25] exempt you don't pay profit taxes but [00:50:27] you're not exempt from town [00:50:30] Services I think that's what I'm try get [00:50:32] Bill getting to I'm not saying the [00:50:35] mothers were I mean the indiv my [00:50:38] understanding is it God dark and the [00:50:41] trails weren't properly marked and you [00:50:42] couldn't find her way out but that's [00:50:45] here not there you [00:50:48] know and in my understanding I also the [00:50:52] police have requested from you you know [00:50:55] electric mountain bikes it would be nice [00:50:56] to respond quicker to some of these [00:50:58] people that are injured on trails and [00:51:01] stuff like that and that's you basically [00:51:05] denied that request I don't know that [00:51:08] we've had that formal request I've had [00:51:10] several conversations like over the past [00:51:12] decade and a half about um wanting to [00:51:15] get on to the rail trail and we've [00:51:18] shared the passcode so that they can [00:51:20] actually drive on the rail trail to get [00:51:22] down there I mean there you [00:51:24] know if the ballards are locked the pass [00:51:27] the police have the passcode or I've [00:51:29] given it to them in the past they may [00:51:31] need to be reminded that's the better [00:51:32] way to to do that than than the bicycle [00:51:36] route but um well some of your trails [00:51:39] are you know pretty rural you can't [00:51:42] drive a cruising on [00:51:44] it understood intention intentionally so [00:51:47] they're they trails in the woods there's [00:51:48] intended to be single track Trails for [00:51:50] walking and [00:51:51] bicycling um I'm just you know bringing [00:51:55] it up because it does impact the town [00:51:57] these Services trust everyone in [00:52:01] town are we getting into the next item [00:52:04] onto the on the agenda not yet no we're [00:52:08] dealing with this item the conservation [00:52:11] restriction language certainly allows [00:52:13] police and fire access that's a [00:52:15] specifically allowed you know normally [00:52:17] motorized vehicles aren't permitted on [00:52:18] our properties but that's um intended to [00:52:21] be allowed on the property so that they [00:52:23] can go on if [00:52:25] needed but you're unaware of any of [00:52:27] these calls well I wasn't aware of that [00:52:30] or I'm not remembering that particular [00:52:32] call somebody being lost at night um I [00:52:36] is unfortunate um but I'm not sure how [00:52:39] that's necessarily the [00:52:41] organizational or organization's [00:52:43] responsibility to I'm I'm not there to [00:52:46] greet everybody when they come onto our [00:52:48] Properties or make sure they come out [00:52:49] there's not a signin sign out kind of [00:52:51] policy they're open to the public we [00:52:53] meet state standards in terms of not [00:52:55] having them Ed we're encouraging people [00:52:57] to come to town and residents from town [00:53:00] to gain the benefits of being outdoors [00:53:02] and walking on the trails right so it's [00:53:05] absolutely unfortunate um that that [00:53:07] happened but I'm not sure I I do not [00:53:09] understand the connection between what [00:53:11] you're implying in terms of the East and [00:53:13] land trust responsibility for her [00:53:16] actions okay so problem [00:53:21] well I'll I'll shove that for now and [00:53:24] bring it up later so I think um [00:53:27] um I think what we need to focus on is [00:53:30] the language of the newly drafted [00:53:35] conservation [00:53:36] restriction and if there are concerns [00:53:39] about that okay well I I haven't seen [00:53:42] the new language per se i' I've seen [00:53:45] you're going to take the agat tourism [00:53:46] out and and one other item that I [00:53:50] haven't seen I did send it [00:53:52] electronically but I do have copies here [00:53:53] yeah it was sent over the weekend [00:53:57] Thursday right it was sent sorry Sunday [00:54:01] it was sent Sunday they sent the red [00:54:02] line draft okay if you want it C you [00:54:16] it I think you know the attorney goes on [00:54:20] to say you know you read that correct [00:54:23] yeah the tourism and stuff cuz she [00:54:25] removed that [00:54:26] correct the green [00:54:28] energy stipulation [00:54:32] right [00:54:53] so Cynthia um just [00:54:56] uh from the last meeting the the two [00:54:58] points that I heard and what we [00:55:00] addressed with working through the [00:55:02] attorneys was the question about [00:55:03] liability so we um worked with our [00:55:06] colleagues at EA who have to approve [00:55:09] this language um and they provided us [00:55:12] with the indemnification language which [00:55:14] was added and approved by um the Town [00:55:17] Council she she read it and made a few [00:55:19] tweaks and so we've added those [00:55:21] adjustments and then your concern about [00:55:24] income that may at some point in some [00:55:26] way be happen on the property and remove [00:55:29] those paragraphs because that's what at [00:55:30] this time at this point in time keeping [00:55:33] in mind that this is a donation the land [00:55:35] owner who donated it is you know there's [00:55:37] a time frame on this because of the the [00:55:40] conservation tax credit program they all [00:55:42] have to be signed and approved um and [00:55:44] recorded before um December 31st at the [00:55:47] end of the year so there's a limited [00:55:48] time period here so the easiest thing [00:55:50] was to remove the the paragraphs that [00:55:53] were um not of interest to the community [00:55:57] and uh the same would go for as I [00:56:00] mentioned we have two other um [00:56:02] conservation restrictions that also have [00:56:04] the same time frame these are all wooded [00:56:07] properties that are being added to [00:56:09] existing eql properties so expanding the [00:56:12] existing conservation areas that we have [00:56:15] and um so we can agree to the same [00:56:18] additional language on the other [00:56:20] conservation restrictions will be very [00:56:21] similar uh documents coming forth we [00:56:24] have not received them back yet from EA [00:56:27] so I'm not I cannot present them to you [00:56:28] to have all a signed [00:56:31] version no they they it's a review [00:56:34] process so the other two properties you [00:56:36] don't have back yet I don't have those [00:56:37] back yet so I can't present them to you [00:56:39] but we will make these same adjustments [00:56:41] in language um before presenting it um [00:56:44] to you guys so that you know that it's [00:56:46] all so there's three properties that are [00:56:48] coming before us you're right today is [00:56:50] the one the 90 Acres that to be added to [00:56:53] the Patra Hollow preserve on Lucas Road [00:56:55] One [00:56:56] hard Lucas and sesi Road y that has [00:56:59] Frontage [00:57:00] there and then there's two more coming [00:57:02] there's two more y all again all of [00:57:05] these are being donated by the land [00:57:07] owner to promote conservation within the [00:57:09] community in order to make the terms of [00:57:11] the conservation land tax credit there [00:57:13] has to be a conservation restriction on [00:57:15] it um we worked closely with the [00:57:17] Conservation Commission they've agreed [00:57:20] to hold them um in concept they haven't [00:57:22] signed them all yet of course because we [00:57:24] don't have them back but that whole the [00:57:26] working through this very similar [00:57:27] process and we're happy to make the [00:57:30] adjustments in the language um so that [00:57:32] it can meet with your approval uh for [00:57:35] conservation so that we're [00:57:37] promoting the green side the Agri [00:57:39] tourism side of what the community is [00:57:42] trying to promote Adam chair may ask a [00:57:45] question um so should the board uh take [00:57:48] a vote tonight um with the new language [00:57:51] um the only thing I'm questioning is um [00:57:54] is like the um Conservation Commission [00:57:57] and are they going to be new [00:57:59] signatures it we did the squab Land [00:58:02] Trust I had our our president and [00:58:04] Treasurer sign a new document today um [00:58:06] we can go back and talk to the [00:58:08] Conservation Commission to sign again [00:58:10] this just I was just pulling from what [00:58:12] our attorney s us there's a whole page [00:58:13] where it needs the conservation of [00:58:15] course I have their original signatures [00:58:17] from the first document right here um [00:58:19] but i' be happy to go back and talk to [00:58:21] them about um signing the additional [00:58:23] document and I would guess that these [00:58:25] these the adjustments that you've asked [00:58:27] for are M they're not they're not like [00:58:30] major changes in how the property would [00:58:32] be managed into the future so I can't [00:58:34] imagine that there would be any issues [00:58:35] are you looking for my input [00:58:38] representing the commission's point of [00:58:39] view through the chair I'm I'm just [00:58:42] asking because there's a lot of talk of [00:58:44] the Conservation Commission so since I'm [00:58:45] sitting here sure I'm trying to decide [00:58:48] if I should open my mouth or not go [00:58:49] ahead bill I don't have to but I [00:58:53] will we love hearing from you [00:58:57] well the point is simply that you know [00:58:58] we hold seven the town holds seven we [00:59:01] the commission we accept these on behalf [00:59:03] of the town we don't own them we don't [00:59:05] control them we oversee them to some [00:59:08] extent we do it because we think it's [00:59:10] beneficial to the town to have a network [00:59:12] of trails right and some open space [00:59:15] recreational lands for Access for [00:59:17] Hunting Fishing bird watching hiking [00:59:19] whatever those things are I hear a lot [00:59:22] of talk about the expenses of services [00:59:26] I've heard no talk and I'm frankly I'm [00:59:28] getting a little frustrated so far about [00:59:30] the benefits of these lands to the town [00:59:33] and to the citizens of the [00:59:35] Commonwealth um and if it almost sounds [00:59:39] like you know I haven't seen any police [00:59:42] reports I'd love [00:59:43] to um if there are services and expenses [00:59:47] associated with these lands we should [00:59:49] talk about it mhm but let's get it all [00:59:52] out on the table because I would like to [00:59:54] see The Beneficial as aspect ects of [00:59:56] these lands um [00:59:59] credited um but I guess to answer the [01:00:02] immediate [01:00:03] question we have a meeting coming up our [01:00:05] next monthly meeting is on the [01:00:08] 20th we'd be happy to resign if that's [01:00:11] what everybody [01:00:12] wants um I don't imagine the commission [01:00:15] will look at this any more any [01:00:17] differently um with these slight [01:00:21] modifications it's still a major [01:00:23] contribution to the network of conserved [01:00:25] lands and open space which benefit the [01:00:27] town and in fact the region [01:00:30] um so the 20th is our next meeting okay [01:00:35] we'd be happy to I'll have Peggy put it [01:00:37] on the agenda and we can re consider [01:00:41] reigning like I said my concern um from [01:00:44] day one has been the liability to the [01:00:47] town that I mean that's what in my [01:00:50] opinion that's what we're here to make [01:00:53] sure is okay yeah that we're not taking [01:00:57] on a huge burden that down the road we [01:00:59] can't handle yeah you know we're all [01:01:01] sitting here today and that's great but [01:01:03] we're not all going to be here in 10 [01:01:04] years sure I get that or even five who [01:01:07] knows as long as we're clear about what [01:01:09] we're talking about here yeah as long as [01:01:11] we're not holding cr's hostage in a [01:01:13] sense because we haven't sorted out [01:01:16] Pilots let's get it out on the table [01:01:18] we're not doing that bill we're asking [01:01:20] questions that benefit and protect the [01:01:24] town so and I have questions additional [01:01:27] questions cuz you mention Hunting [01:01:29] Fishing and on your website you say it's [01:01:31] open to everybody but then you have [01:01:33] policy that says you got to have a [01:01:36] special commiss special permit issued by [01:01:39] you to hunt and fish on these lands [01:01:42] that's not true it's on the [01:01:44] website you have to you have to have a [01:01:47] hunting permit but not from eastw and [01:01:50] land trust it's part of their policy I [01:01:53] don't believe so and if it is incorrect [01:01:54] I will correct it tomorrow [01:01:56] because our policy is for Hunting [01:01:59] Fishing I know all of our [01:02:02] properties let's let's let talk about [01:02:04] let's talk about apples and apples not [01:02:06] apples and oranges give us that language [01:02:09] where your their website well point out [01:02:11] that policy see what it is all right [01:02:15] we're we're way off track we're way off [01:02:17] track here what is in front of us right [01:02:19] now is the Lucas Road conservation [01:02:23] restriction [01:02:25] they've changed the [01:02:27] language the attorney has weighed in on [01:02:29] it the two attorneys have worked [01:02:31] together on this we've had some [01:02:33] questions [01:02:35] answered are [01:02:37] we ready to make a decision on [01:02:43] this ma' yes I would move that we sign [01:02:47] this conservation restriction [01:03:05] well it hasn't been seconded so I [01:03:06] suppose we can't do [01:03:13] anything you can second it if you want I [01:03:16] mean it's up to [01:03:20] you is there anything that we can do [01:03:23] Bill to get you to come along on [01:03:28] this yeah there's there is there is [01:03:31] things like how does the town benefit by [01:03:34] this I mean you you mention this like [01:03:36] open Trails you mention farming stuff [01:03:39] like that but I see on your website you [01:03:41] offer grants to Farmers and no farmer in [01:03:45] hard got a grant from me and I I'm just [01:03:48] wondering why that would [01:03:51] be being a [01:03:53] farmer that uses land of the [01:03:57] Elise incredibly reasonable makes it so [01:04:01] easy for us to do that's not my question [01:04:03] my question was how come a farmer in [01:04:06] Hardware didn't get one of their [01:04:08] grants that they [01:04:10] offer you know I mean you're asking [01:04:12] about something that happened 10 months [01:04:14] ago so I'd have to go back actually to [01:04:16] the documents to see who actually [01:04:17] applied okay to see whether or not there [01:04:19] was a farmer in Hardwick that applied [01:04:21] for a grant do they know that you offer [01:04:24] them um well we certainly advertise as [01:04:28] far and wide as we can we put it within [01:04:30] the farmer Network [01:04:37] um I'm not sure exactly what you want to [01:04:40] say that that particular it's a question [01:04:43] that's all it's a question that [01:04:44] particular grant program is one because [01:04:46] if a generous donor wants to see that [01:04:49] happen and are using these quab and land [01:04:51] trust to to promote small um Farm fers [01:04:56] within the community um and it's the [01:04:59] broader East cin L trust Community um I [01:05:02] think last again this was 10 months ago [01:05:05] I'm not remembering these acts I think [01:05:07] we had 13 applications and we funded 10 [01:05:09] of them with small grants they're all [01:05:12] $5,000 or less right to try to promote [01:05:15] regenerative agriculture you know [01:05:17] rotational grazing um reating of of uh [01:05:22] you know Fields where it's needed trying [01:05:24] to promote our local economy okay just [01:05:29] curious that's [01:05:31] all Bill thank you um as I heard and [01:05:36] heard summarized tonight there were [01:05:39] three points in in the document that [01:05:43] concerned the [01:05:44] board [01:05:47] um I'd like to say something about each [01:05:49] of them first or ask a question um on [01:05:51] the subject of solar where where I guess [01:05:55] that's one of the things stricken now [01:05:57] that who that the the land trust as [01:06:00] owner of this agricultural property [01:06:02] could not do what any other farmer can [01:06:05] do in fact by zoning I think has to be [01:06:08] allowed to do to put solar on the [01:06:11] property with an output limited to its [01:06:14] agricultural use or some small amount [01:06:16] above that so we're finding some value I [01:06:19] guess in Striking that option out from a [01:06:22] land owner who who's interested in the [01:06:25] agriculture or perhaps somebody who [01:06:27] wants to donate their land for [01:06:28] agricultural use be stewarded by the [01:06:31] land trust and say yeah you can't do [01:06:33] that you know that makes no sense to me [01:06:36] personally and then you've got another [01:06:38] question you know on the liability I [01:06:41] don't know what the language was there [01:06:43] but did you actually find out from the [01:06:45] attorney that there's reason to be [01:06:47] concerned that the the that the town's [01:06:51] approval of this CR absolutely on the [01:06:55] yes the owner is we could be dragged [01:06:57] into a law site a lawsuit if something [01:07:00] were to happen on the property to [01:07:01] someone yes did they okay and that's why [01:07:04] they're advising CR not because you own [01:07:07] it okay that's why they're advising to [01:07:09] add it to our policy they're doing it [01:07:11] now but they haven't done it any of the [01:07:12] others anywhere as far as I know so [01:07:15] we're breaking some ground here saying [01:07:17] that something that they have to Beed we [01:07:19] just we question things so if unless [01:07:22] someone asks a question you don't get [01:07:25] that answer s what okay so that that was [01:07:28] a second thing so you [01:07:31] had you had the solar that was taken out [01:07:36] the liability that that maybe was [01:07:39] inserted and then the third point was AG [01:07:42] tourism right the AGR tourism right so [01:07:44] some people besid the values which I [01:07:47] think are apparent not huge but they're [01:07:49] apparent but some people as they decide [01:07:52] what to do with their properties you [01:07:54] know to have it be for the benefit of [01:07:56] the town and the people you know and [01:07:59] perpetuity well they want that to be [01:08:01] part of it now we're saying in this case [01:08:04] that's not an option you know you can't [01:08:06] you can't have Agri tourism on that [01:08:10] property if you donate it to us or we do [01:08:12] this CR because you know um even though [01:08:16] that might be something they want and [01:08:17] they know the language when they do this [01:08:19] they know what the CR is but we're [01:08:21] saying no um we don't think you can do [01:08:25] that neither of those two things the [01:08:27] solar or the AG tourism relates to that [01:08:30] liability question that you wanted to [01:08:32] address right so these are two other [01:08:33] things where you you're you're seeing [01:08:36] some concern about allowing the [01:08:39] landowner to to and and the new owner to [01:08:43] do a CR that allows those standard [01:08:46] uses attractive uses of the property so [01:08:49] you want to step in and change that my [01:08:51] concern whatever you do about this [01:08:53] particular one is that that this not be [01:08:55] become some sort of a new template or [01:08:58] expectation for future CRS because [01:09:00] there's been no problem up to [01:09:03] date some people want to see that [01:09:05] continue and I I think that that that [01:09:09] that model works you know later we may [01:09:12] have something to say about the cost of [01:09:13] services to tend they could way off [01:09:15] worried about you know the small amount [01:09:17] that of services cost on undeveloped [01:09:20] land whether it's in the land TR [01:09:23] ownership or an individual Timber owner [01:09:26] so your question and the reason why Agri [01:09:28] tourism is brought up this property when [01:09:31] it's turned over goes into a non like [01:09:33] tax [01:09:34] exempt organization right okay and [01:09:37] you're [01:09:38] saying it's fine for them to establish [01:09:41] Agri tourism and do all these things and [01:09:43] compete with an actual taxpayer in this [01:09:45] town a businessman in this town that's [01:09:47] running their business and they have a [01:09:49] unfair Advantage they're not paying [01:09:51] property taxes they're not contributing [01:09:53] and and so you you putting them against [01:09:56] somebody in this in the town and you're [01:09:58] saying that's totally fine and I'm [01:10:00] saying absolutely not it's not fine at [01:10:05] all because that's a strictly an unfair [01:10:08] Advantage I have a question on that okay [01:10:11] the solar pizo I mean the f f farm is [01:10:15] part right that farm could really huge [01:10:19] solar to generate for that farm the way [01:10:23] the language [01:10:26] 20% 20% of this land could be for green [01:10:30] energy So based off of 90 Acres I'm just [01:10:33] saying 90's that [01:10:36] 20% sorry I know you have a ter it's [01:10:39] based off of what the farmers use okay [01:10:41] I'm going to I'm I'm I'm going to call [01:10:44] this okay we're not getting anywhere if [01:10:46] you have specific questions you want [01:10:49] questions I want them put to Justine to [01:10:53] get to Cynthia for our next meeting okay [01:10:55] where going to be here all night [01:10:56] otherwise okay okay that's fine so if [01:10:58] there's specific questions no one wants [01:11:01] to sit here all [01:11:03] night are you okay with that absolutely [01:11:06] question order has this been seconded or [01:11:09] not no no okay thank you it [01:11:12] hasn't Eric I'm just a little confused [01:11:16] there were these three issues that arose [01:11:19] from the previous Meeting those three [01:11:21] issues have been resolved apparently [01:11:24] right you're concerned about the AGR [01:11:25] tourism is drafted into this new [01:11:28] draft but yet you're not voting on [01:11:31] it so are you suggesting that there are [01:11:34] going from here forward there aren't [01:11:36] going to be any more conservation [01:11:37] restrictions ever granted at least [01:11:40] within this board I can't answer that [01:11:42] well I mean they've done what you asked [01:11:45] them to [01:11:46] do and now you're [01:11:50] not um acknowledging through a vote [01:11:58] do you want me to say what I want to say [01:12:01] I suppose I'm going to try to make a [01:12:03] motion again and I don't feel you [01:12:08] should I'm going to be very honest Eric [01:12:10] do I have to leave the room I'm not [01:12:12] asking you to leave the room did I say [01:12:14] anything but you have a financial gain [01:12:16] in how this all plays out down the road [01:12:19] not we know that not on this one I I [01:12:23] understand that [01:12:25] but in all [01:12:27] honesty it's [01:12:28] there so I'm trying to be very careful [01:12:31] about how this gets voted [01:12:33] on that is my [01:12:37] answer so you need to [01:12:41] buil I don't have any financial gain [01:12:44] about this conservation [01:12:47] restriction in the last time I walked [01:12:50] out I know and I know I've stayed away [01:12:53] from this conversation but uh [01:12:58] I have an interest in the town I don't [01:13:01] disagree and I'm not a threat to the [01:13:03] town I don't I know that all okay I just [01:13:07] have some concerns about well then I [01:13:10] have to [01:13:11] resign you don't have to resign and then [01:13:14] there's what then there's never a [01:13:16] conservation restriction again this is [01:13:19] bad [01:13:22] news thanks for letting me speak thany [01:13:25] of course [01:13:26] I I [01:13:30] just I in a brutal situation here it's [01:13:33] unbelievable it's so [01:13:36] ironic I can't even believe [01:13:47] it if your concery has a conflict of [01:13:49] interest why don't you just get an [01:13:51] opinion from Town Council that he can [01:13:52] vote on [01:13:53] this I cor yeah it would be it would [01:13:57] probably be worth a from ethics not from [01:13:59] Town Council corre I'm sorry the state [01:14:00] ethics commission okay easier cheaper [01:14:05] yeah that [01:14:07] works I [01:14:10] just this is going to affect people's [01:14:14] lives I understand either which way it [01:14:17] affects people's lives I understand that [01:14:19] because every time you took a property [01:14:20] off the tax roll it increases taxes for [01:14:23] the rest of the people you understand [01:14:25] that as well I get your point about the [01:14:27] tourism but thank [01:14:30] you leave it all right we're moving on I [01:14:34] think this is a separate issue though [01:14:36] we've got something very specific in [01:14:38] front of you you've had your objections [01:14:42] withdrawn so why can't you vote on [01:14:45] it I mean I agree with Eric [01:14:59] Kelly I'm missing something here what's [01:15:01] what's the problem if you want to vote [01:15:04] vote I'll give you a second we'll vote [01:15:05] on it I got no problem doing that you [01:15:08] want to do [01:15:18] that you want to make your motion again [01:15:21] Eric jeez thanks [01:15:25] move we sign this conservation [01:15:27] restriction since there seems to be [01:15:30] no [01:15:31] legal trouble or a threat to the [01:15:35] town all agree with that but I'll second [01:15:38] it oh good all in favor hi hi so [01:15:46] okay let it go on [01:15:48] record now can we move on okay payment [01:15:53] in Li of taxes policy [01:15:56] um so separately from your packet there [01:15:59] um is um an attachment from Mr tankering [01:16:04] version um it came in after so it's [01:16:06] separate in the paperwork that you have [01:16:08] before [01:16:21] you okay [01:16:32] I guess um I'll start I've got a couple [01:16:36] of concerns um I think the percentage [01:16:40] rate is a little high for the base rate [01:16:45] and I'm not sure that I'm comfortable [01:16:47] with a catchup search [01:16:49] charge um the adoption that states of 23 [01:16:54] vot the S board is redundant that's what [01:16:57] everything is so well the reason why it [01:16:59] says 2/3 so in the future if this board [01:17:02] ever goes to five we need 2/3 vote it [01:17:06] still needs a majority vote regardless [01:17:08] anything [01:17:10] does [01:17:13] um so I just those were my quick [01:17:18] um comments [01:17:20] on I I don't think it's a bad idea to [01:17:23] try to put something in place [01:17:25] um I think other towns have been you [01:17:29] know have benefited from [01:17:33] it um but I just think that [01:17:36] there's a couple of things that I just I [01:17:41] think 5% is a lot um and I I said I [01:17:45] don't know that I'm comfortable with a [01:17:47] with a catchup S charge I think going if [01:17:51] we want to move forward on something [01:17:53] that's great I don't know that [01:17:56] I'm comfortable with trying to go back [01:17:58] on [01:17:59] somebody um that's just my two SS Eric [01:18:04] um first of all I think that it's a [01:18:07] great idea to try to come to uh to [01:18:11] negotiate with the land trust with eagle [01:18:15] Hill with all the nonprofits in town uh [01:18:18] and get some kind of a pilot agreement [01:18:23] uh I disagree that land costs the town [01:18:27] more money than residential I'm sure [01:18:29] that's not the [01:18:31] case or all numbers have changed in the [01:18:34] last 30 years I don't know uh but I do [01:18:38] have a problem with the first page it [01:18:41] says this is takes effect tonight which [01:18:44] seems to kind of be no it's as far as [01:18:48] effective date it just means so that [01:18:51] would be adjusted in the future I'd like [01:18:53] to ask where this comes from what do you [01:18:56] mean as far did you create this whole [01:18:59] thing yes you yeah okay so what I'd say [01:19:03] is that this is a is a proposed bylaw a [01:19:06] town bylaw and I need I would urge us to [01:19:11] bring this these people don't know what [01:19:13] I'm talking about the what we have in [01:19:16] front of us I would like I I need to see [01:19:20] the assessors weigh in on this the [01:19:23] planning board Finance [01:19:26] concom the uh uh the people that would [01:19:30] be collecting this money and keeping [01:19:32] accounts and the whole bit I've seen [01:19:35] screwed up things I'm 14 years now it's [01:19:38] select and when things go wrong it's [01:19:41] because we don't get a lot of people [01:19:43] involved to look at the various aspects [01:19:46] I just worry that this is coming from [01:19:49] just you we as a board it's coming from [01:19:51] the bo what it's coming from the board [01:19:54] right it's not coming from the board [01:19:57] it's coming from you he's sugges pull in [01:19:59] some other committees and commissions I [01:20:02] and I recommend that this board should [01:20:06] do their due [01:20:07] diligence okay and adopt this policy and [01:20:12] then you can bring in all these other [01:20:13] boards and say okay what is the cost of [01:20:15] this what is this what is that and I [01:20:17] think that's backwards I agree with I do [01:20:21] I think you know what I see I see this [01:20:23] is just dragging the feet [01:20:25] not at all I'm not in a hurry not at all [01:20:28] okay and and I'm going to remind you [01:20:31] that at one of our prior meetings you [01:20:33] wanted us to slow down when it came to [01:20:35] reviewing things and signing things get [01:20:37] it so I think it's a good idea to maybe [01:20:41] have joint meetings with some of the [01:20:43] other committees that were just [01:20:44] mentioned I don't think that's a bad [01:20:46] idea okay and get some input on it okay [01:20:49] and Madam chair yes may I interject um [01:20:52] so I did send this to our assessor uh to [01:20:54] look at I'm just waiting I don't think [01:20:56] she had prepping for tonight I just [01:20:57] don't think she had enough time um I do [01:21:00] see this as a policy not a bylaw this [01:21:02] board is a policy setting board like [01:21:04] that's your that's the charge of this [01:21:06] board um I see that um my other comment [01:21:10] is for the base rate I think it should [01:21:12] be either up to 5% or not to exceed 5% [01:21:16] um and that's the only could we explain [01:21:18] what the base rate is to everybody in [01:21:20] the room so it's the base rate is the [01:21:24] base rate based off of 5% of their [01:21:26] revenue so that when Revenue includes [01:21:30] donations taxes grants everything [01:21:34] everything okay so it's all included in [01:21:37] I was just I'm was going to read it out [01:21:38] loud to the group so the base R rate is [01:21:41] a set contribution of 5% of gross [01:21:44] revenue to cover cover current service [01:21:47] costs and then it it goes on to um do a [01:21:51] catchup also the pilot will be [01:21:55] calculated as a percentage of a [01:21:56] nonprofit's annual gross revenues [01:21:58] including tuition donations grants and [01:22:01] other income sources and then it gives [01:22:03] an example of how it would be [01:22:05] calculated [01:22:07] um one other comment see and these [01:22:11] things are all they they would require [01:22:15] an agreement it has to be voluntary it [01:22:17] is voluntary on the first [01:22:19] page it does say I wish I had [01:22:23] highlighted some things now [01:22:27] um it it is voluntary but just so we [01:22:31] understand each other this Services aren [01:22:34] free so they can voluntarily enter into [01:22:36] a pilot and get a reduced break of what [01:22:39] those Services would cost and if they [01:22:41] choose not to which is their right not [01:22:44] to when we provide these Services we [01:22:47] will follow it up with a bill for these [01:22:48] services and we do that for nuisance [01:22:51] calls anyway I don't believe we do this [01:22:54] at all yeah if you get three more three [01:22:56] or more calls for the fire department [01:22:58] they I don't know that that's going [01:23:00] followed through right in recent years [01:23:02] and I think that is something to think [01:23:05] about that's the kind of thing we do [01:23:06] need to plug I agree [01:23:09] agree so [01:23:12] um who were some so the assessor yep [01:23:16] that's awesome the only other comment is [01:23:19] I just think we should Define non [01:23:20] nonprofit just to be clear um those were [01:23:23] my only comments this um there's quite a [01:23:26] difference across the range right and so [01:23:29] that's not a bad [01:23:31] idea [01:23:32] um I was suggesting planning [01:23:35] board um the assessors actually the [01:23:40] finance committee and the finance people [01:23:43] the accountant and and [01:23:49] Treasurer and I should get a chance to [01:23:52] look at this and [01:23:56] I just don't don't want to rush through [01:23:59] it so can we send it out to those people [01:24:03] that were just mentioned the assessor [01:24:04] planning board the finance committee and [01:24:07] the finance team which would be the [01:24:09] accountant treasure ass yeah [01:24:12] okay Bill can we please be included [01:24:15] meaning we the Conservation Commission [01:24:18] since we oversee some of these open [01:24:19] space l that's fa before that list [01:24:22] becomes official let's just add our [01:24:25] and to note that Healthcare is nonprofit [01:24:28] and clipping 5% off the top of that is [01:24:30] taking it right away from the town [01:24:32] services so we really need to think [01:24:36] about how you word that so if we changed [01:24:38] it to up two I think that would be if [01:24:40] you took 5% away yeah that's a big [01:24:43] number you're taking it right right away [01:24:45] from the services given to the people [01:24:48] and that being said every pilot would be [01:24:52] its own pilot it's own agreement with [01:24:55] that it's own agreement that everybody [01:24:58] has come to terms with nothing's being [01:25:01] that's probably why you are Tak time on [01:25:03] every you know nothing's being forced on [01:25:05] anyone it is [01:25:07] voluntary um but at some point we do [01:25:10] have to consider what the services [01:25:15] cost to [01:25:16] certain you know and it has to be across [01:25:20] the board you can't just Target people [01:25:23] you know one hard to think about [01:25:25] something that is providing Services [01:25:28] that's a nonprofit that you [01:25:31] take Serv right so let's look at it all [01:25:34] to see where we can find common ground [01:25:37] there's also a language in here that [01:25:38] says if you're a nonprofit and you give [01:25:40] x amount of dollars to the town or [01:25:42] services that you can quantify that [01:25:45] comes right out of this every agreement [01:25:48] will be its own [01:25:50] agreement one more [01:25:52] thing for what you just said what we get [01:25:55] back from the land trust say I it was [01:26:00] suggested I think it would be a good [01:26:01] idea to do actually a cost benefit [01:26:04] survey to see I mean this I've argued [01:26:07] with Swiss stack for 30 he's dead now [01:26:10] but all these years he believed that the [01:26:13] more houses we got in town the lower the [01:26:16] taxes would be it cost us $20,000 to [01:26:20] educate a kid right now we never get [01:26:22] that back and it's the rural by design [01:26:26] that we were doing with the master plan [01:26:28] we did a survey I know that 67% returned [01:26:32] it and 3/4 of them said you know they [01:26:36] wanted to maintain the rural character [01:26:38] of the town and I think that's what [01:26:40] that's that's the value but I'd like to [01:26:42] see us look at actually Hammer that down [01:26:46] it was 97 cents versus a111 back then [01:26:50] but that's these are all things that are [01:26:53] would be beneficial to then we know what [01:26:55] we're talking [01:26:56] about [01:26:58] yep thank you so let's keep this going [01:27:02] on the on the agenda yeah I just let me [01:27:04] finish my thought here before I lose [01:27:06] track of so if we could just keep this [01:27:08] ongoing to keep this [01:27:11] conversation going let's see if we can [01:27:14] get some feedback from those other [01:27:15] departments and committees M [01:27:20] um yes okay problem Bill oh yeah bill if [01:27:24] you will thank you yeah I was I was get [01:27:26] thank [01:27:26] you as you send this out to the various [01:27:29] boards for for feedback would you please [01:27:33] include anything that you have that [01:27:36] suggests that this is precedented at all [01:27:39] that it's worked anywhere else where it [01:27:42] comes from and particularly on what [01:27:44] basis it could be considered even legal [01:27:47] we know [01:27:49] about they have agreements in various [01:27:52] places I know but it sounds but but the [01:27:54] religious the educational the nonprofits [01:27:58] you know religious and educational [01:27:59] particularly are exempt you know we know [01:28:03] that from from taxation from regulation [01:28:07] from some zoning things and so forth so [01:28:10] um I feel like we're this has come up I [01:28:13] know over the years a lot and it's [01:28:16] it's it's always come back to you can't [01:28:20] do anything you can't force anything and [01:28:22] I think forcing would include saying [01:28:24] sign this agreement or we're going to [01:28:26] start charging you for you know every [01:28:28] time the kids you know whatever you know [01:28:30] any any anything that comes up and [01:28:32] claiming cost of service and billing for [01:28:34] all to me to me this is the idea has [01:28:37] been tried across the Commonwealth it's [01:28:39] not something that has that that has a [01:28:42] legal basis in it I think we're going to [01:28:46] be acting or thinking like it's a [01:28:48] possibility but so I'd really like to [01:28:50] know where where is it worked and on [01:28:52] what basis that that makes anyone feel [01:28:56] that a proposal like this is is going to [01:28:59] get [01:29:00] anywhere please include that if you can [01:29:03] it's worked in Boston it's worked in [01:29:04] Cambridge it's worked in [01:29:07] Northampton all these areas but they've [01:29:09] talked to the colleges there [01:29:10] particularly and said that they need a [01:29:12] bigger contribution so they get a big [01:29:14] contribution I understand and it is [01:29:18] volunteer yep it's volunteer correct [01:29:24] okay so we will keep talking about this [01:29:29] um next [01:29:31] time uh discussion on Communications [01:29:35] between boards and committees I think [01:29:37] that's just on there as a placeholder [01:29:39] we're working on a form so I met with um [01:29:43] Becky bottomley we went over what has [01:29:45] been the kind of a draft that was done [01:29:47] in the past I also reached out and I got [01:29:49] a handful maybe fiveish from other towns [01:29:52] so right now I just need to take a look [01:29:53] at them and compile so I'm hoping to [01:29:55] have it for the next meeting I just [01:29:56] didn't have enough time to no we'll just [01:29:58] like keep it as a placeholder so we [01:29:59] don't lose sight of [01:30:01] it um approval from October 15 [01:30:05] 2024 meeting [01:30:21] minutes are you okay with it like motion [01:30:24] y okay uh I make a motion to approve the [01:30:27] meeting minutes from October 15 [01:30:30] 2024 I'll second it all in favor [01:30:34] hi Town Administrator report uh sure so [01:30:38] I met with uh the second a second phone [01:30:41] company to get quotes um we're actually [01:30:43] going to have a demo me and the [01:30:44] lieutenant for um a new phone system so [01:30:47] that's ongoing hopeing to wrap that up [01:30:49] in the next couple weeks um tended [01:30:53] monthly project construction meeting [01:30:54] with the engineers for the sewer [01:30:56] project um can I do the [01:31:01] MVP or more [01:31:03] yeah no you go ahead I'll wait from my [01:31:06] Round Table okay um met with the [01:31:15] finance it looks like um the wrong ta [01:31:20] report pet yep it is it's from the last [01:31:23] meeting it's from October [01:31:25] 15th I just noticed that jeez I didn't [01:31:28] catch that I didn't catch it [01:31:33] either like I I've already done this [01:31:35] this was a while [01:31:41] ago iump in you're welcome [01:31:44] to yes go ahead so um Town Administrator [01:31:49] and I have put in for a grant under the [01:31:52] municipal vulner abilities preparedness [01:31:55] program which we qualify for because we [01:31:58] went through that here in this room last [01:32:00] year and um uh Justine put in for a [01:32:05] grant to hire a grant writer and uh I [01:32:10] put in we both worked together on this [01:32:13] uh I went for um a plan to air condition [01:32:17] the elementary school because it's my [01:32:20] public shelter it's our public shelter [01:32:22] and also to to put solar panels on the [01:32:26] roof uh to power the extra energy needed [01:32:31] and that would get us a new roof so it [01:32:33] was kind of a an attempted [01:32:36] hattick and uh it the quest what were [01:32:40] the expressions of interest that we put [01:32:42] in have been accepted so we're in the [01:32:44] queue we'll know in the spring where we [01:32:47] start to actually apply so I have my [01:32:50] Town Administrator report um thank you [01:32:54] um so the highway superintendent is [01:32:55] overseeing the repairs of the old barn [01:32:56] roof CM Geeks installed a new firewall [01:32:58] at Town Hall we were having a lot of [01:33:00] internet problems um so hoping that will [01:33:04] um be [01:33:06] beneficial um I attended the second part [01:33:09] of the Vadar training with the executive [01:33:11] assistant we have one more part to go [01:33:13] through um as you know I had a zoom [01:33:16] meeting with cmrpc on the cdbg grant [01:33:18] program um I attended a rural check-in [01:33:21] meeting with Ann Go's office to discuss [01:33:23] uh different [01:33:24] grass that are being offered we have our [01:33:26] bi-weekly financial management plan [01:33:29] meetings we interviewed two candidates [01:33:31] for the highway department vacancy as [01:33:33] you know uh we selected a candidate [01:33:35] thank you for approving that tonight um [01:33:37] so the assessor and myself uh she serves [01:33:40] in the Personnel committee we've been [01:33:41] really delving into employee salaries [01:33:43] for fy2 and FY 26 so that's been [01:33:46] ongoing I attended a virtual fire police [01:33:49] injured on duty training with the police [01:33:50] chief and [01:33:52] Lieutenant I help my first coffee with [01:33:54] the Town Administrator at mimes I had [01:33:56] three people come so I think that's a [01:33:58] good first that's awesome good one um so [01:34:01] maybe a couple times a year I'll try [01:34:03] different places in town to get out into [01:34:05] the community um I attended me I [01:34:08] attended to walk through the food [01:34:10] pantry um we held our monthly department [01:34:12] head meeting I met with our veterans [01:34:14] agent finally at a Spencer office um so [01:34:18] it was really nice to meet him um and [01:34:20] he's going to stay in the Spencer office [01:34:22] he doesn't want to the office here [01:34:23] anymore um but he does go out to [01:34:25] people's homes so um and he's very EAS [01:34:28] easily accessible with his phone and [01:34:29] everything so um it was a good meeting I [01:34:32] toured the page library and met with the [01:34:35] uh director to discuss Library issues I [01:34:38] attended the Massachusetts Municipal [01:34:39] Association women leading government [01:34:41] conference on deescalation strategies [01:34:43] and workplace [01:34:45] culture um class two and three in liquor [01:34:49] license renewals have been sent [01:34:51] out um two people that I want to [01:34:53] recognize is Sandy and Jen who have met [01:34:56] over several days over several hours and [01:35:00] doing all of the sewer billing all of [01:35:02] the errors that were in Vadar U made [01:35:04] sure everyone's address was correct any [01:35:06] all the information on the bills was all [01:35:08] correct um there unfortunately there [01:35:10] were several that were not correct so I [01:35:13] really want to give them credit cuz they [01:35:14] really spent a lot of time on that so [01:35:16] does that mean going forward they should [01:35:17] be accurate yes and I have something for [01:35:20] the board to sign tonight all the [01:35:22] commitments commment so they can go out [01:35:24] tomorrow good so that was a very big [01:35:27] undertaking you kind of see the [01:35:29] stack um important dates uh town offices [01:35:33] are closed on Thanksgiving and now [01:35:35] because of the board's vote it's closed [01:35:37] half a day the day before um the police [01:35:39] department is doing a toy drive on [01:35:41] Sunday December 8th from 9:00 to 1 at [01:35:43] the southberry rotting gun club um we [01:35:45] also have Christmas on the common on [01:35:47] December 1st at 3:00 that starts with [01:35:49] the parade at uh the corix house down to [01:35:52] the common area [01:35:54] um so that is my te report [01:35:58] nice [01:36:01] great [01:36:02] Co okay oh I'm so sorry one thing that [01:36:06] um was just brought up um on [01:36:09] anticipated um the Farmers Co-op [01:36:12] Exchange in the town of Hardwick [01:36:16] um they do need a signature on um to do [01:36:19] monitoring sampling and Analysis um [01:36:22] Council has reviewed it and so has the [01:36:23] Board of Health and they would like to [01:36:25] ask the board to sign that tonight which [01:36:28] just came up right before the [01:36:31] meeting uh SLI board round [01:36:34] table I'm [01:36:38] done um [01:36:40] anything just uh a mention is is the [01:36:45] mark drivers as far as they pay and [01:36:47] stuff like that through the state yes so [01:36:50] that is 100% um reable [01:36:53] so we are working on to bringing them up [01:36:56] to a more market rate in the $18 to $21 [01:36:59] range from where they are um so that is [01:37:01] going through hopefully by the end of [01:37:03] the week [01:37:04] okay perfect I know that's been talked [01:37:08] about forever and I don't know why it [01:37:11] never actually happened to be honest [01:37:13] with you I don't know either because [01:37:14] it's re 100% reimbursable we put out the [01:37:16] money but then we get it back also is it [01:37:19] possible we could put on the website [01:37:21] advertise for drivers CU they do need [01:37:23] additional D so I am working with um the [01:37:26] Mart uh office assistant I'm waiting for [01:37:29] her uh to take a look at the uh previous [01:37:31] posting I need from her um what needs to [01:37:34] be changed or what she's kind of looking [01:37:35] for so again it's in the works I just [01:37:37] don't have it for each night perfect [01:37:40] perfect thank you I would just like to [01:37:43] take a quick second to thank everybody [01:37:46] that has um donated towards the point [01:37:48] set us this year so we've met our goal [01:37:51] and have just a little bit for next year [01:37:53] but so thank you everybody that um [01:37:56] shipped in for those and you'll keep [01:37:59] doing that that's my [01:38:03] plan yes don't we to get our delivery [01:38:06] lists out oh I'm working on that don't [01:38:08] you worry I have a text probably going [01:38:11] out like beginning of next week but just [01:38:13] make sure everybody's still [01:38:16] coming oh Lord okay and before the board [01:38:20] goes I just have some signature oh let's [01:38:22] um let's pass those around before we [01:38:24] take a motion up [01:38:59] I think it's there you have [01:39:03] you if it's listed there that's how you [01:39:06] should [01:39:18] sign just an extra letter I got to write [01:39:21] thank you [01:39:28] I don't love [01:39:29] it my name my aunt's name she's [01:39:52] not e