Thumbnail for 01/13/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Hardwick Select Board: Page Building, Administrator Review, Municipal Actions

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

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

Meeting details

Date

January 13, 2025

Duration

Decisions

13 recorded

Action Items

12 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board meeting on January 13, 2025, featured a significant presentation on a proposal to form a non-profit to acquire and restore the Page Building for public use, including the Hardwick Fair and Farmers Guild, which received strong board support and will be further discussed. Public comments addressed social media conduct, and the board approved the Town Administrator's pay increase following a positive performance review. Key municipal actions included the renewal of the Animal Control Officer, appointment of a Highway Foreman, and authorization for the Treasurer to manage the Morse Scholarship Fund annually. Discussions also covered proposed zoning bylaw revisions for solar and battery energy systems, a Host Community Agreement for Hardwick Mill Greenery, updates on various town projects, and preparations for the upcoming budget cycle and a special election for a fire truck.

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Discussion Highlights

Public comment addressed negative social media conduct, urging respect and avoiding involving children in public discourse.
A proposal was presented to form a 501(c)(3) non-profit to acquire, restore, and maintain the Page Building for public use, including the Hardwick Fair and Farmers Guild, with a dedicated team and funding plan.
The Page Building project was viewed as a significant opportunity to transform a failing building into a valuable town asset and a positive initiative for tourism, receiving strong support from a board member.
The advantages of 501(c)(3) status for accessing a broader range of grants for the Page Building project were highlighted.
Concerns were raised by a resident regarding a Seacoast contract, questioning its proper vetting and potential penalties for the town.
The Planning Board presented proposed zoning bylaw revisions, including new bylaws for battery energy systems and solar installations, emphasizing consistency with town planning documents and balancing state encouragement with local control.
Discussion on the Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Hardwick Mill Greenery focused on compliance timelines and the evolving nature of state cannabis regulations, noting the town can only bill for direct impacts.
The Town Administrator received overwhelmingly positive feedback (90-95%) from town departments, employees, and the Finance Committee for her performance, leading to a pay increase.
Updates were provided on various town projects, including the draining and removal of the Ruggles Hill oil tank, state funding for hydrant repairs and Town Hall improvements, and new installations (phone system, postage machine, panic buttons) in Town Hall.
Preparations for the upcoming budget cycle are underway, with department meetings complete and financial planning ongoing, awaiting state and health insurance numbers.
A special town election for a fire truck was announced for January 18th, with discussion highlighting the urgency of acquiring the current available truck versus a 2-3 year wait for a new, more expensive one.
Employee contract negotiations have begun for six employees, with executive sessions scheduled for the next meeting.
Lieutenant Kevin Landeen was recognized for securing $150,000 for a radio project to ensure interoperability with surrounding towns.

Transcript (10,640 words)

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

00:00:00
January 13th I'll call the select board meeting to order if everyone would stand for the pledge of thegi the pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the repu for it stands Nation God
00:00:20
Indivisible withy and justice for all thank you everybody before we get into the meeting I just have a comment that I would like to make there's been some banter on social media and on the virtual common
00:00:40
The email and I just want to take a couple of seconds to remind everybody that all the individuals involved are human beings um I would hope that we would treat each other with respect and uh especially when it comes
00:01:00
To maybe dragging in their kids so if we could please be a little bit more mindful about that and just have respect for the people that are involved in the words in those emails I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable in town I don't think
00:01:19
Anyone wants that um for themselves or or anyone else that they know so I just wanted to say that okay so on with the agenda the first thing on it is a guest presentation about the pige building Warren and
00:01:39
Neil yeah you can come up you can however you want to that's fine sure I'll go back you know I wrote this up couple of days at home as if I were talking to strangers and now I realized that I'm
00:01:58
Not talking to Str it's too late to go back um thanks for your time tonight and I want to talk a little bit about the proposal which you have in front of you um I don't intend to read through it I just wanted to emphasize a few points

[00:00:00] January 13th I'll call the select board [00:00:02] meeting to order if everyone would stand [00:00:04] for the pledge of [00:00:09] thegi the pledge allegiance to the flag [00:00:13] of the United States of America and to [00:00:15] the repu for it stands Nation God [00:00:20] indivisible withy and justice for all [00:00:24] thank you [00:00:26] everybody before we get into the meeting [00:00:30] um I just have a comment that I would [00:00:33] like to make there's been some banter on [00:00:37] social media and on the virtual common [00:00:40] the email and I just want to take a [00:00:43] couple of seconds to remind everybody [00:00:46] that all the individuals [00:00:49] involved are human [00:00:52] beings um I would hope that we would [00:00:54] treat each other with [00:00:57] respect and uh especially when it comes [00:01:00] to maybe dragging in their [00:01:03] kids so if we could please be a little [00:01:06] bit more mindful about that and just [00:01:09] have respect for the people that are [00:01:11] involved in the words in those emails um [00:01:15] I don't want anyone to feel [00:01:17] uncomfortable in town I don't think [00:01:19] anyone wants that um for themselves or [00:01:22] or anyone else that they know [00:01:24] so I just wanted to say that okay so on [00:01:28] with the agenda [00:01:30] the first thing on it is a guest [00:01:32] presentation about the pige building [00:01:35] Warren and [00:01:39] Neil yeah you can come up you can [00:01:41] however you want [00:01:43] to that's fine [00:01:47] sure I'll go [00:01:51] back you know I wrote this up couple of [00:01:54] days at home as if I were talking to [00:01:56] strangers and now I realized that I'm [00:01:58] not talking to Str it's too late to go [00:02:02] back um thanks for your time tonight um [00:02:06] and I want to talk a little bit about [00:02:08] the proposal which you have in front of [00:02:10] you um I don't intend to read through it [00:02:14] I just wanted to emphasize a few points [00:02:16] and building a little [00:02:18] background and and I'm here speaking on [00:02:21] behalf of our team which is w and Sher [00:02:25] Johnson Ed hood and Mary Ward who are [00:02:28] not here tonight [00:02:30] Butler and Curt Stillman and [00:02:34] K so in a nutshell we're proposing that [00:02:39] we would form a nonprofit [00:02:42] entity that the town would donate or [00:02:46] sell to us for a nominal amount of page [00:02:49] building sell to sell that to our entity [00:02:53] and that we [00:02:55] would raise the money to completely [00:02:58] restore and maintain the building and [00:03:01] effectively return it to public use [00:03:03] that's that's it in one [00:03:07] sentence um the history of this is this [00:03:10] is a project that some of us have been [00:03:12] discussing on and off for more than a [00:03:15] decade uh B and the fair took a stab at [00:03:19] it 10 or 15 years ago three or four [00:03:23] years ago Terry and Briggs and I sat on [00:03:26] the stone wall at the common talking [00:03:27] about it [00:03:30] and discussions began again in Earnest [00:03:32] about 18 months [00:03:34] ago so what's the difference now um well [00:03:39] certainly there's a sense of urgency [00:03:41] once we learn that the buildings the [00:03:43] building was potentially going to be [00:03:45] auctioned off so we we really uh we [00:03:49] really had to put it in high GE then um [00:03:53] and at least as important is the team [00:03:56] that we've got together now the team [00:03:58] that's coales around this plan um within [00:04:03] that group of people that I mentioned [00:04:05] plus more people uh additional people we [00:04:10] have real life experience and all the [00:04:14] functions that we need to see this [00:04:16] through uh whether it's creating a [00:04:19] nonprofit securing the 501c3 status [00:04:23] grant writing [00:04:25] fundraising project management historic [00:04:28] research events [00:04:30] marketing Outreach it within our team [00:04:33] we've done all that in different ways on [00:04:37] projects something like this um and uh [00:04:42] we think we can see it through to a [00:04:44] successful [00:04:45] completion and we have a long list of [00:04:48] additional people who want to be [00:04:49] involved if we were to get the green [00:04:52] light [00:04:54] um as regards the hardwood fe's [00:04:57] involvement in this the fair and its [00:05:01] welfare are part and parcel of this [00:05:05] proposal we're more than happy we're [00:05:08] proud to have the fair be able to call [00:05:11] the page building their [00:05:12] home it should be their home and it [00:05:15] would be a brick and if it if it is [00:05:18] their home it would be a brick and [00:05:20] mortar acknowledgement [00:05:23] that this cherished institution of ours [00:05:26] in Hardwick is the oldest Community [00:05:30] Agricultural Fair in the United [00:05:32] States um they'd have a home and office [00:05:36] maybe some exhibit space a nice sign out [00:05:39] front some dry storage in the [00:05:42] Celler it's perfect and it would help to [00:05:45] ensure that the [00:05:47] fair uh will be here for generations to [00:05:50] come um and on a more tangible note if [00:05:55] that building were to get sold uh the [00:05:58] fair would lose what storage they have [00:06:01] there and that's um a real [00:06:05] problem we would also like to have the [00:06:08] page building act as a home for the nent [00:06:13] farmers Guild of [00:06:14] hardw that's a young organization but I [00:06:17] can tell you from experience because [00:06:19] I've been working with them that they [00:06:22] know how to get things done so we are [00:06:25] grateful for their enthusiastic [00:06:27] involvement in this project [00:06:33] uh we have talked about all different [00:06:35] kinds and forms of ownership and [00:06:38] fundraising we've been down a bunch of [00:06:41] roads and had to turn back and try a [00:06:43] different road we've gotten legal [00:06:46] council we've gotten CPA Council on this [00:06:49] and to that end we think that a [00:06:51] traditional nonprofit entity a [00:06:54] charitable 501c3 is the appropriate way [00:06:57] to go for this [00:07:00] I could tell you that I'd rather stick [00:07:01] needles in my eyes than do another 501c3 [00:07:04] application I'm ready to do that um if [00:07:08] we were to receive a favorable [00:07:11] indication from the select board we [00:07:13] would go [00:07:14] ahead and form the entity in [00:07:17] anticipation of taking ownership we [00:07:20] understand that a favorable indication [00:07:23] is not a promise it's not a [00:07:25] contract there would still be hurdles to [00:07:28] clear but it would ow us to take a few [00:07:30] steps forward in preparing for taking [00:07:33] ownership if we were fortunate enough to [00:07:37] have this proposal [00:07:39] approved um we'd be ready to secure the [00:07:42] necessary amount of property and [00:07:44] liability insurance we would assume all [00:07:47] the other usual carrying costs we do [00:07:50] have some private donations pledged to [00:07:54] get us [00:07:55] started sub subsequently we would begin [00:07:59] in the process of the 501c3 application [00:08:03] which typically [00:08:05] takes six plus months to complete it [00:08:08] file it and hear back and it could be [00:08:11] more like nine months it's just a long [00:08:13] takes them a long time to respond but I [00:08:16] will I will this is a perfect project [00:08:19] for that there's no reason that it would [00:08:21] be turned down and even if they if they [00:08:24] approved it in November it would apply [00:08:27] to everything that we did during the C [00:08:29] cend year that it gets approved in [00:08:33] um [00:08:35] um and I just I mentioned something [00:08:38] about property taxes because I know [00:08:39] that's a kind of a hot button [00:08:42] issue as a non as a tax exempt nonprofit [00:08:47] entity it's my understanding that we are [00:08:50] not [00:08:51] necessarily um [00:08:54] um uh excluded from having to pay [00:08:57] property taxes it's my understanding [00:08:59] that's a decision of the uh assessor's [00:09:04] office either way whether it's paying [00:09:07] property taxes or paying an appropriate [00:09:10] pilot payment this is not an issue with [00:09:13] us we don't want it to be an issue it's [00:09:15] not a deal killer we I just I don't want [00:09:19] that to be an issue here we we would pay [00:09:23] our way whatever we'll work with the [00:09:27] town on that for sure [00:09:30] um uh we have most of our team here [00:09:33] tonight we don't have Mary Ward and Ed [00:09:36] Hood who are doing the grant writing and [00:09:37] fundraising but if you have any [00:09:40] questions we'll be happy to answer them [00:09:42] and I asked wink if he could just take a [00:09:45] few minutes to talk about what year one [00:09:49] of the project would look like just to [00:09:51] kind of let you know what we where we've [00:09:53] gotten so far and where we go right off [00:09:55] the B thank you thank you for hearing [00:09:57] this um Neil pretty much said the whole [00:10:01] thing I just wanted to do is say that as [00:10:03] a group we're um really prepared to do [00:10:07] this we've met with contractors we've [00:10:08] met with people we understand everything [00:10:10] that building needs and we are ready to [00:10:14] um get started on it we have a phase one [00:10:17] phase two phase three very excited about [00:10:20] the end use possibilities of this [00:10:22] building um they are they are not all [00:10:25] determined yet based on uh Community [00:10:28] needs and community put um but we feel [00:10:31] it's a great opportunity to take a [00:10:34] building that [00:10:35] is starting to fail and it's a burden on [00:10:39] the town and we look like we could take [00:10:41] this and we would turn into an asset for [00:10:42] the town and we're willing to work hard [00:10:45] at it we are a small group of people [00:10:48] lots of input from a lot of other people [00:10:51] and um we're really prepared to to take [00:10:53] this on um and I guess the the main [00:10:58] thing is any questions I know you guys [00:11:00] had the The Proposal as a pread is there [00:11:03] anything that any of us can answer [00:11:06] tonight that maybe you don't think is in [00:11:09] the proposal or uh or we've pretty much [00:11:13] done our job of trying to give you as [00:11:15] much information um [00:11:17] there's lots to be done and we're all [00:11:20] ready to get [00:11:21] going thanks for hearing us tonight [00:11:24] thank [00:11:25] you thank you either of you have any um [00:11:31] I'm getting messages that we're not on [00:11:33] um so I got a text from him that says [00:11:35] standby it's not live we're recording [00:11:37] and it's going to send a stream if there [00:11:39] was an issue so it's recording and it [00:11:41] will be live just or it will be [00:11:43] on so I have to do it again [00:11:48] Neil it's not live but it will be on [00:11:52] YouTube I have a question for a week I [00:11:55] don't know if how who's [00:11:57] got I want my board members to be able [00:12:00] to ask questions first and then I will [00:12:01] open it [00:12:04] up if either of you have any questions [00:12:08] um I'm all for it I've been [00:12:11] waiting for it we were sitting on the [00:12:15] common it's it's a great [00:12:21] idea got agree AG something good for the [00:12:25] town and everybody in it yeah sounds [00:12:28] very [00:12:30] positive is that the positive response [00:12:32] where [00:12:34] looking CH yes I can put more of like a [00:12:39] discussion on the agenda for the next [00:12:40] meeting if you want if you want to you [00:12:42] know talk about you know next steps [00:12:45] or yeah we would definitely have to um [00:12:48] as far as the building go you know [00:12:50] transferring the the building but um I [00:12:53] think you've gotten our blessing per se [00:12:56] that um you can start [00:12:59] we just have to figure out the the legal [00:13:01] aspects of [00:13:02] it we have to do a request for proposal [00:13:06] you [00:13:07] know yeah there'll be some hoops to jump [00:13:10] through but so I'll put it on the agenda [00:13:13] for the next meeting maybe get some [00:13:14] plary thoughts from I know Council or [00:13:18] whoever would be you know [00:13:21] about how to go [00:13:24] about what what would be the best Avenue [00:13:29] okay go ahead I was just curious about [00:13:31] who what who has the expertise to you [00:13:34] know rebuild it and all the things that [00:13:36] are involved and renovating it that's [00:13:38] kind of a big project sounds like you [00:13:40] got a lot of people yay [00:13:43] okay and we have a lot of input from [00:13:46] historic restoration experts that we [00:13:49] network with and we we have restored [00:13:52] numerous [00:13:54] historic oh [00:13:57] wonderful I think the building very [00:13:59] strong yeah not the group was rebuilt I [00:14:03] think you know some middle time [00:14:13] so there's one seat down front here if [00:14:15] anyone wants to sit down stand I promise [00:14:20] I won't poke anybody with [00:14:22] my office that's okay thank you okay all [00:14:25] right than yeah just quickly um this is [00:14:28] great in terms of also the initiative [00:14:31] regarding tourism in Hardwick so it's a [00:14:35] a that would be a unique wonderful thing [00:14:38] to encourage people to come and I think [00:14:40] those of us who haven't been working on [00:14:41] it would like to say thank [00:14:43] you well [00:14:46] done excuse me I have a question um do [00:14:49] you have a rough idea how long it would [00:14:51] take you as far as your phasers go well [00:14:54] it's fine we when we first started [00:14:56] talking about this last summer we [00:14:58] actually expected that if by a [00:15:02] miraculous thing we came in and asked [00:15:03] you guys and you gave us the building [00:15:05] that day um before Christmas we'd have a [00:15:08] roof on and have painting all the [00:15:09] windows and doors and stuff stor so [00:15:11] phase one is to really get it looking [00:15:14] beautiful on the outside U it include [00:15:16] all the stuff we've listed I think that [00:15:20] again we have met with many contractors [00:15:22] that question is you know suddenly is [00:15:25] there a space in their calendar for us [00:15:28] um I would say that um a lot of it will [00:15:32] depend on funding some of the financing [00:15:35] we would if if we get [00:15:39] um like we said we have a lot of [00:15:42] promises or some commitments but but [00:15:45] some of the real money is a lot of it's [00:15:47] um matching funds and um but some of the [00:15:50] dates of those are really critical [00:15:51] there's a big one that's real important [00:15:54] in March that if we miss it we wait till [00:15:56] March of [00:15:57] 26 grants grants and a lot of them [00:16:00] there's some and and ited can speak [00:16:02] better to this but there's a there's a [00:16:04] lot of money out there we've already [00:16:05] done preliminary research talking with [00:16:07] people about it very favorable uh [00:16:10] thinking it's a perfect project for that [00:16:14] it's it's matching money and it shows [00:16:16] our our commitment the town's commitment [00:16:18] to wanting to restore it the historic [00:16:21] elements of it it's it's a it's a [00:16:23] contributing factor of a historic [00:16:25] district um there would be stor [00:16:29] regulations that we would [00:16:31] follow um but I I I'll say this and [00:16:35] Neil's going to probably um if if we got [00:16:38] if you guys if we got going quickly [00:16:41] within six months we could have a roof [00:16:43] and have it painted and have it looking [00:16:44] nice um I would love to say that when [00:16:48] the hardw affir happens in August we [00:16:51] could be collecting money from all the [00:16:53] 6,000 people that are there to help us [00:16:55] continue the fundraising and stuff um [00:16:58] but if we end up waiting until September [00:17:01] to get through all the details then you [00:17:04] know it'll take but year one is is [00:17:08] a is a pretty aggressive thing but at [00:17:12] the same time we're not going to not [00:17:14] clean it up on the inside and start with [00:17:16] the the the physical systems it's [00:17:18] already tied into sewer I already know [00:17:20] how much our sewer go will be I talked [00:17:22] to the Sewer guy um the water is there [00:17:25] it just needs to be connected um the [00:17:28] systems that bad it has a good heat [00:17:30] system and lots of people we going to [00:17:32] update it and all that stuff but [00:17:35] um it could happen pretty fast if we [00:17:38] have the money and if we have the [00:17:41] approval thank [00:17:43] you Bill thank you I think I remember [00:17:47] some differences in the attractiveness [00:17:50] of an applicant that was a nonprofit [00:17:53] versus a town in terms of of getting the [00:17:57] grant money can you explain expl what [00:17:59] advantage there is to be in the 501c3 [00:18:02] from the town for example seeking to [00:18:06] develop this in a [00:18:08] simar Neil is that something that you [00:18:11] understand or is that an ed [00:18:13] question rephrase that I Ed's not here [00:18:17] but I think I can jump in because I have [00:18:18] enough knowledge of Grant stuff a lot of [00:18:20] the grants on the basis that they're [00:18:23] offered you know are only available [00:18:25] whether you're a 501 C3 I mean there's [00:18:28] exclusion for who can apply for it so [00:18:30] I'm not speaking to Ed and I'm not [00:18:31] speaking to Mary but I've done a lot of [00:18:33] Grant work myself and I'm guessing that [00:18:36] just from the standpoint that there's a [00:18:37] lot more available to 501c3 nonprofits [00:18:41] than than towns and [00:18:43] municipalities thank you makes [00:18:47] sense okay all right so we'll add this [00:18:50] to our next meeting for more discussion [00:18:53] and hopefully maybe get some answers on [00:18:55] the best Avenue to go um with the [00:18:58] building it's up [00:19:01] so uh well on that same ve then um I'm [00:19:05] asking as the hyri gr collaborative to [00:19:07] have uh our plan regarding the rugles [00:19:10] Hill School put on the agenda also at [00:19:12] the same thing because the these two [00:19:14] projects are going to work hand in hand [00:19:17] and um no one from the town has gotten [00:19:20] back to us about our project and we're [00:19:23] in the same situation we've already done [00:19:25] all all of our research we actually have [00:19:28] people from the USDA who are willing to [00:19:30] fund our project uh you know I'm not [00:19:33] talking to anybody about it because the [00:19:35] town's not talking to us so if you're [00:19:37] going to talk we should have both groups [00:19:41] sitting down and talking with the town [00:19:43] so that we can use we can fix two [00:19:46] buildings that are historic that both [00:19:49] this group and my group are are dying to [00:19:52] keep as they okay I'm going to ask that [00:19:55] we split them up and not do them in the [00:19:56] same meeting though because that's going [00:19:58] to be a lot on an agenda so we can move [00:20:01] yours to the first one in February how's [00:20:02] that okay that's fine I mean I'm just [00:20:04] you know I'm saying is that you know we [00:20:08] we've been sitting for six months trying [00:20:09] to get to T to well we have to do [00:20:11] something with the building [00:20:16] so okay anything else on [00:20:21] this um visitor comments I kind of [00:20:23] skipped over that because I was anxious [00:20:25] to hear the [00:20:29] please um the last meeting there was a [00:20:33] comment made that that we were going to [00:20:35] discuss the contract with zos but I [00:20:37] don't see it on the agenda so I'm [00:20:40] assuming that that is not on the agenda [00:20:43] there's I mean if we're not auctioning [00:20:44] up there's no there's nothing to discuss [00:20:47] well the the at this point we probably [00:20:49] owe them some money actually well uh the [00:20:52] I did a little research I have copy of [00:20:54] contract I did a little research and I [00:20:56] questioned whether or not the town is [00:20:58] obligated all on that contract um and [00:21:01] the reason that I bring that forward is [00:21:04] that um for the town to be able to sign [00:21:08] a contract with anyone that has a [00:21:10] penalty clause in it it has to be vetted [00:21:12] by Town Council now there was no [00:21:15] indication that this contract was FedEd [00:21:17] by Town Council the second thing is that [00:21:20] not a single member of the board of [00:21:22] selectman signed this [00:21:24] contract um Justine is was that your [00:21:27] signature yeah because we've authorized [00:21:29] her to sign things I have the [00:21:31] authorization from the board to do that [00:21:34] but but did any of you people read this [00:21:37] contract before you before she signed [00:21:39] they had it [00:21:42] yes they all three of you read this [00:21:44] contract because this as a contract as a [00:21:47] business person this contract stinks [00:21:49] it's great for the C Coast but it's [00:21:50] really bad for the town and I question [00:21:53] whether or not why this town is signing [00:21:56] contracts that were not negot NE iated [00:21:59] by them they were negotiated by Central [00:22:00] M Regional Planning Commission which has [00:22:03] no skin in the game and if we owe them [00:22:07] zikos a [00:22:10] penalty then Central Mass Regional [00:22:13] Planning Commission better cop cop up [00:22:15] some of it because if they sign this and [00:22:17] their name is on this contract and [00:22:19] that's why I'm saying is I question [00:22:20] legality for sure what what is going to [00:22:22] happen so well we'll have to see and [00:22:26] deal with it as it comes forward [00:22:29] well as a taxpayer I want to know [00:22:31] whether or not we're responsible for [00:22:33] potentially [00:22:34] $150,000 of contract penalty does it say [00:22:38] anything about $150,000 [00:22:40] 15% on one of three options the assessed [00:22:44] value of the properties the sale price [00:22:46] of the properties or costs incurred [00:22:49] whichever is greater isn't that if we [00:22:52] don't turn over the property after it's [00:22:54] sold isn't it no that is if we that is [00:22:57] if we reach the contract which means we [00:22:59] cancel it after it's been signed so the [00:23:03] the whatever is greater is the assessed [00:23:05] value of those three pieces of property [00:23:07] which according to the current [00:23:09] assessment is almost a million dollars I [00:23:11] think we're borrowing trouble here yeah [00:23:13] I let's just leave this and see what [00:23:17] happens or that' be my suggestion I I [00:23:21] don't interpret the contract as such so [00:23:23] we're going to move on from [00:23:26] that okay uh out next up or any other [00:23:32] visitor [00:23:33] comments okay um the annual designation [00:23:37] for the Animal control officer Tina [00:23:39] Lindsay um yes so this um is supposed to [00:23:42] happen every year with um the M's [00:23:44] Department of Agriculture resources [00:23:46] doesn't look like it has been done um in [00:23:49] quite some time so I just wanted um the [00:23:51] board's authorization to go ahead and um [00:23:55] renew Tina Lindsay with the state as our [00:23:57] Animal Control officer I still move [00:24:01] second any discussion all in [00:24:08] favor uh Highway [00:24:11] Foreman appointment Matthew [00:24:14] mcen um so he uh we checked his [00:24:17] references we brought him in for a [00:24:19] physical interview and a phone interview [00:24:21] um we did Corey check um and just [00:24:23] because of the timing of these meetings [00:24:25] has already started just to be fully [00:24:27] transparent perfect [00:24:30] yep can we get a [00:24:33] motion sure all right um make a motion [00:24:37] to buyer um Matthew mcgaan for driver [00:24:42] labor position no highway foran highway [00:24:45] foran oh it saysi second oh no on the [00:24:49] yeah but on the agenda it says Highway [00:24:50] Foreman [00:24:52] okay second any discussion all in favor [00:24:56] I [00:24:59] bill you want to come up and talk about [00:25:02] the I don't have anything to hand you [00:25:04] but I'm scholarship well the uh we're [00:25:07] talking about the moris scholarship F [00:25:10] which um was the $20,000 gift from [00:25:13] Elizabeth Mor um set up to ow the two or [00:25:18] a couple of uh scholarships annually to [00:25:22] hardc residents on their way to college [00:25:24] yep and for a while that was done [00:25:25] sporadically and then you picked it up [00:25:27] and started doing it right regly and had [00:25:29] as recently as last last year we have y [00:25:32] had two $500 [00:25:34] overs so I'm just going to tell you that [00:25:39] the money the principal the $220,000 has [00:25:41] been in CDs and a couple of times I've [00:25:44] asked you to to have me talk with j and [00:25:48] roll it into another CD and so forth and [00:25:51] so on that small subject right now [00:25:53] there's a the next one's due at the end [00:25:55] of March instead of giving us one day [00:25:58] CDs instead of longer ones but anyway so [00:26:02] uh once again if we can plan to roll [00:26:05] that CD that'd be good in a bigger way I [00:26:08] think I'd ask you if you could somehow [00:26:11] authorize [00:26:12] her on her own or with input from [00:26:14] someone like myself to to do this sort [00:26:17] of routinely rather than ask you for a [00:26:19] decision each time it's within her [00:26:21] description I think is a Treasurer but [00:26:23] it is and I would I might I would be [00:26:26] comfortable with that absolutely yeah [00:26:28] with some guidance if you're with the [00:26:30] yeah the idea being that there'd always [00:26:31] be money available to do these perhaps [00:26:34] thousand or so each year good thank you [00:26:36] and do we have that to be able to offer [00:26:38] again this year to $500 yes there's [00:26:41] there's at least $1,000 so you once [00:26:44] again can do that I think that Justine [00:26:46] has samples of how you found applicants [00:26:49] last time and I included in the packet [00:26:52] um the application that I found um that [00:26:54] you used last year so if you guys want [00:26:55] to go ahead and um you know do do it [00:26:58] annually or just at least prove it for [00:27:00] this year and make sure we get it out to [00:27:01] the schools and everything um I would [00:27:04] say as long as the funds were available [00:27:06] we would just check on that that we do [00:27:08] this annually okay yes instead of having [00:27:11] to revisit the the wagon every year yeah [00:27:15] I [00:27:17] move all in [00:27:19] favor thanks thank you thank you thank [00:27:23] you don't leave yet though yeah up next [00:27:27] discussion and vote on proposed zoning [00:27:29] bylaw [00:27:31] revisions who's going to talk about [00:27:43] that in your packet I think are the [00:27:47] particular bylaws which the planning [00:27:49] board has developed [00:27:52] proposals in most cases just amendments [00:27:54] and some change of language some small [00:27:56] stuff some larger things and then a [00:27:58] couple of uh largely new um bylaws one [00:28:03] on battery battery energy systems and [00:28:05] the other on solar [00:28:07] installations [00:28:10] um we paired down from what we first [00:28:12] talked about they doing almost [00:28:14] everything that needs updating and so [00:28:15] forth and we built on the on the past [00:28:18] efforts of the of the planning board [00:28:21] before um and came up with the draft [00:28:26] language that's been presented to you [00:28:28] you I'd emphasize that in this process [00:28:32] as the law outlines it it's all we're [00:28:34] doing here is submitting to the select [00:28:37] board the the proposal and the proposal [00:28:41] is then wherever it came from in this [00:28:43] case from the planning board but same [00:28:45] with anybody else it comes to you then [00:28:47] you you simply have to say Okay goes to [00:28:51] the planning board now at which time we [00:28:53] would schedule a hearing you know [00:28:56] properly posted so you know it end up [00:28:58] a few weeks out at a minimum um have the [00:29:02] hearing with the public and all [00:29:03] officials involved to to uh see exactly [00:29:07] what's in there and talk about it and [00:29:09] make some changes possibly um then those [00:29:13] that newer final version would go into a [00:29:16] into the warrants that would then be at [00:29:18] a special town meeting that would be [00:29:20] sometime not too far after the hearing [00:29:22] was closed correct so all the planning [00:29:25] board is really looking for is is your [00:29:28] uh your suggestion that we continue on [00:29:31] this process we would in we would be [00:29:35] posting after we got a back from me we [00:29:36] be posting the proposed language on the [00:29:42] uh [00:29:44] website alongside you know the existing [00:29:47] like what we got bylaws the redlined Y [00:29:50] yeah yes right right so that's all we're [00:29:53] looking for is to is to move on to the [00:29:55] next step after months of the [00:29:59] contemplation you're here do do we do [00:30:01] that now we just say thank you yeah it's [00:30:05] just a and it goes back if you guys have [00:30:07] any questions or any [00:30:10] anything yeah I'm comfortable with this [00:30:12] with [00:30:13] it question moving yeah well then we [00:30:16] would uh do you have questions yeah I I [00:30:18] have questions for you though um the [00:30:21] section on the nine the solar energy [00:30:23] facilities um paragraph [00:30:26] 9.1 at the very bottom I will second [00:30:30] paragraph down it says the solar array [00:30:32] facilities shall be consistent with [00:30:34] Community planning documents including [00:30:37] but not limited to the town's master [00:30:39] plan open space and Recreation plan so [00:30:44] what is I'm just trying to figure out [00:30:45] what is the intention if somebody wants [00:30:47] to come and do a solar array and [00:30:48] presents to the planning board how does [00:30:51] the master plan and open space and [00:30:53] Recreation plan how how does that all [00:30:56] work together [00:30:59] well this and many other things would [00:31:02] be a best able maybe to be addressed by [00:31:06] or answered by everybody who's at at the [00:31:07] hearing with their different inputs into [00:31:10] what it means but I would say that all [00:31:13] all that's saying and this is very [00:31:14] possibly borrowed language from other [00:31:17] approved you know AG approved towns that [00:31:20] have done that but um to me it just [00:31:23] reads that whatever we do um is [00:31:28] hopefully in line with the master plan [00:31:32] in the open space so in other words if [00:31:33] something if the open space plan says [00:31:36] well we want to have this solar or this [00:31:39] is not for solar or this is a a ball [00:31:43] field or something like that then maybe [00:31:45] maybe that a solar facility there [00:31:47] wouldn't be consistent with that so it's [00:31:49] just saying in the in the process of [00:31:51] deciding where these things can be or [00:31:53] should be take a look at the town's [00:31:55] overall planning documents it doesn't [00:31:58] say it can't be it's clearly it can be [00:32:00] if town was to approve it but it's just [00:32:04] making reference to that [00:32:06] along [00:32:09] okay I'm sure that question and others [00:32:11] will come up at the hearing right right [00:32:14] one other regarding the [00:32:15] USDA it was It was kind of vague but uh [00:32:20] that of the prime or Statewide [00:32:22] importance per the USDA [00:32:24] why wouldn't the state say over the USDA [00:32:29] or and I'm just wondering like what [00:32:32] trying to get from the USDA I believe [00:32:37] that that's an effort again not just [00:32:40] shared not originating here but various [00:32:43] towns have said um all right we don't [00:32:46] there's a problem when there's a problem [00:32:48] with solar installation it's often that [00:32:50] it clears a whole lot of trees that's [00:32:53] right right or it goes on it goes on [00:32:55] pasture land which may be okay okay but [00:32:58] this is saying ideally it's not going to [00:33:00] go on prime prime Farm okay you know so [00:33:05] again it doesn't say it can't but it's [00:33:08] it's it's not intended it's not [00:33:10] encouraged to be to go on Prime USDA [00:33:14] okay soil that's that's a designation [00:33:17] they have okay so that's all all right [00:33:21] you know the whole thing as we'll talk [00:33:23] about later more the whole thing is a [00:33:25] balancing act between what the state [00:33:28] allows in terms of Regulation [00:33:31] restriction of these developments you [00:33:33] know installations they really want to [00:33:35] encourage them so they say no [00:33:36] unreasonable regulation so what is [00:33:38] unreasonable regulation we've tried to [00:33:40] come up with reasonable regulation that [00:33:43] will pass the [00:33:45] AGS in a review and give the town [00:33:49] reasonable control [00:33:51] over the impact of facilities like that [00:33:54] which bottom line we welcome in the [00:33:57] right places it's going to you know it's [00:33:59] alternative energy and it's it's money [00:34:01] to the town but we don't want to just [00:34:04] say bring it on no I I I get it that's I [00:34:08] was just [00:34:09] asking thank [00:34:11] you are we all comfortable with it going [00:34:13] back to the planning board so they can [00:34:15] continue their process [00:34:19] okay very good [00:34:29] anything it doesn't have to be formal [00:34:31] yeah it just goes back to them all right [00:34:34] and they carry on and so they they'll [00:34:36] you'll schedule your your hearing [00:34:39] and yes hopefully we meet tomorrow [00:34:42] actually so we saw in the Box we know [00:34:45] now that You' said to proceed that [00:34:48] excent [00:34:51] thank okay uh discussion and vote on [00:34:53] permitting [00:34:54] checklist that was um presented to us [00:34:58] a little while ago and now it's been [00:34:59] cleaned up um yep uh so it's more of a [00:35:03] more of a final document at this point [00:35:07] um it went out to all the Departments [00:35:08] that are listed on it um I met with [00:35:10] Becky on it I took probably 90% of their [00:35:14] suggestions and here it is so um with [00:35:16] the boards um besides the one spelling [00:35:19] error um that I just noticed sitting [00:35:22] here um if the board thinks it looks [00:35:26] good um we can start implementing it if [00:35:29] if you'd like to vote on it [00:35:31] tonight I'm good with [00:35:34] it good can I have a motion sure um I [00:35:39] make a motion to approve the building [00:35:41] application approval checklist with the [00:35:44] spelling corre with the one spelling [00:35:48] correction thank you second it any [00:35:51] discussion all in favor I [00:35:55] I all right discussion and vote to to [00:35:57] approve post Community agreement draft [00:36:00] with hard withth Mill Greenery was in [00:36:03] your packet yep so it's if you think [00:36:07] back I know it's been a while but uh [00:36:08] back in December I included in your [00:36:11] packet the Cannabis Control Commission [00:36:13] sample um post committee agreement that [00:36:16] they've been approving so that is [00:36:18] essentially what this document is with a [00:36:20] couple um yellow highlights from Town [00:36:23] Council um [00:36:25] so um there was one I do wanted to bring [00:36:28] up I did want to bring up to the board [00:36:30] uh to get your authorization on which [00:36:33] would be on page [00:36:35] three um Town council's note is this can [00:36:39] be included for businesses that are not [00:36:40] operational we recommend 12 to 18 months [00:36:43] um so Section 5 C compliance if you're [00:36:47] comfortable with that I'm also [00:36:49] comfortable with including either a 12 [00:36:50] or 18 months um I don't I think I think [00:36:55] it should be more of a short-term [00:36:56] agreement with so much fluidity going on [00:36:58] in the Cannabis Control Commission um I [00:37:01] think that's what we talked about [00:37:02] initially as well so I just wanted to um [00:37:05] have you guys look at it and if if [00:37:07] there's anything um any questions or [00:37:08] anything that you want me to take back [00:37:10] or if I can answer them I will but if [00:37:12] you're fine with it then we'll put it in [00:37:13] a final final draft for I mean a final [00:37:17] document for um her [00:37:20] draer of course you'd still have to sign [00:37:22] it but I wanted you to at least look at [00:37:23] a dra yeah do do we do a year or do we [00:37:26] do 18 months I would give them 18 months [00:37:29] I that's what I would recommend just [00:37:31] because of construction you don't know [00:37:33] like he talks about the Transformers and [00:37:35] possibly having them if he doesn't get [00:37:37] them stuff like that it just I the point [00:37:39] from Town Council was the the commission [00:37:42] is evolving daily on what they accept [00:37:45] and what they don't accept they've [00:37:47] already changed it several times yeah [00:37:48] they have so Stan if you don't mind just [00:37:53] a question um is that posted online that [00:37:56] agreement [00:37:58] this I look for it before meeting not [00:38:00] this one no because we haven't done [00:38:01] anything with it okay right um if I [00:38:05] recall The First Agreement the town went [00:38:07] with 1 and a half% but there's a a there [00:38:11] was a higher number I think to State [00:38:13] allow right no they don't allow anything [00:38:16] anymore oh no that's why we have to redo [00:38:18] it there's no agreement the state the [00:38:21] state has taken that out it's not part [00:38:24] of any so unless we can really [00:38:28] um like if there's impact to the town [00:38:31] and we generate an invoice on that [00:38:34] impact that's what we can build them but [00:38:37] there's no 3% anymore there's no percent [00:38:41] anymore there's nothing the state has to [00:38:43] yeah because that in that First [00:38:45] Agreement or the way it was originally [00:38:47] structured I don't think the town would [00:38:49] have come out with much anyways because [00:38:50] I think the retail for that is primarily [00:38:54] like in shirely or somewhere so that's [00:38:57] okay that we aren't losing it's not yeah [00:39:00] um when you say um an expense to the [00:39:04] town I I like the idea of the a limit on [00:39:08] the time of the contract because it kind [00:39:10] of keeps them in a performance mode but [00:39:14] um at some point if they don't start [00:39:16] doing something aren't we losing some [00:39:20] money somehow by taxes or so they have [00:39:23] been doing stuff and they have been [00:39:25] paying their building fees like their [00:39:27] permit and so we're good they have been [00:39:29] it's been a very painful slow process um [00:39:33] it like everyone knows Co put kind of a [00:39:36] halt on a lot of stuff and um I mean [00:39:38] we're still seeing that in construction [00:39:41] so they're still intended to they are [00:39:43] yeah and they have done some they have [00:39:44] done work to the interior yeah y I know [00:39:47] and you had mentioned it though that I [00:39:49] talked to the owner at one PL and they [00:39:51] were having trouble getting Transformers [00:39:54] M but so maybe that's part of their and [00:39:57] they with the shrimp crabs and and they [00:40:00] just finally got that right or the clam [00:40:03] shrimp whatever yeah clam shrimp thank [00:40:05] you wrapped up but but it's but it's [00:40:08] getting there so that was a big that was [00:40:10] a process too [00:40:12] yeah any questions or anything oh send [00:40:15] me an email okay thank [00:40:18] so um so yeah 12 or 18 months are you [00:40:22] comfortable with 18 I'm okay with 18 I [00:40:25] want them to get going and yeah do [00:40:28] something yeah but they have done they [00:40:30] fixed the roof yeah they fixed all the [00:40:33] windows it's a much better building [00:40:35] right now it was yeah a lot um then I [00:40:40] have a [00:40:41] motion well we're going to wait and sign [00:40:44] it at the next meeting well but are we [00:40:46] going to make it a final draft so that [00:40:48] we can sign it at the next meeting and [00:40:50] send it to them cuz they they haven't [00:40:52] seen it either so we make a motion just [00:40:55] to proceed we do 18 months [00:41:02] yeah um I'll make a motion to add the 18 [00:41:06] months to the Hardwick no Greenery poost [00:41:08] Community [00:41:10] agreement and send it off to [00:41:13] that all in [00:41:17] favor [00:41:19] okay uh discussion and vote on Town [00:41:22] administrator's contractual requests so [00:41:25] at the last meeting uh brought up that [00:41:29] she her 90-day probationary period was [00:41:31] up and when we spoke to her initially [00:41:34] and did our negotiations with her um we [00:41:39] she had asked for [00:41:41] 90 and we started her at [00:41:44] 85 but budgeted for 90 so she is looking [00:41:48] for that additional PMP in her pay and [00:41:50] so we said we would do a little kind of [00:41:54] review at this meeting and discuss that [00:41:57] um a pay increase so here we are so um I [00:42:03] had sent you all a little [00:42:06] evaluation form did you did you look at [00:42:09] that in review and at the request of an [00:42:13] one of the board members we did reach [00:42:15] out to other uh you know the departments [00:42:18] in the town other employees and got [00:42:20] feedback from there so I'll start by [00:42:23] saying that um I 90% of the feedback or [00:42:27] 95% of the feedback was very positive [00:42:29] Justine people enjoy working with you um [00:42:33] they're you're very approachable you [00:42:36] know what you're you know talking about [00:42:38] you're you've got the knowledge you know [00:42:41] backing the position so um one thing was [00:42:47] um maybe just staying on course with [00:42:51] your role as the Town Administrator as [00:42:54] opposed to other boards and um other [00:42:57] elected officials that was just one um [00:43:00] one note there um I took the evaluation [00:43:05] forms that you sent and I I kind of [00:43:07] marked them up um the only one I didn't [00:43:10] mark was attendance because I'm not here [00:43:12] to see when you come and go so I'm I'm [00:43:14] assuming that you are here on a regular [00:43:16] basis and showing up on T and then some [00:43:19] so I'm not you know I'm not going to [00:43:21] Mark you up on that but um you know [00:43:24] overall I I gave you threes threes fours [00:43:27] and fours um so out of the 52 points you [00:43:31] could have gotten from me you got like [00:43:33] 50 uh 47 I think so um I'm very pleased [00:43:37] with what you've done in the 90day I [00:43:40] mean this isn't a long time F you know [00:43:43] it's three months to pretty much figure [00:43:46] out that why am I in heart no [00:43:50] joking so we're happy she's here and um [00:43:54] that's that's my input to you and I'll [00:43:58] open it up to the other board members [00:43:59] obviously [00:44:00] soe I I think you're doing a great job [00:44:03] so I really know issues as far as that [00:44:06] goes um [00:44:09] and I'm happy with your work performance [00:44:12] I mean I don't deal with you that often [00:44:14] but that's why I requested like get the [00:44:16] department head feedback and stuff like [00:44:18] that so people who deal with you on an [00:44:20] ongoing basis we can get feedback and [00:44:23] see how you're doing you're doing great [00:44:25] so you're not sick of me yet no we want [00:44:28] you to stick [00:44:29] around I would also mention that I would [00:44:32] um be in favor of increasing her okay at [00:44:35] this point so that's just backtracking a [00:44:38] little bit go [00:44:41] ahead well we've uh it it there have [00:44:44] been some rocky places but uh we move [00:44:47] along and gab you threes and fours too [00:44:51] so I think uh that sounds good I think [00:44:57] to say something too I'll take comment [00:45:00] thank [00:45:01] you no it's um part of the finance [00:45:04] committee we going be working very [00:45:06] closely with Justine and and so far the [00:45:08] experience has been very positive good I [00:45:10] think she's bringing a lot of um a lot [00:45:13] of uh financial management to the town [00:45:16] so the budget process so far has been [00:45:18] very very good um it's been a very [00:45:20] positive so we're looking forward to um [00:45:23] really getting into this and uh coming [00:45:26] through so appreciate the the hard work [00:45:30] and I certainly would [00:45:33] recommend increases well [00:45:37] perfect any other comments anyone want [00:45:40] to time in I just wanted to bring up one [00:45:42] note that um a little bit of research [00:45:45] done with larger towns and [00:45:48] administrative assistance with more [00:45:51] experience um the norm is about 990,000 [00:45:54] and uh we're smaller um and a person [00:45:58] with less experience so [00:46:01] um it's just as a note you know 90 seems [00:46:05] to be a term an amount for people with [00:46:08] more experience in larger towns I didn't [00:46:11] find that in my research but thank you [00:46:13] Liz not Administrative Assistant [00:46:17] either she's the Town Administrator [00:46:19] she's not an assistant [00:46:22] well do we in we want to vote on the [00:46:25] increase would you like me to make a [00:46:27] motion please um I make a motion to [00:46:30] increase Justine's pay by $5,000 to her [00:46:33] existing [00:46:34] contract second all in favor I thank you [00:46:40] thank you so much um I mostly enjoyed my [00:46:43] time in Hardwick um I you know the staff [00:46:47] is amazing um I found all three of you [00:46:50] just so far very approachable and I'm [00:46:52] really excited to be here and um see [00:46:55] what we can do and uh work hard [00:46:57] and I appreciate it thank you welcome [00:47:01] thank you thank you all right approval [00:47:03] of minutes from November 25th [00:47:13] 2024 um I just have one change oh sure [00:47:17] on the vote for the auction I actually [00:47:21] voted no on that I didn't abstain okay [00:47:24] if you can just have Sandy changed yeah [00:47:27] thank you other than that in five [00:47:28] minutes [00:47:29] okay I'm okay with it yeah motion all [00:47:33] right make a motion um motion to approve [00:47:35] the hardw work meeting minutes board [00:47:37] meeting from November 25th [00:47:40] 2024 with that correction yes with that [00:47:43] corre want to Second it all in [00:47:47] favor okay Town administrative [00:47:50] report um so something that's not on my [00:47:52] town administrative report um so they [00:47:57] drained the oil tank in the rles hill [00:47:59] okay um and it's GNA be removed on [00:48:01] Thursday um and then Eric and [00:48:06] IIM and I talked about uh in a couple [00:48:08] days then they'll do the oil testing um [00:48:11] so that's being done on going good yes [00:48:13] um also to the 15,000 that we got from [00:48:17] the state for um hydrants is going to [00:48:20] fix two of them and the two that are [00:48:21] going to be fixed are the one on [00:48:23] Hardwick Road and down here on Main [00:48:25] Street um that's going to be done the [00:48:27] next couple weeks we have all the parts [00:48:29] okay so we're just waiting on Marty in [00:48:31] the highway when they have time [00:48:32] obviously with the winter it's been a [00:48:33] little um crazy another thing that's not [00:48:37] on here because it just happened um is [00:48:40] we are going to receive the $50,000 from [00:48:43] the state for improvements to this [00:48:45] building um that was a state earmark so [00:48:48] I signed the contract for that today [00:48:50] perfect so [00:48:52] good um the new phone system is being [00:48:55] installed they were here a day last week [00:48:57] they're going to be here again tomorrow [00:49:00] um we signed a new lease with a new [00:49:03] postage machine that was also delivered [00:49:04] today that the town clerk [00:49:07] installed um Panic buttons were [00:49:09] installed in every office in town hall [00:49:10] every active dust now has a working [00:49:12] panic button um and all the old ones [00:49:15] with all the wires and all that was [00:49:16] taken out and it's it's [00:49:18] gone um the town the town clerk's office [00:49:21] my office and the assessor and building [00:49:23] inspector's office our three doors have [00:49:25] now been fixed um [00:49:27] they don't have the big holes in them [00:49:29] anymore because we did that during Co so [00:49:32] that people could slide papers through [00:49:34] so just so everyone understands that and [00:49:36] the Panic buttons um arose because of an [00:49:39] incident that did happen here um a few [00:49:41] months ago so just so people have an [00:49:43] understanding why why we're doing [00:49:46] that um so I took a one- day advanced [00:49:49] topics in procurement class as part of [00:49:51] my continuing education as part of my [00:49:53] Massachusetts um Chief procurement [00:49:56] officer designation so I did that um [00:50:00] Department budget meetings have been [00:50:02] completed um we still have our bi-weekly [00:50:04] financial management planning meetings [00:50:05] with the assessor accountant and [00:50:07] collector I met with the finance [00:50:09] committee chair on the budget which [00:50:11] we've been kind of communicating and [00:50:12] doing that semi-regularly so I will have [00:50:15] the at least the department budgets and [00:50:18] as much as I can um the books and stuff [00:50:20] together to you guys it they'll be done [00:50:22] by the end of January so the start of [00:50:24] February you guys will at least have an [00:50:25] idea we're waiting on the numbers from [00:50:27] the state so I'm hoping to get that at [00:50:29] the my [00:50:30] um MMA conference at the end of the [00:50:33] month as well as our Maya health [00:50:34] insurance numbers I'm also working with [00:50:37] um another Property and Casualty [00:50:40] Insurance company that will do like our [00:50:41] workers cop our inar duty and property [00:50:44] insurance so that number is going to [00:50:45] fluctuate less so um there's just a [00:50:49] couple like there's a few things that [00:50:50] are just so do you think by our first [00:50:52] meeting in February we'd have those [00:50:54] books to at least start poking through L [00:50:57] yes cool perfect um nothing from the [00:51:00] school yet uh no no we were on um a [00:51:04] meeting with them and we still don't [00:51:05] have a number um I attended a cdbg [00:51:09] progress meeting with the town [00:51:11] accountant and cmrpc um the RFP for the [00:51:14] Highland Terrace project has been [00:51:16] published um I just talked about [00:51:18] attending a a budget meeting with the [00:51:20] school [00:51:21] department um today I joined a grant [00:51:23] webinar with mass doot to see um they [00:51:25] talked about a ton of Grant that we may [00:51:27] be eligible [00:51:28] for we hired a new work enement um so [00:51:33] started kind of contract discussions [00:51:35] with employees that have contracts that [00:51:37] expire at the end of the fiscal year we [00:51:38] will have six so those conversations [00:51:41] have happened again as putting the [00:51:43] budget together um just to kind of give [00:51:47] you a heads up of where we are when will [00:51:49] we start meeting in executive session [00:51:51] next meet next our next board meeting [00:51:54] okay I'm hoping to have an executive [00:51:55] session okay beforehand yeah yes with [00:51:57] you guys to get your priorities and [00:51:59] everything but thank you I just don't [00:52:01] want to wait till the last minute and [00:52:02] I'm trying to stagger them yeah so [00:52:04] they're not like one after the [00:52:06] other um attended the holiday [00:52:09] Massachusetts Managers Association [00:52:11] meeting on ethics our monthly department [00:52:13] head meeting I met with the Animal [00:52:14] control officer um there were things [00:52:16] that were brought up in that [00:52:17] conversation that um definitely need to [00:52:19] be addressed like finding a kennel and a [00:52:21] contract with the kennel because right [00:52:24] now we don't have one so she's using her [00:52:27] house she's using her car they do right [00:52:31] was interviewed on the radio again um I [00:52:35] want to recognize Lieutenant Kevin [00:52:37] landine he has worked with our [00:52:39] legislators and in the 10 communities [00:52:41] that are part of our dispatch and he was [00:52:43] just able to he just received [00:52:46] $150,000 of a $3.5 million project so we [00:52:50] will be able to get some radios and [00:52:52] stuff that are on the same frequency as [00:52:54] all the surrounding towns [00:52:56] so he's been working on that for a [00:52:59] while by three [00:53:01] radio if [00:53:03] that um so we are having a manager [00:53:07] training for department heads and [00:53:08] assistant department heads on February [00:53:10] 11th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. um anyone [00:53:13] that has staff is it's mandatory for [00:53:16] them to attend but any department head [00:53:17] is welcome to come but um just some [00:53:20] positive management techniques and [00:53:21] dealing with difficult situations we [00:53:24] have a special Town election being held [00:53:26] at the Hardwick Elementary School from [00:53:27] 12:00 to 6:00 on Saturday January 18th [00:53:31] and then something else came in after [00:53:33] the [00:53:34] fact there's going to be a blood drive [00:53:36] at quav and Regional Middle High School [00:53:38] February 27th from 10:00 to 4:00 in the [00:53:40] high school [00:53:43] gym um of course you can backing up to [00:53:47] contract [00:53:48] negotiations do you want someone from [00:53:52] fincom to be present when it's the board [00:53:56] in executive session that' be nice [00:53:59] talking about that yeah I mean it [00:54:01] affects the [00:54:02] budget so on the 27th do oh you're going [00:54:05] to be here anyways for um person do you [00:54:08] want to come to the meeting sure okay [00:54:10] thank you [00:54:12] yeah um and that's really all that I [00:54:15] have right now although I might think of [00:54:17] other things that come [00:54:19] up Selman Round Table select board Round [00:54:24] Table something well I kind of covered [00:54:28] it the Saturday election noon to 6 for [00:54:31] the fire truck y I know there's been [00:54:34] talk and people think you know the price [00:54:36] is kind of high but at the same [00:54:39] time this is an opportunity the truck [00:54:41] exists right now and if we don't don't [00:54:46] take this opportunity and we say no that [00:54:49] truck is going to go somewhere else and [00:54:51] it's going to be gone and you're talking [00:54:53] replacement wise you place in order for [00:54:56] a fight truck today it's minimum two [00:54:57] years possibly three before you have a [00:55:00] fire a truck just to keep lot more money [00:55:03] and it's going to probably in be in the [00:55:05] range of a million two to a million [00:55:07] three for the exact same vehicle just [00:55:10] just wanted to put it out to the [00:55:11] community so you think long and hard I [00:55:14] know it's a tough vote but think long [00:55:16] and hard and please show up and [00:55:19] vote I ask a question right now um on [00:55:23] that I had heard a little chatter about [00:55:25] you know a number of the hydrants not [00:55:28] actively working which I see that two [00:55:30] are going to be which I think is great [00:55:32] news so there was a bit of chatter about [00:55:34] what's the point of having a new fire [00:55:36] truck if we don't have working hydrants [00:55:38] so I'm wondering is there a strategy for [00:55:40] getting the other hydrants have been [00:55:42] working are we actively tracking down [00:55:43] money for that right now yep oh yeah um [00:55:47] so some of that $50,000 that I oh do you [00:55:50] mind if go ahead okay some of that [00:55:51] $50,000 that I was talking about for [00:55:53] this building I'm going to use some of [00:55:54] that to fix that one um and so I am [00:55:57] actively you know we are looking for [00:56:00] okay so so how many hydrants are we [00:56:02] looking to v six yeah so three will be [00:56:04] done so three will be done okay so that [00:56:06] seems reasonable and this is a slight [00:56:09] deviation but I had heard a figure [00:56:11] thrown around that it costs $20,000 a [00:56:13] year to send a student to our hardw [00:56:16] school is that accurate that's a rounded [00:56:18] up number um it's more like 18 you'd [00:56:22] have to look we we could get that number [00:56:24] but it's around either 18 or 19 based on [00:56:28] because so it's all based you want me [00:56:31] answer [00:56:34] this I mean it's a number that the state [00:56:37] the the Department of Education actually [00:56:39] designates based on the entire budget [00:56:43] versus students we pay half of that and [00:56:46] the state pays half of that right okay [00:56:49] and it's based off of the quab and [00:56:51] Regional budget that they put together [00:56:53] for the school district and based on [00:56:55] enrollment per town it's broken up what [00:56:58] what town what percentage they pay and [00:57:00] contribute and they it's an at the end [00:57:03] of the day value that they put on the [00:57:05] cost to educate a child [00:57:08] right so our cost is half of that [00:57:11] correct thank [00:57:16] you it's a pretty big number it's a [00:57:19] pretty big number it seems like just [00:57:21] from what I've been hearing it's quite a [00:57:22] bit of the Town budget running the Theo [00:57:26] budget is half of our overall budget [00:57:28] yeah it's a big [00:57:30] number okay thank [00:57:36] you anybody else we good I just have one [00:57:40] thing for the board assign so we can [00:57:41] send um all of our liquor license [00:57:43] applications and everything to the state [00:57:45] I just need your signature yeah that uh [00:57:48] your signatur we're still around T sorry [00:57:50] yes just want to thank everybody in the [00:57:53] room all the work [00:57:56] good [00:58:04] thanks you want me to use my real name [00:58:07] that [00:58:09] be Kelly can I just ask what's thep for [00:58:12] the Highland RFP for the Highland [00:58:14] Terrace project what's that about Road [00:58:17] uh Road repairs to Highland [00:58:21] terce think they do something with the [00:58:23] sewer too yes I think there is a little [00:58:25] bit of sewer work [00:58:28] it's been ongoing for [00:58:32] um November 23th was that when the [00:58:34] contract was voted for the auction that [00:58:36] you said your vote was not reported [00:58:38] correct correct so you voted no I voted [00:58:41] not to [00:58:43] table it was it it was voted to it was [00:58:47] the vote on the on the floor was from [00:58:49] someone the motion was to table the [00:58:53] option like in other words put it on [00:58:54] hold I voted no [00:58:56] oh oh but but now it's being [00:58:58] reconsidered it sounds like the contract [00:59:02] it's probably what it's probably further [00:59:05] away than so initially we voted to move [00:59:07] forward with the contract and we signed [00:59:09] it right but now it I mean you made [00:59:13] several references to Town Council I'm [00:59:15] I'm assuming the town has a lawyer who's [00:59:17] looked at this I mean I kind of had to [00:59:18] agree with what Liz was saying that yeah [00:59:20] you know you can't agree to a contract [00:59:22] where you have no minimum bid and [00:59:25] there's a lot of lot problems with it [00:59:26] and I I'm just kind of still what none [00:59:30] of that is was that wasn't part of the [00:59:32] contract with cmrpc this was a [00:59:35] cmrp okay so but this business of the [00:59:38] auctioneer getting some money that [00:59:40] sounds not right if you know it's four [00:59:44] months away and I mean you just [00:59:46] referenced earlier we're going to owe [00:59:47] them some money I don't know who you're [00:59:48] referring to that we may if they've [00:59:51] incurred costs like they' already bought [00:59:53] signs well they just posted some [00:59:54] pictures on a website I me you mean for [00:59:56] the auction correct okay but it's di [00:59:58] Minimus right it's not like a no correct [01:00:01] okay good yes [01:00:04] yes have a motion a motion to [01:00:08] adjourn thank you all in favor I thank [01:00:12] you [01:00:24] everybody for