Thumbnail for Part 1 Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 10/24/22

Hardwick Board of Selectmen: Municipal Updates and Key Approvals

Original title: Part 1 Hardwick, MA Board of Selectmen Meeting 10/24/22

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

October 24, 2022

Duration

19m

Decisions

4 recorded

Action Items

3 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen convened to address several municipal matters, including the significant damage sustained by the municipal building due to a furnace issue, which will necessitate the relocation of the Treasurer/Collector Department and impact ARPA funding allocation. Discussions also covered the proposed Comcast contract renewal, outlining changes to the annual operating grant and the potential for a town-specific cable channel. The board approved the warrant for the upcoming State Election and recessed the meeting until 7:15 PM to await an absent selectman and address time-sensitive agenda items.

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Discussion Highlights

The municipal building sustained 80-85% damage due to a furnace issue on Friday, impacting several rooms.
The Treasurer/Collector Department will be forced to relocate due to damage to their office.
The Comcast contract renewal includes updated language and changes to the Annual Operating Grant (GAR), which will accelerate from 3% to 5% in years nine and ten.
The new Comcast contract retains the option for the town to establish a cable channel, with the understanding that the town would be responsible for setup costs, funded through the PEG account.
Incorrect addresses for public buildings on the cable system have been corrected in the proposed Comcast contract.
ARPA funding initially considered for office reconfigurations within the municipal building will no longer be needed for that purpose, as insurance will cover the repairs from the recent flooding.
The State Election Warrant for November 8, 2022, includes candidates and four ballot questions concerning a state tax amendment, dental plan rates, alcohol licenses, and proof of residency.
The board is following up on issues discussed at a recent Conservation Commission meeting and expects to report back in the near future.
FAQs from prior select board meetings have been or will be posted online, and the chat from last week's meeting will be released once answers from MDAR are received.

Transcript (2,423 words)

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

00:00:00
By 2022 Board of selectment meeting to order I will read the agenda briefly call to order Pledge of Allegiance visitors comments minutes old business which includes other old business Treasurer collector Department update the Comcast renewal which is going to
00:00:19
Require a vote by the board 7 15 the discussion and or vote on Commonwealth equine and Agricultural Center llc's Race location we're still into Mass General Law chapter 128a section 13A new business Town Administrator review other new business discussion and or vote
00:00:37
Relative to arpa funding committee reports Town Administrator reports signatures and approvals the state election warrant for November 8 2022 selectman Roundtable in adjournment if you would all rise uh first order of business is political regions
00:00:57
I pledge allegiance to the flag States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all
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Next item on the agenda is visitors comments item is there any visitor who wants to make a comment okay we do not have any minutes to review
00:01:38
As of this point under all the business we have other old businesses Nicole do you want to fill us in a little bit about so
00:01:57
Where we left it was the last time we were together we had an update from Sarah who was helping with the finance group and that things are moving along we will have them edit a future meeting for an update but the process is moving along
00:02:15

[00:00:00] by 2022 Board of selectment meeting to [00:00:03] order I will read the agenda briefly [00:00:06] call to order Pledge of Allegiance [00:00:08] visitors comments minutes old business [00:00:12] which includes other old business [00:00:14] Treasurer collector Department update [00:00:16] the Comcast renewal which is going to [00:00:19] require a vote by the board 7 15 the [00:00:22] discussion and or vote on Commonwealth [00:00:24] equine and Agricultural Center llc's [00:00:27] Race location we're still into Mass [00:00:29] General Law chapter 128a section 13A new [00:00:32] business Town Administrator review other [00:00:34] new business discussion and or vote [00:00:37] relative to arpa funding committee [00:00:39] reports Town Administrator reports [00:00:41] signatures and approvals the state [00:00:43] election warrant for November 8 2022 [00:00:45] selectman Roundtable in adjournment [00:00:49] um if you would all rise uh first order [00:00:51] of business is political regions [00:00:57] I pledge allegiance to the flag [00:01:00] States of America and to the Republic [00:01:03] for which it stands one nation under God [00:01:07] indivisible with liberty and justice for [00:01:09] all [00:01:19] next item on the agenda is visitors [00:01:21] comments [00:01:24] item [00:01:27] is there any visitor who wants to make a [00:01:29] comment [00:01:34] okay [00:01:36] um we do not have any minutes to review [00:01:38] as of this point [00:01:41] um under [00:01:42] um all the business we have other old [00:01:45] businesses [00:01:48] um [00:01:49] Nicole do you want to fill us in a [00:01:51] little bit about [00:01:53] um [00:01:55] um so [00:01:57] where we left it was [00:01:59] um the last time we were together we had [00:02:01] an update from Sarah who was helping [00:02:04] with the finance [00:02:06] um group and that things are moving [00:02:08] along we will have them edit a future [00:02:10] meeting for an update [00:02:12] um but the process is moving along [00:02:15] [Music] [00:02:17] I guess sort of under this [00:02:19] um for those of you that don't know the [00:02:21] water the municipal building sustained [00:02:24] some pretty decent sized damage on [00:02:26] Friday [00:02:28] um due to a furnace issue so as part of [00:02:30] the treasure collector Department update [00:02:32] we've talked about moving that [00:02:33] department [00:02:34] is going to be forced to be moved um [00:02:36] because damage to their their room [00:02:40] um but Nicole if we can keep them on for [00:02:43] the next agenda when perhaps there isn't [00:02:45] such a heavy agenda to have a full [00:02:46] update for for them [00:02:50] um so the furnace has [00:02:53] some of the valves [00:02:55] and several of our [00:02:58] rooms would you say most of them [00:03:01] 80 to 85 so Nicole's saying 80 to 85 of [00:03:06] our um worms sustain damage in the [00:03:08] municipal building so please be a little [00:03:10] patient with folks if you're looking for [00:03:12] anything from the Department [00:03:15] um including the treasure collector [00:03:19] um we are waiting for selectman Rebels [00:03:21] to [00:03:22] um [00:03:23] uh to join us is a little bit behind so [00:03:25] please excuse us for moving around a [00:03:28] little bit on the agenda I'd like to [00:03:30] keep the Comcast contract renewal vote [00:03:33] um for him when he [00:03:35] um joins us as well [00:03:38] business that we need to discuss Kelly [00:03:42] thank you [00:03:45] Nicole was there anything under all [00:03:47] business okay [00:03:49] um you do see on the agenda 7 15 just [00:03:51] discussion interval [00:03:52] um if we were advised by the town clerk [00:03:54] last week which is why you heard us [00:03:56] mention it in our meeting last week that [00:03:58] we should hold to the 715 so we will not [00:04:01] be discussed discussing anything [00:04:02] relative to Commonwealth equine until [00:04:04] that time [00:04:06] um [00:04:07] we do have um a Town Administrator [00:04:10] review on the agenda under new business [00:04:14] um we will defer the review Nicole has [00:04:16] been very patient she should have had a [00:04:18] review of a way a couple months ago but [00:04:20] with everything on the agendas [00:04:22] um and her work schedule we've deferred [00:04:24] that a little bit [00:04:25] um so thank you for being patient Nicole [00:04:29] um anything under other news [00:04:31] we should talk about [00:04:42] um [00:04:43] so um [00:04:47] Sandra [00:04:51] there are a few printed copies here it [00:04:53] is online as always [00:04:58] and passive agendas are there as well [00:05:01] thank you [00:05:05] um another item on our [00:05:08] um for uh discussion is discussion [00:05:10] interval relative to our funding [00:05:13] um I don't believe there's anything new [00:05:15] Nicole that I'll need to talk about [00:05:17] um only that one of the items that we [00:05:19] had considered funding through arpa was [00:05:21] moving some of the uh offices within the [00:05:24] municipal building to be more conducive [00:05:26] to dealing with the public which we were [00:05:28] going to pay for and leave out of our [00:05:30] funding but as a result of the flooding [00:05:32] the insurance company is going to be [00:05:34] paying for that so that will take some [00:05:35] of the pressure [00:05:36] [Music] [00:05:38] uh [00:05:40] Nicole we don't have any committee [00:05:43] reports in front of us Nicole do you [00:05:45] have anything you want to work for no [00:05:47] since I've been away for two weeks been [00:05:49] away for two weeks it's our first [00:05:51] meeting back so [00:05:53] um I think we need to welcome her back [00:05:54] and say she doesn't need to do that's [00:05:56] not an administrator report [00:05:58] um [00:06:00] in terms of signatures and approvals we [00:06:02] have the COA report [00:06:05] um that we're going to take a minute to [00:06:06] review [00:06:07] was Ryan to be here for the state yeah [00:06:11] um I don't know but he said he'd be here [00:06:13] by 7 15. [00:06:17] okay and I can't pull anything up on my [00:06:18] phone [00:06:27] [Applause] [00:06:43] foreign [00:07:00] it really was a whirlwind of the day [00:07:03] yeah [00:07:04] for me to even think about [00:07:07] thinking about what you mean [00:07:13] all right [00:07:47] thank you [00:07:58] for that ready [00:08:13] thank you [00:08:16] foreign [00:08:49] language that is pretty much required [00:08:52] that hasn't been in there uh in a few [00:08:54] different sections the only real [00:08:56] noticeable changes the the [00:08:59] um [00:09:02] gar which is the annual operating grant [00:09:06] that is given to the town each art that [00:09:09] is uh received by the town each year [00:09:12] um and at the last meeting you you have [00:09:15] decided to do three percent down from [00:09:17] four and then [00:09:19] a further discussion with the attorney [00:09:21] it was decided that it would actually [00:09:23] accelerate through the next 10 years [00:09:26] um and [00:09:28] be at five percent at year nine and ten [00:09:32] um and that was because [00:09:34] we don't know what will happen in the [00:09:36] future in the event we do want to have a [00:09:39] Channel or we want to uh add more [00:09:42] equipment into an application such as [00:09:44] this or somewhere that we have the [00:09:47] ability to do that [00:09:48] and the other part that [00:09:53] this section that changed was [00:09:56] that we [00:09:57] potentially [00:09:59] cast come in and give us a channel which [00:10:01] would be on the cable channel not [00:10:03] YouTube like we currently have so we [00:10:05] don't want to exercise that right now [00:10:07] because we have more affordable option [00:10:09] and people that don't even have cable [00:10:10] can now at least see it [00:10:12] um [00:10:13] but didn't want to leave that option out [00:10:15] for the [00:10:17] so those are the real changes [00:10:21] thank you [00:10:28] so in our current contract we'll call [00:10:30] the the gar [00:10:33] same type of thing it was graduated I [00:10:36] think it was three percent three percent [00:10:37] four percent [00:10:38] contract so we're suggesting three [00:10:41] percent [00:10:43] um [00:10:44] uh migrating up to five percent in years [00:10:46] nine and ten right [00:10:53] three percent year one and two and up to [00:10:55] five so it goes three to three and a [00:10:57] half four to four and a half okay three [00:10:58] years two years at a time [00:11:09] um [00:11:15] public buildings on the cable system [00:11:17] there was some incorrect addresses and [00:11:18] it looks like they've corrected our [00:11:20] chapter and included the ones that were [00:11:22] not processarily included took off [00:11:25] right and removed what should be on the [00:11:28] list [00:11:39] and these changes have gone to [00:11:42] um Eileen for her with you [00:11:44] those were the questions you have was [00:11:47] 6.46.5 degrees okay and they're okay [00:11:50] with these other edits but [00:11:52] uh okay those are typical those are [00:11:55] that's typical language and cable [00:11:56] contracts yeah [00:12:03] the one thing that I did want to point [00:12:05] out was that okay sorry [00:12:09] in the event we do build the channel [00:12:10] hard work is responsible for [00:12:12] um paying for that so which was another [00:12:14] reason we wanted to keep that pet that [00:12:16] uh gar [00:12:17] acceleration yeah [00:12:19] okay it would come out of that account [00:12:22] that we have the peg account we have uh [00:12:25] but just it was clarified that you know [00:12:27] artwork is responsible for paying for [00:12:29] that [00:12:30] whole setup if we do do it eventually [00:12:33] thank you [00:12:37] we want to move forward [00:12:39] um [00:12:42] and make a vote of us [00:12:51] [Music] [00:12:53] foreign yes it was in there uh [00:13:00] October 30 of 2022 [00:13:16] . [00:13:19] it was it was in the amount [00:13:23] okay [00:13:39] to expire on October 29th 2013. [00:13:46] um [00:13:55] I [00:13:57] you guys hear a second and Mike seems to [00:13:59] be going in and out [00:14:13] [Applause] [00:14:21] and to sign it [00:14:42] I quickly will just read what's on the [00:14:45] warrant [00:14:46] um [00:14:48] actually it's pretty long so I won't [00:14:51] read it but basically what's on the [00:14:53] warrant is um the state election [00:14:56] candidates question one which is the [00:14:58] proposed amendment to the Constitution [00:15:02] relative to the four percent state tax [00:15:04] question two is the law of [00:15:09] law summarized relative to [00:15:12] um the division of insurance approving [00:15:15] and disapproving rates of dental plans [00:15:17] question three is uh approval of law uh [00:15:22] relative to the combined number of [00:15:24] licenses for the sale of alcohol [00:15:27] beverages for pharmacist consumption [00:15:31] um question four [00:15:33] um is a referendum on an existing law [00:15:35] relative to proof of residency [00:15:40] Russian flag [00:15:43] um that um [00:15:46] allows our input relative to [00:15:48] representing [00:15:50] um that the representative from this [00:15:52] District be instructed to introduce [00:15:53] introduce a vote for registries [00:15:56] be on the carbon content of fossil fuels [00:16:00] so our job as the weapon is to vote on [00:16:03] this warrant [00:16:05] um if we're okay with what is included [00:16:07] in the work [00:16:12] emotions that we accept and approve the [00:16:15] warring for the 2022 state of State [00:16:17] ocean [00:16:18] that will be held at the Harvard [00:16:20] Elementary School 76 Schoolhouse Drive [00:16:23] on November 8 2022 from 7 A.M to 8 PM [00:16:27] password [00:16:29] a second thought [00:16:31] any other discussion [00:16:34] all in favor [00:16:36] I [00:16:38] great thank you [00:16:42] anything we want to discuss relative to [00:16:44] the select men's Round Table [00:16:57] I guess I would just um we're under the [00:17:00] second round table [00:17:05] so under the selection Round Table [00:17:09] um [00:17:10] some of you may have been present at the [00:17:12] Conservation Commission you know last [00:17:15] week [00:17:16] um in which [00:17:20] many issues were discussed that just I [00:17:24] guess I would say from the board [00:17:25] perspective We are following up on all [00:17:27] of the information that was presented [00:17:29] last week and should have hopefully [00:17:32] something to report in the not so [00:17:35] distant future [00:17:37] um but sort of stay tuned for that that [00:17:40] televised so we apologize for that it [00:17:43] was not the selectance meeting it was [00:17:45] the conservation commission's meeting [00:17:46] you were there in just a joint capacity [00:17:49] for transparency purposes so that was [00:17:52] unfortunately not reported [00:17:54] um but I can tell you that we are [00:17:56] following up on what was presented and [00:17:58] hoped to report back [00:18:00] um again in the in the near future [00:18:03] relative to [00:18:04] questions or concerns also in regard to [00:18:08] our meeting that was held last Thursday [00:18:11] um today you should have received or you [00:18:13] should see if you're on the private [00:18:15] virtual common or on our Facebook page [00:18:19] um I believe the FAQ cues will be posted [00:18:22] or um have been posted not from the [00:18:25] movies Thursday but from prior select [00:18:27] board meeting with questioned uh [00:18:30] questions and answer that answers that [00:18:32] were put out by [00:18:34] um our attorney Alex [00:18:37] um we do have the chat from last week's [00:18:39] meeting [00:18:40] um again because of the sort of disaster [00:18:44] we had on Friday at the municipal [00:18:46] building the chat's not ready uh [00:18:49] released once we have the answers from [00:18:52] mdar as we said we would it will post [00:18:55] those questions out as soon as we have [00:18:57] any videos [00:19:06] so we knew perhaps that we would have a [00:19:08] light agenda until our 7 15 discussion [00:19:11] but um again that's pointed out by the [00:19:14] town clerk to us last week if we're [00:19:16] going to have a possible vote on this we [00:19:18] would have to name a Time by the time we [00:19:20] address the our Thursday meeting with 7 [00:19:22] 15. so I would make the suggestion that [00:19:27] perhaps we recess the select on [00:19:29] Wednesday until 7 15 that would be [00:19:33] um the opportunity for selectman Ruggles [00:19:35] to be here as well [00:19:37] um it is now 6 51 so we will reconvene [00:19:41] at 7 15. thank you