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Hardwick Board of Selectmen: Land Use, Cemetery, and Town Administration

Original title: 4/22/24 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectman 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

April 22, 2024

Duration

53m

Decisions

4 recorded

Action Items

6 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen convened to address a range of municipal matters, including a formal objection from the Nipmuck Nation regarding proposed waste disposal on Muddy Brook land, the approval of the annual cemetery contract and an updated fee schedule, and the initiation of the Town Administrator hiring process. Key decisions were made regarding the Annual Town Meeting date, an abatement request for a commercial property, and the acceptance of an audit contract. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a citizen complaint concerning an industrial building constructed in a residential zone, prompting board action for investigation. The meeting also included the approval of various routine contracts and the acknowledgment of a departing Selectman.

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Discussion Highlights

The Nipmuck Nation formally objected to the use of Muddy Brook Land for a dumpsite, citing inherent rights to care for their homeland, potential pollution, and the presence of Nipmuck artifacts and human remains.
The Nipmuck Nation emphasized the applicability of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) to the land.
The annual cemetery contract for FY25 was awarded to Larry Creeger for $24,900, an increase of $800-$900 from the previous year, remaining within the $25,000 budget.
A review of current and proposed cemetery fee schedules highlighted that the Cemetery Commission must raise its own fees for most expenses, with the town covering only mowing and electrical bills.
Cemetery fees cover expenses such as grass seed, loam, cement, Highway Department services for burials and monument footings, military flag posts, ground markers, well house repairs, and significant tree removal costs.
The proposed cemetery fee increases aim to generate more funds, as rising concrete costs were causing financial losses on some marker installations.
The Conservation Commission is responsible for mowing the west side of the road near the pump station, an area previously assumed to be under the Cemetery Commission's purview.
The Town Administrator job description was approved, and the position will be posted immediately with a deadline for applications to allow review by the new board.
The proposed salary for the Town Administrator position is $80,000, dependent on qualifications, with a desire to consult the Finance Committee on affordability.
Roselli & Clerk and Associates' proposal for auditing services at $25,000 was accepted to meet USDA requirements, noting the firm's ability to meet the town's timeline and a positive working relationship with town officials.
A local kennel owner, Robin Prouty, donated an OmniMax microchip scanner to the Town of Hardwick for use by the Animal Control Officer and Police Department.
The annual contract for Memorial Day ceremonies, including two trumpet players, was approved for $250.
The Board of Health agreed to continue with the Leicester Regional Public Health Coalition (RPHC) for public health services, despite a resident's preference for a water resource-based coalition.
The Annual Town Meeting was set for Saturday, June 8th, at 9:00 AM, with the warrant opening on May 6th and closing on May 20th.
An abatement request for a laundromat property at 126 High Street was discussed, confirming the laundromat's closure and the permissibility of removing its Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) designation.
A citizen expressed significant concern about an industrial building on High Street, citing its size, obstruction of view, glare, and its location in a residential area.
The citizen reported a disrespectful interaction with the building inspector and noted that immediate neighbors were not consulted about the industrial building's construction.
The board committed to investigating the industrial building, including whether it was constructed without proper permits and its operation as a commercial entity in a residential zone.
Unused Morse Scholarship funds totaling $1500 were discovered, leading to a plan to award two $500 scholarships, with applications due by May 17th.
The Town Administrator Report was dispensed with reading, as it was available online and reviewed by board members.
Robert Ruggles was thanked for his service as a Selectman, as this was his final meeting.

Transcript (8,173 words)

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

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Of the United States of America and to the Republic for it stands Nation indivisible liy and for [Music] all visitors
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Comment do we have any visitors that want to make a comment um I would like to present this letter from akaha at the npm nation to the Board of Health and to the
00:00:42
Select board entitled objection to use of Muddy Brookland for a dumb site of any waste Dear Judy con Department of Public Health and board of Selectmen of the town of Hardwick as an interim counsel of the
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Npmk nation A Confederacy Alliance Union for all npmk people and for all npmk bands and tribes of our 10,000 year old and continuing Homeland territory encompassing 2500 square miles 2/3 of
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The land of Massachusetts being the people and land of the fresh waters please be informed that we nip monks have always and due respect honor and care for our homeland territory it's lands fresh waters
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Animals Birds trees vegetation Flora fresh air fishing and farming Etc the town of Hardwick its citizens are living on the land of one of our historic bands tribe and vast Village of
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Quog monks who occupied the land for over 10,000 years and are still residing there through today we nip monks have the Divine inherent right and responsibility to take care of our land and the land that
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You now also occupy as well as its surrounding region it is our original and primary Duty and directive the same as all humans to respect honor and take care of the mother earth which our land is part of and to know that Mother Earth

[00:00:02] of the United States of America and to [00:00:05] the Republic for it stands [00:00:08] Nation indivisible liy and for [00:00:13] [Music] [00:00:19] all visitors [00:00:23] comment do we have any visitors that [00:00:25] want to make a [00:00:27] comment um I would like to um [00:00:30] um present this letter [00:00:33] from uh [00:00:35] akaha at the npm [00:00:39] nation to the Board of Health and to the [00:00:42] select [00:00:43] board [00:00:45] entitled objection to use of Muddy [00:00:48] Brookland for a dumb site of any [00:00:51] waste Dear Judy con Department of Public [00:00:54] Health and board of Selectmen of the [00:00:56] town of [00:00:57] Hardwick as an interim counsel of the [00:01:00] npmk nation A Confederacy Alliance Union [00:01:04] for all npmk people and for all npmk [00:01:08] bands and tribes of our 10,000 year old [00:01:12] and continuing Homeland territory [00:01:16] encompassing 2500 square miles 2/3 of [00:01:20] the land of [00:01:22] Massachusetts being the people and land [00:01:26] of the fresh waters please be informed [00:01:30] that we nip monks have always and due [00:01:33] respect honor and care for our homeland [00:01:36] territory it's lands fresh waters [00:01:40] animals Birds trees vegetation Flora [00:01:44] fresh air fishing and farming [00:01:48] Etc the town of Hardwick its citizens [00:01:52] are living on the land of one of our [00:01:54] historic bands tribe and vast Village of [00:01:58] quog monks who occupied the land for [00:02:02] over 10,000 years and are still residing [00:02:05] there through [00:02:07] today we nip monks have the Divine [00:02:10] inherent right and responsibility to [00:02:13] take care of our land and the land that [00:02:16] you now also occupy as well as its [00:02:20] surrounding region it is our original [00:02:23] and primary Duty and directive the same [00:02:26] as all humans to respect honor and take [00:02:30] care of the mother earth which our land [00:02:33] is part of and to know that Mother Earth [00:02:36] will continue to take care of us this [00:02:39] paradise that we all live in now must [00:02:42] not be further polluted with any [00:02:44] chemicals mical waste toxins bacteria [00:02:50] Etc which has and shall harm the Earth [00:02:54] ground fresh waters fresh air and all [00:02:57] living beings served thereby [00:03:03] thereby I'm [00:03:04] sorry it is for our human health and [00:03:08] those of other living beings that we are [00:03:10] compelled to stop making the Earth ill [00:03:13] as it is our own health and well-being [00:03:17] that also has become and shall become [00:03:19] further ill as a result we are each and [00:03:24] all part of Mother Earth one living [00:03:26] being with millions of living beings in [00:03:29] including humans part [00:03:32] thereof it is the absolute position [00:03:35] recommendation and Urgent advice by the [00:03:38] npmk people bands and tribes and of the [00:03:42] npmk nation that the town of Hardwick [00:03:46] reject and oppose the use of any of its [00:03:49] land for any dumping of any waste now [00:03:52] and in the future no town or government [00:03:57] nor the town of Hardwick can ever have [00:03:59] have control over the true Origins and [00:04:03] contents of the waste arising out of the [00:04:06] many contracts by the proposed Waste [00:04:09] Company and thus the town of Hardwick [00:04:11] will never truly know what waste is [00:04:14] being dumped on them there are alternate [00:04:18] sites on Earth which can be used for [00:04:21] dumping of waste and these sites while [00:04:24] more expensive for transport will keep [00:04:27] all other living parts of the earth safe [00:04:30] and happy healthy the Arctic and the [00:04:34] Antarctic propose and let the federal [00:04:37] government step up to fund plans to dump [00:04:40] and store all waste far away from humans [00:04:44] and all living beings as part of its [00:04:46] climate change policy better spent funds [00:04:49] than on the 65% of the federal budget [00:04:52] for defense ship it and bury it deep [00:04:56] Frozen for millions of years away from [00:04:59] the harm to our children grandchildren [00:05:02] and Beyond the next seven [00:05:05] generations further we can presume that [00:05:08] there exists within the Muddy Brook Land [00:05:11] npmk art artifacts arroe heads and even [00:05:15] human remains significant battles were [00:05:19] fought in that area particularly the [00:05:23] npunk war of 1675 to 77 AKA King [00:05:28] Phillip's War [00:05:30] and there are many artifacts and human [00:05:32] remains buried in the lands of that area [00:05:36] of NP monks of Wampa noog and of English [00:05:39] settlers which includes Hardwick the [00:05:43] federal Native American Graves [00:05:45] protection act of [00:05:47] 1990 nagpra which includes Native [00:05:51] American art and artifacts and remains [00:05:55] is applicable here to this issue of [00:05:59] using this this land as a waste dump as [00:06:02] the state of Massachusetts its towns [00:06:05] Hardwick as well as museums institutions [00:06:09] colleges universities State and [00:06:12] Municipal agencies receive federal funds [00:06:16] and must [00:06:18] comply any individual in any tribe can [00:06:21] make a complaint and seek to enforce the [00:06:24] protections of nagra in which the land [00:06:27] grounds are to be protected [00:06:30] and no unauthorized digging and no [00:06:32] organic material nor toxic waste shall [00:06:36] be placed on and in the land which [00:06:39] affects its archaeological [00:06:41] examination which is primarily conducted [00:06:44] from the organic material upon and [00:06:47] surrounding the land [00:06:50] site therefore it is for the protection [00:06:53] of the historical archaeological [00:06:56] Integrity of the entire Muddy Brook site [00:06:59] that there be no dumping and storage of [00:07:02] hazardous waste and waste of any kind by [00:07:06] virtue of nagpra The Proposal of use of [00:07:09] the Muddy Brook land as a waste dump [00:07:12] must be summarily rejected and denied [00:07:16] thank you very much for your [00:07:18] conscientious and responsible acts to [00:07:21] save and protect our Earth and our lives [00:07:25] I may be reached if you have any [00:07:28] questions and then she puts Earth Day [00:07:31] 2024 best wishes Katherine akaha weaton [00:07:36] citizen of the Sovereign people and [00:07:38] government of the Hassam manisco tribe [00:07:41] of npm monks of the [00:07:43] Hassam reservation and interim tribal [00:07:47] counselor of the npmk [00:07:50] nation thank you very much you're here [00:07:53] yeah this will be uh on the website and [00:07:57] uh available to any [00:08:00] one when you stole my thunder I was [00:08:02] going to I was going to wish everybody a [00:08:05] happy Earth Day happy [00:08:08] Earth any other visitor [00:08:13] comments okay new business any your new [00:08:20] business Cemetery commission annual [00:08:22] Cemetery [00:08:24] contract fee scheduled charge [00:08:27] account anyone here to speak to that so [00:08:31] um I sent out the [00:08:34] um scope of services to three different [00:08:38] um businessmen in the area that do [00:08:41] landscaping and um only one replied that [00:08:45] was lri creier who has had the bid for [00:08:48] the last three years and so this year um [00:08:51] for bid for fiscal year 25 is [00:08:55] $24,900 I think it went up about like8 [00:08:58] or 900 [00:09:00] from last year and it's our only bid [00:09:03] that's our only [00:09:09] bid the budget is 25,000 so okay that my [00:09:14] next [00:09:16] question I'm fine with [00:09:21] that can I get a motion um I would make [00:09:24] a motion to accept the recommendation [00:09:28] from the Cemetary commission to [00:09:31] award FY 25 2025 to Lori prier in the [00:09:36] amount of [00:09:38] 24,900 second that all in favor [00:09:45] I approve a town administrat job [00:09:48] description they have a they have a fee [00:09:50] schedule that they want to change to oh [00:09:52] sorry yeah it was with so we also have a [00:09:56] we would also like to um increase our [00:09:59] schedule so you should have a copy of [00:10:01] the present PR schedu right here and um [00:10:05] the selectman voted on that in July of [00:10:09] 21 and then behind that we have [00:10:14] our scheduled Network [00:10:17] proposing do you want me to go over it [00:10:20] or do you just want to read it how would [00:10:21] you like to do it [00:10:34] good and [00:10:37] these so burial plats for $1,000 what [00:10:40] were they [00:10:42] in it's right here was [00:10:50] the there we go [00:11:00] they've all G [00:11:13] up is [00:11:15] there did you guys compare this to other [00:11:18] areas or is just something um I I think [00:11:21] the first and most important thing for [00:11:22] me to say to this Bo is that all of the [00:11:26] other towns surrounding us the towns [00:11:29] completely support their [00:11:32] summaries we as a summiter commission [00:11:36] have to raise our own fees and I know [00:11:38] that the town does um through the annual [00:11:42] town meeting um fund the mowing of the [00:11:47] cemetery as well as the town does pay [00:11:50] our electrical bill but everything else [00:11:53] that we do is from the funds that we [00:11:56] charge to the people who are to the [00:11:59] families who are bearing their loved [00:12:01] ones at the [00:12:02] cemetery so the only thing we get from [00:12:05] the town is the lowing of the cemetery [00:12:08] and then our electrical bill I can just [00:12:11] go over a couple things if you don't [00:12:13] mind some of the things that we have to [00:12:15] buy that we have to make sure that we [00:12:17] have enough of money for so um grass [00:12:20] seed Loom cement we buy those things [00:12:25] regularly and then also the paying of [00:12:28] the highway department because it's the [00:12:30] highway department who digs the holes [00:12:33] for the burials whether they be a full [00:12:36] casket burial or a [00:12:38] cremation and then um they come back and [00:12:41] they put in they they cover it and Seed [00:12:44] it and everything then also um we pay [00:12:47] the highway department for the [00:12:50] footings for all of our monuments that's [00:12:53] the big monuments as well as the [00:12:56] footings for the ground markers so we [00:12:59] have to make sure we have enough of [00:13:00] money for that um we also [00:13:04] buy military flag posts for newly [00:13:09] buried military persons the the post [00:13:14] that we put on the ground that we then [00:13:15] on Memorial Day put a flag in also [00:13:18] ground markers what we're trying to do [00:13:20] now whenever we sell a lot is we put [00:13:23] four circles I don't is that what [00:13:25] they're called J they're aluminum P [00:13:28] aluminum what pins oh okay all right so [00:13:30] we like to um identify a lot by putting [00:13:34] in four pins so that we know as well as [00:13:37] the family knows that that this is their [00:13:40] particular so we have to buy those [00:13:42] things um [00:13:44] recently in the wellhouse we had our [00:13:48] pump um breakdown as well as the water [00:13:52] tank that was in there in the wellhouse [00:13:55] was all rusty so between Jimmy and Benny [00:13:58] um they're removing the pump the old [00:14:01] pump and the rusty water tank and they [00:14:06] are going to be the ones who are going [00:14:07] to be installing the new ones so we need [00:14:09] to have money to buy the new pump as [00:14:12] well as the tank U also tree [00:14:16] removal um we it it cost a lot of money [00:14:19] to have the trees removed and we just we [00:14:22] need so many trees remove this there'll [00:14:24] never be enough of money in our budget [00:14:26] to remove the trees but we kind of try [00:14:28] to Peck away at it a couple trees a year [00:14:31] if possible we have a couple trees in [00:14:34] the cemetery especially as you enter [00:14:36] through the main entrance on the left [00:14:39] hand side where over the winter a lot of [00:14:43] those right and um Marty had said that [00:14:47] he would be able to get his tree his [00:14:51] crew his his crew to try to help pick it [00:14:54] up again take care of and also cut down [00:14:56] those two trees I mean they're very big [00:14:58] big trees you know the trunks are this [00:15:01] big so we're hoping some of the problem [00:15:03] we're having on the trees is they're [00:15:06] located within areas where there's a lot [00:15:07] of old monuments the problem being [00:15:10] getting equipment in there to get the [00:15:11] trees down is becoming a big problem [00:15:14] yeah right so um what [00:15:18] else um The Fountain area on the [00:15:22] comment um the past two years we've had [00:15:26] somebody donate their time to plant flow [00:15:29] around and she's donated some flowers so [00:15:34] we've helped to pay for some of the Loom [00:15:36] that was brought in and and she paid for [00:15:38] the rest and you know I mean we're just [00:15:40] trying to do what we can with the money [00:15:42] that we have so what we're just trying [00:15:44] to do is just increase our fees so that [00:15:47] hopefully we could get a little bit more [00:15:50] money to do some things at the cemetery [00:15:53] one of the things we're running into is [00:15:54] we're discovering how much concrete had [00:15:56] gone up and in some cases we're putting [00:15:58] the markers out and paying for the labor [00:16:00] we're actually losing money right we're [00:16:02] not covering the [00:16:03] expenses but you think these raised fees [00:16:07] will keep you in the red or think it'll [00:16:10] well it'll help help yeah for sure it'll [00:16:13] help I have a question to ask that's a [00:16:15] little odd and [00:16:17] morbid how many burials do you have in a [00:16:22] year is there a more or less [00:16:25] average it varies depending on how many [00:16:28] people fast away right um but I would [00:16:31] say maybe 10 15 at least right yeah it's [00:16:36] hard to say I mean we do we do a fair [00:16:37] amount of cremation burials we do not as [00:16:40] many full body burials and there there [00:16:43] in effect comes into play is a full [00:16:46] burial uh body burial creates more more [00:16:50] income obviously for and there a little [00:16:52] more work the the same token when you [00:16:54] start realizing you're doing more [00:16:55] cremations and you're getting a much [00:16:57] less smaller fee it's hard to pay the [00:16:58] overhead [00:17:01] thank you but it is a to try to deal I [00:17:05] didn't know who else to [00:17:11] ask it's your pleasure I would make a [00:17:14] motion to accept the uh proposed fee [00:17:17] schedule when would this be effective um [00:17:22] today and I think Ryan posts it for [00:17:26] three days or something like that I I [00:17:29] think that was what I used to do he'll [00:17:31] be back tomorrow so so it' be effective [00:17:33] today yeah um okay well that's good okay [00:17:36] I would I would make a motion to accept [00:17:38] the proposed [00:17:39] increases increased fee schedule from [00:17:41] the cemetery commission effective uh [00:17:44] today for 22 and 24 second up further [00:17:50] discussion can I ask you one other [00:17:52] question um [00:17:55] so in the um at the common area yeah at [00:18:00] the center of hardwood across the street [00:18:03] where the animals are always located for [00:18:05] the hardwood [00:18:06] Fair we the sumary commission have just [00:18:10] have always assumed that that area was [00:18:15] under our umbrella under the cemetery [00:18:18] umbrella and that was kind of all of [00:18:21] that was passed on to us as we became [00:18:24] cemeter Commissioners but now um it's my [00:18:29] understanding that that that area is not [00:18:33] under the cemetery [00:18:34] Commissioners is that correct and if [00:18:38] it's not correct then we don't have to [00:18:40] mow it is that correct I'm just I just [00:18:43] want to get this I don't know the [00:18:45] question it's the agricultural it's the [00:18:47] page agricultural land I thought do you [00:18:50] remember going back to when we were [00:18:52] going to I'd like to take a break here [00:18:54] if you'll uh be patient with me I'm [00:18:57] going to call for a vote [00:18:59] on that motion before we get too far [00:19:02] right all in favor hi I I thank you [00:19:06] please go ahead so um I just want to [00:19:09] know if that area where the animals are [00:19:14] the whole [00:19:15] field the whole field you mean or the [00:19:17] whole that whole field is not under our [00:19:21] umbrella that's what you're asking about [00:19:23] the whole can I comment wait I'd like to [00:19:27] ask the town admin first so when we were [00:19:30] going to put the pump station in that [00:19:33] area there was a vote a town meeting [00:19:35] vote that put that area under the care [00:19:38] and protection of the Conservation [00:19:39] Commission thank you Mr [00:19:42] Zin I'm just going to try to help be [00:19:45] helpful and I was going to say the same [00:19:47] thing that Nicole advised thank you so [00:19:49] we're collab collaborated on that yeah [00:19:52] we were told that it was [00:19:55] transferred from the oversight of the [00:19:57] Agricultural Comm or the page [00:20:00] agricultural commission to the [00:20:01] responsibility of the Conservation [00:20:03] Commission just that west side of the [00:20:05] road M they learned that during the [00:20:08] seage street right and that's why I'm [00:20:10] because that's when I learned it too [00:20:12] yeah yeah that's new to us right so you [00:20:15] don't have to mow it anymore that's what [00:20:17] I wanted to confirm yeah George Browdy [00:20:21] used to take hay there he [00:20:27] stilles different a different person [00:20:30] somebody does that's [00:20:32] right there's a lot of [00:20:42] proud okay approved Town Administrator [00:20:45] job description and ad thank you ladies [00:20:48] thank you thank [00:20:52] you thank you [00:20:55] anybody well I I put together what's in [00:20:58] your packet um I just kind of used what [00:21:02] we had used in the past plus kind of [00:21:04] another couple of [00:21:06] towns [00:21:08] um I think it's critical that we get [00:21:11] this job posted and put a timeline on it [00:21:14] and then you know I think when the to be [00:21:18] ready for when the new board convenes to [00:21:20] start [00:21:22] interviewing you want [00:21:24] to when the new board convenes it's in [00:21:27] two weeks [00:21:29] right so you're looking to get [00:21:32] applications by then well within two to [00:21:35] three weeks and then as a new board we [00:21:37] can start interviewing right I didn't [00:21:39] want to do anything until we had a new [00:21:41] board myself [00:21:44] MH yeah you you'll just be interviewing [00:21:47] I I think you should get the get it out [00:21:50] there and it give you some time to get [00:21:52] some application back and maybe Nicole [00:21:54] knows a good length of time to post for [00:21:57] in order to see it took us like 6 to 8 [00:22:00] weeks last time we did it the whole [00:22:03] process yeah it's it's a ly [00:22:06] process but time we were doing two and [00:22:08] three interviews a [00:22:11] night yeah I'm personally I'm not in a [00:22:14] rush but go ahead make a motion um I [00:22:17] would make a motion that we post the job [00:22:21] I mean is everybody happy with the job [00:22:23] description first of all yeah I mean [00:22:26] it's it's pretty you know standard [00:22:29] I would make a motion that we uh post [00:22:31] the job the Town Administrator job job [00:22:35] description [00:22:38] um and set set a uh end date for one [00:22:43] we're [00:22:44] taking okay so are we going to put this [00:22:48] line in here about [00:22:49] money are we going to put uh we want to [00:22:53] decide that tonight MH yeah in order to [00:22:56] post the job we have to maybe instead of [00:22:58] a range you might want to like do [00:23:01] this depending on [00:23:03] qualifications so people have an [00:23:06] idea what it is I'd like to get the [00:23:09] finance committee in on this to see [00:23:11] about what we can afford well we can [00:23:14] afford at least what we're doing now [00:23:18] yeah okay I that's what we can that's [00:23:21] what we're doing now okay I'm I'm [00:23:24] resistant to doing this too quickly and [00:23:27] I'm resistant to I I am you're not going [00:23:30] to wait I I so let's have a [00:23:34] motion so are you done the motion well [00:23:37] that I would make a motion to to post [00:23:40] the to approve the job description as [00:23:43] noted in the packet and to post the town [00:23:47] administrator's [00:23:49] position um let's have two motions let's [00:23:53] have a motion to about the job [00:23:55] description I would make a motion to [00:23:57] approve the job description as [00:23:59] second thank you all in favor I I and [00:24:03] now I would now make a motion to post [00:24:06] the town administrator's [00:24:10] job effective [00:24:15] immediately dat you want to get that's [00:24:18] what I'm looking on my calendar [00:24:23] here with resumes to be back [00:24:33] right by the [00:24:36] six we could at least take a peek at him [00:24:38] at our first [00:24:43] meeting give more or you can always vote [00:24:45] to extend it if you don't feel if we [00:24:48] don't have right exactly so by 300 p.m. [00:24:51] on the [00:24:52] 6 [00:24:54] second seconded that do we have a range [00:24:56] of money [00:24:59] I like the suggestion of 880,000 [00:25:00] depending on qualifications that that's [00:25:03] at least where we're at now is that in [00:25:05] your motion yes sorry second too that's [00:25:10] second okay all in favor I I I'm going [00:25:14] to stand fast say [00:25:20] okay okay audit contract [00:25:23] discussion Andor vote roselli and Clark [00:25:29] so in your packet you have a um proposal [00:25:34] from roselli Clark and Associates [00:25:36] they're public accountants who do [00:25:38] auditing um we hired an auditor as of [00:25:42] the year I started [00:25:43] 2021 um and it was a requirement from [00:25:46] USDA to be audited annually that I think [00:25:50] I feel strongly that it's a a good idea [00:25:52] to do that every single year and um we [00:25:58] the powers and Sullivan who we had and [00:26:00] we had them for this last year this year [00:26:02] coming up but they were absorbed by [00:26:05] Markham and Markham was our accounting [00:26:08] accountant last year and they just did [00:26:11] not serve us well at all and I do not [00:26:13] think that they're going to serve us [00:26:14] well this time so I solicited um a few [00:26:18] different proposals but roselli was the [00:26:20] only one who felt that they could have [00:26:21] the time to get back to us um it's the [00:26:24] same amount that we currently bid for so [00:26:28] 25,000 it's going to go up you know next [00:26:30] year you'll have to bid a little more [00:26:32] the other the single audit that is an [00:26:34] extra 6,000 is if you spend more than [00:26:36] 750,000 in federal funding which were [00:26:39] just at that cost but I don't think we [00:26:41] didn't spend 750 of their money we're [00:26:43] still in once we do last year once we do [00:26:46] it's going to they'll need that so [00:26:48] you'll have to bid um you'll have to um [00:26:51] increase that increase that one but uh [00:26:53] this is who and this this person has [00:26:55] worked with Lori L ask you it was kind [00:26:58] of funny I had I was on the phone with [00:27:00] them and here I am having these [00:27:01] conversations with all of these auditing [00:27:03] firms and they're just so busy and they [00:27:05] can't find the people and um finally he [00:27:08] just said um it's it's your lucky day [00:27:13] I'm I'm going to do it and because [00:27:14] you're there and because Lorie's there [00:27:15] and I said well he goes oh there's [00:27:18] always a butt and I said well I won't be [00:27:20] here but you'll be in very capable hands [00:27:24] and you know and he knows Lori so he's [00:27:26] willing to do this and this is for this [00:27:28] year next year and the year after um you [00:27:32] don't have to sign it I just highly [00:27:34] recommend that you have um an auditor [00:27:38] for each year and I have a um [00:27:42] disengagement meeting tomorrow with Todd [00:27:46] jerik who was from powers and Sullivan [00:27:49] Who Sold he's now a managing partner at [00:27:51] Markham they sold to Markham and um so [00:27:54] they just didn't work out for [00:27:56] us I think it's I I think we should move [00:27:59] on this I mean with the USDA [00:28:03] requirements it needs to be done and it [00:28:05] needs to be done timely you're bck yeah [00:28:08] that's my only concern with making sure [00:28:11] we we're all lined up for the upcoming [00:28:14] year we nearly lost our grant because of [00:28:16] it because of that [00:28:18] yeah so i' seek a mo motion I would make [00:28:22] a motion to accept the roselli clock and [00:28:26] Associates letter of Engagement for our [00:28:29] audits for oh I was going to add the [00:28:32] fiscal years [00:28:34] here sorry okay second thank you perfect [00:28:39] all in favor I [00:28:43] I [00:28:47] okay Robin crowy a local kennel owner [00:28:52] has donated an [00:28:54] Omnimax microchip scanner to the town of [00:28:57] Hardwick for the use of the animal [00:28:59] control officer and the police [00:29:01] department this device scans all types [00:29:04] of chips and will assist in identifying [00:29:06] loose stray or impounded dogs in town [00:29:10] thank you Robin proudy for your generous [00:29:18] gift [00:29:24] comments Memorial Day ceremonies [00:29:26] contract [00:29:30] yes so uh this happens every year Joel [00:29:33] orzac um conducts the Memorial Day C [00:29:37] ceremonies uh there's two trumpet [00:29:39] players for to perform TAPS in national [00:29:42] anthem uh and there's a contract here [00:29:44] for that for $250 with this the [00:29:48] sheriff's being a signatory and that's [00:29:50] normal yeah every [00:29:53] year okay [00:30:00] it's to me but so I can because I'm [00:30:02] still signatory fre [00:30:05] rise so but yeah definitely in the next [00:30:08] meetings we'll talk about the next [00:30:10] person not doing that until you have [00:30:12] confidence in [00:30:14] them okay the Lester Regional Public [00:30:17] Health Coalition intermunicipal [00:30:21] agreement okay I'll yeah we have passed [00:30:26] it on to you to sign the uh Board of [00:30:29] Health had a meeting on Thursday to [00:30:31] agree to stay with the with the with [00:30:36] Lester the [00:30:38] lphc and Ernie signed it Ernest warber [00:30:43] and now all you guys have to do is agree [00:30:45] to sign it I have in your packet the [00:30:49] agreement itself yes we're not going to [00:30:52] read [00:30:52] it yep so it seems brand new and [00:30:57] wonderful [00:30:58] we're hoping over the next 3 months [00:31:01] they're going to have many meetings to [00:31:03] iron out all the the greases hopefully [00:31:07] we uh all agree and so it's all there in [00:31:12] the [00:31:13] package just have to sign may I comment [00:31:16] as well please briefly ma'am I try to um [00:31:23] um use the Lesser and hopefully for [00:31:27] Upstream work that I've been working on [00:31:30] you know p and so on but it's the [00:31:33] mechanism for all the downstream work [00:31:37] and and in the past year and a oh well [00:31:41] three years we've learned to do the [00:31:44] downstream work so that we could operate [00:31:46] on our own and I'm Lo to take the [00:31:51] time to bring the rest of the towns up [00:31:53] to speed I preferred and I was working [00:31:57] to com [00:31:59] all of the towns around water around the [00:32:04] Quin and I think we could do that not [00:32:07] through the Lester so much as uh by [00:32:12] standing out on our own and and so on so [00:32:16] joining up it'll work with ler and they [00:32:21] they do our inspections for food [00:32:24] okay thank you thank you [00:32:29] I would make a motion to sign and accept [00:32:31] the leester regional Public Health [00:32:34] Coalition [00:32:43] Services you don't like my motion no I [00:32:45] do just was kind of getting just sign [00:32:49] should be in your I just gave it to him [00:32:54] okay can sign well we made the motion [00:32:59] all in favor I [00:33:05] hi it's the full moon I'm the one that [00:33:08] sleep the pr and I'm doing pretty well [00:33:11] it's [00:33:13] Earth pink blue it's making all [00:33:18] crazy thank God you're [00:33:22] here that's not what you're really [00:33:24] saying that's okay [00:33:28] I'll give this to you [00:33:30] tomorrow the contact information annual [00:33:33] town meeting discussion and vote of [00:33:35] dates and opening closing of [00:33:38] Warrant I'm spoken to the uh Town Clerk [00:33:42] and He suggests June 8th or June 20th [00:33:47] which seems a little late to me he's not [00:33:50] here on the 15th which would be ideal [00:33:53] I'm not either okay so so let's let's [00:33:56] not have it then [00:34:01] a motion to I think if you put at the E [00:34:04] you can postpone it but if we need to [00:34:07] right but if we go later then we're [00:34:09] really pushing the [00:34:11] right I'm confident that we would be [00:34:13] ready for the right I think so fom seems [00:34:17] to yes I was just in there with them and [00:34:19] they're they want to meet with you on [00:34:21] the 20th of May and that's where I would [00:34:24] suggest opening the warrant on the sixth [00:34:28] that you're meeting and then closing it [00:34:30] on the 20th at you're meeting May of May [00:34:33] and then holding them holding the town [00:34:36] meeting on the 8th the 8 and that's [00:34:39] that's enough y yeah that's enough time [00:34:41] to you know for all the [00:34:43] requirement re and May 6 when do you [00:34:48] open the warrant May 6th well they're [00:34:51] going to open the warrant on May 6 so [00:34:52] we'll start accepting things on May [00:34:55] 7th and uh [00:34:58] uh the [00:35:00] date is okay for the 8th June 8th [00:35:04] M all right I'll need a motion for that [00:35:07] make a motion to set the annual town [00:35:09] meeting to Saturday June 8th at 9:00 [00:35:13] a.m. at the elementary school second [00:35:17] good all in favor I [00:35:20] I so 9 [00:35:23] a.m. 28 [00:35:27] all right um [00:35:30] abatements there's the laundr yeah I [00:35:33] have one in here for you that I wanted [00:35:35] to just go over with you um he has been [00:35:38] coming in for abatements every year [00:35:41] since I've been here but this has really [00:35:45] been brought to my attention because I [00:35:47] understand this so much better now but [00:35:49] um he has two apartments and a [00:35:51] laundromat and a laundromat is closed so [00:35:56] that is one Ed you need to vote to Abate [00:36:00] the entire not Abate I'm sorry with take [00:36:02] away one full edu so now he will only [00:36:05] have two edus and I have confirmed with [00:36:08] the assessor that he in fact is closed [00:36:11] so it is not open however he still has [00:36:14] two apartments so if he wants to have [00:36:17] anything Abad from an apartment that may [00:36:19] be vacant which I'm not sure that it is [00:36:22] um he needs to go to the assessor's [00:36:24] office and they need to ensure that that [00:36:27] apartment is indeed vacant um or or be [00:36:30] labeled as a one apartment if he says he [00:36:33] has one apartment she has it for two [00:36:35] apartments so that's just a process that [00:36:37] it doesn't isn't in this office um but [00:36:40] if you want to remove one of [00:36:43] the uh edus because the laundromat is [00:36:47] vacant or empty or closed or whatever [00:36:50] for years MH yeah then he doesn't have [00:36:53] to keep coming back for an abatement for [00:36:55] it when it's closed so we can you can [00:36:59] vote to remove it completely I can take [00:37:01] the interest and divide it by three and [00:37:04] remove the third of that interest um but [00:37:08] that is he's saying be charge one and [00:37:11] half edu 6% for laundry per the [00:37:14] regulations which I gave you section M [00:37:18] and he's referring to a non-residential [00:37:20] developed with Town water um but that's [00:37:25] not Town water that's a private water [00:37:27] District so he's really non-residential [00:37:30] developed without Town water and it says [00:37:33] you know one edu for 10 employees and [00:37:35] that's been verified that he doesn't [00:37:36] have any employees so it's perfectly [00:37:39] legal in in your purview to take that [00:37:41] one away but to act on the others is not [00:37:45] at the moment until we find out that [00:37:47] it's vacant and that it actually is only [00:37:49] one [00:37:50] apartment okay so we'll vote to remove [00:37:53] the [00:37:54] edu okay on the laundr M correct right [00:37:58] okay so I would make a motion to remove [00:38:00] the one edu from The High Street address [00:38:06] for the laundry [00:38:08] mat I'll second [00:38:11] it 126 High Street [00:38:14] yeah make sure good laundry man old [00:38:18] laundry well it's no [00:38:20] long to make sure the address was clear [00:38:23] because goes in the record that way in [00:38:26] favor [00:38:29] hi so this is what you're authorizing is [00:38:32] me to go into our system and remove one [00:38:34] full edu it's it is nothing to do with [00:38:36] an abatement okay so he'll have to come [00:38:38] back for he come back for to prove that [00:38:41] to prove the apartment and then he can [00:38:43] get a third off of that one apartment [00:38:45] okay well do you want me to just make a [00:38:48] motion that we're going to take no [00:38:49] action on this B yeah that's probably a [00:38:52] good idea I'll second it I'll second it [00:38:55] is also in the requirements [00:38:58] all in favor all mind it's not [00:39:01] important thank [00:39:04] you meeting minutes [00:39:06] approval Mr chair it says other new [00:39:10] business and a resident was in today but [00:39:12] he missed the visitors comments and I [00:39:15] think you might want to say something if [00:39:16] you don't mind having F him up and don't [00:39:19] mind would you like to speak [00:39:21] sir sure [00:39:24] was come on [00:39:28] okay how can I present this uh [00:39:31] diplomatically can you just say your [00:39:33] name and address PA sh [00:39:35] by John on road okay thank you for [00:39:39] instance I was a [00:39:40] three-year-old so I approach the Town [00:39:43] Administrator several [00:39:45] times my complaint or observation is [00:39:48] that an industrial building was allowed [00:39:51] to be constructed on High Street [00:39:53] immediately across the street the way [00:39:55] you were just talking about the longer [00:39:56] man on High Street [00:40:00] so how can I describe this from 150 ft [00:40:04] away this is an industrial building the [00:40:06] original building [00:40:09] was one story building maybe 30 or 40 ft [00:40:13] long this building is eight times the [00:40:16] size of the original residential street [00:40:20] building don't know why it got approved [00:40:23] don't know why it got constructed but [00:40:24] from my parents house doesn't mean it [00:40:26] it's me are you of my parents 150 ft [00:40:29] away half of a football field away when [00:40:31] the sun's out turn your back to it and [00:40:33] you can do your finger motions on the [00:40:35] wall shadow [00:40:38] fingers is this the quet yes whatever [00:40:41] you want to call it industrial [00:40:43] build so how would anybody here like to [00:40:46] be dealing with that my mother's been [00:40:48] here since 1955 looking out of the [00:40:50] window there is no view now you step [00:40:53] away from the window from 150 ft away [00:40:55] it's an 8T wide window for ft tall takes [00:40:58] of half the [00:40:59] window there's no view [00:41:02] there if you want to get blinded [00:41:04] everybody's welcome when the sunshines [00:41:06] I've got [00:41:08] sunglasses and a street light glare [00:41:10] every night off of this dedicated street [00:41:12] light that's 365 nights a year of street [00:41:15] light glare off of that building my [00:41:17] house is 800 ft away and I still get [00:41:19] blinded by [00:41:21] it the interesting thing was nobody [00:41:23] approached the immediate neighbors to [00:41:25] see if they were okay with this [00:41:27] considering it's a George belil Gilbert [00:41:30] side street 100-year old side street a [00:41:32] residential street why is an industrial [00:41:34] building that belongs on a th acre [00:41:36] farmer and Airport parked on that [00:41:39] street it's a Fascination to me what [00:41:42] else can I say I don't know anything [00:41:45] about this I know what he's talking [00:41:47] about it's like an 80 foot long by 30 [00:41:50] foot mirror do you have a picture of [00:41:52] industrial qu excuse me do you have a [00:41:54] picture [00:41:55] of we're just photographs here I gave it [00:41:58] to [00:41:59] the it would have needed building that's [00:42:03] what I told I said if he comes to you [00:42:05] we're going to ask if he's spoken to the [00:42:08] building inspector and if there's an in [00:42:09] fact have you spoken to the building [00:42:11] inspector about this my last approach to [00:42:13] the building hisor was I I think quite [00:42:15] disrespectful he was condescending to me [00:42:18] the first thing he said was he didn't [00:42:19] want to talk about it so I was like you [00:42:21] need a lawyer no I need somebody to [00:42:23] address the [00:42:25] situation I've heard comments [00:42:29] whatever you want to call it tell the [00:42:30] woman that lives there my mother 98- [00:42:32] year- old person that would her close [00:42:34] the shades every date at the sunshine [00:42:37] somebody's going to tell my mother with [00:42:38] the door and her else to Clos the shades [00:42:40] did the building inspector say that no [00:42:43] that's here say glosser through small [00:42:45] town mths have you spoken to the [00:42:49] owner do you know him forever as he [00:42:52] always lived [00:42:54] there let me make this comment that [00:42:56] place was a mus Museum like property [00:42:58] Emil and Jenny Diamond own there wasn't [00:42:59] a Glade of grass out of place if you [00:43:02] want to take a look at it now you can [00:43:03] see the difference of something that was [00:43:04] Museum like for now that's got nothing [00:43:06] to do with the industrial building is he [00:43:09] running a business out of there don't [00:43:11] know what he's [00:43:13] doing I don't want to say too much [00:43:16] because uh my relationship with this [00:43:18] person is uh quite not stable and I [00:43:21] don't want to make a comment about it [00:43:22] now in front of anybody [00:43:25] here people that know my personal story [00:43:27] they understand what I'm dealing with [00:43:30] what else can I [00:43:32] say I'm a spokesman for the local people [00:43:35] here I've heard people made enough [00:43:37] comments about that building you're [00:43:38] bringing the neighborhood down I happen [00:43:40] to be to the point where I've had enough [00:43:43] you know I can only handle a pebble in [00:43:44] my shoe for so long the CLK just came [00:43:47] out of my mouth right [00:43:50] now that's fine that's where you should [00:43:53] be you should be complaining to us it's [00:43:56] a complaint but it's an observation I [00:43:58] don't care who lives there I don't know [00:43:59] who's going to put up with this it's [00:44:01] happy day to [00:44:03] sunshines who approach the immediate [00:44:06] neighbors are you w here with an [00:44:07] industrial building that size it's eight [00:44:10] times the size of the original garage it [00:44:12] tucked right in a residential simple [00:44:14] stri Street in George Gilbert [00:44:17] Town once again it belongs in a th acre [00:44:20] farmer in [00:44:22] airport well don't know what else how to [00:44:25] present it to you [00:44:28] I all I can say is we'll talk to we'll [00:44:30] direct the building inspector to look at [00:44:33] it uh we if you can get your neighbors [00:44:38] to sign a piece of paper that they [00:44:42] complain about this that might be [00:44:44] beneficial there are no immediate [00:44:46] neighbors to see it my mother's house [00:44:48] and my house are the immediate neighbors [00:44:50] people travel by and they don't care [00:44:52] what it looks like okay well all we can [00:44:55] do is uh direct the build an inspector [00:44:58] to look into it and if it was built [00:45:01] without a permit then it's illegal and [00:45:05] it'll we'll get on it we it'll be a [00:45:08] while it's ongoing it's not understand [00:45:11] there all the time but here's the thing [00:45:13] there's no glare on the west [00:45:16] side it's covered by trees on the West [00:45:18] Side the east side is wide open for sun [00:45:21] glare and that different times of year [00:45:22] is more intense now once again you want [00:45:24] to do shadow figures 150 ft away 10 ft [00:45:27] from the window you can do this on the [00:45:29] wall whenever you [00:45:31] want it's like sun off a flat water or [00:45:34] sun off of a mirror not [00:45:37] nice all right so whoever lives there I [00:45:40] don't care who it is it's not acceptable [00:45:43] and as far as I want to say about my [00:45:45] privacy what does that say about anybody [00:45:47] that lives here if it's not me there's [00:45:49] no [00:45:51] view the solution is board the window up [00:45:53] and paint the black what the windows for [00:45:56] I want to look out the window and see [00:45:57] something not a building taken up an 8x4 [00:46:00] window from 10 ft inside of a [00:46:02] room [00:46:05] sad all right so that's the best I can [00:46:09] present it to you well I think and I am [00:46:12] very upset I've been sitting on this for [00:46:14] long [00:46:15] enough so hope something can get done [00:46:18] about it all right we uh thanks for your [00:46:21] time look into it y thank you all right [00:46:30] comments where is [00:46:32] this across from the old laad on High [00:46:36] Street he's been to Board of Health [00:46:40] to inspector and they're cleaning up oh [00:46:44] that if they don't they're going to get [00:46:46] SLA by a [00:46:48] fine here not sure what the f is but [00:46:52] they've been ordered to clean up the [00:46:54] mess does that mean put everything under [00:46:55] cover for everything that he can see [00:46:58] from his house it's right along the side [00:47:00] of the road we also have the photograph [00:47:03] of the building he's talking about and [00:47:04] it does face into his mother's house [00:47:07] it's [00:47:09] unacceptable oh well then make it go [00:47:11] away we told the we told him to speak to [00:47:14] the building department and he doesn't [00:47:17] have a good rapport at the building [00:47:20] department that happens and vice versa [00:47:27] we have a lot of um complaints okay we [00:47:31] shouldn't be talking about people when [00:47:33] they're not here is this something that [00:47:35] maybe went by the planning board it's [00:47:38] something that somebody just did and no [00:47:41] no Town officer right if no permits were [00:47:44] pulled or then there's definitely action [00:47:47] that can be taken it's got to be by the [00:47:49] building department though yeah finally [00:47:52] things can be kind out of our [00:47:53] jurisdiction to some extent well we [00:47:56] should try to push it along [00:47:59] right if it's zoned residential and [00:48:02] there's a commercial building that's not [00:48:04] licensed to be there well that's what we [00:48:06] have to look into the zoning board would [00:48:08] probably need to get in on it as well [00:48:10] yeah we could send it to the zba yeah [00:48:13] commercial [00:48:15] building you guys [00:48:18] take commercial building in which a [00:48:21] build a business is being run out [00:48:24] so full of motorcycles [00:48:32] all right thank you all meeting minutes [00:48:37] approval um I would make a motion to [00:48:39] approve the meeting minutes from April [00:48:41] 8th [00:48:43] 2024 I'll second it in favor [00:48:48] I old [00:48:53] business the more scholarship essays [00:48:57] Bill Cole was uh looking [00:49:00] through things uh money for the U [00:49:03] endowments for the trust from for the [00:49:07] pige library and found these Norse [00:49:11] scholarships uh Mrs Morse did a lot of [00:49:15] the donating of money uh so he um found [00:49:21] that there was $1,500 or so that hadn't [00:49:25] been used m in a couple of years we're [00:49:28] going to do two $500 scholarships right [00:49:30] and we've put out the word that uh kids [00:49:34] that are going off to college can put in [00:49:36] for this but last week was a vacation [00:49:40] well they're not due till May 17th so [00:49:42] we're not going to do reading essays at [00:49:44] May 20 right so you don't have anything [00:49:47] to read us tonight [00:49:50] okay we got ahead of ourselves [00:49:53] there committee reports [00:49:57] zba want to report nothing to report [00:50:01] okay but there will be there may be yeah [00:50:05] maybe we actually we await the [00:50:07] opportunity and you've made your report [00:50:09] ma'am thank [00:50:12] you uh Town Administrator report I would [00:50:16] seek a motion to uh dispense with the [00:50:18] reading of the report that's [00:50:21] online [00:50:25] perfect everything is is pretty much [00:50:27] ongoing [00:50:31] no Town Administrator [00:50:34] report [00:50:36] skip if you have any questions let me [00:50:39] know [00:50:40] about [00:50:43] second I you [00:50:45] made put it online that's normally she [00:50:49] goes through it and then we and then [00:50:50] it's posted for anyone to see [00:50:52] yes I don't think you have to make a [00:50:54] motion yeah [00:50:56] unless you want me to read it I mean it [00:50:58] doesn't [00:51:00] matter it's online I've read it yeah [00:51:04] okay signatures and [00:51:07] approvals think you sign [00:51:10] everything select board round [00:51:24] Pap I know once an adjournment is moved [00:51:28] and seconded there can't be discussion [00:51:30] it calls for a vote immediately but I'm [00:51:33] going to say thank you for your service [00:51:36] yes this is Robert ruggle last meeting [00:51:38] as a select so uh thanks a [00:51:42] lot I would glad you me it I would [00:51:46] second that because I feel like we did a [00:51:48] lot of [00:51:49] work those first couple of [00:51:52] years over from chaos yeah so I thank [00:51:57] you thank you thank you thank you thank [00:52:02] you all in favor I thank you thank you [00:52:07] all thank you everybody [00:52:09] 722 722 [00:52:19] Sand [00:52:22] Drive still have to find time to go fish [00:52:25] oh it's over there [00:52:37] great so I have [00:52:40] this right [00:52:44] [Music] [00:52:55] behind [00:53:25] e for