Thumbnail for 8/12/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Hardwick Select Board: Municipal Operations and Community Development Initiatives

Original title: 8/12/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

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Meeting details

Date

August 12, 2024

Duration

1h 4m

Decisions

11 recorded

Action Items

11 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board convened to address various municipal matters, including approving a pole location request for National Grid/Verizon, setting FY2025 meeting dates, and authorizing the 2024 State Primary warrant. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a detailed presentation by the Hardwick Rural Collaborative regarding their vision to renovate and repurpose the historic Ruggles Hill Road School into a self-sufficient community hub, focusing on a shared kitchen, community spaces, and entrepreneurial support. The Board also received a comprehensive Town Administrator's report covering grant awards, re-keying of the municipal office, and progress on various town initiatives. Discussions also included potential changes to the Board of Health's alliance, fire department operations, and funding options for a new fire truck, concluding with a motion to adjourn.

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Discussion Highlights

A public hearing was held regarding National Grid/Verizon New England's request to locate a new pole on Greenwich Road to provide new service.
Proposed Select Board meeting dates for Fiscal Year 2025 were reviewed, including adjustments for holidays and potential conflicts with the Planning Board schedule.
Authorization of the Fall voting date for the 2024 State Primary was discussed.
The Hardwick Rural Collaborative, a newly renewed non-profit, presented its vision to renovate and repurpose the historic Ruggles Hill Road School into a self-sufficient community resource.
The Ruggles Hill Road School project aims to create a community kitchen, classrooms, catering facilities, and indoor/outdoor gathering spaces, while preserving the building's historic appearance.
The project intends to combat food insecurity, support local businesses, host a winter farmers' market, and serve as an emergency shelter, operating as a net-zero facility.
The Collaborative expressed intent to pay taxes on the building despite its non-profit status and highlighted expertise in securing grants.
Concerns were raised about protecting the town's interests in any building transfer, ensuring long-term community use, and clarifying property lines for the Ruggles Hill Road School.
The Town Administrator reported on the re-keying of the Municipal Office Building, significant grant awards (CDBG, National Park Association), and state earmarks for fire hydrants and the municipal office.
A new spreadsheet for tracking FY25 grants was initiated to improve oversight and deadline management.
The process for special event licenses and permits is being formalized with input from various town departments.
The Board of Health is considering joining the Quabbin Health Alliance for FY26, which would impact current grant funding and emergency services arrangements.
Updates were provided on Wastewater Treatment Plant projects, police facility tours, and community events like National Night Out.
The Highway Superintendent was recognized for exceptional work in quickly repairing a sinkhole.
An Open Meeting Law training session is scheduled for September 30th at the Eagle Hill School auditorium.
Crowdfunding was proposed as a potential funding mechanism for a new fire truck, alongside consideration of a used truck from the Town of Wales.
The Fire Department currently operates with two working trucks and relies on mutual aid, with sufficient firefighter turnout.
Funds from the sale of the ambulance and ambulance barn, held by a 501(c)(3) entity, are being allocated to support EMT and Paramedic training and the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for various town facilities.

Transcript (10,950 words)

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

00:00:01
Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands Nation indivisible justice for all thank you and first order of business is a
00:00:22
Poll hearing and we have a representative from n National GRE that's good okay call this poll hearing to order in accordance with the provisions of section 22 chapter 166 of the
00:00:42
Massachusetts general laws you were hereby notified that public hearing will be held at the hardwood municipal office building 307 Main Street Gilbertville Mass on the 12th of August 2024 at 6:30 p.m. on the petition of national g
00:01:00
Verizon New England request permission to locate poles wires and features including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures along and across a public way green witch road is there anybody here to speak to
00:01:19
This um Mr chair may I start sure um so the abutter was notified in the appropriate amount of appropriate amount of time and um it has been posted in accordance with the law in the we Riv news okay would you like to explain this
00:01:40
Sir it's for uh it's a pole for new service on on the road so we just uh I think there's not many services on that street and we just need a poll to get right across over so so it's really there's only about one poll yeah it's one
00:01:58
Poll since we have yeah is there anybody here to speak for or against this do we know what part of green Wich Road Sam Collins
00:02:21

[00:00:01] pledge allegiance to the flag of the [00:00:03] United States of America to the Republic [00:00:07] for which it stands [00:00:10] Nation [00:00:12] indivisible justice for [00:00:15] all thank [00:00:18] you and first order of business is a [00:00:22] poll hearing and we have a [00:00:24] representative from n National GRE [00:00:27] that's good [00:00:32] okay call this poll hearing to [00:00:35] order in accordance with the provisions [00:00:38] of section 22 chapter 166 of the [00:00:42] Massachusetts general laws you were [00:00:44] hereby notified that public hearing will [00:00:46] be held at the hardwood municipal office [00:00:48] building 307 Main Street Gilbertville [00:00:52] Mass on the 12th of August 2024 at 6:30 [00:00:57] p.m. on the petition of national g [00:01:00] Verizon New England request permission [00:01:03] to locate poles wires and features [00:01:06] including the necessary sustaining and [00:01:09] protecting fixtures along and across a [00:01:12] public way green witch [00:01:15] road is there anybody here to speak to [00:01:19] this um Mr chair may I start sure um so [00:01:24] the abutter was notified in the [00:01:26] appropriate amount of appropriate amount [00:01:29] of time [00:01:30] and um it has been posted in accordance [00:01:33] with the law in the we Riv [00:01:36] news okay would you like to explain this [00:01:40] sir it's for uh it's a pole for new [00:01:43] service on on the road so we just uh I [00:01:47] think there's not many services on that [00:01:49] street and we just need a poll to get [00:01:51] right across over so so it's really [00:01:54] there's only about one poll yeah it's [00:01:56] one [00:01:58] poll since we have [00:02:07] yeah is there anybody here to speak for [00:02:10] or against [00:02:12] this do we know what part of green Wich [00:02:14] Road Sam Collins [00:02:21] Road I don't know if you can see this [00:02:24] Collins [00:02:25] Road is an existing pole we're just [00:02:28] adding a new Pole right there [00:02:31] thank [00:02:35] you that being the case I'll uh ask for [00:02:39] a motion to close this hearing make a [00:02:42] motion to close the Public Public [00:02:45] hearing I'll second it all in favor I [00:02:50] I and I would seek a motion to Grant [00:02:55] the National Grid Verizon New England [00:02:59] grant their requ request for per [00:03:01] permission to locate a pole on Greenwich [00:03:04] Road okay I make a motion to locate a [00:03:08] new Poll for National Grid and Verizon [00:03:10] per the information [00:03:12] given second in [00:03:16] favor just ask for your [00:03:18] signatures that please [00:03:34] know every time I use the word [00:03:35] appropriate I'm going to think of you [00:03:40] good sounds like I'm [00:03:43] appropriate thank you very much thank [00:03:46] you thank you sir thank you for [00:03:55] coming uh visitor comments [00:04:05] we're going to take a vote [00:04:07] on uh select board meeting [00:04:10] dates so I put together a list of the [00:04:13] select board meeting dates for fy2 there [00:04:16] are three [00:04:18] Mondays that fall on holidays this year [00:04:21] so I I had uh moveed to the following [00:04:25] Tuesday [00:04:27] um I just wanted to get the boards of [00:04:29] approval um to see if that's the if that [00:04:32] would work it's again it's only three [00:04:34] Mondays um this entire year but I want [00:04:36] to make sure that you know we get a [00:04:39] meeting list posted on the website and [00:04:41] everything so and this is coming up so [00:04:45] no this is scattered across the Year yes [00:04:48] yep um good we have to check to see if [00:04:54] we might be in conflict with the [00:04:56] planning [00:04:57] board so if that's the case it's just a [00:05:00] question of finding a space yeah but [00:05:02] otherwise we can move it to the [00:05:05] following day Tuesdays or we can [00:05:09] cancel skip you have 48 hour so right [00:05:13] can move anything around okay so you [00:05:15] want to just leave it or you want to [00:05:19] yeah what on the holidays or the [00:05:21] Tuesdays oh as far as if it's a conflict [00:05:24] yeah yeah if it's a conflict we'll [00:05:26] adjust it that's all [00:05:29] you want to vote on this sure um one [00:05:32] thing before you vote I think December [00:05:34] 19th is a typo I think it should only be [00:05:37] December 9th just want to bring it to [00:05:39] youren good good catch thank [00:05:44] you I just thought we could meet twice [00:05:47] in one week Christmas time something [00:05:50] special yeah you're looking for gifts [00:05:54] yeah [00:05:58] just all right uh did I get a motion to [00:06:01] uh yes um any of those dates make a [00:06:04] motion to approve the select board [00:06:06] meetings for fiscal year [00:06:08] 2025 the dates listed year 24 second it [00:06:13] all in favor [00:06:15] I thank [00:06:17] you the warrant for the state [00:06:20] primary Yep this is um for the town [00:06:23] clerk's office um just authorizing the [00:06:28] um while voting [00:06:35] date all [00:06:38] right so I will um I will need a vote [00:06:42] and some [00:06:45] signatures SE [00:06:47] a motion [00:06:49] to make a motion to approve the warrant [00:06:52] for 2024 State [00:06:55] primary I'll second it all in favor all [00:06:59] all [00:07:02] sign it [00:07:14] now 87 days to the election something [00:07:18] like [00:07:23] that thank you thank [00:07:26] you and now [00:07:31] L siren for the hardw r [00:07:38] collaborative um I do want to do [00:07:41] this move this little table move it all [00:07:44] over since [00:07:49] we the chair up yeah I think maybe we [00:07:52] just move the chair we all be [00:07:55] friendly he's not push what not push [00:08:00] can everybody can everybody [00:08:02] see okay [00:08:06] um you have a small print out there uh [00:08:10] of um the harbard world collaborative we [00:08:13] are a new nonprofit uh what is [00:08:16] interesting about us is we are totally [00:08:19] female board Lisa Cohen is one of the [00:08:22] members of the board I am one of the [00:08:24] members of the board um we're all hard [00:08:26] of women so um and I have to admit that [00:08:31] we did that for a reason because women [00:08:33] own nonprofits um get a few places that [00:08:37] other nonprofits don't get so uh that [00:08:40] being said uh we gave you a little bit [00:08:43] of teaser about some of the things that [00:08:45] we uh were thinking about and so here's [00:08:48] the presentation [00:08:52] okay uh what if a group in town had the [00:08:56] idea to save and the vision to save one [00:08:58] of the unused buildings in this town [00:09:00] what would that Vision entail something [00:09:03] that would fit the Royal character of [00:09:04] our town something that everybody in [00:09:07] town can use and enjoy something that [00:09:11] reflects and preserves the history of [00:09:13] the building while allowing that [00:09:16] building to be viable all the way into [00:09:18] the future or on a very Grand scale uh a [00:09:22] self-sufficient building that will no [00:09:25] longer be a burden to the town and the [00:09:27] resources of the town and would actually [00:09:30] pay the town back in some way to that [00:09:33] end wouldn't that actually be [00:09:36] Elementary [00:09:40] okay the harbard BR collaborative is a [00:09:44] nonprofit organization that seeks to [00:09:46] renovate and repurpose the ruggell [00:09:47] school the [00:09:49] organization envisions the rugles cell [00:09:51] school as community resource with [00:09:53] programs of interest and value to the [00:09:56] rural to this rural town the space would [00:09:59] have a Community Kitchen classrooms for [00:10:01] programs catering to adults and children [00:10:04] indoor and outdoor spaces for Gatherings [00:10:07] and the collaborative would seek to work [00:10:09] with existing local nonprofits such as [00:10:11] the Hardwick Community Fair Association [00:10:14] the Hardwick Farmers Guild and in [00:10:16] celebration and support of the rural [00:10:18] nature of Hardwick and all of its [00:10:24] Villages take okay thank [00:10:27] you this is our mission [00:10:30] to preserve the the rille school a [00:10:33] building which we love and to use it for [00:10:36] the future of our community this is our [00:10:38] vision to repurpose a deteriorating [00:10:40] building of historic significance that [00:10:43] has outlived its original purpose into [00:10:46] an asset to the local population without [00:10:49] removing any of the character of the [00:10:51] building and and improving the area [00:10:55] there will be no NE negative impact to [00:10:58] the area [00:10:59] the outside of the building um the [00:11:02] building is on the historic register [00:11:04] there will be no um impact to the [00:11:08] outside of the building and the building [00:11:09] is going to look exactly the same as [00:11:11] it's has for the last 100 years it's all [00:11:14] of its native plantings are going to be [00:11:17] redone it's going to have Community [00:11:19] Gardens that will only have positive [00:11:21] impact upon the neighborhood while [00:11:23] inviting people to use the area and when [00:11:27] it is finished it's going to be used [00:11:29] ible by all the citizens of [00:11:33] hardwood so ladies and [00:11:37] gentlemen I present to [00:11:42] you [00:11:45] [Applause] [00:11:49] Elementary and because we got to do [00:11:51] Shameless self-promotion I have a [00:11:54] t-shirt [00:11:56] nice I have a tshirt [00:12:02] as you notice that looks exactly the way [00:12:04] the building does now only it's pretty [00:12:08] and there's nothing falling [00:12:14] off see can we put that [00:12:18] somewhere that's what it here [00:12:22] so by the way that picture was done by [00:12:25] my sister so um some of the proposed us [00:12:29] and we put this here because when when I [00:12:33] got into this um and by no means this is [00:12:37] not something I just came across um I've [00:12:40] been trying to do something with this [00:12:42] building for 30 [00:12:44] years I have approached the town of [00:12:46] harri for 30 years to do something with [00:12:49] this building um some of the people here [00:12:52] in this building Eric also um my [00:12:56] proposal has been kicking around this [00:12:58] town for probably 5 years and all of [00:13:02] these proposed users have been on that [00:13:03] building and every time I've come and [00:13:06] talk to people everybody comes up with [00:13:08] another idea of oh we could do this and [00:13:11] we could do that and everything keeps [00:13:14] getting added and there's so many things [00:13:16] that we could do with that building but [00:13:19] all in all it all adds up to [00:13:22] community uses and it's centering around [00:13:26] rural the farms and food [00:13:30] um the number one proposal for this is a [00:13:33] shared Community Kitchen um and there's [00:13:36] a little blip in that in the package [00:13:38] that I gave you exactly what is a shared [00:13:40] Community Kitchen it's it's basically a [00:13:42] Serve Safe uh approved kitchen that [00:13:46] people in our area can use for um [00:13:50] canning canning items um promoting [00:13:54] products uh starting a business um [00:13:58] cooking fund raising meals you bet you [00:14:01] you know Community dinners bringing back [00:14:04] the fair Summer Okay um you know you [00:14:07] want to you want to learn how to you you [00:14:09] want to you want to build a business and [00:14:11] you want to sell your product at the [00:14:12] farmers's market you can come down and [00:14:14] you can use your product and you can you [00:14:17] know get jams jellies bakes whatever uh [00:14:20] you want to become a caterer you can [00:14:21] become a caterer uh anyway Shar [00:14:24] Community Kitchen we can promote small [00:14:27] business and entrepreneurial [00:14:29] develop and produce food products for [00:14:31] resale a winter farmers market and we [00:14:35] have talked to everybody who's on the [00:14:36] Farmers Market on the common right now [00:14:39] and they all want to join in a winter [00:14:41] farmers market and we don't have too [00:14:43] many in the area Community meeting space [00:14:46] and even though you sit there and say [00:14:48] look Jee there's lots of places we could [00:14:50] meet no there isn't um cooking classes [00:14:54] when I when we went to school we were [00:14:56] taught how to cook no they don't do that [00:14:58] anymore kids on the uh food preservation [00:15:02] classes Community [00:15:05] denes we can promote [00:15:07] agriculture promoting AGR [00:15:10] tourism [00:15:12] um com combating food insecurity um one [00:15:17] of the one of the um items I I was [00:15:20] talking about um is in the food pantry [00:15:25] they hand out the food coupons and a lot [00:15:28] of people and Gilbert Phil can't get [00:15:31] down to the farmers market because they [00:15:34] don't have transportation and they can't [00:15:36] use their food coupons um I was at the [00:15:40] um [00:15:42] USDA uh I don't even know what that was [00:15:45] actually called they had a big thing El [00:15:46] from Hogan a few few months back and I [00:15:49] had a talk with a couple of people and [00:15:51] the USDA has a program now with food [00:15:54] stamps that you can use your food stamps [00:15:58] to buy buy food at farmers markets and [00:16:01] you can also use your food stamps to buy [00:16:04] healthy meals prepared meals that we [00:16:07] could prepare and we could sell to [00:16:10] people on food stamps we could even [00:16:12] deliver them to people and they could be [00:16:14] produced at our in our community kitchen [00:16:17] and we could make sure that the people [00:16:19] who aren't getting healthy meals can get [00:16:22] healthy meals um community activities [00:16:26] back to the community dinners um um we [00:16:29] could have a monthly Community dinner [00:16:31] February is chocolate night okay um [00:16:34] artist [00:16:36] space local business promotions you know [00:16:40] this this night M wants to do a thing [00:16:44] this night Rose 32 wants to do something [00:16:47] uh civil def defense space all right um [00:16:51] we'll get into that later on [00:16:53] self-sufficient building okay and a net [00:16:56] zero building um that's one of our plans [00:17:00] in many ways a continuation of what this [00:17:02] grand old girl has done for the last 100 [00:17:05] years we will continue to do for the [00:17:07] next [00:17:07] hun this has got a history from World [00:17:10] War II there were um Victory Gardens [00:17:14] down on Barry Road and when they when [00:17:18] they all the produce that was grown they [00:17:21] would bring them over to the school and [00:17:23] the ladies in town were canning them and [00:17:26] freezing them and then they distributed [00:17:28] them to people in town so we're we would [00:17:32] just do the same thing that we they were [00:17:34] doing you 70 years ago it's just on a [00:17:37] different [00:17:39] scale but it's the same thing the [00:17:41] school's done for a long [00:17:43] time uh proposed Renovations roof we're [00:17:47] going to pain togethers um new handicap [00:17:50] roof ramp uh solar panels which you're [00:17:53] not going to see native plantings like [00:17:56] fruit trees blueberry bushes raise [00:17:58] community Community beds for Community [00:18:00] reduce the Gazebo benches walking trails [00:18:03] in short it's the same it's been for 100 [00:18:08] years but it's not going to be [00:18:11] overgrown [00:18:13] interior uh the shared Community [00:18:15] kitchen's going to be in the basement [00:18:17] we're going to put in handicapp [00:18:18] bathrooms we're going to install heat [00:18:19] pumps we're going to remove the ugly [00:18:21] drop ceilings and all that all those [00:18:24] things but uh when we remove the old [00:18:27] radiators and the heating old heating [00:18:29] systems we can renovate the ceilings the [00:18:32] tent ceilings we can put the schoolhouse [00:18:34] lights back we can fix the windows we [00:18:37] can refinish the hybrid floors and the [00:18:40] building's going to look the same way it [00:18:41] did 100 years ago and we're going to [00:18:43] leave the Slate we're going to leave the [00:18:45] walls I'm not pulling out a wall I'm not [00:18:48] touching anything except that building [00:18:50] all those little Nicks and panties from [00:18:51] those THS and the little feet including [00:18:53] mine they can still be there so um we're [00:18:57] talking to battery back [00:18:59] system of some sort uh between the solar [00:19:02] panels and the [00:19:04] um and the uh and the um heat pumps uh [00:19:10] we're going to put in a propane [00:19:11] generator I like propane it's a good [00:19:13] cook with propane but I can see that [00:19:16] building in the event of an emergency [00:19:20] there'll be a place where people can go [00:19:21] that they can get heat they can get [00:19:23] showers they can get [00:19:25] food and it'll be off the grave [00:19:29] um I mean it's it's going to look [00:19:31] exactly the same it's been for the last [00:19:33] 100 years walk into it it's going to be [00:19:35] an old school building from 100 year [00:19:37] book um I don't want to touch anything [00:19:40] in that [00:19:42] building I went to school there you know [00:19:45] I went to school there I put I put those [00:19:48] hang I put the marks on there [00:19:53] um as far as I can see it's permitted [00:19:56] under the current zoning uh it's not [00:19:58] going to interfere with any of the [00:20:00] historic designation of the building it [00:20:02] doesn't interfere with the rural nature [00:20:04] of the town or the district and it's not [00:20:06] going to interfere with the appearance [00:20:07] of the building in any way it does [00:20:10] adhere to the current master plan for [00:20:11] future agricultural businesses and and [00:20:14] furthering educational [00:20:16] purposes it furthers positive attitudes [00:20:18] toward the town and its agricultural [00:20:20] Roots [00:20:22] um it would directly serve over a [00:20:24] thousand people per year and could [00:20:26] easily serve 10 times that and that is [00:20:30] uh the calculations [00:20:32] of you give one person a meal and or you [00:20:37] help one person learn how to cook a meal [00:20:40] and they bring it home and they serve [00:20:42] their entire family of five that one [00:20:45] person now serves five say that that [00:20:48] person now it's it's the snowball effect [00:20:51] of of that [00:20:53] um it's not going to be a burden upon [00:20:56] the town anymore [00:20:58] okay um it's not going to be [00:21:00] deteriorating anymore and it's going to [00:21:03] again be the Showcase it used to be uh [00:21:06] where are we at here this would [00:21:09] immediately start bringing Revenue back [00:21:10] to the town because with permits and um [00:21:13] any other things that we have to do on [00:21:15] it I mean just with permitting fees and [00:21:17] things like that um and then right here [00:21:22] is that we have every intention of [00:21:24] entering into a pilot program um we are [00:21:27] a nonprofit but we will enter into a [00:21:30] pilot program with the town so that once [00:21:33] the building is finished and we're [00:21:35] underway please don't ask it to do it [00:21:38] until we get some money coming in but we [00:21:40] plan on paying the taxes on this [00:21:42] building okay uh because we feel it is [00:21:45] only fair all right we will pay the you [00:21:49] know we're not going to be evil Hill [00:21:51] okay we are going to pay what we feel [00:21:54] you know what the town feels we should [00:21:56] pay all right um [00:22:02] um this is going to bring in much needed [00:22:04] programs to the town and the area um [00:22:08] classes to teach children how to to cook [00:22:10] adults to teach them how to cook um [00:22:14] there's a million things that we can do [00:22:17] uh preservation classes we actually I [00:22:19] actually had somebody say G do you want [00:22:21] to have a cooking program out of that [00:22:22] that we could broadcast and I'm like [00:22:24] well [00:22:25] something um but there's the commity [00:22:28] Community dinners at monthly activities [00:22:31] of of some sort that we could do um all [00:22:34] sorts of things that we could bring [00:22:35] people in to do um it would allow [00:22:38] entrepreneurs to have a place to explore [00:22:40] to figure out how to build things we [00:22:42] could bring in various groups that could [00:22:45] help um you know we could have an [00:22:47] entrepreneur night we could bring in [00:22:49] professionals to say oh you know does [00:22:52] somebody need help uh the USDA is very [00:22:55] big on having people to come in and help [00:22:59] people learn how to do skills and and [00:23:01] various other things like that [00:23:06] um so [00:23:12] um what do you want what do you want to [00:23:14] say I don't really have anything to add [00:23:17] other than um my track record in Grant [00:23:23] applications and getting grants is quite [00:23:25] good um very good at writing and I've [00:23:29] already there's already a bunch of [00:23:31] Grants out there that we could probably [00:23:33] very easily [00:23:38] get there uh this is [00:23:42] wonderful Community Kitchen [00:23:45] is absolutely [00:23:48] necessary that's part of civil defense [00:23:50] as far as I'm concerned U we uh so you [00:23:55] meant you say you have a [00:23:57] 501c3 we're we we have we have state [00:24:00] designation we are we're working on the [00:24:03] federal but the the problem is um if we [00:24:08] don't have the building right why would [00:24:10] I do that and [00:24:16] and please only take the dollar what are [00:24:19] you doing can't offering money to buy [00:24:22] the building oh no no this is money to [00:24:25] I'm offering money to buy the building [00:24:27] okay not a [00:24:28] Reas time to do that okay that's what [00:24:30] I'm saying is this is good faith money [00:24:33] to buy the building all right this is [00:24:35] why I'm saying we are this is not a BRI [00:24:37] this is offering money to on a purchase [00:24:40] and sale of the building thank you we [00:24:42] have to come up with a formal event for [00:24:45] that um I would like to say that you [00:24:49] talk about a Snowball Effect actually [00:24:52] maybe talking about compound [00:24:54] interest kind of spreading that way mhm [00:24:58] uh and uh maybe Pathfinder and their [00:25:02] culinary Department might be an [00:25:03] interesting part of this yes um and I do [00:25:07] have one correction and I have to do [00:25:10] this a lot it's not the Ruggles Hill [00:25:12] school it's the Ruggles Hill Road school [00:25:16] cuz the Ruggles Hill school is in Barry [00:25:19] okay and we just don't want to get too [00:25:21] confused I I grew up it was the har [00:25:25] Elementary School it was never the rug [00:25:27] School it was the hard Center School [00:25:30] when I went to that's that would be a [00:25:32] good thing to exchange for sure good I I [00:25:35] think it's a wonderful idea we've been [00:25:37] trying to figure this out long time so [00:25:43] um okay make it so any other questions I [00:25:47] don't have any questions your list is [00:25:50] excellent um one one of the things that [00:25:52] has been brought up um by all means an [00:25:55] go ahead I um I mean whether you go to [00:26:00] planning uh to arrange about the parking [00:26:03] and all [00:26:06] um there is parking problem that could [00:26:09] be figured out there's a lot of open [00:26:12] ground around it would be [00:26:15] tricky uh Mr Tinker um I am in favor of [00:26:19] it I like the idea um couple things like [00:26:23] you could reach out to community [00:26:25] colleges as far as maybe offering like a [00:26:29] satellite remote for people that don't [00:26:31] have internet could attend their [00:26:32] colleges via internet um just a [00:26:35] suggestion um another one is I'm in [00:26:38] favor of the commercial kitchen [00:26:41] um I'd like to see something in there [00:26:44] where it's favorable to all the Hardwick [00:26:48] residents as far as using it like a a [00:26:51] rate that's reasonable I see a lot of [00:26:54] commercial kitchens that are get grant [00:26:56] money at all this get a established and [00:26:58] then turn around and charge the person [00:27:00] $200 an hour one of the one of the um [00:27:04] the things that that we have seen is [00:27:08] that um there's a membership and there's [00:27:12] two layers of membership one being you [00:27:15] know at for the local membership and its [00:27:18] penuts you know like $25 a month and [00:27:21] that person gets a level of penuts to [00:27:26] get it you know to use the facilities um [00:27:29] and the other one has you know the [00:27:32] higher member uh of it but um [00:27:37] the I I I'm I don't care if this [00:27:40] building makes money all right very [00:27:42] honestly all I care about and and this [00:27:46] is what I've discussed with Lisa is that [00:27:48] the goal on this building is that um [00:27:52] we're going to totally renovate this [00:27:53] building so we're hopefully for for many [00:27:57] years we won't have any major [00:28:00] maintenance issues so our what we need [00:28:03] to pay for is utilities and the [00:28:06] taxes and any cost of any programs the [00:28:10] cost of programs will be paid for by [00:28:13] grants and the operating fees um and and [00:28:18] I'm figuring worst case scenario we've [00:28:20] using today's calculations 10 grand for [00:28:25] taxes and and the the utilities aren't [00:28:29] if we put in solar panels and heat pumps [00:28:31] we're not talking a lot of [00:28:33] utilities so if if we're talking [00:28:37] $115,000 for utilities and [00:28:42] taxes that's not an awful lot you know [00:28:45] because if we're doing community dinners [00:28:47] I expect the general public they're [00:28:49] going to have to pay for that dinner all [00:28:51] right so that's operating that's [00:28:53] operating money so we don't have to take [00:28:55] money from a farm or H they can come in [00:28:58] they can use it they can sign up for [00:28:59] their little slot and they can they can [00:29:01] use for whatever cost it may be I mean [00:29:05] if they have to use you know a couple of [00:29:08] bucks worth of propane you pay for a [00:29:09] couple of bucks worth of propan so Mr [00:29:11] chair may make a recommendation um I [00:29:14] would definitely recommend getting your [00:29:16] 501c3 you can even use your right now [00:29:18] your house I mean an not ideal as your [00:29:21] house as there as [00:29:22] the is yeah it isn't that but it's just [00:29:25] like you know I don't need a 5013c if I [00:29:27] don't have [00:29:30] well well these things there there is a [00:29:33] process to and we're having a [00:29:35] conversation and you know we know you're [00:29:37] interested and so if you if you say talk [00:29:41] to my lawyer and tell them to to move on [00:29:44] 5013c I will call him tomorrow and I [00:29:47] also can add that I know that there are [00:29:50] grants that we could be eligible for as [00:29:53] long as there was a 501c3 to act as a [00:29:56] fiscal sponsor so so that is certainly [00:30:00] something we could do in the meanwhile [00:30:02] before we get the vital would see3 okay [00:30:08] um mik well let say to protect the [00:30:12] interest of the town there would be some [00:30:15] negotiations or some type of contract [00:30:17] something set up where if we give you [00:30:19] this at a very reduced rate based off of [00:30:22] everything you're saying to help the [00:30:24] community and work within the community [00:30:25] and do all these great things at the [00:30:28] same time we're going to have Clauses in [00:30:29] this where you can't just turn around [00:30:31] and flip the building and sell it even [00:30:33] though you're a nonprofit you can still [00:30:35] sell these assets cuz otherwise we could [00:30:37] sell this building in an auction or [00:30:40] whatnot and and I'm I'm just doing that [00:30:42] to protect the town's interest and and I [00:30:44] don't think that's the intent here right [00:30:47] okay but that's why I'm just putting F [00:30:49] that that that's that's not an issue I [00:30:52] mean because that isn't I don't want to [00:30:54] see this building I don't want to see [00:30:55] this building going to someone else okay [00:30:58] I want this building to be I want 100 [00:31:01] years from now when we're not going to [00:31:02] be here okay unless we don't know [00:31:05] something but I I want somebody to sit [00:31:08] there and say wow back then they had [00:31:10] vision and it's still here and that [00:31:13] building is now 225 years old and there [00:31:16] and it's still here and it's still doing [00:31:18] something for this town and that's what [00:31:20] I want it to happen [00:31:22] because you people don't understand how [00:31:25] much I love that okay real love that [00:31:28] building and you know and it's it means [00:31:31] something really means an awful lot to [00:31:33] me uh you know wrer first refs so if if [00:31:36] for some reason you know we ever have to [00:31:39] get rid of it that's fine okay if the [00:31:41] town wants to take over it but the the [00:31:44] issue of having the town own it and say [00:31:48] if we were leasing it from the town that [00:31:51] hampers a lot of um money that could [00:31:56] possibly go towards renovation [00:31:58] because um I I know right now that [00:32:03] there's a grant that I can apply for [00:32:06] that would pretty much pay for [00:32:08] everything all the renovations but they [00:32:11] won't leave it to a [00:32:12] town right all right I mean I'd have to [00:32:14] jump through some hoops and I'd probably [00:32:17] have to well you know maybe not sell my [00:32:19] soul but I might have to sell him hey [00:32:22] okay well at least rent them out okay [00:32:24] but you know what I'm saying is I mean [00:32:26] it's a long you know and I'm really have [00:32:28] to rely on on Lis and a few other people [00:32:30] but um I mean they've given out you know [00:32:34] a million and a half like that all right [00:32:36] to do a really good project and I think [00:32:39] this qualifies as a really good project [00:32:41] but um it they won't give it to a town [00:32:44] and I know if the town they won't give [00:32:47] they won't do a Community Kitchen if the [00:32:48] town is involved all right they'll do [00:32:50] matching Rants and stuff like that and [00:32:53] you know if the town could afford it new [00:32:55] you know they were saved long I don't [00:32:57] think the town wants the building I mean [00:32:59] I love the building I pictured it as a [00:33:02] police station 15 years ago I thought [00:33:05] that was a good idea I like the the uh [00:33:09] preschool in there I thought was pretty [00:33:11] cute um I I'm sure that some of the [00:33:16] parts of any kind of contract or [00:33:18] agreement would include you have to do [00:33:21] something with it I think the fear is [00:33:23] that you know if we give a building to [00:33:27] an [00:33:28] organization then it's not on our hands [00:33:31] anymore but then if those I mean if [00:33:35] there's three or four of you that are [00:33:37] got the fire in their bellies like you [00:33:41] do if it doesn't [00:33:44] go we don't want it to continue to be [00:33:46] der right so there's and there's that's [00:33:50] tricky on how to specify that and we got [00:33:53] to hope for the best but Mr sherff yes [00:33:56] ma'am I think there are are a few more [00:33:58] steps that the town has to take before [00:34:00] we're ready to figure that out we're [00:34:02] involved in looking at that building and [00:34:06] the others the pige and and the white [00:34:08] building down the street and how to deal [00:34:10] with these things and capital planning [00:34:13] is moving on that so we do have uh [00:34:16] appraisals coming in or due so but I [00:34:20] think this is a great idea if you [00:34:24] could take screenshots of what you [00:34:27] present presented have it be available I [00:34:30] know you have you should do [00:34:33] that you you do have condensed version [00:34:36] here but um I'm I'm a complete fan given [00:34:42] that you know we the town would be eager [00:34:45] to make it happen and and um the that [00:34:49] building came online I think it was [00:34:52] March 1st of of two [00:34:55] 1901 and I would want it I would want it [00:34:58] to be open in some way on the 125th [00:35:01] anniversary so that gives me uh [00:35:05] year year and a half well that's that'll [00:35:07] help yeah I mean and that's that's what [00:35:09] I'm saying is I mean and we better get [00:35:12] to it then well I well I I'm I can make [00:35:16] a phone call and St on the [00:35:19] roof just a question of [00:35:22] cash um [00:35:24] yeah do has ever been decided where the [00:35:30] property line is for the school versus [00:35:33] the Waterworks we're pretty sure that [00:35:35] there's enough [00:35:37] room yeah we've worked with the um [00:35:40] surveyor the surveyor the building [00:35:41] inspector the assessor um so yeah we're [00:35:44] pretty sure that we [00:35:46] um that we're we're figuring out we have [00:35:49] to be outside 150 ft yeah we're there [00:35:53] okay so does she keep that driveway on [00:35:55] the left side of the building or or does [00:35:58] that go with the water those are details [00:36:00] might be a parking lot in back who knows [00:36:02] yeah um got to see what's possible going [00:36:05] got to make sure that it's doable I [00:36:08] wouldn't make any phone calls yet uh I'm [00:36:11] sure that Kelly Kemp would want to be [00:36:13] involved in this and finance committee [00:36:17] and but not to slow it down it's been [00:36:20] something that we've been kicking down [00:36:22] the [00:36:23] road since 2001 that I remember so right [00:36:27] um and it is time to get going I'm glad [00:36:29] we have a deadline now well um from what [00:36:33] I saw of the original plans the um the [00:36:38] original plot of the [00:36:41] school made the the building plot of the [00:36:45] the property plot of the school made it [00:36:47] almost up to the well part okay so the [00:36:52] sidey yard where the basketball court is [00:36:55] all is is supposedly part of the [00:36:58] school right and wherever the water [00:37:02] wherever they show us that it starts [00:37:06] here then 150 ft out is has to be [00:37:11] protected because and um and I actually [00:37:15] did talk to um um several people in the [00:37:20] past about what you know what can we do [00:37:24] because that 150 ft actually goes [00:37:26] through the building [00:37:29] and I actually I talked to several [00:37:31] people and they said because of the fact [00:37:34] that the 150 ft goes through the [00:37:36] building they would allow that to to [00:37:40] back out of the building doesn't because [00:37:44] we have to we we we need to have [00:37:47] certified survey all sorts of stuff we [00:37:50] were digging back there because there [00:37:52] was a plan to put the the water [00:37:56] wastewater treatment facility back there [00:38:00] just before the last landfill War [00:38:02] started we were going for an alternative [00:38:05] system and we were doing perk tests back [00:38:07] there there's more land than is obvious [00:38:12] yeah I know there's there's land in the [00:38:14] back that's kind of wet which would be [00:38:15] beautiful for blueberry bushes [00:38:17] absolutely so so it's all it's all a [00:38:21] good idea but we can't say yes right [00:38:23] now and we'll have to get tape measured [00:38:27] at we'll have to get the the the the [00:38:37] surveying thank you thank [00:38:41] you thank you take the care my [00:38:46] building you see [00:38:50] that where's my [00:38:58] I mean you understand it's not going to [00:39:00] be settled toight I process it's I I [00:39:04] understand that I'm just saying is I [00:39:05] mean you know you what what you folks [00:39:08] have to and and you sign you signed my [00:39:10] papers I don't know how many years ago [00:39:12] it was that when I told you about how [00:39:13] much I I wanted that building I mean [00:39:15] I've been rabbit about this building for [00:39:17] a long time let's do it I mean we've [00:39:20] been kicking it down the road because we [00:39:23] keep running into these obstacles right [00:39:26] let's they they all can be they all can [00:39:28] be dealt with I mean I'm I'm a reason [00:39:31] people don't think so but I'm a very [00:39:32] reasonable person and that that building [00:39:35] needs to be saved now because it's a [00:39:37] hole in the roof and we need to save it [00:39:40] before the snow flies somehow somehow we [00:39:43] got to get that hole fixed and um one [00:39:47] way or another we got to at least get [00:39:48] that hole fixed we are going to fix the [00:39:51] roof on the Old Town Barn okay when does [00:39:55] that start oh soon as the fair is over [00:39:58] yeah oh good well if if if we could have [00:40:02] a conversation about how we can I'll go [00:40:04] up on that roof and I'll help them patch [00:40:06] that hole on you know have to make you a [00:40:09] special [00:40:10] employee that's that's okay I mean I [00:40:13] will be scared but I'll go up I that [00:40:16] that's how much I love that building I [00:40:17] will go up and I will what's the first [00:40:20] rule do not become a casualty no I [00:40:24] won't roof's the roof's not that b it's [00:40:28] just I'll stay away from the edges and [00:40:30] won talk thank you very [00:40:33] much all right thanks for the energy yes [00:40:38] yeah I've been this has been on my [00:40:40] flight for [00:40:42] decades thank [00:40:47] you all [00:40:49] right [00:40:51] um comments from the visitors [00:40:57] um [00:41:00] minutes [00:41:02] see have we read I've read the minutes [00:41:05] yeah I've read the minutes from June [00:41:07] 24th [00:41:08] and July July 22nd um and I mentioned to [00:41:13] Sandy there's July 8th but she working [00:41:16] on it yes I just wanted you know there [00:41:19] was one in between [00:41:21] that I'll make a motion to approve the [00:41:23] meeting minutes from June [00:41:25] 24th and July 22nd [00:41:28] 2024 I'll second it all in favor I [00:41:34] I Town [00:41:36] Administrator [00:41:39] report um so the municipal office [00:41:41] building is going to be Reed I have a [00:41:43] date it didn't have a date when I wrote [00:41:45] this on August 22nd so um an email is [00:41:49] going to be going out to everybody um [00:41:50] Sandy is going to be working on you know [00:41:52] issuing keys out to everybody um for [00:41:55] boards and committees and town employees [00:41:57] that way when someone leaves a board or [00:41:59] leaves an employment we can collect the [00:42:01] key and keep a accurate record of who [00:42:03] who's been issued keys to town [00:42:06] hall um we have been awarded the 950,000 [00:42:09] cdbg grant for Highland Terrace and the [00:42:12] planning study for uh Gilbertville [00:42:14] Memorial Park we've also been awarded [00:42:16] the 95,000 national park Association [00:42:19] grant for the townhouse both of those um [00:42:22] projects I have a call with um Marty and [00:42:26] um um Central Mass Regional planning [00:42:28] next week I think next Wednesday if I [00:42:30] remember correctly about next steps for [00:42:32] those [00:42:33] projects um we have secured a $115,000 [00:42:36] state earmark for fire hydrant and a [00:42:38] $50,000 earmark for the municipal office [00:42:41] building um I went over the Myer risk [00:42:44] Grant and the public safety Wellness [00:42:46] Grant last time um nothing's really [00:42:48] changed there yet I so but I did start [00:42:51] putting together a spreadsheet for fy2 [00:42:53] of all of our grants so we kind of know [00:42:56] what we've been awarded what we're still [00:42:58] waiting on what we're applying for that [00:43:00] way we can keep track of it because [00:43:02] there's a lot of stuff going on and it's [00:43:04] a lot of stuff to remember so I'm [00:43:06] working on that so um I'm actually going [00:43:09] to bring it with me to the capital [00:43:12] planning meeting on next week too um so [00:43:16] hopefully um we can keep that our track [00:43:18] and kind of know what we're applying for [00:43:20] how much who's the contact person and [00:43:24] you know deadlines that we have to meet [00:43:25] good good idea [00:43:27] um implemented the visitor code of [00:43:29] conduct policy that the board had [00:43:31] approved last meeting we still are [00:43:33] looking for three employees a highway [00:43:35] working Foreman a truck driver laborer [00:43:38] and a water wastewater treatment plant [00:43:40] assistant chief operator those have all [00:43:42] been posted it's been really [00:43:45] slow [00:43:47] um so at the last department head [00:43:50] meeting that I had um we talked about [00:43:53] Department goals for fy2 so all of those [00:43:56] departments EX one have given me their [00:43:58] goals for fy2 and I'll be presenting [00:44:01] them to the Personnel committee meeting [00:44:03] I wrot a note I know I know I was [00:44:07] kidding [00:44:09] um so myself and our assessor have we've [00:44:12] met with uh Z Go's Auction Group which [00:44:14] does U Municipal auctions um regarding [00:44:18] the three vacant town-owned properties [00:44:20] um more information is is coming we [00:44:22] still have a little information you have [00:44:23] to gather um before I can really present [00:44:26] it to the board and have all the [00:44:28] information um I met with the Headmaster [00:44:30] and the business manager at Eagle Hill [00:44:33] school myself the Board of Health Clerk [00:44:36] and two members of the wastewater [00:44:37] treatment plant took CPR and AED and we [00:44:40] all received [00:44:43] certificates um myself police fire [00:44:46] building exe our executive assistant in [00:44:49] the health department met to discuss a [00:44:50] formalizing processing for licenses and [00:44:53] permits when it comes to special events [00:44:55] so so far I've we've drafted did [00:44:57] something and I have to get it out to [00:44:59] everyone so they can you know comment [00:45:00] and make suggestions and everything [00:45:02] before I present it to the board but I [00:45:04] just wanted to give you guys uh notice [00:45:05] that that is also coming down the [00:45:09] pipeline um I went to a meeting in wear [00:45:11] to discuss the Mary Lane Hospital [00:45:13] property I also met with Judy coric to [00:45:15] get up to speed on the health care [00:45:16] issues that the town's facing so that's [00:45:19] actually something that's going to be on [00:45:20] the agenda for the next [00:45:22] meeting uh so just to give you guys a [00:45:24] heads up I also attended the council on [00:45:27] Aging meeting in Barry uh we discussed [00:45:30] uh their issue with the Serve Safe [00:45:32] kitchen that has now been restored as of [00:45:34] today um Barry Senior Center is serving [00:45:37] meals again they needed somebody right [00:45:40] they needed somebody with that training [00:45:42] yes someone had to be Serve Safe [00:45:43] certified they got uh they got that [00:45:45] certification or they got a copy of it [00:45:48] so now they were able to open the [00:45:49] kitchen [00:45:53] today one quick question back on the [00:45:55] Mary Lane Hospital sure um with Judy cor [00:45:59] is it going to be the same presentation [00:46:01] she made at the board of health or is it [00:46:02] going to be different um it's going to [00:46:04] be a little bit of of that but it's also [00:46:06] going to be um proposing a special task [00:46:09] force um that so there's a specific [00:46:13] group that's looking at this at this [00:46:15] issue um cuz there's a lot of moving [00:46:17] pieces as you heard um so just having a [00:46:20] designated group so it's going to be [00:46:22] more of of a little bit of an update and [00:46:24] then a little bit of a proposal a task [00:46:27] force or something or a committee [00:46:30] yeah in the way I understand it it's not [00:46:32] so much focused on saving the building [00:46:35] that's focused on getting Medical Urgent [00:46:39] Care some kind [00:46:41] of [00:46:42] replacement and ALS yes for sure and [00:46:45] also I don't want to speak for Judy but [00:46:47] I'll just say it's also has to do with [00:46:49] the trust that we uh Gilbertville has [00:46:51] some has some money and a trust with the [00:46:54] town aware and you know making sure that [00:46:56] we have the right people to um make sure [00:46:58] that we we get State doesn't steal it [00:47:02] right am I on TV [00:47:06] yes um I really want to leave up to Judy [00:47:09] because she's really been putting in the [00:47:11] you as you as you heard she's really [00:47:12] been putting the the time yes [00:47:16] um um as Selman Tinker um also noted we [00:47:21] I attended the Board of Health meeting [00:47:24] uh we discussed possibly joining the [00:47:27] quav and Health Alliance for FY [00:47:29] 26 um I know the health director for the [00:47:35] quav and Health Alliance has reached out [00:47:36] to John Mt the chair of the Board of [00:47:38] Health here they're going to have a [00:47:40] conversation um we're also we have to [00:47:42] get some information to them about um [00:47:45] our inspections and everything for the [00:47:46] last 3 years um and then the next step [00:47:49] would be to write a letter and submit it [00:47:52] to them asking to join for fway 26 and [00:47:55] then the town would have to um vote on [00:47:57] it at our annual town meeting next [00:48:00] year that would be FY 26 yes Y and why [00:48:05] are we considering [00:48:07] this um so when I first came to Hardwick [00:48:12] um the Board of Health had come had [00:48:14] talked to me the chair of the Board of [00:48:15] Health had talked me some of their [00:48:16] issues that they were having with the [00:48:18] Lester Health Coalition um in terms of [00:48:21] communication there were some [00:48:22] inspections missed um and just overall [00:48:24] you know unorganized and [00:48:27] I had re they had they were reaching out [00:48:29] to I guess Orange um and that had kind [00:48:32] of fallen through the crack from my [00:48:34] understanding well my understanding is [00:48:36] they weren't allowed to because they had [00:48:38] to give a 3-month notice and time had [00:48:41] had expired so they had to sign back up [00:48:44] for another three years with Lester and [00:48:45] the [00:48:46] grant that's my understanding from from [00:48:49] for La like this for this just recently [00:48:51] yes right and so we have as you know [00:48:54] grant money tied in with Lester [00:48:57] that pays and subsidizes the Board of [00:48:59] Health so when we [00:49:01] switch or if we switch we're going to [00:49:04] lose grant money but we're also going to [00:49:06] have to fund the Board of Health right [00:49:08] so these are things we're going to have [00:49:10] to we need to know what the cost is yes [00:49:14] and and our emergency services and stuff [00:49:18] like that because we're tied in with [00:49:19] batter we're tied in with Rin tree yeah [00:49:23] and right now with we're with them [00:49:26] through the leester [00:49:27] Alliance but if we switch over to the [00:49:29] quman we won't be well we have a [00:49:33] contract with West brooki mhm and that's [00:49:36] just us but these were things that were [00:49:38] brought up that they were all part of [00:49:40] this so um just to speak to that so [00:49:43] they're a part of the like we're not I [00:49:45] mean they're a part of the ler Health [00:49:47] Coalition like they're I mean they're [00:49:49] they can uh the other towns are there's [00:49:52] eight towns in the Coalition and they [00:49:53] can do whatever they want in their [00:49:54] within their own valtion um they want to [00:49:57] stay go whatever um is best for that [00:49:59] Community but I guess from the point of [00:50:01] view from the Board of Health and myself [00:50:03] the Board of Health chair and myself is [00:50:05] we have to look out for the best [00:50:06] interest of our residents and are they [00:50:08] getting the best services are we getting [00:50:10] the best bang for our buck and that's [00:50:11] just what we're looking into nothing's [00:50:12] really been decided okay [00:50:17] yeah um the wastewater treatment plant [00:50:21] superintendent and myself we had a a [00:50:22] monthly site visit [00:50:25] um at Gilbert Bell and whe right uh we [00:50:29] met with the project Engineers for those [00:50:31] two [00:50:32] projects um as you know today um Senator [00:50:38] Durant and representative berthume and [00:50:40] their team um came out and toward our [00:50:43] police facilities here in Hardwick and a [00:50:45] new brain [00:50:46] tree um I almost didn't put this next [00:50:49] one on here but I had an interview on [00:50:51] wear radio about my new job in Hardwick [00:50:54] that's great because Hollywood [00:50:57] no not at all around the [00:51:00] corner we've seen it before no [00:51:04] um so for recognition um I did attend [00:51:08] National Night Out in Barry at Pon [00:51:10] Regional High School uh with the police [00:51:12] and fire department so that was really [00:51:14] nice the weather was not great luckily [00:51:16] it wasn't raining but I feel like next [00:51:19] year hopefully we'll get a better night [00:51:20] so we be more people but it was really [00:51:21] nice to see like some kids trying on [00:51:24] like the police vest and it was cute [00:51:27] um so I liked being a part of that um I [00:51:31] also feel like I really want to just I [00:51:34] always feel like I'm recognizing the [00:51:36] highway department but um a couple weeks [00:51:38] back we had a sinkhole on one of our [00:51:40] streets and the highway superintendent [00:51:42] repaired it in so fast I can't even [00:51:46] believe what he is capable of so I [00:51:48] really want to um I really want to [00:51:51] highlight uh what a great job he does he [00:51:54] comes soon on weekends middle of his [00:51:58] vacation I can believe it big thank you [00:52:00] to Marty [00:52:02] yeah um so under important dates I have [00:52:04] a couple to add but I'll just go over [00:52:06] the ones that are here and then I'll [00:52:07] talk about the ones I have to add um the [00:52:08] Harvick fair is August 16th and [00:52:12] 17th whoa coming right up [00:52:18] huh so I get to go to that for my first [00:52:21] time um so I'm excited about that to see [00:52:24] what it's all about um bring people with [00:52:27] you we want more people I'm bringing my [00:52:31] boyfriend no dogs no we won't be there [00:52:36] um I am on vacation the week of [00:52:38] September 1st um I just wanted to remind [00:52:40] the board of that for how long just a [00:52:43] week what we going to do we'll manage oh [00:52:47] my [00:52:48] god um so I sent an email out September [00:52:52] 30th we're having an open meeting while [00:52:53] training at Eagle Hill School in the [00:52:55] auditorium from 4 :30 to 6:30 um [00:52:59] attorney Nicole castanza from kpwa is [00:53:01] doing the presentation she did an [00:53:03] excellent job when I was in wear so I [00:53:05] was really excited that we could work [00:53:06] with her um to do it for our boards and [00:53:09] committees and our staff with that being [00:53:11] said it is on a Monday which is a long [00:53:14] night so uh we will be closing town hall [00:53:16] for those two hours so the staff can [00:53:18] attend the training uh but we'll make [00:53:20] sure it's on Facebook make sure it's [00:53:21] posted and notified can I ask a really [00:53:23] quick question about that because my [00:53:26] husband who's on the Conservation [00:53:28] Commission got that email yeah but I'm [00:53:30] on the master planning committee and I [00:53:32] didn't and I didn't get it and I'm on [00:53:34] the townhouse let me write that down so [00:53:37] I'll make sure why there was an issue [00:53:38] with um like I added groups to the email [00:53:41] and I'll just I'll have to go back and [00:53:43] talk to my assistant and make sure that [00:53:45] at the right people are on those groups [00:53:46] so thank [00:53:55] you um um the last thing that I just [00:53:58] wanted to add that isn't on my report [00:54:00] that just came in is so the Barry Senior [00:54:01] Center is having a senior and Veterans [00:54:04] information Fair on Tuesday August 20th [00:54:07] from 10:00 to 1 um so I will be stopping [00:54:10] at that and I just wanted um let you [00:54:12] guys know that that what's that's what's [00:54:14] going on I it is posted on the town [00:54:16] website and um it's on their Facebook [00:54:18] page but um they have a lot of services [00:54:21] coming in and so hopefully [00:54:23] yeah is lunch I have another question [00:54:27] yeah I know um I thought today was [00:54:29] supposed to be crane day for the pump [00:54:31] station do we know when that's going to [00:54:34] happen day they were supposed to bring [00:54:36] the new building you know on 32A up near [00:54:40] near the center of [00:54:42] ten supposed to be [00:54:44] today um from what I know not yet um [00:54:49] okay I know Scott Potter has to do a [00:54:53] final inspection at the factory and go [00:54:55] through everything and make sure [00:54:56] everything's a okay before it Le it's [00:54:58] not during the fair [00:55:03] oh I have nightmares no don't worry [00:55:06] about that so no that will will be all [00:55:08] coordinated Scott's on it Justine's on [00:55:11] it just the [00:55:14] thing yeah no that would but I I can see [00:55:18] your concerns with [00:55:21] that um so that's all of my report um at [00:55:25] the end of your package it are all the [00:55:27] department um monthly reports which I [00:55:30] didn't have last month uh but I do have [00:55:32] this one thank you thank you thank you [00:55:36] that's all for [00:55:38] me selectman Round [00:55:43] Table [00:55:48] um I don't have too much or anything as [00:55:51] far as the selecting out table goes um [00:55:55] one of the things I do want to bring the [00:55:57] attention we're talking about the idea [00:55:59] of a new fire truck stuff like that and [00:56:01] how we're going to pay for stuff like [00:56:03] this um one idea I mentioned to Justine [00:56:07] is is crowdfunding [00:56:09] where we could literally take you know [00:56:12] if citizens wanted to you know donate [00:56:17] money like a say $500 if we got 3,000 [00:56:21] people to donate 500 bucks [00:56:24] over say 3 years so that 500 would be [00:56:27] broken down over 3 years you know what I [00:56:29] mean so it' be like [00:56:31] 175 200 what um basically we'd be able [00:56:34] to buy a fire truck and by the time it [00:56:37] actually shows up because it's going to [00:56:39] by the time you place an order if you [00:56:40] bought a brand new one from the factory [00:56:43] and they built it it would take years to [00:56:45] build two years at least and so it's [00:56:49] just an idea that's you know kind of [00:56:51] kicking around the numbers are out there [00:56:53] like the numbers work in that ends [00:56:56] versus assessing somebody's real estate [00:56:58] and then having that compound [00:57:00] over over time like every year you know [00:57:03] what I mean you assessive for a fire [00:57:05] truck and then every year that grows and [00:57:07] grows I mean it doesn't grow much but it [00:57:10] at the same time it does versus and we [00:57:13] could reach out to we could do [00:57:14] fundraisers but um and maybe get some [00:57:18] organizations around here that maybe do [00:57:20] matching funds and and take the burden [00:57:23] office some of the citizens that [00:57:25] wouldn't be match say do 500 I mean it's [00:57:28] just an idea it's it's not really worked [00:57:31] out 100% but it mathematically Works [00:57:35] mathematically yeah so how different [00:57:37] would it be from a debt [00:57:40] exclusion for the town to borrow the [00:57:42] money and then the town devote to accept [00:57:46] that loan and pay it off over a given [00:57:49] period Well one that would be whatever [00:57:52] the interest rate on that given loan so [00:57:54] if it's six and a half or 8% or whatever [00:57:57] the interest rates are right now that [00:57:59] right off the rip wouldn't would you'd [00:58:02] be a savings so you're talking about [00:58:04] money up front well a commitment up [00:58:06] front like everybody you know whoever's [00:58:08] interested would be you know donate 150 [00:58:11] bucks and say I and then replace an [00:58:13] order for a truck that would definitely [00:58:16] I mean this is something I can put it [00:58:17] all on paper and do a better job [00:58:20] explaining it and people understand it [00:58:23] but it's it's just a suggestion of [00:58:25] possible how do we find a fire truck on [00:58:27] top of everything else definitely be a [00:58:29] conversation to have with the [00:58:30] association um cuz it's illegal for us [00:58:33] to do that um as Municipal Employees but [00:58:37] it would definitely be a conversation I [00:58:39] would have with the association so i' [00:58:40] reach out to Josh okay yeah the fire [00:58:43] Association right and they probably have [00:58:46] seed money already um do you want me to [00:58:49] give a [00:58:50] fire truck [00:58:52] update something's coming on Friday um [00:58:56] so yeah we we did uh get a chance to [00:58:58] take a look at a demo truck uh and um [00:59:01] different funding options for that last [00:59:03] week Friday um we're looking at a a used [00:59:06] one from the town of Wales and then the [00:59:08] capital planning committee is actually [00:59:10] meeting Monday and we're going to kind [00:59:11] of like CU we now that at that point we [00:59:13] would have seen a couple options we're [00:59:15] going to sit down your chair on and have [00:59:17] a conversation and the Wales truck will [00:59:19] be here Friday what time at 11: [00:59:25] 11 there you [00:59:27] go and that's according to whatever is [00:59:30] legal that's a good [00:59:34] idea we need a fire [00:59:36] truck mostly what we need to do is get [00:59:40] out from under the fire truck that's in [00:59:41] for [00:59:42] repair I'm going to imagine that the [00:59:45] fire truck from Wales is going to be [00:59:47] about as expensive as the repair on [00:59:51] appears so 20 grand less oh my [00:59:57] so now you're buying a used fire [00:59:59] trip but yes it's it's a possibility [01:00:03] because we have to do [01:00:06] something actually we have two working [01:00:09] fire trucks the tanker is an attack [01:00:12] engine it's set up both ways so and we [01:00:16] have mutual [01:00:17] Aid there you go and happily we seem to [01:00:20] have enough [01:00:21] firefighters that are coming to meetings [01:00:24] and turning out so that's the big that's [01:00:27] the worst of it it was really nice to [01:00:30] see the turn out to get to go to one of [01:00:32] their meetings and Um passion it's [01:00:36] really really nice yeah got some young [01:00:38] kids coming up and [01:00:39] everything that's [01:00:42] good all right well I have [01:00:45] something [01:00:47] um I am still sitting on [01:00:50] uh quite a little lot of money from the [01:00:53] sale of the ambulance and the ambulance [01:00:55] Barn I'm the president of the trustees [01:00:58] of the hardware rescue and emergency [01:01:01] Squad um it's a [01:01:04] 501c3 we can't just we can't give the [01:01:07] money to the town can't give the money [01:01:09] to the fire department we have to do it [01:01:13] have to give the money in the [01:01:15] realm that it was generated which is [01:01:19] emergency medical stuff so I've got the [01:01:24] other directors and there are only three [01:01:26] of them uh to agree to put [01:01:31] money uh to help people who want to take [01:01:34] EMT and paramedic training and we've [01:01:38] done that successfully once and half one [01:01:43] than a half times the kid needs to take [01:01:46] his final backup test and then we'll [01:01:49] have two EMTs these are both on the fire [01:01:53] Squad uh now there are two others that [01:01:56] want to do that and uh I've told him [01:02:00] that I got the okay to do that and the [01:02:04] deputy fire chief here in Hardwick wants [01:02:06] to go for his paramedic and that's like [01:02:10] $10,000 so uh we're going to kick in [01:02:13] half the cost and get him going nice so [01:02:17] one of the only thing I can think to do [01:02:20] without an ambulance is to populate the [01:02:24] area with as many em it's possible [01:02:27] that's awesome they're just starting now [01:02:29] at the school uh you can have an [01:02:31] 18-year-old EMT drive an ambulance [01:02:34] that's state [01:02:35] law recently and the high school has [01:02:39] graduated in EMT I've been yelling why [01:02:42] don't you just have a biology class for [01:02:44] a semester do it as an ENT training [01:02:47] class every kid that comes out of that [01:02:50] school should have an EMT certification [01:02:53] right did you hear me we spend enough [01:02:56] money at it so that's coming and I found [01:03:00] out that I can use the money for aeds so [01:03:03] since we've got AED training happened [01:03:06] I'm going to buy a don't tell anybody [01:03:09] I'm going to buy an AED for the water [01:03:12] control facility [01:03:15] and you wanted another one here highway [01:03:18] highway yep right uh we did one at the [01:03:21] senior center it has long gone defunct [01:03:25] there is one one here there's one at the [01:03:27] townhous and there's one at the [01:03:29] townhouse correct I bought those two [01:03:31] with that money and I'm going to [01:03:33] continue doing it until the money's gone [01:03:35] so there it is if you think of a place [01:03:38] to use the a oh I want to do one at the [01:03:40] recycling so there it [01:03:43] is so that's all I [01:03:46] got exciting yeah so all right a lot [01:03:52] going on there a lot his mighty needs [01:03:56] great [01:03:57] needs all right anything [01:04:02] else make a motion to return the meeting [01:04:05] I'll second it all in favor I all thank [01:04:10] you