Thumbnail for 10/27/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Hardwick Select Board: Landfill Contamination, Solar Lease, Appointments

Original title: 10/27/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

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

Meeting details

Date

October 27, 2025

Duration

1h 42m

Decisions

19 recorded

Action Items

24 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board convened to address a range of critical municipal issues, including significant groundwater contamination at the Patriot Road Landfill, the ongoing negotiation of the Kearsarge Solar Lease, and various financial and personnel matters. Key discussions involved the potential health and environmental impacts of PFAS and other contaminants from the landfill, the financial implications and terms of the solar project, and the appointment of a new Town Accountant. The Board also reviewed meeting minutes, discussed grant writing, and established terms for the Historical Commission, while acknowledging several outstanding questions regarding town operations and future planning.

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Discussion Highlights

A resident questioned the appropriateness of discussing three historic buildings and the Zukos contract in executive session, citing public interest and a potential $15,000 town liability.
A resident expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of hiring additional staff for grant writing, suggesting a focus on more qualified employees.
A resident reported that retirement funds for senior work-off program participants from the previous year were not deposited into the Empower Retirement Fund as required, prompting concerns about 'missing money.'
Inquiries were made regarding the status of several items from the last meeting, including the Personnel Committee, Finance Committee, Mary Lane update, certified free cash, and the Town Administrator's annual review.
The composition of the Personnel Committee was clarified, and an opening for an at-large citizen member was noted, with a resident expressing interest.
A resident proposed implementing an occupancy tax on short-term rentals (under 31 days) to generate town revenue, suggesting a town meeting vote.
The board is operating under the assumption that zoning by-laws are in effect upon town meeting approval, subject to eventual Attorney General (AG) approval, with the AG requesting an extension due to submitted opposition.
A debate ensued regarding whether meeting minutes should reflect what was said in a public meeting, even if the factual accuracy of the statement is disputed, specifically concerning a deletion from the June 9th minutes.
Dr. Romano, representing the Board of Health, presented findings from 2024 and 2025 environmental monitoring reports detailing groundwater contamination at the Hardwick Landfill on Patriot Road.
Contaminants identified at the landfill site include PFAS (exceeding state drinking water standards), 1,4-Dioxane, trace Cyanide, and Acetone.
The landfill is situated on a high-yield aquifer in the Muddy Brook Valley, with contaminants expected to flow southward, impacting neighboring communities like Ware and the Hardwick Pond area.
The Board of Health plans to hire a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) to interpret landfill studies and will apply for a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) from the DEP.
A hydrologist from Tufts University and graduate students are actively studying the valley's hydrology to determine the movement of the contamination plume.
Concerns were raised about potential town liability and the significant future costs associated with monitoring the Patriot Road landfill, which is considerably larger than the Lower Road site.
Discussion centered on the aquifer as a major threat to drinking water for residents in Hardwick and Ware, extending downstream.
PFAS measurement in test wells reportedly only began in 2024, with data analysis ongoing to identify trends in contaminant levels.
The estimated cost for comprehensive PFAS testing for one well, including sample collection, is approximately $925.
A board member reiterated the importance of a grant writer for the town, citing support from various committees and clarifying past grant application issues.
Holly Mann was introduced as the proposed Town Accountant, with discussion on her reporting structure (directly to the Select Board per MGL Chapter 41, Section 55) and an offer letter discrepancy.
The Town Clerk identified discrepancies in current Historical Commission membership terms, necessitating the establishment of clear term lengths for the five-member commission.
Discussion began on the Kearsarge Solar Lease, with concerns raised about proximity to the river and discrepancies in the lease document regarding per-megawatt payments.
The town's revenue from the Kearsarge Solar Project is projected to increase to over $300,000 annually (from lease and PILOT) due to an increase in proposed megawatts from 5-7 MW to 10 MW.
An opportunity was identified for the town to excavate and surplus significant gravel deposits at the proposed solar project site, potentially generating approximately $500,000.
Concerns were raised about the Kearsarge Solar Lease referencing 48 acres while the project intends to use only 24-26 acres, prompting questions about potential future uses of the remaining leased land.
A strong request was made for a detailed, blueprint-sized site drawing with physical markers to clearly define the exact leased area for the Kearsarge project before signing the lease.
The 'Quabbin Stewards' Initiative seeks additional compensation for 12+ communities surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir from the Mass Water Resources Authority (MWRA).
The Town Administrator provided updates on security cameras, the Town House project rebid, Memorial Park planning, office relocation, road paving, hydrant repairs, FY25 closure, financial policies, job postings, and health insurance projections.
The September legal bill exceeded $5,000, largely due to a resident complaint, with the board to be informed monthly of legal expenses.
The Town Attorney was granted permission to negotiate with KSI, and a review of these negotiations occurred, with questions for clarification posed.

Transcript (17,955 words)

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

00:00:00
Yeah.
00:00:03
>> Anybody miss siren?
00:00:09
>> Um actually have three subjects regretfully. Uh the first one is that I take I do not feel that anything regarding the three uh historic buildings or the zucost contract should be in executive session. I think that that is stuff that
00:00:29
There's a lot of public interest regarding what's going on and especially regarding the contract and whether or not we're going to be on the hook for $15,000 and it should be public information.
00:00:45
>> Great. Thank you.
00:00:46
>> Okay. Okay. Subject two. Um, I'm not happy with uh a comment that was made last week about the fact that um this town is in need of additional support people uh to write grants or to assist
00:01:04
In writing grants. Um, and I just want to point to the fact that um, the last town administrator we had got a grant for um, an for the townhouse uh, and that was done on her watch. She she was the person who got the grant and I can
00:01:22
Only have to point to Teresa who had absolutely no support people and got us $17 million. Okay. So um the fact additional employees are not the way to go. More qualified employees are the better way to go. All right. Last but
00:01:40
Not least, I I need to point out the fact we're missing retirement money that um is to was to be um put into the empower

[00:00:00] Yeah. [00:00:03] >> Anybody [00:00:08] miss siren? [00:00:09] >> Um actually have three subjects [00:00:11] regretfully. Uh the first one is that um [00:00:14] I take um [00:00:19] I do not feel that anything regarding [00:00:21] the three uh historic buildings or the [00:00:24] zucost contract should be in executive [00:00:26] session. I think that that is stuff that [00:00:29] um there's a lot of public interest [00:00:31] regarding what's going on and uh [00:00:34] especially regarding the contract and [00:00:36] whether or not we're going to be on the [00:00:37] hook for $15,000 [00:00:40] and it should be public [00:00:43] information. [00:00:45] >> Great. Thank you. [00:00:46] >> Okay. Okay. Subject two. Um, I'm not [00:00:51] happy with uh a comment that was made [00:00:54] last week about the fact that um this [00:00:58] town is in need of additional support [00:01:00] people uh to write grants or to assist [00:01:04] in writing grants. Um, and I just want [00:01:07] to point to the fact that um, the last [00:01:10] town administrator we had got a grant [00:01:13] for um, an for the townhouse uh, and [00:01:16] that was done on her watch. She she was [00:01:19] the person who got the grant and I can [00:01:22] only have to point to Teresa who had [00:01:24] absolutely no support people and got us [00:01:26] $17 million. Okay. So um the fact [00:01:32] additional employees are not the way to [00:01:35] go. More qualified employees are the [00:01:37] better way to go. All right. Last but [00:01:40] not least, [00:01:43] I [00:01:47] um I need to point out the fact we're [00:01:50] missing retirement money that um is to [00:01:55] was to be um put into the empower [00:01:58] retirement fund for the people on the [00:02:00] senior workoff for last year. [00:02:04] um that routinely would be put on the [00:02:07] warrant for either the first or the [00:02:10] second warrant in January. Um that was [00:02:14] not done. Uh when I made question when I [00:02:18] inquired to Jess as to where was this [00:02:21] money uh she said that it it hadn't been [00:02:24] released to put onto the warrant yet. So [00:02:26] I don't know who was supposed to be [00:02:28] releasing for it but somebody didn't do [00:02:29] their job. Um, this has never been put [00:02:32] on. So, this is missing money. It's not [00:02:35] a lot of money for each person, but it's [00:02:38] not your money. It's our money. And I [00:02:41] don't have my money. Franklin doesn't [00:02:43] have his money. And it's not in the [00:02:46] empower um retirement accounts. And just [00:02:50] as a little bit of background, um, when [00:02:54] people do senior work off, there's taxes [00:02:56] taken out and there's retirement money [00:02:58] taken out. the, you know, taxes you get [00:03:01] back, you know, when you file your [00:03:02] income tax. But the state has some goofy [00:03:05] system that if you're a full-time [00:03:07] employee, you can say, "No, no, no, [00:03:10] don't take the retirement money out." [00:03:11] But if you're a part-time employee, [00:03:13] which is what the the senior people have [00:03:15] considered, you have to have this money [00:03:17] taken out and put into retirement. So [00:03:20] every year what the the treasurer would [00:03:22] do is do whatever paperwork had to be [00:03:25] done and and and let everybody know when [00:03:28] it went into the to empower and we [00:03:31] automatically got on the phone, called [00:03:32] empower and got our money back because [00:03:34] the fees that they charge would eat it [00:03:37] all up and we might potentially be [00:03:40] responsible for additional fees of an [00:03:42] bought that. But there's money that's [00:03:44] missing. Okay. And whether it was [00:03:47] missing because it's a accident or or it [00:03:51] was not an accident, somebody took it, [00:03:53] it's missing. All right. And um I think [00:03:56] it's something that the selectmen have [00:03:59] to do something about immediately [00:04:01] because this is something that the [00:04:02] attorney general's office would be very [00:04:04] very interested in. And I have not [00:04:06] contacted them. I went to you folks [00:04:08] best. But uh all the inquiries I've made [00:04:11] in the last 6 months or more, I've [00:04:13] gotten nothing back. [00:04:15] >> And this sounds familiar as something [00:04:19] that happened 6 months ago under the [00:04:22] previous treasurer. Does that sound [00:04:25] right or is is this [00:04:26] >> um it was it just was still there when [00:04:29] in January? Okay. And she had said to [00:04:32] me, I think I put it in there. She said [00:04:35] it's supposed to be in in the next [00:04:36] warrant. Okay. And then when I asked [00:04:38] her, she said something about it had not [00:04:40] been released to the warrant yet. [00:04:44] >> All right. Well, we'll have to look into [00:04:45] it. [00:04:46] >> I don't know. I don't know what exactly [00:04:49] the steps were. I mean, I can make [00:04:53] assumptions, but the bottom line is the [00:04:56] money's missing. And if it's missing for [00:04:57] me and Franklin only, that's very [00:04:59] interesting. But I tend to believe it's [00:05:01] missing for anybody on senior. [00:05:04] >> Mr. Chair, do you want me to address [00:05:06] that? [00:05:06] >> Sure. Um, so we have had other [00:05:09] discrepancies. Um, if you want to come [00:05:11] to my office sometime this week, I'll [00:05:13] look at yours specifically to protect [00:05:15] and protect your privacy and we'll [00:05:16] address it. We'll go from there because [00:05:18] you're not the like you said, you're not [00:05:19] the only one. [00:05:20] >> Okay. Well, I mean, I don't I don't need [00:05:22] any any privacy on that. Okay. I'm just [00:05:26] looking to find out where is the money. [00:05:30] >> I'll have to look at yours specifically [00:05:32] so I can do that uh tomorrow in the [00:05:33] office and to All right. Yeah, Franklin [00:05:36] too because it overlaps. [00:05:39] >> Anybody else? [00:05:41] >> Yes, sir. [00:05:43] >> Last meeting I raised a number of [00:05:44] concerns and um among them were things [00:05:48] like when there would be a personnel [00:05:51] committee meeting, why that hasn't [00:05:54] happened, uh why there hasn't been a [00:05:55] meeting with the finance committee. And [00:05:58] uh here we are two weeks later and I'm [00:06:01] still seeing nothing about this. I'm [00:06:03] hoping you could address this tonight. [00:06:04] perhaps at your round table. Also would [00:06:08] like to have an update on where we stand [00:06:09] with Mary Lane. Haven't heard about [00:06:10] that. What about certifying free cash [00:06:15] and um when will we be doing a review of [00:06:18] the town administrator? That's in our [00:06:19] contract done yearly. It's not been [00:06:21] done. [00:06:22] >> It was done in January. [00:06:23] >> I'm sorry, what? [00:06:24] >> It was done in January, actually. [00:06:26] >> So, is that public? We'll be uh doing a [00:06:29] personnel committee meeting as soon as [00:06:31] we can get uh the chair of the finance [00:06:34] committee who sits on that committee to [00:06:37] give us a date when he can make it. Uh [00:06:41] so it's something I'm eager to do. Uh [00:06:45] Mary Lane is [00:06:47] out of our hands. [00:06:49] uh it's [snorts] in [00:06:52] as far as I know it's where [00:06:56] uh and Bay State and the money is [00:06:59] essentially encumbered or gone. We're [00:07:02] not going to be party to any divy [00:07:05] division of money and uh we aren't we're [00:07:10] going to have to find our own urgent [00:07:11] care. [00:07:14] Anybody can correct me if they have any [00:07:18] other information about this, but uh [00:07:21] Mary Lane's done and probably that's it. [00:07:25] So that's as much as I know. [00:07:31] >> Thanks. [00:07:33] Anybody else? Yes, ma'am. [00:07:35] >> Um who is who does sit on the personnel [00:07:38] committee? uh the selectman and chair of [00:07:42] the finance committee and the assessor. [00:07:45] >> I thought there was u there was supposed [00:07:47] to be a couple of uh citizens on the [00:07:51] committee. [00:07:52] >> I don't know that but I'll find out. [00:07:54] >> There's one opening for at large number. [00:07:56] >> If it if there is I would like to apply [00:07:58] for it. [00:07:59] >> Thank you. [00:08:00] >> Because I have a lot of business [00:08:01] background hiring and fire and firing [00:08:03] people. So, um, and I have the time to [00:08:07] put in to, uh, go through resumeumés and [00:08:10] check references. [00:08:12] >> Okay. Thank you. [00:08:13] >> Mhm. [00:08:17] >> Mr. Cole. [00:08:18] >> Thank you. A couple things. Um first as [00:08:22] you recall um I mentioned and you [00:08:25] already knew I believe that the you know [00:08:26] the occupancy tax is not something that [00:08:28] Hardwick has decided to put in place in [00:08:31] the past and yet I think might want to [00:08:34] um that takes a general uh that takes a [00:08:37] vote at a town meeting special or annual [00:08:41] um and entitles the town to collect you [00:08:45] know 3/4 of a percent or excuse me up to [00:08:48] 3% uh and up to an additional several [00:08:51] percent if separately decided to on uh [00:08:54] short-term rentals like that are [00:08:56] professionally managed like B&Bs. Um it [00:09:00] would include um furnished setups [00:09:06] even at a campground [00:09:08] any rentals under 31 days. Um, I think [00:09:11] it's something that we would want to um [00:09:14] get in [00:09:16] consider and possibly get in place by [00:09:19] the time um we have perhaps more BNBs [00:09:25] if the town decides that BNBs can be [00:09:29] short-term rentals as as accessory [00:09:32] dwelling units. all things that we might [00:09:34] want to look at together as we measure [00:09:36] the impact including the financial [00:09:38] impact of of ADUs and the town budget. [00:09:42] It's fairly easy thing to do. I would [00:09:45] just like to um offer perhaps, but [00:09:49] certainly to see the town look at this [00:09:52] as a as a line item and tie it into some [00:09:55] of the development and planning matters [00:09:59] that we're looking at. It's not [00:10:01] difficult to do. it would mean [00:10:02] something. Um, I think it's something we [00:10:05] should we should do and be working on [00:10:08] this this fall. Frankly, [00:10:11] that's one thing. The other [00:10:14] again as we work on various bylaws [00:10:18] um it's worth mentioning I think that [00:10:21] we're operating under the um assumption [00:10:24] which is stated by the attorney general [00:10:26] that [00:10:27] um zoning bylaws are in effect at the [00:10:31] time they are approved at the town [00:10:34] meeting unlike general bylaws. [00:10:37] um subject to eventual approval by the [00:10:41] attorney general. Um we have several in [00:10:45] there that we're using that were amended [00:10:47] like the procedures for special permits [00:10:51] or a site plan review. Uh we have the [00:10:55] solar in place that may come into play [00:10:57] soon. Um there will be there will be [00:11:01] others that we want to introduce. So, I [00:11:04] mention that because it's also [00:11:05] complicated somewhat by [00:11:08] the fact that we uh that the attorney [00:11:10] general [00:11:12] requested a second extension [00:11:15] on the approval of all of our um you [00:11:18] know, nearly unanimously approved bylaw [00:11:22] changes and adoptions from April. [00:11:25] um they they requested an extension and [00:11:29] then they requested another extension [00:11:31] and the reason they offered for that [00:11:32] second extension is that they had not [00:11:34] yet reviewed fully the what they call [00:11:38] the the opposition that Mr. Tinker had [00:11:41] offered to the entire process. So as [00:11:43] they look at that um we're we're [00:11:47] progressing and we can have hearings but [00:11:49] we're it's a little bit funny that we're [00:11:52] we're six months into this and they're [00:11:54] they're dealing with um [00:11:57] um you know continued delay for the [00:12:01] procedural challenges that that Mr. [00:12:03] Tinker had offered that hopefully will [00:12:05] be resolved soon. The new deadline is I [00:12:08] believe November 17th. So hopefully that [00:12:11] will happen um and be approved and we'll [00:12:14] know exactly what's uh what's in place [00:12:17] that the town had had adopted. [00:12:20] Um, in some conjunction with that, I'd [00:12:23] like to mention that that that [00:12:25] opposition, which we hadn't been aware [00:12:27] of until recently, that opposition [00:12:29] statement sent to the AG by Mr. Tinker [00:12:33] included specifically the same [00:12:37] accusations that we had seen about the [00:12:39] integrity and the proc integrity of the [00:12:41] planning board. It included the letter [00:12:43] that had been sent to this board. uh did [00:12:46] not include maybe it wasn't available in [00:12:48] the planning board reply to those same [00:12:50] accusations. Um later in tonight's [00:12:54] agenda I believe you'll be looking at [00:12:55] your June 9th minutes which have not yet [00:12:59] been reviewed or adopted. U but in that [00:13:03] meeting you Mr. J did read in both [00:13:05] letters and I hope that the public's [00:13:08] aware of, you know, the contact and the [00:13:11] existence of this issue and um and where [00:13:14] it sort of leaves us and hopefully that [00:13:16] it'll be resolved soon. So maybe they'll [00:13:19] be in the minutes themselves, the [00:13:20] letters attached. Thank you. [00:13:22] >> Thank you. [00:13:25] >> Anybody else? [00:13:28] >> Welcome, Mr. Berthium. [00:13:29] >> Just checking in. [00:13:31] Have you guys sent a letter to the [00:13:33] energy sighting board for okay? [00:13:36] >> Would you be interested in doing that to [00:13:38] um [00:13:40] >> to protest the battery plus [00:13:43] >> we haven't talked about it. [00:13:44] >> I'm just I mean just about everyone [00:13:47] around. So just [00:13:49] >> you don't have to. I'm just [00:13:50] >> We haven't even discussed it really. [00:13:53] >> Right. [00:13:53] >> Okay. We take it up at the next meeting. [00:13:55] >> Yeah. [00:13:57] >> I know something. If you can send us any [00:13:59] information to Justine or the board, [00:14:01] >> I can I can sign up bunch of town. I'll [00:14:04] send you [clears throat] what they said. [00:14:05] >> All right, that'll be fantastic. [00:14:07] >> Um, shortly. [00:14:10] >> I think you can send me any time. [00:14:14] >> All right. Well, let's uh we're on to [00:14:16] approval of minutes. June the 6th. [00:14:20] >> June 9th, 2025. I got to put the glasses [00:14:23] on. [00:14:34] Mr. Cole, do you have a copy of these [00:14:36] minutes? [00:14:37] >> I do. Yes. [00:14:40] No. No. None of the minutes. I'm sorry. [00:14:41] I have the agenda from that date. [00:14:44] >> I don't know how it's [00:14:47] different. [00:14:50] Yeah, that's right. [00:14:53] Which ones are we going to [00:14:56] >> These minutes are these minutes with [00:15:00] your [00:15:00] >> the change like item six going to the [00:15:04] end of the meeting and being taken up [00:15:07] instead of it coming in the very like [00:15:10] very middle. [00:15:11] >> Okay. So it's kind of ministerial. It's [00:15:13] not [00:15:13] >> right [00:15:14] >> really. And there there are some changes [00:15:17] or [00:15:21] they took some stuff out. [00:15:26] >> Yeah, there were some deletions. Mhm. [00:15:30] >> Um [00:15:34] like um one of the things that was [00:15:35] deleted was Bill Cole's statement um [00:15:39] that when I attended the planning board [00:15:41] on either April 1st or [00:15:44] end of March on May no April [00:15:49] um that I was given no notice. So, it [00:15:52] was put on the agenda and and I showed [00:15:57] up for that meeting and basically he [00:15:59] makes a statement that I stood up, [00:16:01] threatened the town with legal action [00:16:03] and I walked out of the meeting which is [00:16:05] inaccurate. [00:16:08] So, that's removed from this. [00:16:17] Well, why was it in here if it didn't [00:16:19] happen? because it was stated by Bill [00:16:22] Cole in a public meeting in this [00:16:25] meeting. [00:16:26] >> But is that [00:16:30] >> Bill was [00:16:31] >> he did say that? Correct. [00:16:34] >> Yeah. [00:16:35] >> So it should be reflected in our meeting [00:16:37] minutes. [00:16:37] >> So we're promoting lies if it didn't [00:16:40] happen. I mean, I'm not sure [00:16:43] >> if somebody makes a statement in a [00:16:46] public meeting, it becomes part of the [00:16:47] public record, [00:16:49] >> whether it's true or not. [00:16:51] >> I'm afraid so. Then you deal with it [00:16:53] down the line. [00:16:55] >> State that way at a meeting, then it's [00:16:59] it's [00:17:00] >> you can't just remove it because you [00:17:02] know, [00:17:04] >> well, [00:17:05] okay. [00:17:06] >> I mean, certainly [00:17:07] >> if you want to put it back in there, put [00:17:08] it back in there. by all means. [00:17:15] >> And there's a recording of that planning [00:17:17] board meeting, too. [00:17:18] >> I would offer that I have a recording of [00:17:20] that meeting and he was there the whole [00:17:21] time cuz I was there, too. [00:17:24] >> And I would offer that the minutes here [00:17:26] are recorded and transcribed by um by [00:17:31] Sandy. So, if it's in there, I don't [00:17:34] think she made it up. So, [00:17:36] >> Well, I imagine that was what was said. [00:17:38] All I'm saying is that he was actually [00:17:40] there for the whole meeting. He didn't [00:17:41] just get up and leave. Well, that's what [00:17:44] was said about what he did. But [00:17:46] [clears throat] that's the dispute. [00:17:48] The I think the issue for this board is [00:17:52] whether that belongs in our uh meeting [00:17:55] minutes or not. And if it was said, [00:17:58] regardless of what actually happened at [00:18:00] planning board meeting, if somebody said [00:18:03] that, [00:18:03] >> okay, [00:18:04] >> it has to remain. I I don't see it. I [00:18:07] don't see a a choice in the matter. [00:18:12] >> Do you understand what I'm saying? [00:18:15] >> Okay. So, yeah, I do. I do. But I don't [00:18:17] think that's a a smart thing, per se. [00:18:20] >> Why? [00:18:21] >> So, anybody can come up here and just [00:18:22] lie and slander somebody or to [00:18:25] defamation about them and and we publish [00:18:27] it in the public meeting or final [00:18:30] records. But if that's what we're doing, [00:18:33] go right ahead. [00:18:34] >> But the it's a public record. [00:18:37] Well, it's it's Mr. Cole being quoted [00:18:39] essentially, [00:18:40] >> right? [00:18:40] >> Yeah. [00:18:41] >> So, I mean, you have to and if he said [00:18:44] that in our meeting, then he said that [00:18:46] in our meeting and if it's right or [00:18:49] wrong, I think it's something I have to [00:18:51] say [00:18:54] >> and we could, you know, read a [00:18:57] retraction in or a correction, [00:19:00] you know, at a later date. [00:19:03] Well, like I said, there is a recording [00:19:05] of that meeting. [00:19:07] >> Okay. [00:19:11] Well, will we should we table these [00:19:14] minutes [00:19:15] >> again? [00:19:16] >> Again. [00:19:21] >> I'll make that motion. [00:19:24] >> I'll second it. So, what exactly are we [00:19:28] going to do? [00:19:28] >> I don't know. I don't know. I've never [00:19:31] run into this. [00:19:32] >> Okay, [00:19:32] >> Mr. Chair, do you want me to [00:19:34] >> Sure. [00:19:34] >> Um, I can put that sentence if the board [00:19:37] would like I can put that sentence back [00:19:38] in. I can take a look at um it was some [00:19:41] like spelling and issues that um Mr. [00:19:44] Tanker brought up that I can clean that [00:19:46] up and I can present them at your next [00:19:47] meeting if you want to read them another [00:19:49] time and [00:19:50] >> we'll try it again. [00:19:51] >> Yeah. [00:19:52] >> Okay. [00:19:52] >> All in favor? [00:19:53] >> I. [00:19:54] >> All right. Thank you. [00:19:57] >> Okay. How about the uh minutes for [00:19:58] August 25th? [00:20:02] move that we approve the August 23rd [00:20:06] meeting minutes as written. [00:20:09] >> I second [00:20:11] discussion. [00:20:14] >> All in favor? [00:20:15] >> I I [00:20:22] Dr. Romano, [00:20:24] >> thank you for your time. Pleasure to [00:20:26] have you here. [00:20:27] >> Thank you. [00:20:28] So I I want to present to this board [00:20:31] from from the board of health that um [00:20:33] you know uh in reading uh the the 2025 [00:20:38] um postclosure landfill environmental [00:20:40] monitoring report um for the hard [00:20:43] landfill on Patra Holland road um [00:20:48] uh it's these are extensive reports they [00:20:51] are 600 plus pages um I have one for [00:20:55] this is a 2019 report for instance a lot [00:20:58] pages of tables and data and whatnot, [00:21:01] but uh in the last six years they've [00:21:04] been digitally submitted. In the past, [00:21:06] they've been hard copies. Um these [00:21:09] reports are public. They're they're [00:21:11] issued every year um by Thai bond for [00:21:15] Cassa to the D. Um and uh they it's it's [00:21:21] tabulations of the test wells that are [00:21:24] done around the the landfill site. [00:21:27] >> [clears throat] [00:21:27] >> there's multiple uh tests [00:21:30] and um so basically uh and and as I said [00:21:33] they're public this isn't anything you [00:21:35] know I'm you know that I dug up [00:21:38] somewhere I mean it's it's readily [00:21:40] available but um it just it um it looks [00:21:45] like we have a groundwater contamination [00:21:47] problem at at the site and I know like [00:21:50] everybody said you know no kidding you [00:21:53] know not quite those words like you know [00:21:55] that was to be expected But now we have [00:21:57] documentation [00:21:59] of [00:22:01] of uh PAS in in the wells. So in 2024, [00:22:05] the state mandated that um PAS be tested [00:22:09] um in these groundwater monitoring uh [00:22:12] wells, test wells around the site. Uh [00:22:16] not just our site, but across the [00:22:17] Commonwealth. Um and so PAS has been [00:22:21] showing up in a lot of places. um [00:22:24] specifically our location here. Um well, [00:22:28] first of all, there's there's 1,500 [00:22:30] different PAS, there's six that are [00:22:33] regulated uh by the state that are felt [00:22:35] that are felt to be carcinogenic. Um and [00:22:39] uh they've set standards um for the um [00:22:42] for drinking water um uh levels. And um [00:22:47] ours uh in these test wells exceed that [00:22:50] those um those [clears throat] wells. uh [00:22:53] those limits. Um I know Bill our last [00:22:56] board of health meeting you attended uh [00:22:58] you asked me to tabulate the um you know [00:23:00] the PAS uh numbers and included you [00:23:05] should have a copy of the um that I I [00:23:08] made copies of for um the select board [00:23:11] today but um uh there's tabulation of [00:23:15] the of the PAS um [00:23:19] uh numbers [00:23:21] um for 2024 and 2025. five [00:23:25] 20 up to 20 is is considered um uh [00:23:30] within the drink and water standards and [00:23:33] these numbers far exceed those um in [00:23:35] multiple wells around the around the [00:23:37] land an [00:23:39] in addition to PAS there's u elevated [00:23:42] levels of 14 dioxane [00:23:44] um there's a trace cyanide acetone [00:23:48] um I just went through the last six [00:23:50] years um there's it goes all the way [00:23:53] back 2009. Unfortunately, nobody's ever [00:23:56] really gone through these, including [00:23:57] myself. Um, so I'm in the process of [00:24:00] digging through them, but but there is [00:24:03] contaminants within within the [00:24:05] groundwater. [00:24:06] Um, and the point being that, you know, [00:24:11] this is this is a map of the gravel [00:24:13] carter. The uh it's a it's a high yield [00:24:16] aquifer uh in the Muddy Brook Valley. um [00:24:20] the center of the valley has the deepest [00:24:22] gravel and towards the edges um it's it [00:24:25] it it gets more shallow. If you picture [00:24:28] a bowl with Cheerios with milk in it, um [00:24:32] it it's basically um a a reservoir of [00:24:36] water with, you know, uh uh that's [00:24:38] contained within the um within the [00:24:40] valley. [00:24:42] As you know, I presented to the select [00:24:44] board about a month ago uh letters from [00:24:47] the wear board of health um asking us to [00:24:50] safeguard um their water supply uh [00:24:53] because this aquifer leads to their to [00:24:56] their um to their wells down Barn [00:24:59] Street. [00:25:01] The zone 2 aquifer um for the for their [00:25:04] wells comes all the way up into Hardwick [00:25:06] uh to the Hardwood Pond, the [00:25:08] southerntherly end of Hardwick Pond. Um, [00:25:10] as you can see, that gravel corer [00:25:13] extends all the way up the valley almost [00:25:15] to Greenwood Road. Um, so, uh, [00:25:19] contaminants within the valley, um, [00:25:22] which flow to south, um, would, um, um, [00:25:26] threaten their their water supply. I [00:25:29] also present a letter from the Harvard [00:25:31] Pond Preservation Association [00:25:33] um, echoing their uh, the concerns of [00:25:36] the um, wear board of health. So, uh, [00:25:40] this the the board of health, Harvard [00:25:42] board of health is taking action to look [00:25:44] into this. So, I started opening these [00:25:47] reports and sure enough, there's there's [00:25:50] there is contamination within the [00:25:52] groundwater, uh, around the landfill [00:25:54] site. Um, and so the question is, um, [00:25:59] what do we do with this information? Um [00:26:03] the excuse me, as we know, this water [00:26:06] travels. [00:26:06] >> Doctor, could you point to where the [00:26:09] landfill is? [00:26:10] >> Yeah, the landfill um is roughly um [00:26:15] right about here. [00:26:17] >> Thank you. [00:26:18] >> Yeah, right right in the middle. So the [00:26:20] topographic map, these are steep [00:26:22] hillsides leading down into the ball of [00:26:24] the granite basically granite bathtub [00:26:26] Cheerios. Um and this is the gravel [00:26:30] within the um within that dow. Um it's [00:26:33] basically a large underground lake and [00:26:36] um the thinking is that it's flow it [00:26:38] flows southward like the brook [00:26:41] um brook that heads heads southbound uh [00:26:45] to wear. Um [00:26:48] 14 dioxane is a uh is a is a solvent. [00:26:51] It's it's a carcinogen uh causes all [00:26:54] kinds of other medical problems. [00:26:57] When I discovered this in here, um um I [00:27:00] wanted to get a second opinion. I [00:27:02] reached out to a um an esteemed epidem [00:27:06] epidemiologist, a physician at Boston [00:27:08] College who has um worked for, you know, [00:27:12] CDC and NIH and um EPA. He's an [00:27:15] environmental epidemiologist and he [00:27:18] echoed the concern that um there's [00:27:21] concern about groundwater contamination [00:27:24] and potential for uh impacts on human [00:27:26] health and safety. [00:27:30] We don't know what the extent of the [00:27:32] plume is and as you may know uh what [00:27:35] happened in Southbridge and Charlton um [00:27:39] the uh the plume from from the from the [00:27:42] landfill in Southbridge extended you [00:27:45] know across town lines. [00:27:47] So [00:27:49] um anyway I want to make the select [00:27:52] board aware of this you know that it is [00:27:54] official. It is documented by DDP you [00:27:57] know through Tai bond studies um for [00:28:00] Cassella for Hardwick landfill I should [00:28:02] say hard landfell which is a subsidiary [00:28:04] of of [00:28:06] um Cassella. Um, [00:28:10] I just want to remind you that so we the [00:28:13] board of health also we have another [00:28:15] landfill issue, you know, behind the [00:28:16] co-op, you know, that's been there for [00:28:18] on lower road. Cost the town about [00:28:21] $18,000 a year to monitor that landfill. [00:28:25] Um, we have to put in a new well there. [00:28:28] There's there's four test wells. Um, we [00:28:31] have to put in a new test well this [00:28:32] year. Um, that's going to cost us $4 or [00:28:35] $5,000 of taxpayer money. [00:28:39] This landfill dwarfs the the lower road [00:28:43] landfill many times over. You know, [00:28:45] there's 20 30 test wells. You know, um [00:28:49] we're going to end up holding the bag on [00:28:51] this one. Um and this could be a big [00:28:53] one, much bigger than the lower road um [00:28:56] for future um monitoring. I don't know [00:29:00] the details of the arrangements that the [00:29:02] town has with Cassella and who's who's [00:29:05] um liable for um further testing. Um I [00:29:10] know if I was downstream, I would be [00:29:13] concerned about my groundwater, my my [00:29:15] you know, my wellwater. Um there's 40 [00:29:18] households in the in the Hardwood Pond [00:29:20] area roughly. Um and that's a half mile [00:29:24] downstream or down gradient is the right [00:29:28] word. So, um, you know, that's that's a, [00:29:31] um, you know, that's a a question for, [00:29:34] you know, for the talent to consider [00:29:37] going forward. Who's going to be holding [00:29:39] the bag on this? Um, [00:29:44] we're we're going to we we're going to [00:29:45] notify the wear uh, board of health [00:29:47] because they they were the ones that [00:29:48] initiated this uh, activity. You know, [00:29:52] our investigation discovery. um they own [00:29:56] property that directly abuts the [00:29:58] landfill. They have a 3 acre parcel of [00:30:00] land that was given to the people of of [00:30:04] uh the citizens of where um actually [00:30:07] within the town of Parkway um and it [00:30:10] they are direct butter of the landfill [00:30:13] uh down gradient downstream down [00:30:15] gradient. [00:30:16] So they they have standing they have um [00:30:18] you know so they need they will be [00:30:20] notified of um these studies and again [00:30:24] those studies are for you to look at. Um [00:30:26] what I copied for you to look at um is [00:30:29] the summary page of the of the report. [00:30:31] So in these 600page reports the uh chief [00:30:34] um the principal um engineer provides a [00:30:37] six or seven page overview of the whole [00:30:40] um of the whole study. And so that's [00:30:43] what I made copies of. So, uh, that [00:30:46] information is available. [00:30:49] The board of health is is, um, going to [00:30:52] hire an LSP, a licensed site [00:30:54] professional to look at these studies [00:30:56] and tell us what to do next because we [00:30:58] don't know. Um, I'm not, you know, none [00:31:01] of us are are experts by any means. Um, [00:31:04] but, um, I'm going to go ahead and apply [00:31:06] for a TAG, um, grant. It's a technical [00:31:10] assistance grant from DP that helps pay [00:31:12] for these kind of um LSPs, you know, for [00:31:15] this professional um uh you know input [00:31:20] um you know um you know peerreview type [00:31:23] of uh um money, but it's it costs a lot [00:31:26] of money for those for those species. Um [00:31:31] we we're currently having a hydraologist [00:31:33] from TUS u professor Horsley um who's a [00:31:37] um working with a couple grad students [00:31:40] on the hydraology of the valley to [00:31:43] determine you know where the uh concerns [00:31:46] are and uh where the where the waters [00:31:49] might you know end up and you know what [00:31:52] where the contamination may where the [00:31:54] plume may go. Um so um we have a [00:31:58] hydraologist working on that. Um [00:32:02] we would like to notify the planning [00:32:03] board and the um conservation commission [00:32:06] of of of Hardwick so that they're aware [00:32:08] of um and I'll provide these studies to [00:32:11] them and the tables. Um, but I think all [00:32:14] the boards and need to be aware that I [00:32:16] came to you first um before we um [00:32:20] officially notified board of health and [00:32:22] I'm sorry the um KCOM and the planning [00:32:24] board. [00:32:26] Um [00:32:29] but you know again you know you know [00:32:32] where do we go from here? I don't know. [00:32:34] Uh I think that the board of health will [00:32:37] be looking into regulations that would [00:32:40] prevent any um uh future contamination [00:32:43] of the valley. Um it won't just be [00:32:46] directed at those regulations won't just [00:32:48] be directed at the landfill um but um [00:32:52] other other potential sources of [00:32:54] contamination the valleys but um but [00:32:57] this is clearly the elephant in the [00:32:59] room. Um, [00:33:02] so, um, I don't know if you have any [00:33:05] questions. If you had a chance to look [00:33:06] at the, you know, those reports, they're [00:33:09] pretty it's it's an easy read. It's [00:33:10] pretty, um, I would recommend that you [00:33:13] look at it, [00:33:14] >> Mr. Chairman. [00:33:15] >> Sure. Uh, do you know if uh, the wells [00:33:19] down in where have detected any PAS? I [00:33:22] know everybody's testing for it, [00:33:24] >> right? Everybody's testing. I I don't [00:33:25] know. I don't know. The thing is that we [00:33:28] there's PAS everywhere, right? It's like [00:33:30] in our shampoos and our toilet paper and [00:33:33] you know they say cosmetics. It's you [00:33:35] know it's it's like all of our septic [00:33:37] systems probably have PAS in our septic [00:33:40] fields have PAS in. So um saying where [00:33:46] it came from, you know, is is a tough [00:33:48] one. this in this case with a landfill. [00:33:51] We have test wells around it and they're [00:33:53] showing it. [00:33:55] Um, you know, to try to pin it on [00:33:57] something upstream or up, you know, up [00:33:59] valley, uh, or somebody up valley. Uh, [00:34:02] there's not a whole lot there. You know, [00:34:04] fish and wildlife probably didn't, you [00:34:05] know, dump, you know, toilet paper or [00:34:08] whatever and be fast in the valley. But, [00:34:12] and it's not really about culpability. I [00:34:14] I don't think it's about blame. I think [00:34:16] it's just about where do we go from here [00:34:18] moving forward? Um where's the liability [00:34:22] lie uh in the future if you know will [00:34:26] you know you know people want their [00:34:28] water tested you know and who you know [00:34:31] there's there's a lot of unknowns and D [00:34:33] I think is struggling with that right [00:34:34] now because this PAS mandate that came [00:34:37] out two years ago has put a a big lot of [00:34:39] pressure on them. One disclaimer that is [00:34:42] in their report is that there's no uh [00:34:44] potable wells within 500 feet of the [00:34:47] landfill, meaning there's no drinking [00:34:49] water within 500 feet. I don't know if [00:34:53] that's relevant when you have [00:34:55] essentially an underground river [00:34:57] carrying the the PAS um down valley, but [00:35:02] down gradient. So, but you know they [00:35:04] they if it's if there's nothing within [00:35:06] 500 ft, you know, I think they kind of [00:35:10] feel it's less threatening in some way. [00:35:13] But I think being a high yield aquifer, [00:35:16] you know, produces tremendous amounts of [00:35:18] water um flowing down river, down [00:35:22] valley, then um I think the 500 ft [00:35:25] probably isn't relevant, but I'm not a [00:35:27] professional. That's what we need the [00:35:28] LSP for. and and that's how you will [00:35:32] find out whether it's actually trace it [00:35:35] back to the landfill or some other [00:35:37] source cuz I know there are some small [00:35:39] dumping areas up [00:35:42] >> upstream there so [00:35:43] >> yeah I I don't know I don't know if [00:35:45] we're going to chase that down you know [00:35:47] is that really I think that's for the [00:35:49] you know [clears throat] lawyers and D [00:35:51] to you know figure out [00:35:52] >> but the monitoring wells that are in [00:35:54] place [00:35:55] >> yes [00:35:56] >> they're being run by bond for Cassella. [00:36:01] >> Correct. [00:36:01] >> Okay. No, I'm not trying to shift blame. [00:36:04] >> Yeah. [00:36:05] >> We We have those wells out near the old [00:36:07] ambulance barn and that I I know why [00:36:11] they're there. [00:36:12] >> Mhm. [00:36:12] >> And I think all they've ever turned up [00:36:14] is road salt. [00:36:16] >> You mean the one in lower road? [00:36:18] >> The ones in front of the co-op. [00:36:20] >> Yeah. No, you're right. Those those have [00:36:22] not uh No, we in fact they have not [00:36:25] tested for PAS yet on lower road. But [00:36:28] but that came from the landfill wars [00:36:31] when you know somebody was saying well [00:36:34] you want to see dumps I'll show you [00:36:35] dumps and they brought he brought D [00:36:39] people out [00:36:40] >> said there was a dump here there was a [00:36:42] and of course there was a dump [00:36:43] >> at every house history so [00:36:47] >> PAS doesn't go back into prehistory but [00:36:51] >> I would say that [00:36:53] >> we got a serious problem [00:36:54] >> it is a serious problem and it's not [00:36:56] just PAS it It's, you know, there's the [00:36:59] dioxane. I mean, the the the the [00:37:01] solvents, the the, you know, are, you [00:37:04] know, [00:37:04] >> all the stuff that's leeching out of the [00:37:06] dump that's been there since the dump [00:37:08] opened in the 60s. [00:37:09] >> Right. Right. Exactly. [00:37:11] >> Yeah. [00:37:11] >> So, I, you know, again, I don't know [00:37:13] what I'm not trying to point fingers and [00:37:17] it's not about culpability. It's about [00:37:19] what do we do from here? [00:37:22] You know, one of the questions that we [00:37:23] had to confront two years ago was [00:37:25] expansion. Landfill expansion. Do we [00:37:27] bring in more toxics? What will that do? [00:37:29] What, you know, how will that, you know, [00:37:30] would that be a good thing? I I I [00:37:33] somehow I think that that's a pretty bad [00:37:35] site for a landfill. Um, we have proof [00:37:38] that it's a bad site. Um, [00:37:41] >> and when it opened in 196 what? [00:37:45] >> Yeah. [00:37:45] >> Three or four or five. So, yeah, it was [00:37:48] stupid, but it always happens cuz it's [00:37:51] empty ground, [00:37:52] >> right? And it's Yeah, it's it's [00:37:55] wetlands. Who cares, you know? than back [00:37:56] then but the where do we go going [00:37:59] forward is the question [00:38:02] >> get insurance [00:38:04] >> do we get any leech from the dump dump [00:38:07] in our sewer system now [00:38:09] >> I don't know if we collect I don't think [00:38:12] so [00:38:13] >> oh good [00:38:14] >> there's lie I mean there's pas in the [00:38:16] lie yes for sure [00:38:18] >> and in addition to metals and all kinds [00:38:21] of other stuff [00:38:22] >> we can't handle any lie [00:38:23] >> right okay we don't process any lie [00:38:26] shape, right? [00:38:26] >> Oh, good. Okay. [00:38:28] >> Yeah. Now, my next question for you [00:38:30] here, Rick, is uh I'm also noticing [00:38:33] these same chemicals in the surface [00:38:36] water [00:38:37] >> which goes into uh [00:38:39] >> Buddy Brook, which you [00:38:41] >> brook and goes into hardwood pond and [00:38:44] >> yeah, [00:38:44] >> so on down the line. Yeah. [00:38:46] >> So, [00:38:47] >> I didn't I haven't looked into the [00:38:48] surface water. I was hoping I could dump [00:38:50] that on the cons. [00:38:53] [laughter] [00:38:54] Um because yes, there there's so they [00:38:57] have they have surface water testing [00:39:00] upstream from from the landfill, at the [00:39:04] landfill, and downstream from the [00:39:06] landfill. [00:39:07] >> So they have three three sites that they [00:39:09] test. And there's definite changes as [00:39:12] the water passes the landfill becomes [00:39:14] more acidic, lower oxygen level, [00:39:16] dissolved oxygen, you know. So, [00:39:19] >> can't be a surprise. [00:39:20] >> Yeah, it can't be. None of this is [00:39:22] really a surprise. It just, [00:39:25] you know, I think it has to be made [00:39:26] public and it's official. It's [00:39:28] documented that this is happening. And, [00:39:32] you know, so it guides our decisions [00:39:34] going forward, you know, and is there [00:39:37] any liability for the town? I don't [00:39:39] know. Like, we're paying $18,000 a year. [00:39:42] I mean, that's taxpayer money. That's, [00:39:44] you know, you're asking for years, all [00:39:46] those years since [00:39:48] >> and this is much bigger. [00:39:49] >> This is much I'm saying we're paying 18 [00:39:51] grand a year for [00:39:52] >> lower road. This is going to be and like [00:39:56] who you know that you know, you're [00:39:57] talking, you know, I don't think there's [00:40:00] enough pilot money to to make up for [00:40:01] that. You know, it's like [00:40:03] >> decades of a dump there. [00:40:05] >> Yeah. And we got we got tipping fees [00:40:08] back in the state those 10 years. You [00:40:11] got a ton of money. It'll make them take [00:40:13] care of it properly. [00:40:14] >> Yes, probably. [00:40:16] >> So, it just high yield aquifer [00:40:20] >> big threat drinking water for both [00:40:22] hardwood residents and where as well. [00:40:25] So, [00:40:26] >> and I must say everybody downstream from [00:40:28] where? [00:40:29] >> Yeah. [00:40:30] >> You know before it gets to the ocean and [00:40:33] even then so great [00:40:36] >> Mr. Cole. [00:40:37] >> Thank you. And and thank you Dr. Romano. [00:40:40] That's that's uh scary and [00:40:41] [clears throat] interesting and [00:40:42] historic. But my question is if I heard [00:40:45] you right, you have not um it's only [00:40:49] since 2024 that these test wells have [00:40:52] included measurement of the PAS [00:40:54] >> for PAS. Yeah. [00:40:55] >> Right. Um since they closed I think the [00:40:59] plan that's in place now with these 30 [00:41:00] or 40 tests, you said [00:41:04] >> that's what happened when they closed it [00:41:06] in what 2007. Right. [00:41:08] >> Right. And was that, maybe I'm [00:41:10] remembering wrong, but that was like a [00:41:12] 30-year plan. What What is the term of [00:41:14] their liability for measuring, not [00:41:18] necessarily for remediating, but for [00:41:19] measuring? You would think it's 30 years [00:41:21] or something. [00:41:22] >> I don't know. I don't know, Eric. Maybe [00:41:23] you would know. I mean, I think that's [00:41:25] the for everybody says that stuff, but [00:41:28] we should we'll find out. [00:41:29] >> I mean, you know, they have to read the [00:41:31] contracts and I don't know. And the rest [00:41:34] of my question then would be um in in [00:41:36] the almost 20 years that these tests [00:41:39] have been done [00:41:40] >> on the heart of landfill and around [00:41:43] [clears throat] um has there been any [00:41:45] noticeable have there been any other [00:41:49] uh worrisome levels of other others and [00:41:52] have they been increasing and has [00:41:54] anything [00:41:55] >> right I don't know so the trending so [00:41:57] we're we're working on the data to look [00:41:59] at the trending and each of so there's [00:42:02] 30 wells or however many wells and you [00:42:05] can each well has a has a history. [00:42:09] There's both on the surface and deep and [00:42:13] so there's data to be analyzed and you [00:42:15] know there's some hardwood residents [00:42:17] that are analyzing that data. Again, [00:42:19] these these reports are all public. You [00:42:22] know, this isn't you know anybody can [00:42:23] look at these and study these if you [00:42:25] want. Um but there's there's definitely [00:42:27] trending in in the in the wells and it [00:42:30] and in in the in the data and the thing [00:42:32] is it like it comes and goes like [00:42:34] there'll be you know arsenic in a [00:42:37] particular well at one point and then [00:42:39] you know taluine in that same well later [00:42:42] that and the arsenic doesn't show up and [00:42:44] it tells you I have not gone back before [00:42:47] 2020. So there's, you know, on the these [00:42:50] were on the shelf. They're all dusty [00:42:52] because nobody's ever looked at these, [00:42:53] including myself. You know, not blaming [00:42:55] anybody, but it's like, you know, [00:42:57] nobody's ever looked at these. Um, and [00:42:59] there's, you know, there's there's data [00:43:01] to be analyzed if, you know, if you [00:43:03] really want to see what is happening. [00:43:06] Um, all I know is that the status of [00:43:08] things right now is not good, you know, [00:43:11] and um, may I follow up? [00:43:13] >> Sure. [00:43:14] >> An LSP would that's why we want to hire [00:43:16] an LSP just to help us. I I don't know, [00:43:20] you know, first thing about [00:43:21] >> I would imagine one of the first things [00:43:24] um Castella would say Bond even as [00:43:27] they're hearing this sort of concern [00:43:30] would be that hey these are everywhere [00:43:33] like you said and there's no reason to [00:43:36] say they're coming from the landfill and [00:43:38] moving down south. I expect that's what [00:43:41] we would hear. So I wonder whether they [00:43:44] might be asked or forced or if we should [00:43:49] consider some sort of some other testing [00:43:53] wells above the landfill and then below [00:43:56] the landfill maybe down at the pond or [00:43:58] below that even to to try to see if you [00:44:01] can detect any [00:44:02] >> Yeah. where the room is [00:44:04] >> or any origin. [00:44:06] >> Right. Right. Right. [00:44:08] >> I That's a tough go. Well, I was just s [00:44:12] Mr. Chair if I could chime in. [00:44:14] [clears throat] [00:44:15] >> Um, I mean, some of us sat on the [00:44:17] landfill oversight committee back in [00:44:20] 04056. [00:44:22] >> Great. Signing time, [00:44:23] >> right? Um and our understanding was um [00:44:28] you know when they capped this I guess [00:44:31] temporarily we didn't know how [00:44:33] temporarily it would be ultimately they [00:44:37] were my memory is the same that they [00:44:39] were supposed to monitor these test [00:44:40] wells for 30 years and we talked about [00:44:44] monitoring both water quality and air [00:44:47] quality. Um, [00:44:50] and I thought there was [00:44:53] a surface water or two or three wells [00:44:55] downstream, right? And there are three [00:44:58] and I thought there might have been a [00:45:00] one at the pond, but I [00:45:02] >> I'm just as guilty as everyone else for [00:45:04] watching those reports come in year [00:45:06] after year and get filed on the [00:45:07] bookshelf in there because nobody made [00:45:10] the time to study them. [00:45:12] >> Yeah. [00:45:13] So, as a Harvard Pond resident, speaking [00:45:16] from that point of view and a member of [00:45:18] the association, I think we already [00:45:20] stated in our letter that we would [00:45:22] totally support the um [00:45:26] enlistment of an expert reviewer who [00:45:30] knows, [00:45:32] you know, landfills, contamination, [00:45:35] hydrarology, [00:45:37] because nobody here is an expert on [00:45:39] this. and you board of health members [00:45:41] shouldn't be expected to be experts on [00:45:43] that. Um, and from the conservation [00:45:47] commission point of view, it's already [00:45:48] on record that back in the middle of [00:45:50] 2024, we sent a letter to the planning [00:45:53] board about the importance of this [00:45:55] valley. Um, both having been identified [00:45:59] in the town open space um, plan and town [00:46:04] master plan. There's 140 acres of [00:46:06] wetlands here that we're responsible for [00:46:08] overseeing with DP. So, [00:46:12] there's a lot of reason to try to enlist [00:46:14] expert peer review of this valley. [00:46:16] >> Yeah. [00:46:20] >> Yes, ma'am. [00:46:21] >> Um, as a resident of the [clears throat] [00:46:23] area around the pond also, um, I'm sure [00:46:27] that I'm not the only one that's going [00:46:29] to do well in that area. Mine goes down [00:46:32] in 150 ft maybe. Uh that if anybody [00:46:36] wants to come and test all of the water [00:46:39] coming that's that's being pumped out of [00:46:41] my well to see if you know there's a [00:46:45] consistency or non-consistency. I mean I [00:46:48] know that a lot of the camps around uh [00:46:50] the pond only have little dug wells, but [00:46:53] mine's a you know a drilled well. Um, so [00:46:57] I mean I'm more than willing to [00:46:59] volunteer my well for whoever needs to [00:47:03] [snorts] sample stuff coming out of it. [00:47:04] I mean we can tap into it before it goes [00:47:06] into my filtration system. to me. [00:47:09] >> So I mean they'll say you know who knows [00:47:12] where it came from because there's pests [00:47:14] everywhere you know but is there a [00:47:16] particular you know thumb print you know [00:47:18] I don't know again it's not about [00:47:22] blame we you know it's well it might be [00:47:25] about blame and and liability but that's [00:47:28] not what the board of health is about. [00:47:29] We just want to make sure that we put [00:47:32] you know safeguard this resource and the [00:47:35] best we can at this point in time. Um so [00:47:38] we we're probably going to develop some [00:47:40] regulations to be honest to go forward [00:47:42] um uh for the valley you know based on [00:47:46] the gravel and um [00:47:50] you know [00:47:51] >> unfortunately future land come down to [00:47:53] blame [00:47:54] >> pardon me [00:47:55] >> unfortunately I think it will come down [00:47:57] to who's to blame where the sources [00:48:00] coming from [00:48:01] >> yeah I and I don't know what happened [00:48:03] between South Burge and Charlton you [00:48:06] know and those you know that cross town [00:48:08] contamination and that's that's a whole [00:48:10] another [00:48:11] >> yeah I that's that's beyond my you know [00:48:15] certain [00:48:15] >> and just as Dr. Leland said back in the [00:48:18] landfill war days [00:48:20] >> you can't expect anything else if you [00:48:22] live in an industrialized society [00:48:25] >> you know this we're all to blame because [00:48:29] >> we're all driving around with you [00:48:31] whatever [00:48:32] >> Mr. Cole, [00:48:33] >> thank you. Um, on the subject of the PAS [00:48:36] in Hardwick, did not the board of health [00:48:39] some time ago [00:48:41] entertain the idea of requiring PAS [00:48:45] testing for every new private well. And [00:48:48] what happened if that's correct? What [00:48:50] what happened with that? [00:48:52] >> Will results come out of that? It might [00:48:54] be interesting. [00:48:55] >> I I don't know. I I I I don't know if [00:48:58] that was before my time. Do you remember [00:49:00] that? [00:49:01] >> Yeah, it happened. Um Judy was just [00:49:03] leaving and it's basically been up in [00:49:06] the air because we're finding out more [00:49:09] about the PAS and you know [00:49:13] working on this. [00:49:14] >> There is some money somewhere. [00:49:16] >> Yeah. [00:49:16] >> That she set aside. [00:49:18] >> Yeah. [00:49:18] >> Yes. There's a there was a donation, [00:49:20] >> right? [00:49:23] >> Thank you, doctor. [00:49:24] >> Welcome. Thank you. [00:49:25] >> Any other questions or comments? I just [00:49:28] can I just tag on to um what Liz was was [00:49:31] saying um now that I'm hearing about [00:49:35] this in the last few months [00:49:38] um and being a member of the pond [00:49:42] community which we are um I've been [00:49:46] looking into getting my water tested as [00:49:48] Liz pointed out and I'm probably going [00:49:51] to put out some serious money because I [00:49:53] can tell you I've had conversations with [00:49:55] quality analytical labs [00:49:57] will already test our town water. Um, [00:50:01] and their PAS test, which is for 12 [00:50:04] different PFAS, [00:50:07] >> um, is 775 bucks just for that test. [00:50:11] Plus, you can't collect the water sample [00:50:13] yourself. You have to have somebody [00:50:16] qualified come and do it. So, when you [00:50:18] add all that up, it's 925 bucks just for [00:50:20] PAS testing. And I'm going to have I [00:50:24] think I'm going to decide to have quite [00:50:25] a bit of other testing done with it. If [00:50:28] they're gonna I'm going to have them [00:50:29] come and collect water, I might as well [00:50:31] have a comprehensive test. But that [00:50:33] gives you a ballpark ballpark idea for [00:50:36] one well. [00:50:37] >> Yeah. [00:50:39] >> Yes, ma'am. just uh within the last six [00:50:42] months I remember and I put it somewhere [00:50:46] getting a postcard from some company [00:50:49] that offered free water testing. [00:50:53] >> Okay. And I don't know. I mean, I just [00:50:58] >> No, I mean, there was a company that [00:51:00] said, "We will test your water." And you [00:51:02] know, and I don't know exactly, you [00:51:05] know, the cards somewhere in my house, [00:51:07] so don't ask me that. [00:51:09] >> If you could find that, that would be [00:51:10] >> I Yeah, because I remember saying to [00:51:12] myself, well, gee, maybe I should have [00:51:14] the water tested again because I'm down [00:51:16] from the dump. [00:51:17] >> It's unlikely it would be for Pest, [00:51:19] especially for that wants to [00:51:21] installation. [00:51:23] Well, and that's and that's fine. I [00:51:25] already have one of those. But I mean, [00:51:26] if if they test my water and it says [00:51:29] I've got arsenic in it, then that, you [00:51:32] know, we're stuck there. You know, if we [00:51:34] if it's got arsic, it's got other stuff. [00:51:36] >> So, thank you. [00:51:37] >> I'll go looking for that. [00:51:38] >> That would be great. [00:51:39] >> Might explain a lot, though. [00:51:40] >> It It might. Yeah, it would. [00:51:43] >> All right. Let's try to keep the [00:51:44] comments directed to the chair. Okay. [00:51:46] Yes, sir. [00:51:48] Um, any other [00:51:50] complaints, observations, questions, [00:51:54] statements? [00:51:56] >> What may I go back to visitor comments, [00:51:59] please? One thing. [00:52:01] >> Oh, [00:52:02] >> one thing, please. [00:52:03] >> It just be one. I was the one who said [00:52:06] that I thought that a grand writer would [00:52:08] be useful to this town. Wasn't just my [00:52:10] own opinion of the master plan steering [00:52:12] capital planning planning board. And I [00:52:15] just wanted to point out that in my [00:52:17] experience, um, when we missed out on [00:52:20] the CDBG grant, it was it was part of [00:52:22] the prior administration. It had to do [00:52:24] with with our former consultant, not [00:52:28] CMRCP, we've been using since. And in [00:52:31] respect to the to the Brone grant, as [00:52:33] Ann would well know, um I believe it was [00:52:36] Justine that pointed out that we had two [00:52:38] weeks to act on this along with with [00:52:41] Central Mass's input and we did that in [00:52:43] short order. Um and and the townhouse [00:52:47] received that money. I would not [00:52:48] consider that that um Justine's role in [00:52:52] the grant writing while the time is [00:52:55] limited has been remiss. [00:52:57] >> Thank you. Okay. All right, [00:53:02] that it [00:53:06] thank you all. [00:53:10] >> Appointment of the town accountant Ali [00:53:12] man who's sitting right here. [00:53:18] I'm [00:53:18] >> glad to finally meet you. [00:53:20] >> It's nice to meet you. Yes, I met the [00:53:22] other two. No. [00:53:24] >> And we had some um u an emotional roller [00:53:28] coaster. Um Holly is uh still [00:53:33] interested. Um we're losing our [00:53:36] accountant on Thursday. [00:53:39] Uh I did uh take action [clears throat] [00:53:42] and um as chair got it started. Holly is [00:53:47] not appointed yet. We have to deliberate [00:53:50] and decide whether to do that. [00:53:53] So that's all I have to say. I'd open it [00:53:56] up to my colleagues questions. [00:53:59] >> Mr. Chairman, [00:54:00] >> sir, [00:54:01] >> in my opinion, at this point, she is [00:54:03] fully qualified. She doesn't have the [00:54:06] experience of the person that we were [00:54:09] going to appoint to that position, but [00:54:11] he's no longer uh [00:54:12] >> available [00:54:13] >> available. I think uh that we really [00:54:19] time being short, we really are are are [00:54:25] going to have to appoint her. [00:54:28] >> Thank you. Um [00:54:30] >> again, I apologize for getting on a high [00:54:33] horse and acting. I think I was within [00:54:36] my jurisdiction, but [00:54:40] there didn't seem to be time for another [00:54:42] meeting. [00:54:44] Okay. Well, the select board does [00:54:47] appoint the town accountant, [00:54:50] but the chair or the town administrator [00:54:54] doesn't appoint them on their own. It's [00:54:56] a matter of full vote by this board. [00:54:58] >> Correct. [00:54:59] >> Okay. Um, couple things. Her offer [00:55:02] letter was sent out, signed, agreed [00:55:05] upon. [00:55:06] I wasn't notified of this at all. Wasn't [00:55:09] made aware of it. Um, not not going to [00:55:12] get into all that, but the bottom line [00:55:15] is I think we should change that offer [00:55:17] letter since she's here right currently [00:55:21] cuz the town accountant [00:55:24] answers to the select board. Okay? Not [00:55:27] the the town administrator per se [00:55:30] because the role of the town accountant [00:55:33] is to monitor all the like the reports, [00:55:35] our spending, our bills, our funding, [00:55:38] all these things. Okay? including what [00:55:40] the town administrators [00:55:42] spending. Okay. So, per master last [00:55:47] general law chapter 41 section 55. Okay. [00:55:52] The select board appoints her and she [00:55:55] reports to the select board. So, if you [00:55:58] want, you know, you ask for an audit or [00:56:00] this or that, it it's done. and and and [00:56:04] Justine does oversee this or or you know [00:56:07] works with her but she can't tell her [00:56:10] hey don't do this report or transfer [00:56:12] this money here or there [00:56:15] the town accountant is responsible to [00:56:18] answering to the board so all our [00:56:19] finances are in order [00:56:22] okay um so I recommend since she's here [00:56:28] that I have I basically took the offer [00:56:31] letter and just revised it upon approval [00:56:35] by the select board and then it answers [00:56:38] to the select board. Okay, you want me [00:56:41] would you like me to read this author [00:56:43] letter? [00:56:44] >> Okay, because it's pretty much the same [00:56:46] thing. Mrs. Holly man, dear Miss Man, [00:56:50] upon approval by the select board, I [00:56:52] have the pleasure of offering you this [00:56:54] conditional appointment as the town [00:56:56] accountant in the town. [00:56:59] This is a part-time up to 19 hours per [00:57:02] week non-benefited position with a [00:57:04] starting pay rate of $44 per hour. Your [00:57:08] schedule may include day, evening, [00:57:10] weekend hours as needed. You will report [00:57:13] to the select board or his or her [00:57:15] designate and perform all tasks [00:57:17] assigned. You will be subject to [00:57:20] [clears throat] six-month probationary [00:57:21] period. [00:57:23] Please, please be advised that this is [00:57:26] this and all municipal appointments are [00:57:29] made subject to appropriation. This [00:57:31] appointment is effective October 27th, [00:57:34] 2025. [00:57:36] Should you wish to accept this offer, [00:57:38] please be advised that this offer is [00:57:40] expressively conditioned upon you [00:57:42] successfully passing a fitness of duty [00:57:46] physical and a background or Corey/sori [00:57:50] check. All offers of employment are [00:57:53] conditional and may be withdrawn or an [00:57:56] employee discharged upon termination by [00:57:59] the town that the applicant or employee [00:58:02] provide [00:58:04] fall provided false information during [00:58:07] the hiring process or has not compiled [00:58:10] with the condition listed within this [00:58:12] offer. If you wish to accept this offer [00:58:15] to the foregoing, please signify as much [00:58:18] by signing below. [00:58:22] and and I put, you know, sincerely I [00:58:24] figured we could vote to appoint her. [00:58:27] You sign this. You can give her the [00:58:28] offer. She can sign it right now and [00:58:31] everything's all good. We'll discuss it. [00:58:33] >> All right. Yeah, [00:58:34] >> Mr. Chair, can I speak to you? [00:58:35] >> Yes, ma'am. [00:58:36] >> Um, so actually the duties of the [00:58:39] accountant are laid out by state [00:58:40] statute. I cannot tell her her duties. [00:58:43] Her her duties are laid out by state [00:58:45] statute. Good. [00:58:46] >> And all of the department has uh report [00:58:48] day-to-day to the town administrator. [00:58:49] And you'd be willing to work with the [00:58:51] treasurer? [00:58:52] >> Yeah. [00:58:53] >> The town. [00:58:54] >> Yeah. [00:58:57] >> I'll make a motion that we appoint her [00:58:59] as uh town accountant. [00:59:03] >> Oh man. I say we approve this to appoint [00:59:08] her. She signs this offer and then we do [00:59:12] an official vote to appoint her to town [00:59:14] council. [00:59:16] >> You're still willing. [00:59:19] >> [laughter] [00:59:25] >> So, uh, should I get up and hand it to [00:59:28] her? [00:59:28] >> Do you want [00:59:29] >> No, we Well, we as a board vote to agree [00:59:32] to these terms. [00:59:34] >> Okay. This term see to be seem to be [00:59:36] >> I make a motion to approve this offer [00:59:38] letter October 27th from the select [00:59:41] board for the town. [00:59:42] >> Yeah, I have no issue with that. I'll [00:59:44] second it. [00:59:44] >> Okay. All in favor? [00:59:46] >> I. All right. [00:59:48] Mr. Chair, you can sign it. Present her [00:59:50] as the offer. [00:59:57] >> So, this is the letter we've used for [00:59:58] every single other hire since 2024 that [01:00:01] actually I wrote. So, [01:00:02] >> would you [01:00:04] >> How would you like to do it going [01:00:05] forward? Because this is what we've been [01:00:06] using. [01:00:08] >> It's very, very similar. [01:00:11] >> Well, I need some direction on this left [01:00:12] word. [01:00:15] >> She runs a town after all. You can see. [01:00:20] >> Thank you. [01:00:22] I'd seek a motion to appoint Holly Man [01:00:25] as our accountant. [01:00:28] >> Make a motion to appoint Miss Holly Man [01:00:30] as our town accountant effective October [01:00:33] 27th, 2025. [01:00:35] >> I'll second. [01:00:37] >> All in favor? I I [01:00:40] >> Congratulations. [01:00:45] Okay. [01:00:47] Welcome, Holly. [laughter] [01:00:50] >> Are you sure? [01:00:52] >> It remains to be seen, huh? [laughter] [01:00:55] >> We're all on probation. [01:00:59] >> We're working it all out. Please be [01:01:01] patient with us. [01:01:02] >> Mhm. [laughter] [01:01:04] >> Discussion and vote on historical [01:01:06] commission terms and members. [01:01:10] >> You're going to have to [01:01:11] >> Yes. [01:01:13] So, as I brought up last meeting, um [01:01:18] there was some issues with the [01:01:20] membership of the historical commission. [01:01:22] I know you brought that up as well. Um [01:01:24] so, after talking to the town clerk, the [01:01:28] who he had and the term and their [01:01:30] expiration don't match what was voted on [01:01:34] at the last meeting. What we need to do [01:01:36] is we need to set terms for the people [01:01:39] that the board appointed and we need to [01:01:41] take a look to see um I can read you [01:01:44] what the town clerk has if you'd like me [01:01:46] to. [01:01:46] >> Sure. [01:01:47] >> Um [01:01:49] Emily Bankraftoft is now deceased. Penny [01:01:51] Hannon uh shows her term expiring [01:01:53] 6:3023. [01:01:55] Liz Siren um her term is not listed. [01:01:58] John Metraglia, his term is expired. [01:02:01] Charl Wolf um is also on the historical [01:02:04] commission and no expiration term was [01:02:06] given as well. [01:02:09] So last meeting the select board voted [01:02:11] to appoint Trisha Tinker, Ryan Witos, [01:02:13] Liz Siren, and Johnia. [01:02:18] >> So that would leave that's four and then [01:02:20] Jeff Shaff is five and [01:02:24] Cheryl Wolf would be six. Uh it's only a [01:02:26] five member [01:02:28] committee and there's also no terms. So [01:02:30] that's the task of the board tonight. [01:02:36] >> So we have to make somebody disappear. I [01:02:39] can disappear really quick. [laughter] [01:02:44] But then there right now I am serving as [01:02:47] the chairman. [01:02:52] So uh well you got any as a sitting [01:02:55] member and a chair uh of the historical [01:02:58] commission. Do you have any suggestions? [01:03:01] [laughter] [01:03:03] >> Uh, again, I can step down and let the [01:03:06] rest of them handle it. [01:03:10] I don't mind. I've been on the [01:03:12] historical commission since 199 [01:03:16] something. [01:03:18] So, [01:03:21] well, [01:03:25] >> we have somebody raising their hand out [01:03:27] there. Um, [01:03:29] >> we have we appointed you last meeting. [01:03:32] >> Yes. But I mean, I've been on since I [01:03:35] don't know when. Okay. Very honestly, [01:03:38] because [01:03:38] >> apparently nobody else does. [01:03:42] >> Well, at least I want to say at least 5 [01:03:44] years. Okay. [01:03:45] >> Yeah, [clears throat] probably. [01:03:47] >> Um, [01:03:49] I if you're looking at who has sat on [01:03:52] the board the longest, I guess that [01:03:54] gives it to me. Okay. And then it would [01:03:56] be John and then Cheryl and then Trish [01:04:00] and Ryan. If you would like to step down [01:04:06] and make me a temporary chair so that I [01:04:11] can call a meeting and we can make a [01:04:13] chair as a senior member. I will do that [01:04:16] and do a meeting within the next, you [01:04:19] know, 45 days if we can get everybody [01:04:21] together. [01:04:23] I'm trying to come up with a solution. [01:04:25] >> We also have to uh decide who uh terms [01:04:30] of so we could put you in. We have to [01:04:34] appoint one person for a one-year term. [01:04:37] >> And then two people for two-year terms [01:04:40] and two people for threeear terms. [01:04:43] >> Would you like to be a one-year term or [01:04:45] >> um I'd rather be a three. [01:04:48] [laughter] [01:04:48] >> Well, I've already been there for god [01:04:50] knows how many years. [01:04:52] saying, [01:04:52] >> "Well, that's you're the old ant." [01:04:54] That's why you're the old hand. Yeah. [01:04:57] >> So, that's why I suggested it. [01:05:00] >> Um, [01:05:01] >> that's why I'm saying the three would [01:05:02] probably be easy. [01:05:04] >> So, we just flip [01:05:05] >> my knowledge. [01:05:06] >> Flip a coin. [01:05:09] >> That That's how we design things. No. [01:05:12] >> Um, [01:05:15] or you decide. I don't know. [01:05:18] >> Mr. Cole, what [01:05:19] >> I was just wondering. I mean, I hadn't [01:05:21] seen when the historical commission was [01:05:23] established, and I don't know if if when [01:05:25] it was if it included it the possibility [01:05:27] of an associate member. And then my [01:05:30] other question would be Cheryl Wolf. Is [01:05:32] she active and definitely still [01:05:34] interested? [01:05:35] >> Yes, we appointed her already and I [01:05:38] spoke to her during an event. She's [01:05:41] >> very interested in being on it. [01:05:44] Um, [01:05:48] so we'd be appointing them for three [01:05:50] year. [01:05:52] >> Two of them for three years. Two of them [01:05:54] for three years. [01:05:55] >> I mean that the the term would be three [01:05:58] years. [01:05:59] >> One for 26, one to two to 27, and two [01:06:02] for 28. [01:06:03] >> Because no terms have been specified [01:06:06] with the town clerk. So we're [01:06:08] establishing something here. [01:06:11] So, I will make that motion that we uh [01:06:15] first of all that we set up [01:06:19] a one-year term that ends in 2026, a [01:06:23] two-year term. I can read it here. [01:06:26] >> A two-year term that uh set uh ends in [01:06:30] 2027, and then a three-year term that [01:06:34] ends in 2028. We would have one [01:06:39] commissioner for the 26 and two [01:06:43] commissioners for 27 and two [01:06:45] commissioners for 28. That makes our [01:06:48] five commissioners. [01:06:50] Now the thing is which ones are which? [01:06:52] >> That's my question. [01:06:55] That's what I was. [01:06:56] >> But let's just set up the commission [01:06:57] first is what I'm getting at and then we [01:07:00] can That's my motion. [01:07:02] >> Okay. I'll second the motion. [01:07:04] >> Okay. discussion. [01:07:07] >> I think we're done. [01:07:08] >> All in favor? [01:07:09] >> I I [01:07:10] >> Now, who do we want to go one year? [01:07:16] >> Well, I already [01:07:17] >> with with the possibility of getting [01:07:20] uh reappointed. Would you be willing to [01:07:23] do that with [01:07:24] >> Huh? I I just because I've been on it [01:07:27] for the longest time. I I would rather [01:07:29] be on the the three-year. And my [01:07:31] suggestion is that since myself and John [01:07:35] are the two senior members and we [01:07:37] [clears throat] are the log [laughter] [01:07:39] logical ones for three. [01:07:40] >> So that's it. Let's start with the [01:07:42] threeear. [01:07:42] >> The three-year. So that would be uh Liz [01:07:45] Siren and uh John Petraia. [01:07:48] >> I second it. All [01:07:50] >> in favor? I [01:07:51] >> I [01:07:53] >> Okay. Um twoear [01:07:55] >> my suggestion also is twoyear. [01:07:59] Cheryl is the next [01:08:01] >> the next person appointed. So, she would [01:08:03] be a two-year and then [01:08:05] >> it's up to Trish and Ryan. And you know, [01:08:08] maybe it's a slip of the [01:08:09] >> Do you want one or two years, Trish? [01:08:12] >> Two would be easy. [01:08:13] >> Okay, we'll make that motion. It's uh uh [01:08:18] Cheryl and Trish [01:08:21] uh Tinker as uh two-year terms. [01:08:26] >> Seconded. [01:08:27] All in favor? [01:08:29] >> I [01:08:31] >> You can't. [01:08:31] >> Right. I just [01:08:34] [laughter] [01:08:35] >> And then one-year term for Ryan Whitos. [01:08:40] >> Second. Well, I'll make a motion to [01:08:41] appoint Ryan Whitos for a one-year term. [01:08:44] >> Second it. [01:08:44] >> Okay. All in favor? [01:08:46] >> I. [01:08:47] >> Thank you. [01:08:48] >> There we go. Now [clears throat] we made [01:08:49] a [01:08:51] >> And you'll set up that meeting, please. [01:08:53] >> Yes. [01:08:54] >> Please. [01:08:54] >> I get the answer in this box. Oh, yeah. [01:08:58] I'd be glad to get rid of it. [01:09:00] >> It's currently holding up other stuff, [01:09:02] but I [01:09:02] >> Oh, good. [01:09:03] >> Are you going to be at our next plan uh [01:09:06] uh select board meeting? [01:09:08] >> Two weeks. [01:09:09] >> Sure. I'll take the information. [01:09:11] >> Okay. I'll try to bring it. [01:09:12] >> Yeah. [01:09:13] >> Make a note. [01:09:15] >> Okay. [laughter] Discussion and vote on [01:09:17] Kier Sarge Solar Lease. [01:09:20] >> Mr. Chair, um Andrew Bernstein is [01:09:22] available by phone to answer any of the [01:09:24] board's questions if you'd like me to. [01:09:29] Um, [01:09:33] >> Mr. Zinny, have you looked at this [01:09:36] layout? [01:09:36] >> No. [01:09:38] >> I'm not sure about that color map, but [01:09:39] I've we have seen um a black and white [01:09:43] version of that showing the footprint of [01:09:46] the panel location. [01:09:47] >> There was some talk about getting closer [01:09:49] to the river. [01:09:52] >> Yeah. So, I recently sent two maps. Um, [01:09:55] I didn't think to print them out here [01:09:57] for this, but I sent two maps showing [01:09:59] the 200 foot riverfront zone to help to [01:10:02] help um to help them think about that. [01:10:06] And I suppose Harry could maybe address [01:10:08] that. Um we we talked it over at the [01:10:13] conservation commission meeting and uh [01:10:15] have thought about it and we recommended [01:10:19] at this point that if possible we [01:10:21] consider staying out of the 200t [01:10:23] riverfront zone. Um, [01:10:30] >> yeah. So, this is outside of the 200 [01:10:33] foot riverfront zone. Um, as far as the [01:10:36] panels go now that I see it. And here [01:10:40] you can upside down. [01:10:42] >> And I just pointed out [01:10:44] >> I know how I get there. [01:10:46] >> We just pointed out for um consideration [01:10:49] here. I I've talked it over with Harry a [01:10:52] bit. Um if if we propose to do anything [01:10:56] within that 200 ft riverfront zone, we [01:10:58] have to file. The town has to file with [01:11:00] D a notice of intent. And it also as the [01:11:04] applicant has the burden of proving that [01:11:08] whatever is being proposed is not going [01:11:10] to negatively affect these eight eight [01:11:13] interests of the legislation and the [01:11:16] wetland protection regulations. the [01:11:18] interests of things like flood control, [01:11:21] flood storage capacity, wildlife [01:11:23] habitat, groundwater protection, those [01:11:25] types of things. So, it's kind of a big [01:11:28] burden. And so, for the time being, we [01:11:30] were recommending that we try to figure [01:11:33] out if the town can do something and not [01:11:37] um [01:11:39] propose any activity, construction [01:11:41] activity, land moving within the 200t [01:11:45] riverfront. Um, other than that, Harry [01:11:49] and I have talked about um, going out [01:11:51] and measuring off 200 ft and flagging a [01:11:53] few trees as examples, [01:11:56] but I can tell you that the footprint of [01:11:59] the old gravel disturbance area, [01:12:02] which is under the southeastern portion [01:12:04] of that blue shaded section, um, and now [01:12:09] forested with pine [01:12:11] that's outside of the 200t riverfront [01:12:14] zone and would be perfectly fine [01:12:17] to be used. Um, [01:12:21] we can answer questions if you have [01:12:23] questions about that. [01:12:26] >> Mr. Camer, [01:12:28] >> uh, I don't have any [clears throat] [01:12:29] questions about that at the moment. Um, [01:12:33] but just for clarification be because [01:12:36] there's been some, uh, misunderstanding [01:12:39] or misinformation, [01:12:41] um, I think in town about this project. [01:12:45] the [01:12:46] the revenue to the town is based on uh [01:12:50] how many megawws [01:12:52] in this area which in the past I think [01:12:56] pier has come to this uh select board [01:12:59] maybe not this select board but to the [01:13:01] select board in 2024 and their estimate [01:13:05] area is between 23 and 25 acres [01:13:09] uh that doesn't show up I don't think on [01:13:12] [clears throat] the leases that I've [01:13:14] Whereas um maybe they do today, but um [01:13:18] they do [01:13:18] >> um so it's on the front page. Um it just [01:13:21] has to be the acreage is there, but we [01:13:23] just have to [01:13:24] >> has to be filled in. [01:13:25] >> Yeah. [01:13:25] >> Okay. So the total area that the town [01:13:29] owns is uh 48 1/2 acres this whole area. [01:13:34] Um so per megawatt they're estimating [01:13:38] that they need 10 megawws and through [01:13:41] the efficiency of the solar panels over [01:13:43] the last seven years um they first [01:13:46] proposed five or six or seven megawws [01:13:50] and now they're proposing 10 megawatt. [01:13:52] So that jumps the revenue for the town [01:13:56] $20,000 per megawatt. So times 10 is [01:14:00] $200,000 [01:14:02] that the town would receive on the lease [01:14:05] per year. And the pilot agreement would [01:14:09] be $10,000 per megawatt. So times 10 [01:14:13] would be $100,000. So that would be a [01:14:16] little over $300,000 [01:14:19] per year for the town on the lease and [01:14:23] on the pilot agree. [01:14:26] And the area that this is, the blue area [01:14:29] that this is in does not touch the [01:14:32] athletic fields. [01:14:34] And I talked about the athletic fields [01:14:37] before to the board. And [clears throat] [01:14:41] um the under the athletic fields is uh [01:14:46] according to Marty probably a gravel [01:14:50] sand area similar to what he's been [01:14:53] mining right [01:14:54] >> already. [01:14:56] Uh the end [01:14:59] of the solar field closest to McDonald's [01:15:02] property [01:15:04] uh has quite a bit of gravel there yet. [01:15:08] And Marty has suggested that [01:15:13] um before they put the panels on and and [01:15:18] whenever the town signs the lease, [01:15:21] there's a development period probably a [01:15:23] year or two. um in estimation. [01:15:27] So [01:15:29] there's quite a bit of gravel there. So [01:15:31] if the town wanted to, they could um [01:15:35] surplus the gravel, put up an RFP to see [01:15:39] if somebody would be interested, some [01:15:42] company would be interested. And on [01:15:44] today's prices per yard, [01:15:48] uh there's probably half a million [01:15:50] dollars worth of gravel that can be [01:15:53] excavated from where the solar panels [01:15:57] are proposed. [01:15:58] >> Good. [01:15:59] >> So, um that would be sent out to bid. Uh [01:16:04] McDonald's has their they're right next [01:16:07] door. Uh, most likely they would be [01:16:11] interested in submitting a bid and maybe [01:16:13] some other companies. [01:16:14] >> Does our lease allow us to do that? [01:16:19] >> Uh, yes, I believe it does. [01:16:22] >> Yes, [01:16:23] >> we can mine the land that we're leasing [01:16:27] to them until they're ready. [01:16:29] >> Yeah, we have about a year and a half to [01:16:30] two years before they're actually going [01:16:32] to be there, like to Harry's point. So, [01:16:34] yeah, we can we can continue with what [01:16:36] we're doing. [01:16:36] >> All right. Well, that's mostly what I [01:16:38] was worried about. [01:16:39] >> And I I think it would be to their [01:16:41] benefit, caregists, because if if this [01:16:44] area was mined and cleared, [01:16:46] >> be level [01:16:47] >> be level or almost level. And it' be [01:16:50] probably less for them to develop um to [01:16:53] get the panels in in the area and the in [01:16:57] the flat area, however they do it for [01:17:00] them. Um, so [01:17:04] those are some things that [01:17:07] the select can think about. I hope the [01:17:09] information is a little more is a little [01:17:11] clearer to uh people who are concerned [01:17:14] about the athletic fields [01:17:16] and how this proposal would go. [01:17:19] >> Right. Thank you. [01:17:21] >> Yes, ma'am. [01:17:22] >> I have a question. The question would [01:17:24] be, [01:17:26] if we weren't to take the gravel and [01:17:28] they're leasing it, would they be [01:17:30] allowed to sell the gravel from the land [01:17:33] they're leasing? [01:17:38] >> Just a thought. [01:17:40] >> I don't know how they don't do it, Mike. [01:17:43] >> That's a good point. [01:17:44] >> Mhm. [01:17:45] >> I didn't hear the question. If if we if [01:17:49] they sign the lease, do they get to take [01:17:52] the gravel out? Do they have control of [01:17:54] the land to the point where they could [01:17:55] mine it? [01:17:57] >> That's possible. [01:17:59] I think that has to be clear. [01:18:02] >> Well, that's it. And I mean, if we're [01:18:04] going to sign the lease tonight, [01:18:06] that's the kind of stuff I want to be [01:18:08] clear on. [01:18:09] Well, I think we can send it back to the [01:18:12] attorney, [01:18:13] >> Jeffrey, and have him, you know, correct [01:18:17] some of these and do a final draft, like [01:18:19] a final review. Good. [01:18:20] >> Because one of the things on the lease, [01:18:22] you mentioned 20,000, which is on the [01:18:25] front, Mr. Chair. Right. 20,000 per [01:18:28] megawatt. But the actual lease term says [01:18:30] right here, 14,000 per megawatt. [01:18:34] >> So, that's a number that needs to be [01:18:36] adjusted, [01:18:36] >> right? [01:18:38] Oh, that's just so that legal can look [01:18:41] at it again [clears throat] to a final [01:18:43] review. [01:18:44] >> Yes, sir. [01:18:44] >> I think the 14,000 is because the town [01:18:48] wanted some upfront money. [01:18:50] >> Yes. [01:18:50] >> So, once the lease is signed is [01:18:53] generating some money. So, that would be [01:18:56] subtracted from the [01:18:59] >> the lease. Okay. I understand. [01:19:01] >> You understand? [01:19:02] >> Yeah. But the math here doesn't add up. [01:19:05] Like I'm just saying it was brought up. [01:19:07] I mean it ended up being a reduction of [01:19:10] $120,000 [01:19:11] but we're not getting $120,000 up front [01:19:14] in the first couple of years. [01:19:15] >> Right. [01:19:16] >> So that that number of 14,000 even if we [01:19:20] get money up front needs to be adjusted [01:19:22] to bring it up whether it's 17,000 [01:19:25] 18,000 or even 19,000. [01:19:33] So we send it back to legal. we don't [01:19:34] sign it or [01:19:37] >> I agree. [01:19:38] >> Well, we can make a a motion for for him [01:19:41] to do a final review and and and present [01:19:45] numbers back to them and work it out [01:19:47] >> and kind of hammer it all out and bring [01:19:49] it back to us unless there's a done [01:19:51] product. [01:19:52] >> Thank you. I can't make a motion. [01:19:54] >> All right. [01:19:54] >> So, bring it back to the attorney and I [01:19:57] will put it on the agenda for the next [01:19:59] meeting. [01:20:00] >> Yeah. Okay. [01:20:01] >> No motion necessary. We're not going to [01:20:03] vote on it. [01:20:04] >> All right. [01:20:05] >> Sign it. [01:20:06] >> For clarification, what questions are [01:20:09] you uh presenting to the the attorney to [01:20:13] profess [01:20:15] >> the the money? Uh I'm I was worried [01:20:19] about easements. [01:20:21] Um, and I was worried about uh being [01:20:24] able to, as you suggested, remove [01:20:28] material and then put the panels down as [01:20:32] opposed to putting the panels down at [01:20:34] ground level the way it is now. So, [01:20:37] >> okay. [01:20:38] >> So, I'm clear about that. Yes. um in the [01:20:41] packet, my email, um it which starts um [01:20:43] at the top from October 21st, it's a few [01:20:45] pages long, it kind of addresses some of [01:20:48] that on the second page between the [01:20:50] attorney, myself, and Kar um which kind [01:20:54] of speaks to an additional 24,000. [01:20:57] Um [01:20:59] so I suggest um going through some of [01:21:02] the emails that talks about and if [01:21:04] there's anything specific you want [01:21:06] increased, like that's just what I need [01:21:08] to know. [01:21:10] I I'm just worried about, you know, [01:21:13] selling the town's land. I'm not worried [01:21:15] so much about the money. I know I should [01:21:17] be, but I, you know, we just were [01:21:21] talking about contracts, so I'm being [01:21:24] careful [01:21:26] or gunshy. [01:21:29] Miss Siren, can I ask you if you have [01:21:30] something to say? [01:21:31] >> Yes, I do. Um [01:21:34] um Carrie was saying, you know, let's [01:21:37] sell off a half a million dollar worth [01:21:39] of gravel. Let's, you know, let's do and [01:21:42] remember there's the the fact that that [01:21:45] is the town's gravel pit at this [01:21:47] particular point. Um are would we be [01:21:51] pennywise and pound foolish to grab [01:21:54] money now and then find out that next [01:21:57] year now we have to buy gravel? [01:21:59] >> We've been over this. We've been down [01:22:01] there with Marty. I know we've been over [01:22:05] this several times. That that's the [01:22:07] question and I think that's what we have [01:22:10] to bite the bullet and decide to do. [01:22:13] >> But what I mean you looking at you you [01:22:17] take the value today. Okay. Say that [01:22:21] value of of one yard is $1 and we're [01:22:25] selling it for $1 for the value. [01:22:28] Next week that value of one yard goes to [01:22:31] $2. Now [01:22:33] >> we just cut our nose despite our fakes [01:22:35] and we've been there before in that [01:22:37] town. [01:22:38] >> Yeah, we're trying not to do it again. [01:22:40] >> Thank you, [01:22:41] >> Mr. Chair. I mean, please go ahead. Go [01:22:44] ahead. [01:22:44] >> I mean, Marty estimates around $50,000. [01:22:48] He he pulls sand and gravel out of that [01:22:50] pit [01:22:51] >> and a year a year. And so [01:22:55] he has piles stockpiled and stuff, but [01:22:58] he's not going to move it. He's not [01:22:59] going to mine it until the actual lease [01:23:01] is signed. He's not going to waste that [01:23:03] kind of energy to move it. But he could [01:23:05] stockpile I I don't know exactly. I [01:23:08] don't want to paraphrase, but at least [01:23:10] three, four, maybe even up to 5 years of [01:23:12] that and will give us a 5year window to [01:23:15] figure out. And it also brings us solar [01:23:18] online, lets them build it, and we get [01:23:20] the money, we get the pilot money, and [01:23:22] this is a big revenue source for this [01:23:24] town with very little impact. So, it's [01:23:27] something that would benefit [01:23:29] [clears throat] the residents and and on [01:23:31] the negotiation of the pilot, which [01:23:33] comes later, we can negotiate in the [01:23:37] reduction of electricity to the town [01:23:39] municipal buildings, whether it be the [01:23:41] wastewater treatment facilities, stuff [01:23:43] like that. at all being negotiated [01:23:45] [clears throat] there. So, it's not just [01:23:47] dollars and cents either. You can get, [01:23:50] you know, free electricity through SREx [01:23:53] they're called. [01:23:54] >> There's no such thing as [01:23:56] >> there's free electricity. We do the [01:23:57] solar and you generate it. Mr. Core, [01:24:01] >> thank you. I think this will make a lot [01:24:03] of you feel better because there have [01:24:04] been some confusion about the [01:24:06] preservation of the fields in the future [01:24:08] use of the unused part. My only question [01:24:11] would be now that you um you indicated I [01:24:14] think Justine that there's there's a [01:24:16] blank on the first page where we put in [01:24:18] the number of acres. Um I would hope [01:24:20] that the final contract before it signed [01:24:24] would clearly say that it's it it's not [01:24:28] this whole parcel. It's just a part of [01:24:31] the parcel and only the part that's in [01:24:33] this proposal. leaving the town the full [01:24:36] ability to keep the fields as they are, [01:24:39] maybe stockpile a little uh change it in [01:24:41] the future if they want to, but just [01:24:44] >> because it's just one parcel on the [01:24:46] maps, so it have to be defined [01:24:48] differently. I hope it is. [01:24:50] >> Thank you. [01:24:50] >> We'll watch out for that. [01:24:52] >> Mr. Chair, can I make one final point, [01:24:54] >> please? Um, I just for the public [01:24:57] because I I've seen some of the concerns [01:24:59] and stuff uh around and I just want to [01:25:01] remind everyone that in 2017 uh the town [01:25:04] voted to do an RFP for this here. Sarge [01:25:07] did was awarded this project. Um, and [01:25:12] no, the parks are completely the park is [01:25:15] being completely left alone and also [01:25:17] they do have to make a six figure [01:25:19] deposit to national grid and that's what [01:25:21] the urgency is for the lease. Um we did [01:25:23] negotiate myself and Harry to get some [01:25:26] money up front and the year and a half [01:25:28] we have before they actually you know [01:25:30] break ground uh was also discussed at [01:25:33] length giving um us time to stockpile. [01:25:35] So um that's why we are able to um still [01:25:38] access that area. [01:25:41] >> Yes sir. [01:25:41] >> I have a question. Administrator just [01:25:43] made mention of her and Harry doing [01:25:44] negotiations but the select board was [01:25:47] supposed to be involved in that. [01:25:49] The select board will decide, deliberate [01:25:52] and decide and then sign the agreement. [01:25:56] Can't be everywhere at once and people [01:25:58] are out there [01:26:00] uh getting in gathering information. [01:26:02] >> I was present for the vote where you [01:26:04] voted to appoint Mr. Tinker to be in [01:26:07] those negotiations. [01:26:13] >> What do you want me to do? [01:26:15] >> Well, I'm concerned. Why were all these [01:26:17] negotiations handled without Mr. Tinker? [01:26:22] >> We don't know. [01:26:23] >> Well, the negotiations aren't done. [01:26:25] We're still working on it. And [01:26:29] so, some of the questions that we can [01:26:31] bring back to council is the lease [01:26:33] agreement I've seen references 48 acres. [01:26:37] So, they're leasing 48 acres per the the [01:26:40] file I have. [01:26:41] >> But, we don't want that. [01:26:42] >> We don't want that. Right. [01:26:44] >> But at the same time, let's say that is [01:26:46] the deal, 48 acres, and they're only [01:26:48] using say 24 or 26. [01:26:51] >> Yeah. [01:26:51] >> But [01:26:53] if they decide to put something else in [01:26:55] there, which they could choose to do if [01:26:58] we lease them the entire 48, which I [01:27:01] don't know it, it's something that's [01:27:02] going to be negotiated or not or cleared [01:27:06] up before we sign a lease. So we we [01:27:09] that's a question that we need to go to [01:27:11] town council and say is it 48 acres or [01:27:14] is it going to be 26 that only does [01:27:16] solar cuz there was mention of batteries [01:27:19] >> right battery storage and maintenance [01:27:21] right is not shown on the map at all. So [01:27:27] >> that's what we have [01:27:28] >> and that's another thing that town [01:27:29] council should put in for a term or a [01:27:31] condition of right now they're not going [01:27:34] to do potentially batteries but if they [01:27:36] have 48 acres and they lease 48 acres if [01:27:38] they do any production or [01:27:40] [clears throat] something like that for [01:27:41] batteries there's an additional revenue [01:27:43] source there that has to be negotiated [01:27:46] >> we're not going to [01:27:47] >> not necessarily in a pilot but in a [01:27:49] lease on the land there's a premium for [01:27:51] that [01:27:53] >> and we're not going to lease [01:27:55] 48 acres. We're going to lease 24 acres. [01:27:58] >> Do you want me I can address that. So [01:27:59] unfortunately the way the way the RFP [01:28:02] was written in 2017 where it said it [01:28:04] just was very broad. It said a portion [01:28:06] of 48 acres negotiating with Pierarge [01:28:09] and having conversations with them. It [01:28:11] is a 24 25 26 and that's that figure [01:28:14] that Mr. Tinker was talking about on the [01:28:16] on the first page which is right here. [01:28:19] Um and the map that you have that is [01:28:22] going to go where that is. Yeah. So, [01:28:23] it's not all 48. However, again, I [01:28:26] probably wouldn't have worded it the way [01:28:27] it was worded. However, that's the way [01:28:28] it was in the RFP. [01:28:29] >> I don't know if it's been surveyed. [01:28:33] I don't know if the uh you know, all I [01:28:36] have is this [01:28:37] >> colored aerial photography. [01:28:40] So, I still would like to see fluttering [01:28:43] [clears throat] flags. Well, that's a [01:28:45] thing we can ask the attorney when an [01:28:48] additional question that we would like [01:28:50] this drawing that is on this piece of [01:28:52] paper actually printed out blueprint [01:28:55] size a site drawing so somebody can do [01:28:58] some measurements a site plan and bang [01:29:01] in some stakes so they can people can go [01:29:04] out and walk the site and know exactly [01:29:06] >> showing easements showing everything. [01:29:12] Okay. So, we're kicking it back with [01:29:15] questions. [01:29:15] >> Distance from the river, [01:29:17] >> right? Setbacks, everything, right? [01:29:20] >> Conservation involved, [01:29:22] >> all that. And we'll bang in some stakes, [01:29:24] put up some flags, and everybody can [01:29:26] walk the site and say, "Okay, good. [01:29:28] >> That's fine." [01:29:29] >> All right. [01:29:33] >> Okay. Discussion and vote on request for [01:29:36] proposals for Rugles Hill Street School. [01:29:39] I put this in. I don't know if we're [01:29:42] going to come up with it tonight. I [01:29:44] wanted to get the board's opinion. I'd [01:29:47] like to start this. [01:29:53] Are we ready to take proposals? [01:29:57] >> I don't think so. [01:29:58] >> I don't think so either. I'd like to [01:30:00] table it. [01:30:02] >> Okay. [01:30:04] >> What do you think? [01:30:05] >> This is up at the comment, right? It's [01:30:06] tied in. It doesn't have a clear title [01:30:09] yet. [01:30:10] >> Yeah. Not the one. [01:30:12] >> No, no, but it's the school behind it. [01:30:13] >> It's not clear title. We don't know [01:30:15] about the distance to the Well, [01:30:17] >> right. [01:30:17] >> Right. So, yeah, we need to wait until [01:30:20] it's we can actually have a clear [01:30:21] >> start thinking about it. [01:30:22] >> Okay. Yeah, no problem. But as far as I [01:30:25] know, KP Law is working on that. Yeah. [01:30:27] >> Right. [01:30:27] >> Yeah, we're [01:30:28] >> we haven't started this, but yeah, we [01:30:30] have on this. [01:30:31] >> Okay. Discussion on Quabin Stewart's [01:30:34] initiative. [01:30:36] Uh we don't have a letter in front of us [01:30:38] yet. [01:30:41] >> Yeah. So um I guess if you're looking to [01:30:45] me for some advice on that, there is a [01:30:48] draft letter. [01:30:50] Um everybody knows this is in reference [01:30:53] to the Quabin legislation that uh [01:30:58] Senator Cmerford and Representative [01:31:00] Saunders have sponsored. [01:31:02] Um [01:31:03] >> excuse me. Is everybody up to speed on [01:31:05] that? Do you know what we're talking [01:31:06] about? [01:31:06] >> Does anybody need that explained [01:31:08] further? [01:31:10] Anyway, the Quabin bill, as some of us, [01:31:12] as I call it, is is an attempt to get um [01:31:17] 12 communities [01:31:20] um 12 plus communities surrounding [01:31:23] Quabin some additional compensation [01:31:26] for the water that runs off of our towns [01:31:29] into the Quabin Reservoir that gets sold [01:31:31] in Eastern Mass by Mass Water Resources [01:31:34] Authority. It's a great thing for our [01:31:36] communities. It made it through [01:31:39] committee. [01:31:41] Um, some of us testified or submitted [01:31:44] comments. Mr. Tinker and I went all the [01:31:47] way to Boston. Um, other people zoomed [01:31:50] in. Um, anyway, it made it through the [01:31:53] committee for what um, [01:31:56] uh, natural resources and environment. [01:31:59] And um we're at a point now where the [01:32:02] towns, which [01:32:04] we seem to be calling now the Quabin [01:32:06] stewardship group, which seems like a [01:32:09] great title. It gets right to the point. [01:32:12] Um are talking about three things. One [01:32:16] of which is this letter. It's a draft [01:32:18] sign on letter from the Quabin [01:32:20] communities to the Mass Water Resources [01:32:22] Authority Advisory Committee [01:32:26] um to please allow us towns to attend [01:32:29] one of their meetings to explain and [01:32:32] argue our case that we are custodians of [01:32:36] the water, [01:32:38] not [clears throat] just beneficiaries [01:32:39] of open space lands [01:32:42] um that you know four local towns had to [01:32:45] move for. So, it's an attempt to ask [01:32:47] them, hey, um, [01:32:49] we'd like you to invite representatives [01:32:53] from our towns to come and talk and [01:32:54] explain and answer questions. We think [01:32:57] we do deserve the additional [01:33:00] compensation [01:33:01] uh for our efforts out here caretaking [01:33:04] the water for Eastern Mass. um and we'd [01:33:07] like the chance to discuss it because we [01:33:09] have never had any representation on [01:33:11] this Mass Water Resources Authority [01:33:13] board. And that's what the letter is. [01:33:16] It's in draft form. There are a couple [01:33:18] of volunteers uh in towns now kind of [01:33:22] fine-tuning it, but the letter is as has [01:33:24] been sent around in the emails. [01:33:28] Um [01:33:30] here's [01:33:33] here's the latest last version. And I [01:33:35] don't think we expected to be changed [01:33:37] all that much. I didn't think to make [01:33:40] extra copies of this. You all have it [01:33:42] email [01:33:43] >> except Jeff may not have seen it yet [01:33:45] because he wasn't on the email list. [01:33:50] >> So, it's pretty much what you just [01:33:52] described. [01:33:54] That's it. And in addition to that, [01:33:56] we'll be we'll be looking at two other [01:33:58] things which will be a town resolution [01:34:00] in the spring to go before all the towns [01:34:02] different town meetings. [01:34:04] uh saying we hereby support this [01:34:06] legislation. [01:34:08] Um and the other thing was a letter kind [01:34:11] of a media letter to the residents of [01:34:13] Eastern Massachusetts that they're [01:34:15] thinking about tuning up and trying to [01:34:18] eventually come up with some acceptable [01:34:19] wording to send to the media outlets in [01:34:22] Eastern Mass. But this is what's right [01:34:26] now facing most of us towns. So [01:34:30] there's no absolutely final version of [01:34:33] this letter for you to vote on signing, [01:34:35] but I suppose you could vote on signing [01:34:37] it in concept. I don't think the final [01:34:39] is going to be much different than this, [01:34:41] which basically just pleads our case and [01:34:43] says, "Please invite us to one of your [01:34:45] upcoming meetings so that us towns can [01:34:47] come and visit and talk." Well, it [01:34:50] sounded last last Zoom call sounded like [01:34:54] by our next selectman's meeting a final [01:34:58] those two gentlemen will be done tuning [01:35:02] it. So, [01:35:03] >> yeah, I got that impression. I think you [01:35:05] know they're we're hoping we Senator [01:35:08] Cmerford and Representative Saunders are [01:35:10] hoping that we come up with a signed [01:35:12] letter for all of our towns to co-sign [01:35:16] very soon. [01:35:17] >> I think so. [01:35:20] on the agenda for our next meeting. [01:35:22] >> Yeah. [01:35:27] >> Thank you. You want this original bag? [01:35:30] No. [01:35:32] >> Hang on to it. [01:35:33] >> I just put it in my stuff here. [01:35:35] >> Let me add you to the [01:35:40] >> town administrator's report. [01:35:44] So, the third and final security camera [01:35:46] has been installed at town hall. [01:35:49] Uh, the townhouse project rebid was sent [01:35:50] to Pioneer Valley Regional Planning [01:35:52] Commission, and I just got their notes [01:35:53] back at 4:13. So, that will be going out [01:35:56] tomorrow. Held the Memorial Park [01:35:58] Planning Project public forum. Surveys [01:36:00] are still open for another week. Um, [01:36:02] those can be found on the town website [01:36:04] or here at town hall. [01:36:06] We moved some offices around uh town [01:36:08] hall to make room for the accountant. [01:36:11] The roadway in front of the pump [01:36:13] station, if you've driven by there, has [01:36:15] been paved. Two hydrants have been [01:36:18] repaired, including the one in front of [01:36:19] town hall. Um, so we still have one more [01:36:23] on North Road or by North Road we are [01:36:25] going to be repairing. [01:36:27] Fiscal year 25 has been closed. We were [01:36:29] able to identify the final variances [01:36:31] that went back to 2023 [01:36:33] and um free cash has been sent to do. Uh [01:36:37] so don't have that final from do for you [01:36:39] yet, but it's been sent there. [01:36:41] uh working on standardizing financial [01:36:43] policies. It's been ongoing. Um we held [01:36:45] our bi-weekly financial management [01:36:47] planning zoom and we had another u [01:36:49] meeting with our financial consultant [01:36:51] Sarah Hunter. She's going to be wrapping [01:36:52] up in a few weeks as well. Um so we [01:36:55] really appreciate her help in getting [01:36:56] all this done. Like I said, she did a [01:37:00] lot of digging again going back to 2023. [01:37:02] So I appreciate her effort. [01:37:05] We're advertising for a wastewater [01:37:06] treatment plant operator, a highway [01:37:08] equipment operator, a PRDM library [01:37:10] assistant, and a van driver. We held [01:37:12] four interviews out of 30 plus [01:37:14] applicants for a perdeium library [01:37:16] assistant. Um, so that is not before you [01:37:18] quite yet because it's has to go before [01:37:19] the library board of trustees. [01:37:23] Um, met with the subboard chair and [01:37:26] Holly. I've worked on the updating the [01:37:29] personnel handbook. [01:37:31] I met with the police chief and Maya on [01:37:34] our HMU school agreement with New [01:37:35] Branchry for the police department. We [01:37:36] needed to add some insurance language. [01:37:38] So we met with our insurance company on [01:37:40] that. Um so it'll be ready for uh your [01:37:43] meeting, your joint meeting with New [01:37:44] Branch. Today we met with Maya on our [01:37:46] health insurance. That looks very grim. [01:37:49] I won't have a closer range till the end [01:37:51] of January at the MMA conference when [01:37:53] those ranges are fully announced, but we [01:37:56] are definitely looking at double digits [01:37:57] again next year. [01:37:59] had our wear radio interview. I attended [01:38:02] the quad and watershed meeting with [01:38:03] Senate Senator Commerford's office and [01:38:06] Eric and this Eric and a lot of people [01:38:08] from Hardwick. It was good [01:38:09] representation. [01:38:12] Um so the person I want to recognize [01:38:15] tonight is Lori Delolio and I want to [01:38:17] thank her for all she's done for the [01:38:18] town of Hardwick. She's helped me [01:38:20] implementing new budget procedures and [01:38:23] she's always been available when I've [01:38:25] needed her and this is her last week. [01:38:27] Um, so I really want to recognize and [01:38:28] thank her for her service to the town of [01:38:30] Hardwick. [01:38:33] Um, important dates, Representative [01:38:34] Berium, who's here, his November office [01:38:36] hours are November 5th from 10 to 11 [01:38:39] a.m. in this room. [01:38:42] >> Um, the only other thing I wanted to [01:38:44] make aware to the board is I got again [01:38:46] our September legal bill that was [01:38:47] astronomical. Um, [01:38:51] most a lot of it had to has to do with a [01:38:53] resident complaint. So, I just wanted to [01:38:56] make the board aware. Every month I'll [01:38:57] come before you and I'll let you know um [01:38:59] that it was not September was not great. [01:39:02] Uh our bill is over $5,000. So, [01:39:05] >> and that's all I have tonight. [01:39:07] >> Thank you. [01:39:08] >> Of course, [01:39:11] >> Mr. uh Barfield, would you would you [01:39:14] like to say anything? [01:39:15] >> I think you need anything. That's You [01:39:16] know what? I had to go to wear and drop [01:39:18] some stuff off and I figured I'd stop by [01:39:20] and just checking on. [01:39:21] >> You've been here a long time tonight. [01:39:23] It's just I got nothing else to do. [01:39:29] >> All right. Well, thanks. [01:39:30] >> Don't forget. [01:39:31] >> Thanks for being around. [01:39:33] >> Just text me. [01:39:34] >> Yeah. [01:39:36] >> Well, we got the fire truck. [01:39:37] >> Yeah. Sorry. Is pretty good. [01:39:41] >> Big. [01:39:42] >> Yeah. [01:39:46] >> Harry, you want to say something? [01:39:48] >> Oh, yeah. Just to follow up on Mr. [01:39:51] Smith's question about negotiating the [01:39:54] before the selectman met in a session [01:39:58] with the town attorney here and the town [01:40:01] attorney asked permission to negotiate [01:40:04] with Kes [01:40:06] and that's the person who negotiated [01:40:08] with Kes the lease [01:40:12] we have reviewed his negotiations [01:40:17] just [01:40:19] uh and asking questions for [01:40:21] clarification ation. Uh, but we didn't [01:40:24] we didn't negotiate prices or the money [01:40:27] or anything else. That was that was the [01:40:30] town attorney's job that you select gave [01:40:34] him permission to do. [01:40:37] >> Thank you. [01:40:37] >> You're welcome. [01:40:38] >> Okay. [01:40:41] >> All right. Selecting round table or [01:40:46] >> Okay. Um, with the holidays coming up, I [01:40:49] think we should add to the next agenda [01:40:51] or agenda item um to give a half day to [01:40:55] the town employees on the day before [01:40:58] Thanksgiving and the day before, you [01:41:01] know, Christmas or Christmas Eve, you [01:41:03] know, but we put it on the agenda for [01:41:05] next meeting. [01:41:05] >> It's already on there. [01:41:06] >> Okay. [01:41:06] >> I made the same request last year. It's [01:41:08] already on there. Eight months or [01:41:09] something. [01:41:11] >> Well, it is the season for it is the [01:41:13] season. Yes. [01:41:15] So, [01:41:16] >> all right. [01:41:17] >> And I don't have anything. [01:41:20] >> Neither do I. [01:41:24] >> Anything else? [01:41:25] >> I want to say [01:41:28] no, I don't think we [01:41:30] >> I have a question. Um, I know it's kind [01:41:32] of early, but November's right around [01:41:36] the corner. [01:41:37] >> Yeah. [01:41:37] >> You set the tax rate last year. What? [01:41:39] November 11th. [01:41:40] >> It's your first meeting. [01:41:41] >> November 8th. [01:41:42] >> It's It's November 10th. It's going to [01:41:43] be your next meeting. Okay, we're on [01:41:45] target. [01:41:45] >> Oh, yeah. [01:41:46] >> Okay. All right. Thank you. [01:41:49] >> Yes. [01:41:50] >> Now, I'll make a motion to adjourn. [01:41:52] >> I'll second. All in favor? I [01:41:56] >> Thank you all for coming and