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Hardwick Selectmen Meeting: Financial, Infrastructure, and Policy Discussions

Original title: 3/11/24 - Hardwick, MA Board of Selectman Meeting

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

Meeting details

Date

March 11, 2024

Duration

41m

Decisions

6 recorded

Action Items

10 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen convened to address critical town matters, including the urgent need to fund a new police vehicle, with discussions centering on utilizing Free Cash and the implications for a USDA grant. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a proposed non-binding ballot question regarding the reopening and expansion of the former landfill, which faced strong opposition due to concerns about prematurity and lack of public education. The board also made appointments, approved meeting minutes, and received updates on various infrastructure projects such as the Creamery Road Bridge, USDA-funded initiatives, Green Community grants, and the status of electric vehicle chargers. Discussions also covered the development of a Complete Streets policy and strategies for disseminating a new town policy to residents.

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Discussion Highlights

The total cost for a new police vehicle is $67,001.65, with a USDA grant offering $23,450, leaving the town's portion at $43,551.65.
A condition of the USDA grant requires the town to pay for the vehicle in full and hold the title by September 30th, precluding borrowing as a funding option.
The new police cruiser is essential, replacing a 2016 model with 130,000 miles, and the town is behind its replacement schedule.
Funding options for the police vehicle included using certified Free Cash ($161,000 available, with approximately $90,000 remaining after snow and ice fund allocation) or a prior Finance Committee recommendation for a loan from Capital Stabilization (made before grant conditions were fully understood).
Concern was raised that using Free Cash for the vehicle could reduce funds available for unexpected snowstorms.
A warrant article for a special meeting will address the police vehicle funding, stating "transfer from available funds in the treasury."
Discussion occurred regarding the reallocation of unspent funds and the unknown true balance of uninvoiced items.
Matthew Borelli was recommended and appointed as Assistant Superintendent for the Highway Department at $28/hour, pending background checks.
A proposed non-binding ballot question for the annual election on May 4th concerned reopening and expanding the former landfill at Patro Hollow Road.
Strong opposition was voiced against the landfill ballot question, citing prematurity, lack of public education, potential for misinformation, and confusion over the term "non-binding."
Concerns were raised that Casella (a waste management company) had not specified truck routes for the landfill, impacting residents.
The board needs to adopt an order of layout for a portion of Creamery Road due to upcoming bridge reconstruction.
A potential historical Native American fish weir downstream of the Creamery Road bridge was noted, requiring sensitivity during the project.
Amy Grace Lewis was appointed to the Council on Aging.
Updates were provided on the USDA project (pump station delivery in April, ribbon-cutting planned), Wheelwright/Gilbertville project (on schedule, manhole change order resolved), and Green Community grant projects (windows, weatherization, doors, insulation, fire station heat pumps) with a May 31st completion deadline.
District Local Technical Assistant Grants (DLTAG) are funding the design of physical and interactive maps for the eco-tourism portion of the master plan, including kiosks.
A draft "Complete Streets" policy will be presented at the next meeting, with a sidewalk/walkability access from the new trail end to the elementary school identified as a priority project.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) submission deadline is March 25th, with Highland Terrace being the largest project and $50,000 allocated for Gilbertville Park design.
All electric vehicle chargers are now operational and currently free, with a future cost of 35 cents per kilowatt pending Department of Energy Resources process.
A Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 21st, at 6 PM.
A new town policy is available on the municipal website, with ongoing discussion about broader public dissemination methods, including tax bills and social media.

Transcript (5,295 words)

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

00:00:00
We'll start with the pledge of allegiance alance to the flag of the United States of America to the for it stands one nation God indivisible with liy and justice for
00:00:18
All all right visitors comments we have any visitors here want to make comments hi hi okay uh new
00:00:40
Business right uh discussion funding for the police vehicle that's not why you're here I'm here if there's questions but it's finan guess that's why have your finance committee reviewed it USDA is offering a
00:00:59
Grand for 22450 the balance should be somewhere around 43557 which the town has to put uh put out um our suggestion was to uh get a four or five year loan and pay it back from Capital stabilization which would be you know
00:01:17
We're at $50,000 balance there right now and we hoping to put 50,000 per year so in four years when that would be paid off we'd have plenty of money for the other St uh other capital purchases that were coming up you think this this finance committee suggests this is a
00:01:35
Better way to go than the grant yeah well the grant the grant is 23450 we have to match 30 66% I 333,000 you're suggesting we borrow that money we would suggest that you borrow that money and pay it off over four years and Nicole talked about maybe even asking do
00:01:54
Us the if they Lo us the I did look into it and this Community facilities Grant is basically a grant for a shovel ready project that's not construction right so that's why they're like if you were putting money aside if you were doing anything this year we can give you 35%
00:02:13

[00:00:00] we'll start with the pledge of [00:00:03] allegiance alance to the flag of the [00:00:06] United States of America to the for it [00:00:10] stands one nation God indivisible with [00:00:14] liy and justice for [00:00:18] all all [00:00:21] right visitors [00:00:24] comments we have any visitors [00:00:27] here want to make comments [00:00:31] hi [00:00:33] hi okay uh new [00:00:40] business [00:00:42] right uh discussion funding for the [00:00:44] police [00:00:49] vehicle that's not why you're here I'm [00:00:51] here if there's questions but it's finan [00:00:53] guess that's why have your finance [00:00:55] committee reviewed it USDA is offering a [00:00:59] grand for [00:01:01] 22450 the balance should be somewhere [00:01:04] around [00:01:05] 43557 which the town has to put uh put [00:01:08] out um our suggestion was to uh get a [00:01:12] four or five year loan and pay it back [00:01:14] from Capital [00:01:15] stabilization which would be you know [00:01:17] we're at $50,000 balance there right now [00:01:20] and we hoping to put 50,000 per year so [00:01:23] in four years when that would be paid [00:01:25] off we'd have plenty of money for the [00:01:28] other St uh other capital purchases that [00:01:30] were coming up you think this this [00:01:33] finance committee suggests this is a [00:01:35] better way to go than the grant yeah [00:01:38] well the grant the grant is [00:01:41] 23450 we have to match 30 66% I 333,000 [00:01:46] you're suggesting we borrow that money [00:01:49] we would suggest that you borrow that [00:01:50] money and pay it off over four years and [00:01:52] Nicole talked about maybe even asking do [00:01:54] us the if they Lo us [00:01:56] the I did look into it and this [00:01:59] Community facilities Grant is basically [00:02:03] a grant for a shovel ready project [00:02:05] that's not construction right so that's [00:02:07] why they're like if you were putting [00:02:08] money aside if you were doing anything [00:02:10] this year we can give you 35% [00:02:13] so this this is O uh this would end by [00:02:18] September 30th of this year the funding [00:02:20] is gone for this project it has to be [00:02:23] paid in full so we have to have the [00:02:26] title right to have so the so if we're [00:02:30] borrowing money we won't have the title [00:02:32] we you know we won't you have to have [00:02:35] the title yeah we have to our [00:02:37] recomendation and since we don't have a [00:02:39] quorum here with the with the U finance [00:02:43] committee our recommendation stands from [00:02:45] our last meeting and you'll have to [00:02:47] decide how better to handle that [00:02:50] then unfortunately we don't that's too [00:02:53] bad so if we went and borrowed it would [00:02:55] just be we would be paying that off you [00:02:56] know annually of10 to 12,000 and so [00:03:00] there's the option we either don't go [00:03:02] with the Grant and we can [00:03:04] borrow 70,000 yeah that doesn't make any [00:03:07] or uh we go with the Grant and we borrow [00:03:10] the remainder we don't borrow the borrow [00:03:13] need to be paid by September so we use [00:03:15] our own money and [00:03:18] so do you I mean I know you can't vote [00:03:21] on it obviously but there is free cash [00:03:23] to use or get the balances okay cuz I [00:03:26] printed them [00:03:27] out and I left them on the printer [00:03:31] fin take we could take up collection the [00:03:38] room you want to pass your hat around [00:03:40] Mark but you got yeah I'll [00:03:42] try no you have you can't we have to [00:03:45] take title so we get [00:03:47] Al one of the one of the parameters of [00:03:51] the grand oh oh for the for the I got [00:03:55] the grant yeah the grant [00:03:58] day we started this because of the [00:04:01] availability of the that's right [00:04:04] correct could someone repeat the dollar [00:04:08] amount [00:04:09] recognize it's um [00:04:13] $67,000 vehicle 35% I believe is [00:04:18] 23450 the [00:04:20] loan or the the balance which we have to [00:04:23] come up is [00:04:25] 43557 I think your loow that was before [00:04:28] because we' been yeah we've been working [00:04:30] on this for seven months um you [00:04:34] have [00:04:37] 7,391 [00:04:39] 70391 [00:04:47] that's I have is it these two numbers on [00:04:50] here the 46 940 yeah from the 20 and the [00:04:53] 20 yeah well was on the war though [00:04:57] wasn't it it just a [00:05:00] treas [00:05:02] treasury there wouldn't be any numbers [00:05:04] on the warrant not yet not the last [00:05:09] 7,165 is the [00:05:11] total say again [00:05:13] please7 did you say that 67,000 [00:05:26] $165 and we really need this Cruiser yes [00:05:29] so 231 this what we ow what's that we [00:05:32] really need the cruiser we do this is [00:05:34] replacing a 2016 with 130,000 M on it so [00:05:38] we've gotten our money we are out cycle [00:05:40] by one year as it is so we knew the town [00:05:44] is struggling we would not be asking for [00:05:45] if we didn't need it and capital [00:05:48] planning had already forwarded it on [00:05:50] yeah and in the finance committee voted [00:05:53] to to you know recognize it it was on [00:05:56] the capital planning list anyhow so [00:05:58] right the the opportunity for the 23450 [00:06:02] or whatever it is uh Grant uh is [00:06:05] probably an opportunity we don't want to [00:06:09] miss so then we're looking at taking out [00:06:11] of either stabilization or Capital [00:06:14] stabilization for the remainder we can [00:06:17] fire does Finance have a uh suggestion [00:06:21] on where to take the [00:06:23] money it was going to be Capital [00:06:25] stabilization but in the form of paying [00:06:28] off the loan so we be paying interest on [00:06:30] it so uh we can't without a quorum we [00:06:34] can't make a change to our [00:06:35] recommendation you guys will have to [00:06:37] take that [00:06:38] on we keep trying to consistently put [00:06:40] money in the stabilization y that was a [00:06:44] so if we took it out of here you're [00:06:46] going to be left with about $20,000 list [00:06:48] we just if you took it we're trying not [00:06:50] to go backwards if we can but but if you [00:06:52] took $112,000 a year for for four years [00:06:55] but we can't it doesn't sound like Bor [00:06:58] so I understand and that yes and I would [00:07:00] have agreed with that but if we have to [00:07:02] own it if we have to have that title in [00:07:05] guys I I have I have I have the [00:07:09] round free oh yeah free cash we our free [00:07:11] cash was certified so it's at [00:07:14] 161 snow and ice is about [00:07:18] 71 so there's about 90 in free cash [00:07:21] right now left over once we P off snow [00:07:24] and ice so and then what they're going [00:07:27] to do take it out of that and and then [00:07:30] and then the remainder [00:07:32] could [00:07:35] stabilizations y we don't G more [00:07:38] snowstorms right this is true legit mhm [00:07:42] every major snowstorm costs us somewhere [00:07:45] around [00:07:46] $10,000 and miners don't cost that much [00:07:48] less like [00:07:50] five well how close would we be if we [00:07:53] went this route we still have some in [00:07:56] the kitty for snow and ice if necessary [00:07:59] so this 161 she said right now in fre [00:08:02] cash in 70 71,000 over we have night [00:08:07] about 90 and if we took 43 out of [00:08:11] it you know the the remainder could go [00:08:14] back into Capital [00:08:16] stabilization at town meeting so you're [00:08:19] still working on building that [00:08:24] fund either way whether we take it out [00:08:26] of capital stabilization of free cash [00:08:28] it's it's doing the same thing same [00:08:31] thing yeah well yeah [00:08:34] right you know [00:08:38] well so thank you um the warrant article [00:08:42] for the special for the special meeting [00:08:45] coming up couple things on a different [00:08:47] subject you on creary road or something [00:08:49] but this is one of them and it's it's it [00:08:52] indicates over 100,000 is the idea that [00:08:54] will be able to be amended to these [00:08:56] actual amounts at the before the meeting [00:09:00] me yes okay yeah the language just says [00:09:04] transfer from available funds in the [00:09:06] treasury there numbers 30% numbers [00:09:11] probably total like [00:09:14] 105 I don't have it in front of me I get [00:09:19] it can I get a [00:09:22] motion I'm not so sure what we're [00:09:25] moving just so where to fund the um [00:09:33] I would make a motion to fund the [00:09:35] cruiser from free [00:09:37] cash [00:09:39] second [00:09:41] discussion I have a question um on the I [00:09:45] emailed Nicole earlier today and [00:09:47] mentioned the arpa [00:09:49] funds and what's been allocated and [00:09:53] where and what's been spent and what [00:09:55] hasn't and that's an option too as far [00:09:58] as [00:09:59] you take what H you you've allocated x [00:10:03] amount of dollars for one thing and [00:10:05] let's say you don't really need it but [00:10:06] you do really need a crop C and you can [00:10:09] reallocate those funds to cover [00:10:14] that we'd still have to fund what we [00:10:17] just what we bought though that would [00:10:19] still have to come from somewhere well [00:10:21] it would come from this this is money we [00:10:23] received from the government already [00:10:25] you're talking about [00:10:26] ense I don't believe there's much of a [00:10:28] balance there isn't there's a couple [00:10:30] thousand and things that haven't been [00:10:33] invoiced yet or spent yeah so that that [00:10:36] balance is kind of a wild card right now [00:10:39] I certainly wouldn't want [00:10:40] to and until we know everything on that [00:10:43] until everything's been [00:10:45] paid I I don't know that that's a that's [00:10:49] an option well you should look into and [00:10:51] see what you've spent today and what [00:10:53] you've allocated so you actually know we [00:10:55] do but some things haven't been paid yet [00:10:59] until those final invoices come in some [00:11:01] things have come in a little bit lower M [00:11:03] and some things actually came in a [00:11:05] little bit higher and we had to you know [00:11:07] reallocate them I'm just suggesting [00:11:09] that's all thank you y if there is any [00:11:13] money left I mean there's 100 places to [00:11:15] put it right at the end when before it [00:11:17] has to be spent in FY 25 all in favor I [00:11:22] I [00:11:27] okay we have have an appointment Matthew [00:11:31] Borelli assistant superintendent highway [00:11:34] I assume [00:11:37] yes it's good to get somebody else [00:11:40] working with him Marty yeah I think his [00:11:42] applications in [00:11:44] here he's worked for us before he [00:11:49] has he left on his [00:11:51] own free will you didn't [00:11:57] get [00:12:01] yeah yep um I would make a motion to [00:12:05] appoint Matthew barelli to the assistant [00:12:07] superintendent for the highway [00:12:10] department um based on Marty's [00:12:12] recommendation at $28 now pending all uh [00:12:16] you know pre-employment quy checks [00:12:19] second all in favor [00:12:24] I discussion and or vote on a ballot [00:12:28] question for annual [00:12:30] election [00:12:32] um it seems what oh I [00:12:37] skip um [00:12:40] you do whatever you want right right so [00:12:44] um uh the idea is that uh we put a [00:12:47] ballot question before the town at the U [00:12:52] next [00:12:53] election uh it has to be very [00:12:56] simple uh no narrative no no [00:13:00] explanations uh this was brought up by U [00:13:03] uh a citizen and it's actually something [00:13:07] I did [00:13:09] myself back in the old days the last [00:13:12] time we went around so what it is is a [00:13:16] non-binding question and it's just a [00:13:19] chance to take the Pulse of the [00:13:21] town [00:13:24] so uh I believe we have the sentence [00:13:27] here yes just writing it down because [00:13:31] hope you read my [00:13:35] writing shall the town consider [00:13:38] reopening and expanding the former [00:13:41] landfill located at Patel Hollow [00:13:44] Road so it's a yes or no question um [00:13:48] this is uh the administrator and the [00:13:53] town clerk came up with that sentence [00:13:55] and uh there it is so we have to vote on [00:14:00] this uh Kelly is has to recuse [00:14:04] herself per suggestion of Town [00:14:08] Council so uh this ballot question this [00:14:13] a ballot question yeah so when when [00:14:17] people no not town meeting not town [00:14:19] meeting the the uh annual election right [00:14:22] so on the 4th of May when you come in to [00:14:24] vote uh for officers in such of the town [00:14:28] this would be before us if we decide to [00:14:31] do this I'm going to guess that some of [00:14:34] you have something to say so [00:14:38] ma' can me would you like to go first uh [00:14:42] sure um I actually think this is not a [00:14:45] good idea [00:14:47] because [00:14:50] um the answer we will get is the answer [00:14:54] based on people's gut opinions and gut [00:14:57] feelings and without any chance to do [00:15:00] any sort of Education to have this [00:15:03] question even before we have a public [00:15:06] hearing really doesn't get the pulse of [00:15:08] anything other than people's ignorance [00:15:10] about the project so I think it would [00:15:13] confuse voters and I think it's actually [00:15:16] not a very good idea to do it at this [00:15:19] time thank [00:15:23] you state her name and address for just [00:15:27] you state your name and address I'm [00:15:28] sorry Lisa Cohen 183 Mechanic Street [00:15:32] thank [00:15:33] you and Judy Cory your Cory um I think [00:15:37] it's premature um so far um we've pretty [00:15:42] much been inundated by tick tocks and [00:15:45] everything else by cassella on how [00:15:46] wonderful and sustainable this is for [00:15:48] the town um and 40% of this population [00:15:53] in in Hardwick was not around in 2007 so [00:15:57] they didn't even realize that we had you [00:16:00] know seagull issues and rat issues and [00:16:03] smell issues and all this stuff but they [00:16:05] also think well maybe this is just [00:16:07] expanding the little that little thing [00:16:09] up the street we could get free garbage [00:16:11] there's not been any education at this [00:16:13] point in time I don't see any benefit to [00:16:17] putting this in front of the town where [00:16:18] there's nothing to vote on the planning [00:16:20] board hasn't had anything to put in [00:16:22] place yet there's nothing to vote on so [00:16:25] why would we put this in front of people [00:16:26] who have had no opportunity hear about [00:16:29] this whole thing except for [00:16:31] misinformation from cassella which [00:16:34] inundates my emails every single day and [00:16:37] my mail in my post office box in [00:16:39] Hardwick with absolutely no facts so I [00:16:42] think this is not a good time to do it [00:16:44] I'm not saying we shouldn't do it at [00:16:46] sometime in the future but this is I [00:16:49] personally feel this is not the right [00:16:50] time to put it in front of the people [00:16:52] when they have absolutely no idea what [00:16:54] we're talking about and it it could be [00:16:57] 75% cuz they see sustainable Hardwick [00:16:59] and they're top of their Tik toks and we [00:17:02] all know what Tik Tok people do but the [00:17:05] facts are not out there and I think it's [00:17:07] premature I just think we should wait [00:17:09] and let the town hear what this is all [00:17:11] about get the board of selectman's [00:17:13] questions out there the planning board's [00:17:15] questions out there get the people's [00:17:17] questions out there get the facts out [00:17:18] there then put it out there otherwise I [00:17:21] see absolutely no benefit except it's [00:17:24] going to solidify a thought that the [00:17:27] board of Select and now believe there's [00:17:29] something to vote on and there's nothing [00:17:31] to vote on even if it's non-binding [00:17:34] people don't know what non-binding means [00:17:37] they don't they just think it's a vote [00:17:39] and I I just don't think it's time thank [00:17:41] you thank [00:17:43] you yes ma'am Meg High 198 charity Hill [00:17:47] Road and I would just like to say that I [00:17:49] concur with the points that Judy and um [00:17:53] Lisa have made [00:17:55] regarding uh that we don't go forward [00:17:58] with [00:17:59] this uh nonbinding vote at this [00:18:02] time thank [00:18:07] you yes sir thank you m Bill Cole [00:18:13] um shall we consider reopening and [00:18:16] expanding the landfill um we have to we [00:18:20] are considering that you know since the [00:18:23] proposals have been given to the select [00:18:25] board and then passed on to the planning [00:18:27] board as you all know we we are going [00:18:32] soon to be scheduling hearings as [00:18:34] required by law and that's exactly what [00:18:37] will be considered is the [00:18:39] zoning that would enable the reopening [00:18:43] and expansion of it it'll be the [00:18:45] hearings will give both sides everything [00:18:47] to talk about and lead to a binding vote [00:18:50] on the subject of the resoning [00:18:52] obviously um so that it's already in the [00:18:56] works I think that there will be a vote [00:19:02] soon as as required by law and um I I [00:19:06] think it probably would be distracting [00:19:08] you know to have something else in the [00:19:11] meantime without even the benefit of [00:19:14] people hearing you know uh all the [00:19:16] opinions and facts on both [00:19:19] sides thank [00:19:22] you ma'am Cella hasn't even told us what [00:19:27] what route the trucks will take to get [00:19:29] in here and so people don't know if [00:19:32] they're the ones who are going to suffer [00:19:34] or they may think that they're one of [00:19:36] the ones who aren't going to [00:19:39] suffer that's [00:19:48] great yes sir just curious [00:19:51] if what we would do with the [00:19:54] information well I think the uh I didn't [00:19:57] bring it up this time time but [00:20:00] um last time and this time you could [00:20:03] look at it as a a chance to [00:20:07] see um maybe there's 80% that would say [00:20:11] no and then maybe cassella would pack up [00:20:14] their tent and go away or maybe it would [00:20:18] be 70% in favor and then people who are [00:20:23] organizing against [00:20:25] this would have a chance to uh [00:20:30] imagine convincing other people so I [00:20:34] think it's information I think it's it [00:20:36] would be valuable but uh it certainly [00:20:40] would uh stir things up and uh I don't [00:20:44] know if people are so dull as I've heard [00:20:48] suggested but [00:20:52] truly I saw a lot of people coming in [00:20:54] for the primary wondering if they were [00:20:56] voting for The Dump so uh no I I'd have [00:21:00] to say hearing that I think Bill EXC I [00:21:03] think hearing that what you think you [00:21:06] might do with it or how it might land [00:21:08] then I think Bill's view is probably the [00:21:12] strongest of what I've heard that it's [00:21:15] it it preempts a process that's already [00:21:17] in place that has this as a [00:21:20] component but that process gives an [00:21:23] opportunity for more information sharing [00:21:26] where this would be [00:21:29] AB yep well that's true it finally comes [00:21:33] down to a [00:21:34] vote you know of all the people in the [00:21:36] town that turn out to vote so [00:21:40] y anybody [00:21:48] else honestly I think it's just going to [00:21:51] stir up a lot of [00:21:52] stuff let the planning board let it do [00:21:54] its [00:21:55] route um [00:21:59] like I said that would not be in favor [00:22:01] of doing [00:22:03] this well then I won't even make a [00:22:07] motion okay that's [00:22:11] it [00:22:18] thanks other new [00:22:22] business uh we got to go back to creary [00:22:26] Road uh we're going to [00:22:28] vote on adopting an order of layout for [00:22:31] a portion of crey Road the bridge on [00:22:34] creay road is due to be rebuilt and uh [00:22:38] there are uh bing pieces that are rights [00:22:42] of way [00:22:43] Etc [00:22:46] so I would make a motion to adopt the [00:22:49] order of layout of a portion of C Mar [00:22:53] Road as [00:22:55] written second that all in [00:23:01] favor can I make a comment on that sure [00:23:05] thanks so my nephew is big in collecting [00:23:08] artifacts like uh Native American [00:23:11] artifacts and I like and I told to my [00:23:14] fish down stream of creaming Road brid [00:23:17] and he told me that that natural [00:23:20] structure there he believes is an old [00:23:22] Weir from for Gathering fish from you [00:23:26] know his his his [00:23:28] historical research and I think that's [00:23:31] wonderful if it's true they're all along [00:23:33] where River whatever this project scope [00:23:36] is if it could be sensitive to that if [00:23:39] it doesn't reach too far or can look [00:23:43] with some information around that that [00:23:45] would be great can we go down there and [00:23:46] look at that do you know where it is I [00:23:49] do yeah well let's take a walk yeah [00:23:56] sure [00:24:01] all [00:24:05] right there's uh Amy Grace Lewis as a [00:24:09] possible appointee to the Council on [00:24:12] Aging why is this possible is she into [00:24:15] it yes um the Margaret Rising she's on [00:24:20] the Council on Aging and so when [00:24:22] anybody's appointed to a board she's [00:24:23] been going to the meetings um and [00:24:25] anybody that's appointed to a board you [00:24:28] ask for the board to recommend [00:24:31] somebody's appointment so it's actually [00:24:33] a letter from Margaret Rising requesting [00:24:36] Amy Grace Lewis be appointed to the [00:24:38] Council on Aging and Amy Grace Lewis is [00:24:41] agreeable yes Amy Grace is the one who [00:24:43] reached out originally and I told her [00:24:45] that she should reach out to the board [00:24:47] and that's the process that they the [00:24:48] board comes the counil the council the [00:24:51] board comes to the board will hear from [00:24:54] the council or any of the other boards [00:24:56] and then you adop and then you will [00:24:58] appoint them her I would make a motion [00:25:00] to appoint Amy Grace Lewis to the [00:25:02] council and agent second we have a term [00:25:06] ending yes term ending this June okay [00:25:09] term ending June 2024 I'll second that [00:25:13] in [00:25:17] favor meeting minutes approval we can do [00:25:22] November 29th [00:25:26] oh [00:25:30] move to approve I'll [00:25:33] second in [00:25:36] favor how about February [00:25:39] 22nd [00:25:43] 2024 Mo to [00:25:46] approve second it all in [00:25:50] favor all [00:25:52] right so just for the record Kelly [00:25:55] abstained from the February 22nd and [00:26:00] Eric abstained from the November [00:26:03] 29th y wasn't there [00:26:06] yet I mean I was it was [00:26:09] somewhere old [00:26:16] business Matrix do we have anything I [00:26:19] don't I'm going to reach out to them [00:26:20] tomorrow because he's supposed to send [00:26:23] me the information and [00:26:25] I annoying I do that but I have to do [00:26:29] that so I'll reach out to him tomorrow [00:26:31] it was a change of leadership over there [00:26:34] too so you said Chris isn't Chris isn't [00:26:36] there anymore yeah so this is an [00:26:38] improved uh uh cable coming in from [00:26:44] Barry so that's what we're talking [00:26:47] about um committee reports any [00:26:51] committees here want to [00:26:54] report [00:26:56] okay [00:26:58] misscellaneous [00:27:00] correspondence Town Administrator report [00:27:04] yeah there's a few reports in your [00:27:06] packet from the department head meeting [00:27:09] last week and mine is here [00:27:14] that um the usca project update is on [00:27:18] here uh the we're waiting for the pump [00:27:21] station delivery in April um just with [00:27:24] that I will say that USDA reached out [00:27:27] and they'd like do a ribbon cutting for [00:27:29] this giant project and I thought maybe [00:27:31] once the pump station is in because [00:27:33] Gilbertville and and we were are going [00:27:36] to be a while and then you know all the [00:27:38] stuff's inside I don't know if we want [00:27:40] to have this when the pump station's [00:27:42] there because it's going to be over a [00:27:44] year before that comes out but I'm just [00:27:46] talking with the media relations people [00:27:48] at USDA so um could do some sort of [00:27:52] ribbon cutting up there at the pump [00:27:53] station eventually um little goofy [00:27:58] well you know it was the largest loan [00:28:00] loan Grant ever given in the United [00:28:03] States so it it's it's really for USDA [00:28:08] so they can a big deal show that they're [00:28:10] deal for us for us too yes it is uh so [00:28:15] the wheel WR is working through the [00:28:17] submittals for the subcontractors that [00:28:19] came in last week NOP sorry I'm I'm [00:28:22] confusing Gilt and wheel right [00:28:25] constantly um [00:28:29] their incoming [00:28:31] submittal for what I don't even know we [00:28:33] just went through the construction [00:28:35] update we were there last week um and [00:28:37] everything is on schedule and I did send [00:28:39] you that picture of the manhole that was [00:28:42] a change order but that it was nothing [00:28:44] really so they're not charging us for it [00:28:47] um so you know the guys are there Monday [00:28:50] through Thursday they stay somewhere [00:28:52] around here and then they work long days [00:28:55] Monday through Thursday and then they're [00:28:57] not here on Fridays um and uh so you see [00:29:03] the next week and then the general b we [00:29:05] open Sub [00:29:06] sub [00:29:08] contractor this week yep the subc Contra [00:29:11] cont contractor last week and then the [00:29:14] um General bid opening will be Wednesday [00:29:16] at 2: [00:29:18] here um so last month I listed all the [00:29:23] grants that we just received and green [00:29:26] Community will be [00:29:28] starting work soon we've got all the [00:29:29] contracts done it's not a very long lead [00:29:32] time for all of the equipment and things [00:29:34] like that so like they're putting new [00:29:36] sashes on all of these windows and all [00:29:38] the weatherization and then the doors [00:29:39] and insulation blown in in the roof [00:29:43] attic and then the heat pumps for the [00:29:45] fire station and it's all going to be [00:29:47] done with like a two we turnaround time [00:29:50] so it has to be done by May 31st because [00:29:52] then we can apply right away for next [00:29:55] year so that's good um the the dlta [00:29:58] grants that we got District local [00:30:01] technical assistant grants that we got [00:30:03] through [00:30:04] cmrpc are um you know for the designing [00:30:08] and the creation of physical and [00:30:10] interactive maps for our ecotourism [00:30:13] portion of our that Mega is very helpful [00:30:16] with that we're uh making for the [00:30:19] ecotourism part of the master plan that [00:30:21] we have um and today I met with the [00:30:25] student who's doing the kiosk for Eagles [00:30:27] Eagle um Scout project so um I don't [00:30:31] know how many kiosks or anything we'll [00:30:32] get but that's in the works um we have a [00:30:36] complete streets policy and draft form [00:30:39] right now to bring to you guys the next [00:30:41] meeting so we can look into complete [00:30:45] streets grants the one that we're [00:30:46] thinking about right now is a sidewalk [00:30:50] or some other form of [00:30:54] walkability access from where the the [00:30:57] trail at the new Trail Ends to the [00:30:58] elementary school so then we have you [00:31:01] know whether it's safe roots to school [00:31:02] but that's really what we want to get [00:31:04] working on kind of the one of the first [00:31:06] projects complete streets is just Paving [00:31:09] and like signage and things like that um [00:31:13] cdbg has to be submitted by March 25th [00:31:17] he's CD um cmrpc has been meeting with [00:31:20] Marty because they are the ones that are [00:31:22] you know the biggest project is Highland [00:31:23] Terrace and then maybe $50,000 for [00:31:26] design designing of the gilet B park I'm [00:31:29] going to be meeting with Joe from cmrpc [00:31:31] this week to just he's going to go over [00:31:33] all the numbers with me and then I can [00:31:34] have them for you at the next meeting um [00:31:37] our all of our electric vehicle Chargers [00:31:39] which was a problem for a while are now [00:31:42] up and [00:31:43] running there they will be 35 cents per [00:31:46] kilowatt but there's a process for that [00:31:48] too so right now they're free um but [00:31:51] they will be charged 35 cents got to go [00:31:53] through Department of energy resources [00:31:55] and all kinds of things and our special [00:31:58] time kilowatts [00:32:00] now sorry get your kilowatts [00:32:03] now the special town meeting is for next [00:32:06] Thursday March 21st at 6 p.m. here and [00:32:10] then uh just wanted to mention now that [00:32:13] Easter's time is here I've noticed [00:32:17] several places are having Easter egg [00:32:18] hunts um I know that our Christmas on [00:32:22] the common that's become holiday on the [00:32:23] common and the winery [00:32:27] and the hardwood Crossing they're all [00:32:31] having Easter egg hunts on different [00:32:33] days and different times so please check [00:32:35] that out and then the [00:32:38] ongoing um services and things that we [00:32:40] have going is continues to be just in my [00:32:42] ongoing nothing new down [00:32:45] there thank [00:32:49] you anything [00:32:51] from you [00:32:55] guys you have anything else need to [00:32:58] sign we've signed everything yeah I [00:33:01] don't have [00:33:02] anything the [00:33:07] moment we have a second [00:33:10] second in [00:33:13] favor thanks for [00:33:26] coming [00:33:56] put [00:33:58] that'll be [00:34:12] good it was I'm like I realiz I have [00:34:17] probably all the works at the same time [00:34:19] that more [00:34:26] complicated [00:34:29] we've been here well when it was light [00:34:31] out last [00:34:32] week now it's [00:34:40] again not until [00:34:56] about [00:35:17] [Music] [00:35:25] they [00:35:31] I will say it's [00:35:47] minimal [00:35:55] rather [00:35:57] oh [00:36:09] [Music] [00:36:11] my that's [00:36:13] probably where they came [00:36:20] from I burn the place [00:36:24] down I out one but all of a sudden I see [00:36:27] his eyes and I was [00:36:55] like [00:37:25] e [00:41:33] for