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Hardwick Select Board Addresses Fiscal Year-End, Staffing, and Infrastructure Needs

Original title: 7/8/24 - 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

July 8, 2024

Duration

43m

Decisions

9 recorded

Action Items

19 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board convened to address critical municipal matters, including the transition of the Building Inspector role and the review of a new Visitor Code of Conduct. A significant portion of the meeting focused on year-end fiscal transfers totaling $84,500 to balance departmental accounts and a comprehensive discussion on adjusting revolving fund limits for various departments, such as the Recycling Commission, which had exceeded its spending authority. The Board also approved several projects for submission under the Economic Bond Bill, including hydrant repairs and LED streetlight conversion, and discussed immediate and long-term solutions for accessibility issues at the Old Town Hall. Employee recognition and grant updates were also provided, highlighting ongoing efforts in public safety and infrastructure improvements.

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Discussion Highlights

The current Building Inspector is not returning; a potential candidate, Paul Stringham, is being considered for a one-day-a-week role.
A meeting is scheduled to discuss the Building Inspector situation, including the status of an inter-municipal agreement.
A draft Visitor Code of Conduct was presented, aiming to ensure respectful behavior in town facilities, with further review requested by a board member.
Year-end transfers totaling $84,500 were approved to cover overages in various departmental accounts, sourced from excess reserve funds and encumbered salary savings.
Several revolving fund limits, including for the Recycling Commission, Town House consultant, and Electrical/Plumbing/Gas Inspectors, were identified as insufficient and require adjustment.
The Town House elevator has been serviced and is now operational after failing inspection.
Three projects (hydrant repairs/replacement, LED streetlight conversion, pumping station emergency generator) were selected for submission under the state's Economic Bond Bill.
Discussions are underway regarding a grant for air conditioning at the elementary school and investigating grants for the Police Department.
Immediate and permanent solutions are being sought for significant accessibility issues at the Old Town Hall/Town House front steps.

Transcript (6,640 words)

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

00:00:00
Of aliance Al to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all thank you everybody those there
00:00:20
Comments I'm just here in solidar all right uh and your name is Sir Jeffrey Smith Jeff Smith I just did visitor Commons Bill do you have anything no just nice to see you okay sorry about thank you um all right so
00:00:40
Then year end transfers why don't we wait for Finance they'll come in in a couple minutes so building inspector discussion you want to start that um so yes I can kind of talk about what's been
00:00:58
Going on Mr K TR uh no longer works for the town of Hardwick we are the chair and I are meeting with Barry on Wednesday um so when I was out I contacted a couple people that I know
00:01:16
Paul Stringham from Milbury he retired in mil from Milbury in January he worked there for a while and then before that he was in West Bridgewater I think before that he was in sandis borrow if that's a town um he is willing to come on and help us out one day a week
00:01:34
I'm hoping to hopefully have him here for our next meeting so the board can meet him um he's very very good guy very gentle demeanor I think he'd be a good fit and Hardwick that's pretty much where we stand is he comfortable with the administrative end of B yes we don't
00:01:55
He's not the fastest but he he's com very comt WR a lot of letters I just hopefully we can get them in after we have our meeting maybe so that I know hopefully there's not a big lag in what people are looking for or needing right now as far

[00:00:00] of [00:00:01] aliance Al to the flag of the United [00:00:05] States of America and to the Republic [00:00:07] for which it stands one nation under God [00:00:11] indivisible liberty and justice for all [00:00:15] thank you [00:00:16] everybody those there [00:00:20] comments I'm just here in [00:00:24] solidar all right uh and your name is [00:00:27] Sir Jeffrey Smith Jeff Smith [00:00:31] I just did visitor Commons Bill do you [00:00:33] have [00:00:33] anything no just nice to see you okay [00:00:37] sorry about thank you um all right so [00:00:40] then year end transfers why don't we [00:00:43] wait for uh [00:00:45] Finance they'll come in in a couple [00:00:48] minutes so building inspector [00:00:52] discussion you want to start that um so [00:00:56] yes I can kind of talk about what's been [00:00:58] going on Mr K TR uh no longer works for [00:01:01] the town of Hardwick [00:01:04] um we are the chair and I are meeting [00:01:07] with Barry on [00:01:09] Wednesday um so when I was out I [00:01:13] contacted a couple people that I know [00:01:16] Paul Stringham from Milbury he retired [00:01:18] in mil from Milbury in January he worked [00:01:21] there for a while and then before that [00:01:22] he was in West Bridgewater I think [00:01:24] before that he was in sandis borrow if [00:01:28] that's a town um he is willing to come [00:01:31] on and help us out one day a week [00:01:34] um I'm hoping to hopefully have him here [00:01:37] for our next meeting so the board can [00:01:39] meet him um he's very very good guy very [00:01:42] gentle demeanor I think he'd be a good [00:01:44] fit and [00:01:46] Hardwick that's pretty much where we [00:01:49] stand is he comfortable with the [00:01:51] administrative end of B yes we don't [00:01:55] he's not the fastest but he he's com [00:01:59] very comt [00:02:00] WR a lot of letters I just hopefully um [00:02:03] we can get them in after we have our [00:02:06] meeting maybe so that I know hopefully [00:02:10] there's not a big lag in what people are [00:02:12] looking for or needing right now as far [00:02:15] as she would literally start yesterday [00:02:17] so he's very willing to jump in um I [00:02:21] don't know has any comments or questions [00:02:24] or will he still have his assistant or [00:02:28] okay the assistant's gone everyone's go [00:02:30] everyone's [00:02:32] okay so the assistant wasn't a Barry [00:02:36] employee he is the Apple [00:02:41] commissioner the assistant is Robert [00:02:45] lary oh Andrea well Andrea is his yeah [00:02:49] his cler okay yes okay all right [00:02:53] Peters GE he's the appal Building [00:02:57] Commissioner right but I so I don't I [00:02:59] think think he's a backup yes he is I [00:03:01] think he's like yeah yeah okay um also [00:03:04] to the building inspector from the town [00:03:06] of Blackstone also said that he he would [00:03:09] also be willing to help us out if we [00:03:10] ever needed anything so we have some [00:03:12] redundancy okay [00:03:14] okay perfect we'll see how it goes [00:03:17] Wednesday and then we'll go from [00:03:19] there thanks for letting us use your [00:03:22] connection [00:03:24] yeah is this something we want to [00:03:26] advertise is the hiring a part-time [00:03:28] building inspector I I think we're going [00:03:30] to wait to see how the meeting goes [00:03:33] Wednesday see um as far Asal [00:03:38] agreement we can't seem to find a signed [00:03:41] one and they haven't provided us with a [00:03:43] signed one m so we don't want to burn [00:03:46] our bridges with Barry we we want and [00:03:49] what I said to the Town Administrator in [00:03:51] Barry is we would be open to an [00:03:55] agreement again in the future just Mr [00:03:58] kral is just's not coming back to [00:04:00] Hardway um but if anything changed in [00:04:03] the future we would be open to [00:04:05] it yeah well how would that work if he's [00:04:09] the building inspector for [00:04:10] bar that's why we're having a meeting on [00:04:13] Wednesday in the event that he wasn't [00:04:15] right yeah [00:04:18] okay and you know how that worked it was [00:04:21] several times right in in an agreement [00:04:24] right yeah um bra tree Barry Peter Sam [00:04:29] Hardwick [00:04:31] Warren that's not on us though oh our [00:04:34] inter right he does I think Warren [00:04:37] Brimfield he does a few others to all [00:04:40] but you think it's never been [00:04:41] signed we don't know how current it has [00:04:45] right so one that I had that was signed [00:04:48] was from [00:04:49] 2018 uh I was not able to find a newer [00:04:52] version and I that was signed I [00:04:54] requested one and we haven't heard back [00:04:58] so good we'll meet one day and see a lot [00:05:01] of complaints yes and that's exactly [00:05:05] we're going to bring all that with us [00:05:06] too on one second [00:05:10] okay okay um visitor code or [00:05:16] conduct has it in their pocket [00:05:20] pocket this is a draft this is a working [00:05:23] document um I had looked at what some [00:05:28] other towns were doing um and try to [00:05:31] tailor it to kind of what I thought we [00:05:32] would be looking for this [00:05:35] is just about respect for the employees [00:05:38] respect for the property um it will be [00:05:41] posted on all of our town [00:05:45] facilities just about being [00:05:49] respectful respectful and courteous yes [00:05:52] yes [00:05:56] okay any comments from anyone [00:05:59] yeah I I do I go ahead Bill all right [00:06:05] um it's kind of b as far as the [00:06:08] specifics like how would it going apply [00:06:11] is it apply to certain say just this [00:06:15] town overall like a blanket or like [00:06:19] board meetings different boards [00:06:21] commissions stuff like that everything [00:06:23] it would um a resident coming in during [00:06:27] business hours um or who would attend a [00:06:31] board [00:06:34] meeting or even going into the library [00:06:37] for example correct any public building [00:06:40] right any part of hardw but not out on [00:06:42] the street no I don't have to be nice on [00:06:45] the side you can do whatever you want [00:06:46] out there you can yell all you [00:06:54] want how about it [00:06:58] B it's like yeah no I think it's a great [00:07:01] thing and it's uh we're having uh we're [00:07:04] looking in the library we're looking at [00:07:07] other towns that have had problems with [00:07:09] people coming in and yeah so you know [00:07:10] making trouble [00:07:12] so this ISS [00:07:16] good I'm comfortable [00:07:22] with I would just like to see a little [00:07:24] bit of change to it for a very specific [00:07:28] like the purpose [00:07:30] how it's applied stuff like that and I [00:07:32] just give you this it's from the M MMA [00:07:36] and it's their recommendations and you [00:07:38] can review it and see how you want to [00:07:40] tweak this so it covers the town a [00:07:43] little bit better you have an [00:07:43] alternative in here well yes there it [00:07:47] is it's not like it's not specific in [00:07:50] the sense it says it's recommendations [00:07:53] that them as an organization through [00:07:56] their lawyers and stuff like that [00:07:57] through State say he we should depending [00:08:00] how it's being applied on certain things [00:08:02] like whether it's board meetings it's [00:08:04] public hearings stuff like that just [00:08:08] different recommendations and this one [00:08:10] is it's kind of like a blank um yep it's [00:08:14] so I looked at one from Westminster I [00:08:17] looked at one from where I looked at one [00:08:18] from Westfield all W's um and just like [00:08:22] again I just I took what I liked from it [00:08:24] from their policies [00:08:26] and I didn't want it to be too specific [00:08:28] I just want people would be nice right [00:08:31] and I think if you post it in [00:08:34] every building that's owned by the town [00:08:37] that's [00:08:40] like well we can I don't [00:08:43] know read this [00:08:47] I side and try the next meeting that's [00:08:51] fine if you want to do that we can yeah [00:08:53] yeah can I keep this C [00:08:56] absolutely or I can email you email [00:08:59] that' be great yeah if you have it sure [00:09:01] I'll just take [00:09:03] it [00:09:06] okay well no here take go ahead and I'll [00:09:09] email it to you are you sure [00:09:11] yes you like paper too I do like paper I [00:09:14] do appreciate that [00:09:18] okay uh USDA project closing documents [00:09:22] um I have this on the agenda um in case [00:09:26] we needed new signatures we don't okay [00:09:29] um so just update the board it is [00:09:31] closing [00:09:32] tomorrow um they have everything they [00:09:34] need from us as of an hour ago perfect [00:09:38] thank you thank you everyone thank you [00:09:42] it's yeah Jess I I couldn't have done it [00:09:43] without her so thank [00:09:46] very perfect okay so we're good there [00:09:50] excellent [00:09:52] okay okay come right on up we're ready [00:09:56] for you we we guys the power [00:10:01] how many MERS are just three [00:10:04] right [00:10:22] five and then these are um the revolving [00:10:26] fund limits so we're going to handle [00:10:27] them separately so [00:10:30] which one you want [00:10:33] first why don't we go through um yearend [00:10:36] transfers first [00:10:40] Sor [00:10:41] um so that's this one that we're looking [00:10:44] at y um it is what it is luckily we had [00:10:49] some um EXs Reserve fund and we had some [00:10:52] accountant salary savings so we're able [00:10:55] to use that and reallocate it to um [00:10:58] specifically select board [00:11:00] it and um the all board's [00:11:04] expense those were um y everybody knows [00:11:09] what's going on [00:11:11] there um it was actually pretty clean [00:11:14] this year there was only a few of them [00:11:16] you know a few transfers here and there [00:11:17] legals always on the list planning board [00:11:19] clerk I believe you guys talked about [00:11:21] that early in the year and knew this was [00:11:23] going to happen we did because she had [00:11:25] extra hours so you knew that was coming [00:11:27] um the municipal building repair is [00:11:29] that's all you know building repairs and [00:11:33] NSTAR and National Grid and all the [00:11:37] things to keep the down build in front [00:11:39] right um Town report was over a little [00:11:44] bit this [00:11:48] year any other ones that you see that [00:11:51] are negative are um they're okay because [00:11:54] they're were're able to within the [00:11:56] budget within their own so one accounts [00:11:58] over by $30 and one account has $50 in [00:12:01] it you're okay as long as you don't [00:12:02] spend in total great uh and then [00:12:05] Medicare which that's kind of a crap [00:12:06] shoot cuz we never know what we're going [00:12:08] to have to pay for Medicare based on you [00:12:10] know based on the wages so we get it as [00:12:12] close as we can and obviously it was a [00:12:14] little bit over this year um so we want [00:12:17] to transfer 15,000 there too um so the [00:12:19] total transfers is 845 and again it's [00:12:22] all coming from the reserve fund and the [00:12:25] accountant salary budget [00:12:29] so laor just so I understand um you've [00:12:32] taken the balance in that Reserve fund [00:12:34] and you're able to transfer that to some [00:12:36] of the accounts that were over that we [00:12:38] couldn't you couldn't transfer otherwise [00:12:40] is that correct [00:12:43] okay yeah that right next to the reserve [00:12:45] fund where it says 47 that should say [00:12:50] 43 was just going to question so that [00:12:52] should be 43 [00:12:56] yes yeah so basically at the end of the [00:12:58] year any that are over we can do all [00:13:01] this moving around to transfer [00:13:02] everything so then you don't have [00:13:04] to raise more money [00:13:12] some [00:13:15] okay um I assume some some's coming from [00:13:19] cu the two lines don't total to [00:13:25] 845 [00:13:26] wait was in my mind so was [00:13:30] the check on that so [00:13:34] 47 so is it 47 or 43 yeah so that the 47 [00:13:39] I can update this I'm sorry about that [00:13:41] no that's okay so it should be 43 cuz [00:13:43] obviously we only have 43 there but then [00:13:46] that 3,000 we need to add to the [00:13:49] 375 so that should be 45 [00:13:53] okay yes and then that that brings us to [00:13:55] the 845 perfect okay I made a last minut [00:13:58] of change for [00:13:59] that's why I just wanted to make sure I [00:14:02] I just [00:14:03] added so we were covered the 375 Chang [00:14:07] to what 4 40,5 [00:14:10] yeah cuz there was 51 there was that [00:14:13] much left 51 295 is available y right [00:14:16] okay yeah so this this total is still [00:14:19] 845 but yeah that's just the [00:14:23] 3,000 yeah I thought it actually worked [00:14:25] pretty good this year yeah we just we [00:14:28] definitely know where we need to focus [00:14:30] our attention on next year yes yeah [00:14:33] so for [00:14:36] sure I think we've done [00:14:39] that one other question Lori So within [00:14:43] each department y you can't go negative [00:14:47] so that's why you're taking it from the [00:14:50] reserve fund or from account salary [00:14:52] right so that you can balance those [00:14:55] departments out you know some [00:14:56] departments may have a may have a a a [00:15:00] surplus so they don't need to transf [00:15:02] they don't need transfer okay got it [00:15:04] great thank you and it's cleaner for her [00:15:07] to take out of those two [00:15:09] accounts a lot of surplus rather than [00:15:12] you know several [00:15:15] so does anybody else have any comments [00:15:18] or questions [00:15:21] or we good on end of your just one last [00:15:25] question so the the 257 at the end and [00:15:31] balance um yep Min c84 would be what [00:15:35] rules [00:15:37] freach [00:15:40] um ultimately but there's going to be [00:15:43] another Warr in there so it's going to [00:15:45] be less than that it's going to be [00:15:47] something less than that okay but in the [00:15:49] B yeah probably I guess [00:15:54] ,000 probably about 200 [00:15:57] maybe okay awesome thank [00:16:03] you anybody [00:16:06] good I I just have a simple question all [00:16:09] right um the accountant salary line you [00:16:13] have 85,000 expended [00:16:16] 33425 and then you have 51,2 195 you're [00:16:20] just subtracting 33 from [00:16:22] 85 cuz I [00:16:24] get 51,5 75 versus [00:16:29] 5129 there's two hidden columns that I [00:16:32] purposely hid so you guys didn't have to [00:16:33] get involved in all the details which is [00:16:35] the final payroll in the [00:16:38] final so there's still three days of [00:16:42] payroll to be honest with you there $280 [00:16:44] of three days of that's going to go on [00:16:47] there yeah so that's the column that you [00:16:48] see just well it happens in other items [00:16:52] that's why yeah it happens in all of [00:16:53] them cuz all the payrolls will be three [00:16:55] days or four days that we have to charge [00:16:56] there too so that's why those don't [00:16:59] that's a good cat [00:17:03] y all right that's all yeah you good [00:17:07] then yeah I'm good okay I'm still good [00:17:10] okay you want to make a motion to [00:17:12] approve your end transfers as a board we [00:17:15] have approved these year transfers I'll [00:17:17] second that you guys want to just sign [00:17:19] one that you have and then we can pass [00:17:21] that one around yep not this one cuz I [00:17:23] just scribbled all over yeah I scribbled [00:17:25] on [00:17:26] my we all scribbled all right well [00:17:29] that's all right this one isn't I don't [00:17:30] think yeah it is do you want to um [00:17:33] actually you guys must have right yeah [00:17:35] we can still finish our boat though want [00:17:37] to just all in for them all hi hi do you [00:17:41] want to I have a clean final [00:17:44] sheet do you want me to fix it you and [00:17:47] redo yeah let me go grab my laptop and I [00:17:50] can do that where you guys are talking [00:17:52] about well we need talk yeah you can't [00:17:55] talk about it without we here right [00:17:57] right by [00:17:59] so hold on for the revolving [00:18:02] funds and then you guys will have to [00:18:04] vote you'll have to vote [00:18:24] onar um after the year end St will you [00:18:27] stay till the end of the meeting [00:18:29] move [00:18:32] that's to print it though too Mark you [00:18:35] made motion yes [00:18:39] it it to [00:18:44] you all right so year end transfers are [00:18:46] good yes so now uh revolving funds this [00:18:51] is this is pretty much just a clean it [00:18:54] up right do you want to explain that [00:18:56] yeah so um at town meeting limits are [00:18:59] set on all these revolving [00:19:01] funds they're really just a budget at [00:19:03] any given time of what we think we're [00:19:05] going to spend nobody really puts that [00:19:08] much effort into it because they've been [00:19:10] the same most years and every year we [00:19:12] increase them um but some of them hit [00:19:15] the limit so the [00:19:18] recycling commission the limit was only [00:19:20] 6,500 I think you said it increased this [00:19:23] year right of Health [00:19:26] did so we spent 12 804 clearly we need [00:19:30] to increase the limit to something more [00:19:32] than that [00:19:35] um I can't tell you why we spent more [00:19:39] than 6,500 at the recycling department [00:19:42] would have to tell you that but they [00:19:45] have it yeah so they so they're not [00:19:47] overspent per se but their revolving [00:19:50] fund is overspent so that's what we have [00:19:52] to like you kind of clean house on at [00:19:55] the end of at the fiscal year right so [00:19:57] yeah it's not really it's just spent on [00:19:59] the limit so they you know Tommy said [00:20:00] you can only spend $6,500 but to run the [00:20:03] recycling center you have to spend [00:20:05] $6,500 so if I held that and said no [00:20:07] we're not we're not spending anymore the [00:20:09] recycling department won't be able to [00:20:11] run so basically just let it go watch it [00:20:14] make sure they have enough money to fund [00:20:15] it and then ask you guys to increase the [00:20:17] limit of the end of the year ultimately [00:20:19] it should happen at Town meetings so [00:20:22] it's set correctly so then there isn't a [00:20:24] problem that's one that over yeah [00:20:27] recycling definitely should we should [00:20:28] probably look at that next year for town [00:20:32] meeting if they increase the limit then [00:20:34] that's going to show up in our next [00:20:36] year's budget as an an increase to [00:20:40] that are all outside this is the [00:20:42] revolving this it's not it's not there [00:20:44] is no budget in no budget no budget they [00:20:46] don't have a budget but that's [00:20:48] completely separate of their revolving [00:20:50] funds yes this is like their sticker [00:20:52] fees go into it their um when they do [00:20:56] their math days their kind like [00:20:59] right [00:21:01] correct so basically we just spent more [00:21:04] we have the money but we just SP more [00:21:06] but this does not affect the budet some [00:21:08] the line item in the budget no none of [00:21:11] these affect the operating budget um the [00:21:14] other one is townhouse I tried to it's [00:21:16] always been only 500 but they had um [00:21:19] consultant that they used and I tried to [00:21:22] get them to move that so we didn't have [00:21:23] to do this but they said no i' have to [00:21:25] stay so that one has to be increased and [00:21:27] then the electrical [00:21:29] gas inspector seem to be a problem every [00:21:31] year um we're not quite sure why because [00:21:36] the money that comes in should be the [00:21:38] money that we pay out um I don't know [00:21:42] where the estim these estimates came [00:21:43] from because clearly they're not you [00:21:45] know we only estimated 5,000 and we paid [00:21:48] 8750 so you know clearly these estimates [00:21:51] aren't today um [00:21:55] it's and I don't think they would change [00:21:57] for this year but [00:21:59] okay um so yeah I mean like I said it's [00:22:02] just basically housekeeping just to [00:22:05] clean up these limits Board of Select [00:22:07] and the finance committee can approve [00:22:09] revolving fund limit increases [00:22:11] throughout the year but only Tom meting [00:22:14] can do it the Board of Health already [00:22:16] got their expend correct they did I [00:22:19] believe during the year we increased we [00:22:20] we did that one at and it's included at [00:22:23] town meeting so that one went to 20 at [00:22:25] Town Meeting correct [00:22:29] right which is why it's not in oh it's [00:22:31] yeah yeah it didn't even hit 20 yet I [00:22:33] mean it didn't hit 10 last [00:22:35] year right but it's going to be 20 this [00:22:38] year okay so yeah it's just those five 1 [00:22:40] 2 3 four five that we need to increase [00:22:43] and again it doesn't really have any [00:22:44] effect on anything just that we give it [00:22:46] authority to these departments to spend [00:22:48] the money that they brought in now is [00:22:51] this a permanent or we have to do this [00:22:52] every year just if this is just a one [00:22:54] time for FY 24 which is done okay so now [00:22:57] 25 Tommy voted them for 25 so that I'll [00:22:59] stop doing this again for 25 with the [00:23:01] new limits okay so next year we should [00:23:05] look at these limits see if they should [00:23:07] be adjusted at town meeting yeah for [00:23:11] sure yeah and the planning board clerk [00:23:13] would Happ you to know um put in her [00:23:17] hours both with the planning board [00:23:20] expense and this revolving and kept [00:23:25] this uh according to what she had been [00:23:28] specified so she went over with the [00:23:31] other account but it's the same number [00:23:34] of hours really she was agonizing about [00:23:37] how to put you know a public hearing [00:23:40] cost down separately but she managed to [00:23:44] keep it out so I probably shouldn't have [00:23:46] said [00:23:47] anything we can look [00:23:49] at well yeah I think well I think I'll [00:23:53] leave that to the planing board but they [00:23:54] need to fund it a little bit more [00:23:56] because they've given her a lot of extra [00:23:59] work so [00:24:02] okay okay any other [00:24:05] questions you have any questions for [00:24:08] this take a motion then I will that we [00:24:12] uh we approve the revolving funds [00:24:16] present I'll [00:24:18] second any other [00:24:21] discussions in favor [00:24:39] meeting minutes from June [00:24:44] 10th just how do you want to do this do [00:24:46] you want me [00:24:48] to to you oh [00:24:51] yeah all right hold on I got fix it [00:24:58] oh yes of course still still writing my [00:25:02] notes I [00:25:08] know sign this [00:25:11] copy for [00:25:20] approval meeting from June [00:25:28] [Music] [00:25:57] make a motion to accept the meeting [00:25:59] minutes of June 10th 2024 second all [00:26:03] those in favor I I did you get my [00:26:07] minutes that I sent for the okay that's [00:26:10] okay so I did send minutes for the [00:26:13] executive sessions we had so hopefully [00:26:15] we can get those on for next meeting get [00:26:17] AC [00:26:29] I [00:26:30] uh nothing fancy but they're done so [00:26:33] that we can get them [00:26:36] up perfect perfect do you want that Lori [00:26:39] the sign one just get this one right [00:26:44] now do you want to go start going [00:26:46] through your um your [00:26:49] report one [00:26:52] minute you guys can I want to get that [00:26:55] sign I don't know if you guys wanted to [00:26:56] get out of here um I'm June 27th there [00:26:59] was a bid opening um Miss Hoffman [00:27:03] already can't pronounce his last name [00:27:04] and Mr [00:27:07] rheim whatever um Gaza yes um so there [00:27:14] was there was two bids um he picked the [00:27:18] lowest bid bidder um a company from [00:27:21] Barry McDonald's McDonald y um Sandy she [00:27:28] ated the townhouse elevator that needed [00:27:30] to be service CU it had failed [00:27:32] inspection umone just because the [00:27:34] emergency phone wasn't working um so it [00:27:37] since P [00:27:38] the elevator's good um so we had one [00:27:42] issue that had happened from May from [00:27:45] before I started um where a DPW employee [00:27:49] was working and a rock hit a vehicle um [00:27:53] there was damage to the gentleman's car [00:27:55] the bill has been since taken care of as [00:27:59] because bills been [00:28:01] paid um we went over some of the grant [00:28:04] stuff last time but I left them on there [00:28:06] because it hasn't changed yeah [00:28:14] um tax bills are due August [00:28:17] 1st um today was the day that um Senator [00:28:21] Durant and PR perfumes um AIDS came in [00:28:24] for their office hours and afterwards I [00:28:27] spoke to Jared from Senator Durant's [00:28:29] office about the economic Bond bill um [00:28:32] which we don't really have a lot of time [00:28:34] which is why I want stve to the end I [00:28:37] want to talk to um the board in Mark um [00:28:41] I'm also working with uh Lieutenant L on [00:28:44] the Maya Public Safety Wellness [00:28:47] Grant um as far as human resources go uh [00:28:50] we developed a draft visitor Cod of [00:28:52] conduct policy which the board saw [00:28:53] tonight um and the board's also aware [00:28:56] that we're looking for two employees for [00:28:57] the Highway Department um only two [00:28:59] applicants so far we will be adjusting [00:29:02] the recruitment for that those [00:29:05] positions I attended a virtual rural [00:29:07] community weekly meeting with the [00:29:09] director of rural Affairs and GOI I did [00:29:11] meet with Paul from C Geeks before I got [00:29:14] sick um he just sent me which I haven't [00:29:17] looked at it's still in my inbox a list [00:29:19] of all of our licenses and um equipment [00:29:22] that they service I wanted to take a [00:29:23] look at that and see what we're paying [00:29:25] for um but he was he was really great it [00:29:28] was a really good meeting um that's [00:29:30] definitely one of the light yes TR [00:29:35] yep um I went with the capital planning [00:29:38] committee to see the miscellaneous [00:29:39] police facilities and hardw and your bra [00:29:42] Tre that was a little eye [00:29:45] opening so hopefully [00:29:48] um that's something that we can we can [00:29:51] make a priority going [00:29:53] forward I do want to recognize and thank [00:29:56] all the employees at town hall for [00:29:58] stepping up and going above and beyond [00:29:59] well I had Co I didn't know that taking [00:30:03] a new job 3 weeks in I was going to get [00:30:05] Co and have to be out for a week um so I [00:30:07] really want to thank all the employees [00:30:09] for going way beyond their job [00:30:11] responsibilities and sending everything [00:30:13] to me electronically so I can sign [00:30:15] everything and um I I think it was as [00:30:17] seamless as it could have [00:30:21] been for important dates we have the [00:30:24] harbit fair on August 16th and 17th [00:30:28] Off [00:30:30] The Town Administrator report I have a [00:30:34] couple extra [00:30:38] things so working with the USDA on that [00:30:42] project one of their request was uh to [00:30:45] look for the board had authorized Nicole [00:30:49] as the signatory Authority for all of [00:30:51] the USDA stuff and I know the board had [00:30:54] authorized me at our last meeting going [00:30:56] forward mhm but just from all the all [00:31:00] the documents in the past um all that [00:31:03] sanding I could find was the [00:31:06] actual um authorization so I'm hoping [00:31:10] that because it was unanticipated that [00:31:11] the board could take a vote tonight just [00:31:14] that they had approved um Miss Parker as [00:31:17] a signatory Authority for the USA [00:31:19] projects for from 2022 to [00:31:23] present so that retroactively I could [00:31:26] give them the reading minutes from [00:31:28] tonight's meeting once their fees are [00:31:30] approved and that will satisfy their [00:31:32] request so that makes this seamless yes [00:31:37] right so I would look for a motion [00:31:40] stating that Nicole Parker had [00:31:42] authorization to sign usba contracts I [00:31:46] still move I'll second it all in favor [00:31:51] hi hi thank you all right the last piece [00:31:56] I have [00:32:00] um so like I said I met with Senator [00:32:02] Durant's office um the economic Bond [00:32:05] Bill opened today and for those who [00:32:07] aren't familiar with the economic Bond [00:32:08] bill it's not money that that's [00:32:10] guaranteed it's when they're done with [00:32:12] the budget and everything if they have [00:32:14] money um they put together this package [00:32:18] it's not guaranteed so it's not [00:32:19] something that you can depend on but [00:32:21] they are looking for us if we have [00:32:23] anything that we'd like to be included [00:32:25] in this um I've seen years years um in [00:32:28] my previous towns where we got nothing [00:32:31] I've seen years where it was um we did [00:32:34] get this money so I would just like to [00:32:37] you know and I know Mark is here from [00:32:38] the capital planning committee um if [00:32:41] there's anything that the board has for [00:32:44] Capital planning committee I don't have [00:32:45] time to wait for a capital planning [00:32:47] committee meeting I need to get this in [00:32:49] but probably by like tomorrow um for it [00:32:51] to be [00:32:52] included so I'm looking to the board for [00:32:56] any sort of recommendation or um I had a [00:32:59] couple ideas or I'd also be looking for [00:33:02] to you typically I would say it should [00:33:06] be something that's under $100,000 that [00:33:08] was my question like what are we what [00:33:09] are we [00:33:10] talking how big what what kind of [00:33:13] threshold no not not a police station [00:33:16] okay that's too bad um not a fire truck [00:33:19] either no even if it was like a couple [00:33:21] things maybe that 25,000 uh something [00:33:24] that I noticed just going around town [00:33:26] was our hydrants we have to get some of [00:33:28] those reped and I can kind of I can kind [00:33:31] of phrase it that it would be economic [00:33:33] it's Public Safety right um but again I [00:33:37] lovek what do you think you know Capital [00:33:40] planning yeah you know there's 57 items [00:33:43] on our plan right I wish I I can't [00:33:47] remember the M I have something with me [00:33:48] you like to see this oh [00:33:51] okay we pass the left me [00:33:59] you I think hydrants are good um [00:34:02] hydrants are good safety and very [00:34:04] visible yep I just look out my window we [00:34:07] have a bag on one of my there's there's [00:34:09] definitely some that need replacing and [00:34:12] the legitimate you know checked off [00:34:14] official bags cost $150 I learned that [00:34:22] today get you coming and going [00:34:31] street light [00:34:39] CH [00:34:42] I I know [00:34:51] the strictly under uh the topic of [00:34:54] Economic Development and stretching it [00:34:57] any way you can to make it sound like [00:35:04] exactly bill you can speak up [00:35:06] okay go ahead no one suggestion is look [00:35:10] at the street lights and change them to [00:35:13] LED and annually it cost us 25,000 an [00:35:16] electric bill and we've talked about it [00:35:20] before yeah that's been up for grabs to [00:35:23] talk about number of that's a good one [00:35:26] it would definitely yield big savings [00:35:29] okay every year I'll be very creative [00:35:32] with how I phrase this to the Cent onice [00:35:34] so I can really I make it it falls under [00:35:38] the green initiative as [00:35:40] well cuz we are we did miss this year [00:35:43] the transportation B [00:35:45] though the wheel R pumping [00:35:52] station probably not enough money to to [00:35:55] do it but I think you'd have to pick [00:35:57] something thing yeah cuz she's she's [00:35:59] talking about a threshold of about [00:36:01] 100,000 could to um emergency generator [00:36:05] I up for that will right station it's [00:36:09] about 85,000 is that what that is that [00:36:12] one of the addons that might be I mean [00:36:14] I'm just thinking that just think that [00:36:16] infrastructure needs some help because [00:36:19] we're not going to get the the USDA [00:36:22] Grant to completely cover everything [00:36:24] need so maybe that's if you can shoehorn [00:36:28] something in that that might be the [00:36:29] other place to look the hydrants a great [00:36:31] idea and maybe the that the lights okay [00:36:36] and whatever's left [00:36:39] over right carry this tomorrow anything [00:36:43] El [00:36:45] yes no the [00:36:50] hydrates select my Round [00:36:53] Table yes ma'am um I have several things [00:36:59] uh I'm in touch with [00:37:02] cmrpc uh about the air [00:37:05] conditioning portion of the elementary [00:37:07] school I'm going to have to bother Glenn [00:37:11] loic to get some kind of an [00:37:13] outline uh this is a brick Grant there [00:37:16] are a couple of grants that might speak [00:37:18] to [00:37:19] it uh it's still early days but we do [00:37:22] have the municipal vulnerability project [00:37:25] in place and we have the haard [00:37:27] mitigation plan done so we're eligible [00:37:30] for these grants I'm going to continue [00:37:32] looking at that uh with [00:37:36] cmrpc um and uh speaking of Grants um I [00:37:43] like the selectman to consider sending a [00:37:46] letter to the master plan steering [00:37:49] committee asking them to [00:37:52] investigate grants for the police [00:37:55] department I think uh it might be I [00:37:58] think it would be good to give them a [00:38:00] task to kind of get them centered and [00:38:02] moving so um if that's okay you want to [00:38:07] think about that or or not but I think a [00:38:12] you know a letter of approval and a [00:38:14] suggestion would be to to to look into [00:38:17] to yeah to investigate those grants for [00:38:19] the PD okay we're going to be doing this [00:38:22] uh it'll be redundant with what you're [00:38:24] doing prob can I sure that was a forward [00:38:27] uh CU I don't think I haven't shared [00:38:29] that yet okay um so I am coordinating [00:38:34] with Senator Durant's office um to get [00:38:37] um a set up of time for him to come out [00:38:39] and take a look at um our two facilities [00:38:41] here in Hardwick and in the bra trade [00:38:44] and just to keep um keep hard work on [00:38:46] the radar on the state level but then [00:38:48] also see if he can help push with us for [00:38:51] federal opportunities [00:38:54] so and you know doing this scattered gun [00:38:58] you know try three four different things [00:39:00] is okay I think yeah no I think it shows [00:39:03] that we're actively pursuing all of [00:39:06] our evidence yeah I think that's not a [00:39:08] bad thing I'm fine with sending a letter [00:39:11] to yeah you okay with that okay you'll [00:39:14] draft something just okay and um the Old [00:39:19] Town [00:39:19] Hall uh the townhouse Town House y the [00:39:23] front step I sit there at the fair every [00:39:27] Friday night at the fair I love it to [00:39:30] see thousand people come through and a [00:39:34] lot of them [00:39:36] stumble um I'm going to work with Noble [00:39:39] and my helpers to lift some of those [00:39:42] slabs before the fair that's not [00:39:46] business will be co owner but um I'm [00:39:50] trying to get [00:39:52] a a doorstep it's a 10in lift I can't I [00:39:58] can't do it without a railing I can't [00:40:00] get into the old toown H it's too high [00:40:04] you know I'm too lame but there are [00:40:06] other people in the same situation so [00:40:09] Noble and I have been talking about what [00:40:11] to do um you know 4T by 6t by 5 in [00:40:17] slab and he has one on line Big Stone U [00:40:23] from a quarry and it would match and I [00:40:25] think down the line we should do that [00:40:27] but it's going to cost [00:40:29] $3,200 and that's going to come out of a [00:40:31] grant ideally from the old town hall and [00:40:35] Barnes is pursuing so we're not going to [00:40:38] make it in time I did find a slab out [00:40:41] back of the old white building it's 5 [00:40:44] 1/2 in thick it's a piece of [00:40:47] curbstone I'm just saying that I think [00:40:51] unless somebody stops me I'm just going [00:40:53] to put it there while we don't have a [00:40:55] building in and uh make sure that it's [00:40:58] stable and it'll just be able to step up [00:41:01] and in so that's what I'd like to do but [00:41:04] I didn't want to do it without [00:41:14] say I don't have any issues with that if [00:41:17] it helps people I'll make sure it's [00:41:20] stable it's not going to skate away or [00:41:21] anything it's going to be I think more [00:41:24] safe than it is now correct and we can [00:41:26] put the Bears on M and I'll paint it [00:41:31] black and orange stripes if you [00:41:34] want but I think it I think it would [00:41:43] help all I got okay right pH you have B [00:41:47] no I'm good you good yeah [00:41:54] okay all in favor ni [00:41:58] thank you everybody I'm going to email [00:42:01] you I'm going to need some stuff as I [00:42:03] put my close out [00:42:06] documentation [00:42:09] $2700 as [00:42:10] usual I [00:42:20] have I'm looking for everything we spent [00:42:23] under [00:42:24] empg and it's really all highway work [00:43:07] nice to meet you too