WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=3aNusmDNOw4 Part: 1 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:17.440 Okay. >> Meeting is recorded. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. It is 6 o'clock July 6 at 6 p.m. 2026. Meeting starts begins. Please 2 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:32.640 rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and 3 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:54.960 justice for all. >> This is our first Monday of the month and uh right, am I right? >> Correct. And so we always have a moment of silence for our folks in the service. So 4 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:22.320 please take a moment of silence. Okay. Thank you for that. All right. So we are going to first first action item is to review and award the treasure collector services contract mass municipal 5 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:42.799 finance I guess it's mass mun >> that's a mouthful >> um >> muffin >> it's an expensive muffin >> um listen they uh uh and you can give us the update to what all went down so So, 6 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:56.960 every 3 years we have to go out to bid for treasurer collector services. And this is FY 20 uh six was the last year that we could do an extension with our current treasurer collector. So, I did 7 00:01:56.960 --> 00:02:14.080 an RFP. It was posted to Combis uh goods and services bulletin. It was in the country journal. We only got one response and our response was from Mass Mutifan Inc., Sarah Hunter. Um, it was a 8 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:29.520 complete response. I mean, she she the RFP came in the exact way the bid should have it. She had the two separate proposals, the pricing and the scope of work proposal. Um, obviously we have a history with her. She knows our finances 9 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:45.840 and how we operate. And she's been doing a really wonderful job with getting Jordana to, I think, probably the next level of, you know, eventually in the treasury collector office. So, mass management was the only responder 10 00:02:45.840 --> 00:03:02.640 to the RFP. Uh when I was working on the budget for FY27, um I put a placeholder number in the budget based off of just conversations 11 00:03:02.640 --> 00:03:19.440 and it's a little low. So, >> the placeholder >> the placeholder is a little low. So, I am going to reach out to uh Deb, the chair of the finance committee to see if we can get them to have a meeting to do a reserve fund transfer because it was 12 00:03:19.440 --> 00:03:36.159 unforeseen. I there was no way to know who was going to bid, what the price was going to come in at. I didn't know that Mass F was going to be the only bidder. Um, so it's definitely unforeseen. So, I'm going to reach out to Deb so that she can have finance committee convene a 13 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:51.440 meeting. I already have the paperwork. They can I will give my all the information to them and explain everything to them so that they can make a decision. If they decide to move the money from the reserve, then I will have Kelly sign off on the contract that is 14 00:03:51.440 --> 00:04:09.040 already done and good to go. I'll have legal sign off on it and then I'll have you guys sign off. >> Okay. And we'll have to do that this week to get it into this year's number. Right. So, okay. Any questions on that? 15 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:23.919 >> Any questions? >> Are you voting? >> No, I just at this point it's I've got it covered administratively. We're good to go. >> Perfect. >> When you get everything signed and whatnot, just bring it on back. >> Well done. 16 00:04:23.919 --> 00:05:10.560 >> Okay, Derek. New business. >> All right. I'm going to just hand out a few um papers first if that's okay. And the word best spot for me to sit when I went back to >> you can sit right here if you want or 17 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:24.960 >> yes that's me >> here why don't you sit over here okay and that way folks can see you as you're speaking >> hopefully be sure to join byebye another week so >> thank god 18 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:55.440 >> now you're a chair oh my way All right. Do you want to first give everyone a quick update as to what this is all about and why? >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, so I'm Derek Strahan, a senior planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. And for the past year or so, I've been working with 19 00:05:55.440 --> 00:06:11.840 the town on updating the hazard mitigation plan, um, the HMP as it's called. Um the HMP is uh basically um an overview of what h natural hazards um the town is potentially at risk for, what is the town currently doing to help 20 00:06:11.840 --> 00:06:29.039 mitigate those risks, and what are some actions that the town can take in the next 5 years um to continue to mitigate those um those risks. So the um it's funded through uh MIMA and FEMA and it opens the town up to grant opportunities 21 00:06:29.039 --> 00:06:45.759 potentially depending on what is um available in the next 5 years. Um and then once the plan is approved by MIMA and FEMA then it's good for five years and then we do the the update uh process again after that. Um so this is the second of two public meetings. Um I met 22 00:06:45.759 --> 00:07:02.160 uh with the committee over the the course of last summer and fall and then drafted the plan. Uh we had one public meeting in the fall and this is the second one to present the draft plan. Uh the entire draft plan is on the the town's website. I didn't print out the whole thing um because it's it's a large 23 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:16.880 document, but I printed out um a couple different documents here. The longer one that says chapter 5 at the top, this is kind of the the real meat of the plan. This gets into the um what capabilities does the town currently have and where 24 00:07:16.880 --> 00:07:33.280 are the areas the town um should look to continue to uh to work toward being able to mitigate those those risks. And then the the shorter document is kind of a summary of those and then also it has at the front of it the um the committee's 25 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:51.759 assessment of the different hazards. So there's a lot of different hazards that the the plan can address. They all have to be natural hazards though, so we're not getting into things like, you know, chemical spills on the highway or things like that. Um, these are all strictly natural hazards and um based on the past 26 00:07:51.759 --> 00:08:07.280 history of, you know, when when have we experienced these incidences and also in the committee's judgment, how likely is it for these events to happen in the future? um they were rated on um the location um the probability of future events, the 27 00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:24.479 impact to the town and then the overall risk uh to the town. So things like earthquakes are a very low risk. They don't happen very often. they're usually not very damaging um versus things like wildfire, thunderstorms, severe snow and ice storms are relatively high risk um 28 00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:40.719 and can pose um hazards in terms of power outages, um poor road conditions, uh things like that. Um so the uh the second page on the small document looks at and there's there's a also in the the 29 00:08:40.719 --> 00:08:56.320 larger document there's a more detailed table um table 51 but the the summary of it is what is the town currently doing for mitigation capabilities and there are a lot of things u a lot of these are um you know enforcing statewide 30 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:12.720 regulations so things like the building code um the wetlands protection act uh the flood plane bylaws. Um, and then also capabilities like having backup generators, um, having a reverse 911 system, anything that can help to 31 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:27.600 mitigate the risk that natural hazards could pose to the town. Um, so we looked as a committee at how effective these different things are and what are some ways, what are some areas of need. Um we identified in the table for some of this 32 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:43.120 be mitigation strategies um potential changes uh things like for reverse 911 encouraging residents to enroll in this um to improve the the the number of people who can be reached in the event um of some sort of a natural 33 00:09:43.120 --> 00:10:00.480 hazard. And then um the the crux of the plan is the the mitigation strategies which I've summarized on the small sheet but then they're also in um they're on table 53 in the the larger document. Uh these are 34 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:17.839 the action items that the town um will be seeking to pursue over the next 5 years. uh listing it on here can help to um improve the the town's um case if they're applying for a grant um to be able to point to the plan and say this 35 00:10:17.839 --> 00:10:32.800 was documented on the plan as being an area of need. Um that can help to strengthen the grant application. Um and then each of these items is uh is ranked in terms of the priority. Uh so on the smaller sheet I have sorted them by high 36 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:50.000 priority then medium and low priority strategies. Um so the high priority ones include installing a backup generator here at the town offices. Constructing a new firehouse uh with potential future expansion to include a new highway garage. Uh hiring a facilities director 37 00:10:50.000 --> 00:11:05.519 for maintenance of town owned properties. and then hiring a conservation agent and or a town planner to assist with the the enforcement um and the uh the planning of preparing for being prepared for natural hazards. Um 38 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:22.480 and then the the medium and lower priority ones. I won't read through all of those. Um but a lot of it is just continuing to do the things the town is already doing. Um and some of those include um the ongoing uh rewriting of 39 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:37.440 uh town planning documents like the open space and recreation plan that expires I think in 2 years and so then it'll be time for the town to um to form a new committee and to um update the OSRP. So, a lot of it is just ongoing um things 40 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:52.959 like culvert maintenance. Um there was a a culvert study that was done. Um and now it's a matter of implementing that and um culverts that can pose a risk to localized flooding, making sure that those are uh replaced and upgraded. Um so, it's a lot of a lot of things the 41 00:11:52.959 --> 00:12:08.560 town is already doing, but it's also being able to document that this is what the town should be doing. Um and then helping to support uh the grant applications to to do those things. Um so the purpose of this meeting is to 42 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:24.639 present what the committee has come up with and um to make sure that the public is not only aware of what the committee has been doing but also to provide feedback before the final plan is submitted to um to MIMA and for their review. Uh the way it works from here is 43 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:40.079 we send it to MIMA, they review it. um if they have revisions then I go ahead and make those and then it goes off to FEMA and then once FEMA approves it then it becomes in effect um it's good for five years. Um so I guess with uh with 44 00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:54.720 the chair's approval if you want to open it up for any questions or comments >> any questions or comments um can you just elaborate on uh who was who from the town was on this committee? Yeah. 45 00:12:54.720 --> 00:13:10.240 So, um I don't think I have the list on um on this particular document, but it >> it was myself. >> Yeah, >> it was uh Jackie, you were on it. Adam was on it. Ray was on it. Cara was on it at one point, but you switched Cara. 46 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:25.440 >> Um >> uh Mr. Gates from conservation was on it. >> Yeah. Um, and we had asked Greg from planning, but I don't know that he was able to attend any of the meetings that we had. No. So, 47 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:43.760 that's who was on it. >> Now, we talked, just so everybody's clear, we did talk a little bit in that meeting about our solar best applicators and and what's going on there. This is again for not for that. M 48 00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:58.800 >> these mitigation plans are really for disaster related to mother nature disasters than anything else but something that needs to be done. You have to have this in place, right? >> Absolutely. >> What kinds of grants does this enable us? Yeah. 49 00:13:58.800 --> 00:14:16.240 >> So the the brick grants or the primary grant programs with the brick >> brick >> Yeah. Um but those um FEMA and paused them for a while. not sure what the current status is um with those. >> Um but a lot there's a lot of grants through the state that 50 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:32.399 >> they don't they're not specific necessarily they're not a hazard mitigation grant program but if you're applying for a lot of like um planning related grants if it's something that can you can put in hazard mitigation um 51 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:46.160 goals in there >> reference it basically in the grant. >> Yes. like the MVP uh grant programs can help to have action items that are documented because when you go to apply for a grant, there are there's a a whole, you know, area where you can put 52 00:14:46.160 --> 00:15:04.000 in um where this grant proposal would address um recommendations from planning documents. >> Derek, just so everybody's aware, the MVP, that's municipal vulnerability >> program >> program. Okay. So, that's the grants. Um we've gotten it in the past. Blamford 53 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:20.160 has applied in the past and has received it. Yes. >> Yeah. Was the resilient master plan funded through MVP? I think >> I believe so. Yes. Yep. >> Yeah. Um and some of the action items um on here did come from previous plans whether it was the the master plan or 54 00:15:20.160 --> 00:15:36.079 the open space and recreation plan which were done a few years ago. Um, so some of those recommendations are pulled from that and again it's good to have have those same recommendations across different plans um to be if you're applying for grants for those things. 55 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:50.720 >> So I noticed it does say uh something about a new firehouse. So we could this would help us if we were to apply grants towards something like that. This would be >> Yeah, I know that that came up as a big area of need reference and it gives it more perfect 56 00:15:50.720 --> 00:16:06.880 >> y. Okay, I don't really have any questions because I was on the group, but TJ or anybody, you know, I'm going to open this up to the residents at the state because this is specifically for like, 57 00:16:06.880 --> 00:16:22.800 you know, residents to be involved. So, is there any questions? >> Question. Are there a lot of towns um seeking advice in actually doing this? Is it mandatory for all towns? >> So, it it's it is required. Um they're supposed to be only good for five years. 58 00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:41.279 the the last plan um expired in 2021. Um and a lot of other towns in the area have been kind of catching up, you know, the postcoid um but every town is supposed to have one. Um and I we've been working with like we we did plans recently for Chesterfield, Gan, um a lot of the other 59 00:16:41.279 --> 00:17:01.120 hilltowns, Cumington I'm working on right now. Um so that's something that every town has to have and um it should be every five years. Go ahead. Does this report or the final product go to MIMA before it goes to 60 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:21.199 FEMA or does it not have to go to FEMA? >> It eventually has to go to FEMA. They have the final say on it. >> And EOC is emergency something center. >> Emergency operations center. Thank you. Yeah. Anyone else? 61 00:17:21.199 --> 00:17:37.840 I I mean they there was a lot of tremendous amount of work done on this. So, you know, thanking the group and yourself for taking this and running with it and getting it done because it's definitely something that we have to have. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Well, didn't u last time we went through 62 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:57.039 this, didn't we have a a trailer for has something like that? You used to be sitting out here in the town hall I or out in front of the town hall here for a while and then it disappeared. I don't know the island. 63 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:13.200 >> Yeah, it was for >> that sounds like a hazardous waste collection type of thing that didn't have much to do with the hazard mitigation. >> Last time I looked on the trailer. >> Yeah, that so I mean I So it sounds like what you're talking about is a hazardous waste collection for household. So, if 64 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:28.799 somebody were to have something that they can't put in their traditional trash, many cities and towns allow people to either they either host an event where it's hazardous waste and you can come bring your hazardous waste from your basement, your garage, whatever. Sounds like what you're referencing is maybe it 65 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:45.280 was a trailer that people were allowed to drop things off and perhaps the town then put in the bill for the proper disposal of these hazardous materials, but that wouldn't have anything to do with this plan that we're talking about. This is more of a state. The state wants 66 00:18:45.280 --> 00:19:01.520 you to do this type of thing, right? >> State and federal as well. >> That might happen. And we do have dry times around here. Bad snow, bad storms. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? This should be given to the emergency 67 00:19:01.520 --> 00:19:18.640 team, right? Our emergency team. >> Well, I mean, they would >> The idea would have been that they would have all attended the meetings with us, but yeah. All right, Derek, I think we're good. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. >> Motion anything? I don't need to motion anything. 68 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:34.720 >> Yeah. Once once the final draft plan >> uh was was the police department involved in this way? >> Sometimes the police department wants to be involved. Usually they're they're invited at most towns. Usually they're they're not directly 69 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:55.120 >> involved. Um yeah. So, I I will work on finishing up the the draft plan this month. I'll send it to you and then it's up to the select board to then um adopt it. >> Okay, sounds good. >> All right. Thank you. >> So, let's move on um 70 00:19:55.120 --> 00:20:14.160 to department review. Christina, >> no. What don't I have? >> What don't you have? Yeah. Um, so last week we worked to get all the PAFs 71 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:30.080 for FY27 in order, which was a task that we would like to see maybe in the future uh be h be one that is held by each department, right? Each department head should should be 72 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:46.080 familiar with a PAF form and know how to fill one out. Um, but in this is only our second year with them, right? So, even I'm still learning how to use them. I've never used them before. Um, and so to make sure that all the pay was correct and that, you know, we weren't I 73 00:20:46.080 --> 00:21:02.000 I didn't distribute them to everybody. I did distribute them to make sure that they agreed with what the department heads agreed with what the number was on the PAF that their employee that their staff is getting paid and that was voted on in the budget. So, they did sign that part, but the actual filling out in the 74 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:16.880 future really should be the department head who's filling those out, but we'll get there eventually. Um, but so we did all the employees. We're still going to work on the stipen ones, but >> those don't change year over year, so that's a little bit easier. 75 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:36.080 Um, I had done an endofear sort of over that I had sent out. We're still waiting um for Kelly so that she can get us what we need to do for transfers. >> Yeah. >> And we're going to talk with the finance committee so that they can get their 76 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:51.600 meeting set up. They actually have to have two meetings. So, one this week for the to consider the reserve fund transfer and then another meeting for the uh end ofear transfers that we do. So that if there is 77 00:21:51.600 --> 00:22:07.520 >> you can stop me if I'm explaining something that you already know. Okay. So, if for example, say there's a line item that says like office supplies, right, and it's negative uh $50, easy math, and there's another line item that says um cleaning supplies, just easy 78 00:22:07.520 --> 00:22:25.039 stuff, right? And it's we have $150 left in that account. We know nothing else is going to hit that account. Every invoice that could hit that account has come through. We can take money from that to transfer to cover, right? So that's what the finance committee will be involved with as well as the select board. You 79 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:40.960 guys have to jointly agree to these end ofear transfers so that when end of year comes to close everything closes out to zero, right? So everything reconciles. Um and and just to further on that if you 80 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:56.799 don't know, I'm just saying you may know >> is that so when they when we do the budget, every group, every department has their own kind of budget. Right. Right. That's what we went to. >> Y >> at the end of the year, it's a collective budget for the town. So, you 81 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:12.159 got to just make sure everything is is, you know, in right order, right? Where some may be over, some may be under for various reasons. And that's why these transfers have to occur. >> Um, 82 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:28.799 I reached out to Chester for the shared police services invoice. >> Yes. >> Still haven't. Um, the contract says they're supposed to give it to us by August. Historically, I mean, >> you think, right? Right. >> It's going to be all right with year-end 83 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:45.120 invoicing. >> Uh, encumbered. So, >> Got it. When we get it, though, what if we get it a month from now? Can it be encumbered then? >> Um, will it's going to be on the list of incumbrances that get sent to Kelly? >> Got it. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, year end department 84 00:23:45.120 --> 00:24:02.080 reach outreach. I sent the packet again. Kelly had sent it. I had sent it again. Um the fuel oil account here for town hall. Um John Hoppy said that Mayor Beto still had approximately $3,000 worth of oil to deliver to the town and John 85 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:20.320 directed that the delivery be placed in all tanks except for the library. >> Okay. >> I've already received the bill and it's going on the lawn. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thank you, dear ma'am. Uh oh, the ADA grant. So after this 86 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:38.320 meeting, I will be submitting the final report for the ADA grant with all the invoicing in the upgrades the AF. So if you you know what was some of the stuff that we purchased wasn't the sound 87 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:54.159 system in here will be is purchased with the ADA money which is good. So that was grant money that we used for that. The um uh ADA compliant just means making the room so people if they need a walk or 88 00:24:54.159 --> 00:25:10.400 whatever they could get through. Okay. We bought a couple walkers out here for the town in case folks want to grab one and go down to COA. They, you know, they've got something. >> Um, we've got uh we got rid of the trash cans because they were taking up a lot 89 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:25.520 of space. I mean, really have to walk through it thinking that, you know, maybe I'm in a wheelchair, maybe I'm, you know, really needing assistance as I walk through and make that room that area, you know, wide. And you could see that it's gotten cleaner out there. Um, 90 00:25:25.520 --> 00:25:42.559 and the same thing that we did was uh we're going to put a nothing worse than walking all the way down this hall finding out that somebody's not there. So, we're going to put uh a uh it's like a call it a board. It's a TV really and spin, you know, 91 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:56.960 when things are open, when things are closed, so people don't walk all the way down and find out it's closed once they get there. Um, so more of a communication vehicle for folks coming through the door and uh, you know, some 92 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:11.679 small things, but irritating things for folks is books for coats, stuff like that when they come in. If they come to the library, they come to their COA that they have someplace to put their coat or they go to the gym. These are simple 93 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:29.200 things that was put on the uh, ADA list. um some of the more expensive things there wasn't enough money in the grants to do you know when when you start getting into plumbing and permits and all that stuff you can't do it. So, you know, we did what we could with what was 94 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:46.159 there and um so you'll you're going to start seeing that stuff >> coming through. Okay. >> But good to have that one. >> Yes, absolutely. Uh we received notification from Eversource 95 00:26:46.159 --> 00:27:01.840 for >> for um attach notification letter being sent to property owner or owners in Bford who reside on or adjacent to the Eversource transmission right of way where upcoming vegetation work will occur. 96 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:19.679 um part it's parcels off of Cobble Mountain Road and it's list the mailing addresses the Pioneer Valley Boy Scouts which I don't know how that's possible because that's in Chip. >> Oh the bus the bus 97 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:36.000 >> it says Chick Mass on here. It says 249 Exchange Street Chabby Mass. >> It should be >> that's the headquarters. >> Yeah. Uh then 21 Hayden Road. >> Uh parcel off of South Road in Blandford 98 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:53.039 which apparently is owned by somebody in Holio. Westfield Road in Holio. Uh Herrick N conservation area that was sent to the town because 25 George Miller Road. 99 00:27:53.039 --> 00:28:10.799 So that's Mr. Van Work's property. Uh 12 George Mard Road, Mr. Cesus property, 103 North Bford Road. It may concern they don't list the person with somebody in Connecticut. And then parcel off of North Blamford Road 100 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:28.880 owned by 300 Cadwell Drive, which might be Springfield Water Sewer actually. >> And this is just to tell them that they're going to be doing some >> that they're doing. Yeah. The upcoming vegetation work that they do annually. Um, while we're on the subject of Eversource, if I could, I'll update you 101 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:44.080 guys on a couple things. Um, I went to apply for a convenor for us to get some of the money back for the Eversource. We're not done yet. It's not closed. It's not approved, but EFSB is probably 102 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:59.679 going to go that direction, right? And so, when I went to apply, it said can't apply because this started before July 1st. and the grant wasn't actually offered until July 1st. So I wrote a note to our attorney and said because 103 00:28:59.679 --> 00:29:16.640 during the intervenor process we pushed a number of times on asking Eversource to compensate us as the host >> um you know >> and uh they kept referring back to well you can go to the state and get the 104 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:31.840 money from intervenor right well now that's doesn't appear to be the case so I asked the attorney to go back to EFSB and make the case that hey if the state's not going to pay for it we should be getting something back from 105 00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:47.360 Eversource. So we'll see what that feedback is but I sent that I think it was over the weekend. Um I was pretty disappointed when I saw that. But we'll see. We'll once I get word from 106 00:29:47.360 --> 00:30:03.120 the attorney, um I said that if we don't get it there, then we'll file a grievance with the ways and means um which is really the finance arm for the state and say this was unfair because we were forced to do this earlier than what 107 00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:18.720 the state was ready for and so we should at least get paid for our legal fees. That's kind of where we're at. >> Absolutely. Oh >> yeah. >> I mean, what do you expect them to say? >> I'm not surprised. >> I expect them to give us money. >> I'm not surprised. >> It would be nice. 108 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:34.960 >> I'm not surprised either. But if you if you don't push, you won't get >> Yep. >> Hate to say it, but >> Oh, the state >> I don't really want to do it, right? Who wants to do it? It's work. But at the same time, if we can get I don't care what it is. I don't think it's, you 109 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:49.520 know, I don't know what the total bill was for law legal. Um, >> we will once we do the >> we will soon, right? >> Um, and another quick update while we're on the subject is I talked to Northfield TA 110 00:30:49.520 --> 00:31:04.559 today um, to find out what happened there because they had two solar projects that were denied by their planning board and the vendor sued them. 111 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:20.799 Um, and they virtually have lost. they got to go back. Uh again, the the uh courts have said, you know, you're gonna have to come up with a better argument and they're going to go back. But I asked them to try because we're going to do 112 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:35.520 that that meeting with everybody about energy and I want to know what are these things costing >> and it cost them about $50,000 and if they have to go back, they're going to have to pay more. So, uh, we have to be whether or not we want to or not, we 113 00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:51.679 have to be very, very, very tight whenever we're going to make that decision of no because that could happen. >> Well, the way the state kind of set it up is it doesn't matter if we say yes or no. There the state's going to say yes. 114 00:31:51.679 --> 00:32:07.919 I mean, we got that letter from the state and basically that says, you know, we can do all the bylaws we want, but the state has the privilege to override them. >> Well, the state definitely has the privilege to override them, but if you have a legitimate reason to say no, then 115 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:23.200 you need to intervene and say, "Here's my reason for saying no." Whether it's water related, aquafer related, you know, it can't be just because you don't like it. >> No. No. But also they said you can't use uh keeping the integrity of a small 116 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:39.279 town. You know there's a lot that the state said you can't put into your uh decision. >> Correct. >> You know so I mean >> you know if you're a small town you're at the state's mercy. >> They want to know about the health 117 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:55.679 welfare and safety. >> That's correct. If it doesn't, you don't mention that then the AD automatically >> well EFSB will turn it down too. >> That's the most important reason why a lot of them because they have nothing to do with the health, welfare, and safety. >> I I was hoping that we'd get more 118 00:32:55.679 --> 00:33:11.760 response from Springfield Water seeing that with all the watershed property they have here that all this that's happening. >> Yeah. See how we can't walk on their property, we can build all this other shed. >> Yeah. So anyway, so that I wanted to 119 00:33:11.760 --> 00:33:31.360 give everybody that information. Everyone already knows about OKAM and what's h is it Oak. >> Um I have I've reached out to those as well and we have I haven't gotten any feedback yet from them but really to kind of understand you know what did 120 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:46.799 this cost that as well. >> Yeah. Um because we need to understand that for you know and these things are definitely costing more money than what we want to spend >> or can afford to spend >> right or can afford to spend >> bankrupt. 121 00:33:46.799 --> 00:34:01.600 >> So that's why we got to really dig on the intervenor stuff and make sure that we at least get money back that we can't get. So that's kind of the the latest on that. Other than that, can I just ask who brought this in this hair? Um, I 122 00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:18.480 think it was uh Balda. >> I can't remember. I've only seen him before. >> He was here. >> Yeah. >> Really? Who was he here for >> to bring that? >> Really? >> I could be wrong. 123 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:33.359 >> You know who would know? Mary or Dor of those to the Western Mass communities. >> Really? >> Yes. >> But he didn't come to meetings we asked him to come to. I'll take my 124 00:34:33.359 --> 00:34:52.960 >> What happened? >> Where the gentleman here from the water? >> Wow. >> He left with the planning. >> Nicole was here from Trinko Water. >> Oh, okay. So, that's >> Do you have anything else there? 125 00:34:52.960 --> 00:35:08.960 >> I do not. You do not. >> Okay. Um, we don't sign the appointment certificate for the treasurer yet, right? >> No, not yet. Do that yet. And >> Oh, that's a contract. >> No, it's not. 126 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:27.280 >> Didn't you Aren't you hiring her? >> We are awarding it to the only vendor who >> Okay, I'll put it in again next uh two weeks from now. >> Okay. Um, who does this belong to? >> Right. 127 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:46.880 And that's pretty much it, I think. Any any other stuff? I mean, Ray, we're going to table Ray because I moved to table Ray because he didn't really have anything that he needed to review tonight. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> Okay. All 128 00:35:46.880 --> 00:36:02.079 right. All right. Open to the public. >> Go ahead. >> Question. So, has any notification gone to update the town website at all regarding regarding 129 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:18.320 the officers regarding anything? Pretty much a lot of it on on websites. Pretty old minutes, agendas. >> Um, and I don't know what process is for that. That's how I get a lot of information 130 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:35.680 and I know other people do too. I was wondering if anything was going to be >> Is it primarily the minutes that you're concerned about? >> Sure. Minutes I like agendas are there about two days before. >> Um >> but also Karen's not on there yet. It's 131 00:36:35.680 --> 00:36:53.760 been almost a month. >> Car is still listed. People ask me when I'm going to start because my thing is not there. It's like >> just but mostly yeah minutes would be great. >> Okay. >> We'll follow that. 132 00:36:53.760 --> 00:37:09.200 >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Anything else? Yeah. Go ahead. >> Just to to you know go along with that and add on. I look at the website and I'm on COA and they haven't put my name there and I've been there for six 133 00:37:09.200 --> 00:37:26.160 months, eight months. I think finance has an error, too. It was someone that I've never seen that in the news. >> So, it says we have four. >> This would be a great project for >> No, see, but here's >> Go ahead. Don't say 134 00:37:26.160 --> 00:37:41.920 >> we're not gonna say that. >> We're not gonna solve it. >> No, no, no. That that's fine. I just so Wendy who everybody knows and all you have to do is shoot her an email. So um obviously not public. It's not incumbent 135 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:57.839 on you guys to do that. >> Um but Karen if you see something and you just shoot what she'll update >> I'm sorry. Um so I did reach out to her um because I was looking for some old minutes and she said it's the town clerk that has to reach out to her 136 00:37:57.839 --> 00:38:14.800 specifically. Okay. >> She might not. >> She Okay, I'll follow. She doesn't. >> Yeah. I'm not sure if that's necessarily >> probably better than the rest. 137 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:31.920 >> Yeah. No, no. I >> for sure. >> Go ahead. >> I just want to put it out there. So, I I've noticed too that minutes are missing for from different committees, right? because we have we have a lot of committees that are out there that are 138 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:46.320 some don't meet very often. I mean, I don't even know if zoning has minutes from the last few years, >> right? >> Look, if there's an agenda >> Yeah. >> And I'm looking for the minute. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, 139 00:38:46.320 --> 00:39:02.720 >> if if you see an agenda for and I'm not picking on zoning, right? It's just that's just the first one that came to mind. Obviously, if there's a select board one, come to myself or Joanne. we can we'll we'll get that handled. But if there's a concern about planning, zoning, conservation, what have you, and 140 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:17.920 the minutes aren't there, each commission, board, department, whatever, is responsible for having their own minutes posted. So, if there is a specific one that you want or are concerned about, um, if you want to 141 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:34.560 shoot me an email, I can look into it. >> Yeah. No, it's not anything specific on the calendar every >> Sure. So >> I don't know if they do though. I I So So when you say the calendar, do you mean the little one that this is like town calendar? Yeah. So I think that 142 00:39:34.560 --> 00:39:49.760 sometimes and this has happened to me specifically when I have asked Wendy to like put a meeting that we weren't normally having like say we had a select board meeting on a Tuesday night for whatever reason. It then populated every Tuesday for 143 00:39:49.760 --> 00:40:05.680 >> so I had to ask her to go in like Yeah. because everybody's like are we I was getting random calls. I'm like, why does everybody think we're having Tuesday night select board meetings now? And then I went and I looked at the calendar. It's on the calendar and it just kept recurring. So, it may be something like that. But if you see an 144 00:40:05.680 --> 00:40:20.960 agenda, yes, you should eventually see minutes that match the date of the agenda. Yeah. That is true. >> On a positive note, that's a positive. >> Christina and I were meeting the other day and she showed me this techn See that thing she's got sitting there? this 145 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:37.520 technology that will just pick up the whole conversation in the room >> and >> yeah and >> identifies the you still have to have somebody audit those minutes to make sure that it's picking it up right but at least you're not writing everything scratch 146 00:40:37.520 --> 00:40:53.040 >> in a more detailed >> right so it's something that we could share with planning and conservation because they have the most difficult time getting administrative help >> you know what I mean it's Like there's folks on the team but not everybody has 147 00:40:53.040 --> 00:41:08.960 the skill set to take minutes. >> So maybe they want what is that? A goal for improvement there. >> Right. Right. >> Yes. >> Mostly it's staffing. >> Short of staffing. Sure. A lot of volunteers. >> Okay. That we rely on though for 148 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:25.359 information. >> Lot of volunteers that don't necessarily do it. An excuse we could find a solution somehow. I mean we could brainstorm. That's a great >> more money for staffing maybe is a good a good start because 149 00:41:25.359 --> 00:41:43.359 >> volunteers if they don't get here to do it they don't get >> um >> the none of the boards or committees are required to put minutes andor agendas on the town website. That is not our 150 00:41:43.359 --> 00:41:59.359 official posting place. It's wonderful that the select board does it and the planning board does it and zoning board appeals does it. Um they're the nuts and bolts of everything and minutes. 151 00:41:59.359 --> 00:42:16.000 The minutes that we have in the town clerk's office are certainly available and they're all on file in the um archive room too. >> Question down and take copies of them so we can go over them or I guess just give 152 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:30.880 me a pathway so that >> you know if you have a specific meeting that you want minutes of and we have them in our position we'll give them to them. Sure. >> Maybe one of the senior workoffs could be scanning in the minutes. >> That's what I was just going to say. 153 00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:47.119 >> Well, it's like like with the cemetery we meet once a year. >> So, you know, our folder only has three pages in it because before when I was all by myself, I didn't bother keeping minutes. But the thing is though is 154 00:42:47.119 --> 00:43:03.680 >> everything going on though >> I think the difficult thing is that like when I was on the planning board it was difficult to to keep minutes because we we would discuss everything but we had no one taking notes. >> Yeah. 155 00:43:03.680 --> 00:43:19.920 Lookar you brought up re you know this is a challenge right? folks want to know. >> You want to have that available to you and it's our job to take that back to do go on the website when we have the 156 00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:35.440 >> understood. So we just need to step back and think about okay how are we going to achieve this >> and it's whether it's manpower related or it's like or it's technology related but um I understand it and I understand 157 00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:50.400 the pressures of the the boards or committees that are doing it because the energy team had a challenge with it until you know and that's when I reached out to Corine and said hey can you start taking notes because I can't like it's overwhelming right so the zoom meetings 158 00:43:50.400 --> 00:44:06.640 We can just at our leis or just say okay or when that started or you know what the discussion was on that >> or just come to >> we hear you can't come to anything but I can watch this. >> Okay. >> Are we good enough? 159 00:44:06.640 --> 00:44:23.440 >> Go ahead Katie. I just wanted to add that um technically in minutes this is town council. Unless it's a vote you can say we discussed the dog bite issue. You don't have to say Sally said this and Joan said that and Fred said this. So it 160 00:44:23.440 --> 00:44:39.359 it would show you what was discussed, but it would reflect on the agenda, but it doesn't necessarily have to go through every single detail of what happened over the course of an hour. >> Understood. >> Just FYI. >> Yeah. According to Robert's rules of 161 00:44:39.359 --> 00:44:56.000 order, which I believe most of the committees operate under, all the minutes have to provide is the action taken. >> We voted yes on this. We voted no on that. Then that's all you have to have. 162 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:12.079 >> Well, we can all of this feedback and kind of figure out what's the way forward, >> right? because there's questions like >> in regards to like Kim, we noticed we posted Kim had got 11 votes for the planning board, but is he on it? >> We just told us things like that. 163 00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:29.440 >> Yes. Yes. >> Oh, okay. But >> there we go. >> But, you know, for folks that are truly engaged with the town, you know, which I wish there were more, frankly, >> these are the things you're asking for. 164 00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:46.480 So we'll step back and take a look at it and got the feedback. It's not to be combative. It's just to know what's going on. >> I realize it's not bad. >> Zoom meetings are your best. >> I agree. >> Zoom meetings are the best to get 165 00:45:46.480 --> 00:46:02.400 everything because the notes are reduced so much. >> You don't necessarily get what each person said on the notes. >> I agree. 100%. Each board, especially planning at 10 a.m., it can go to that. Well, let's take that as a, you know, something we'll take to think about and 166 00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:18.640 come back to >> because we've heard from a couple people now. >> Okay. >> Any any anything else? >> What is the meeting that you talk about for the residents? Theformational meeting >> 17 is what we're going to do. >> Is that what you asked me about? 167 00:46:18.640 --> 00:46:35.280 >> No. >> No, this is for the energy stuff. We're going to talk about >> Yeah. You said every month we were going to try to eat in a different agenda. >> Yeah. >> And it's really it's going to beformational only. >> Dialogue can happen. Feedback from the 168 00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:51.680 town. It's not meant to be making decisions or anything like that. It's just so >> The first one is the 15th of July. >> 17th Friday. >> I thought you said it was the 15th. 169 00:46:51.680 --> 00:47:08.000 >> I might have. I don't know. I have to think. >> I still have to put the presentation. Um, so all right. We good? Good. We'll get the date out. Okay. Okay. Any anything else? >> No, I'm good. 170 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:24.560 >> All right. Thanks for that, you guys. I mean, it's it's absolutely fine. We just got to figure out how to Okay. Anything else? >> All right. So, that closes something. >> Oh, no. I'm not. So that closes the July 171 00:47:24.560 --> 00:47:41.680 6 PM meeting. We are going to reconvene in an executive session. >> No, you're going to enter executive >> You're going to enter into executive session in accordance with GL 3A2182 to discuss strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-UN 172 00:47:41.680 --> 00:47:57.920 personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-UN personnel. So >> not three can be >> crawl. >> Roll call. >> Roll call >> of the board. >> Roll call in. >> Great. 173 00:47:57.920 --> 00:48:08.960 >> Jack >> TJ says yes. >> Yes. You don't have to. >> No. >> Try and Mary. tried.