So, uh, welcome to the Town of Deerfield Select Board Board of Health Sewer Commissioners meeting for June 25th, 2025 at 6 PM. Uh, this is a hybrid meeting, uh, Zoom and in the main meeting room at 8 Conway Street, South Deerfield, Mass. This meeting will be
held in a hybrid fashion with the opportunity for both in-person attendance and remote participation. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy of the public, the meeting or hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the
virtual broadcasts unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with particular interest in any specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person versus virtual attendance accordingly. The meeting will be held in person in the main meeting room with Deerfield municipal offices in
accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 3A. Anyone intending to record the meeting must identify themselves to the clerk and provide their name and address for the record. Uh let's see. So we'll uh call the meeting to order. Um we have
public comment is available for the first little bit if anyone has a anything they want to say. We don't really have many. No one online. Nobody here in the office or in the in the building. Um so we'll start with hearings and appearances. We have a
hearing pursuant to general laws chapter uh 166 section 22 on the petition of Verizon New England and NStar Electric DBA Eversource Energy to erect a line of poles, wires, and fixtures on lower road in Deerfield as presented in the
petition and petition plans. So, we'll open that hearing uh pursuant to general law. I just read this uh and uh pursuant to general law chapter 166 section 22 and any additions thereto or amendments thereof the the Deerfield select board
will hold a public hearing on June 25th 2025 at 6 p.m. both at the town offices 8 Crownway Street South Dearfield and via Zoom on the petition of Verizon New England and NSTAR Electric DBA Eversource Energy to erect line of poles
and wires and fixtures on Lower Road in Deerfield as presented in the petition and petition plans. A full text of the proposed petition may be viewed at the town offices here at 8 Conway Street South Deerfield or on the town's website. The meeting is in hybrid fashion and all the same connections
apply. So, um, we'll welcome welcome up the representative like to come up and state state your name and I I declare them the hearing open. So, tell us a bit about what you're doing. This is a continuation of the things you've been working on, right? Correct. Good
afternoon. My name is Alis here representing Eversource. Uh, it's a continuation of the U petition that we had before. So, there is two location that we want to propose to the town. One is going to be pole um 87 over uh 62s.
That's a new stop pole. And then the other pole would be 87 over 50M. That's a new midspan pole. I see. Yep. That's a That's a new pole. Correct. Correct. Correct. On the opposite side of the road.
And the other one, both of them are going to be in the Both of them are are moved over to the other side, right? Correct. Yep. Okay. Yep. And this is right uh right near Alb Albany Road West just for those who are interested. Um I don't have any
questions. Do you anybody else on the board have questions? These were were these done at request of to make accommodation for the land owners. I think we talked about some polls there were requests to shift them and is that a response to them? No, those polls were already addressed. Um those polls mainly
because of environmental um issues. Okay. These are just to carry the weight, correct? Of the heavier lines. Correct. Yep. Okay. Do you have any questions, Blake? No, I think we're good. I don't have any issues. Uh, any questions from the public?
Hearing none. Um, entertain a motion to close the hearing. Just a second. I just check. There's a second sketch. There are two. Is that a different two polls? There are two polls. Okay. So, this and this are the same. It's just a different view. No, two locations. Okay. So, this
is further north of that. Okay. That's why I was just Are we going to have a separate thing on this side? Nope. These are both just two poles moving. So, the hearing is about the first pole moving uh the first sketch is moving from one side of the road to the other. All right. That's on this one here. We're
moving this pole to there. And then the next uh pole is a brand new pole that's going to be added on this side of the road. So, right now it kind of goes to here. It's going to come over here to this side of the road. Okay. So, and that's the only change.
Correct. So, this thing that's labeled P8750M is a new poll. That's a new poll, correct? Okay. Yep. And 8762s is really just moving the poll, right? But that's on the first page. That's on
the first page. That's another new poll. That's a new poll as well. Will the other one be removed or is that going to stay? No. So the purpose of this pole is to support the corner because right now it will be a corner and then we need to run some spang guys to support the the angle of the wires. I see. Yep. Okay.
Okay. Now that I understand what's going on. Okay. Great. Um, no other questions from the public. I'll entertain a motion to close the hearing. I'll make the hearing. Yeah. Second. Thank you. Um, all those in favor, Blake Gilmore, I,
Tim Hilch, I, Chair McDaniel, I. And then I will, um, entertain a motion to uh, approve the poll locations as presented. I have a second. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion?
All those in favor? Blake Gilmore, I. Tim Milchie, I. Trevor McDaniel, I. Thank you so much. Thank you. Yep. You're welcome. Thank you. Take care. And then you sign here then you'll sign there and then also
That's for Blake. Oh, okay. Yep. Thank you. Thank you very much. Done. Um, okay. That was it for hearings and appearances. Uh, any select board reports or announcements? Anything
want to hit on? Feel like it's been a blur. My mind is toast from all the heat, but I think you you might want to just announce about the collective bargaining agreement. Thank you. Just a reminder. Yes. Uh
let's see. I I don't have um we probably do have a signature here too somewhere, right? Find that. Well, they just maybe I don't have a signature here. So, I guess we'll we will um note
that we have uh agreed and voted to approve the um collective bargaining agreement between the town of Deerfield and our our our police department that has been completed will be signed and available. Um
Brenda is probably later on here. Yeah. Try to figure that is. No, I don't think so. So, maybe we can just do that as well. So, I'll make a motion to approve the
uh contract between the town Deerfield and Temporary Town Accountant. Second, Brenda Hill as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Elchi I. Trevor McDaniel I. I'll get a
fresh copy of that to sign. Um, so those two are done. Meetings. I don't know if Ned is Ned gonna be on. I did speak to Ned today. You spoke to Okay, great. Have anything for tonight? Okay. So, I think we're we're good right
now. Good. I do have Yeah, please go ahead. Board of Health related. Um, so as part of our participation in the uh Mohawk area um public health uh coalition, we received two um
solar powered battery charging units to use in emergency situations. when you're out in the field to provide electricity when none is available. They're being stored at the DPW. Um and uh so I just wanted to make note
of that. I've notified the police chief. Thank you, everyone. Yep. Saw that message. So that's that's great. The one thing I I will uh speak about which uh was just super fun to have all three of us at yesterday was um Stella Connor on
Fair Street turned 110 last week. 110. I'll say that again. Um she came rolling in with a walker quick as can be. Uh sat down. She's she's doing uh great. Um it was wonderful to spend time with her. We
had a small or the church uh her church uh Holy Family had a little gathering for her and a lunch and uh we were able to present her with the uh Boston Post cane gold cane for the eldest resident. I I believe she's the eldest resident in
Massachusetts uh for sure at 110 certainly in Deerfield. Um I could not find anyone um nearing that age in Massachusetts when I looked. But um she's just wonderful to spend time with. She wished her hearing was better so she
could hold better conversation, but she was uh just a delight to be with and um and and she just really enjoyed the people and it was so nice to have have both of you there too to uh present her with the cane and um and she had a pretty good turnout there for for the
lunchon that uh came to wish her well because of the amount of time she spent uh uh with the church and with the community and and that sort of thing. So there was a lot of people that were still around that still knew what the deeds that she had done for the town. So
super special lady. So that was that was super fun. Super fun. Um let's see. So we have uh some minutes to uh approve. Does anybody want to make a motion on those or do you want me to? No, I'm I'm I'm happy to do it. Or you can do it. Why
don't you do it, Blake? Um we're getting down there. Yep. Okay. Yep. We are. So, I make a motion that we approve the minutes for 79 2020 open
session 5 14 2025 executive session May 28th 2025 executive session June 3rd 2025 exe executive session June 11th 2025 executive session.
Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim LG I. Trevor McDaniel I. Uh, so it is that fun time of year where we get to um approve the sewer commitment for um FY25. It's the second
sewer commitment. So um we've we've got the readings from the water department which we're grateful to have and uh we have got um a commitment. So, uh, this is from the collector treasurer for June
23rd, 2025. utility billing for 2025 commitment 2. You're hereby authorized to to collect from the 972 bills named on the commitment with the amounts set against their respective names amounting
in the aggregate of uh 1,45,141.94 [Music] to pay over all monies as soon as collected to the town treasur and to make a report of such payment to the town accountant. So, can I have a motion to approve?
I move that we approve the uh sewer sewer commitment. Yep. Um utility building for billing for 2025. Thank you. Thank you. So we have um let's see
consumption just for those you know at home curious to know uh is 38,840,378 gallons. Um, so may let's see, we must have one to sign in here.
And I also have an abatement, which I'll go over with you, too, for the town uh fields. So, did we vote? Yeah. Did we? Okay. I think it's too damn hot.
Yeah, I think we did. I think we're good. I'll say all those in favor again just to be Gilmore I Tim LG I Trevor McDaniel I go do we only have to do one of yeah
just one yep these are done uh so the the abatement is for um for our athletic fields. So we you know we have a water comes into the building we run the fields to water and uh the abatement is
so I did all the map I take a photo of the of the meter every month. Um so from October 28th 2024 through May 30th 2025 um it was 169,040
gallons. Um, so I minus that from our usage of 200, uh, 333 gallons. So it left us with 30, uh,993 gallons uh, for the town at uh, you
know, divided by a,000 is $3099 $23, $72.84. Um, plus the $150 service fee that we all use. Um so it would be $862.84 would be our total bill. Uh the
abatement amount is $3,887 92. So I'll make a motion to approve the uh abatement of uh calendar year 2025 bill number one um of $3,887.92.
Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilchi I. Trevor McDaniel I this. Um, next item is Eastern A Graves uh
drainage swale requested change order from uh GCA in the amount of 5,850 for um WPA notice of intent and Army Corps of Engineers self-verification notification form. Anybody have any data
on that or what that's all about? Yeah. So, this has to do with the uh Eastern A and Graves drainage swale. Um, so if you recall, previously uh Chief Paturich had been working with GZA um for about a little over $5,000 to do
an initial assessment of the swale um figure out what permitting would be required um and you know, in order to clean out the swale um and generally figure out what the next step in the process for the town would be with respect to that. Um so now we've reached
that next step. Um so uh GCA is proposing to update the contract so that they can actually file the notice of intent with the conservation commission. Uh and then also just because of what kind of body of water it is, they need to file uh with the army corps of engineers as well. Um and so I believe
this similar to the previous contract would be covered by the um storm damages piece out of ARPA. Okay. Thank you. I was wondering where the funds were coming from. All right. Um, entertain a motion to approve. Let's see.
Where is that? Do you have one or Yeah. Let's see. Sure, we do. Yeah. I move the select board. I move the so select board approve the change order
for the contract with GZA Geo Environmental Incorporated for Sugarloaf Brook and Tributary Assessment. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim
Hilchi I. Trevor McDaniel I. Didn't I let you finish? No, because it was on the back side. I was just looking at it and you already It's all right. So, I think we got the gist. We got the gist. Thank you for the explanation. I'm just going to ask. We're new at this job. I'm going to ask a question of Eddie Wong.
Are you here for the poll hearing? The poll hearing is already happened. So, um, you're welcome to stay and hang out or enjoy the air conditioning or did you have a question we could answer for you or did something change or No, they were
they were they were just uh this was a a continuation of the work that they're doing. They were moving uh they're adding one pole well two poles to the opposite side of the road to carry the weight. I think that was it. Uh right right at the base of West Albany and
Lower Road. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, they and specifically across from your property, they're they're installing a pole there on the opposite side of the on the opposite side of the road. Okay. Okay. Sounds great. Okay. Yep. Nice to
see you, Ed. Save you save you some time. Thanks, Tim. Um Okay. So, uh then I'd like uh we we already did Brenda Hills accountant uh contract.
Yep. Personnel board manual amendment adoption, conflict of interest policy, not ADA non-discrimination, codification of vacation negotiations, attendance policy. Do you want to hit on that
question? Sure. So, um, you know, as part of transitioning from having a personnel bylaw to just having a personnel manual, um, we had a set of recommendations from the Collins Center for policies that should be adopted and and, uh, placed into that manual. So, earlier, you know, kind of throughout
the year, the personnel board took up um, you know, these different policies. Uh and I think you know the way I' I' I'd suggest we handle this moving forward is you know the personnel board completes its work during the year makes those recommendations and the select board can adopt those recommendations or
or not adopt as they see fit at the conclusion of each fiscal year. Um, so this this year they they worked on a conflict of interest policy. Essentially just aligns with the the existing uh state conflict of interest law um an ADA
non-discrimination statement um and an attendance policy. Uh and then with respect to vacation um you know we talked about basically codifying kind of current practice where in certain circumstances we'll negotiate
additional you know vacation time uh you know for you know candidates for employment here. So uh those were the the updates that uh the personnel board recommended. Okay. And I've got a motion for you as well. Thank you. I um
I saw the conflict of interest to Americans with disabilities and the attendance. Is the attendance and vacation the same policy? Is this the vacation here? Yes, that's it. Yep. Got it. Sorry, I don't know where mine went. You can I just
Oh, it's maybe added. Oh, okay. Great. Perfect. Now, just read this. I wish I'd never got that. Do you want to do a first reading on this and and vote them next meeting or do are you do you want to go through them now? I really just I mean I'm I'm good with
the first two. I just wanted to read this through them or this be a first reading and do them at the next meeting. If if you if you'd rather have it be a first reading and we can uh look at them again next time, that's absolutely fine. Well, you hang on one sec. This is just
my thought. Um, I'm good with conflict of conflict of and ADA are essentially they're just they're almost word for word. Absolutely. What's in the state? Yep. Um, and the other two I didn't I just wanted to read those first. The other two either. So So um I'll make a
motion to to approve the uh Americans with Disability Act uh statement and the um the conflict of interest policy for the town. Second. Second. Second. Yeah, Blake. Second. Thank you. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake
Gilmore I. Tim Helychi I. Trevor McDaniel I. Um we'll take the um attendance and vacation leave as a first read and then look at those next um about those next meeting. Thank you.
Great. Um, so we have uh board committee applications, general appointments, resignation. So we have a resignation. Um, Diane uh Kolicowski from the Tritown
Beach. Um, I see an email. Let's see. Let me get back to that. There's an email here. Yeah, right there. Yep. Um, okay. She just want to thank her for her for her service um over the years and
she's looking to just um step off the off the Tritown Beach Commission. So uh we thank her for her service. I'll make a motion to approve her resignation. Second. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel
I. Then we have um appointments. I I saw that uh Chief had wanted to add uh Deborah Austin. Yep. As as the part-time administrative assistant backup uh to
Cassie Jerome. So, um I'll make a motion to um to approve uh the reappoint of Deborah Austin as part-time administrative assistant back up to Casey Jerome uh with the same rate she receives while working for Brenda is 3193.
Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilchie I. Trevor McDaniel I. Great. Thank you. Uh and then we have the other appointments. Um do you want me to read down these or do you somebody else want
to do that or Yeah, we've got uh we do have a motion just referring to that document if you want. Uh I know you you may have some deviations from that. So yeah. So I'm I'm okay. So let me see. I will make a motion and then I will make
the changes here. So, I move the select board accept uh the the appointments for town staff, boards, and commissions in accordance with a document entitled Board of Selectmen Expiration Report dated June 17, 2025 for the term of July 1st, 2025
through June 30th, 2026 with these exceptions. Um, we are going to under ad hoc senior housing committee, we're going to add Blake Gilmore for one year. Um, we are
going to hold on the SKM's board of oversight and I think the rest that you have kind of crossed out or just because they've resigned or or different things like that. So, um, so yeah, those are the only things that we're changing at the moment, unless anyone else has a Okay,
so I'll have a second on that motion. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Hilchi. I Trevor McDaniel. I uh let's see. Received June 17th.
Okay. So, oh, these were the expirations uh 25th. Okay, great. All right. Like to have a a report from the fence viewer. I think he got active actually. Yeah. Well, he has been uh I remember he
was anxious to get started on that. Um okay, so we're done with our work. Any correspondence or town administrator reports or anything you want to hit on? Yeah, just a couple quick updates. um Still Water Bridge uh meeting with uh EA and DCR tomorrow to talk about um you
know the mitigation land for article 97. We also had an update from Mass DOT uh this morning um in regards to the overall project. So right after that meeting hopefully we'll be getting back in touch with our legislators to keep moving that bill forward um on the
article 97 piece. So that's where that project currently stands. Um, I know Alex is not here tonight, but uh if she was, she would tell you she also met uh with Furcog and Masdot in regards to the Park Street project um that we discussed
previously, you know, looking at just piloting a closure of that street. Um so it does sound like Verog is going to be moving forward with an application on that that project. And so more to come. Um beyond that, obviously 1888 building was a special town meeting vote on
Monday night. um we're positioned to um award a contract. We're just getting into final stages with USDA in terms of um supplemental conditions to their their contract that they want us to use. Um so we're this close to to getting
that all wrapped up. Um and uh then we'll be scheduling a preliminary construction meeting and and awarding a contract obviously to uh WJ Mountford, the the low bidder on the project. um other projects. Um
oh yes, that's a good call out. Thank you. Yeah. Um yeah, Cassie was successful in getting a a it's essentially a technical assistance grant from the Secretary of the Commonwealth Office. Um so it's called the the Roving Archavist. Uh so essentially they have
you know an archist come by and they'll help you out with uh ensuring you can you know best preserve your archival materials. So in this case we have some documents in the vault that date back to the 1700s. Um and unfortunately you know they're they're actively used documents
and so we just want to be careful and sure that we're preserving them. Um so more to come on that front but at some point we'll have an archavist here roving around the building helping us out. They go the green trailer out back. Yeah. It'll be lost in there. Not sure. Not sure that's quite historical yet.
Probably not. Give it a couple decades. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Um good. Christopher Y. Uh there were some records that were in the 1888 building. Were those preserved as well or they Yeah, those those were subject to an agreement with the Become Valley Memorial Association.
So they hold those records currently. Okay. Yeah. Um and then other quick update uh on the Nex AMP um landfill solar project. Um so we're going to be meeting with Nex AMP as a pre-construction kind of walk through on site with Matthew Morris from our DPW
will be there. Um and potentially a couple other folks as well um just to kind of walk the site and talk about how access will work. Um they have sent over, you know, the performance and payment bond materials. So council is reviewing those. So, we're on track to to continue moving forward and hopefully
they'll be able to get under construction this uh this season. That'd be great. That'd be great. Nice. And I I believe that's all the updates I have at the moment. You good, Greg? Dude,
are we on at all? It's great. It's our next meeting the the 9th or we think Yeah. So, so we should take a look at our calendars. Um, yeah. So, currently if we stick on our twoe schedule, meeting end uh Wednesday,
July 9th. Yep. Which that that works fine for me, but just wanted to check in. Me? Yep. That's fine. You good? Yep. Okay, perfect. Make sure we did everything here.
So, we'll hold on those. We'll read those. You got a time, Christopher? 6 o'clock. No. Of when the meeting's going to be? 6 PM. You sure? Well, if we have we call and there's a 4:30. Yeah. There may there may be an executive session. We'll see. That's right. That's
right. We post it separately because we don't want that to happen again. I'm good with all of this. Um Yep. Yep. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion. Second. All those in favor?
Blake Gilmore. I Tim Hilchi I. Ter McDaniel. I. Thank you all so much. Thank you for coming out tonight. Really good to have company here.