So, welcome to the town of Deerfield Select Board Board of Health Sewer Commissioners meeting for January 7th, 2026. The time is 6 p.m. This is a hybrid meeting both on 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 broadcast unless otherwise
required by law. Members of the public with a 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 of the Deerfield municipal offices in accordance with general law uh Mass
General Law chapter 30A. Anyone um intending to record the meeting must identify themselves to the clerk and provide their name and address for the record. So I'll call the meeting to order and um we could I'm going to hold on public comment until after. Um, but
we're so excited to have appearance today by our wonderful uh, Senator Joe Commford. Uh, so welcome. Welcome to you. We're so happy you could join us and happy new year. >> Thank you so much. Happy New Year to you. >> Yeah. >> Um, and thank you so much for the work
of this select board in town. >> Thank you. >> It's been a great partnership. >> As I was, it has been a really great seven-year partnership. But as I was coming through, I was like, "Look at this downtown campus." You know, with the construction at night, you know, like I I come through during the day a
lot, but at night, I'm I'm not here as much at night. And with all the construction lights on, it looked >> Yeah. >> like a metropolis. >> I know. I know. With your help, it's >> waiting until we fix Elm Street so that we don't have potholes in the >> Yes. A lot going on.
>> There's a lot going on in Deerfield. And really a credit to the town. >> Thank you. and the select board and everyone who works here. >> It's a great team and a great team. Great team with state reps and senator and and >> bless Natalie BL and our exactly and Jim Govern.
>> Yep. >> Very very happy. So yeah. So welcome. Look from you and what's going on at the state house. >> Thanks for affording me the time. Truly. And um you know I I you know this about me, but I do believe municipal governance is the hardest there is. It
really makes what Jim and Natalie and I do look like cupcakeville, right? Balancing the needs of a town and dealing with state regulations and laws and federal regulations and laws is really difficult and um so I just want to acknowledge that. Um
>> I have a whole bunch of updates. I'm happy to hear. Okay. I'm happy. Okay. I we'll just start there and then sure just let's make this more of a conversation so that you can absolutely you know certainly do you certainly hold me to whatever you'd like to hear from.
>> Um I want to start with education funding. It's been something that Deerfield has uh talked to me about a lot and Natalie about a lot. And when I say I here let's we can hear we because really nothing happens in the state legislature for Deerfield without
Natalie without Ripley. >> Wonderful. Um so you know what's true is we have to open in the chapter 70 formula. That is true. Um the student opportunity act was a an important bill passed in 2017. The foundation budget review commission was opened in 2015.
That's a decade ago now more than a decade ago. >> Um it's time we look at it again, right? And we have to look at it with declining enrollment in rural schools in mind. We have to look at it with the impact of special education funding and how we're deciding to aortion that money, the
impact of regional school transportation, charter schools, vocational schools, all of these things that were left out of the foundation budget review. Um, >> and so I want you to know that that is something I pound I we. So I we right
you're going to hear we uh pound the table with both with our own chambers but also with the Healey Driscoll administration. I have hoped that the governor's fiscal year 2 2025 budget will include the establishment of a a foundation budget review commission.
We've made that formal request more times than I can count. Um, as you know, we've had the Ways and Means hearings out here the last years. Yeah. On education and local aid because they're the most important. >> They are >> for us out not most important, but they're important because they're huge
um parts of the municipal budget. >> Yes. Um, I will say that a couple of there have been a couple of advances even in that big framework. Um, and thank you for Deerfield's the people of Deerfield's uh, testimony with the target local contribution
>> um, study. So, as you know, education funding is sort of like a clamshell, right? It's chapter 70 what you get, what we get, and then the target local contribution, what the state tells us that we can and should pay, >> right? >> Um, and that is that has a in that that
has a lot of assumptions, right? What's the municipal state split? Um do do we want to cap um and here Greg knows the GIL folks Tupper and Mike Nton who have been for a long time Tupper Brown and Mike Nton talk to talking to the state and now they are really they have a
platform to talk about why in the world are we capping Whand or Weston, right? >> Um Arlington, Newton, Cambridge, you know, where they could pay many times over. Yeah. >> Um so what are we doing here? So there's a lot of levers in that target local contribution um study
>> and the the issues with um you know people's income as a as relates we we >> that may be well and good but we can't attach anything to that. It doesn't really matter how much people make. >> Correct. Right. And that's the that's the the target local contribution.
Right. How they how do they determine that? >> Yeah. >> Um and you know what are the assumptions in there about wealth? >> Right. Um, you know, Deerfield's a little bit bigger. So, one hyperw wealthy person doesn't completely throw us out of whack here, >> but up in Conway and Lever, right? These
are places where they're completely destabilized. Um, and they, as you say, are not >> able to recoup in other ways. >> Yes. >> So, that is a world of options that is deeply in play. Yeah. >> I want you to know. Um, there was a
green field, as you know, thank you for being there. Sure. Um there was a green field hearing. Um uh there have been virtual hearings. Uh our testimony is flowing in. Um and this is a very good thing. >> Yeah. >> Um and you know we will and we hope to
see robust recommendations from the governor on what to do in that part of the clamshell. >> The other part needs to be addressed. Um, so I just want you to know that's very much um present and you know in the in the what we spend is of course rural
school aid um and the rural school bill. So Reple and I have the rural school bill again um in the Senate that's been reported favorably could >> um to Ways and Means, you know, if the town wanted to write anything Sure. >> in support of that to the Senate
President to Ways and Means about rural school aid in the fiscal year 27 budget. Um, >> okay. >> And and or the rural schools bill. Um, that would be useful from the select board. >> Is there a deadline on testimony for that? >> Are they kicking it now?
>> No, that I mean the governor's budget's the main event now and it'll be out in a couple couple of weeksish. Yeah. >> Um, and um MMA. >> So, and then then there'll be ways and means hearings. Um, and then >> uh the House will do the budget in April. We'll do the budget in May. But,
you know, um the sort of it's like um >> the sooner the betterish. Yeah. >> Just because we want the bills to move and we we're in the back the back half, >> right? >> So, you know, that's so that's those are the advance advances and still some
challenges in education. I will say in the larger delegation and here, you know, again, deeply in partnership with Natalie, we've been focused on something that I know you're thinking a lot about which is declining population overall. Yeah. >> And a need to really stimulate an economic base
>> and what and what that's going to take. >> So, um we've been focused a lot on uh transportation and as you know we are pushing hard on chapter 90. >> Yes. >> Um and you know because we need the infrastructure on on you know how are we going to welcome individuals,
businesses, families without good roads and so you know in terms of uh and without public transit. So, we've had some advances on that, not enough because I know we're, you know, the >> deferred maintenance is monumental, right? Um for for Deerfield, God help
us. And the expense of paving a road um just doesn't, you know, it's laughable. But um >> it's not laughable to you, but like with regard to what we get in chapter 70, uh chapter 90. So, I will say that, you know, I believe we won't ever go back, at least in in current times. We're not
going to go back to Ro uh the the pure only chap chapter 90 grossly unfair, right? Um uh algorithm. I think we'll continue to stick to some percentage of this by miles only, which will help >> a ton. It helps a ton.
>> Um so, I just, you know, any kind of advocacy you wanted to do there is, I think, good advocacy. you know, if you're writing, if you want to do a budget letter, you could include that, please. Road miles only for, you know, we did a third of it. Could we do more? I think we can.
>> Um, >> so, um, we also spent I, well, while Natalie focused a lot on dirt roads, which was really critical, I focused on microtransit. >> So, we got a 10 million boost uh, first
only first ever um, like direct grant for microtransit. And so I'm I'm hopeful that in addition to the kind of sustained RTA funding that's going to do fair free and cross county and all the stuff that we know about. Yeah. >> Um that we start to see some greater
innovation >> in um the RTA's. You know FRTA has been doing a great pilot. I was able to work with Linda and and fund it through and Megan up and her team through um >> through some small earmarks you know 90
100,000 you know over these years and they've done a good pilot and so my hope is that the state is getting in the business of making this state funding through fair share >> um so I think that's important um the north south rail is quite solidified the
two east west rail projects the south southern tier is further along as we know. >> Um the northern tier still though has great hope. >> I think it would be wonderful >> and Jim McGovern has been unbelievable as an advocate there. >> Yeah. >> Um so that's transportation. In housing
I will say that um Replay and I Natalie and I had a bill that we were able to pass into law that would establish a dashboard uh for housing expenditures. Um, and that just will help us fact check, uh, gut check, um, the amount of
money that we're getting relative to other places. >> And we've also been working with Linda, um, who's been excellent here really, like we couldn't do anything without fur, right, this much, right? Yeah. >> Um, >> really to try to work with, uh, housing
and livable communities, uh, around what's called housing choices 2.0. >> Okay. which was supposed to be um a program that worked well for uh smaller more rural communities. In fact, it just didn't. >> Um
>> and this is in the larger conversation around how do we really push the Heily Driscoll administration which is doesn't need a whole lot of push, right? They want to do this to >> to see the ways in which there have been systemic blockages um to us getting our
fair share. >> So the housing choices 2.0 program is shifting. I I hope this means that more of our municipalities will be open. Um and I know Deerfield has its own in this, you know, in this downtown campus
hope. >> Um so I I'm excited about that. Again, we're going to hope to hold it all accountable. >> Sure. >> Um and then, you know, in the same vein of um algorithms that don't work, you know, I know you know um the concerns
about pilot. Yes. >> Um, so the governor did actually implement a bill that Natalie and I filed uh to and she stood up a pilot commission. Um, and that is going to start and both Natalie and I have been appointed. >> That's great. >> Um, that's great. >> And which is great, right? And that's
really going to gut check two pieces of that formula that I think are broken. It's just me, but um one is the algorithm that really um >> uh compares Deerfield's land prices to say Nantucket and then you know makes
Deerfield pay essentially by devaluing Deerfield relative to Nantucket based on the statewide average >> which I think is bananas, right? Like totally bananas bananas. Y >> and um and then it doesn't do anything with ecosystem services,
>> right? Like it's not saying like hey the farmers in Deerfield ah they're growing the food ah we're protecting the wershed the Connecticut River wershed oh they're sequestering carbon oh look there's all this biodiversity so >> I think we have to have a hard and
strong conversation about what we're doing out here for for Massachusetts. >> Yeah. >> And I this commission will be one of the places that we can do that. >> That'd be helpful. Um so when you think about like um >> so there's the direct spending like
chapter 70 chapter 90 there's the grant spending where we're pushing on all the algorithms um there's the service program service spending like RTAs I just want you to know that we're pushing in all of those areas um because you know we we say a
lot out here oh Boston doesn't listen to us but in fact it's really baked into structural inequities >> right >> and if we push on all of those and ask a good administration, we can see some movement. So, >> um, and the last I'll just say is we've
been aware, uh, that we are, uh, very underrepresented in boards and commissions statewide. >> Um, and we are we've been, uh, some of our seats are just haven't gone filled. So, the delegation did join forces to fill five court seats.
>> Um, good. which the governor was good about hearing from us and um then making those prioritizing those appointments. Um but we're also really working with Christ who is another unbelievable, you know, gift um to us out here to really get more
>> Western Mass leaders and voices. So this, you know, could be another place for Deerfield um you know, just to say, you know, Deerfield folks, you're you give so much. This town is humming along. um, do you want to serve on a a
statewide border commission? And they could contact me, they could contact Natalie, and I could get them into the governor's office. Um, and Kristen's being really good by saying, "Hey, we have a couple of openings here, you know, but we can I think we should
reverse that pipeline, right? I think we should push in >> Yeah. >> Um, >> to the governor's office." and she's allowing a lot of these to be remote now. So you don't have to shle all the way out to Boston, right? >> Um >> and so it's not a full day commitment,
you know, like it has been and that's really hard. >> Not all of them have gone to the 21st century, but a lot have. >> Um so uh these are really these are some advances that are bringing us closer to equity and closer to
>> uh represented. Yeah. >> Yeah. Getting Boston to see us out here in a in a fuller sense. >> That's great. It's really great. I I'm excited about the East West Rail stuff.
Um most of my days in the Birkshars. I I travel down 91 out the Pike or I'm up route two and then down seven. I cover that whole area and and as I get on the pike every day, almost every day I'm traveling out
there and just that from Westfield to Lee, there's just no off-ramp. And uh if there was if there was there was just some way to get people I mean the land is much more valuable. It's beautiful. It's such a gorgeous place all throughout Western Mass. But
but if we could just draw some of that if it was easier for people, it is definitely easier with with the broadband infrastructure that we've done. But um just to get people to see us out here when they travel out here >> uh just to drive some business and
economic development out this way would be helpful and people could just hop a train and >> Yeah. >> Right. It's like it's perfect >> timing. >> Yeah. No, I totally am with you and I do think, you know, the governor and lieutenant governor understand our concerns about population decline.
>> Yeah. >> Um they understand uh that our schools, >> you know, our our hemorrhaging students, you know, and our economies need taxpayers and >> Yes. >> Uh you towns need tax revenue, >> right? >> Um >> and we'll be a drain on them if not like
you, it's not like we go away completely. There's still, you know, we just become a drain instead of a instead of a positive influence in economic growth. >> Exactly. And I I think they understand that we don't we just want what's fair. >> Yeah.
>> And we would like we'd love to be able to take care of ourselves. >> Yes. >> Um >> Yeah. >> More, right? But we just there is an economy of scale that we we do not enjoy here. >> Yeah. For sure. >> Which is tricky. We have a beautiful place to live, so we don't need to give
that up necessarily. Correct. >> Um, and I think we could find that sweet spot. >> Yeah, I do too. >> I read recently within the last week about the the towns around the Quabin trying to form a a union to um, you
know, work collaboratively with with Boston to try and bring these issues more into play. and they they sort of dovetail with, you know, where the lungs of the Commonwealth, you know, all Birkshars, Franklin County, Hampton, and Hampton. Um,
what can you tell us about that? Is is is it just >> Sure. Sure. They launched a letter um yesterday, an open letter to the people of Eastern Massachusetts. >> Um I uh so I put it out on social media today. um you know it's the 12 it's the
11 towns that ring the quabin and um they've been meeting um ad hoc you know some are representing their select boards or fincoms or conservation commissions or school committees you know some are great environmentalists
and you know I think what they share is they share this you know they they get to see they they share this beautiful place right exquisite place in the world um But their economies are really frozen >> and you know like just the conversation
we were having they're not looking to you know have skyscrapers in the quabin but they are looking to Boston to say >> hey you guys like 2.7 million if you drink this water that we sacrifice and safeguard every day right
>> um how about a little bit more money >> um how about a little bit more say on the boards and commissions you know there's on the MW there's There's no one from, if you can believe it, zero people from the Quabin Reservoir. >> Wow. >> representing the Quabin on the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. >> It's pretty awful. >> Yeah. >> Um, and it's not for lack of trying, I'll tell you. >> Interesting. >> So, um, so yeah, that's what they're doing. And kudos to them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Again, it's fairness. It's not really anything more than that.
>> Exactly. It's just a fairness proposition. >> Yeah. So, um, a couple things maybe I or one thing I would bring up and I just thank you and Natalie for for your help with um, DOT and, um, we're
we have uh, kind of dragged our feet a bit just waiting for some technical data on infrastructure. >> We're talking about Sugarloaf Park. >> Sugarloaf Park. Yes, Park. >> I had it next time I lose. I'm so glad you're going there. Yeah, go. Let's do it. So, we're just, you know, um we're looking to develop the common and we
were so grateful to learn about the um the earmark, you know, in the transportation. I think it was in the transportation bill. >> Y >> uh for for some money to help with that infrastructure because that was kind of laying the groundwork before we didn't really have a way or mechanism for DOT
to have some money to kind of develop that area. We have gotten some grant money to do um Elm Street and we're waiting and our our CPA has been kind of frustrated with the town common committee because we've had money
earmarked for several years but just have been in this deadlock with DOT about where to do crosswalks and what's the smart development of of the area. Um so I'm grateful for your leadership and help to facilitate a meeting. Alex and
Chris have been working uh and and Greg have been working on um getting some of that technical data. What's under the road? >> That was the big thing, right? Because you guys didn't want to own it if you didn't know what was under there. And y >> the great D2 said, >> "Well, we can't tell you the entire
thing." Yes, I know you you wanted to know the the entire thing. >> Yeah. So, we got we had a grant um to do some asset management plans. So, that was good for our um wastewater and sewer. So, at least we got some of that data and we're waiting for our engineer to kind of compile that, give that to
us, and then I would love to just >> set up another meeting at at some point this this spring to kind of say >> here's what we got. Here's what we think we could do. How could we pull all this together and >> uh just finish off downtown for that. That would be wonderful to have that
help. >> I think probably I've probably masked out once to finish this too, I would imagine. Um so, let's do it. Let's do it. I think we should, unlike going there, I think we should have the them come here because this like snazzy setup and then we can walk right over.
>> Absolutely. >> And really look at the crosswalks, you know. >> Alex did um secure a grant through um Furkog just we just found out about the um the Park Street project, >> right? So Furkcog got they got a grant
to basically look at um you know using paint barricades, things like that to temporarily close off Park Street just to do kind of a you know a test of what uh it would look like if that's the way our roadways worked here. So >> right. So, we're going to kind of see how that goes and and see what kind of
kind of judge around the construction of Elm Street, you know, and what does it look like for traffic flow and would it benefit us to kind of have a bigger common area and close off park or is it just doesn't really make sense and we've looked at that and study the traffic.
So, that'll happen I think this year and >> kind of do that and um but we need to have those conversations with DOT and say, "Hey, guess what? We're looking at closing this." I'm sure they've been involved with some of the things since we've gotten the grant, but uh but yeah, it' be great to just have another meeting to kind of talk about those issues. And we have
>> um they've been wonderful partner on Still Water, so that's moving ahead. >> Yes. >> Um and then we and they've been starting to work on the north north street um north main street bridge. Uh so I know they took off the top layers and stuff and curious to kind of get an update
from them. just kind of a another meeting update on on what they're working on and where they're going. And they I know they studied a >> um a rotary or intersection improvements on Mil Village Road 5 and 10 North Main Street. So, um yeah, just a couple
things to hit on with them and it's always great to have you have you there and a great advocate for us. >> Um let's do it. Yeah. So, >> sounds good. If depending on I mean the Chris do you want to reach out when you reach out to Jesse when you >> Yeah. >> have everything done or
>> Yeah. Happy um you know I'll I'll touch base with Alex. I know she's been in touch with Matt Minahan over at District 2. So we'll we'll find the time. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And Jesse from our team um is filling in for Elena and she can do the scheduling for us and we we'll do any part of that. So you just
tell us what you want. >> Thank you. >> And then I would like to come. >> Yeah. And I think naming these projects. Yeah. >> Like so that we can be I know the the big one is Sugarloaf and Park. But >> but just yeah hit on the others and you make sure we're we're giving them all they need and Yeah.
>> Good. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Anything you have to >> Not really. No. Um one of the things that um I I don't know if the school commission's in thinking about these things and I I assume they must be. One of the problems about declining
enrollment is we have various different school types that compete with each other for a dwindling number of students. Yeah. >> So, we're looking at a new technical school that's going to get built at 50 to $60 million. Um >> then we have the charter schools. Then
we have, you know, the various individual elementary schools that are in our small towns. Um, that's another element, structural element I think that particularly rural communities that we need to look at when
we reopen this funding source. Um, because school choice gives us a third of what we actually expend to educate students. So, um, I don't know if you've had any discussions about this, Greg.
>> Oh, yeah. I mean, I think I think this is Greg's whole life right now. Um um but yeah, I mean you're totally right, right? We have a dwindling number of students. I mean we have to pay attention to population overall. This is an existential crisis, right? We build and develop or we die out here. Yeah.
>> Um we can do it smartly to protect our way of life, but >> that's it. We there's like zero choice I think friends, you know, as your as the person who works for you. Um and so like I think about population every day, all the all the time like that's the operating theme of our office.
>> Yeah. representation is, >> you know, Yep. Right. It'll erode democracy. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, right, we lost a congressional seat with John Oliver. We lost a >> a House seat this year, this this redistricting in Western Mass for the state. >> We almost lost a Senate seat, but we
fought like hell, >> you know, like we just erodess our ability to >> work free. Yeah. Um, absolutely. >> But then there's all the whole money thing. Um but you're right um Tim in terms of population I mean this is what Greg talks about a lot right we have a
dwindling number of students we all fight over them and we I think this is me maybe I'm like um every problem looks like a nail right what's that thing whatever it is you know like I I think the state has a lot of responsibility
the rural schools bill that Natalie and I have has a whole passage on an office within desi that looks at declining population and and really the collisions, >> you know, and in the chapter seven in
the foundation budget review, I think we have to talk about things like charter impact and charter school impact. >> Um because I'm not I'm you know I I always believe that families should send their kids where they think they should go, but I do think the state has an has
a responsibility to make it work. >> Absolutely. It cannibalizes so many different True. It was supposed to >> develop best practices and then kind of come back to the districts and it never has just and the cost is you know just
there's unlimited you know cost for a charter school and yet local schools can't. um you know it the money to educate a child there versus in district is just and then you pull all you know a lot of the bright kids out and you're left with
>> well the the issue with charters right is that um is that sometimes they don't have the e same kind of um special education services they can't offer transportation so there's an you know an economic barrier I should say to this I
I have filed a charter school bill I late filed it and I late filed it because it's really hard to understand how to enter this system >> um in a with a scalpel, >> right? >> Um because these are kids and families
and teachers, administrators who have, you know, doing their work. So, how do you go in there >> and tweak? And I'm very proud of the bill. >> I think we have to have a bigger conversation through a foundation budget review commission, right? But I was gonna I'm gonna throw everything I have at this. And so there's a charter school
bill that also made it out favorably. Great. >> Um it's in ways and means >> and it one of the things that it would do is uh one of the >> the areas that I think is the most difficult for towns is as you know Deerfield doesn't just send to charters
the the pass through foundation budget. It sends whatever you pay above foundation. >> Right. >> Yeah. And um that is that's difficult. So this makes that above foundation the state's responsibility. >> That would be wonderful. >> Um as one of the levers to pull
>> um because because then it actually costs the town rather than just that that child making that decision and it's like okay that child's going. Y >> at Deerfield's Deerfield taxpayer money goes there along with state money. Right. And >> I think the state pays.
>> Yeah. state the child made that decision the state pays >> that would be a huge change >> it would help yeah I don't have the figure for Deerfield but I did run all of the numbers and it would be real money for dear field >> um >> thank you for that information >> yeah that's good to know
>> well you know >> y >> we have to get it through >> one bit one bit at a time >> and then there's a bunch of other stuff which we don't have to talk about now but maybe when we meet we could do a little conversation on you know there's line clearing projects that are happening. I want you to know I'm I'm
really engaged in them um >> with for COG with PVPC, you know, because they're very the National Grid and you know, Eversource line clearings are pretty big. We want to have an Eversource >> meeting. Okay. >> There was a a national grid meeting that
conflicted actually with something. >> Okay. >> We had an event already scheduled, so I wasn't able to go, but I think I might be organizing the Eversource meeting. Okay. And it's just an opportunity for towns folks to come, you know, conservation commissions, >> um, who whomever to come and ask
questions of ever source, >> right? Um, >> because they plan to widen in some and then >> some I think some of them are like 150 feet or something like that and feeder yards, but they >> um I know in some areas they're going to
get wider. >> They're going to Yeah, some of it is clearing within the existing line. Some of it is widening. >> Yeah. >> And then it's just a huge swath. >> It's a lot of land. >> And you know, we're as we've had um multiple meetings now with MEPA. Okay.
>> The Massachusetts Environmental Protection. And we're saying, you know, what do you ever think about uh combined stacking these two? Because if Nrid and Eversource are in the region doing this, it's not just one project, it's now two
and they're cutting up the entire valley. And so what you know what responsibility do do we have as a state to understand the stacked the combined problems >> right >> for wildlife for residents. >> Yeah. >> You know um so we're we're asking all of
those uh questions along with the planning agencies. >> Good. >> Excellent. >> Oh. Um what what are the what are the finances look like the state at the moment? just curious what you're what what the revenue they're seeing and I
don't know if we >> Yeah. So, we had um we had a what's called a consensus revenue hearing um and that officially kicks off >> uh budget season, >> right? >> And there are uh so you probably know we
and I should have actually worked this in. I had it in my outline and I didn't say it, Trevor. Okay. Um >> uh we finished 2025 with sort of a squeaker. Yeah. Um it was actually shocking um how close we were. That's
not a great thing, right? We paid our bills. >> Yep. >> Um >> 2026 are actually our revenue doesn't look terrible. Um but it's important for us all to understand that >> between the time the governor filed fiscal year 26 last January and the time
we sent it to her last June, >> we cut a billion dollars from the budget. >> Wasn't something we wanted to cut, right? Um but it was because we saw what was happening with the federal bill and um Medicaid snap heating, you know, all
these things that we know have unfortunately come to some sort of fui fruition or continuing threats. >> So um so the budget the the overall amount of the budget is less this year than it was last year
>> and that's pretty horrible, right? when you think about the the cost of inflation on towns and people. >> Um so uh I generally what people said during the consensus revenue which is where we listen on ways and means we listen to smart people. >> Yeah. You know
>> what the tax rate look how much they're pulling in. Yeah. >> So generally folks think that our economy will grow our economy Massachusetts economy will grow about 2%. >> Okay. um which is slow but >> but I'll take that compared to >> the problem is is that we have a large
percentage of our budget that comes in from federal revenue >> right >> um and you know it's about um 16 billion >> can go up to 20 it'll depend um and that's a lot of money in a $61 billion
budget >> right >> and so that's in flux the other thing that's in flux and the governor will make some decisions here Um I hope she makes uh the one that I want. But um the the bill the federal bill also um has a
revenue provision that would cut would limit our revenue by about $665 million. It's a gift back to the wealthiest. >> All right. >> And um it's unfortunate and you know so we can decouple from that. We can say we
don't want that revenue provision. Um, and you know, the governor, we've she's certainly heard from numbers of people. She's Yeah. Um, heard from me on this and the ANF secretary, you know, with my interest in this. Um, many states have already decoupled.
>> Yeah. >> Um, I think we should decouple. We shouldn't take the hit. Um, because we're going to take other federal hits. >> Yeah. Well, it's hostile. It's a hostile administration towards any state that's run by a Democratic,
you know, administration. >> We certainly are paying some prices, but this is a this is a cut that would happen in, you know, in all states in the union, >> right? >> Um, so, uh, so that this is a long answer to your very short question, which is I don't imagine very much
growth, >> right? I think our job as a legislature is to figure out where to grow, right? So, for example, UGGA, >> you know, we know that UGGA hasn't kept pace. >> Um, we I you know, I'm sure you've you've read the Mass Municipal
Association horrifying report. I'll actually follow this up. I'll send you a memo that I sent to Ways and Means and the Senate President and the Governor. I distilled it because I felt like I just wanted to pack a little bit more of a punch. And when you distill it, it's
horrifying, even more horrifying um when you look at it. So, uh you know, I just said we, you know, we need to focus on UGGA, rural aid, minimum aid, >> um >> and we have to pass some policy provisions, you know, like those in the
rural schools bill, like Yeah. >> And and then in there, you know, >> um you know, we have to pass pilots so the more of the more comes where it should go. Yeah. >> Right. And we have to rethink UGGA. >> Yeah. >> Right. We have to open up UGGA.
>> Yeah. >> Um so I'm hoping that's in there in the governor's budget. If not, it should be in the Senate's budget, you know, where we say, why again are we what is this? We give this out like we do every year. Why are the wealthiest communities
>> getting >> actually frankly any money? >> True. right now. I know they all put in, but >> sure, >> you know, if we're really going to level the playing field, how do we do that with limited resources? So, >> um I think it's going to be tight, super
tight. >> Um >> and and scary. Um >> and I, you know, I hope we make some good decisions that are that prioritize the well-being of people and municipalities. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Well, thank you for your fight on that.
I appreciate it. >> Yeah. and any you know once you see the governor's budget I'd love your thought and I'm sure MMA and STAM >> yeah I'm looking forward to the end of the month >> will tell us um what they think and then we'll have all these ways and means hearings >> right >> um
>> great >> one thing that you don't need to really respond heavily on is I we know we're going through a health care health insurance crisis and from the federal government um so abdicating
responsibility for that. So, what's Massachusetts thinking? >> Yeah. Um, so I will say, um, so you're right. Right. Like there's the Medicaid piece and, um, we think that it with the bill, we'll lose about 300,000 people
off Medicaid. Um, that's a huge amount. Um, that'll just have a negative impact on hospitals and community health centers >> because people who lose their health insurance, right, are not going to stop getting sick. No, they're just not going to be able to pay for it. Um and then you're talking about the exchanges, the subsidized healthcare, the sort of for
the working middle class. >> Yeah. >> Um you know, uh that is not a price tag that Massachusetts can pay. We're going to I'm sure >> and we have um leaned in on Medicare,
Medicaid rather, or Mass Health. Um I you know I'm hoping that Congress comes through on this uh because it is really dire um for our families. >> Yeah. >> And then the legislature has taken some
pains. Could we do more? A thousand%. But we have taken some pains to do prescription drug affordability. We've done a whole mental health care bill. Um we've done reproductive care. We've enshrined that. And we're going to tackle primary care. >> Um super
>> which is huge for us out here. Um >> and we are really leaning into hospitals especially rural hospitals and community health centers. So in that we're somewhat in like in the room for of your question >> Tim but you know the bigger question is
how do people af and how do municipalities and entities afford the healthare and um >> just our you know going up 20% then another 20% all one year midy year you know has been rough for the municipalities with the with the trust
>> hcgit yeah >> and and Deerfield is staying right with >> if it's still there. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. I mean, we're we're working with other communities to look at other options available, but Yeah. But we were not among the communities that signed up for the GIC.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, the leg, you know, and um I I did I did eventually see that list. Yeah. I mean the delegation did what I wish we could have done more but we did what we could do to you know both get GIC to be at the table and division of
revenue division of insurance um but it's a really very dire situation >> it is >> um and uh >> you know again it's like it was that weird thing where all of a sudden it was affecting uh 73 member units many of
them in my district and yet it's a private entity, right? You know, >> right? >> Um, >> so, you know, it's a it's a >> step in, right? >> Well, we could. Yeah. It was impossible for us to, >> right, >> to fund a private entity from public
funds like that, but um even if they were municipal, the costs were going to largely municipalities, but it was there's nothing fun in there. And I'm sure the executive committee >> of HCGIT thought there was nothing fun there. >> But I understand there's a new consultant.
>> Yes. Um we're meeting with them. >> Yep. >> Um so I um >> it's also frightening. >> Yeah. >> The whole thing. I mean, let me know. You know, I'm still I'm still pretty plugged in. It's like, >> you know, sometimes you don't want legislators so plugged in on like
private matters, right? >> Um >> uh and I know that folks had a lot of feelings, right? They had a lot of feelings about like, why didn't you bail us out? M >> we were like I mean there's so many private things that we could bail out or we should bail out but this is public money and then
>> they really did I think they wanted us to >> have more things to say about other options and we we just you know >> you can't >> we didn't the only lever we could pull was making GIC come to the table right
>> um to talk and to be useful and um the Hilly administration did do those technical assistance I don't know if you participated in any of them. Um, those were they were hard. They were hard and they were late and, you know, in the game and it was, >> you know, it was a hard it was a hard
moment. >> I don't think it's over. >> It's not No, no, no. I don't I don't think it's over either. >> Just have to keep a positive attitude and >> That's right. >> Laugh when you can laugh about this and we'll get through it. >> Well, it's I mean, it's hard for towns, right? I know it's hard to absorb for
Deerfield and >> you've seen I mean we've seen many other communities also try for overrides or things like that and um >> it's been very very very very disruptive. >> Yeah, >> for sure. Well, thank you. Thank you for
taking the time and coming and >> all your work you do for us and >> it's a wonderful partnership and we're very grateful for you and all your staff and Natalie and her staff. >> We are grateful for you really. to tell you like seeing the library and thinking about all the things that happened with
the library and then seeing the senior center >> and um >> we're working on something there and uh >> yeah I think when we move along a little bit on that we'd love >> if the state had some support for our seniors as far as regionally regional
senior centers um grateful for what you've done um we're trying to >> $100,000 earmark yeah it was great was great it helps you know, move things along and um yeah, so we're we're really trying to find a home for for our
seniors and and uh it's a lot. It's just a lot to tackle, >> but um >> yeah, >> it's a lot. Um and you do it really I mean really the Tri County is really beautiful. I will say that um I didn't talk about this, but I'm sure MMA and
Stanmar the Municipal Empowerment Act, the governor's good bill, >> you know, I hope we do it. Um, I'm was bummed we didn't do it last session. >> And if we do it, it should have a municipal building bill in there. >> That'd be great. >> Right. That Natalie and I filed. You think I don't file any bills without
Natalie, but I do work with her all the time. >> Yes. What's better? >> So, it's better. Um, so I will be jamming trying to jam that in there. So, great. Thank you. If you see that come to the floor. Yes. And Deerfield wants to go put the municipal building bill in. Thank you.
>> Um that would be some a way that there would be capital funds for >> um a senior center. >> Yeah. >> Um >> we just have to get it done. That's the one of the largest things we've heard from a municipal empowerment >> standpoint. >> Yep. For sure.
>> Well, thank you. >> Thank you, friends. >> Thank you so much. >> Can I just add one thing? Yeah, >> just just to end on a positive note, which is uh because we've worked together a lot on education and I will say that you >> you have between her and Natalie, you
have two representatives that couldn't be working any harder for for the education in this area. Uh and also just to say that Frontier uh with all the impacts of declining enrollment, Frontier I think is been impacted
probably the least out of all the districts in this area. So that's a kind of a testament to the the school district that you have. So I think that's kind of a positive thing for Deerfield, >> for sure. >> So I mean it's not necessarily the case with with other districts. Everyone's different, but uh
>> yeah, we're grateful for >> we're just very lucky to have them working for us. >> Absolutely. Darius and Darius. >> So Darius and Darius is a great great superintendent. So we're very lucky. >> Right. You're right. The frontier is really quite special. I just I was I
spoke to classes there um with a teacher Jason who's a friend of mine and >> Oh, nice. >> Um you know, I love going there and every time I'm there I'm like this is like a vibrant happening place. >> It is. Um, and the and the elementary schools that feed into it are beautiful. >> They are,
>> you know. So, yeah, I agree with you. It's a there's there's a lot of good here and including the school system. >> I'll also just put a plug in for your 517 and 314 bills for uh for education and the rural districts. Right. Isn't that the >> Oh my god, you have those numbers. >> I have those numbers. Yeah. Well,
because I read them a lot and I think everybody should read them because they're they're really really good bills. So >> yeah, there the Senate one is in Ways and Means. Um I don't know where Nats is. Uh but you know, we have to get it done. It's my it's you know, I have a farm bill for farmers. Um as I think you
guys know, Natalie and I have an agriculture bill which would be a game changer for our people here, >> especially Deerfield. >> Um and uh >> and then rural schools. >> Yeah. >> Um it is >> education, you know, we have got to
crack it. We have not cracked it, but we're certainly not giving up. Good. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Have a wonderful night. Thanks again for coming. >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Sure. Sure. >> Okay. I will um I guess we'll open it up
for public comment if anybody has any comments they'd like to hit on before we get rolling in the meeting. Anyone online or in the audience? If not, >> anything you want. Anything you like. Yeah. You >> just make one comment. you cut come on
up to the mic and state your name and what your comment is. >> If so, everybody online and we get get it recorded. >> Welcome. >> All right, it's Jason Clark, 81 North Main. >> Thank you. >> Um I just I was going back to where you
guys were talking about the park earlier about possibly shutting down Park Street there. >> Um >> I don't know. I mean, what's the timeline for that? When you guys are planning for that? >> So, and I'll just clarify. So, this is a a grant that Furcock got. So, the town
did not get the grant. Um, at this point, and I was just speaking with Alex, our planner, about it. Um, we don't anticipate any of that um that work being done this year. Um, which is a good thing given that we're, you know, going to be working on Elm Street this this summer.
>> Um, so likely, you know, we're looking at some point next year. >> Okay. I mean, the only thing I was going to say with that is, I mean, before you were to do any traffic studies, I mean, there or along North Main Street or anything, it' probably be a good idea to wait until that bridge is done >> because there's going to be a substantial change in the traffic flow.
>> Oh, for sure. >> Yeah. It's a fair point. And >> yeah, that's all. Thank you for your comment. >> Anything else before we jump in? No. >> Okay. Um, let's see. So, next, uh, select board reports and announcements. I will just
kind of state I went to the um we had a Franklin County emergency preparedness meeting today. Um it was going to be at GCC but got moved to uh Furkcog and it was table talk tabletop exercise on um
the intersection of public health in emergencies and kind of an ice we the scenario was an an ice storm hitting the northeast and kind of who tackles what and where and it just kind of brought to light a few of the things that we need
to kind of uh update our scent plan on. John, our emergency management chief Peturik, John Purk um is our emergency management director. He in September had updated our scent plan, but we will need to um kind of fill that out a little bit
more based on this this meeting and tabletop exercise about 3 hours and we went over kind of what happens, who do you who does what, who's responsible for what and and um so that's part of our our scent plan and we need to kind of work on that and update that. And then I
thought of working with the the nurses to kind of just get names of people that you know if they're on oxygen or need need a generator, something like that for their well-being or their health. Um just just periodically we get a name of who needs what and special needs. So if
something happens, you know, if they need to be picked up or moved to a shelter or something like that. So um so we'll work on that in the future. But it was a good exercise. It was good to see. It was good turnout. Um, anything else anybody has? >> Couple of quick things. Um, um,
Christopher might talk about this a little later, but the, um, 1888 building advisory committee got an opportunity to walk through the project as it's, um, progressed. It's about 4 months on along and, uh, everybody came away
very pleased with the amount of progress that's occurred. Um the interior of the original building is largely um the upstairs second floor is largely sheetrocked and all of the uh electrical
and um it and u air handling equipment's largely in place. the water uh the fire suppression systems. And um next week they'll be finishing up the first floor that's uh with the blown in insulation
and then finishing up the sheetrock. The uh the new building is um the elevator shaft is now been re-engineered to accommodate the the new elevator that they want to uh install.
And um they should be putting the the u trusses up in the next week or two, sealing it up. We're in the process of looking for bids from local solar contractors to uh take care of that piece of it. Um so um still on track for
September, early October uh hopefully moving in there. Um and then um I was I've handed this off to to Christopher and um Greg, but uh some local farmers are interested in talking with the town
about the impact of uh you know immigration policy on their ability to hire um workers and and um so we're talking about possibility of really getting a a forum where local farmers come and talk to us about what
they're seeing. And uh so more on that as it develops if we can pull it off before the farmers get too busy to come talk. Okay. Um so um uh let's see there's an item under board of health. I'll just
hit on a couple of board of health things that just you know everybody I think knows everybody that's sick right now. So just protect yourself as best you can, wash your hands, all that good stuff we've all learned. Um, but I know I know that there's some pussis going around and uh the flu has just been off
the charts. So, just, you know, if you're feeling ill, just make sure you're hydrating and all of that. Um, there was an item on here about uh an odor, burning plastic odor on Main Street. Have we >> Yeah. >> have any other data on that? >> I I think uh you know, we've had, you
know, a couple instances over the last few months of folks in that area reporting things. Uh not a ton. Um, I know, you know, we've talked about, we talked to our DPW super, obviously their building is right there. Um, they certainly haven't experienced any issues. Um, and I did check in with Ned
Sisi, our health agent today, just to see if there were any additional reports that had come out, but so far nothing. Um, I believe actually Blake had reached out to uh, Orafal um, just to get it on their radar. Yeah. Um, so for the moment, it doesn't seem like there's any
further action to be taken. Okay. Um, but just, you know, wanted to let residents know. We'll keep an eye on it and certainly if something does come up, we'll reach out. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yeah. And one of the things that we want to do is there might be some other source for the the intermittent issues and so want to make sure that do the
proper research to determine, you know, what is actually going on, >> right? Thank you. Yeah, could could be could be a lot of things. Um, the next item is uh is to I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of December 17th, 2025.
>> Second. >> Thank you. Um, there was an item in here. Maybe not. I thought that I thought there was an item in here about the first read of the
of the campaigning stuff at the at the transfer station, but I don't I don't see it now. So maybe my packet I think was was mixed up because we were going to talk about it last meeting, but we didn't. >> It's uh Yeah, it's item 7C >> for this for this meeting.
>> Yes, for this meeting. Oh, you're talking about in the minutes? >> Yeah, in the minutes. Okay. >> But I don't think Okay, maybe I'm I missed missed it. So, or I had it mixed up in my thing. So, >> okay, good. Cuz we didn't talk about it, right? First one. Okay, good. All right.
So, um so have a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I Before you do that, I did catch one issue. >> Okay, thank you. >> It's It just says Maggie Morren, but it was Sarah for Yeah, >> Sarah Morren. >> Yeah,
I didn't notice that. forgot it. >> Yeah. >> Where is that? >> It's in the treehouse. >> Oh. Oh. Oh. Okay. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Got it. Okay. So, we'll update that. >> Okay. Thank you. So, all those in favor?
>> Tim Milgy. I >> Trevor McDaniel. I uh 200. Um >> it's nice to have one set of minutes to approve. >> Yes. That's great. That was great. Um, okay. So, discussion items. We have, uh,
Still Water Bridge Takings vote to be rescheduled to February. Update on that. >> Yep. So, um, all the way back in October, I think, MASDOT let us know they were ready for us to move forward with the actual takings. The town meeting authorized the select board to do as part of the Stillwater Bridge
project. Uh, and right before we were about to, they said, "Well, pull the brakes. We actually have some environmental work that we still need to wrap up." Um so they said kick it kick it to January get to January same thing. So we're still waiting on mass dot. Um they are still fairly confident they can
advertise for the project in February and some of these items will just be noted in that u you know bid solicitation essentially saying they're not wrapped up but they will be. Um so expect to see that on an agenda probably in February. >> That's great. So they're they plan to go out to bid
>> soon. Yes. Okay. Good. >> Yep. And the um article 97 piece uh we didn't get to a chance to mention it with the senator, but um that is before ways and means. It was favorably reported. So Oh, good. Um hopefully we're nearing the end of that process as well.
>> Sounds good. Um so now we're at the first reading of the transfer station non uh nonprofit charitable and political group solicitation policy. So I think this this came about of you know kind of anytime we have an election coming up everybody descends on the
transfer station it's the local local watering hole for for discussing candidates or any other issue. Um and uh so and I think that I think the people running the department kind of running the transfer station trying to
do their job kind of had some questions like hey who runs this? Who authorized this? What's going on? And so I think the idea is to kind of have a first reading of a of a policy and I think you the administration's worked with um DPW superintendent to kind of say okay
what's safe what's not what should we do what's the policy around this um to be fair to everybody um because it is it is kind of like the the old Jerry's place you know everybody goes to kind of talk about what's going on in town and uh and
it's a place to kind of uh capture people's attention of what what might be coming up or what you know everybody just talks at the transfer station. So we wanted to make a policy that was fair and did um allowed people to kind of
talk about their issue without impeding what's going on as people were trying to just do their day-to-day dropping off their recycling or or whatever. So I'll just read through this and and there's a map along with this too. Um so that the
policy on use of transfer station for solicitations by non uh profit sharable charitable and political groups. So >> and I would I would just mention this was something Matthew pulled together just for the board's consideration and he's fully expecting that we'll haveision.
>> Yeah. This will need some work. >> Yep. So the first item here is permission must must be granted by the by a select board vote. Um the second was no person or groups are allowed on the premises except during normal operating hours which makes
sense. Um all activities must be confined to the designated area. See attached designated area diagram. And that's one area where I think we'll change. Um there's one spot that's good, but you're kind of can't pack everything
into one thing. So, I think there does need to be um maybe a section over on the right um that that you would that would be out of the way and safe um so that people can come in do their thing if they don't want to be dealt deal with
anything but there is safe area to set up a table um there instead of just the one exit you know that one triangle there it's hard to pack a lot of times it's two different campaigns that are talking to people and to try and put them both in that one
spot. It's just too narrow and uh probably not safe. So maybe they're in another spot, but it would take take people to talk about what makes sense there, too. Um and then uh no one less than 18 years of age on premises without
being accompanied by an adult. That's safety kind of thing. Um at no time is any person or group to enter the roadway or impede the flow of traffic. Vehicles must stop by choice. Um, all persons in
uh and groups must always act in a courteous and professional manner. Any group or individual must leave immediately when requested by a granter or any other duly authorized town or Southfield Fire District personnel. I don't know where that came from. Uh,
that's kind of a weird I'm not police, fire superintendent, superintendent, authorized staff. I don't know where that came from. That's a weird kind of sentence. So any any idea? >> We'll we'll talk to Matthew about cleaning up. I think the intention there was just to make sure that you know
emergency personnel and you know the DPW can tell like Yeah. When need be. Yeah. >> Yeah. Totally fine. We should >> certainly could use some cleaning up. Yeah. >> Yep. Yep. Yep. We'll do that. Um uh so eight is to use at one's own risk.
Uh guarantee will hold the town harmless in case of an accident or injury. Every person in the group that will be at the on the transfer station property site shall uh be required to provide a signed town of Deerfield release waiver. So there's a waiver along with this which
we can go over too. Um if the event involves requesting signatures, they shall be collected by residents on the way out as they exit the facility. Maybe we could talk about that a little bit too about because I don't really want to hold traffic up
from because if we're only in that one spot, I know that's where people stand. So maybe like on the other side where it's an open area, people could come over there for signatures if they wanted instead of, you know, stopping traffic. I think
Matthew had envisioned it as sort of a drive-thru situation where people on their way out around the back of the salt shed are, you know, they're driving right past and on their the driver's side or, you know, they can reach out and sign things. But >> it's a one lane and it's like you're
backing up too much traffic. And I think if people want to get out and sign something, they should park over in a bigger parking spot. But we could talk about that, too. Um, uh, let's see. if the event uh oh I already I already talked about it and
then the form must be posted during the event. So so you would just have this uh have a form kind of staying you you got a vote you got a vote from the select board to do this kind of thing. So wish you could talk about how that works and
>> right and you know the this is largely in addition to campaigns it's largely to allow people who like um John Pork senior was out gathering um second amendment signatures for a state petition
>> and um just want to make sure that we give clarity to the you transfer station staff that um you know they they they have a signature they can do this because there's been confusion before where certain groups are asked to leave.
Yes. And other people are not asked to leave. >> And so this way we we take that >> and you know confusion away from the DPW staff. They'll they'll be notified when the group arrives. We have this
>> select board authorization for this day for this time. >> Yeah. and and I think that's what the staff are interested in doing is just having clarity >> and yeah and and I'm kind of interested in like um >> it it it's the one place I I get the the
the want to be kind of like right where all the recyclables are and everybody's kind of coming through there. >> Uh but I I kind of feel like if you were over on the side it allows people to come to you got plenty of signs to direct but but we're not like you know
If Joe Schmo is there with a Second Amendment thing or a, you know, a balloon ban, you know, they're not just like getting everybody to do the signature and and interrupt people's flow. >> Absolutely. Yeah. It should be like >> designated area.
>> We're here to talk about this issue. If you're interested, come see us. >> Please come see us rather than the other way around. >> Yep. Exactly. Yep. Uh, okay. So, let's first read and we'll we'll get through that. >> Great. So, I'll convey those comments to Matthew. We're going to have a meeting with him on Friday morning anyway. So,
we'll talk through some of those items and uh come back to this when we meet next. So, >> sounds good. Sounds good. Thank you for that. Um >> back. So, we have a couple sewer abatements here. Um
but I think that >> my I would say my recommendation is to pass over the first one. It's really for uh just to have a look the um the 125% automatic abatement had already kicked in. So they they actually have received an abatement. I I don't think they knew
that but um it's just to show you that they actually have done >> some work on it. Um, and so hopefully in the in the future they won't be, you know, upwards of 60,000 >> their use. >> Do we know how much their abatement was already? >> And
>> yeah, it's it's listed on the bill. You can see the uh basically >> the previous balance is the abatement. >> So you Yes. You Yeah. The the minus Yeah. Whatever 87 $874 change. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So that's the abatement down to 125% which everybody gets when it's over
that >> 125%. So, >> and it would be anything over their their the previous 23,000 amount. I just wonder what the regular bill was normally. >> Yeah. You can see in the history uh going back it would have been somewhere
in that 23 to 24,000. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. >> Okay. >> So, they they've been abated uh with through the automatic and >> I think the important thing is that they had it fixed so that it's not going to hit them in the >> Exactly. They'll go back to their normal readings. Okay. That's fine. So we can just >> that can be just deemed denied by not
taking any action. >> Yeah, I think I think we would >> I think it would get muddy if you try to >> Right. Right. Doesn't make sense. And then the other one is for uh property 8 W A. Um but the only thing on here is the
minimum usage because they're uh the building's not in use at the moment. So that's what everybody pays whether they use or not use. So I don't I don't have a way to abate that.
Um I think that you know I think the only other option is to you know have the pro property used or or you know take down the property. I don't know, one of the two, but that the reason we have a usage fee is because that at, you know, having sewage to a
building um provides value to that property and that's why we have a minimum usage charge and a and a sewer connection charge and there's nothing charged above that. So, okay. So,
it's okay not to take action on that. I'm not going to take a motion to not take action on these. >> I'll second if we need. >> Thank you. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Um there's an extended contract with
Christopher Curtis uh through June 30th, 2026. And if I understand this right, it's because he just um has some deliverables that he's waiting on to complete from from >> It's just a timing issue. timing issue with the it's not for any um any more
funds to be distributed to them. It's just to let them finish >> and uh there's nothing to sign just all we would do is uh >> you can vote to authorize Christopher sign. Yeah. >> So let's see here. Um, so I move the select board approve
the extensions to of the contract with Christopher Curtis for municipal vulnerability preparedness action grant and grant coordination services through June 30th, 2026 as presented and that further uh to authorize the town administrator to sign. >> Second.
>> Thank you. All those in favor? >> Tim HG. >> Trevor McDaniel. I um do you want to vote on the steam mill? It looks like there's a motion to >> There is a motion. Yeah. >> Okay. Yep. So um >> didn't realize we missed that one.
>> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. I know we talked about it but didn't didn't vote it. So um let's see. Uh, I move the pursuant to the vote taken on article 6, article 6 of the special town meeting held on October 29th, 2025, I move the select board establish a permanent protection
of land located on Steam Mill Road, Deerfield, Massachusetts, and as shown on the Deerfield, the town of Deerfield assessor's map 79, lot 39, including 31 acres more or less, whose deed is
recorded at book 731, page 32 of of the Franklin County Registry of Deeds for the exclusive purpose of conservation as town forest in accordance with article 97 of the amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
And uh further move that the select board enter into and negotiate all necessary and related documents subject to such restrictions as limitations as the select board deems appropriate in order to effectuate the permanent protection of said parcel accordingly.
Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Tim G. I. >> Trevor McDaniel. I thank you. Um, then we have the uh 1821 meeting house steeple repair community preservation uh
funding application letter of support. Um, we we had uh put this in, so we certainly support it, I think. So, I'll make a a motion. I move the select board um approve and sign the letter of support
for the community preservation act application for the 1821 meetinghouse clock tower restoration and reuse engineering report >> second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion or talk about it all just okay all those in favor? Tim LG I
>> Trevor McDaniel I >> I'll just say that the exterior painting projects that we undertook earlier have highlighted the need for continuing to work on that. >> Keep going to the sky. >> Yep. No, it looks good. The building
looks good. So keep keep it going. Um and then I also um I'm so thankful that Matthew had worked on this. There's a cemetery fee increase proposal pursuant to Mass General Law
Chapter 114 section 15. Um I move the select board approve the cemetery plot fee increase from $350 to $650 per plot effective July 1st, 2026 as recommended by the Department of Public Works.
Second for discussion. >> I'll second that. So, um I I am so grateful that he's working on this because if anybody saw the maps, so this money um the these lot prices are very low. We've, you know, looked around
and they're anywhere from $2,500 a lot, which is a lot, um to, you know, average is about $1,000 a lot. So, we're still well below that. But um the the revenue uh really needs to be funneled towards digitizing the maps and and kind of
maintaining our space. So um we really need to get that done. If anyone saw the the actual blueprint and the writing here and there and scratch over and yeah, I it's it's amazing that um I'm just grateful that's going to be taken
care of. So I'm in full support of this. >> Yeah. And I also would say that um state law has changed over the years about what amount of space you actually need to put a casket in the ground. >> Um my wife's family ran into this in
Turners where um they had a plot for five family members. Turned out that the law changed and that they didn't have any room to put in a fifth casket and so >> needed to have someone cremated and So,
uh, we definitely need to find out, um, the parcels that have been assigned, whether they still meet, >> you know, state requirements. >> Yeah, it's a good good thought. We have a we have a just a lot of um, we have a lot of cemeteries all over the place.
So, really great to kind of get that done. So, um >> I was just going to add that well, we're happy that Matt's doing it because the alternative was going to be a board of oversight, a boo for the cemetery and we thought maybe they too much. >> They have to they'd have to meet on Halloween.
>> Boo. No. No. >> Love you. >> All right. >> Uh all those in favor, >> Tim LGI, >> Trevor McDaniel. >> All right. Um let's see. So, uh, two two feathers class two dealer's license. So,
um, I'll make this motion for discussion. I move the select board approve the class 2 dealer's license for two feathers subject to all applicable local and state requirements. Um, >> second for discussion. >> Thank you. This is later than normal and
>> I think you if you want to amend it to retroactively. I I think it's just we've had a couple that um he was having difficulty with the permit eye so we had to actually get online with him and and walk him through it and uh I mean we're comfortable with >> but everything's
filled everything he's got all the insurance everything's all set so it was just a matter of just a little >> getting it through the system. Yeah it's a new it's a new system so that's fine. >> Yeah. Okay. Um all those in favor? >> Tim Milgy I >> Trevor McDaniel I
>> All right. Um, we do not have any board applications, general appointments, resignations. Um, we did talk to you a little bit today and you're going to get on a we're going to talk about our cultural resource officer has kind of been vacant for a
while and we've been have somebody interested in that. So, we're going to talk about that at some point in the future. Um, town administrator updates. Yeah. And these updates have already been provided in some places, but um you know, so you've got a copy of um the
notice from um US DOT and from FURCOG about the grant they received for Park Street, which we've already discussed quite a bit tonight. Um one other item that I'm kind of relaying on behalf of Alex, um she got some technical assistance to do a further assessment of
St. James and the rectory um to identify any kind of hazardous materials that need to be um you know abated there. Um so we did have a kickoff meeting with uh D today and they're working Samson is the uh consultant on that project. Um,
so you can expect to see them poking around the church and taking some samples and hopefully that'll that'll help us address some of the concerns that we heard when we u you know put that parcel out to bid for senior housing and and heard back that among the issues that um were preventing
people from putting for forth the proposal was just the the possibility that there's some things that need to be abated there. So >> yes, >> hopefully that'll give us some sense of that. >> Great. And then uh real quick I did want to mention we had a meeting with a few of our other fellow towns. Um this was
kind of an initiative Julie Chowont the chair of our finance committee had wanted to put together just basically creating a forum for the other you know for weightland Conway and their select board and and finance committee members to come together with us to chat about
the budget. Um we obviously have several shared services we have SCAMS we have the South County Senior Center. you have FCAT and a few other things. Um and so we had a great little kickoff meeting for that group um back on the 19th, a really productive discussion. Um and you
know, I forwarded the notes to everyone. So, you know, I think among the the major items was just, you know, we're going to try and organize some kind of joint finance select board meetings uh with all those communities for when we do the SKMS and and South County Senior Center budgets, right? >> Just so everyone's in the room at the
same time. That's super helpful. >> It'll be uh I think it'll be efficient and I think it'll be helpful in a lot of other ways as well. So, so just wanted to to mention that. Um and we are looking to schedule another meeting I think at some point in late January, early February. I can't recall the date off the top of my head, but will be
coming up soon. >> Great. >> And couple of things, the FCOT uh board, cable advisory board, I think. So, that negotiation is is almost complete. Um, let's see.
>> Yeah, it's getting I do know that we >> um had a I don't know if I want to call it a setback, but we did have um Eileen Lehey who uh has left uh Comcast who was the government liaison for the negotiation process. So, um we may have
to enter into >> negotiations with a new person, but a lot of it she was trying to work out. uh at the end of the year here before she left. So, um I'll have more about that once we have our next meeting. So, I think it's going to be next Friday. So,
>> yeah. Thank you. >> Okay, that's great. Um Oh, that was the grant program. So, that was that. >> Yeah, that's that's all I have on my end unless there are questions uh from the board on any other ongoing projects. Oh,
you know, I did want to mention actually, Trevor, while I got you. Um, so we obviously we just did the building advisory committee's walkthrough of the 1888 building. Next Friday, we're hoping to do a staff walkth through given that now, you know, rooms are kind of, you know, the framing's there and everyone can see what their space might look
like. >> Um, I did want to invite you given that you weren't able to attend the the building advisory one. So, >> so that's Friday, >> Friday the 16th. And we're I'm going to nail down a time, but I'll sometime Okay, great. That's great.
>> Okay, great. >> And actually on that front, I will just mention quickly um Greg has been doing Yman's work on pulling together a an AV um RFQ for that building. Um so I think we're going to have really a superior
audio visual system for our meeting room. Um, so obviously the right man for the job over here. So we're in good hands. >> Go over budget on just I don't want to hear I can't hear you from the back of the room. Speaking of the mic.
>> Good. >> Have to use >> Good. Um, great. Okay. Any other business before the board? Entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll second that motion. All those in favor? >> Tim Milchie I.
>> Trev McDaniel. Bye. Thank you all.