Okay, welcome to the downtown town of Deerfield Select Board Board of Health, Sewer Commissioners meeting for July 9th, 2025. It is 6:02 p.m. Um, this is a hybrid meeting um 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 inerson attendance and remote participation. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to 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 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 the Mass uh 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. Um I'll call the meeting to order. Um we
have public comment if anybody would like to make um any public comment on anything on the agenda or off the agenda. Two minutes. Anybody online? No, I can't tell if I don't see anybody to sign in. Are we even online today? Oh, we are online.
We are. Yes. Okay. All right. Um, here we have no hearings and appearances. And and Trevor, I would actually just suggest maybe we have Alex do her report real quick. Oh, of course. So, she's here.
Welcome, Alex. Thank you. Sure. Um, yeah. So, I just wanted to report out a couple things that I've been working on the last couple months or, you know, our team has. Um, I think the most public and outward facing that you
guys were also emailed on is the heat grant. Um, so talking about the network geothermal feasibility study that we did. Yeah. Um so we are actually doing uh well I and our consultant Bureau Hapold will be doing a presentation
um just kind of an education session on July 17th at 4:30 on Zoom at the Energy Commission's meeting. Okay. Um so it's really just kind of talking about what Geonet network or what geothermal is as far as being a utility.
um you know talking about just just trying to educate people what it is, why it's useful, what could happen in the future. Um and just in general um Bureau Hold's going to talk about the feasibility study and the results being that in general aworked geothermal a
system servicing South Deerfield didn't make sense. um the upfront capital cross to run the lines to all the buildings because of the distances of you know between different structures in town. Um just it just has a really high upfront
capital cost and it didn't pencil out. Um but a single s you know you could still do it at your own house much like people have their own furnace or their own heat pumps or whatever heating and cooling systems they have. You can also have your own inhome network or
geothermal, you know, energy system. Yeah. So, it's really an education event to just kind of help people understand what it is, why it's an option. It's part of decarbonization, meet some of the climate goals of the state level. Um, and so it's really about that and then asking folks to take our survey. So,
maybe as the technology develops in the future, maybe it becomes more feasible as costs go down, the piping goes down, you know, it it just really depends. Um, so mostly education, taking a survey and then incorporating some of the things heat identified regarding our local
regulations into that report and stuff, but yeah, pretty minor. And then we'll be closing out the grant thereafter. Okay, thank you. Um, let's see. Next one. Um, I think just to let you guys know, the planning board met um on Monday and um, we had
Furcog, we had Megan Rhodess, who's one of their housing specialists, come in. um mostly when we're talking about the ADU bylaw update. So the state changed their regulations that became effective in February regarding accessory dwelling units or ADUs, sorry.
Um so just kind of updating our bylaws, which um honestly we'll pretty much have to scrap like a page and a half of the ADU bylaws. Um they talk a lot about uh special permits and you're not allowed to require a special permit. They talk
about the process for that. transferring of the um ADU permit to different owners as the property changes hands. Um just a lot of stuff that just is no longer allowable. And um the ADU bylaw by the state is in the Dover um amendment
section of the legislation. So um puts a few other constraints on what you're allowed or not allowed um to regulate essentially at the local level. We had tried to get ahead of that a little bit or not we but the town and right planning board and all had done right good work
but then kind of got upended. So yeah. So um Oh yeah and we decided FCOG's going to do a study of our um lot dimensions and our setbacks and our use table um because it's going to require some edits to that for the ADU bylaw anyway. Okay. So, as we're touching the
setbacks, we might as well look at it. Um, especially in the town center where um you pretty much have to have a minimum 15,000 I think square foot lot to do anything and most of them don't conform to that anyway. Um, so anyway, they'll be that study
will go on over the next couple months. So, we really won't have anything probably this summer. It'll probably be later this fall. Okay. And then we'll start really looking at what the regulation changes will be. But I think the board was tending towards just adopting the model ADU bylaw from
the state for the most part. Okay. Um mostly definitions and what they require. There'll be a few decision points and the size of the ADU and that but okay like I said it's do amendment so we can't do too much prescriptive local
regulations on it. So we'll have to edge that or tow that carefully. Okay. Um, I think the other fun thing I would just add quick is that, um, I'm working with the cultural commission. So, Emily, the chair, and I are working together. We're going to, um, meet at
their August meeting and talk about running a grant opportunity to paint the utility cabinets at the Liry lot. So, Oh, cool. They're going to run it probably in tandem with their normal um, cultural council grant application. And so, just
kind of like a fun cool project. Um I already ran it by Eaton who you know serviced and brought us it and their constraints were don't cover the fence and you know like obvious stuff. Yeah. Yeah. It was pretty basic and they wanted a picture so you know they were all for it. So
um I think those are probably the most important things and then just working with some of the applicants and abutters some folks interested in coming to town and going before the boards planning and zoning. So, it's been a lot of resident engagement and new business engagement the last few
weeks. So, good. Yeah, I think that's about it. That's great. Thank you. Well, thanks for your work. It's really good to see you. Likewise. Um, select board reports and announcements.
Um, do you want to hit on John? I think. Uh, sure. Um, so I'm sad I'm not sure um how many of you may know that uh John Nove passed away on July 1st. He's the director of our historic Deerville
Historical Commission and been about a 15-year resident of South Deerfield. Um he'd had a long illness. Um even still, I'd seen him not too many weeks ago in the town hall. And uh you know, we're obviously going
to miss him. He was an integral part of a lot of the community preservation activities that we undertook and uh we have our Civil War soldier in the back of the room. He was instrumental in preserving that and also the uh the
pedestal for that's still down in the town common area in old Deerfield. Um gentleman um always very cordial uh great historical resource. Yeah. and uh you know just
sad losses to the town. Yep. Thank you. Thank you for mentioning that. Um that came as a shock to me. I did not did not know that but Wendy had messaged me today boxman and had told me the news. So, um I just I know John was
such a uh he cared so deeply about this community and cared about um preserving the historical aspects and um just with a kind heart always and uh trying to get people involved and get them excited
about protecting historical value of the town. So, we'll miss him greatly. Um I think that Go ahead, please. Uh with John, I met him a couple of times. um over the since I've been in here and uh I had questions on some of
the historical parts of the town. Very knowledgeable and if he didn't have the answer, he'd go get it for you. And again, one of those things where he's just a just a gentleman, very nice person to talk to and um easy to to be able to communicate
with. So, he will be sorely missed. Thank you. Do you have any other things you want to hit on or No, I'm okay for now. I'll just um talk a little bit about um we I just did a quick tour of the 112
Ammeris Road uh which is the old Warner Brothers building or currently all states are is leasing it. Uh but it's owned by Delta Sand and Gravel. We're we're entertaining that as possible spot for um putting the senior center under
one roof. Um but just in the very early stages of looking at it and talking with um about a lease and you know could it work, how big is it, what would need to be done. So early stuff there, but it is a kind of a promising space. So that was
good. um had a had a meeting last night at the South County Senior Center about um about the space and then also uh about our intermunicipal agreement. Um kind of updating that. Uh so that seems to be I don't know if that's on the
agenda later or not. I think it is. Yeah. Okay. So we'll hit that later on. Um and then uh I I guess I would say a couple of words about the flooding out in Texas. It's not related here, but man, did it bring
back a couple years ago when, you know, we got 8 in in a couple hours and how quickly that could happen here uh on the Deerfield River. And Carolyn is in the back of my mind going like, you know, think about flooding, think about plans. And uh is absolutely right. We just need
to always kind of keep that in the forefront because it can happen in the middle of the night and uh how devastating and my heart goes out to that those families and that community, those communities. um just how how quickly that can change and um we all think it won't happen here, but it
certainly can as we we know all too well. Um and I think other than that trying to stay cool from the heat because it's been it's been brutal. Um so is there any items on the board of health
select board uh health? No. uh you know so this is generally the Wednesday that Ned's actually on the Becket Board of Health so he can't make it but uh I did speak with him earlier this week and he didn't have any issues at this time to report to the board. Good. I spoke with him briefly today about um
the new Delhi International Delhi and um he's generally pleased with the renovations that have been done but they're working on a couple of things that um he's certain will be resolved. Great. That's great. It actually looks different inside there. I actually drove by and looked
in. Yeah. And it's totally different and it's very very good looking in there now. That's great. Well, it's nice to see that. Yeah. And now we just got to get Matthew to switch out the BBA Delhi sign because still says that. Still says BBA Delhi. Yep. Um,
so, uh, I would just mention for for you guys, I just forwarded on an invite for the, um, for a COG and the select Franklin County select board's kind of fifth Wednesday is coming up, uh, on the 30th of July if you want to attend for a
COG just to get together. Okay, great. That was the only thing I mentioned. Um, so we have some minutes um to go over. Let me just look at those real quick if I can because I hadn't had
a chance. It's been a busy day. Um, pretty straightforward. Right. I have no idea. Okay. Right. Put that trauma behind us. 198. Yeah.
Um, so what is I thought I saw one. There's just two. Yeah, it says two, but there Oh, okay. There's two cuz it's um one was open and one was not. Right. Correct. Yeah. You should have an open session from June 9th and
an open session on the 25th and an executive session also on the 25th. Okay. So, uh I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of uh June 9th, 2025 and June 25th, 2025. And then a um also
a motion to approve the executive session minutes from June 25th, 2025. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel. I. So, we have uh discussion items. Uh some
painting quotes for uh this building and the the 1821 meeting house steeple exterior. Um I read this email, but just wanted to kind of go through it. It seemed like it was at least for this building, we'd
kind of decide, you know, what we're going to do with the building. Is it worth painting and that kind of thing? And I feel like um it's important to keep, you know, because it takes I've been here 10 years and it feels like this, but it, you know, it it makes
sense to kind of maintain what you have still. And I feel like this was painting the fascia. Um, so, you know, we had a couple of bids to look at painting the um this building and the and the church
steeple area. Um, and for town hall, it was really doing the faces here. Um, which was like 11,350 and it was kind of this front area here and I think the windows as well along
this area if I remember right. Um, uh, prevailing wage. I There was another email that kind of talked about those sections if I remember right. Oh, yeah. Town hall, uh, scraping and full priming, right? Uh, with Mad Dog primer, fill the holes and cracks, two coats of paint, uh,
finish paint on siding. Yeah. Sophet fascia, windows, and gables. Um, so and then to do the ramp and decks as well. So that seems like good
to do. But your your thoughts, Chris? Uh, were you going to get some other bids on that? Well, so because we didn't advertise, we're just going to get two more quotes from state contract vendors. Um, it's unlikely that they're going to be lower than that. That's a pretty good price.
Um, and as John mentioned in his email, that reflects prevailing wage. So, so I I think we ought to look into this a little bit more because again, they want to paint the steeple and um I know that you're mixing things. Just going to do the first one is this
is just this building here first. Okay. All right. Yeah, we'll talk about the steeple after for sure. But you're going to get two more bids for just Yeah, just two more quotes for just that. Correct. Right. And so
it doesn't include the um the police correct building that's been done more recently than this part. So it was just this part. I was I had walked with um the painter and chief of char when we inspected the building and particularly the the the exterior trim
here and on this side are they're the worst part. Yeah. Um so it's definitely worth getting those looked at. Yep. So, we'll get new two new bids and we'll revisit this at a future meeting. Yeah, we're just over the next couple
weeks, we're we're going to get a couple more quotes. Yeah. And we had money I think it was four years ago or something. Yeah, it's about $50,000. Yep. Set aside for that. And then the other item is the uh steeple. Um
so that was we'd still need to rent a um a lift to do that. And I think it I I've been really like if we're going to keep that building, we really need to get paint on that steeple and replace the boards and with ASAC or Burell or some something that's not going to rust that
rot out. Um but yeah, I think it's Paul is interested in Oh, please come on up. Paul, please come on up. Have a seat. State for the people who you are and all. Paul Oeski, 154 North Maine.
Welcome. Um, so the whole thing with the steeple, um, working with Sean Kaine, um, with the clock last fall, I asked who in the valley in New England does this kind of work. Yeah, because it really, you know, they're
steeple jacks. I mean, correct. So, we found this valley restor who Sean highly recommended, Paul. I can't say his last name, so I'm not going to assassinate it like my name. And um I've been in contact with him and I sent Greg the the information on this
valley restoration and they're basically they go up and down Vermont, New Hampshire, they do fire towers, they do everything vertical and have no problems with it. So, he drove by um maybe about a month ago. He was coming down from a work up in in Vermont.
Yeah. and uh he eyeballed it and he says, "Well, we're looking anywhere from $75 to $100,000." Yeah. Now, as a member of the church back in the day, we looked at that for years and it's it's it's quite a daunting task financially and just having it done in
the in the people. So, um I talked to Paul a little while ago for uh I went on I went away last week. So the middle of June um I met him and he came he was coming down from a job up in Vermont and for about 15
minutes he went up he says I need to see I see to need the frame I need need to see the timbers what I'm dealing with because more than likely there's going to obviously be some work. Yeah. And uh so he did come and look. So I'm waiting for him. This is his busy season. But I'm trying to get more of a
and it's not a bid. I mean, if we were to do the bid, obviously he would we would go through much like I did in the in the industrial part. We would do the bidding, you know, follow the letter of the law, but at least you'd have a more a tangible amount to work with. You know, the finance committee, you guys,
you know what you're looking at, right? Um, so that's that's where we stand. It's it's we're beyond just slapping a coat of paint on it. You know what I mean? Agreed. You know, it's beyond that. I mean, it's fine. you go up there, there's no but there there's work that has to be done, right? You know,
it needs to be done right. It needs to be done. It needs to be done right with the people with the right equipment. So, I just want to let you know pause a little bit and wait for more data. Thank you, Paul. That's very helpful. I'm still wondering though, we ought to paint the front of it because that doesn't have anything to do with the steeple. Oh, I see what you mean.
I mean, I mean, we could do the front of the church. Yeah, I think I think that I agree with you, Paul, that um there's an engineering component to this, which is There is we know that there's been some compression in the wood timbers. Yeah. That was diagnosed by North Northeast
Structures. Yeah. Um when they were looking at the roof problem, right? And uh the question that I think Trevor brought up was if we don't paint the wood that's there and let it continue to deteriorate, we're going to have even more problems
when we straighten the steeple. Right. So, we'll be interested to see what your what your I mean, there's there's there's I'm sure there's wood that's pooked and it's going to have get fixed. I mean, clapboards, you know. Absolutely. You know, the church next to my work on Main
Street uh just did their staple steeple last year. Uh I think it was last fall and I know Sunderland just did theirs recently, too. But it would be interesting to see what they say. in. Now, I know my good friend who's on the uh the Bernardson select board, um who
I've known a long time, over 20 years. Uh they've got their church up there and they're I told him about it when I saw him a guy had an eyeball quote and he says I said 75 to 100,000. He says that's about what they're dealing with up there. That's what they're dealing with too. I don't know if there's a clock up there or not, but but there's work that has to
be done and for sure. So, it's not out of the realm. So, well, that's great to know. Thank you for for giving us that feedback and looking into it. Okay, awesome. Thank you. Thank you. So, um I guess do we did we have a number for just the front
of that? We did and it's 7200, right? So, you you could go ahead and have Forton do that. Um, and we wouldn't need to get additional quotes on that, right? That I think that's a good idea. Feels like a good idea just to kind of
get a coat of paint fresh. I mean, would he I don't know if it it's going to get washed first or not. I mean, I guess it's probably a lot of dust on that thing. Well, they'd have to scrape it and everything. I mean, do all that. It's got Yeah. All right. So, I would I would entertain a motion to
approve the front of the church at 7,200 bucks at this moment. I move we uh um accept the offer to uh paint the front of the church for $7,200. Um and then you'll look at the we can come
back for the front of this building later, too. Okay. All right. Sure. Second. Yep. Great. Any further discussion? Oh, I guess I my discussion would be color. Is it just going to be white or is there a I mean I don't want to open
up a can of worms, right? Everybody's going to look at me like you're gonna what? You're gonna But I mean there is like a historic kind of you know you can do some nice Was the front of that church ever painted a different color than white? Do we know any colors? No. If you go back in pictures
it's always been white. But there's a hundred whites. Pearl white. Holy white. Holy white. There you go. Pearl white. chastity. All right. I'm not getting into it. I just think it's a nice opportunity to
kind of look at it and say, uh, do we want a nice little cream in it? Keep Yes, absolutely. I think actually when we were kids, when I got a picture back in 1970, I think the doors were gray.
Oh, well, maybe before we paint the doors, we should just look. You'll find a layer of paint. Yeah, I know. I think anything will look good. I'm just thinking it's always nice to kind of dress stuff up a little bit. Get onto the first layer and do that one. Yeah, there you go. Whatever it was
originally. 12 coats later. We can't get a picture because it's all black and white. Um, okay. So, do we all in favor of that? Yeah, I guess we all those in favor. Blakemore, I. Tim Hilchi, I Trevor McDaniel, I thank you very much.
All right. Um, I'm going to hold just one uh notice of award for the 1888 building project contract to WJ Mountford, Inc. in the amount of 5,300,
excuse me, 933,000. Talk about that a little bit. Are we sure we got the money? I mean, it's been a rough Sure. Yeah. And this so this is just you know notice of award that would go to WJ. Um you know their bid has been
they've been holding it since June 6th. So it has been a while. Y um we're still talking with them about you know the contract and then obviously uh USDA is currently in their final phase of review of all the contract documents and the bid specs just
awarding it to them and correct. So likely hopefully in the next two weeks then we would actually have contracts drawn up for both WJ Mountford and for USDA. So the grant funds. Great. So I move the select board accept the
recommendations to the 1888 building advisory committee and accept the bid of WJ Mountford Inc. in the amount of 5,933,000 for the 1888 building town hall addition renovation project. Second.
Any further discussion? All All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I. Tim Hilchi. I. Trevor McDaniel. I. So, we'll wait to see a contract on that. That's good. Thank you. Yeah. And there is a a form that needs to be completed just for the signature.
Thank you. A lot of blank spaces there. Yeah. They didn't even say who it's to. It's the notice of award. So, who's the owner? It doesn't say. I can buy anything with this sucker. So, just the
I can I can print out an updated copy if you want because there should be a copy with it's in your packet. Yeah, it's all here. So, just like it's like Greg's buying it. Exactly. We all three sign it.
I think there's only one. Yeah. line. Yeah, there's just one line. So, I'll just sign here. Okay, that's it. Sign your life away. Um, I go owner by would be the next one. Yeah, like I said, we'll we'll take care of that stuff.
Fine. I'll just leave my signature. Sounds good. All right. Um then we've got the Bloody Brook um MVP action grant and Sugarloaf Brook MVP
seed grant uh GCA change order number one. Yep. And this is this is a pretty straightforward one. So um you know Greg has been working with GZA uh as well as Chris Curtis and Wayne Fiden on the uh the Bloody Brook and Sugarloaf Brook
projects. uh funded by these MVP grants. Um and uh thanks to his good work and persistence, he was able to get an extension on those grants. Um so now uh all of our contractors will have until next June to complete those projects, which is great because we've still got
um couple public information sessions we're hoping to hold as part of those. Um and we just recently got, I believe, the geomorphic assessment, which would mean a lot more to Carolyn than to me, but um yes, it would. It is an important piece of the the puzzle here. So, um, so fortunately, uh,
you know, this change order is just going to memorialize essentially that extension of the the grant project. Okay. I move the select board approve the change order for the contract with GCA uh, GEO Environmental, Inc. for the Bloody Brook Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant and Sugarloaf
Brook Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Seed Grant to extend the project to June 30th, 2026. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Milchie I. Trevor McDaniel I.
And just the chair to sign. Is that it? I think so. Okay. Okay. Um, next item is the Hero Act discussion to adopt new exemptions for veterans. Exemptions will need to be
approved by town meeting. So, I know we talked about this the other day. There is um there is currently a Heroes Act, correct? um and or an exemption right now. Um
you kind of read that. Yeah. And I think let me just read this. Deerfield to consider new tax relief measures for veterans under the Massachusetts Heroes Hero Act pending approval at special town meeting in the fall of 2025. The town of Deerfield is
proposing to expand its support for local veterans through the adoption of new provisions outlined in the Massachusetts Hero Act, Chapter 178, the acts of 2024, signed into law by Governor Mora Healey. The Hero Act enhances benefits and services for
veterans across the Commonwealth. two key property tax exemption updates. Clause 211 I and excuse me, clauses 22 I and 22J will appear as warrant articles at special town meeting. These changes will
only take effect if approved by voters during annual town meeting. What the Hero Act could mean for Deerfield's veterans. Proposed expansion of property tax exemptions. Uh, Deerfield already offers a range of veteran property tax exemptions. If clauses 22 I and 22J are
adopted, 22I, if accepted, would increase the amount of the tax exemption granted to disabled veterans um on their doiciles annually by a cost of living adjustment, a COLA, uh determined by the Department of Revenue based on the
consumer price index. For FY25, using a 2% CPI example, the town's increased liability would be approximately $58. This applies to all veterans with a
disability rating of 10% or more. Is that true? $58. Yeah. So, what what you're looking at is a um an example of what we would send out to the town. It's just a, you know, it's not anything written in stone right
now. What what you're really looking at is there's two exemptions that you could potentially recommend to the town to vote on, which would be the cola, which uh if you look at the spreadsheet a little later, u you'll see which Karen did a nice job sort of just putting that
together. Um it just shows you know there $58 would be added to the exemption and it shows you how it would play out over over the coming years at 2% could be 3%. whatever whatever cola comes in at through uh CPI. So that's just a ballpark. Okay. And then the
other exemption would be uh you can recommend up to a percentage up to 100% uh increase. Um, and so just looking at other towns, we've had some select boards, like for instance in
I think it was Belchure Town, uh, they're considering a 20% uh, increase. And so you can see if you add the 20% what that would look like in terms of uh, the taxes, in terms of the town. U, you can also see what the reimbursement
from the state is. So, um, you know, it's not it's not a lot. Um, but it is, you know, not a little either. So, you know, and that's per per person, correct? It's not a total the Well, you're looking at the rate is at the is the top one. So, you're seeing, you know, where you're seeing
the uh the increase on um a cola the cola. So, that's a rate increase. And then you see the 20% is the where it says the plus 20. Mhm. Um, so I I I don't have it in front of me, but I, you know, you're basically
looking at I think it was about $7,000 difference, I think. Um, so the question is, you know, are do we want to support the veterans in this way? Um, any increase in the percentage does not get reimbured by the state. So that's why we sort of put that in there.
So you could sort of see what I mean, you still get the the initial reimbursements, but uh you won't get the extra. Um so it's just kind of a way for local uh you know, local towns to support their veterans a little bit uh in and above what's already being done.
Yeah. So just so I understand clause 22J, is this saying that Deerfield already gives a 20%? No. This is would be if you want if you want to recommend this as a board to the town, you could say you could recommend 10% which would be a lower. This is just
an example of what some other towns have done. What are they getting now? Well, they're not. So, this is this is would be in and above. So, they're not getting the necessarily getting the cola which has to be uh appropriated by by town and voted by town. Correct. They
they are also not getting a percentage increase. So, this would be above what's already being done. But they are getting a tax credit. Yes, they they do get an exemption. And at this point, I think it's 4400. Is that correct? Yeah.
I mean, for me, I I would really just want to have a meeting with finance committee and just kind of talk about it. Yeah. It's it's more just to to get the get your sort of wheels Yep. thinking about thinking about it. And, you know, what what would be at a a percentage rate that you think would be acceptable to
the town, if any? Yep. Um, you know, I think COLA I think is a is a pretty strong case to make for that. Sure. Sure. So, yeah. Okay. Yep. Okay. Great. Thank you for that. Yeah, we'll we'll go through that. I'd love to talk to finance about that.
I don't know if we're planning to have a joy and finance select board meeting on Monday to handle year-end transfers. I think this I think this year it's looking like they're only going to be reserve fund transfers. So that could potentially be handled just by the finance committee on their own. Yeah.
Um but if we do end up with a joint, uh that might be an opportunity to discuss this further. That'd be great. Um and just one thing to add, you know, it may um I was thinking it has to happen at a at a town meeting, but it may have to actually h happen at an annual town
meeting in the spring when the budget is happening. So I think so, too. Yeah. Yeah. Just Yep. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, so the South County Senior Center intermunicipal agreement amendments, but
I I think we're waiting for council, right? I think we're waiting for Yeah. And I had this on the agenda in case we did get that back, but it sounds like we haven't yet. Yep. So, um, then the personnel board manual amendment adoption. This I think we were
looking at this as a first read last time, correct? And then um bump over that thing. It was the attendance and the vacation leave, right?
Correct. Yep. So, we're looking at um Can we just hit on the major changes for vacation was Yeah. And vacation is more straightforward. It's just a a tweak
essentially, you know, granting um you know, the the town administration some flexibility um when negotiating with new new hires uh for additional vacation time. And I think we we you know, we I've been
speaking with the personnel board about our overall vacation policy. Um it's challenging because obviously it's kind of built around a model where you would start at the ground floor and you would work here for 30 years and you would end up and it doesn't really work that way anymore. So we you know we do often run into the
challenge of wanting to hire a mid career professional um and we can't just offer them two weeks vacation because they won't accept. So Right. And they've been coming from a place with multiple weeks already or or Yeah. Or they Yeah. or they say they're not going to start for several
months because they want to get some more vacation time in. So, it's yeah, it creates challenges. Um and and we've been discussing it with the personnel board and you know what our options might be in the short term. It seemed like a a reasonable um way to allow some
flexibility uh when we're you know we've got new hires who have have needs that just aren't met by our current vacation policy. So this chart here is kind of what what the average would be and then based and then you'd have some flexibility depending on who you came across.
Yeah. So that this is the the chart you see pretty much everything you see there is just our current personnel manual and that that one section is highlighted. Exactly. Okay. Got it. All right. I'm good with that. Um, the attendance
is this is is this is fairly new, correct? Um, so so the attendance policy was something that was developed by Casey with the personnel board. Um, I think I think maybe it was my first personnel board meeting. They actually ended up voting it. They had gotten it to a place
where they were satisfied with it. Um, and so I'm I'm transmitting their recommendation to the board here. This is I can think where I said why are we not using like ADP or something. Right. Right.
Not to upend the whole apple cart, but time sheets are just going by the wayside. Uh but I guess that can always be amended. Yeah. And it, you know, it does include
some flexibility. Um you know up mentions you know by department. Um, so certainly, you know, I've run into this where, you know, for exempt employees, it often doesn't really matter to me when, you know, if you clocked in at this time or
clocked out at this time, you're often working a little bit on the weekends or, you know, after hours. So that kind of time sheet is just going to look different and recording those hours is going to just not be as meaningful. So you know potentially it just means you
know that in order to comply with this you have slightly different you know time sheets for different departments um because there are some positions here where it is more of a clock in clockout situation. Sure. Yeah. Yep. Okay. Inclement weather makes sense. Yep.
Okay, I'm good with both of these. Um, so pursuant to chapter 35 section 7D, the town of Deerfield bylaws, I move the select board amend the Deerfield personnel manual to include the attendance policy changes to the and changes to the vacation policy as
recommended by the personnel board effective July 1st, 2025. Second. Any further discussion? Yeah. Were we um looking at 20 years on vacation time? I thought we brought that up once before
going up another week for an employee that has 20 years with the town. What do they have now? Uh four. They have four weeks, right? I think so. At after That's what you max out at is four.
Well, we'd have to send it back to I mean, I think we could approve this and then yeah, request it. And like I mentioned earlier, you know, we have been talking to the personnel board about just the overall policy and, you know, what we could do to make it more competitive and fair, etc.
Yeah. Okay. All right. If you if we can do that, let's for sure pass it. Approve it. Okay. Uh, all those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel. I Good.
These are about the same. the cotification of vacation negotiations and tenants policy, right? That's all same thing. Um, so appointments we have uh
oh, Gretchen uh Baski is looking to serve on the Tritown Beach Commission. That's great. We have a motion here somewhere. Um, let's see. We don't have any other applicants, correct, for that position. Uh for
Gretchen, right? Correct. At this time, we do not. That's wonderful to hear. Um so I I move the select board appoint Gretchen Bay to the town uh Tritown Beach Commission for the term of July
1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026 in accordance with the recommendations of Patty Tlega, chair of said commission. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilchie I.
Trevor McDaniel I. Thank you. Thank you for serving. I really appreciate that. Happy to have you. Um so Mary Raymond uh school committee
representative appointment to the CIPC to replace Carrie Etch who was appointed on June 25th, 2025 by mistake. Clerical error. Gotcha. Okay. So, Mary Mary
Raymond is there. So, um let's see. Okay. Okay. Pursuant to chapter 10, uh, article six, section 15 of the town of Deerfield bylaws, I move the select board appoint Mary Raymond as the school committee representative to the capital improvement planning committee for the
term of July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. Second. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Trevor McDaniel. Thank you. Um,
what else we got? Scams. I guess we hadn't Oh, we did John Novea already, right? Yeah. Yes. Um, yeah. Had we Let me pull this out. Had we appointed Well, I don't think we appointed anybody from SKMS, correct? No, but we have I guess we have a
meeting next week. Or in theory, we do. Oh, okay. We need to I'm not sure what date's been set yet. I think the last one went on. It was the 15th. The one you were requesting, right?
Yeah. Tuesday was what I Yeah, that's what they I think they got it down. It's supposed to be here. A meeting here. Okay. It's Tuesday. Just trying to think of any of the others we have or haven't done. And you still want to do the fiscal
agent Blake? Yeah, I'll stay on Z. And Tim, you still want to be a rep? Um, yeah, I'm happy to serve. Okay. Um, and I see Matt in the audience. say some you still want to serve
a thumbs up. Any discussion on any of those? You know, in general, I think it's time that we take a look at the underlying agreement about scams and codify some things.
It's been 10 years. Yeah. I mean I I think that there should be a rolling chair every year like we do on the select board. Each town should have one year in that slot. I think we meet too far far too frequently. It I think it would be good to specify,
you know, what what is the booze goal and purpose. Mhm. Um, so I'm in favor of trying to, you know, have the town administrators talk about this, um, you know, and have the
boo talk about, you know, um, updating the updating this agreement. I don't know that it needs to be totally rewritten or anything, but of course um and you know I am
perfectly happy to turn over my my participation to someone else. I think I think that it would be nice to have more turnover in the board of oversight than has it to the to this date occurred. Um, most of the people on the
Boo used to work there as a an EMT at some point. And I'm I think Fred Baron and I are the only ones who haven't. Um, right. And I think it's a little too representative of people who used to be there. And I think that sometimes that
causes the boo to um, you know, get too involved in things that they don't necessarily need to be involved in. Um, but that's just me. That's, you know, after two and a half years on the BU, I'd like to see, you know, an
opportunity for regular change out. Yeah. And uh Okay. So, that's just my thoughts. Well, I think that's a good goal for the BU to look at this year. I think um I do you know as we just were doing with
the South County Senior Center um municipal agreement it's been 10 years I think when I first was elected um you know we had quite a bit of change in the schemes and we were trying to figure out where to get a home
and all that stuff and and kind of we came in I think it got select word heavy by all of us kind of coming on to that board and then once the space was sorted out I kind of stepped away and um I miss
that board tremendously. I really think the world of SKMS and I love to see the way um the growth it has going forward and the way they protect our residents and save lives is is amazing. Um
but it is important to kind of look at it yearly and and um or you know it's been several years now is to look at um the agreement. I think yeah it makes sense to have a rolling chair. You know some of the stuff that may have gotten
stagnant uh over the years for no reason other than just habit. Um it's good to revisit kind of decide you know how many meetings do we need to do? What's the general goals? It's always good for an organiz organization to refresh their goals and look at leadership and how how
the turnover should be and all of that. So I'm um I would encourage the BU to do that so that you know maybe by next year we could we could have a you know maybe a fresh signing of a of the agreement again and and and have
some growth. It's always good to re-evaluate where you're at, what you're doing. So, any other thoughts on that? Yeah, I think that u with some of the things that have been going on with the BU over that I've seen over the last year, there definitely needs to be some
reorganization and to just see what um again what what the booze goals are and where they're coming from. And again, we need to have more specific um not specific, but more
guidelines instead of specifics and um and work with those, but to stay in stay in line with those guidelines and not to be changing them as we go either. So, right, there's a lot of work to be done and I think that, you know, we can, you know, as the booth gets gets going.
I mean, they I'm not a voting member, but they're very open to me making suggestions and stuff. So, I think that that's that's work I thought that's worked out well. And I think that's something that we can agree expand upon. And it's even with you, Trevor, as far as
getting on board with some of the things that maybe we need to do to revisit. Yeah. Yeah, not like I I don't think that we need to completely revamp like Tim says, but we just need to tweak it and get it back into a more of a normal
running routine. Freshen freshen. Yeah. I mean, it may be that there's almost nothing that needs to be changed, but still a good department. Yeah. It just, you know, it's useful to re-examine a 10 year plus old agreement. Yep. For sure. To make sure it's meeting all the goals
and objectives of all the member towns. Mhm. Uh we are talking about uh well we've we've had u you know some some more of the intercept has become more of a thing that the the agency does. Uh it's led to some
revenue increases etc. And you know just just makes sense to see if there's anything that's outdated um or or anything that we're doing now that needs to be memorialized. So, okay, but ultimately,
you know, as long as the BU um starts talking about it and we'll get pulling pulling in the necessary people to to see whether it's necessary and if so, what what changes or additions need to be made.
Sounds good to me. Okay. With that, um, make a motion to appoint, um, C Blake Blake Gilmore, double named uh, fiscal agent Tim Hilchi Repus to Scams Bu and
Matt Russo as member for one year. Second. Any further discussion? I owed you a phone call and I didn't get to it today, but thank you for showing up. Good. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Elchi.
Trevor McDaniel. I thank you very much. You get Julian. I don't know if you want to talk to us about anything. I don't know. We're What else do we have? Um down to Chris's stuff. I think Oh, yeah. All right. I'm in the wrong
book. Our correspondence. Wrong darn book. Was Julie on when the when we mentioned the the meeting on Monday? And she was not. No, I think she jumped on a little late. Yeah, you want to mention that? Sure. It's in It's in my report. So,
great. So, as you may recall, July 15th is normally the last possible day for uh year-end transfers in municipal government in Massachusetts. Um I believe we're planning on holding a meeting on July 14th. So, that'll be Monday. Um still working with Brenda to
to finalize the agenda for that. Um, but it looks like it's going to be a finance committee meeting at the very least. Um, because they're mostly reserve fund transfers. I haven't identified with Brenda yet if there are any year-end transfers that requires select board
approval as well. Um, so Julie, I hope you were able to hear that. Um, and uh, you know, we should have something posted uh, tomorrow for that meeting. Um, other ongoing projects, just wanted to mention landfill solar. So, uh, we
had a pre-construction meeting with Nex AMP on Monday. Um, myself, Greg, Alex, uh, Matthew, all on site with Nex Amp. Um, just to to walk the site, talk about, uh, you know, most importantly access, um, how their construction
vehicles will access things, how, you know, how it'll interact with residents when they're using the transfer station. Um I think we went over this previously but you know the the plan is for when they are doing major equipment deliveries or anything like that those will be on the off days. So those will be on Monday, Wednesday, Friday just to
avoid any kind of tangling up with residents while they're using the transfer station. Um they are going to be using a fire lane that essentially goes from the current uh transfer station entrance and then hugs that front fence and goes around to the
right basically as you're entering. Um and that'll meet up with a new road that they're going to be constructing at the back of the site. Um they're coordinating with Matthew on moving a couple concrete blocks. Uh there's a brush pile that needs to be consolidated back there. Um but then they're going to be able to, you know, build their road
back there. So the timeline has extended a bit uh as as often happens with these things. So they're looking at um breaking ground on the road this fall and then uh having a you know actual groundbreaking on the installation of
the array in the spring. Um so that would probably mean it would come online closer to fall 2026. Um other other quick updates, uh Still Water Bridge, um still working with the state to to file a couple things. Um and
waiting on the legislature on their their end to file the the uh article 97 bill. Um I we did get an update from Mass a couple weeks ago. They've got about $50 million worth of projects held up on these article 97 issues. So they
have been speaking directly with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs about some kind of broader relief at this point u because it really is has become a major challenge for them. Um and this is even after the legislature updated the the law to try to streamline it make it
easier uh for agencies to you know do the things they need to do without you know too severe an environmental or recreational impact. Um, so meeting with council and masdot likely next week on that and then, you know, continuing to
have conversations with DCR and the executive office of environmental um, energy and environmental affairs about the actual article 97 replacement land. So hopefully have more updates on that front soon. on the um on the solar
did the gigantic, beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous bill uh cut a lot of incentives for solar. So, I did I did curious how it's affecting us. I did pose this question to um Nex Amp's project manager. He said they have zero
federal funding involved in that project. So, they're not impacted by it. Yeah. Um, and then a couple couple other things I just wanted to mention. So, Liry Lot, I think we mentioned maybe six months ago, Masdot had approached the town about um, some kind of deal where
they'd be managing our EV charging. Um, they finally kind of, I guess, talked to all the right people and finally come back around with a proposal. Um, so in the next couple weeks, we're going to be meeting with MASDOT um, about some kind of agreement that would be put in place.
Still a lot of details to be worked out. um you know and need to make sure that whatever it is it benefits the town. Um but could potentially look like a scenario where essentially they use one of their um vendors who handles you know uh statewide uh management of these
systems and basically just add the Liry lot level three charging and possibly level two charging to that as well. Um so could just take a little bit of burden off of town staff. I know Greg has has been working diligently at it. Um, so more to consider there, but we should be meeting with Mast on that
soon. Yeah. Right. We've got our own expert. And and lastly, I just wanted to mention um so uh you know, back at Falltown meeting, we had talked about putting Pumptic Rock and that whole parcel under article 97 protection. And we determined
we wanted to get a survey done and and kind of delineate where those utilities were and their access roads to make sure that they wouldn't be impacted by any kind of designation of that land as strictly open space and recreation. Um, as you may recall, the open space
committee went out, got a grant, uh, hired Birkshire Design Group to actually do the survey work. That survey was completed this summer. Um and currently we're having uh town council is just reviewing it to make sure that it kind of meets our needs with respect to any article that we might bring up at uh
either a special or annual town meeting to to complete that that process. Um but it's it's a it's a great piece of work that Berkshire Design did it. It's you a lot of old deeds referencing the brow of
the mountain and it's yeah so it's very it it's it's interesting. Um, but just wanted to mention that, you know, that's where we're at in that process. Okay. And, uh, lastly, just any questions on any other projects from the board? Happy to.
Um, just I was looking at the, uh, chapter 90 from Matt. Yes. Um, was this just kind of application for some money that he was going to Yeah. So, uh, and thank you for reminding me. Yeah. So, it's kind of unanticipated. Matthew just sent that
over uh, yesterday. So, he's been um looking at doing a wider pavement management program for the town. Um had one through Furcog, but it was way outdated. It didn't really line up with what the needs ended up being. Yep. And so he I think had tracked down
I know we've had I think it's Beta Group, which I think we've had do some work for us previously as well. Y um so he's got a quote there. um you know, chapter 90 generally, you know, at the uh sort of discretion of your department of public works
superintendent and I think he just wanted to, you know, give this lightboard a heads up. Yeah. Um since he's not spending it specifically on, you know, patching potholes, so to speak. It's really But I I would recommend that he take some amount of money and continue to fill potholes because I just about lost
my front tire on Mill Village Road the other day. Road. Mil Village. Yeah. So, there's a few spots that I I Yeah, but it was Sunday and I'm like, I am not texting him on a Sunday about a pothole. But now that this reminds me, I need to tell him.
You know, if he's got an iPhone, you can always schedule send. So, exactly. I'm going to snap it and Oh, that's right. I can schedule send. Well, I am I'm happy to see that without any intervention on my part, they did fill, you know, the uh the driveway coming out of the temporary library and
the the entrance to this area. They've patched there and yeah, you know, I don't know if they patched out in this parking lot, but they did a little bit up by the dump, too. That always gets when you're pulling out, everybody cuts the corner, so your tire goes in. But, uh, but yeah, there's a few spots that I'll take some
photos and send them along. So, I'm glad he's managing it. So, it's good. All right. So, that Yeah, that's helpful. And hopefully, um, Sherman Drive is high on the list because it's it's starting to go. It's not a private road. No, no, it's
probably it's on chapter 90. Um, all right. Good. Um, so he's just notifying us that he's doing this. Yeah, correct. He just wanted to kind of give again just because it's not the Yep. Yeah.
No. And then I think the only other item unanticipated was an abatement. Yes. And I don't have um I do know John. He had called me and he told me that he had these leaking uh things and wanted me to take a look at it. I just hadn't had a
chance to get in and get the bills from um Sarah yet. So, I just need to I put a count. Well, take a look. But there's no um there there should be an account a usage
in to check in your in there. Yeah. I just because I had to go to get it from Sarah today. Oh, yeah. Here we go. All right. Yeah. It gives you an idea of what the usage was and it's gone up considerably. Yeah. Um,
holy moly. Yeah, it did. Yeah, no kidding. Wow. Yeah, almost doubled from what it normally is. I think it's actually quite a bit higher than that. So I think it's because if you're looking if you look at the uh the
winter bills yes and those are yeah those are a little higher too but I mean it's it's came in at 5,000 for the previous summer bill was this
winter bill was this oh I see his winter bills are much even two winter bills were much higher. We can only abate the current year though, right? Um, yeah, it must have started last year sometime. Okay. So, I won't take the
time now to do it, but I'll I'll do it uh and I'll bring it back to the board to approve. Thank you. Yep. Try to get to the to the bottom of that. Thank you for that data. Um, any other items? any any reports on how
the um the quarterly tax payment is being received? Any nothing from Sarah yet? Yeah. Um they're not uh there's not information on the bills and I talked to u Sarah about it that it will be out in the next
bills. In other words, what their assessment was that they're actually paying and stuff. That was the only thing I was getting out of that. The first the first two are like estimated correct and then the the second two are any adjustment that needs to be made. I just know they're too high. So
whatever it is they were too high. Yeah. I I will say I've been told I know Sarah did a lot of uh leg work trying to get the word out, you know, with with stuffers in the last few uh mailings. So hopefully every no one's going to be caught totally unawares.
No. No. It seems seems easier to do too. and most are done by the mortgage company anyways. Yep. Um, do we have any other items to discuss? Any other comment or anything? No. What
do you The only thing I would I would mention we should you know, we have a tonight or we Oh, we were going to want to continue working on the Oh, did you Well, so that's what I was going to ask. We we obviously had two interviews with town accountant candidates earlier. a
minute and go through these. I mean, unless you guys, if you have a minute, we could we could go through these and make a decision. I could anyways. Yeah. Um, I've got time. Okay, let me just uh go through these real quick. Uh, where did I put them?
Here. Oh, yeah. to finish this. Um well, it was nice to have two very good candidates to look at. Um grateful for their applications. I um
before we Go ahead. I was just going to say please um did the Did the committee have any sense the the review committee did they have any sense of their thought? I'm not that I mean I've
got numbers so I'm just curious if you felt one candidate was well I think I think uh you know of the two candidates we recommended one of them interviewed much better in the initial interview. Um their writing response to the prompt we provided was
not as good. However, um and then of course, you know, the earlier candidate we interviewed has a terrific resume in terms of the experience needed. Um but I, you know, I I felt and I I'm not just saying this to get out of it. I
feel like we'd be in pretty good hands in with either candidate. Um and you know, that's my that's my two cents. Okay. Um and did you one other question did you have any um
discussion about what well I don't know if we I'm interested in you know Ammerst pay salary versus Deerfield salary and you know whether that was um or you know the private sector salary
versus deerfield salary. Yeah and we we know that we can find out the ammer salary. can't find out the private sector salary as easily. Um, no, we didn't really get into that part of it. Did they knew what was was posted, what the salary would be, though. And
the correct thing that I got out of both of them was they were looking to downsize a little bit. And so I I I don't think that the salary portion of it is going to be an issue with them. Maybe it is, but you know, I was just I agree. I think
they both were looking for a better work work life balance. Right. Mhm. So, um my my sense is one is is far superior in quality of uh experience of of of the
experience that they bring to the table. Um yeah, it's an easy choice for me. I I um I would I would recommend Holly Drake for sure. Um just with with the amount of stuff we have going on um it it is
going to be really hard to bring somebody in and try to educate them on all the municipal stuff um and get them up to speed whereas one has all of that experience already and um in spades I think. So,
um, and I really my that final question was kind of how do you work with the team and and how do you work with us? And I I think I got a satisfactory answer to that because I was I was concerned like,
oh, you know, I have a staff do this and I'm not really, you know, I don't how many meetings do I have to go to? It wasn't really that. It was I think you know it's going to be a culture shock difference I think for Holly if she accepts the job. Um just coming from
that but I think that's what she's looking for. She's looking for a little bit of a different more of a hands-on kind of slower pace than than a large budget like that with a big council. Just my my guess from talking uh with
her. But I think I think they're both wonderful people and I think Holly uh just comes with a just a wealth of education and knowledge to be able to carry us right through into budget season. And as much as I don't want to lose Brenda, I think it would give her
her retirement, she deserves a lot sooner. Very true. And we did all feel that, you know, Olly could walk in here day one and she would be ready to to do the job just because of her experience. Yeah. What are your thoughts, Blake? I I went through and did the numbers on
the questions and I I came up with uh with Holly. Yeah. So, I mean uh again, I'm a little biased because I know her family. Um I haven't seen her in years, so I mean it wasn't like I Right. You know, but as soon as I walked in, I knew who she was.
Yeah. But um she sounded like she was, you know, definitely very proactive. Seems like a team player. Seems like she's, you know, willing. She's there to help. And that's, you know, that's a feeling I got with Brendan. I need that same feeling. Whereas
with um Kimberly, I think that she would eventually get to that point, but I don't think that she's had the experience that that um Holly's had. So I would definitely go that route. And I sort of um
I liked some of the educational background that Kimberly has and you know UMassrad and uh you know worked for Ernston Young. I thought that was you know a good experience. Um but she doesn't have the municipal
angle. So, you know, I would be in favor of, you know, make a motion to authorize the town administrator to, you know, uh, enter into contract negotiations, right? Uh, we know that she wants to give at least a 30-day
notice. And so, you know, hopefully we could get her on board mid August or something if she accepts. So, I second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Elchi I.
Trevor McDaniel I. Thank you very much screening committee for giving us two great people to look at and um yeah congrat I hope you can strike a strike a deal please. Yeah.
So um with that um do you need anything else from us? Just let us know. But um yeah entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Milchie I. Trevor McDaniel I. Thank you all very
much. Have a wonderful night.