Good evening and welcome to the November 3rd, 2025 meeting of the Hland Select Board and Board of Health. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> We are broadcasting from the former Corn W. Burges School now the New Hamlin Town Hall on 85 Wham Road. This meeting is being broadcast over Zoom as well as uh being recorded. Is
there anyone else recording the meeting? Seeing none, uh first item on the agenda will be to go into a posted executive session. Again, a motion. Uh I move we go into executive session pursuant to general laws 30A section 21A2
to discuss strategy in session and prepar negotiations with non-union personnel that police achieve for his cont contract and return to open session. >> Second all those in favor by name John Pai. >> Don Dai Eric Vanderly.
>> Thank you. We'll be back to the thousands of people on YouTube. We'll be back later. Are you going to do this? [Music] >> So there's nobody else in
the room. >> Can they read it? >> Right. >> You want us to stop recording? >> Yeah, I just stop. >> Yeah, right. >> Well, I'll Yeah, but then how will Lauren are you able to do the notes? Or you just you started taking them now or usually use the recording for minutes.
>> Yeah, but I can't for exact session, >> right? I got >> people coming down the hallway trying to figure out where the heck we are. >> We can follow the signs. >> Yeah, the sign. Well, good. So, while
we're on any uh anything to report, Brian got a couple things uh right there. We got a couple other things. Oh, we're waiting for some people. >> Uh, you have a request from town Wilberham to meet. >> Mhm. >> In regards to the regional agreement. >> Really? >> Yeah.
>> Yes. >> They'd like to meet with you. >> What say you? >> If they have new things to discuss or new approach. We love our neighbors in Wolverampton. We are all one big happy regional family, aren't we?
>> We are. >> Where does that say that? Where? >> It's somewhere. There's no bylaws done. >> No, no. The request specific date or >> No, the request was sent to uh chair person Flynn and I was a CCA on it.
>> The court asked John to coordinate a uh check with the board to see if they would be willing to >> meet with Wilberham to talk about the original agreement in particular the Wilberham Middle School. um the possibility of a carveout for the HVAC
systems and then uh further discussions on um what Craig had proposed in terms of having some the town having some um ownership and the investments if the
school would be sold or not used as a school. [Music] How about they offer anything at the golf course? >> What are they?
>> Well, owners, we'll forgo ownership in the school. So, you can have fire ownership on the golf course. >> Oh, I thought you saying we should meet like a golf thing like us versus them. >> Yeah, we could do that, too. >> All right. We need to bring that fourth member you have, you know, like Yeah, that rainer. >> Our new assistant.
>> Our new assistant. Yeah. Special assistance of the president, as they call. Uh >> I think I think we're willing to explore it further. Yes. Yeah. >> They can't just sit there forever and stuff. >> Right. Right. >> So my only request was that it happen after the move.
>> Exactly. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So maybe early December, late November. Early December. >> Yep. Good. >> Good. How give us an update on the move. So what's our current Oh, talk about the room. >> Brian the meeting room.
>> Yeah. So, um, >> for the select board meeting room, when when the floors were stripped for the, uh, stripped in preparation of waxing them, a lot of the tiles are starting to pop up in the select board meeting room to the point where it's probably not
safe to walk on. >> Um, >> so, we're going to have to figure out an approach as to what we want to do there. Um, Herb was able to get a price on on a larger area rug. Obviously,
that's a very temporary solution, too. That's a not even really a solution. It's it's a band-aid, right, for >> um but it's going to it's going to need to be I think when the when the stripper was put on it, it's just the adhesive underneath the tiles wasn't strong
enough to keep them >> keep them out. >> I think you know, obviously there's a lot more exposed now that everything's out of the room now. probably they did even you know desk um I think obviously we're going to lose some of the benefit when we had a buy deer before we had
like a an add-on price you know there's a certain base they want to come and then do a room I'm not 100% sure but it would seem to me that we had a budget for what we were doing and we kind of like in the back of our mind was we're doing that budget
without the earmark now that we have that money back from the state we should have a little flexibility in what we had planned to do with x number of dollars that okay now what we were going to do in this pile is going to be able to shift it shift it against the earmark and maybe we have a
few bucks left to get this room done. I don't think putting a rug on it just pushes the problem down the road and we're going to it's going to be a hight traffic room for us because of our meetings. I think the right thing this is a fine meeting room get that room done. We'll
have our meetings in here until it's finished. And I I think we have the four rooms there. Let's get a price on all four if they're because you said there was a base pricing last time we were talking was 900 bucks to do
another room when we added a couple on. >> I think it was more than that for the abatement. >> Yeah, >> I think it was more than nine. >> I thought it was 900 cuz we talked about the ones down the side as well. Either way, >> yeah, >> I think, you know, get a price on that
and then do it right one time, not come back next year and oh, we got to patch it again. >> No, the year the ear mark is for the doors, the uh access points, right? >> Right. Which we're going to have to cover inside cover, right? >> Yeah. >> The last uh estimate that I did, I think
it was around $40,000 >> for the access points. um that when I when I when I shifted the cost of the cameras and the electronic electronic access controls to the earmark, it freed up about >> based on other things that that we wanted to get done. I think it freed up
about 40,000. >> That's good. >> Yeah. And I had a conversation with Tony Gentile today. He gave me a call about the radio thing. >> But he also mentioned that he's hopeful that he can cover the camera cost inside his budget. So that might free up a little money too that we thought we were
going to have to cover for. >> He'll be here tonight because he's going to be there for the award thing as well. Maybe we can schedule him for a future meeting. But again, I'm just a proponent of do one time so you're not doing it again. >> So I think that we should look at that cost. And like I say, if we have to
shift operations to here, >> we can do it. That's all. The only thing that's going to push if if I'm saying we should do all four that might impact the other departments that we're hoping to go into. That's tax. >> Yeah. I'm not sure we could do all four at the same time. They're >> No, I mean that was the worst of the
three, but >> the other ones are are stripped and rewaxed and they're they're >> they're better in >> good shape. Yeah. >> Hi. Hello. Hi. >> Amazing. I know. >> You follow the signs? I follow the signs.
orange for Halloween. That >> was appropriate. Thank you. >> Leftovers. >> So, based on that, Brian, you're going to get pricing. >> Yeah, I agree. I think we should do it, right? We're going to do it. We're going to spend any money instead of spending 1,500 on a carpet. Let's
>> You said the uh the demoral cost was around 5,000 a room ballpark high four or something like that. >> Take a second at that point. We need this. I think we were waiting. >> Well, if we're doing at that point, now we're resurfacing. Exactly. Yeah.
>> At that point, >> put that in the front lawn. Maybe horse garage. >> Well, they gave us a ton of stuff. We should give it back. >> Sure. >> If we redo the floors, do you want to keep the sink and cabinets or no? >> I would say no. >> Okay. Cuz that's the time to
>> cuz we were concerned before that it was going to make a gap on the floor. Well, now >> that's moved. >> Well, it's 529. Do we want to start early or do we have anything else to discuss? I guess we can just real quickly last
thing on the tree lighting. So, Dr. Ed, they can do Sunday. Maybe not as big as before, but they can do that. The lady at the school, Cara, says they're available Sunday to sing. The only thing we haven't heard back from is Marcelina.
How's he doing with the uh the electrician about getting power over to the tree? Even if it's not done, we can also run an extension cord >> for that night. >> It's not like there's going to be a foot of snow >> ever. >> Ever. Ever. >> You don't know.
>> Oh, thank you, Farmer. That guy. >> Yep. >> Caterpillars in your yard. Halloween. >> What about the What about the bake sale? The PTO request of a bake sale at these Christmas tree lighting. >> They did. >> Did they? >> I did. I I thought I you were waiting to
hear back from the port of health coordinator. >> Oh, okay. >> I didn't know. Apparently, the lady came in today looking for a permit. >> I did not know that. >> Oh, >> I didn't know it was a >> I don't have any >> She gave Lori paperwork, but I said I
don't even know the definite date of it yet. >> I don't have any problems with other than You would think that normally we just give out free cookie and candies, don't we? >> Normally, set up in the auditorium. They have a table full of >> usually scouts do. I thought Yeah,
>> but sure. >> Big sale. >> Who says no? >> Well, >> it's up to you, Mr. Bor Healthcare. >> I I kind of like to get my cookies for free. I'm kind of used to that. >> Okay. I Thank you.
>> I'm fine with it. >> Great. >> All right. So, we're still locked down for the seventh time. Great. So, now it is 5:31. I'm sorry we're late. >> Oh, no. No worries. >> We have before us uh Becky Morardi, the executive director of the Hamlin Senior Center. Hello.
>> She's here to talk about the tax workoff program. >> I am. T is the season for the annual renewal of the tax workoff program. We have 14 slots. Each person gets a $2,000 abatement. Just looking to see if you're in favor of the program continuing
through 2026. The assessor sent an email and they said that u the 14 positions at 2,000 would still be affordable. >> It didn't go up >> the >> No, I mean from the last year's I know
it's gone up in the past from 15. >> Yeah. No increase for 2026. >> Okay. How many were used last year? >> 14. >> All 14. >> Huh. >> Yeah. Townhouse um Zoom operator. Are you going to want that again next year? Is it possible to get two for two
>> if we Yeah, maybe. Yeah, >> we have one for one that can use for the planning in >> Hong Kong. >> Well, if I'm saying if we're expanding to two, does that mean somebody else loses what they had last year? >> Yeah, but that's that's first come first serve based on Yep. And it's all based on the application says check off, you
know, where you're interested in in working. So, um it will continue to be the police department, the library, the senior center, the townhouse. Um I know that parks had some questions about maybe adding some. So I don't know if parks would be included in that as well.
>> Um but people you know check off and then it's a lottery >> a lottery for the people per job or the actual jobs. >> So it is so if seven people said they want to work for the library, those seven people go into a lottery for the
library. If they said they would work at the library or the senior center, then they're in the lottery for both departments. >> Okay. If 16 positions are brought to you for the 14 spots, how do you decide which two don't get?
>> So, I don't know that we would have 16 positions that came forward, but if we did, for some reason, we would have to lottery those as well. >> That's what I'm saying. And if we used all 14 and now we're hearing from parks that they're interested, potentially there could now be gosh one more than we have.
>> So either we lottery it, maybe we go back to the assessors and say, gosh, can you sneak one more in or something? I >> I mean the the way that it is right now is that all of the positions that are requested by other town departments are filled and then the senior center takes
the leftovers, if you will. So, we fill the other slots >> just so they're utilized and people have an interest in in being there. So, >> okay. And the requirements for being a tax workoff participant is >> um you have to be 60
um 60 and over and you have to be an assessed owner of a property as of January 1st. Um, and you have to have owned your property and paid property taxes for the for the at least five years. >> Is there an income level or no? >> There is not.
>> Okay. >> I got an opening. [Music] Just saying. >> Yeah. Right. >> So, for next year, everybody has to work 134 hours to get the full abatement. >> So, you and I can be tax work offices.
>> Mhm. >> Okay. Great. >> Put down two for the select board, please. [Music] lottery. >> One of us. >> Okay. So, we got a paper rock scissors done. They can take one of us.
>> Great. >> We're very in favor of >> Are you voting on that? >> Motion to approve the tax work program for 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Thank you. So if parks comes forward with a job description, then that would be approved by you all and then given to
me to put into the program. So I don't >> When do you when do you advertise those? Typically >> within the next two weeks. >> So we need >> we have job description in your folder that Dan sent what he was looking for. >> No PowerPoint.
[Applause] >> Oh yes. So one from Dan. Yeah. >> Yeah. [Music] What are you doing now? >> We have this. >> Oh, yeah. >> No, the uh Yeah,
>> does it officially start January 1st? >> January 1st >> and then only to the end of November. >> Okay. I didn't realize it to the end of November until you mentioned that recently. I thought it was through the end of the calendar year. No, because the month of December is when Dick Patel and the assessors have to get all of the paperwork in. Yeah. So,
>> Oh, so technically, uh, Ruth would not be available available for Zoom during December. >> No. >> Or we have to pay her basically. >> I don't know if she's interested in doing it next year. >> She's she's travel. Yeah. No, she's been
great. She's been a huge help, but she also travels a lot and she's not sure. Okay. show the time. >> You think you want to though? >> Yeah, because we had hired a few kids as Zoom operators for like planning and concom been very reliable. Okay. So, Ruth's
been doing some of these meetings and it's been a lot on her. >> So, the same job description, just two positions. >> And I mean, if we can add in possibly helping with minutes, I don't know if you can do that. That's, you know, it's been helping and that's been a huge help.
So the money part of it though. So for instance, look at this facilities attendant and you mentioned there's a $2,000 credit they're working towards. >> That's the Y. >> Who sets the pay rate for this person?
>> It's based on the Massachusetts minimum wage. So everybody gets $15. >> Oh, that's it. No matter what the job is. >> Yep. Okay, that's it. So that makes it >> it's standard >> 134 hours a year. >> That's what I was asking. Yeah. >> Thank you.
>> So they have to be not less than 60 years old. >> That's the requirement. You have to be 60 and a homeowner for at least 5 years. Property owner and taxpayer. [Applause] This is including maintenance as well.
This might be a tough position to fill with the requirements for being in the program. This person will say maintain sweeping floors of being trash. Um,
would you say that the tax work people are volunteers in some sense or no? Is there a >> I mean I mean they're paid right essentially >> they're credited against their taxes but if they don't show up is there a penalty
for not completing their >> so if they don't complete the 134 hours they don't get the full abatement >> right but I mean so they're under the so they get assigned to a position and they're under that department basically and it's that department's >> decision look you're not showing up they
can't have you stay on >> it's up to the department head. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> I don't know. I just wonder if this is too physical a job for the requirements for the position. In my experience, this is a lot of times
have been done >> maybe a teenager or something like that. I was picking up a little extra money for, you know, like the scores like the over 60. >> Could be a little bit of a physical, >> right? >> Let's see if anyone's interested.
>> We can put it on there. I mean, job description, we can put it on there. It would be on the application >> and then it's really based on if someone selects it or not. because we wouldn't put, you know, 87y old Mary who wants to >> work in the kitchen at the senior
center. >> And who verifies that? Is that the assessors or is that you? I mean, they say, "Okay, we're in good shape." >> We're picking um Mary Brown. We picked her for this job here >> and it's up to the assessor. Well, by
the way, Mary's 59. She doesn't qualify. or is it is it an honor system for the people who run their part of the program to verify they meet all check all the boxes? >> So that goes through me. >> So if someone applies and they're not eligible based on their age or
>> residency or >> residency, but it then goes to the assessors. Okay. >> So then the assessors have to verify that they are property owner and that they've been paying taxes. And there have been some people turned away because their house is in a trust and it's not really in their I mean there have been >> circumstances where they've denied
people. Okay. >> So there is oversight through >> and then it goes to the assessors and then they go into the lottery pool and then they get selected. And for some positions like the police department position in the past the chief has always wanted to interview those people
and so that's allowed as well. So if three people say they want to be the clerk at the police department then the chief has the option to interview those people bring them in and see who would be the best fit. We like to have someone there who has police experience. Well,
that was Chief Trumbley who has police experience. So, >> right. And then then they may require a Corey check. Maybe Parks even requires a Cy check or something, but that >> everybody gets Cory check through the program. >> It does. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I don't see an issue. I mean, there checks and balances should be added.
Yeah. All right. >> So, we'll put it in the park. >> Sure. >> Position. Okay. >> Okay. >> Sorry. Do you want to find I'll take a motion to add the park position. Should I get all in favor? I >> Thank you.
Right. Okay. Next on the agenda we have before us Becky Marotti from the senior center. Welcome Becky. >> Thank you. >> Hope you like our new digs. >> It's nice. >> Spacious room.
>> Great. >> No. The chief was just here. If you want to slide it closer, we encourage that. You know, >> feel like this is not supposed to be the line. >> Behind the line. >> The safe zone. >> The safe zone. Yeah. >> Closer to the door.
>> You don't want to interfere with the the mouse ball game. >> You know, I was just looking at that. Yeah. >> Pizza pie. >> We were playing that before. >> Nice. Still there. >> Don't know what that means. Okay. >> So, hi.
>> Hi. So you have a request to um basically a job description change for the outreach coordinator. >> Correct. >> Uh there would be a grade and step change request. >> That is my request. >> The funding for that you could take from
the state grant and that's appropriate for that type of funding. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, I know you've had a conversation with uh Brian about this about the duties that are involved with the description and I think your point was that this person has been doing those
already for a number of years. >> Correct. >> I think the board has been we went through this with other people that work for the town, Jane, Lauren, not so much Brian, but that work in excess of what they're pay
for because they're they've got a good attitude. They they do the job. It's like Becky, you know, she you're what 37 hours a week? >> 37 and a2. >> I don't think she's hit a 37 hour a week yet, you know, because they don't leave
their the people the job they're doing. So, same thing with this person here, you know, been there for years and been a valuable assistant to to Becky. But even if it wasn't that person, that
role still needs to be there because you're a department head, you need somebody that's quantified as the assistant for people to go to. It seems very reasonable. And I actually am surprised that it was a uh a grade
three to begin with, you know, for that type of responsibility when we're seeing Don. Most these admin assistants are four or fives at least. >> You're a six or seven. >> I'm a six. >> You're you're adding hours too, right? Um, so I the funding is there to add
hours. Um, I can I could do it now in within the budget or I can wait until July. I don't know if it makes a difference um to you. I mean certainly she's >> but the but the appropriated amount would not change. >> Not the town appropriation. No.
>> Well, what next year though? Aren't there some hours that are paid for other appropriation or it's all great plant-based? Um so uh yes there are some hours that are paid out of town appropriation and then the other piece was the federal grant which
is no longer in existence. So the additional for this and the loss of the federal grant will be absorbed by the state grant. >> Right? But if say 8 hours or eight hours during the day, >> 3 hours are town and five hours are
grant. If there's a great change for the three hours, won't that increase what's needed to pay the three hours? No, the other the grant will still cover the change for the other five hours because that's I mean >> the grant can absorb the change for this
fiscal year. So I mean if there was a change in rate of pay for next year >> but that would be just like if I get a 2 and a half% then my appropriation will change for next year. So this appropriation would also change. It would just be at a new base. >> It would be at a new
>> rate of pay. >> Okay. Yeah. So there's at this point if this is approved there's no impact to your budget for this year. >> Correct. >> Okay then. [Music] >> Approval >> motion to approve the uh job restructuring to assistant director.
>> And I'm sorry Brian you're looking for a grading step. Uh you were asking for a 53. Um well my opinion is that it's it's a great buy position that the step would be based on uh the individual whoever whoever is selected for the position. We
we would we we should be looking at the step at that point. The step is usually based on the experience. The grade is usually based on the position responsibilities. >> All right. So finally entertain a motion to uh amend the job description with a corresponding grade of five.
>> So move second. All in favor? >> I. >> The director will then come back with a name for that position which we'll assign a step to. Is that what you're saying, Brian? >> Then that we can evaluate the experience and go with a step change. >> So it's it's currently the same person.
>> So all right. So you're then saying Wendy Cows would be the person for that job. >> Correct. >> She has how many years of experience in this room? >> 16. >> 16. >> That was the best you could do. And and so my my talking about a a step three for the position is that
>> most of this new responsibility has really been added in over the last two years because we've had >> a loss of a staff member. So we've restructured and kind of moved responsibilities around. And so over the last two years, she's really been doing all of these responsibilities. So that's
where I came in at at the third step. >> And she's currently a step nine in their current role as outreach. >> She's currently a step nine. I I would say the step three would be very appropriate based on the experience. >> Great. >> Good.
>> Okay. A motion to make it step three for that person. So move >> second. All in favor? Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Are you on the agenda again? >> I I don't think I'm on your agenda again now. I'll I'll be in the next meeting.
>> Okay. We'll see you in the next room. Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. Send the next people in. >> Okay, sure. >> Who was that guy there? I see him out in the hallway. I know. How's that security going? Huh?
>> I know. A freaking active shooter out there. Warren, >> don't even sit down. >> Warren, go out there. >> Don't even say Oh, you're sitting on closer to the door right here. >> All right. Is there any other business to come before the board before we go to
the uh town meeting? No sir. >> All right. We had one change in the uh the motions uh through the work Don Becky investigating the grant thing. We're able to take no motion no action on the uh transfer which is good for
>> and it will only Yeah. It only really helps free cash the following year basically. Yeah. >> But at least it's there. >> It's there for next year. Yeah. >> Did you do you have the motions? >> Everything's all set up upstairs. >> Okay. >> Upstairs. I mean just there
>> down there over there >> over there. >> Yeah. I don't know what the advisory has, you know, what they're working on right now. I think this should be a fairly straightforward town meeting. I think the longest thing will probably be could be a CPA thing. What our that
could be tell us about that turnaround. >> Well, the drone never know. >> But from the regular things, it'll probably be the time taken to explain >> the 650. That could take five minutes. It could take 20 minutes.
[Music] But that's right. At the end of the day, we're paying our bill. >> Sorry about that. >> Not honky tonking over here. All right. So, we're not going to adjourn our meeting. We're just uh relocating.
Um, we're not keeping our Zoom running though cuz we're going to be on the town meeting Zoom. >> Um, at this point we're not making any decisions. H >> live stream to YouTube, not Zoom technically. >> YouTube. So we might as well adjourn our meeting. Yeah.
>> Mot. Second. >> All in favor? I >> Thank you. Is that quick