Okay, welcome to our meeting. We'll begin with our public participation at town of Hatfield select board meetings. The town the Hatfield select board welcomes everyone to its meetings and all public meetings of the town of Hatfield. All regular and special meetings of the boards and the committees of the town of Hatfield shall
be open to the public and shall confirm to the open meeting law. Executive sessions are closed to the public and will be held only as prescribed by the statues of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is important to recognize that the open meeting law affords the opportunity to listen to the
proceedings but not necessarily participate during meetings of the select board. An attempt will be made to find a balance between hearing from members of the community and conducting the required business of the Hatwood select board for the public's information. This meeting is being
recorded. Uh I do want to begin by saying thank you to the DPW and our emergency services for working through this last storm. It's it was a big one and it was a lot of work, a lot of hours put in by the DPW
and I do want people to know that there's still continuing cleanup. So, uh they will eventually get everything done within a day or so. So, uh want you to be aware of that. And those are
basically and again uh if you can clean your hydrants, that's what we've talked about. Clean your fire hydrants if possible. And those are my announcements for this evening. I don't know if my colleagues have >> I'll just add clean off your cars before you drive away too, please. I'd
appreciate that. >> You know what I mean? >> I'm all good. >> Okay. Uh, anybody here for public forum? Uh, no. All right. I will take a motion on the minutes.
>> I'll make a motion to approve February 10th, 2026 meeting minutes. >> Second. >> Motion made. Motion seconded. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Posted business. We're going to be moving into budget reviews.
Uh this evening we have with us the police department, fire and EMS, and Council on Aging. And then we also do have a uh hearing at 6:00. So if we're anywhere near 6, we'll have to stop. And
we actually have two hearings, one at 6:00 and one right after. So uh that's how we'll proceed. So we'll start with Chief Doc is here with the police department. He is ready to present his department budget for the coming year.
>> I I believe you guys have a copy of it. Um they're it's level funded for the most part with the exception of a contractual increase for me going into the uh fiscal 27 year. Um
and there's also an addition in this year's budget. We our comfort dog program um wellreceived um wellliked um officer Lavali uses the
comfort dogs for different events um around the area um and in the school system. We have recently found out that we were not complying with the Fair Labor Standard Act. Um and it looks like
many departments across the state were not because the dogs are privately owned. So, um, until it was brought to all of our attention statewide that we still need to, she's not allowed to do it for free.
Essentially, the law doesn't allow her to volunteer her time. So, with that being said, um, the recommendation is 30 to 60 minutes per day she would have to be paid and that's 365 days a year. So
at 30 minutes per day uh times half her uh rate as a uh part-time officer um that's another $442 a year in salary um without discussing the co any das this year um because we
don't know that answer yet but um so that number is in that salary line as well along with some expenses for the dog the liability insurance and then um the normal upkeep. So essentially what
the law says is you have to pay them for at least a minimum of 30 minutes per day and um general upkeep, food um and that type of stuff.
So that total runs to about 66 $66,700 in the addition to the budget. So that's the increase in the expense along with the increase in the salary line if we want to keep keep the comfort dog program. Um I hope we do keep the
comfort dog program. I think it's a it's a wonderful program that's got that um I think has a lot of support in town. Um it is of course an an extra added expense but um I have spoken with the town attorney on it as well. He's gone
over he's gone over this and essentially if we go forward um we would write up a contract um that would uh we that the town would have with officer Lavali and Luna.
>> So basically what you're saying is the fair labor law says anybody any department that has a animal >> they they have to be compensated something for taking care of that animal throughout the year. So, this is where this is coming from and our lawyer is
going to write up something for us to sign. Is that what we're saying? >> If we get funding for it, >> yes. If if um the town funds the program, then yes, we won't go forward with any contract or anything like that until I know that funding >> approved for it.
>> I have heard it's money well spent for for the department to have a dog. It's it does a lot, right? I mean, I don't know if you've heard anything bad about the town and the dog. Only positive stuff. >> Only positive. Yeah. >> Yeah. And it's good with the kids and
>> and with others. So, >> yeah. And and Officer Levali enjoys doing it, too, which is she really enjoys doing it. And uh so >> Well, well, thank you for the explanation because I saw that in the money line and I was wondering what that was for. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's that extra whatever
almost $7,000. That's what that is for. So, >> so are does this include money to to buy the food for >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, essentially the the breakdown is just the um food, the heartworm, the yearly wellness
check, so on and so forth. Um what I spoke with the town attorney about was essentially what if the dog gets sick or something and we would not be responsible for that. It's a still a privately owned animal. um we are
we benefit um from having the dog and that's why we have to pay for the for those um normal expenses. >> Okay. I mean I I your your budget request is modest. I mean it was a very
small percentage. And can you have any idea of your future department? anything you want to add that you may see coming at us in the next few years or anything of that nature? >> The only thing I can say about that is the same thing we've been discussing for
the last four years, which is personnel. Um, nothing's going to fix our current issues except for more bodies on that police department. Um, as everyone knows, uh, we just lost, um, Officer
Johnson. He is retiring uh due to a a medical condition. So we're down to three people working right now. That's myself, uh Lieutenant Phillips, and Officer Monz. So, um it's hard to it's hard to cover everything uh with that.
Uh and there's there's unfortunately days where there might be no coverage. So, the only thing that fixes that is is hiring more people. But you can't hire more people without more money. So >> yeah, those are my questions. I don't know if my colleagues have any questions
on the budget or >> anything for Chief. >> I'm good. >> Nope. It's pretty straightforward. >> Okay. Well, we thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Yeah, I appreciate you. >> Okay, we'll move to fire EMS next on the
uh topic one. Chief Clarity is here just to give us an update on his budget. Good evening. So, we have our uh packet in front of you. Um I did submit two budgets. We'll talk about the 27
level service budget as requested. Um if you've had a chance to look through it, we just made a few adjustments here and there at the end of the day. Um, it actually only ends up being about a 2700 or 2,2727
increase and that basically comes from contractual for myself. We how we got there was part of this budget is built based off of, you know, the closing of North Fire Station and I know that's a topic to come up later. Um, and that helped us absorb some of the other
expenses that were changed in the line. And then we moved some lines around on the salary side based off of the previous couple years of expenditure. So ultimately that level service is the only ad the only addition ends up being a little less than what the contractual agreement is.
>> How many uh full-time do we have now? >> Three, counting myself. >> We did fund before for four, right? So, you're still struggling to find people to >> It was never fully funded for the fourth position. >> No, >> it was it was discussed, but it wasn't actually enough money funding it at the
end of the day when you put everything together. So, um so other than that, fireside, that's pretty much the budget as you see it. Um I said we have that other conversation coming up and that could change that budget number just that $1,200 depending on where that
goes. um ambulance budget. Um that level service was just a $730 increase um as it stood and that was essentially just uh a little bit of expense due to the
software program that we use. They go up, you know, 3 to 4% every year and that was basically to absorb that cost and that would be coming out of the ambulance revenue that would not be from taxation. So, that's that's that part. What I do have
that came up since I've submitted this, and it was actually only dated February 11th. Um, something that I think we I kind I knew it was coming. I've expressed it for a couple of years. Um, but South County EMS, who is our primary
mutual aid provider, they have submitted a letter as of February 11th, that beginning July 1st, they are going to start charging the town of Hatfield for any mutual aid calls to town. And that is regardless of call disposition. So, soon as they get dispatched, if they're
canceled, no trip, whatever the case may be, they are going to charge a fee to the town of Hatfield. And that's $350 per call. Um, based off of the first half excuse me, of FY26, they have already come to town 94 times.
Uh, so that equates to $32,900 if that was in today's uh if this agreement was in place. Uh, so you take that out and it basically goes to $65,800 if you extrapolate that out for a full 12-month period. So that is
definitely something that I have the letter here and I gave a copy to Andrew. certainly can get you guys a copy of it, but that is something that is going to be happening July 1st. So, we are going to have to fund that. >> I guess we'll have to have a discussion on that because this first I'm hearing of it. >> Like I said, the letters
>> Yeah, we'll have to sit down and try to see what's going on and >> they'd like to have a conversation with us. So, was we we would talk. Chief is here tonight. We'll discuss this and we should have some follow-ups and arrange
for a meeting with Chief Sparks. Yes, sir. So >> unfortunately it was one of those things that I I knew was >> it was going to come at some point. >> Well, there was I mean prior prior when you were here before there was another I
thought another company also did backup for us. >> Yep. We had used uh Pioneer Valley EMS which is a private company in Northampton for a number of years. Uh we switched to South County uh September of 24 and that was essentially due to Pioneer Valley was not able to provide
the service that we needed. >> Okay. >> Uh they were regularly not able to send a truck. It was taking an on average 22 and a half minutes for them to get to town. And there was a couple of calls that I was concerned with is that they were sending a BLS truck to an ALS call.
We had a party at one point. Um, it was an unresponsive party and they the only truck they had. It was fine. They did send a truck, but ultimately that call really should have ended up with an ALS. >> Does South County have paramedics or I
mean cuz we do we what do we have for paramedics in our town? >> Uh, on the roster right now there is 10 and there's one that has now not worked in about 90 days. So I'm actually dealing with that.
>> Okay. So when we we have staffing for the ambulance, do we always have a paramedic or is it just basics? >> We do not always have a paramedic. >> But if we call South County, would they have >> they do paramedics? Typically a double paramedic truck
actually. >> That's just how they they staff. >> And if Northampton shows up, there are parame paramedics also, right? >> And I do have a letter from last year. I don't think I have it in this packet for this year. I do have a letter signed by uh Chief Keis from Northampton. They
will not take us on as a primary mutual aid. They're they're more than happy to come to us if they're called. Um but they do not want to be the first mutual aid call and they don't have any interest in taking over Hatfield as the ambulance
provider either. They're struggling to cover their own calls. So that's not that's not really an option. We could certainly think about Pioneer Valley, but it's it's definitely going to double the amount of time that it's taking for other mutually to get here, and there's no guarantee that they're going to get
the care that they should. >> I mean, we've struggled for years trying to get people full-time for our department. And it's >> our biggest problem is that we run with predominantly pdeiums. I mean, the the full-timers, I work Monday through Friday. The other two full-time staff
work uh three days a week, 16 hours a day, and it rotates. So, it averages out for their 42-hour work week. Um, but outside of that, all the rest of our employees are essentially at will. They pick and choose when they want to work. We can't force them to work due to their
status. So, it kind of is what it is. And if it doesn't line up with the rest of their schedule, there's not much we can do about it. >> All right. We do have a two shift per minimum uh two shifts per month minimum that everybody has to work, but that
still does not fill out all of the shifts based off of the staff. >> We'll have to have a future POW. I mean, either if we can't find more people, then we probably be forced to go and have funding for South County. Worst of
worst, you know, case scenario. That's all. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I think this this particular letter comes down to is that your two options are either you're going to go with the South County proposal and we're going to have to fund that for a fiscal year that's part of our regular budget. Um and then the other option or
two options I guess would be is that half of the amus goes to the 247 so then we know that we're staffed except for those simultaneous calls because those are inevitable. Um, and then the worst case scenario would be is if we cannot do anything further, the ambulance would have to ultimately fold if we cannot
staff it. And that's not something that I'm interested. You know, that's not good for the residents. But you're also talking if any other option is going to become into the several hundred thousand based off of the MRI study from a couple years ago. I think the cheapest version
>> per day are still like one and a half. >> Yeah, I think we're right around there. 1 1.6 1.8 >> and I do want you know the residents to understand and we've had this conversation for a number of years is that the staff when they're here they are also firefighters. The bulk of the
work is EMS. Everybody understands that across the country but these folks are dual role employees. They staff the fire truck. They staff the ambulance as well. Um and the fireside is also a place that we are struggling because we just don't have enough call staff in town and that
are available. They all have other things going on in their personal lives and we can't there's not much we can do about it. >> Do you fi do you find that some folks go to a department because they wanted a little bit more more calls or they something like that? I mean the younger
folks want more activity at a larger department with more act more calls or do they I mean how does that work? A lot of it does come down to the fact that people join the fire service for a
24-hour schedule because you end up working about 7 days a month the way that the rotations fall. And anecdotally from a lot of other people on the department who are full-time other places, they have said they would come here if they could have a 24-hour
schedule. And that's a huge hurdle. And no, because it's hard to ask someone to work a 16 hour day outside of their normal shift rotation. So, >> it's been a big big thing. >> And a full-time schedule was I forget
how much money more is couple hundred,000 >> salaries and benefits. I think last year was at 480,000 total. >> So, that wasn't compared to the 32,000. the increase would be I mean it was I'm just
>> 70,000 for a year. >> Yeah, it's absolutely going to give cost you more to if we were to go to a 247 model here. There there is absolutely no doubt about that. >> All right, >> that I I would never say that that's not the case. But this is also money that is purely going out. You're collecting
nothing on the other end. So it's going to whatever the funding source is. So when South County comes in, they they get whatever they charge the uh person that they get plus 350 on top of that. >> Correct. >> That's what you're saying. Okay. >> Correct.
>> Soon as they get dispatched, if they get cancelled and they're still, you know, in Deerfield or Weightley and they got cancelled, the town of Hatfield is still going to be charged three. >> How many ambulances does South County have? >> I think they own three and only two are
currently in service. I think the third one is currently out of service. >> How busy are the >> They only staff one 24 hours a day. The other one is either an 10-hour a day impact if they can get staff for it. It's not necessarily every day.
>> All right. I I don't have any other questions on your budget. I don't know my colleagues. >> Nothing else on the budget. No. >> And I did have one more. for the first time since I've been chief and the first time that I can recall uh the emergency management budget is also going up uh a
little bit just because of the code red system. So the reverse 911 system that we use um they have upgraded their entire platform. It was actually shut down earlier this year or the end of 25 due to a uh cyber security attack. So
they moved into their new platform. There's a few new features. they increased the price. Uh if you see the note on the side, I spoke with Andrew. Uh and he thought it was the a good idea to get the little bit better service which included text messaging. Under our old platform, that was not an option.
And with the way that a lot of people like their information via text. >> So your total budget for everything is about 503 or so, right? Something like that. >> I don't usually add them all together right off the bat. They're all on separate. >> Well, I I know. I thought I thought last
year we were talking about for financial reasons putting everything together. I don't know. I thought that was a discussion. >> That was a discussion. Yes. >> We typically show them as separate budgets, but we can show them all together if it's helpful for comparison. >> Yeah. Last year we asked and the finance committee asked just make it one budget.
It's one department. >> I know speaking to the accountant, they want everything separate. >> Okay. >> I because I was I was ready to start putting a lot of things together and then the accountant's like, "Yeah, hold off on that." It is helpful to show ambulance separately because we show that coming
from a different revenue source essentially comes from the receipts reserved for appropriation for ambulance. So being able to separate that out is is helpful but we can at least show what the whole cost of the department are >> right. I mean we could have the separate budgets for the accounting purposes but
have one sheet to show the total costs of the whole thing. So it just makes it easier in my head. I'm not saying, you know, I'm not a financial genius or anything, but if I see everything on one sheet, it makes it easier. >> And I think the last couple years when
we made it to town floor, town administrator did put them into only just, you know, like a single line. >> Yeah. Just so people understand it and they don't get confused. >> Yeah. >> I think it was just for the planning stages that if I put it in one's place. >> Okay. Obviously, what comes from
ambulance revenue, it makes it a little bit confusing when you're setting the budget. >> Actually, um you you said you weren't fully funded to have four full-time people, >> correct? If I if >> What's missing?
>> The hours did not line up. And this it does kind of go back to what I've brought up for the last couple years is that the budget was still cut from 23 to 20 FY23 to FY24 by just under $20,000. And that's part of that full funding
that I would not have enough money. >> So how much would you need to fully fund a fourth person? Less than 20,000. >> I would need that 20 to make up the full difference because of the overtime, the holiday pay. and their base
because I realize that that has also now moved three more fiscal years. So you'd have to add another whatever the colas were over the last three years to that. We don't really have a space to put another person just schedule-wise that they're that's
going to be amenical to them. Kind of what Luke was saying the 16s work currently right now. We just don't have enough place to put another 40-hour employee within the current model that we run. >> So, are you spending the money that you
do have for that the partial full-time person on something else? >> Nope. It's basically it's covering the difference now of the overtime and holiday pay when we've sent the last two full-timers to the academy, which is
part of the full-time that they have to go to Calval. We're using basically the the difference to fund those extras that were not funded for in the budget itself. >> So even if you were funded $20,000 more to get a fourth full-time person, then you wouldn't have enough money to send
people to the academy. >> It would it would not take up the full 20,000. >> The academy would not take up the full 20,000. the overtime, regular over shift overtime, the holiday pay for all employees would make up that.
>> But I'm saying if the extra money that you have for the partial full-time person, >> Mhm. >> if we add added the 20,000 to it, you would be able to get a fourth full-time person, but you wouldn't be able to send anybody to the fire academy and do the other things that you've been
doing with that extra money. >> Correct. >> So, you wouldn't be able to send the fourth full-time person to the fire academy. No, no. The another hire potentially would not be able to under that and we don't have another 40 hours. >> So the money that's earmarked for a
fourth person is cushioning other things. >> Correct. >> Okay. And what else is the emergency management doing other than doing code red? Uh I mean as far as the budget goes those are things >> what is it what is that whole place
doing? What are they what do they do? >> So every meeting or anything uh the hazard mitigation plans the coupe plans. So those are offset by about a year each that we go through and redo those. I think I actually just brought uh the last round of the coupe plan to you guys about a year ago for approval.
>> So those are constantly being looked at and then you know other regular chores you know looking through grants and stuff like that. EMPG grants processing those. That one's actually just came out again. >> Okay.
>> I guess we're all set. Thank you for coming and presenting your budget. >> Did you want to do a quick two seconds on the supplemental or do we want to skip that until later because it's probably not something that's going to come to light? on the fire station we're talking about.
>> No, it's just a supplemental budget. >> Oh, >> you you should address it. I think it's important. >> Okay. All it was pretty much the the big crux of this was was to uh do raises across the board essentially for the two
full-timers and the PDM staff. Uh I did a quick little study up and down the 91 corridor between South County, Northfield, EMS, AMR, and Hadley Fire. um you know, they're the most close to us as far as size-wise and what we're
doing. Um and I found that we're anywhere on a brand new EMT or a brand new paramedic. Um we're underpaying by about $3.85 an hour up to a seasoned person, we're off by upwards of $14 an hour to be competitive. So, I had just
thrown in to see if we could get it up there and add a dollar to these folks. Um, some of them have expressed that that would just go a long way, show that we're we're trying to get them where they could be because a lot of these folks, they could go anywhere else and make significantly more money.
>> Well, how does that reflect >> pretty much the same amount of work? >> How does that reflect in your budget? What would be the increase, the total increase? And I mean that should that I would think that'd be part of the budget presentation, whatever. >> It's in the first second pack.
It looks like it's about 2,200 for the additional fulltime and 5750 for the PDMs. >> Yep. >> So under 10,000, >> right? That should be part of the budget report.
>> And it is. I mean the the chief followed the guidance and submitted you know the the level and then submitted this as an additional ask. >> So this this wouldn't be >> considered if you felt like we couldn't go above the level funding budget. >> Well >> it's just what was asked of us to submit
the level service >> right that's all was >> I don't have a problem with that. I mean it's ultimately up to the town ahead to decide anyway. So >> are are you guys going to be all set? I know that there's another conversation,
but we just got a chimney fire, so I should get out of here. >> Okay. >> All right. Chief had to go now. We come up with council agent Sean and Carrier here and Cookie and Trainer in the back. And
>> yeah, we have a very straightforward uh budget request like most years. I think essentially it's what 1,700 1750 >> 1775 >> 1775 is all we're asking for an increase. Um, and some of that is just, you know, normal things that typically
go up are our mailings, you know, with more seniors every year. Those go up in in price. Obviously, all the events get a little bit more expensive. But I what I always think is really worth po pointing out is that outside of salaries and the Council on Aging, which runs an
every day weekday center, you know, really only has one full-time and then two part-time uh staff people. But outside of salary, all we request from the town each year or this year is $12,875 to run all of our programming. Uh, and a
lot of that is due to, you know, us getting working with a lot of elders to fund raise and and figure out ways to support our programming. So, we asked for a very minimal amount from the town. All we're asking this year is $12,875 for all of our programming and just all
of our normal positions as they've been. And every year since we've, you know, since I've been here, uh, the Council on Aging has brought in more people every year. Um, and I'm just going to mention, uh, the the prior year we had 14,581
duplicated uh, visits. And then for FY25, we had 16,961. So that includes residents in town. And we also have out of town folks that come here too. >> Just like our folks go to out of town. Yeah. A lot of our folks will go to an
event at Northampton or Deerfield. >> And the increase is due to the great program you guys are running downstairs. So since we don't have you that often and you're on TV, maybe you can, you know, give a little bit about all the great programs that you're doing in town
for the folks. >> Sure. So the Hatfield Council on Aging um is running programs such as exercise programs. So we have healthy bones and balance that is very popular. Uh we usually have sometimes up to 45 people.
So we're spewing out into the hallway at that point. We have our chair yoga uh exercises. Then we have our regular activities like bingo and ma and cribage. And then my programming
coordinator, she's the one that comes up with all the programs and then she runs it by me. So every, you know, every two months we have to come up with something new. So and that's, you know, we look at other areas, other towns to see what they're doing. So you know, we we'll get
our years from them, too. >> Oh, plus you provide a great newsletter for all the residents in >> town. And our transportation program, our transportation program is huge. Um, when I started here, it was very busy. We actually had there was five uh
drivers at that time. When COVID hit, you know, that stopped. We were still doing minimal transportation for people because they needed to go to the bank or they needed to go grocery shopping. um as the years have gone on this year.
Last year and this year as we're starting is is full. I mean when you have we have three drivers now and you have one driver on vacation. Uh okay so you got two if somebody happens to
call out sick you know you're down to one. Um, so like this week we have one driver on vacation and today one had to go out because his wife fell in the ice. So she had to bring he had to bring him to the uh hospital. So anyway, um we're
at the point even with the three drivers of saying for a few weeks that we can't take additional transportation. So we have to say no because we are full. So it's a very heavy schedule for the transportation department. So we anticipate
asking for more funding for that in future years, you know, because and we would have sooner except CO actually substantially sort of brought down the number of some of those rides and it took a while for them to build up, but now we're seeing it return back more to the patterns of the past. So in another
year, it's going to be really overburdened. So we'll have to look at additional resources then. But we continue to increase our fundraising to hopefully offset some of our programming expenses so that when that time comes, we'll be able to talk to you all about just moving a little bit here and there
and then adding what you can because we try to be responsible with the town's money as best we can. So, >> I looked at your budget. It doesn't seem like a large increase at all. And >> and I I do want to have the opportunity to say thank you for everything you do
for the Council of Aging. You guys do a a great job down there. >> Yeah, I have a great staff. I have my assistant director here, uh, Cookie. I've got my um part part-time with benefits uh driver Glenn. And, you know, they're all
phenomenal. I mean, the care that our drivers take with our clients when they go out, you know, they do go above and beyond some other places, but we're a small town, so we can do that. I mean, I see, you know, I'll be driving down Route Five and I might see Glenn slowly
walking, you know, an elderly person out of her house to get her on that van to get her to her doctor's appointment. Can we be more proud than being able to offer a service like that? You know, and we do all of this at $145,000 a year, serve meals every day, programming all day, call and visit to check in on
elderly people who are struggling. Their kids will call us to fill us in on what's going on just so that we can go over and check in on them. So Jerry, you're doing amazing work and we all appreciate it. >> Well, it's nice having a great staff because I've heard nothing but compliments of Glenn and Cookie over the years. So, plus anybody else that helped
you downstairs. So, >> great. >> It's nice to see that. >> Thank you. >> I don't have any questions on your budgets. I don't know my haircut. I like it. >> And our only change that would come would be dependent on your conversation later related to our garage. If anything
were to happen to that, then we would want to revisit everything because we We think that that would be detrimental, but we can talk about that later if you'd like. >> Well, I mean, that's going to be >> unless that's the next thing, >> our next topic. So, while you're here, >> Well, I know the fire chief isn't here.
Um, >> but if you guys want to come up and say anything. Um, >> right now our two garages are right here in the back. Yeah. Are back there. Um, we've had those now since 2011. So in 2011 at at
the September 9th meeting of the board of selectmen um it was stated in there that um by chairman Leco suggested an alco uh at the join of the ambulance and garage the board discussed the occupants of the
bays. Two for the COA, one for the DPW police, one for fire and then one for storage. nothing to be put in the COA bays except for the COA. Police department needs a heated bay and uses a small changing room in the ambulance building. So when
there was talks or Andrew had to come down to speak to me that there was talks about maybe moving us up to Elm Court. We already looked at >> actually we haven't had any conversation. This is the first time I've seen this on the agenda.
>> I mean there there might have been suggestions to This is the first official conversation we're having about this and it's the first time I've heard about this. So, >> I'm still trying to figure out
pros and cons on this. I'm not prepared actually today to make any decisions myself. my colleagues might be, but I I just want to take a little bit of time to look at this and see what what we need to do because I know on one hand a
fire safety vehicle needs to be protected and on the other hand we have the council of agent that was promised the bay. So those two things clash. So we we as a board today we're starting
conversations. So, I haven't come to any decisions and I don't know if my colleagues have, but I think we have to investigate this a little bit further. So, we make the right decision and it's either going to be a decision that both
parties don't like or it's going to be a decision that we can all agree upon or one party's not going to. I I I don't know yet. I can't tell you until I I mean, I just read this on the agenda and and I'm the type of person I I hate to make a decision right away when I first
read something or understand something until I've had time to think about it >> uh and review things. So, I think this is a the beginning of a discussion right now and I'll actually I'm going to open it up to my colleagues to voice their
opinion. I don't know if they have an opinion yet on this or not or or they're in the same position of wanting to wait and and try to figure something out. Oh, I guess I'll say that I do have
knowledge of this and it a lot of it spurred from a couple months ago when we were trying to figure out what we were going to do with the Elm Court building and Marlo, Andrew and myself, we had met Chief Doack up there and talked about potentially a move of the police station
to Elm Court which would then free up bays down here for the fire apparatus to get moved. Um and ultimately after meeting with an architect, it was decided that um that building really can't be retrofitted in a cost-effective way to be able to move
um the police up there. Um so then some other ideas were kicked around of what we could start using that building for so it doesn't sit vacant. And one of the things that was brought up was potentially moving the COA up there since it's mostly
dry heated storage. um you wouldn't have to build out a facility to have people working out of it. Um so that was something that was kicked around in the very very just
>> Yeah, I understand that. But I mean this is the first time I've heard about the fire station uh in North Hatfield closing or here >> or wanting to close. I mean I >> and the the idea was to try to have >> other options for that building. Yeah.
But this is the first time I on the agenda was told that the chief now would like to close that station to save $1,200 for budget and make it easier to access the fire truck. >> Right. And the idea was to have the
chief here to kind of bring that to you and also have COA here to tell you about, you know, their needs for that space so we can take that in tonight. No decisions needed to be made tonight. It was just a chance to try to hear, you know, what what both departments were looking for and why it might be advantageous for for fire. Certainly, there was an interest in potentially
closing North Station. Uh operationally, it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to have folks having to come from two different uh centers. Uh for uh folks who are coming in from out of town, it's less convenient than going right to 59 Maine. Uh so there's, you know, some issues there with both operations and
then timing. and they're concerned about being able to uh get quickly to scene of an emergency in a on a timely basis. So there'd be some operational improvements there by going right to headquarters instead of having this extra facility and they'd be looking for one of these bays to park one of the pieces of
apparatus just um because that needs to stay uh unlocked and needs to stay covered. So that's that's the interest from fire department. At the same time, we do have these two bays that are being used by the Council on Aging for their vans. Um, so we'll need to make some kind of decision at some point about how
we want to use the resources there. We could keep uh the North Station open. We could see if there's another facility that makes sense. There's lots of of options to consider. And I think, you know, compiling some of those questions you have tonight or asking any questions of the COA would probably be be useful
uh use of time this time. >> We've looked into the space and we don't believe it would be suitable at all. Uh it's somewhat frustrating uh for us to to hear the discussion because of how much the COA over the years. Um you know whether it's the need for a new center,
we can't afford a new center, guys. Be okay with it. Okay, we'll be okay with it. Very small programming budget, you know, $12,000 a year. Get out there, fundra, make it work. Okay, we'll do it. You know, we just want to be able to easily access our vans that are used
every day throughout the day to do very important things. taking people to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and whatnot, and not be in a garage that doesn't have an electric door, that has a dirt floor, you know, like it it just how much are we going to push the Council on Aging aside? And that's what
it felt like initially hearing this. It feels better now knowing that it wasn't some large discussion. We thought that maybe it had been a larger discussion that we just weren't included in on. Uh, so we do feel better about it now, but we certainly don't think it should even be deeply considered at this point
because I'm not understanding the need based on what I've heard. If the needs to save $1,200, um, I don't know, maybe we have some more alternatives, but >> well, I think it'd be helpful to hear from the chief just how much it does help for the operationalizing of of their uh, emergency response. And I if
anyone else here has has thoughts on that, it's helpful. But I was hoping I have everyone in the room and we don't have that, unfortunately. But certainly >> I mean we have firefighters here this evening. So I got I got I mean >> I'd be happy to speak >> all the equipment for everybody at the main station.
>> Yes. >> So no matter what you got to get >> there's one firefighter who has a set of auxiliary gear at the north station and that is myself. >> Okay. >> Because I'm the closest located person to that. So, and on top of it, it's a set of gear
that's five or six years out of date at this point that I use simply so I can get the truck to the scene and then on top of that, anything else additionally, the other firefighters would step in. >> How often is that truck used uh when when this truck rolls?
>> Well, so it depends on the time of the year. So there's only a few trucks that we have that can fit into the northst bay because the door is so small. So that would be the brush truck or our new engine 2. And when we took a lot of care
building out the new engine two so that it could fit in that bay if it had to, which at this point it does. So depending on the time of year and which truck is going to be used more, that truck comes down to center station
because more firefighters have the ability to respond here to get their gear and to get that truck. >> You swap. >> So we swap trucks every six months. >> Every six months. >> Oh, roughly. And so it depends. Like our engine 2 is set up more for structural firefighting, chimney fires, things of
that nature. um versus the brush truck is a dedicated piece of equipment for brush fires that you don't use for very much else other than that. >> So during a heavy brush time of year, springtime, fall time, typically brush truck comes to center station so that
it's easier to respond and engine two moves to the north. And then during the winter months when you're more prone to have a chimney fire or the summer months where there's more chance to have additional car accidents and things of that nature, boating accidents that we
need to have access with a smaller piece of equipment to the river areas. Engine 2 comes to center station. >> So what I'm hearing is the majority or 90% of all firefighters will go to this station anyways. >> You're the only one that has the equipment up there, right?
>> That has gear at the north station. I'm the only one. All right. All right. So, again, nothing's been decided, but we'll let you know when we have Andrew will tell you when it's going to be on the agenda. So, we we can try to have a pow to see how we want to approach this. And
I I I don't like saying we want to put COA to the side. I mean, I that's not true. So, >> no, but as we're looking at it, you know, it is empty. The you know, there's no floor in there. It's not paved up there. So you're talking money to put
into this which could be a hundred thou you know 100,000 $200,000 or more to get that up to >> Yeah. Well, I mean we got to discuss it and then try to see come up with a decision that
everybody's in agreement with which sometimes isn't the easiest thing but we'll get there. I I think we will. >> We will. >> All right. I just hope it's not a problem that needs to be solved on on the backs of the Council on Aging. You know, we we're trying to carry as much weight as we can uh to keep everything,
you know, smooth and not increase our expenses. And so for something that our staff has asked to stay in that garage bay with all they've done, I hope that the town can make that work. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for being here. >> Let's see. We have a hearing in 6
minutes. So, I don't know if that gives us enough of time for topic three. >> Would we be open to moving to uh Marlo's updates because he might need to go upstairs uh for meeting soon, too? >> All right. Great.
>> Um not a real long update this month, mostly on projects that I I've been overseeing or working on. Um, as far as um what I've been up to, we're working on the highway materials and services
bids for FY27 for the furcog. Uh, had a a conversation with Andrew and uh there's sections that's bid for us through the furcog um that can handle our parking lot paving coming up rather than Andrew having to procure the whole thing. It's
done right through Furcog, which we're a member of. So, I'm going to go down that that that route with that. Um, so as of Thursday when I when I prepared this report, uh, we've had 15 snow snow
and ice events, mostly all on on overtime, weekends, holidays. Um, that's now increased to 17 since Friday. So, Friday and Sunday storm. Uh, we we are in deficit as we talked about last month. Um,
I gave you an expense uh report that that shows us about 20,000 of the negative, but that's a couple weeks behind. Um, and of course, the last two storms were long ones for the crew. So, um, I'll try and get you a more solid number as the accounting catches up and
our our invoices come in for >> Now, on this last storm, I was told that because the governor declared this storm an emergency, there may may be a possibility of getting some funding for the money we spent on this storm. Is
that correct? So, the latest news I got yesterday morning was um at that point they're going to determine what uh counties will will fit the bill for um as as far as reimbursement. Um going
into the storm, it looked like we're going to get a lot more than what we did. So, I had the staff I've been through the drill before on these things. So, uh, we track fuel time, uh, materials, uh, all that was tracked by by Dwayne and and the highway crew and and the
rest of the drivers. So, we have the information if Franklin County is considered, but it doesn't sound like it at this point because we didn't get the amounts um like Fall River and other areas with 35 inches of snow and they're they still have a bunch of roads closed and power out. But I'll keep an eye on
that to see if we're we're offered and if that's the case, I'll fill the forms out. Yeah, working with the chief uh fire chief. So, >> take whatever we can get. >> Yes, absolutely. Um, so just to move on to the day pond, the dredging is
complete. The outlet outlet pipe's been installed. Um, they're going to finish up hauling this week the stockpile of what was dredged and is decanting. Um, and then they're looking at early spring as soon as they can get in there for a final cleanup. Um, because as as
as you know, it it's been pretty muddy down there with the freeze thaw cycles. So, that's kind of where we're at on that. uh the boilers at elementary school. Um right now the the valve was cut in on February 18th during uh uh
school vacation. Um and then we're looking at this got pushed out unexpectedly, but the shipping of the uh bo new boilers are due to happen on March 20th. Um uh Adams Plumbing is working with the manufacturers try and
get a get them to us sooner. So that's kind of where that project's at. Um, pavement management, all the front-end work's been done. Um, and as I stated in the report, we just have to wait till spring because roads look much different now than they do in the spring when they settle back down from frost, so on and
so forth. Uh, asset management sits as it has the last couple months on the report. Uh, the grant uh is pretty much where it's at. We haven't heard anything on it. Um the the new F450 water truck was delivered two
weeks ago, two and a half weeks ago. Um currently we're waiting on uh the over the guardrail mower and the swap truck and they're expected late spring. I'm hearing May, June, June time frame. Um facilities, I I just wanted to give a
shout out to Max Bark uh Bartlett. He's done some painting here in the town hall in the clerk's office and some patching of walls. uh and he did two rooms in the hallway at the library. Um it's good to have different uh the staff have different uh traits and skills that they
can use because it I mean it's a big savings to the town when we fitted in between snowstorms. We would I'm glad we didn't take on a lot more. It wouldn't have worked out so well. But um that's about all I have unless there's >> that's perfect because we're almost at six o'clock where we have to have our
hearing. So >> and I got to run upstairs. >> Okay. Yeah, I know. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for hearing. Please come forward and state your names and
uh welcome to the town of Hatville. >> And I will open up the hearing at 6:00 and I will open to discussion. So, if you want to, you know, state your names, what you're doing and >> Yes, certainly. I'm attorney Roger
Lipton and my office is in Northampton and I'm representing the petitioner here who is under contract by the Hatfield Market. And to my left is my client, uh, Mr. Christian, who's going to be the, uh, manager of the store, which of
course has a liquor license. We've submitted the um application on the uh state ABCC form uh through your board secretary and uh advertised in the gazette 10 days before the hearing as
required. Uh my client uh has the tips certification which we've also submitted. Uh there's not going to be any change in the hours of operation of the uh the sale of liquor which is currently um per the license 7 days a
week. The um uh owner of the building has uh given my client a lease. uh with my client here is is his wife who's a 50% owner in the corporation that we have formed which is
actually going to be the technical uh owner of the um license and uh that's called Zanex Corp. Uh the seller is also a corporation. Uh I thought one of their representatives was going to be here but I don't >> he's going to be a little late.
>> He might be a little late. Okay. uh here to answer any questions that the board may have and um >> okay the only question I have and since I've been on on the board in the past there's been a few violations of selling
to minors. So do you have anything in place in your business to prevent this from happening? That's that's my only question. >> You can answer. >> You can answer this one. Well, he's got the tip certification, which is very
strong on age 21 being the uh age that you have to uh be showing proof uh with a state license that you're eligible to purchase alcohol and you intend to comply with all the state laws, don't you?
>> Yes, I do. And I also worked in the past uh you know liquor stores. Uh right now I work uh in the Air Force which is in Westville. Uh so this is uh my new beginning but I'll I'll make sure I do not sell alcohol to minor or any kind of
like illegal activities. So >> I'll comply all the laws regulations. >> He's a military policeman at WT over air force base. So understand laws and uh geared towards enforcing law. >> Yeah. Let make sure. >> Okay. Those are my my questions. I don't
know if my colleagues have any questions. >> Maybe not. >> No Karen. Everything's in order. >> So with the hearing, I will now go if there's anybody in here that's opposed to this license. Uh there's nobody here opposed to the
license. Is there is there anybody here in favor of this license? >> We have the current >> Okay. So I will >> I will move to close the uh
>> public comments and um I will go into discussion now with my colleagues. I don't have a problem over this license. I I hope you have great success. Thank you sir. >> The only thing I would say is watch for selling to miners. That's the only
thing. That store has always been a good store for the town. It's been very successful. uh over the years and there's a lot of history there. So I I'm happy it's continuing. >> Yeah. >> So >> absolutely. >> Uh do you have any
uh discussion among ourselves? >> I don't have nothing to add. I I agree with you 100%. >> I wish you luck. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yeah, I appreciate it. >> And thank you for your service. >> Oh yeah. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your support. >> Uh and with that being said, I'll
entertain a motion. I will now, yeah, because we're in discussion, I will now entertain a motion from my colleagues. >> I'll make a motion to approve the application for transfer of liquor license from Axogen Incorporated doing
business as Hatfield Market to Xanax Corporation doing business as Hatfield Market. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion made. Motion seconded. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Uh good luck with your endeavors and
>> hope you do well. >> Yeah. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your time, >> board members. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. With that being said, we'll move to our second hearing. I will
now move to deliberation to open the hearing on hearing will be for deliberations on regulations for insurance advisory committee and my understanding I mean I'll go for
discussion can fill us in on what this is all about. >> Absolutely. So the advice of council uh the recommendation was to have regulations that were passed that would set up this insurance advisory committee group uh so to make any changes to health insurance benefits for our employees. It has to be bargained
through our public employee committee which already exists but also there's a process to get advice from this insurance advisory committee. This is set by state statute. Miss IA uh we we haven't had one in the past. So, in order to set up who is a member of it, how long are the terms, these other kind
of foundational questions, what's their charge? Um, it was recommended to to pass a regulation on this and council also recommended that uh we have a public hearing. So, we we did post it uh on our website as uh council advised and then we have a draft of these regulations for you. I think they're
pretty straightforward. It's adopted from a couple other towns out here that have similar regulations. It makes a select board the appointing authority. Um and it makes membership basically as representative of uh our different groups of employees as possible. So uh
the requirements for the state is that any union employee uh groups are represented. So there's three uh members uh that would be appointed because they are uh on our three different unions. Uh there's also a requirement for retirey representative and that's specified in
the regulations. And then just to the best of our of our uh abilities, we then need to just have other groups represented as needed. And that that we took to mean including department heads, public safety, uh kind of um administration and finance as kind of
different groups. Um that's not exactly spelled out in the regulations, but that's that's uh what comes from the appointments that we plan to make. And the regulations also say that membership lasts three years and that it doesn't have to be to include a uh appointment or a swearing in from the town clerk.
This is all people who are serving based on being employees of the town. So uh I think the regulations are pretty straightforward. Uh but I'll take any questions that you have on them. >> Okay. So uh any questions on this advisory committee?
>> No. Is this each union they send you somebody? >> That's correct. The unions pick their people. >> They select their person. So that's just three unions. That's easy. >> That's correct. >> And yeah, so this is just a hearing to have a committee. >> That's right.
>> Neither. >> So I I'll move with Is there anybody here for public comment on the advisory committee? Uh there's >> nobody here for that. With that being said, I will close the hearing on deliberations for regulations for
insurance advisory committee. and >> and I'll make a motion to approve the proposed regulations on insurance advisory committee. >> Second. >> Motion made. Motion seconded. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Now the second point
would be to appoint the uh members listed on that committee. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So I'll entertain a motion on eight members. >> Yeah. I will make a motion to appoint DPW Director Marlo Warner, Lieutenant Clint Phillips, Donald Volinger, Kim
Robinson, Karen Baker, Jennifer Jennifer Pavlei, Karen Broer, and Marlene Machonssky to the insurance advisory committee. >> Motion made. I I'll second that. Um, any discussion? All in favor?
>> I >> I motion carries. >> Very good. or you haven't abstained. You you >> No, I said I >> Oh, okay. I didn't hear you. Sorry. My my apologies. All right.
>> Okay. With that being said, >> we do have the chief here if we want to >> Yes. >> discuss anything else. >> Fire station, >> the topic on the closing of the fire station. >> Uh
>> okay. We we had a discussion with the COA while you were gone. I mean, they expressed their their concerns and this is the first time I'm sort of hearing it in public comment. So,
uh, you can give your comments, I guess, and then I think we have to have a future meeting on trying to come up with a game plan and a decision. So, I'll let you uh give your explanation of the closing of the fire
station. And >> so, the reason why this topic came up was to close the North Fire Station, which is the single bay garage that's currently on the property at Norse Farm. Uh really came down to mostly a logistical concern for the department.
Uh we we move trucks depending on the time of year and we had a few calls that ended up requiring the truck that happened to be on that end of town and the responder was coming from ultimately the center part of town. Um so it required them to come to center station,
get into their gear, go up, get that apparatus and then they happen to be responding to Elm Court for one and the other one was down to uh the notch. Um so it left for a bit of a delay in that response to actually get the apparatus down there. Um and then the other part
of it was just operationally um due to the limited number of folks that we actually have as call members. There's really nobody that's at that end of town anymore. So they don't respond to that station to ever grab the apparatus. All the rest of their gear is down here at
central station in their lockers. So operationally it there's nobody there and logistically if we have to go and get that piece of equipment there's always going to be a delay. Um the night that that the two different nights that that happened um it was the same gentleman that responded was one of the
deputies. He was the only responder. So he had to come here get changed and then ultimately go up and get the other truck. So it's really the reason to close it. The reason why we're we chose down here is would centralize everything. All of our apparatus would
finally be in one spot. Um, and it would also save a little bit of money. Ultimately, as I presented earlier, if if we keep Northstation open, it does affect the budget. It's not a high number. It's obviously only $1,200 a year for rent plus whatever the propane
costs are. Um, so there is potentially a little bit of savings in it. And the reason why it's down here is just for the fact that, you know, fire apparatus, they don't generally lock. They don't have keys for most of it. And then so they can't live outside. and they also have water in them. So, when we get to
this time of the year, we can't really do much about it unless we're going to drain them and put the truck out of service. Um, and then it's still not good for any of the diesel motors to sit outside for long durations of time. >> But what I did tell the COA is since this is the first time I'm actually
hearing about closing the station is I didn't want to make a decision tonight. I just if that's okay. I mean it's not we need to actually get it a committee together or Okay, we're back. Uh yes, we're skipping along and we have another
presentation. >> We can go over to item nine. Uh this is a very brief presentation, a quick introduction to uh affordable housing trusts. Um I've given you a handout uh as well you can look through. Um basically think of this as to to read after this meeting. I just want to give you a quick introduction. Uh at the last
meeting, I talked about how we'd received technical assistance from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership uh to help us uh over the next year uh or so in establishing a affordable housing trust. This is something that was flagged by our comprehensive plan as something we're interested in doing. Uh
I have uh from Massachusetts Housing Partnership uh Shelley Garing uh who uh is joining us tonight. Um I'll give a brief overview and then she's here to answer any questions. Uh basically it's it's a helpful tool that a lot of communities have established. It's an
additional board or committee uh that is responsible for uh affordable housing in communities and it's something that could fit us nicely since we have established community preservation act. A lot of towns uh use uh the uh affordable housing trust as essentially
the the group that then receives funds from the community preservation act for community housing and then helps decide how to use them. And we're seeing the use case of that right now because we have a pretty in-depth uh application to our community preservation act committee
uh on an affordable housing project and they've had to become afford uh housing experts pretty quickly overnight and tried to um adjudicate this application. So instead, if they're the organization that's deciding how many how much funds to put towards affordable housing and then you have a dedicated group of folks
who can receive training uh and and be the group that is uh determining how to use those funds, it could work out nicely for the town. So that's just kind of a use case that we're going through at this very moment. Um what that would do though is that um those funds if uh
CPC determines makes a recommendation to put them towards affordable housing towards the affordable housing trust that would go through town meeting but then once those funds are in the hands of the affordable housing trust no further town meeting vote is needed. So you need to feel you know comfortable with this group making sure that they're
have a good set of policies and making good decisions about how to use that funding moving forward. It's worked really well in a lot of towns. Affordable housing can be a contentious subject. So, uh it's it's something that you know you would have control over the group in the sense that you appoint their members. It would all be uh selected by the select board and the
select board would also be represented on the committee. U the typically the well always the community's chief executive officer so in this case a select board chair would have to be on the board uh and a member of the select board is required to be on the board. So
uh there's kind of two options when establishing an affordable housing trust. You can either set your own bylaw that would then uh create you know what the the board would look like or you can accept the state statute. The state statute uh says what the powers of the group are. It says uh who the membership
is essentially five members and uh that also includes the chief executive. Uh and then um it would uh then kind of fall to the the group to set any regulations that they want to. Um but the the statute overall is is fairly
narrow um and and sets things up um with with these specific uh powers that are uh in the statute. So um typically um affordable housing trusts have a few different actions that
they take. Um they uh can put you know a contribution from the town into an affordable housing development that's coming up. they they can make contributions towards that as a public subsidy. Uh and they can also run some pretty interesting programs including um
uh down payment uh assistance if that's something you're interested in doing. Uh they can run uh programs for um for folks who are aging in place for to do home renovation. I've seen that uh work before. There's a number of of structures that they can take, but uh
number of different actions, but it can be a helpful tool towards uh supporting affordable housing since it's something that we're looking to do more of and it's a good use for some of these CPA funds. So, I'll uh pass Governor Shelley if she can hear us and speak. If there's anything she wants to add to my brief introduction, then if the board has any
questions, we'd love to take them. >> Hi, Shelley. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> We can you turn that up just a little and then we should be good. Um, she unmute.
>> Oh, no. She to speak. We could hear her. >> Go. Go ahead, Shel. If there's anything else you want to add. >> Sure. So, I just gave a brief introduction to kind of how the trusts work. um if there's anything else that you think uh we should know beyond just
the general powers and um how some towns have have established different uh projects for them or different um the different projects using affordable housing trusts. But I think we're probably good unless this group has any any questions. I don't have a lot to add.
Why would it be beneficial to have a board that's focused on affordable housing as well as that flexibility? Andrew mentioned that meeting. So there's still that
and member is required by very much municipal board. It's not independent separate from this the town but the intent of the trust board really is to help implement and support town identify housing.
It is another board that you want to be able to build. So you just need to be thoughtful about that and restricting membership too much because of wanting to be able to keep the board fully seated over time. Uh, but Andrew gave a really good
overview. So, unless there questions what I would have >> Well, the the only questions I would have I mean, we're a small town. We don't have like departments that deal with, you know, like housing and all this stuff. So, uh, is it grants
available to assist or you know what I'm sort of saying? We're we're not like a we don't have a department that deals with all this. So, how does that work? If we if we need
to get a plan together, is that where you guys come in to work with us or So I think so the the housing partnership uh does offer a decent amount of technical assistance for um for considering applications for for
CPA. They they are helping us now with this process potentially starting a trust. So there there are resources out there which is nice and there's trainings as well for folks who are members of these affordable housing trusts. So, there's a good number of resources that are out there that that could, you know, help us because the
right now we won't really have a group that's that's just focused on affordable housing. We we do have our housing authority, but they're really just focused on on running the capital project. We have CPC which will then, you know, look at these applications that come in for affordable housing, but
they have applications about recreation, open space, all these other things as well. and they they a lot of them are serving on other boards and don't really have the time to focus on this. So, what it would do is is give us a dedicated group that focused on affordable housing and can uh weigh the pros and cons of of different projects that could come up to
them and could interface directly with staff here that that do work on these issues as well. So, um they can move a little faster than CPC because once funds are are in their control, they don't have to wait for town meeting. they could do it throughout the year if something like Habitat for Humanity or
another group comes up with a with a good project uh to move forward with. So, you know, there's pros and cons of doing it, but um if it's something that we're interested in trying to invest in more affordable housing, it could be something that works well for us. >> Well, I mean, like with CPC, right now
the applications are closed. >> So, it's like they they have money for affordable housing put to the side, but there's never been a anything presented. So, I mean, does that with the CPC stuff, does that mean this plan would
have to wait till the next cycle of when they open again or, you know, >> they'd have to wait until next year to receive funding? But then, if say CPC decided to give them $150,000 to use towards affordable housing, if they get a great application two weeks after
that, they're ready to go. They they could, you know, entertain it. They can have public public meetings, whatever else, but they wouldn't have to wait until town meeting. they could move with with uh some kind of support for for a good project. >> I mean I mean to me it's like I I'm trying to visualize I usually use a
spreadsheet. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. >> The steps the various steps. So I'm trying to visualize in my head how the the various steps would work with this. Not that I'm I'm not opposed to >> uh affordable housing. It's it's always
been a big question in this town because the the thing is we want to build up our schools and in order to build up our schools you got to bring in more families, the younger families, you got to have kids, etc., etc. There's a So, it's but I've never seen like we don't
have any kind of like a process where we can actually get something accomplished with affordable housing. You know what I'm saying? >> Yes. And so it's like uh maybe would this would would this uh comp would this group actually help us with a like a
process of what what has to be done in order to accomplish it? >> So what it would give you is a dedicated group that's focused on affordable housing. It would streamline the process for potentially funding it. Um get money out faster should CP CPA or or another body determine that they should be
funded to a certain extent. Um and uh it would train up some capacity. It would get some members, you know, to to learn more about how to support housing and and maybe would get some more conversations going. It wouldn't and then, you know, they would be able to interface with Mass Housing Partnership, Mass Housing, other groups out there
that are looking to try to uh spread more affordable housing. So, it would give you hopefully some more capacity and just some more dedicated people focused on affordable housing. So, I mean, what group right now do we have that we could call on to get it started?
Is something we have to develop? Uh, like somebody from CPC, somebody from whatever. Uh, you know what I'm saying? >> Who who would actually be on this kind of committee? >> We'd have to see from the public who would want to get involved in in this kind of committee. I think we have some people who are interested in affordable
housing in town. Um, but it's a real big question for us. Could we find four people who would want to serve in a committee like this. >> And I'm saying four because you need five, but one would be one of you three um would be on it.
>> So, um that's a decision we you'd have to make is do you feel confident that you could find four other people in town who care enough about affordable housing that we could staff that? I think the answer is yes, but but you three are more tapped in than I am. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm just trying to figure
out the process itself and how that spreadsheet. >> I'm happy to create that for the next meeting. Kind of put together a little bit of here's how it works both for the funding piece, for the appointment piece, for the, you know, what a statute would look like. >> Help me. >> I'm happy to do that. >> I don't know if it >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Just >> Yeah. Just how this committee would fit in with all that stuff. I agree with Ed. I don't understand how they're going to fit in at all. >> Sure. >> Or how how it'll be helpful at all. >> Yeah. Yeah. And if the committee comes up with something then does that mean CPC will go back in session to work with
us or >> I think the big portion of it that Andrew touched on was that by creating this trust it would then be funded and there would be a certain amount of money that's allocated to it. And so the trust would have the ability to control what
that money is spent on without having to go to town meeting. >> And where does the money come from? >> So some of it would more than likely either be either contribution from the state or we would have to start a you know we'd have to contribute some initially.
>> I mean CPC does have money put to the side for affordable housing. Can that be worked in with this trust somehow? >> Yes. Yes. So they would vote to allocate money to the affordable housing trust say hundred,000 a year from CPC. that would go from their coffers into the
affordable housing trust and then if an application comes in for a project to uh relating to affordable housing, the trust could choose to fund it if they you know if they thought it was a good project >> because that'd be something that would have to go to town meeting in order >> and that's the thing once it's in the
the pockets of the affordable housing trust. It doesn't have to go to town meeting. It only goes through town meeting through the community preservation act committee. So in order to do all this stuff, if we can get that spreadsheet or or steps involved, then we will know what we can bring to town
meeting, what we what we have to bring to town meeting or what we and I mean we also need CPC to be on board because they may say well we don't want to give up control of that money for affordable housing or they may say yeah we do want
to give up that I mean it might >> ultimately the town should decide anyway. So >> yes, the town would have to decide about forming an affordable housing trust and they would also decide, you know, if they want to allocate money to them annually and that's kind of the the control, right? If the affordable
housing trust does a bad job, they're not getting any more money from the town. >> It' be something of moving money from CPC that's targeted for affordable housing into the trust. >> Something like that, right? Yes. >> And it'll have to go to town meeting to even inform this trust.
>> That's correct. >> Correct. >> Correct. Yes, >> Shelley. Anything to add on any of that? I think you're really getting at the crux of the matter, which I I appreciate. Yeah. >> Yeah. Sorry cutting me off with the phone call, but it it all sounds like it's a good conversation that you're having and I don't have anything to add at this
point. >> Sounds good. >> All right. >> Yeah. I I want to know how to drive the car. I just want to know how to start it and uh put it in gear and uh and move forward. That's all. >> Okay. >> So, one thing that we can provide is and
I we talked to Andrew about this, but just to tell all of you that I oftentimes do affordable housing trust fund 101 kind of virtual training around kind of an overview of briefly of the statute um some best practices, the kinds of things that a trust can engage
in and that trusts are funding around the state. So, we can do that and it can be open to different stakeholders in the community if you think that could be useful, >> right? because we want to be able to bring the town meeting all the pertinent information so they the town know what
they're voting on and and we're not we're not we know exactly what's happening and they know what's exactly what's happening that's all >> we can do a FAQ kind of
one or two pager of um just commonly asked questions for commu for folks in the community to review so so they feel more familiar with the tool as well. >> I suppose as we move forward in this process of understanding it, then we'll
know what questions they might be able to ask because right now I'm not sure which questions to ask. I just know how do we get started and how do we move forward and what's going to be involved. So >> I think you're asking the right questions which is good. So, and then we
have some resources to help us uh figure out how to, you know, message this and get good questions out there answered. So, yeah, I think I'll plan to provide more information in the next meeting and and uh I think we can keep this moving. >> Sounds good. >> Excellent.
>> Perfect. Cool. Thank you. >> Thank you, Shel, for your time. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Take care. Okay, we're skipping around and >> we still need to do topic three. >> Oh, yeah.
>> Yeah. Colonial power group proposal energy. That's the last one before we go into executive session, I believe. >> And the town administrator, >> I can do my report quickly. All right. So, let's talk um Colonial Power Group.
So, we've we've uh talked about this uh twice before. How's it going? Good. Good. Sorry, my computer froze up. It's going to my notes. So, um, just as a little bit of
background for for residents who are tuning into this either for the first time or or have heard about this before. So, we have a community choice power uh agreement program and we sign these contracts uh with these organizations with with a broker who then helps ush go to a supplier. Um, and we do it in order
to provide another option for residents uh really at limited risk to the town that opts in uh an electricity rate. And typically over the life of the contract, you'll see that it's a more stable rate. And then it's also usually at times, especially during the the most expensive
times for providing power, going to beat the the basic service rate. And we saw that early on in our our contract, which was great. Um, in our most recent renewal, uh, we needed to deal with a new concept called Daisy. This is the day ahead ancillary services market
costs. And this is something that ISO New England, which is the, uh, overseer of the the power markets all around us, uh, instated and said that we we had to to deal with this in our contracts. Um, we didn't know exactly what these costs would look like. they were instituted in
a way to make sure that uh if power was was needed uh immediately um in different markets that there'd be an extra cost. It's kind of a a goofy thing, but but uh we've just tried to to roll with it. Uh ISO New England, the this power overseer uh recommended
setting a certain rate uh in these more variable contracts. We set the rate four times as high as that. Uh, as we've seen these costs come in for the first time, uh, it's become apparent that the rate that we set wasn't high enough to capture these costs. And this is something that we owe to the supplier.
Uh, it's not like they're making money off of this. It's we to make a fair contract, we had to set it at a certain amount. And it's looking like we're going to need to raise our our uh base rate in order to capture these daisy costs. So, uh, what I'm asking for from
the board is uh I'll work with Colonial Power Group. they'll go out to market and we'll get the the final rate. But it's looking like uh for folks who are on the community power choice rate, we'll be about $7 a month higher um than we are right now, which means $6 a month
higher than Eversource basic service rates. Now, the good news is that um because it's a pretty flexible program, residents can opt out anytime. Uh and we're pretty sure that we're going to beat the basic service rate come August because Eversource will have to price in these Daisy costs, everything else. They
haven't been dealing with it yet. But once they do, uh, those rates should be coming, uh, should be much look much more advantageous for us. But until August, uh, we're going to have about $6 a month higher than that Eversource basic service rate. And it's not a difficult process to, um, get out of the
program. Um, and we will provide information on how to do that. And if if people are interested in doing so, uh, starting with the April bills, you can absolutely do that and then jump back on in August. So, uh, and for the folks who don't do that, it's around $6 or $7 more a month than basic service. So, while
we'd prefer to be having savings for folks, um, I think overall it's good to have this as a as an option. Um, and I like that it's a flexible plan. So, I'm looking for the board to authorize me to to sign this this agreement uh, just so we can make sure that we're paying for these daisy costs.
>> And and also in the future, if we're not happy, can we opt out of it? >> That's correct. When this contract ends, we can choose not to re anybody can opt out of this if they want and in their contract language, they have the right to make the changes, too, I believe. Right.
>> That that's correct. Yes. And and if these Daisy costs end up changing dramatically and the town is actually getting the bad end of the deal, we can renegotiate that and and we get the cost back. And after discussion with you and looking at this I right now I think it's in the best
interest of the town to let you go ahead with them Andrew but that's me. >> Yes. It was explained to me as well. I think it's okay now. It it's it's still pretty complicated but it's uh >> and I apologize was made more
complicated in the beginning but I think we're we're we're arriving at somewhere that makes it more sense. >> I uh Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And yourself? >> Something still just seems weird about this to me. And I don't think I'm gonna
>> My opinion on that is not going to change. >> I I mean, this doesn't taste good. I I agree with you, but >> it's very complicated. >> But right now, I think we it's in our best interest. So, >> well, anyways,
I suppose we'll take a vote on it. Why not? I'll make a motion to allow town administrator to sign proposed amendment to community power choice agreement. >> We'll second that. >> I have a motion made. Motion seconded. Any discussion?
>> All in favor? >> I >> I two eyes and >> I'm going nay. >> And one nay. Okay. Motion carries. >> Okay. We'll move to uh town administrator report. >> Great.
Well, I'll be very brief since we've uh gone over plenty so far tonight. Um so the first item is I have for you three proposals essentially for IT contracts. Uh we're not going to make any decisions tonight obviously because you're just seeing these for the first time. Uh but
we're right now getting services from uh Souzer uh Technologies. They they've been very good to work with. Um I like them. I just think it's a valuable thing to do to go out and get uh get other quotes and and find out if there's other services that we could be receiving that maybe would be a better fit for us. Um
and it's really been precipitated mostly because um I helped the Finer Valley Planning Commission with their uh consideration of regional IT services. They had a great proposal from a group called Entree Technologies uh and they have uh put a proposal together for us
to look at. Um they're out of Westfield. They they have some some good things to offer. Uh we also have a separate IT vendor for our schools, Twin Lakes Technologies. Uh and they helped uh with a project earlier this year. It was kind of at the nexus of a town and school project. They did a great job. Um and
they they're providing good services and they're over at the schools three days a week. So if something came up with us here, they could come over pretty easily, which could could work out nicely for us. Right now our souar contract includes one full day a week uh on site which is actually quite good. Um
but for if something happens on a Monday and our um our tech is say orange or monu they could typically come over but it'll take some time. So if someone's over at the schools instead they could get here faster. So um I think uh these are for your review. If you have
questions about them I'd love to hear from you. Uh, and then if you have any thoughts about how to make a decision, if if maybe one of the three of you would like to be involved in interviews or if you want to interview all the firms, just if you have any thoughts on that, I'm happy to take them. Um, but uh just want to make uh make a decision in
the next uh couple weeks so we can you know budget and be ready for next year. But any thoughts that you have on how to make a decision uh would be welcome. I guess the first question that I have is are we utilizing a information tech
every one full day of week? >> It's a great question. Um, typically they can clear out all the tickets I'd say in half a day. There are days when they are here multiple days a week if something crazy has happened. Um, he sometimes has to to put in, you know,
almost two days a work. Um, but there are also times when, you know, they're working on other stuff. They're they're clearing out tickets from from other towns when they're here. So, if someone was here half a day a week, would it be fine? Probably. Um, do we really just need more flexibility for someone to come? You know, if someone's computer or
something isn't working on a Monday and they come on Thursday, maybe that works better, too. But, um, we've had pretty good responsiveness from our our sus who even if they're working in another town, they can get here pretty quickly to deal with something urgent, which is nice, but not as fast as if they were at uh,
Smith Academy. So, hope that answers the question. >> Yeah, I just I I know that the tech company that we used in my private sector job that they pretty much can do everything almost 100% remote. They just
take over our computers from wherever they are. It's really weird. >> Yeah, it is. >> But, um, yeah, just it seems like a pretty high expense for something. I just I I guess I didn't realize that we had that much >> need for an on-site tech,
>> especially if there's another tech company that's already at the schools as well. >> Yep. >> So, >> yeah, it's an option. >> The schools still have it, a couple IT people over there. >> It's it's all through a vendor. >> Okay.
They don't have positions anymore. I think for >> there used to be IT special. There used to be like Mr. Muse when years ago and there was like two IT people. >> I'm pretty sure it's all managed through a >> cont.
>> So I do have a question on the entree contract. Um >> so on the second to last page there's the quote summary and then there's the monthly expenses. I'm assuming the quote summary is just a onetime fee. quote summary would be a one time and then the monthly will be the monthly. Yeah, >> I think the quote would probably be once
a year I would think for for renewing those use those uses I think but I'll confirm with them. I don't believe that would be the monthly. >> So the costs actually end up being around the same >> almost exactly. Yeah. >> All three end up around that $40,000 level. >> Yeah.
>> So it wouldn't really be a change to save money most likely. Although I haven't gotten Souzar's newest proposal for next year. What I what I put in was there last year quote. >> Um and I'd need to go through all three just to make sure that they are apples to apples the same services that are
being provided. That's important too. >> The entree one doesn't include it includes just basically once a month being here in person. The rest would be serviced by uh as you're saying Luke through the online system. >> Yep. >> Yep.
While while we're on this subject, I know in the past there's been we were trying to set up our replacement program for some of our uh computers in the offices and stuff. Are we still doing that as far as you know for so many
years replaced certain technology and rejected cost? >> I think we we've been pretty good at that. um budgeting for, you know, replacing, you know, as we go. Um I think we could probably stand to to get
a an update on that, make sure we know what the costs look like for the next 5 years or so. But, um yeah, typically we we've been pretty good about budgeting for what we need on that. Um and and maintaining our machines nicely. >> That could go on the capital plan
>> for future if we know in a couple years we have to replace some of the computers or laptops or whatever. Yep. >> This technology stuff doesn't last that long. >> Yeah. >> I mean, >> always new.
Well, if you like what I can do, you know, in the next week or two is kind of draw up a comparison between the three and just as far as what I can tell and and then um if you'd like, you can think about if if you'd like to anyone wants to be in an interview or or anything else.
>> Um or delegate the decision. We need a good IT service because we have to protect a lot of uh information in the town hall and the school systems and personnel information and you know and
our offices. There's a lot of there's a lot of online theft now with identities and all the kinds of stuff like that. So, it's a we we have to fund the IT people that are good because we're could
be at a big loss. But, okay. So, if you want to put apples to apples, that'd be great for the next meeting and help us uh make a decision. >> Also, I I would love to see a comparison to other towns of our size. Sure. I just
think it seems excessive that we're already paying to have someone in the schools for three days a week and additionally one person here just it seems like a lot of overhead for such a small community. >> You speak to YT people in the schools
>> but some of that they were also teaching a class. This is not teaching a class. This is strictly tech support and that I think is the big difference. >> Well, I mean it was uh Mr. Muse. He did the TV studio and stuff when it first
started. I mean, I remember being on the committee at the very beginning of getting computers into the school. So, I mean, I'm not saying I'm getting old, but I'm getting old. >> But, I mean, >> it's it's just grown and grown and grown.
>> Yeah. I guess I'm just not educated enough on >> if we're are we tech heavy right now? Are we on par with other communities of our size? Is there an opportunity to renegotiate an existing contract to include the town hall as well as the school system with a current provider?
Um, but it to me it just see it seems like we're a little >> Well, you make a good point. It's it's worth looking at. Yes, it's definitely worth looking at. Yeah. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay, that sounds good to me. >> All right.
All right. So, um, Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, um, you already acted on creating the IA, which is excellent. Um, so what we'll need to do is bring them u any potential changes to plans. It's looking like the group
insurance trust tomorrow will vote to um increase rates by 12.4% for FY27, which is better than the 20% they had floated earlier. Uh that would also include some modest deductibles and co-pay changes. The deductibles uh that they're floating
would be $250 for individuals, $500 for families. That would have to be bargained with the uh PEC. Um and I'm recommending that um uh I will send them a letter letting them know that at your next meeting uh you'll just do the very
quick uh action where you say we're going to move to negotiations on this. We did that earlier on with the GIC if you remember that we had to send them notice uh that you would be voting on starting negotiations. Um and then you can vote at the next meeting to actually
enter the negotiations. So I'll plan to um give them that notice that it will be on our next agenda if that sounds all right to you. Um >> yes, >> the only question just go thinking back to topic five. Yeah. uh it's just the deductible amounts that are outlined
here versus they're slightly different. >> Uh in the letter that they put together for the unions uh in advance, they were still considering 500 and 1,000. So 500 for individuals, 1,000 for families. uh the consultants for the for the trust uh
were waiting on the results of a pharmacy benefit manager um uh study and um they went out to market for pharmacy services and have found that they can have some significant savings there and because of those savings they felt comfortable enough bringing down both
the deductibles and the potential rates. Okay. >> So, um they were saying 500,000. Now they feel comfortable with 250 and 500. Um which I think could be an easier sell for
the uh the groups across the the trust. >> Great. >> Good. Um right now tenative launch day for new website would actually be next week, March 3rd. Uh process coming along nicely. did a long training on how to use site
and I were in the microphone. Oh, >> hey. Can you hear me now? All right. How's this? >> Great. >> Oh, um, we just need to finish content migration and once that's all set and we
feel confident with how folks are using a site, then we'll be ready to launch. If we need to push it back a week or two, then then we will. But, uh, we're making good progress there. Um, Route Five project, uh, this is mainly for residents to hear. I think this is something the board is all aware
of. uh but we um had this CI report that um flagged about 50% of the system as not being built to to spec and having issues with the slope. Uh so we have hired an independent engineer uh which is something that that Giler wanted to
see because they uh disputed some of the findings of that report. Tai and Bond will be out in the field starting Thursday of this week. It will be out Thursday and Friday uh to evaluate the the system. And we've also reached out to the bonding company for Gilaurer for
assistance as we feel that the timeline has been extended so significantly that it would make sense for them to get involved. So that's what we've done. And then uh general bids for the elementary school roof uh will not be in tomorrow. They'll be in next week. We extended a week because some of the filed sub bids
came back uh much higher than they really should have uh due to some of the phrasing uh in the bid. So, we've rejected all of the bids for um believe it's the HVAC work um that really should have been been done differently and the
general contractor will will carry that instead. Instead of costing over $190,000, it will cost more like $25,000. So, um that will help us out a little bit. So, that's that. Um I think that's all I have for you for my
update. Do you have any questions? >> Any questions? Old business. >> Oh, I guess I should say one other thing. So, uh, as as you know, um, my family is expecting a second child. The due date is March 6th. Uh, as far as I know.
My wife's not in labor yet. Uh, so we'll see uh when that will happen in the next two weeks. Uh, or or beyond. We'll see. Um, I'm hoping to, you know, still mostly be at your at your uh next meeting and and be involved with everything, but uh if the timing works
out a certain way, I won't be at the next meeting and I'll just make sure we have an agenda and everything else in advance and either the chair or um maybe Karen can can run the meeting. So, it's >> second one usually comes early. >> That's what I've been told. So, we'll see. But I'll and I'll work with the chair and the two of you to make sure that we feel good. I'll be taking some
time uh when the baby is born. Okay. Um, obviously it's a busy time of year, but we'll discuss how best to structure everything, but I'm not far away. And >> well, hopefully everything works out. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, >> all works out. >> Good. >> Okay. Under old business, there was the
time keeping. Is that electronic timekeeping? Is that >> Tammy's done the training? She is starting things off at the treasurer's office. So they will test it out there, make sure it feels good, extend it the rest of town hall, and then slowly get everybody else on board. So making
progress. >> All right, perfect. Anybody else have any old business or any business unanticipated? If that being said, I make a motion to go in executive
sessions with special counsel pursuing the general laws chapters 30A section 21A and three to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation arising from the route 5 infrastructure project and pursuant to general law
chapter 30A section 21A7 uh T to comply with or act under the authority of any general or special law or federal grant and aid requirements, specifically the public record laws,
GLC, uh general laws C4s and 7 and 26, and discuss privilege communication from special counsel and not to return to regular SE session. One second. >> I have a section a second. Uh Jorski I
>> can I >> Long Street I. >> Okay. So, uh we'll be going into executive session and not returning. And thank you, John, for taping tonight.