WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=ztpDkCI7Noc

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: ztpDkCI7Noc):
- 00:00:02: Meeting Opening, Proclamation for Heroic Student Eli B
- 00:02:33: Public Comment from Honoree Eli B and Thanks
- 00:03:39: Announcements: Poppy Fair Fishing Derby and Graduation
- 00:05:17: Announcements: Memorial Day Success, Flag Day Ceremony
- 00:06:07: Approval of Meeting Minutes and Board Reorganization
- 00:08:20: Select Board Liaison Assignments and Responsibilities
- 00:13:13: Motion to Approve Select Board Liaison Assignments
- 00:13:32: Chief Doshak's Retirement Letter and Search Committee
- 00:16:04: Motion to Accept Chief Doshak Retirement Letter
- 00:16:47: Concert Request: Carol Divine and the Mighty Fine
- 00:19:18: Motion to Approve Concert with Rain Date Contingency
- 00:21:27: Approving Chief Flarity's 10-Hour Administrative Position
- 00:22:50: Motion to Approve Chief Priority's Administrative Role
- 00:23:22: Fire/Ambulance Short and Long-Term Options Discussion
- 00:25:28: Chief Flarity Details Ambulance Lensure Challenges
- 00:29:47: Loss of License Possible, Fees Increasing, Budget Inadequate
- 00:32:29: Lack of Fire Coverage, Mutual Aid Fees Looming
- 00:34:19: Understanding EMS and Fire Call Costs/Fees
- 00:37:18: Future Fire/EMS Model: Regionalization or 24/7 Staffing
- 00:39:10: Response Time Concerns and Immediate Super Short-Term Goals
- 00:44:12: Treasurer Collector Request to Increase Demand Fee
- 00:49:24: Demand Fee Discussion and Transition to Quarterly Billing
- 00:52:24: Motion to Approve Demand Fee Increase to $20
- 00:53:13: Treasurer Collector Request to Rollover Comp Hours
- 00:54:17: Motion to Approve Comp Time Rollover for Treasurer
- 00:55:06: Deficit Reduction Task Force Proposal Discussion
- 00:58:51: Task Force Assistance, Costs, and Scope Discussion
- 01:00:49: Task Force Overlap Concerns and Membership Discussion
- 01:04:18: Motion to Establish Deficit Reduction Task Force
- 01:06:29: Appointments and Resignations on Various Committees
- 01:09:02: Alternate Building Inspector Role Clarification
- 01:09:10: DPW Report: Smith Academy Park Irrigation System
- 01:10:57: Cemetery Roadways, Elm Street Bridge Design, Fuel Costs
- 01:15:15: Locking in Fuel Costs, Fleet Vehicles Idling Concerns
- 01:19:05: 15 Elm Court Projects, School Street Park, Bids
- 01:23:44: Pavement Management, Elementary School Roof, Wood Revenue
- 01:29:05: Discussion: Forestry Revenue is Still Unknown
- 01:29:46: Straight Road Grant Award, Trucks, Sale Vehicle, Bids, and Roads
- 01:35:33: Town Administrator Report: Zoning Rewrite, Bylaw Review
- 01:38:14: Staff Evaluations, Economic Development, Local Route 5 Plan
- 01:40:11: Goals for Next Year and Review Discussion
- 01:42:18: Communication Engagement and 2040 Plan Collaboration
- 01:44:12: Day Pond Ribbon Cutting Proclamation Approved
- 01:46:42: Future Meetings Schedule Discussion and Approvals
- 01:50:39: Wage Salary Approvals for Building Commissioner and Seasonal
- 01:51:58: Executive Session Motion and Adjournment


Part: 1

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Okay, I call our meeting to order and as always we start with a public participation at town of Hatfield select board meetings. The Hatfield select board welcomes everyone to its meetings and all other public meetings of the town of Hatfield. All regular and special meetings of the boards and

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committees of the town of Hatfield shall be open to the public and shall conform to the open meeting law. Executive sessions are closed to the public and will be held only as prescribed by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is important to recognize that the open meeting law

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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 required business of select board. for

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the public's information. This meeting is being recorded. Uh we have a special guest with us, Eli B. He was a he is a student at Smith Academy uh on a field

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trip. One of his uh fellow students was choking and Eli administered the hemlock maneuver which saved his classmates's life. So Eli is here today with us and

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we want to proclaim uh Eli Eli by uh I like to read a proclamation. Whereas Smith Academy student Eli Eli B showed quick thinking and courageous

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action and assisting a classmate. And whereas Mr. by skillfully performed a heav maneuver to aid a choking classmate when on a school field trip and whereas Mr. B learned first aid skills in health

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classes at Smith Academy and whereas his classmates and community greatly appreciate Mr. by heroic actions and therefore be it resolved that the select board of Hatfield Massachusetts do

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hereby proclaim their gratitude to Eli Black. So you want to come up here to hand you there. I don't know if you like to say a comments to the town. Would you like to say something?

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>> Um, I would just like to start with saying thank you for this. It's when I performed like the Heimlength maneuver. I just felt like it was something any normal person would do,

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but I did not think I'd get this type of recognition. I would just like to say thank you for all the appreciation from you guys. >> Well, thank you for your quick action

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and we appreciate you taking that action and jumping in there. So, I think it's great. >> Really appreciate >> nice to be among the heroes. So, thank you. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Eli. And thank you for being here.

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Okay. So, >> well done. >> Good. >> That's it. Okay. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you very much. >> Well done. >> Happy to recommend >> a

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>> ice cream. >> Okay. Under announcements as we move along. Uh this Saturday is uh Day Pond Fishing Derby, better known as the Poppy Fair Memorial. Uh and there will be a small

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dedication early in the morning at the pond to dedicate the pond. And we it's open to kids on under 15. So if you're 14 and under, any child can attend because in Massachusetts, if you're 15,

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you require a fishing license. So they've always had it from 14 and under. And then June 5th is graduation at the high school. So that's that'll be on June 5th. And then so the 30th or June

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5th, hope to see you there. Those are my announcements. And the last thing I'd like to say, I'd like to thank everybody for being at Memorial Day activities. And I appreciate everybody that came. And I know everybody had a good time at the chicken barbecue afterwards. So,

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thank you to the residents for attending uh to ensure that our veterans are are remembered, especially those that have fallen in in service. So, those are and I thank the fire department, police department, and everybody else that was

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there. So, those are my moms. I don't know if you and on we have a new member on our board. Oh, that's right. Uh Julia Frisbee is our new member. So I'd like to welcome her and say thank you for being on the board with us. >> Yeah, thank you.

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>> Okay. So >> you have any announcements? >> I was just going to reiterate what you said about everyone's participation Memorial Day. It was a very nice day and well attended. Um the only other thing to add is that Flag Day is June 14th. Um so we'll be doing a retirement ceremony

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for some flags down at the pavilion. um that'll be led by the Legion and then the fire department will be there as well to to retire the flags. So, if anyone would like to come to that, it's a it's a short little ceremony and then um it's a good thing to do. So, >> I appreciate all I appreciate you

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reminding me. I should have known that before. >> No problem. >> Okay. Uh as we're moving along with announcements, anybody here for public forum? Okay. So, we will go to the motion of

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our minutes. Unfortunately, you were in here and and but you'll be able to vote the next time we have the minute. So, >> I'll accept the >> Yeah, I'll make a motion to approve April 28th and May 15, 2026 meeting minutes.

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>> Motion made and I will second that. Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Okay. So, minutes are approved. Next part of business is reorganization. And after each election and new people

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come on board, we reorganize. And I think it's good to move the chair position around. And I think that's a good thing. And and because uh Luke is our senior, I feel I'd like to ask him

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if he's willing to accept nomination from me to be our chair for this year. I would. >> Okay. So, with that being said, if that's okay with you, I will move ahead with making a motion to appoint Luke Wong Street as chair of the select

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board. >> Second. >> And I have a second. Uh, any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Um, motion carries. So, Luke, I will now move you can take my seat >> and you can sit over here. I just moved

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my chair over because I'm hooked up with a microphone. >> Oh, John loves this. >> Sorry, John. >> We'll switch that around. >> I don't know if this is going to work. >> Perfect. Okay. All right. We're staying here.

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change or the guard. >> I thought you were going to change. Okay. >> He wants you get the chair around. Yeah. >> We'll find out. >> My chair is hooked up. >> I'm back to my old seat. Okay.

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>> That was great. >> Okay. All right. Hey. All right. Uh, so next >> we have some further reorganization. >> Yeah, we have some further organization to do. So in your packets there is a

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list of the current liaison positions. Um, there should be one that has which one Gregs was on. Um, I guess the first question would be, do you have any interest in moving which departments you are? I just don't want FRTA. I'll take

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anything else you guys decide on, but I prefer not to be on FRTA. That's my only >> You're you staying as the liaison for police and treasure collector. You >> if you want me to.

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I think I I' I've been on um I've been on capital improvement a couple of times and it's a good position either for for yourself or for uh Julia to because the capital improvement gives you an understanding what the future

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needs are of the town and what the different departments are. So, uh, if you want to if either one of you guys want to take that, that's that's your decision as chair. Okay. >> Do you have the one with like the full

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the new full list? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it should be the same. >> Well, there's additional representatives now. >> Oh, the bylaw. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> 24D. Yeah. >> Um, let's just start with the first half first. So, the board department leaison.

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So currently Greg was taking building inspector, council on aging, fire, ambulance, and schools. Um I'm more than happy to take building inspector for that list. >> Okay. >> If you >> I would be happy to do council on aging.

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>> Okay. I will stay on the DPW liaison. Um fire and ambulance. Do either one of you want to take that? I was gonna >> I'm just gonna >> thinking of me for schools and town admin. >> Okay. I'm going to keep town admin

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probably. >> Okay. >> I'm just I'm not going to take fire department ambulance because there's conflict >> conflict. So, >> well, I've been involved with discussions on fire. So, I >> Okay. >> I I might as well stay with that so we can continue discussions. >> Okay. Okay.

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>> Um >> All right. So we have building inspector will be myself. Council on aging Julia. DPW myself. Fire ambulance will be Ed. >> Yeah. >> Police Ed, you can stay there. >> Yeah, I'll stay there. That's fine. >> Julia, you can take schools. Yep.

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>> I'll keep town administrator. And Ed, you can keep treasure collector. >> Well, unless one of you guys want to take on treasurer collector. That's fine, too. I'm >> okay. Unless you want it, >> I think. >> Yeah. Why don't you keep it? >> Okay, that's fine. Whatever you want. Um,

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I don't want PVPC. So, >> I do. >> Okay. Wonderful. I will take the FRTA then. >> Great. >> Uh, Hatfield 2040 would stay with me as as since I'm chair of that and I would love to be on the affordable housing.

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>> Can we do that? >> Um, so they have a select board representative. So, it was Greg. So, it could shift to Julia if you wanted to, >> but is that going to leave an additional vacancy on that department? You would then need to pick a atlarge rep for that. Okay. >> Because Julia was previously the atlarge

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rep. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. So, I'm fine with that. >> Okay. >> I think that works. >> And then affordable housing. Can I can I take that? >> Um. Yeah. Unless Ed wants it. >> Capital improvement. I may >> No, I'm going to have you state capital

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improvement, but we also now have bylaw review and affordable housing trust on this other issue here. The second >> Oh, okay. Oh, they changed it. >> Yeah, we got a couple more things. >> I I mean, affordable housing trust I think be better for one of you two guys

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cuz you're here for the duration. I'm not sure I'm going to be um this might be my last year cuz I've had four terms. So, >> okay. Uh, anything that's going to be long-term shouldn't should probably go to one of you guys. >> Okay. All right. So, if you want

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affordable housing, then I'll take by law review. >> Cool. >> Got all that. >> That's great. >> Okay. >> It's a really good lineup. >> Excellent. >> All right. Next. Um,

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we need a motion for that, please. You got the list. >> Motion to approve select board leaison assignments as drafted. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second that. >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I.

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Moving on. Topic two. We have a retirement letter from Chief Mike Doshak. Um it reads, "Dear board, I will be retiring as of December 31st, 2026. Though bittersweet, this is the natural course. After 38 years of law enforcement, since joining the Hatfield

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Police Department in 2011 as your chief since 2017, I have become very fond of Hatfield and its citizens. I have always felt welcomed and appreciated, which I believe is a testament to the kind, warm-hearted residents of Hatfield. I've enjoyed my time here and thank the town for the support over the years. I make

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this notification now to allow for a smooth transition with the department and to allow for ample time to choose your next police chief. And I think the town has become very fond of chief deco also. So uh I it's would regret that we

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accept his resignation but people resign people move on. So I guess the next part of the process I would suggest having forming committee to uh determine our next push to >> absolutely.

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Um, yes, certainly thank him for all of his years of service to the town and also enjoy retirement. >> Mhm. >> Um, so yeah, we should put together a a search committee. >> If you have any thoughts on who you want

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to be on it, we we could both create the committee and appoint people at the next meeting. >> Okay. Um, you know, when we did DPW, we had, um, one person from the department who kind of was an outside person as well. Um, you could potentially have,

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you know, someone either retired from the department or from another nearby town who could help us that. >> You could have um, another department head. you could have and then probably a select board representative and then a couple folks from outside the town or

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from uh at large just residents. >> Yep. >> So if you have any thoughts um happy to reach out to people. >> I'm trying to remember the last committee we had u we had for for Chief Coch it was uh yeah somebody from DPW I

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think somebody from fire I think. Yeah, fire ambulance would be good to have a representation of >> uh resident from town and well we can look it up and see more or

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less. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And you're the leazison so it makes sense most likely for Ed to be on that as well. I can um we can probably post something just say we're looking for residents interested even if the committee doesn't

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we'll vote to create the committee next time but I think that's fine we we can say we're having the committee and start finding resident for it >> or two yeah depending on that sounds great sounds good um do I hear a motion to accept the retirement letter

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>> I'll make a motion to accept the retirement letter Chief Mike to coach >> seconded >> motion made motion seconded Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I >> I >> um Mr. Chair, if you wouldn't mind. Um

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we have a very quick matter for topic seven and the person with the request is actually here. >> Oh, yeah. Take that out of order. >> Sure. So, we can move on to topic seven. Um Carol Divine and the Mighty Fine request permission to hold a concert at Smith Academy Park.

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>> Hello. Hello. Come on out. >> Hi. Yeah. So, I am Carol Divine. I am the head of a sevenpiece classic soul Mottown Horn Band >> and we received um a grant from the

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Massachusetts Hatfield Cultural Council, which is thrilling, to hold a concert here in Hatfield. And um we've chosen the date I worked with Karen and um we worked on a date of July 10th. It's a Saturday. >> Uh I'm sorry, it's a Friday, July 10th

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from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. And we would like to hold that at the Smith Academy Park. It would be open to the public and it would be a free concert. And I have some flyers I can hand out to you that I have printed up. And um I would also love to

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print up some lawn signs potentially just to promote this. >> Um this is separate from the summer concert series that that you do because I had >> originally talked with the summer concert folks um but they were already have things lined up. So this will be in

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addition to that. So the town of Hatfield is going to get some great music which is fantastic. Um, this summer I am working on a a rain date for this because I'm right now I don't know what the procedure is. I live in Sunderland so I have not had an

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opportunity to I'm always work I'm always gigging when you guys have concerts. Um, so I have not had a chance to to go to any the concerts here. But I love Hatfield. I think it's beautiful town and I'm really excited. I would definitely be bringing people, you know,

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from Hatfield, Deerfield, Sunderland, and you know, this the general >> Yeah. >> area. Um, and I'll be promoting it on our on our website, our Facebook page, and me just telling lots of people about it and flying around the area. >> Sounds great.

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>> So, I wanted to get uh permission to be able to hold the concert at the Smith Academy Park. I'll make a motion to approve Carol Divine and the mighty fine permission to hold a concert at Smith Cany Park on July 10th, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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>> Seconded. >> Great. >> Motion made, motion seconded. Any discussion? >> Um, yeah. The only thing is if the if it does rain, I guess I I will work out a rain date with C. I was hoping it could be July 12th, but um one of my key members cannot make it that day,

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unfortunately. So, I'm looking at some other days um with I need to then come back to ask for the rain date of the cultural council >> unless you want to just say can um approved with a rain date, >> right? >> As long as it's signed off on by the

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executive assistant or town administrator, >> right? >> You probably don't have to come back. I don't think so. >> I'll redirect my motion. I'll say motion approved Carol define and my define permission to hold a concert with Academy Park on July 10th, 2026 from 6

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p.m. to 8:00 p.m. And we also approve a rain day >> to be determined. >> Thank you. Because you don't do anything is right here. >> That would be tough. >> Yeah. Nowhere where the music the sound is good enough. Yeah. >> Big enough for it sound good enough.

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Yeah. >> All right. We have a motion. It's been made and seconded. >> Um is there any more discussion? >> Hearing none. Um all in favor? >> I. >> Great. Oh, you can hold up one of your posters for the camera if you want. >> Yes. And I I was going to leave it with

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you all as well and I will make some more for myself. But here is the poster and we're very excited. Can't wait. >> Fantastic. >> It'll be fun classic Mottown dancing and you'll have a blast. >> Sounds great. Thank you very much.

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>> I can help you. Who should I leave this with? You can. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> And the lawn sign would be okay. And I work with Karen on that. >> Yeah. We'll make sure we find the right places where we can do it. Yeah. For sure.

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>> Like five, I think we said. >> Yes. >> Five sounds good. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Look forward to it. >> All right. Um, going back to topic three. So, this is

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um to approve Chief Flity's 10-hour per work week administrative position um to cover as the town's fire chief while we make our transition. So, um,

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>> first I want to thank Chief Flarity for offering to stay on for a shortterm basis to ensure that there's a smooth transition because I know he's been offered a new new job. And I I do want to thank him personally for giving us an

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option to look at so that we can continue his services which gives us time to uh develop a plan which we started to develop with a committee to try to see what we're going to do moving forward. So I just want to make that

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comment and thank you Bob. I just want to get that out before we have discussion. I think it's reasonable 10 hours and it's that's a week and I think the rate is reasonable and I think as far as I'm concerned is we need that because we we

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without it we're we're doomed on it. Right. So so uh I do appreciate >> absolutely you have any questions on this? I mean, I have a lot of questions on like the

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next steps here, but not on not on this particular part. Yep. >> Um, I would entertain a motion for this. >> Then I will make a motion. I will I'll make a motion to approve Chief Robert Priority's 10-hour per week

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administrative position. >> Seconded. >> Motion made. Motion seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. motion. Oops. Thank you. >> Thank you.

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Um, so that brings us right to topic four, which is a little bit of a heavier lift. Um, fire and ambulance department short and long-term options. Um, so with Chief Flity moving on to

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another town, that is going to open up a fire chief's position for the town. Um, which does have a lot of moving parts with it. um some of which being in terms of lensure for the ambulance as well as um staffing as well. So I think we're in

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good shape with the 10-hour per week for the administrative side of things. Um so it's good that we approve that, but moving forward we're going to need a long longer term plan. Um so in our packets here we have the MRI

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study from 2023 that was done that outlines um the town's staffing needs and ultimately after running through different scenarios what the cost lift was for those in 2023. Um there's been a

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lot of moving parts that have changed since then. Um but I don't know if you have anything you want to touch on, Andrew. I think it actually might help us the most is to get an update from the chief because I know he's been working on this, reaching out to some other towns and just um looking at reaching

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out to the state as well and finding out what our our short-term uh obligations are and and what some options look like. You know, the MRI study was included here just for background since some of this was looked at before. There's other options out there as well. And I think, you know, what what I'm working on

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trying to do is better understand what the entire universe of of possible options are for us in the very short term and the in the short term and in the long term for us. I think uh we'll have a committee put together to help us look at those long-term options, but you know, the chief's the best person to

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talk to us about what we can do right now and then we need to figure out what our options look like, what we want to prioritize for the moment, and then what we can possibly do. So, Chief, I'll I'll let you weigh in. So one of the first pieces that uh with

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my departure would be about the ambulance lensure. Uh so I did reach out to office of emergency medical services. The first part of it is is that we can transfer the license to another name. So it is licensed to the town of Hatfield as the Hatfield Ambulance Service. Um it

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would just be a different login for somebody to manage the license itself. With that being said, the uh DEA license, it's going to have to be somebody that is a paramedic currently because we are still licensed at the advanced life support or paramedic level. So there is that one caveat that

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that person will have to be a paramedic to go on that. >> So which license was that for? >> That would be for the actual DEA. So the drug license. >> Drug. Yep. Drug license. >> Um just because of currently being at the ALS level, it would require a paramedic. >> Yep. Are there any other any other

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requirements for that paramedic? They have need a certain amount of experience, hours, anything else? >> Um, I don't believe the state says anything specific, but typically they would not issue the license to somebody with less than three years >> for sure >> of being a paramedic. They need to make sure that they have some experience in

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the field before adding them to that. >> Yep. With that being said, um unfortunately me being, you know, a 40-hour a week paramedic, um after I notified the department last week or two weeks ago now, um we did have one of the other

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paramedics that has since resigned. So, we're it's a smaller list of paramedics that are ultimately available to work, but also to put on that license at this time. Also with that because none of the others except for um firefighter

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Thornton being a full-timer um she does not meet the requirements. She's only had her card for about a year and four months. So she would not be able to get put on that that lensure. Um the lack of paramedic or ALS level staffing requires us to have a what's

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called a primary mutual aid agreement with presumably South County and probably also Northampton Fire and Rescue um as part of our license. It's something that we probably should have had in the past, but we were managing it right along. It was not much

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of an issue, but now because of the lack of staffing, it's becoming a bigger problem. If for some reason either of those two agencies were to decline to sign them and they are legally allowed to decline that, Hatfield Ambulance would absolutely lose their ALS license and

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presumably would also lose its BLS license because we would not have anybody else to take over because they are providing primary mutual aid for all of the ambulance calls for every time that we cannot staff. So that that's kind of the the first two main pieces of

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this is that there has to be an agreement in place. Um and then that's signed by both both communities or both services for them to be able to for us to even keep the license. >> Would the deadline for that be your last day or would it be another point?

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>> Um in theory, yes. It probably is in the next >> Yeah. >> eight business days. Would the appointment of you as interim chief do anything there? That wouldn't matter to them. >> It should gain us a little bit of time overall. Um I think it will help to that I'm staying on to be able to handle some

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of the administrative tasks and try to get that agreement in place. >> Um unfortunately there's South County is also in a change over at their leadership. They're they have offered their chief's position to another employee um and they're in negotiations. So they're kind of in a little state of

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flux up there as well. Um, so getting those agreements, I did send off our the first set of agreements that were signed that were part of what the town agreed to, and that is the uh fee per call. So that has been sent off, waiting for a return signature on that. They also sent

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off a new uh what's called an ALS or a paramedic intercept agreement. Um, just kind of updating it. It's about two years old. Uh, it also that also had a fee increase. It used to be $300, that went to $350. So if we have a basic truck and they send a paramedic, they

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get a flat rate. So that those are all the pieces that are in place right now. Um with that being said, if we don't if we're not able to staff the ambulance at all and they become primary or they refuse, we then ultimately lose the

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license. Um now those communities or any other agency still has to respond um per the state statute. what they can do and as South County has already um come up with is that they are allowed to charge

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a fee per that call. Um I have not had an opportunity yet. I know Chief Pelus was actually out I believe last week when I was down there. So I haven't had a chance to really meet with him yet or the division chief of EMS to see if that's something that they are also going to be sending this way. They're

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aware of my departure. Um, so it it's not unlikely that it may not happen. So that would be a whatever their rate is um per call if we're not able to staff at all. What I do want to make sure that we you folks know here tonight is that

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if we are not able to cover any ambulance calls and it becomes primary, whether it be South County or Northampton Fire Rescue, the amount of money that was appropriated at town floor is not enough. um that was based off of the first six months of the fiscal year and we

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extrapolated out to the full 12, but that was for only the calls that we had missed to that point. If we can't cover any, um I estimate it to be at approximately $160,000 that the town will ultimately owe one or both services depending on how that

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goes. Um so obviously that's not currently in the FY27 budget. um the other side. So that that's predominantly most of the ambulance at this time. Um, if we were to not be able

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to staff, either agency could come forward and say, "We are not going to do a fee per call and we want to enter into an agreement." And then that would be a negotiation between the town of Hatfield and South County EMS or the town of

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Deerfield as the fiduciary for them or the city of Northampton Fire or Fire Rescue or the city with their finance director. Um, unfortunately, I'll I'll put it out. It's not going to be a lot of negotiation. They kind of have a lot of the cards in this case.

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They're certainly open for discussion, but I think they're going to hold a lot of the cards, unfortunately. Um, so that's predominantly the ambulance. Um, with that could also come a higher fee. So, just so everybody is on the page ahead of time that we could be in

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the $350 to $450,000 range for an outside EMS only that they would have to come up with and there's no money in the budget for that. There's no money in the account really for that long term. The other piece to this is is that the lack of fire coverage that we will

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ultimately be having. Um, currently it's me here Monday through Friday and then depending on who I am staffed with, um, there's a lot of times that we are the only two individuals that are responding to fire calls during the day for SEO alarms, you know, smoke alarm

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activations, things like that. Um, and that will obviously be going away and we don't have enough other personnel. All of our call staff work out of town. We're fortunate that Captain Long Street is able to break away sometimes for the bigger calls. Um, but I don't think he's

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going to be able to break away and handle every run-of-the-mill call. I don't think that's fair for him, um, or his employer, um, or his partners, I should say, in the business. Um, so we're we're going to be struggling on the fire side as well. Um, and I know

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the deputies met with town administrator and Ed earlier this evening, and they're going to be talking to some of the others, but we're going to struggle on the fire side. I have talked to Chief Kennedy from Wheatley. he was aware of my pending departure. Um, and he has

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also come up with the likelihood is that they would also submit a proposal for a fee per call to start charging for mutual aid fire. Their budgets and other other communities cannot, you know, send a three or four person engine down here and do it for nothing. So that there

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would potentially be a fee for that. He is working on it. I don't have all the details. It was just a very five or 10 minute conversation that I had with him. But these are the pieces that are there. It is also something that Northampton Fire Rescue if they were to start responding here mutually a regularly,

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they could also turn around and start charging the town. I don't know if they will. Um but obviously it's taking their crews out of their city. So this is this is a lot I think that um >> so that means they get the ambulance uh

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money plus the additional fee, right? He's he's talking fire. >> Yeah, this would be for the fire. So, if if we can't cover calls, depending on what um either the town of Weightley or the city of Northampton chose to do, they could also turn around and start charging us a fee per call. We probably

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would get some some version of it, you know, five calls, 10 calls for >> I'm just saying that's on top of whatever they charge for the the call, right? That's what I'm saying. >> So, if the call was $1,400, they charge another $300. So they'd be

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getting $1,700. >> This would be for fire. So it's that's totally separate than whatever the EMS side of it would be. >> Well, I'm just talking EMS side right now because usually an ambulance calls what? 1,400 bucks. >> It can go anywhere from 24 to 4,200

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depending on the level of call. >> Right. So then and then on top of that, they charge they'll charge another fee. >> Correct. The fee per call is the fee per call regardless of the disposition as as the South County agreement is. um if they get turned around two minutes out of the garage, but they've been to us,

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the agreement states that they will charge the town that $350. >> So, basically, we don't we don't see any of that money and we end up paying another 300 bucks. That's the bottom line, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We have no >> Right. I just want to make sure towns

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people understand that. That's >> correct. Yes. This this is, as I'm explaining, just take it from the ambulance side for the moment. These are just a rough estimate based off of what was in the MRI report and some conversations I had with the previous chief. Um I mean honestly I'm estimating

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that the if they were to join South County that contracted price is going to be probably in the $400 to $425,000 range with nothing in return to the town of Hatfield. So that would be an additional tax implication to the

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residents of Hatfield with nothing in return >> and no fire service >> and still that's an EMS only and then take on the fire side if we are not able to cover calls and they potentially whether it's the town weightly or the city of Northampton start charging I

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don't know what the rate would be it could be the cost of an engine and three firefighters at whatever they're hourly I don't know yet I don't know if that's even an an option. Um, so it could be another 20, 30, $50,000.

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I don't I haven't done the math though because I don't have an actual rough estimate for that, but it could be another additional fee. Again, nothing in return for that and it would have to go out. So, those are those are the bulk of the

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two pieces as it sits right now. Um, I know it it's not good. It doesn't look good overall, but it is going to come. I believe it's going to come, no matter what the town decides. I think it's going to come at an additional cost to the residents of the town. Um, and

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depending on how they how they vote, how they choose, um, it could be no money coming back in, and you're going to see an increase on the taxes pretty much no matter what. >> Yeah. Okay. Right. >> Yep. Um, I made a comment to Andrew earlier today. I just want to make sure

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and I said it during the budget process. Um Julia, I know you probably watched most of the meetings this year. I I truthfully feel that there's probably only two real avenues for fire and EMS in the town. Um I don't think the current model is really viable long term. I think it is either a

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regionalization of some sort whether it is just the call firefighters um and then a third party EMS or it's a regionalization of all of it together in some aspect or it is the 247 model fire

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and EMS with remaining our call members because they can't go anywhere. We still would have to have them no matter what. But those that those are really the two things that I see moving forward. Um, I'm seeing it nationwide that this is kind of where unfortunately things are

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moving. It's about 200 fire departments in about 18 months that have all had to join either regionalize, create a fire district or something of the sort >> in Massachusetts, >> uh, across the country. >> I was like, that's all.

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>> No, no, that's just not mass. So that that is the bulk of what I have the the very kind of cursory information at the beginning. Um but I want to make sure that folks understand that as as people start talking the residents

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understand that this is kind of where we're heading and we don't really have a choice. The res you as the select board don't really have an option. Um you have to at least provide some level of service for the residents of Hatfield. It's just a matter of how that's going

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to play out. Chief, can you touch on projected call times or effect that you know would there be a delay in response if the ambulance was coming from outside of Hatfield or if we were able to keep it in town? How that would would look in

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terms of call times for residents? >> Sure. Uh so we've been tracking this data, a lot of data for the last few years. Um, when we are a staffed department, our average response time from time of dispatch to the time a half unit gets on scene is four minutes. That

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is townwide. Um, Northampton Fire Rescue as it goes through its little process, time of dispatch to them on scene is currently averaging 11 minutes and South County EMS is averaging 14 minutes currently. >> Pretty substantial. Yes, it is more than

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triple the time for South County and almost triple for Northampton. >> And just for people to understand that somebody that is ultimately in cardiac arrest, if they do not have defibrillation and or CPR in about six minutes or less, the chance of

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survivability is less than 10%. So, as I've mentioned for three years, a lot of these things are are literally talking about life and death. um when it comes to the ambulance and then even the fire side for potential structure fires, car accidents, things like that that you need people to get

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there quickly and start acting. >> So I guess in your for Andrew our immediate super short term, what does it look like for you? So number one is figuring out this ALS piece and and figuring out what can be done to

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preserve the ALS service because that's our charge right now is we're supposed to be providing it for the residents. So we want to figure out how we can do that. >> So the first thing to do is to find out the answer to some of those questions from the chief and then you know we have a few options there. we first have to

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see if we can get those mutual aid agreements signed, those primary mutual aid agreements signed. And if that's not possible, the other thing we could consider is seeing if there's any possibility of an interim chief of some kind who would have the certifications

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necessary to keep the department afloat. And that would either be somebody currently with us. Um there aren't many options there, but I will talk to one of the options tomorrow. or uh look at um what if there's anybody out there who's

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maybe retired as a chief or something else who's doing like the interim circuit and would be interested in coming in and working with us for the very short term. So that's number one to me is what can be done to try to save ALS in the the short term. The second thing, and chief's working on

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this, and I'll work on this as well, is talking to basically every surrounding town to find out what collaboration would look like in some way. And that asks if they are at least willing to have the conversation about what a regional model would look like for either fire, EMS, or both. And then what

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uh what their timelines would look like, what costs would look like um and what considerations are out there. and I'm starting to have those conversations with my counterparts in other communities. Uh the chief's doing the same with his counterparts and we'll just try to bring all of that information together as fast as

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possible. The other thing that we have is uh there is money that was allocated at town meeting for these regionalization studies and other things. So we can decide to use some of that for this process. When I've mentioned that to my colleagues in other communities, you the ones who are at least interested in some kind of

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regional model, it's helpful when I say also there's some money that we can offer and at least doing the the work to look at this. Very good point that's been made is, you know, wasn't the study already done? You know, wasn't didn't we already look at what the options are? And I think that's absolutely right. Um that we have the MR study that that does

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give us a lot to begin with. um this wouldn't I wouldn't want to use this for a study so much as for really trying to tell us what's the feasibility and how would you get it done as fast as possible kind of holding our hand through the process to get it done. So those are my first thoughts for what has

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to happen first but I think there's probably more ideas that you all have as well. I think the one thing just make sure that as as you move forward and I had mentioned in my meeting with the select board a couple weeks ago, you know, I am willing to stay on in this position for

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essentially I offered up to six months if needed because these are not things that go quickly. >> Yeah. >> Um an interim chief is an option and that's fine. I I don't want to stay here forever necessarily. Um, but realize that even if having somebody in the administrative role to move the

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licensing and things over to, if that person is not going to be here and actually working on the truck and working as a paramedic, um, that might hinder what the lensure would even be allowed. They really need to be a like me, they need to be a working paramedic chief. Um, and even that, you know, if

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it's only a 20 or 24 hour a week, that might have some limitations if the other hours are not getting picked up by the other medics. Right. >> So, it's an administration with that medic to change to the license. Um, but that's not a big deal to have me stay on

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there. It's really that the coverage is going to be the bigger part and the actual hours that are being covered at the ALS level. >> Just so >> that's an important clarification. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, I would tend to agree with you, Andrew, that we have a great report

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that was that was given um and done fairly recently. Um, of course, the numbers are going to change slightly, but um in terms of studying, in terms of times and responses and call volumes and stuff like that, we have all that data already. So, um, yeah, I think we just

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need some of those answers back from the other surrounding towns on if this is even something that they can can they even take us on or is this something that um is a going to be a more in-depth conversation. So, you have anything else on this, Ed? No, I mean we're in the

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process now of reviewing everything and trying to set some discuss getting discussion started uh the sooner because the sooner than later is the way we're going. So we're trying to working with Andrew and the other deputy chiefs and

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stuff trying to come up with some um options I guess. So, it's it's it's not going to be an easy process, but we'll I think we'll we'll figure out something. >> We have to. >> Yeah. >> And I I will throw it out for the three

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of you. Um I do have an idea in my head and a proposal. I've run some preliminary numbers uh about potential options um if we get to that point. So, I've already come up with a potential plan uh if we need to. Yeah, I think it

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would be really helpful too if there was a very clear graph or data set that could outline this is if fire and ambulance regionalize this is what it is if we just outsource ambulance and this is what the lift is

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for moving to a 24-hour schedule just nice and clear so everyone can see it and understand what the tax implications of each of those are. >> Yeah, >> I think we definitely have to have that. So >> yeah, >> my my plan I I did the 247 model with a couple of tweaks from what was presented

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uh last year during the override process. Um don't need to get into it today at the meeting because there's more pieces to it. Uh the other parts are really going to come down to that getting those costs from those other two agencies and then plugging them into that spreadsheet. We're kind of there. I

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have most of it built. Just need the the actual number to to drop in. Well, thank you for your work on this and um I'm excited to hear what what happens moving forward. So, do you have anything else on this?

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>> No, I was just thinking I mean I it's tricky because an aging population, everybody wants the 247, but no one wants to pay for it. So, >> the tough part >> and there's other town surrounding towns that are facing the same the same dilemma as well, >> you know. And then there's the

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overarching thing. I mean, you could have one or both of the services say that they're not interested in taking this on and then that completely changes the conversation again. >> Yeah, there's so many possib or if it's just an absolutely exorbitant cost, then there's that to evaluate as well. So, you know, there's a lot going on.

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>> Yep. >> So, um but Chief, we thank you and I think we >> Is this study available? It I found it online. It's available online. I know it's definitely on the Hatfield Fire website. Y

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>> um and I believe it's still on the town website. I know that the website changed a couple months ago, but it used to be, but it's definitely mafire.org. >> Just saying that because I think a lot of people are interested in kind of digging into this themselves as well. >> Yeah, it is. It is definitely there. I think it's even listed on our homepage

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about twothirds of the way down there for it. >> That is where I found it. So, >> yeah. >> Fantastic. Thank you. With that, we can move on to topic five. Um, so this is a request from the treasure

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collector to raise the demand fee from $10 to $20. Um, Tammy, if you would want to say a few words on this for us. >> So, there's studies that have been done through my Mass Treasurer Collectors

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Association on fees um through Mass General Law. You can go up to a maximum setting of $30 for demand fees. We've been at 10 at least for as long as I can remember. And um I think it's feasible to go up to

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the $20 demand fee. That'll still keep us relatively in the middle um with other towns. I mean Hadley, just Hadley is at $30 for all their fees. So, I'm thinking 20 is a, you know, we're raising them a little

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bit, but we're not going to the max. And it's not that I want to charge demand fees. I'd rather people just pay their bills online and not charge demands at all. So, it's not really about me looking to hit everybody with a demand fee um to make the town money. It's just

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I'm trying to put it out there so we can just get stuff paid on time and just be a little more efficient um with money coming in. Um, so that's what I'm looking to do. I'm just looking to raise the fees up to 20. >> I don't have a problem with either.

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>> I I question my only concern here is that we just moved to the quarterly water sewer bill and I'm not sure if everyone's used to that yet. That was my only question starting July 1st. Um because because personally I try to pay

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mine online via a check >> and if you're and if you are past if you if you just miss it this just happened to me where I thought I paid it. I sent the check and I don't know did it and then it was late. I got a late fee and then you have to go and then you can't do it online anymore. You got to go

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right. So it is a little bit cumbersome. I've put actually a chat out to because we just did change to quarterly asking people do they charge it every quarter for water sewer or do they look only to do it on fourth quarter for water sewer

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and it sort of came back 50/50. So I'm not going to look to push it right away to every quarter because we did just change to quarterly. So, you know, for this full fiscal year of water, I'll probably just leave it out on fourth quarter like we normally did and um

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leave water sewer there, but just still have the higher fee. >> Okay. And then I guess my next question, I don't know if this really relates, but is there a way to just set it to autopay so that you don't have to log in every time you're paying your bill

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>> under UNIPE? >> Mhm. I believe that there is, but it's through Uni, I think you'd have to log it in um lock it to um a bank account. >> Okay. >> But if you can't see it on Unipay, I can

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always ask our rep. >> Okay. I think that Yeah, we can take that offline. But I do think there's ways to make it easier so that no one gets hit with a late fee and no one has to deal with it. Other than that, >> I think in Greenville we had unipay and there was a a place where you could

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click you didn't have a get in as a guest to pay your bill. >> You can do that as well. Yes. >> To see but >> yes and you can sign up on unipay as well. Not even use unipay to

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pay your bill. But if you're signed up under it'll alert you when I put payments out. And then you'd get an email as a reminder saying, "Oh, I have a bill that's out there that's due." So then you can still even just write a check or you can still go online and pay

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it. I'm just saying I think I'm pretty uh computer literate and I struggle with this service in particular. So just throwing it out there. Well, with that being said, I'll make a motion to approve treasure collector's

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request to roll over. No motion to approve treasure collector's request to raise the man fee from $10 to $20. >> A motion. >> Seconded. >> All right. Uh, is there any further discussion? >> No. >> All right. All in favor?

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>> I >> I >> I motion passes. So, that will raise to 20. Um, moving right along. Topic six. Um, also treasure collector to roll over

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comp hours to be used before July 1st, 2027. >> I do want to point out on this that she our treasurer corrector held off another position for 6 months because at our

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request, I believe it was our request. So she because that position wasn't filled, she had to stay more put more time in and you I don't believe you got a chance to use uh your vacation because of that.

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>> I have almost my vacation in check. It's just the com. So I've been just using vacation at the moment to keep that within the 80. So my vacation should be okay. I just took one. So vacation should be fine. It's just the comp time

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I haven't been able to catch up on for that specific reason. >> So, did you finally hire somebody else? >> Uh, I did hire somebody, but they're not starting till July 1st. >> Okay. So, you will have somebody starting July 1. >> I will >> because I know in the past we've always

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discouraged people from carrying over hours because we encourage people to take vacation, but there are situations that occur such as yours that occurred this year. So, as far as myself, I have no no problem with this request. Agreed.

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>> I I I don't have a problem with it either, especially with the fact that you've taken on so many other roles within that office over the last couple years. So, >> okay. >> With that, I'll entertain a motion. >> Motion to approve the treasure collector's request to overcome hours to

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be used before July 1st, 2027. >> Seconded. >> Motion made and motion seconded. Is there any discussion? >> No. All in favor? I >> I >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks for all you do.

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>> All right, we've covered seven. So to topic eight, um the deficit reduction task force proposal, Andrew, I'm assuming this is a you. >> Yes. And I did get um some significant

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help on this as well um from our summer intern Jake West who's here this evening. So, uh this is um a proposal here. Um as we talked about when we balanced our budget for this year, we

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did rely on some one-time funds to do so. That included some free cash and that also included uh some closing of accounts and other things. I did find out this year from talking to more of my counterparts in other towns that uh we used a lot less free cash even proportional and in proportionality than

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a lot of other towns did. Um, but it's still not something that we want to do long term. Uh, and as we look at our projections for next year, we start with about a $325,000 deficit. And that's before knowing for sure what our assessments look like, um, knowing what

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our increases in potential expenses might be. And it doesn't at all factor in what we've just been talking about for both fire and ambulance. Um so this uh is a proposal to put together a committee that would be convened by the select board accountable to the select

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board and then uh eventually responsible for coming up with some ideas about how to uh uh deal with this deficit while also looking at what services we're offering as a town and if there's any changes that we want to make to that. um we might find that we feel the amount of

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services we're offering for instance on this uh ambulance and fire maybe police um any other departments aren't necessarily what residents believe we're offering and might want to see more uh and if that's the case we might want to change you know our overall approach on

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this. So uh you know the charge of the committee is is um described here and a proposed work plan is in here including uh some deeper dives thinking about how to use some consultant assistance that I mentioned earlier uh auditing our uh existing services looking at potential

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opportunities for more revenue uh and then examining all of our expense drivers as well and then really coming up with every idea that we have that's on the table thinking about what what are things that we could be doing um and then looking at if we were to move

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towards an override, what would that look like? If we didn't think an override would be successful, uh what cuts would be recommended or other changes in services, potentially shared services or regionalization. Um and then coming up with basically these three

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proposals that could then be presented and defended and eventually we'd want to move those forward to um select board, finance committee, town meeting. So that's the recommendation here is we come up with something like this. Obviously this is a draft. This is your

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first time seeing it. So if you have any ideas for things that we can do to improve this, I think that makes a lot of sense. We don't have to uh pass this tonight. Um but if you do, you can start thinking about who you want for um representatives. Uh you can start thinking about if there are representatives from the public who

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would like to be involved. Um want folks to know this is happening. Um, and uh, really when you look at our timeline, the budget process starts in December. So, we're kind of already behind when it comes to coming coming up with ideas

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that then we can flesh out when it's time to put the budget together and defend it. So, um, I'm recommending that we move forward with this or something like it and really open to any ideas that you have. Um, and I'd also open up if if Jake has anything he wants to add that I've glossed over. Um, or if you

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have any questions for either of us, you can definitely weigh in. >> Um, yeah, something that stuck out to me, uh, so like the consultant assistance and, um, you know, like the auditing of the existing services, is that something that we can readily hire

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out for? Is it something that we can maybe utilize uh a a graduate student from one of the local universities for to, you know, kind of control those costs a little? It seems doing a entire townwide study could probably get pretty expensive pretty fast. >> Yeah, I I think that's a that's a good

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call. Um, you know, when I I did a similar um scope once that did kind of like a overall look at town structure and looking at the budget and that cost around uh $8,000. I'd imagine with inflation it's probably gone up a little bit and we have you know 50 that we want

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to work with. So um the other opportunity available to us is working with Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Um and I think their fees are usually pretty reasonable. They might be able to help us with this as well but know grad students a great idea. Um we have some decent grad networks uh here and and and

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uh could could uh certainly look at doing that okay save some costs. And I think you there's an important question about that consultant assistance who's deciding how to use that. The select board might want to say that they're the final decider on using on how that's

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used rather than this deficit reduction committee. So that's something to think about as well. >> Right. I think that's what we had discussed when we >> had discussed that article and moving forward with it that there would be a select board decision on that. >> Yeah. Um, the other question that I had was,

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um, actually, you know what? I think you answered it. I'm good. Yeah, I'm all right. Do either of you have any questions on that? >> I'm just thinking about all of our different task force task forces that

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are going on at the same time and just knowing how hard it is to find people who are engaged and kind of see the overlap and and everything. I'm just wondering if there's an opportunity to combine some of those into one master

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sort of that's all I'm thinking about. >> Yeah. I mean, I think this this is such like a this is a very shortterm charge and is so focused on kind of like budget. Um, I mean there's an overlap certainly with the finance

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committee. Um, but I feel like you need kind of more specialized group that that's weighing a lot of different things, but I don't know. It's it's really up for this group to think about. >> There's just so much happening all at the same time. You know what I mean? It's like regionalization opportunities that would impact you. There's sort of

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>> a lot of big ideas that I think we've all sort of >> come up with at different probably in different groups at different times. I think this kind of would be that overarching committee because you know this committee ideally would be taking a look at what our current spending is but

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also what are the projections and where are we headed. So it would be tying in some of the goals from the 2040 committee and what does that look like with trying to accomplish some of those goals with what we've got for spending already. I mean the other big portion

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too is that a lot of that deficit spend that we had was largely attributed to the significant increase in healthcare. So if that health care cost is more controlled the you know how how >> I don't know if that's a safe bet >> right it might affect how this all plays

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out as well. So, >> and there's I mean we looked at options for reducing healthare spend substantial >> that's still on the table, right? So, >> yeah. >> Would there be any um

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just thinking just sort of thinking are there any grant opportunities that would come out of this? is the same sort of thing where like once you kind of look at this then you can say okay now we're going to go after this and see if what this >> uh possibly >> infinite potential yeah

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>> yeah possibly I mean um you know for for the it's tough with grants to fund an operating deficit you know it's it's hard to find grants and things that are going to to translate into funding that that can save you on things that you

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know you need to purchase every year you know that helps with capital it helps with, you know, special projects less good for, you know, an an operating deficit for just the services that, you know, you need to provide as a town. Um, >> well, I just know there's a lot happening with like rural communities in

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Massachusetts right now. And I don't know if we're technically defined as rural because we're in Hampshire, but yeah, like things like that. And I think there's also um a definite possibility that like some of the $50,000 that we allocate to this could be supplemented

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by or replaced by some either um state or grant funding that's out there or from this uh PVPC funds that that already exist. >> So I I think that would be the priority is to look at what we can use there first. Um and I think those dollars should be able to stretch pretty far. Yeah. So tonight we're just trying to

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create create the task force and then we can attach funding sources to it later on, right? So yes, >> we create it tonight ideally and then we can start getting members assigned to it. >> Yeah, I think probably the biggest thing to talk about tonight is is if you think these are the right members and if you

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want to change who the members are, that's probably the biggest thing to decide on before you create a committee. I mean in terms of the the composition of the board, I think you've covered a large portion um

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that needs to be involved. So it would be this one member from the select board, one from finance, the town administrator, one school committee member, one superintendent of schools, the town accountant, one staff representative, and two public members

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to be appointed by the select board. Um, I think that, you know, in terms of looking at both the financial side and making sure that the largest stakeholders of the budget especially are all at the table, I think it does a pretty good job at capturing all of that.

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>> What about RevGen? Like who who oversees that sort of like here's where >> I mean I think the town accountant would probably speak to that best. They'd have an idea of of where we're generating revenue. Um, we talked about should the treasurer be on here, but I think the the accountant

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should probably be able to speak to most of those things and and you know what's helpful about our accountant is is that they are looking at this a number of other towns too. So they'd be able to look at you know is our fee structure comparable to that of other towns um >> and and you know other questions like

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that is helpful >> and then finance committee should be able to speak to that as well. >> Okay. I I I like it. I think it's, you know, it's creating another task force and another committee and people are going to have to sit on it and and do it, but

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I think it's important for us to >> get these costs under control and we have a seeming means to be able to try to start to do that. So, um, with that, does anyone would anyone like to make a motion?

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>> I motion to establish the deficit reduction task force. >> I'll second it. M motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion? No. >> Hearing none. All in favor? >> I I >> motion passes. All right. We'll come up

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with uh we'll we'll post that opportunity as well and we'll come up with members that you can appoint at your next meeting. Fantastic. The one after. >> All right. Topic nine, appointments and resignations. So, we have quite a few. Um,

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so we have a resignation of Robert Flity from the rec commission. >> I motion to accept resignation of Robert Flity from Recreation Commission. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> We have a resignation of Carrie Flity

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from the Recreation Commission. >> I motion to accept the resignation of Carrie Flity from Recreation Committee. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. Motion passes. Um, we have next an appointment of Jamie Ginsburg to the

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recreation community to fill the spot of Carrie Flity >> and she is the current head of Smith College's field hockey. Uh, she's the head field hockey coach and has a lot of degrees in exercise science and is going

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to be a wonderful addition to the wreck. So excited about this. So I motion to accept I motion to appoint Jamie Ginsburg to recreation commission. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Uh we have a resignation of Ronald Lauren as the alternate building

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inspector. >> I motion to accept resignation of Ronald Lauren as alternate building inspector. >> I'll second that, but send him a letter. Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I. And we have an appointment of Rich

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Abbott to the municipal affordable housing trust fund. So this is the new fund that we have created. Um and Mr. Abbott is a retired CPA so clearly has a background in this. Um

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he is also on the Hatfield Rec Committee and the Open Space Committee. Uh >> correct too as it says here. Huh? >> Yeah. Richard serve >> previously been a member. Yeah. Gotcha. >> Um, >> make a motion on point Richard Averton

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Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund. >> There's a second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Fantastic. Can I >> I just want to make one um note quickly. Um, so we accept the resignation of Ronald Lauren as um alternate building

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inspector. So, we had another alternate which was Wally Merrick who's currently serving as our um interim. I assume that because we made an interim, it's implied that when he leaves that interim position, he can go back to being alternate. He would like to continue being the alternate, but I can draw up a

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appointment if we need it. I can ask the clerk if if we need it, but um he's willing to continue to serve as as alternate once our new building commissioner uh takes office on June 1st. Fantastic. >> So, great. I I guess I had made the assumption that that's what he was doing as well, but to do I I don't know if statuto stat statutoily we need

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anything, but I'll I'll find out. >> Okay, >> fantastic. >> But yeah, that's what he will do. >> Um topic 10, DPW report. Um Marlo, what uh what do you have for us? >> We got a lot going on. Uh lots changed since I turned this report in last

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Wednesday. Uh I'll hit on those uh pieces when I get there. Uh the first thing that I was that I've been working on is a Smith Academy Park irrigation system. Uh that was appropriated last year, but pricing was somewhere around

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38,000. We're appropriated 30,000 for that project. Um so I'm not going to have enough money to do the full system with a well. Um I just wanted to put it out to the board. We do have enough funding to insert a well controller and

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all that and then go back to the the uh CPC for additional funding to finish the irrigation next year. Um unless the board, you know, feels otherwise, we can at least get a start on it this summer. I'll get some more well quotes and whatnot. So, um

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>> has there been any is there any poss I know it's a lot of grass right now, which obviously needs irrigation. Is there any opportunity to have some like natives around sort of like we see in Greenfield in certain places where you have native plants that aren't as that are more drought resistant? I know it

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can't be in most of the area but like would that like >> it's a possibility >> reduce the amount of grass space? >> I don't think it would I mean coming from a background in this that even if you planted a large native area you're not going to reduce the lift of the

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irrigation system. The design is going to be largely based off of the square footage of the park and its current design as a whole. >> Yeah. >> I'm just saying I don't necessarily water my like milkweed or things like that. You know, they're more resilient

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because they're they are native. >> Just thought. >> Okay. the the big change to this project, I think it was originally um was going to to tap into the wa u the the town water system and I don't think that's a very

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good idea. >> Um especially with future expansion and whatnot, our withdrawal permit, daily withdrawal permit is getting up there. I mean, we're not in danger or anything, but the more we tap it, um and then we're still in a a say a moderate

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drought right now. They haven't lifted that since last fall, last summer. Um, you technically can still use a well, but not use the town water if we go in any kind of ban unless it goes to critical ban and then it affects private wells, too. But, uh, I thought that this

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was the good move going forward not to tap the the, uh, town water system through this building. Um, so that that's the major change on that. Um, I'd like >> I also just say when the original application was put in at the dollar value, it the question was asked then

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about adding a well and they never increased the the amount. So, we kind of made the agreement to look into the well, but never actually raise the dollar amount. So, it makes a lot of sense. So, we're in this position now where it's not quite enough money to do it this way. But, I think Marlo's absolutely right. This is the way to go. >> In the irrigation system, there was a

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quote from three years ago at 21 and some change. I found it. Um, but now it's up to almost 25 just increase in in materials and all that stuff in in the three-year period. So, um, that's the other piece of it. Um,

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if we're all set with that, I'll move on. Um, so I'm working with a survey company. They actually started today for both the Main Street and Brad Street cemeteries. That was also a uh CPA funded project uh to repair roadways. And then there's some walkways and some

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some brickways that need to be installed. Um hopefully I'll have that information by the end of the week and and uh some of this work's going to be done definitely inhouse by the highway department. Dwayne and I have talked about it and put put a little bit of a plan together.

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Um the Elm Street Bridge uh 25% design uh review has has expired. Um I I looked through the plans a couple of times. I didn't see anything that really jumped out to me from the actual 25% to the bridge design. Um there wasn't a lot

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there about traffic and and a traffic plan. I think that comes next. Um there'll be stakeholders meetings which I I'll I'll at least be invited to so we can discuss uh you know with that bridge being completely taken out for a period of time. The detours especially trucking

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right there downhill from that bridge with a detour. I think that's going to be the the the biggest thing that happens with this as far as affecting uh Hatfield. Um but I'll be sure to keep the board uh up to speed. And I know in the past when I've gone to stakeholder

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meetings um in my former community, sometimes the mayor would go, but in the community before that, sometimes a select board member would like to attend if they can uh just to hear hear it for themselves or they can ask some questions. They may be hearing from their constituents. So, um, we're

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winding down the the FY26 budgets. Uh, as you know, I got 12 of them. Um, I got a few that are getting awfully thin, but we're going to make it maybe with 10 or 15 dollars or $100 left, but we're going to be okay. Um, so

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the the big one that that happened in the past week was um the Furcog put out bids for heating oil, gasoline, and diesel. um great timing when they put the bids out about two months ago when everything was exploding. So, um they do all the bidding for us through a

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procurement process that obviously would save Andrew a ton of time. Um it's pretty intense. So, I had two choices here. I could lock in at what they offered for per gallon for the whole year. Um or an example was heating oil.

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it could come with what they call a markup with a 99 cent add-on. So, I had to go through and figure out how long is it going to take to to come off that 99 cents, then get back to the lock in price and then for us to save money. Um,

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in all these cases, um, I had to make a decision. I had like 36 hours to get back to the fur cog. Andrew and I discussed it. Um, I recommended and and I I locked in at what the prices are going to be. They're not going to move for the year only because I don't think

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it's going to come down that much to less than what the lockin fee is with that with that markup, especially for diesel and the heating. Um, I know these are steep costs, our prices on on the fuels, but we know what we're going to pay for the year. Uh, hopefully next

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year when the bids go out, things will be much lower. But I mean, we all know it goes up fast, but it doesn't come down fast. >> Um, so I made the decision to lock in. Um, I'll probably send a memo out to all the department heads. You know, we should be mindful of idolling vehicles

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and all that for extended period period of times because I know that the budget is is probably going to be real close. If we get another winter like this past winter, probably the budget isn't going to make it. That was voted for for heating oil, gasoline, and diesel.

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Um, but I'll keep everyone um up to date on that. U and I have all the the awarded the awarded companies. If if you want them, I can send them to you or whatever. Um, but basically Dead River uh and Dennis Burke were the were the two suppliers that we've had for years

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here or last year. Um, Highway, they've been pretty busy. Um, few catch basin repairs. Uh, mowing great guns. Um they replaced all the mulch out here for town hall for the Memorial Day uh

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ceremony, but of course they got rained out. Um we also uh purchased trees on Friday that we're going to be planting later this week. Um which reminds me uh tomorrow we we're going to attempt to repair that water leak at Depot

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>> in West Street, which is going to be a big detour. So after 7 a.m. you're not going to be able to get to that in or out of that intersection because that leak is right in the middle of the intersection on the edge of of West Street. So I know Tony put a a thing

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out. It's been out on Facebook, but for for all that are watching trying to avoid the area tomorrow. >> I don't don't we usually get an email about it uh from the town? >> I'll get that sent out. Not sure why >> before school. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh, I actually bumped into the the

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bus drivers this afternoon and they'd asked me about it and they're going to redo their roots at that time. So, it was a that was a good thing. Um, and again, we're looking forward to doing the with the highway department, the the cemetery project, um, and a few

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other projects we that we have on our list. Um we have one summer help uh excuse me um one seasonal employee cemetery and um uh person that started today and I also

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gave you an adjustment uh adjustment wage sheet for another one that would like to start on the 15th that we interviewed this morning. Um his name's uh Lucas Wilcott. He is graduating from Smith Folk Thursday night. So, uh, he

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was pretty excited to to come to work. Um, I think he'll be a good addition to the, um, the, um, summer help. >> Um, projects. Okay. Uh, 15 Elm Court. Um, a lot a lot's changed since I did

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this report. I got all my electrical. Um, I got three quotes for for the different processes over there. Three for electrical, three for the floor, uh, and three for the openers, door openers. So, um I awarded the electrical today,

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uh and the concrete floor today. Um our electrical actually came in lower than the original estimate that I brought to the board when we decided to go to the town with the vote. Um but the concrete's gone up a little bit. So, but we do have a little bit of wiggle room there in case we run into any any

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problems. Um, for the electrical, be expecting um, a letter from Eversource to put a pole on our Elmc Court property. The existing pole can't be used. It's got too many conduits on already, so they got to set a pole. Um, so they're going to petition the town to

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put a pole just inside the entrance way on the left. And then they'll they'll hang the proper transformer from it. And then the highway crew will dig the trench for the electrician through the building. So, um, that should be coming along. I'm told within the next week or two we should see that or the town

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should see that. Um, Apparatus Bay roof. Uh, I passed this off to Dwayne. I started getting quotes. Uh, he's not getting much of a response, but the original quote, I reached out to that contractor and that that contractor was willing to hold the price with no

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increase on the shingles, which was good news >> because they went up five to seven dollars a bundle. And um the statement was that you know he's going to keep it where it's at. >> Wow. >> That's for us. >> Awesome. >> Um School Street Park uh I signed the contract with site specifics. They're

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under the state contract. So there really was no procurement. I just did review. Um and and I did sign off on the new fence being put up. Um so some of that work some of this work is going to be done by our highway department too. And it looks to be right now second,

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third week of July scheduled for all that work. Um, so I was surprised to get the the site specifics in here because they're all over the Commonwealth and beyond. >> Can you can you just define what that means? Is that mean like it's going to be a working playground or is it just

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like >> So it it's going to go down probably I'm going to guess probably three or four working days. It all depends on weather, too. Um, we have to dig everything out before they come in, remove the old structure. Then they come in and they set the structure. Um, and then we have

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to put certified wood chips back in. I preferably want to see that fence go in first because I don't want the the new playground being all roughed up from the new fence line uh going in after. Um, I am coordinating with the fence company. They said that they would do their best

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to make that happen. Even if I had to push site specifics out to do their work, um they're willing to do that for us to get the fence in. So, um >> like play structures, are those part of this? >> Yeah, it was decided on I gave two options. The option for one structure,

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oh, there was two and the two was decided on through the process and I can send you the information if you want. But there'll be two new play structures. >> Two two new play structures. Certified wood chips 15 in deep. Uh which is um mandatory. A new fence. Um and I'm told

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there may be a few benches hanging around over in the the council on aging that were originally for that park. Um if that's the case, then then we'll install them, too. >> There'll be definitely need benches in a playground. >> Yeah. >> Um will there still be a basketball court?

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>> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. It's just the uh the grass area where the structures are. Now, the the swing set can stay. >> Um I'm just going to take one of the one of the seats off and and then add a handicap accessible seat that we talked about through the process, too.

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>> I'll buy that separately. >> Thank you, Marlin. That's awesome. >> But to my knowledge, no no costs have changed. The fence went up a little bit because of place price of steel. >> Um but we had uh I built a contingency into that project. So, >> yeah.

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>> Uh, Hatfield Elementary School boilers. These went into a pause after one was put in. Um, I was trying to get a schedule from the company. Um, and as of today, they showed up removing the second boiler. Um, and the and the second new boiler was being delivered.

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Um, all indications are by the end of the week it'll be predominantly done. Um, but while we're running AC, we can't switch back over to the boilers for the gas inspections and all that. It's just the way it worked out. Um, so we're going to wait till um, schools out so

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they can flip over to heat and do all their their inspections and their and their checks. But the first boiler, just so you know, the first boiler checked out fine. It just has to go through its its gas inspection and and all that good stuff. Wow. >> Um, just a question. Will the with this

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new system, will the temperature regulation be a little better over there? >> So, I believe it will. Um, only because the last two or three years that thing, that building has run on one boiler. One goes down, they get it fixed, the other

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one goes down. So, you got one boiler trying to feed that whole building running full tilt. So, you're going to have obscure cold and warm rooms no matter what you do. Um, I anticipate that we have two good fired boilers not working overtime that it should

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regulate. If not, we we're going to have to take a look at the controls. >> And when the time comes to flip the AC on, that'll be because I know I know the I think the heat was still running on last Tuesday. I don't know. I was hearing I was hearing some very questionable reports.

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>> Yeah. Well, there was a little kurfuffle there with the contractor. um a misunderstanding, but um they should have been shut off and switched to AC sooner, but they got it done pretty pretty quick that Monday morning. Um switched over and it takes four or five

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hours to get it all switched over and cool and all that, but I think they got it just in time before it got real hot in there on last Monday. So, uh pavement management, they're just finishing up the um the evaluation of the roads. I should be getting a report probably by

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mid June, the next couple of weeks. Um, so that's where that project's at. Uh, elementary school roof is is cruising right along. Um, kudos to to the um to uh Melissa for working with the

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roofing crew and and moving classes around during during testing time. We didn't they were supposed to be blackout days, but the roofing contractor worked with her. She was really good working with them and there was no negative reports of too much noise or anything because it's a large area. They were

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moving around and they kept working. So, um the the shingle the shingle portions are about done and they're they're estimating I was told today it may be three weeks to finish from right now. And originally it was going to go into

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late July, early August. Um, so which is really beneficial to me because I had a two-eek window to completely tear all the roads and parking lots up and repave them. Um, so I'm anticipating a little more wiggle room there. And those bids, by the way, will be coming out. I think

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they were due in today uh through the Furcog. So, we should see what our black top costs are going to be and then I can put a good price to uh what we have left on that article and and what we need. Um a forestry project. Um I did attach a

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letter. I can explain explain it to you, but basically they got through the the first piece um and they replanted the area. I explained in my um update here and I gave the the figures that are left. Uh the ATM article has $10,724

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left in it. Uh we re recently used $8265 for 300 plantings of oak and hickory seedlings up there. Um and we have a balance in the revenue of $110,000 and some change. Um, but to

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summarize the letter, basically they don't feel there was enough uh money there to go out to bid quite yet to to go after the next section of bad timber. Um, so that's kind of where we're at right now on that project. Um,

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what would how are we going to get more revenue for that? Because this is a self-generating fund, is it not? >> Yes. >> Right. So, um, and and I got to talk with Tony. I'm not sure all the revenue is in from the timber. Um so um so they do want to go ahead with a

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public bid process. Um and then there's a possibility that we can offset that by renting a machine and uh cleaning up with our water department and maybe put a highway worker in a machine too. Um as far as um

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cleaning up the clear u mulching clear cut the mulch area. Um um it was it was high higher than initially anticipated. Um so they decided to postpone the work for the until more timber revenue comes in basically. So

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>> okay. So we're still waiting on revenue to come in from it sounds like. Yeah. >> And if it doesn't come in, we're going to try and offset it by renting the appropriate machine and do some of the work ourselves to help on that bid to take that out of the bid. And just understand the next section that they're working on is the that dead red pine

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part of the plantation. So there's no revenue that's going to really come in from that because there's no timber value there. >> Right. >> Right. >> There might be a little, but I anticipate there won't be much. >> Right. How much you say it's expected to cost the section? >> Uh there there hasn't. I haven't

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received a cost on that. Um they're just preparing the to go out to bid. >> Yeah. So, I'm kind of working with them and the water superintendent to figure out should we just um rent the machine and do some of these pieces ourselves within within the plan to save some

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cost. So, >> yeah, >> that's about where we're at on that. So, uh grants, uh >> drum roll on this one. >> Yeah, there's some really good news in here. Um it's pretty exciting news for

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Hatfield. So, uh, I received great news, uh, last week on 520 that we were awarded the full amount of $67,440 for the reconstruction of the gravel section of Straight Road. Really good. Um, so this was supposed to be an ongoing

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grant process year after year, but they they've actually it's not funded this year, so it was a one-time grant opportunity. There was um there was 7 million for the for the grant uh awarded from the budget. 18 million was applied

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for and we got that amount out of it. >> It's incredible. >> Yeah. So, >> excellent work by you and Dwayne to >> Dwayne did a great job. I I want to thank the the stakeholders at at District 2. They were great to work with. Um so hopefully uh and we'll have

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until December 31st of 27 to complete the project. that we don't have to get it done this constru construction season. Although sooner I can see it done and I'm sure everybody in Hatfield the better. Um so >> absolutely >> we'll have to go through a bid process

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and whatnot. We're putting a scope together. Most of the scope was put in the application anyways. >> Um >> do you want to just explain for people that are watching? >> So it's >> you explain it to me. This sets up the stage for >> Yeah. it. So, the intent eventually is

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probably when we're done with the grant. The grant does not pay for any kind of paving or chip seal or anything like that. It's only gravel rebuilding of drainage or installing drainage. So, I think um when we're done, we'll get the gravel section done. We'll get it well graded. Uh let it settle for a winter

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and probably put a double coated chip seal on it. let it sit for a year or two and then eventually we can pay pave it with our chapter 90 funds and tie it in the all straight road will be paved by then. Straight road we'll probably be looking at more paving anyways because that road's getting a little rough in areas.

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>> So that's the plan at the end of the day and um once we get going on the project we'll work with um with the the one big business out there too and make sure they can get in and out. Um, we do have to install about 130 ft, 150 ft of water

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mane before the project starts to finish off that water man. >> We did the tap at Depot Road already, so it's ready to be hooked up. Um, and on the way, um, I asked the water superintendent all the available lots is we should do the cross trenches and put

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a service line into the tree bell. Um, only because I don't want to have to dig that thing up if somebody decides to sell and somebody purchases to build a home or something. So, >> absolutely, >> we're gonna add those taps in too. >> Smart. >> Um, so that that's very exciting. Again,

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thank you to Dwayne. I know it was his first go around. He worked hard on it. Him and I, you know, we had a lot of questions and u but congratulations to him. Uh, I know he's pretty excited not having to assign the graater up there every three weeks because you can't drive on it. Um, and the guys are

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excited. So, uh, it's really good for for the town that we got this. >> Absolutely. >> It's awesome. Um, so the the our hook truck that was ordered last May into June, um, is now expected the middle of June. The final pieces came in that

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they're waiting on to put it together. We brought our our sander down there so they can adapt it because in the winter we're going to adapt our our sander onto that truck, salt truck when we need it. Um, and then it was nice to see one of the vehicles go out of the yard today.

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We sold three vehicles on muna bid. Um, and the water the old water truck went out of the yard today. Um, I don't think it had a wasn't lacking uh, it was lacking blue paint. It was all rust. But um that truck we ended up getting 5450

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for it. I turned the check in today to go back in the water uh revenues. Uh the sewer flatbed a guy's going to pick it up probably at the end of the week. That went for 3,700 and the international dump brought in 5,600 with kind of a bad frame. So we

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did okay. um money back in the coffers and the the international dump money will go back into the general ledger for revenues. Uh let's see. Uh oh, our new mini loader that was approved at town meeting. They had one

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on the on the lot. Anticipated uh price increases after July 1 and potentially, who knows, 6 months to a year to receive it. So, uh they delivered it Thursday. We're all set. I processed the account today. Um the guys are really happy and

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impressed with that. Um there was no love loss for the current sidewalk machine being watched loaded on the trailer. There was no love lost. Um especially by our mechanic. Um so facilities quick update. Windows are scheduled to be clean at the town hall

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inside now on uh June 4th. Uh the deep cleaning was completed on the 15th. And I just wanted to say that the company did an outstanding job. We had a lot of compliments from the staff in this building how how well they how good a job they did. So,

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um that's kind of the bullet points. I could talk much longer, but a lot going on. >> Sounds good. >> You guys are doing a great job. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Very fortunate about that grant and it's going to be excited to see that project work its way through. If

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>> you could have seen the highway superintendent's face, um it was quite nice. >> He did great work. >> Yeah. fantastic work. >> So, we're all very thankful for that anddeed. >> Great work. >> Um, I guess with that, we'll move along to Andrew, your town administrator report.

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>> All right. Tough act to follow, but I'll do my best. So, I'll be as quick as I can here. I just want to speed through a few things. Um, comprehensive zoning rewrite. This was a project that we were funded through last year through the OneTop for economic development grants. Um, I'll get back to that subject in a

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moment. Uh but uh we received $96,000 for uh rewriting of our zoning code and some extra assistance on on planning. Uh so this is to go to a consultant and we put out an RFP uh to see if there are any consultants out there interested in working on this. We got a great response. We had seven interested folks.

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So that'll be reviewed those proposals be reviewed by uh myself um by uh planning board chair um Bella from the planning office uh Jake from our our summer intern. And then if someone else from the select board does want to review those as well, um I'm happy to

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make those available or I can just uh circulate either proposals or circulate um you know our top two when we're done. However you want to be involved. So just want to make that offer in case anyone wants to review all the proposals or just bring it back to you when we're closer to the final. >> I think the top two is

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>> let's do that. >> Yeah, I'll bring that to you. But great proposals. Some folks um we I've worked with before um some local folks who are highly recommended. So very good um bylaw review process. So um as you know we have this bylaw review committee

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that's been meeting for the last year. Um we got up to a certain point where we identified some things that we wanted to change but we also realized kind of needed an overall recotification of our uh zoning of our not zoning both our general and zoning bylaws. And there is

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a company general code who's come to your meetings before to talk to you about how they're going to do that. Um what they'll result in is a system that's going to live online u on our website um that has a really good organization of our code and they have put together uh basically a um set of

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organization for now um they haven't really gotten into any content yet that comes next. They review for content. They look to make sure that we're up to date with state law, federal law, and that changes that other surrounding towns have made that would be helpful for us, we can consider as well. So,

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I'll send you now that I've been able to introduce this. Send you just their interim product. Not a lot to approve of here, but there's some things for you to take a look at. If you have any questions, be in touch. Our bylaw review committee will take a look at this next week and we'll be able to sign off on our approval of this in the next uh

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couple weeks so it keeps the project moving on. But that's a cool thing and I'll send it around to you and um Luke will get you the invitation for the next bylaw review committee meeting so you can join us which would be great. Um, staff evaluations. We are up to date with our staff evals, which is awesome.

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The next one we'll do is for Marlo um when he's been here officially a year next July, but I've been able to um review those, compile them, and I'll be going over them with with staff just to make sure we're good. But, uh, those all look really good. So, um,

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next is actually I want to skip to the grants one real quick. Um, so I'm the second page here. the onetop for economic development. That's the one that we received the grant for last year. Um this is a series of grants from the state that they've put into one platform, hence the onetop idea. Um the

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two big ones for us is this um rural development fund, which they kind of took a bunch of different grants and put one fund together that that we end up being uh eligible for. That includes planning assistance and a few other things. Um Jake is going to help me put

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together an application for a um economic development action plan along Route 5. Our comprehensive plan has ideas to you know do more there but it's kind of light on specifics. So it would be a nice to have not really um number one priority but I think maybe a helpful thing for us to have some more

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strategies on how to do that. I think it's a mix of, you know, marketing, um, site improvement, other things to try to get some more ideas of of what we'd want to come in on on Route 5 for economic development. Um, but the main things I want to make sure get submitted are a mass works project. Last year, we

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submitted for expansion of water and sewer line on on uh, Route 5. Um, that's the long-term goal is to be able to run up more of room five and I think we'd like to apply for that again. But realistically speaking, we do have a project to finish there now and I think we will apply just because we've been in

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touch with the folks from Mass Works about some extra assistance just for getting the project done now in case that does become necessary. I don't know if it will and ideally, you know, this will be paid for by the contractor who, you know, still owes us a finished project. Um but um we've gotten advice

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from the state to at least apply so that should funding be needed, we already have an application in the mix. So, you know, if the state wants to help us in the future, it's a lot easier for them to do if we've already said, "Hey, we might need this." So, we will submit an application for that as well, which is

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disappointing, but but it's it could be a helpful thing for us um should we need that extra help. >> So, that's u the plan for those grants. they close um a little over a week from now and we'll get those applications in. Um that should be fine. I will come to select board chair in case we need a

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letter of support or anything, but um as long as there's general consensus, that would be useful avenues to spend our time on. Okay, great. Um the other thing I want to think about is goals for the next year. I think we have a busy enough meeting we don't need to dive into this too much tonight but um you know this is

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a helpful thing for me to know where to be devoting my time and I think something we can help by organizing some of the other boards and committees that that are looking at um you know overlapping priorities but trying to think about where I'm hearing you know interest from all of you and um in

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making sure our time goes into for for goals this year. So, I have nine that I've written down. Um, whether we get feedback on that tonight or at our next meeting, I' I'd love to discuss, but obviously completing the Route Five project is number I'm saying number one, but but in our top nine at least. Um,

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the deficit reduction committee we've already talked about, I think needs to be an urgent focus right here, along with staffing key department head roles and determining department structure for fire, ambulance, police, and and building. um that overlaps with this deficit reduction, but I think it's it's

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something we need to keep talking about. And then, as I just mentioned, advancing the zoning and general bylaw review processes. I think that's a great thing to keep working on this year. >> Um completing the other ongoing infrastructure projects we have. A lot of those will be complete by August, which is great between the the paving,

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roof, and boiler projects at the elementary school and the other schools, the other school. Um and then advancing plans for future use of town assets, including Helm Court. I think that's an important thing to talk about. Um, improving town and resident communication and engagement. Um,

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advancing our affordable housing initiatives, including the new affordable housing trust. And then improving strategy and capacity for economic development on Route 5 and beyond. Those are things that I think we've all talked about and uh, dovetail really nicely with our comprehensive plan and I think the priorities of this

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board. So, if there's anything missing, I'd love to hear it or we can keep talking about this another meeting, too. I think I' I've been asked several times in the last few months about improving the communication piece and I know we've talked about it a lot about it in comprehensive plan.

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Just throwing that out there if like I think there's a lot of ideas of how to get a newsletter out or how to create an app and can we pull from the Smith Academy and stuff like that. I don't know if we can do that through Hatfield 20 240 or if we need to find another way

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to focus on it or look for comm for resources or how we're going to do that. But I >> mean a lot of it just comes from if I hear the ideas from all of you I'll I'll try to implement them best that I can. So okay newsletter is a great idea um >> because there is we found yes we can talk about it in in 2040 but

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>> just reiterating how many times I have heard I never know where to go for information. Yeah. >> And honestly, like with the the updated website, I think it looks really nice, but I think there's some areas where we still need to make sure all the information is there. We know how to use it. We know how to get it out to people. So, I think more to come on that as

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well. And, you know, I think the the Facebook has a lot of updates and we'll keep, you know, trying to find better ways to get information out to folks. >> Yep. >> And I think it's a good thing to, you know, keep holding ourselves accountable to here. >> Agreed. Other than that, I think it's a really

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good, you know, nine topics that, >> like you said, they dovetail really well with the 2040 plan and >> realistically where Hatfield's headed. So, >> great. >> Good to me. >> And things that we absolutely have to figure out. >> Yeah, the first first three are kind of very mandatory.

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>> Cool. >> All right. All right. That's it for me. >> Awesome. Thank you. Um so topic 12 we have the proclamation on the day pond for the ribbon cutting. Um so I will just read this through. This is the

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proclamation by the select board of the town of Hatfield. Whereas the town of Hatfield is committed to preserving its natural resources and creating community spaces for gathering and recreation. And whereas the Hatfield Fish and Game Club, the Community Preservation Committee, and the Hatfield Select Board, the

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Hatfield Public Works, Hatfield Department of Public Works have collaborated to improve the day pond located at Smith Academy. And whereas the residents of Hatfield have invested in the renovation of the day pond using funds through the Community Preservation Act. And whereas together with

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engineering from TRC and contractor Western Earthworks Incorporated, the town has successfully dredged and restored the Day Pond so that it may serve as a recreational asset for the community. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Select Board of Hatfield, Massachusetts, do hereby

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celebrate the restoration of the day pond and encourage the residents of Hatfield to enjoy the pond for fishing, walking, and other activities throughout the year. So, the plan is we can read this on um on Saturday at the big ribbon cutting, which will happen right at 10 a.m. the start of the fishing derby. So,

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fantastic. >> Um as long as this looks good to everybody, you can sign it tonight, approve of it, and it will be proclaimed on Saturday. >> I'll make a motion to approve proclamation on day as drafted. >> Seconded. >> Is there any discussion? >> No.

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>> All in favor? project finally got done. It started >> a few years ago had to do actually with a prior administrator uh Marlene getting a water study for it and >> finally getting the funding. It's been I I forget five or six years

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>> and now that the grass is coming, it's really starting to look really nice over there. So yeah, >> be excited to see it fully done and see all the kids utilize it for the fishing this weekend. It did get to 6 in. So, we got had to mow it the first time. Oh, nice. >> There's some bald spots. There was some concerns, but

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>> also I think it's going to take the season for them to fill in. Yeah. And I think they will. We We may have a couple of low spots we may have to repair in the soccer field. >> And all the fish are coming tomorrow. >> Yeah. Nothing drastic. I hope they're not driving a big truck out there over the low. But yeah, it is starting to

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look good. >> All right. Great. Fantastic. Um, so with that, we're need to talk about our >> What's that? >> We made a We motion We already made the motion, right? >> Yes. >> Um, our future meetings. Um,

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we're probably at the point where we can go to once a month. >> Yeah. Um, typically we try to meet once in June, July, and August. Um, we do need to have two meetings in June. Um, but one of them can be very, very brief. It's just sign paperwork for um the

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wastewater treat for the wastewater treatment plant and a couple other um loans that that we're working on. So um I'd recommend that the June 9th beating meeting be the the quick one. Um and you can do that either typical 5:30 time or

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during the day. John, you do not need to either. I would I would say um if that sounds good to you. Um it it because it'll be a quick meeting. I I think we're okay without televising it. Um, so it's up to you if you'd rather do during the day or um afternoon, whatever.

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>> I would prefer to keep it at 5:30 myself. >> Yeah. >> I'm open. >> Perfect. >> Then I'd recommend June 30th for the next one because we also will have um documents to sign that day and that would be the the the real June meeting. And I'd also invite the finance

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committee so that we can do end of year budget transfers. >> Okay. >> Which is really always a treat. >> So much fun. Uh, moving to July. >> Um, I'm recommending July 21st, but you could do the week before or after that.

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>> Me, right? And then August um the 11th or the 18th would be equally fine. Um the 11th would be better for me. >> Yep. You have Jody. I have Jody on the 18th. >> Nice.

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>> All right. Let's do the 11th. And then typically we meet twice in September. I think it would be helpful to do that. Um the 8th and the 29th would probably be my recommendations unless we're um I don't know how that interacts with back to school. Um,

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>> you have no idea at this point. >> If we want to just plan on that for now and then we could always move if we need to. >> All right. And then typically we plan for two meetings in October. We could do the

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um 13th and 27th. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And then I'm wondering if we could get by. This is probably more of a question for Karen more than anyone else because I know we have um licenses to worry about, but if we did one meeting in

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November and did it the 17th um because of What do you think? Would that be an issue for licenses? >> No, because licenses get signed. >> Oh, that's right. They they owe us everything at the end of Yeah. >> Okay. So, just because Thanksgiving typ

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typically messes things up in November, we can just try to do the the 17th. >> Yep. and then December 15th. Then typically we just schedule through December at this time. >> Sounds good. Yeah. All right, let's

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stick with that. Karen, I'll send this all to you and make sure I you got it all. But I'm sure you did. >> Yeah. Thanks everybody. Let's let's let's go for that. >> Fantastic. Um

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does anyone else have any other new business to bring up? Yes, the two wage salary forms. >> Yes, new business. Um, we had agreed to um at a previous meeting to appoint uh

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Jim Hawkins as your next uh building commissioner. Plan is for a one-year contract. Uh there is a wage adjustment form for you. Um while the appointment was already made, it's probably best to just vote to approve this uh salary adjustment form. And then the same for

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um Lucas Walcott who um Marlo mentioned earlier as well as a new um seasonal employee. >> So those should be in the signature file. >> Different. >> We just signed the other copy that we have. >> You just want to make a >> make a motion.

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>> Motion to approve these two wage adjustment. >> I already have your signatures on this cop. >> So what am I? >> You just need to make a motion. >> Yeah. I motion to >> approve the wage adjust wage adjustment forms. Sorry. Ed wage forms >> for Lucas Wilcott.

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>> For Lucas Wilcox and Jim Hawkins. >> Jim Hawkins. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> All right. Is there any discussion? >> No discussion. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. Right. >> Found their names and very small.

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>> Very small. Um, is there any other new business? Executive session. Um, oh, any other business? I think executive session is probably more. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um with that, um we are going to

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conclude the meeting. Um, and I'll make a motion that we are going to go into executive session executive session with special counsel pursuant to general law chapter 38A section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to

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potential litigation arising from the Route 5 infrastructure project and pursuant to general law chapter 3A section 21A7 to comply with or act under the authority of any any general or special law or federal grant and aid requirements. ments specifically to the

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public records law general law chapter 4 section 726 discuss privilege communication from special counsel and we will not be returning to regular session >> I'll second that I >> street eye >> what frisbee frisbee I

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>> fantastic thank you very much that's going to conclude our public meeting and John thank you as always >> and