Welcome everyone >> to the county of South Select board meeting for October 20th, 2025. We hearing room at town hall and also remotely via Zoom and on channel 15. This open meeting is being recorded and if anyone else is recording, please
advise Russ Anderson. It is 6 o'lock and maybe we'll start with attendance around >> Doug Moley Los Angeles >> and then the toy
and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Peace of peace. through with public comment tonight.
None. Anyone online with anything from public comment tonight? Looks like none. And we will move right into poll hearing. Horizon New England. Petitions for one jointly owned pole to be placed on the east side of the
following public way. North Olympus Street. Uh request permission to locate poles, wires, cables, and fixtures, including the necessary anchors, guides, and other such sustaining projecting fixtures to be owned and used in common by your
petitioners along and across the following public ways. North Lumis Street on the east side of North Lumis Street crossing the center line of Arcadia Lane and approximately 105 feet southernly
from existing pole and approximately 137 ft northerly from existing poles. reason the petition has been initiated to shorten the span between the existing poles and raise the cable and wires and to provide for the distribution of intelligence and telecommunications and
the transmission of high and low voltage electric current. Um, due to scheduling conflicts with Verizon, we are opening the public hearing and then we will be continuing it to 11:10 at 6:00 p.m. when the
representative is available. The abuters have been notified by mail of the schedule change. Um, can I get a motion to open the hearing? >> So, second Dale I >> Sanderson. And then can I get a motion
to continue this hearing to 111025 at 6 pm? >> So move >> second call >> vote I move on. Yes. >> Anderson new business. We have Joe Mitchell from Westfield Gas and Electric to give us an update on infrastructure and emergency
response plans. >> Good evening slick board members. I'm Joe Mitchell. I'm the assistant general manager of Westfield Gas and Electric Flood Department. We are the operator of all gas distribution network in Westfield, but we also operate infrastructure in Southwick that runs
from the um Southwick gate station along the bike path up to the Westfield border in the town of South. There are actually three gas companies which is part of the reason why I'm here is part of our public awareness program. I've been in front of the local emergency planning committee before with some um emergency
response plans etc for that group. Um, our public awareness program has to do with um notifying the public, which we do. So, within 200 feet of that uh piece of infrastructure talking about on the uh bike path, we notify all of the
neighbors that others if they're within 200 feet, they receive um information about gas and gas awareness and what to do. Um and our phone number. So, some confusion perhaps in South is if you smell gas, do I call Eversource? Do I
call Westfield Genie? what I call um Tennessee gas pipeline. They own the um transmission pipe. Um so in our goal at Westfield Genie is the safe reliable operational infrastructure and um part of the DPU required public awareness program is to notify the public, notify
emergency responders and to notify municipal officials. So you probably received maybe you saw it, maybe you didn't. Um we send these to all the public officials. It talks about pipeline awareness and things like that. And the first responders get this in
addition to another um document, but um in a recent DPU, they audit a bunch of our programs including public awareness. And um one of the things they highlighted recently was that um myself and Norm from my company came and talked to you specifically and to make sure
that you have you're in possession of our emergency response plan for Westfield Union. It's roughly night. Terrific. uh great time reading. >> It's roughly uh it's 27 pages and the things it talks about are um and what
are we talking about today is it has a distribution list of um the people that act on this plan and operate this plan including um the director of emergency emergency operations which is myself. Um it also categorizes the emergencies that may be um followed through using this
plan as a level one which is fewer than 10 customers, level two which is 10 to 50 customers and a level three which means greater than 50 or we have to go outside for additional help source or something like that. Uh the plan also includes contact information
for all involved parties including Tensy Gas Pipeline and Eversource which are the other two companies operating in Southwig. It outlines uh investigative procedures. So if there was a leak or an incident, um the types of procedures we would follow to get things resolved, the
response protocols for those different types of grades I talked about, um and the emergency scenarios that could come up such as uh fires, loss of pressure, civil unrest, natural disasters. And then the final section in this um document talks about who we report to.
So we've identified something, we responded appropriately, then what type of reporting and who do we have to let know about this? That includes the national um national response center, the NRC, and the Department of Public Utilities. Uh basically, we have a bunch of different programs for our public
awareness, including um uh natural gas safety, damage prevention, which is dig safe, and you know, always dial 811 and carbon monoxide awareness. We do for the public, we have billboards, we have social media, bill inserts. you see the sides of our vehicles have it as well.
Um and um and basically so trying to cover all of our bases and the DPU identified we had an audit we get through very very well. A couple of things they wanted to point out was the fact that um in amongst other things was we hadn't notified yourselves. that was
at uh Westfield City Council last Thursday. And then we also through notifying our emergency responders um fire chief, police chief along with Westfield's fire chief, police chief. This was sent out to absolutely every person uh on the payroll in those four
organizations. So I believe this covers all of our bases. We want to make sure we're doing the right thing for our regulator and so we can safe and effectively operate our infrastructure. I'm happy through the chair if there are any questions. I assume dispatch has been involved in all.
>> Yeah, you bet. Absolutely. And um and they have a different role. Uh this is just public awareness. So there are there drills. So we recently did um an in-house drill um at Westfield Genie. We're now working with Westfield Emergency Responders. We want to do a larger one incorporating DPW and fire
and police and dispatch and everybody else. But yeah, your um dispatch now the joint the regional dispatch. Yeah, they they're aware of this and I saw them on the last email so they got as well. >> Are those spare copies of those? >> Yes, you're welcome.
>> I would like you. >> You bet. Uh this one I remember as a kid. This is the one that you can scratch and sniff or like the gas >> smell captain. So, we used to give these to the elementary schools, but then the kids would do it and then the whole
>> they wait till you get home and you could scratch that and there's all the rest of the stuff there. You'll know why. >> Unless you have natural gas in your house, then don't scratch it. Won't be there. >> But yeah, right. >> So, so that this is the packet that goes to everybody within 200 feet essentially from that um up the bike path on either
side. >> And um you have my and I emailed this to all of you earlier this evening and you have my email address. So, there's any other questions. I' I've got tons of material and happy to talk about this. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you, sir.
>> All right. 2025 2026 snowplow rates. Do we have someone online to chat about this? No, we do have a letter from Rich Boza
requesting to keep the snowplow contractor rates current from last year's 2425 season and requesting permission to secure applications and insurance certificates.
Um, does anybody have any questions for Rich that you want to Does it was it last year that they had a problem because of insurance? >> Uh last year we raised the rate and
offered the performance bonus so that we could be competitive with neighboring >> that was all resolved and good work. >> Apparently it's not been a problem. I
don't the pract stop some people but remember >> but but the people that are that carry on plowing weren't they >> yeah I talked to those guys last week and they they said they were going to come back with the same basically the
same thing. They I think we lost one contractor and added one contractor this year. Um I I'd be in favor of just keeping it the way it was. >> You need a motion. >> That would be a motion. If you're
looking for one motion second roll call I Yes. Seth fire department discuss meet Shane Hope
requesting a position he has been has returned to us as a full-time firefighter EMT or rehire. Do you want to come up and say few things about yourself? Are we gonna make him sing that song?
>> Was it a good one? >> Then we'll pick a song. All right, >> let's see how this goes. >> And the chief said something about this will help you get through some training. >> Yeah. >> A lot faster. you want to just give us a >> um so I'm in the process of obtaining my
paramedic certification um and the Southwood Fire Department's given me some time to get through that process. So hopefully I'll have it within the next couple months and I'll be practicing as a paramedic with the South Fire Department.
Terrific. Okay. >> So, you you are signing on for a five or eight year deal here? >> Whatever you need >> at least. >> Yes, sir. >> We got that at home. >> The child graduating. >> When he gets out of high school, we can talk. All right. >> All right.
>> The little guy. >> Oh, the little guy. >> The little guy. >> Skip some grades. Obviously, you were here previous. Where else had you been? Dalton, right? >> I was in uh so I ended up leaving
Southwick to go to Dalton full-time. That was my first full-time venture. >> And then I moved down here to be a provisional uh full-timer for Southwick. >> And then I got hired at Mson full-time >> and then long enough. Now I'm back home.
>> Gotcha. where I'll be for the next 10 years. >> 18 years. >> 18 years. >> All right. >> Thank you for coming back. >> What's the motion? Is there a motion or
is this >> uh We are acknowledging his rehire. You're already working here. >> Yes, sir. >> Fantastic. >> Second. >> All right. So,
right. >> All right. >> Thank you very much. >> Me, too. I'll come back and see you. >> Can I just get a quick picture? >> Oh, jeez. They'll take that all the way through.
Bring the little guy. You got dressed up. >> Thankful Shane did too. I guess you got >> your shade. It's all about you know working here. Where are we looking? We always
>> when you go into the academy follow your dad. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Uh >> we do not have Christa here in person. She's not here.
>> No, she's not here. Um so Christa actually you have previously interviewed her. >> Yes. >> Um she made it through the cycle and then ended up getting hired full-time and so she did her time or her orientation time and one year with her
full-time job. So now she's back to pick up where she left off doing the pur stuff here. So, um, she comes to us going into the fire academy, the career fire academy shortly through her full-time gig. Um, been a paramedic a little bit over a year.
Local family lives in town. She's going to pick up for us all the way. >> Okay. So, we would be looking for a motion to appoint Christa DS as a PDM paramedic. So move >> second.
>> Then we have open space committee. We have two applicants for the open space committee. Arthur Kane want to >> I just chairs. I'm sorry. >> I thought
she wasn't here. I apologize. >> Hello. How are you? >> Good. >> So, you want to know about me? >> Yeah. Just give us um >> Well, I'm a recent >> Okay. I'm a recent resident to South. I've only been here for three years, but
I grew up in Westfield and uh got my undergraduate degree in wildlife biology in Massachusetts and then went to Wisconsin to get my mers in resource management and environmental education. And then I moved to North Carolina where
I was for 42 years. and I uh worked for the state fish and game agency and the state park system uh doing resource management and environmental education. And then my last job was for the city of Raleigh. I managed their first nature preserve
which was a lot of fun because it was under parks and recreation but I was a resource manager and a wildlife biologist. So working with the parks and wreck people was different and and fun. So, I did that for eight years, retired in 2019, and did a bunch of volunteer work in the
city parks and the county parks, uh, doing bluebird box monitoring for native cavity nesters. That's a real interest of mine, you know, being having a wildlife biology degree. Sometimes we specialize in certain critters and I like birds a lot. So I was doing that
and also doing um uh raptor rescue and rehabilitation with a local group which was a lot of fun as well. Um development in Raleigh started really getting big time as you can imagine. So many people moving to North Carolina and 350 acres
were clear-cut around my little rural home. I lived in a town like Southwick in Franklin County, a neighboring county to Raleigh. And I started being downstream from all this. I started getting flooding in my yard. And so I was working with some of the state regulators trying to, you know, help
with the logging violations to see if there was anything we could do and unfortunately not. So decided, you know, it's a really good time for me to move home because all my family still live in Westfield. So, in 2022, um, I moved back
here and was able to find a little fixer upper on South Lumis Street, which is where I live now. And I'm only a mile from the, uh, Dismal Brook Wildlife uh, Preserve. So, of course, I went hiking over there and I saw that their bluebird
boxes were in disrepair. So, I contacted them and said, "Do you need any help with your bluebird boxes?" So, they said yes. So, for the past three years, I've been doing Bluebird and Tree Swallow work for several of their properties, the Graanby Land Trust. And um then Hulkcom Farm called
me and they needed help. So, I've been spending a lot of time at Graanby, Connecticut instead of here in South Lake. Uh I do volunteer for Stanley Park Westfield and I I lead bird walks for them as a volunteer and do bird counts
over there to help them too. So, really enjoy that. So then when I saw the article in the paper where Southwick needed people sounded like you guys were pretty desperate or need just you know that when you put it out in the paper >> your committee started up. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, I thought, well, I I'll apply and see what happens. Um, because of my background with parks and recreation, state parks and and city parks and and my resource management degree that maybe I could be helpful in some way, even though I'm retired and getting older and
I, you know, can't do as much as I used to do, but still really enjoy being outside and doing environmental education with people. So, yeah. So, that's how I got here. >> Wonderful. sound very active and
I think this behaving more than birds of course >> right yeah I knew that your background space >> yeah a great
>> well thanks Sabrina told me about it so I downloaded and started printing out some of it. I do better with, you know, print >> and I've started reading it, but I've got a lot to learn, like I say, be >> so. But you have a lot of other experience
outside. That's great. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just don't fault me for being in the South for 42 years, >> y'all. >> Well, we were talking about this a couple weeks ago. I think if they have what a high school reunion for my class,
>> they might as well have it in Raleigh because everyone from there moved there. So, you're the trend, right? Moving to this area. >> Yes, I am. And Raleigh is very metropolitan, so you don't have the real strong southern accents there. Now, I did start out in Hickory, North Carolina, which is western, and
literally kind of talking through their nose like this. So, you kind of had to learn it, you know. But if you're a teacher and you work with people, you automatically pick up dialects, you know. And my family had laughed at me for sounding southern. So I quickly
tried to sound more like I parked my car in the hava or something. You get your own >> Yeah, I've tried. >> Any other any questions? Do appreciate you reading the paper and
responding to that. I think be a great position. >> I hope so. I can help. >> Yeah. >> All right. Is that it? >> Can I get off the hot seat? >> I'm involved. >> All right. >> I'm gonna take a wild guess at this this
gentleman. >> And Mr. Price, would you join us, please? >> I I hate to go after Martha. We did the same thing at the conservation committee and it won't take you very long to ascertain I'm not nearly as qualified. >> Yes. Um I saw the ad in the paper also. I think it's actually a Facebook post
and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get involved with town and do something productive and whatnot. Um I live on North Lumis Street. >> We got the Lumises covered. >> Yep. And um I believe probably some of you probably knew Seth Kellogg was on the conservation for years. And so my
wife and I were um fortunate enough to be able to acquire some of the property when Seth passed away. So we've got some of that property out there and we would like to do something to protect and keep it productive and do something reasonable with it and some of those kinds of things. So I thought this would be a good jumping off point to get
involved. I've been in I've been on in Luma Street for five years. Prior to that, we lived in North Graby on Lewis Street for 13 years. So, >> in the area, >> I was gonna say, was it 353 just to make sure you have to change the state?
>> Actually, there was a 5-year intermission in there when we went to Delaware for for reasons, but then we wanted to get back up here and we wound up on the other side of the state line as it were. So, >> and you'll be available for work work,
weekend work, duty, whatever might come up. I don't know what the exact criteria for the job is, but um yeah, I mean I've got some flexibility. So I'm sure >> not sure what >> I think we're trying to get to five yet.
So Right. I don't know. >> Try and please spread the word and >> Well, Shane's not here. We can put him on. >> I think technically She was >> Oh, that's right.
>> Well, there's two more. >> That's true. And >> any questions? >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Do appreciate you responding both of you very much.
Looking for a motion to appoint Martha Kane and Philip >> Price >> second >> to the open space committee subcommittee of the conservation commission for 10 2025 to 6:30 202 >> and you will both need to be sworn in in
the town clerk's office anytime you can get in there >> just yep >> yep >> all right before you can uh vote on anything. >> Right. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> We must acknowledge we're we're up to and down one. We must acknowledge the resignation of Jack John Cody from the Economic Development Commission due to personal reasons. That's unfortunate. Um
and immediately following now some discussion on the composition of the members with the um 2023. We grew that commission to
nine um all voting members um and little by little they have been resigning due to personal work related, family related reasons. And we are down
to how many active now? >> Five. >> Uh I did talk to Greg about this. Um what I proposed was reducing it to five with two associates so he can still have
the opportunity for additional workforce power. if we can grow that up again. Your thoughts? >> I asked this exact question when we did reappoints. So
>> yeah, I think it's >> No, my only my only question was is there any language? >> Was there any qu any lang anything in the language? [Music] But we could have up to
>> we just have to work just have to work with the clerk to make sure that we got it all straight in their system for whose terms are what and correct with all these people coming and going. We may have to we may actually have to just rec it may make
sense just to reconstitute that board and reappoint. You know what I mean for >> stated as this is the new >> because but I also don't want to run a foul if people were that are still on the board which is now going to be five that were appointed to a three-year term
back in whenever we did that >> July five but your term is five >> I think we got to have that maybe we carry that to another meeting but have that discussion because if it's a five member board >> I don't know how you want term
>> to make sure that you have some, you know, that it's and with a five member board probably threeear terms are probably more appropriate, but I discuss >> right now 26 28 29 and 13
spread out >> by half. >> Yeah. Um, but I guess you can determine with the who are the two that are the same. >> Um, Stephen and Rick.
>> So, I guess you want to have a discussion with them >> who might want to change their ter just change their count by >> so that everybody is a staggered >> expiration. What year was that? >> 2018.
Well, you're at five. You're at five. >> You're at your five voting member right now. >> Well, actually, well, it was coming up. You can just every every
>> I don't think it's a big deal to have >> and I don't I don't think it a big deal you have if you have these five members and you have two coming up >> in 28 >> and this group is active >> You can always consider if it works out
changing >> as long as there's a >> three days seems to be coming up It's tough >> tough for a good cat for sure. >> Um, so that is suitable to you. Five plus
two associates. >> Yes. Anybody that's listening this meeting, please go ahead and apply be an associate. So I guess we need a motion to change the composition
to five regular members and two associates for the economic development commission. So >> yellow acknowledge and approve a $200 donation from Jay Wigglesworth to be deposited
Southwick animal control medical gift fund and the Southwick animal control gift fund. >> We'll call vote Daniel. I >> yes Anderson. Yes. >> And approve $92311
donation South firefighters association be deposited into the South Fire Department gift. >> So move Diane Gale. I >> Yes. other new business.
I have nothing. I have nothing new. >> Nothing for me. >> Julie Betty started today as the new DPW managerie. Christie got her acclimated. Um, and the
clerical union did vote, but it's they haven't done the letter yet, but they did vote to combine our half day before Christmas and half day before New Year's to be combined into a full day the day after Christmas.
Um, but we'll be closed the day after Christmas. And I hear that you all have to give your blessing. So blessed. >> We have to take a vote on that as an agenda item on a future meeting. We have a little time for that. >> Okay. I'm just letting you know. >> Yeah. Know right now it's customary.
We've done it every year. Yeah. >> I didn't I didn't hear any broad opposition, but we got to probably business. Does anyone have any updates to select? No movement on it.
Okay. Other old business. Um I have of course master plan updates. Um the I sent you something to I don't know if you had a chance to see it. Um I sent
you today with the strange that developed all of the actions so that you kind of put together in your minds how those suggested recommended actions came about what they were driven
by the thought process to those. Um there's also a climate change action that was
recommended in the conservation commission. This was on their recommended actions. um to organize heard workshops, discussions, public forums with guest
speakers that aim to educate residents regarding climate change, the impact of changing temperature and rainfall, flood planes, localized flooding, etc. Resources include the local universities. This was under the conservation commission. they didn't
feel that was um under their purview and they recommended it be transferred to the climate change committee in the absence of a climate change committee. That would be us. Um we can
agree to accept it as the interim climate change committee and then delegate it to someone else if and when those actions are addressed. Um or in the meantime we could give it to the library to look into adding to
their own line of educational seminars that they do. Why wouldn't conservation do something that's all >> well as it says they don't feel that
it's falls under they like they said it is important to the conservation commission but it truly falls under the umbrella of the climate change and there is a climate change committee in
the recommended options to to create and that again falls under us to make that decision as the appointing authority. We aren't there to have that discussion
yet. That's why I said we could accept this right now under the climate change umbrella and then deal with it if and when we get to that as a priority >> or we could suggest it to the library and if they do it then
>> why why wouldn't it not just go into placeholder to that committee >> that's why I said we can do that >> not yet this table it get >> in the we are in the term. I believe that's
>> we've never voted to create that. >> Correct. >> So, we can't be until we vote to create that. But I think this should just be kind of held in bayance by Empic until such a time as that committee exists. We've had time to figure out
what that would if we want to do that or have a climate change committee or assign those duties to another committee. any problem with me suggesting it to uh Blair anyway? >> Yeah, I don't think it falls under the
library at all >> anymore. >> Correct. But then it becomes an action item for the library that they're going to get measured against. So I would if she wanted to do something like that for the library just for public education
and children not not to >> free to do that now. I just don't I don't I don't want to be I I don't >> dictating what they do. >> We're not dictating how to hear it. >> I said it could be a suggestion to the
library. And if she's listening, she's got the suggestion. So we will hold it on the MP [Music] and other master plan. I hope next week we can actually have some further
discussion on the actions related to the strategies and those that have been completed and hopefully get some agreement that we can at least let's plan on that for next week.
That's it for me under old business. anything >> not just under scheduling for future November 10th. I do not believe I can be in.
Okay. day if necessary. >> Yes, exactly. Well, you probably have to do it without me. I I uh out of town be back late Tuesday, leaving Wednesday for the
rest of >> Okay, the other thing I have is beta started wrote a note on that. I know he was originally shooting for a Novemberish
report. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Minutes. Uh, acknowledge and approve the open session minutes from September 22nd and you have a revision to it on the
next last page. I think we were just talking about subire conversation. changed to that and >> it was included in
>> it was just all mixed >> well flashback original >> not that we have had reported You got a chance to review those? [Music] >> Yes.
>> Okay. And then the 929 minutes >> downstairs. >> The 929 minutes. There was a note in the middle on the discussion actually regarding the master plan. Uh
that very lengthy discussion we were having on the master plan action items etc. Um, it was we all had important points we wanted in there and Parker's having a hard time pulling them out. So, I had suggested that we not try to do
that and just refer to the entire recording of the discussion rather than try to pull out everybody's favored remarks. Is that okay with you all >> to do that? >> Sure. >> Then we can accept the 929 minutes with
that adjustment. Can I have a motion for that? 9:29 as >> second. Yes. >> And now we are the executive session
meeting minutes for September 2019. >> Make a motion approve the executive session minutes of September 29th, 2020. Second roll call vote. Dang. High. >> Good morning. >> We are acknowledging payables warrant 2609B dated September 29th, 2025 in the
amount of 601,379.87 87 acknowledging payroll warrant number 26010 dated October 6, 2025 in the amount of 324,000 $2157
and acknowledging payables warrant 2610B dated October 15, 2025 in the amount of $676,71840. We will be moving into executive session tonight. Uh that I have a motion to go into executive session pursuant to Mass
General Law Chapter 3A section 21 number three to discuss strategies with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares and we will
not be written. Second >> moving. Yes. >> Thank you everybody.