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Leverett
Massachusetts
Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Town Clerk: (413) 548-9150
Tax Collector: (413) 548-9666
Assessor: (413) 548-4945
Town Hall Fax: (413) 548-1035
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Select Board/Finance Committee

Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
9 Montague Rd.
A meeting of the Selectboard

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Meeting of Selectboard

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Tom Hankinson, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Julie Shively, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Melissa Colbert, at 7:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Present: Julie S.
  • Tom H.
  • Melissa C.
  • Margie M.
  • and Lisa S. for the Select Board. For the Finance Committee: Phil C.
  • Ann D.
  • Steve N.
  • Jed Proujansky
  • and Nancy G. For the School Com: Craig C.
  • Becky T.
  • Jess R.
  • for the Capital Planning Com.: Wes G. Also present: Amy R.
  • Hannah P.
  • Matt B.
  • Scott M.
  • Brian C.
  • Betsy N.
  • Rich N.
  • and George for the Montague Reporter.

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:00 PM

Meeting closed: 10:41 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Appointments

    • 7:00: Budget Hearing

      General Discussion...
      Phil Carter, Finance Committee Chair ran this portion of the meeting. He began by going through the list of Discretionary Increases over 3% and explaining them and answering questions. The school budget was discussed for over an hour but no changes/amendments were made.

      Review of Capital items:
      The list of capital requests was reviewed by Wes (see attached). It was decided that the asphalt for the Safety Complex and Library could wait until next year. The school sprinkler system needs more research and discussion. The refurbishing of dump truck did not need to come from Stabilization, but could come from Free Cash, after Matt gets a couple more quotes. There was not enough information to make a decision about the brush truck. If Brian wants to get some information together and meet with Capital Planning in the next couple weeks it may be considered. Julie warned of fleet creep stating that in 2004 the town had 24 vehicles registered and insured and now there are 31.

      Tom updated about a meeting of the PVMCD. They are essentially only providing surveillance not remediation. For $5,000 those at the meeting thought that the town should get the Board of Health involved in its own surveillance and to add a warrant article for $5,000 for the Town to come up with its own mosquito protocol.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To recommend the presented budget to Town Meeting. Vote: 7 in favor, one abstention.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To put a $55,000 cruiser and a $77,000 one-ton dump truck on the warrant to be paid for from Stabilization. Vote: 8 in favor, 0 opposed.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

  3. Business

    • Appoint ConCom Agent

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Adam Kohl as Conservation Commission Agent at the rate of $23.00/hour for the first 6 mos. The Town budget will cover $20/hour for up to 10 hours a week and the remaining amounts will be covered by the Conservation Commission accounts. Motion: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • Approve minutes of March 1

      General Discussion...
      The minutes of March 1 were approved as written.

    • FRTA/PVTA membership

      General Discussion...
      In response to Village Neighbor’s request to join the PVTA and FRTA the board asks that the Council on Aging pay for the first year of membership for the rides used by seniors to see how much interest there is and what the cost will be.

    • Happy Valley Bike Ride

      General Discussion...
      The Happy Valley Bike Ride was given the go-ahead from the Select Board and Police Chief. On April 2 North Leverett Rd. will be closed for a couple of hours for time trials. The association has their own medical services and insurance.

    • Master Plan Project

      General Discussion...
      Melissa offered to be the Select Board representative to the Master Planning Group which has their kick-off meeting on Thursday. The Master Planning contract was awarded to Innes Associates on the recommendation of the Planning Board as the preferred vendor of the two equal bids received.

    • Mill Yard Bridge

      General Discussion...
      Margie reported that after calling the neighbors in the area of the Mill Yard Road Bridge, that none were in favor of reopening it. Those in attendance agreed that the decision should perhaps go to a wider audience of neighbors or Town Meeting. It was agreed to survey the neighbors and possibly put it on the Town Meeting warrant.

    • Remote meeting format

      General Discussion...
      The remote meeting format was discussed. Last week two boards tried to hold meetings at the same time and one got bumped off because the current go-to-meeting plan only allows one meeting at a time. The board agreed to upgrade to switch to a Zoom Corporate Account to allow for more flexibility.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To upgrade to switch to a Zoom Corporate Account to allow for more flexibility. Vote: 3-0 in favor. .

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • Sign: Vendor contract for FCSWMD; Standard contract for COA; thank you's

      General Discussion...
      Vendor contracts were signed for FCSWMD and Cultural Council. Thank you’s were signed. Also signed: ARPA documents, Opioid agreement, FRCOG: Police Training amendment.

  4. Mail

    • Chapter 90; Mill Yard Rd. Bridge Inspection Report; FREC: Emergency Action Plan

  5. Meeting Wrap-up

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by Lisa Stratford

Minutes approved on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2022