Select Board/Finance Committee

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Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Town Hall
A meeting of the Selectboard

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https://zoom.us/j/94460276391?pwd=N294R3hyQzlyMUtsZ1ZkMTBjL3BPdz09

Meeting ID: 944 6027 6391

Passcode: 650146

Meeting of Selectboard

Members: (Quorum)

• Present: Tom Hankinson, Chair, at 7:00 PM
• Present: Patricia Duffy, at 7:00 PM
• Present: Melissa Colbert, at 7:00 PM

Also Present:

• Tom H.
• Melissa C.
• Pat D.
• Margie M.
• Lisa S.
• for the Select Board
• Phil C.
• Nancy G.
• Ann D.
• Jed P.
• Bethany S.
• for the Finance Committee
• also present: Shannon
• George

See original Agenda Approved Meeting Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:00 PM

Meeting closed: 8:40 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Tue, Jan 31 - Select Board

1. Appointments

   • 7:00: Police Dept. Budget Hearing

     General Discussion...
     Chief Minckler proposed 2 budgets; one with the addition of a 4th full-time officer and one without. The additional officer would not be added if Wendell doesn’t appropriate their share to pay for it. Lots of questions were asked and answered about part-time officers and the phasing out of their use as the state discontinues the part-time academy. It will continue to be difficult to use part-time help as they have other full-time jobs. Ann D. would like to know how other small communities are handling these changes. Scott said regionalization of police departments is becoming necessary. Scott also mentioned that the City of Boston is short of officers and sent an email out stating that they are sorry but they are poaching municipal officers to work for them.
     Some individual line items were changed due to changes in costs and the department but the overall expenses were within the 5% guidance.
     

     1. Police_Fire_Highway_Budgets_23.pdf

   • 7:30: Highway Dept. Budget Hearing

     General Discussion...
     Matt Boucher’s Highway Department budget met the 5% increase test. He re-arranged some line items increasing line stripping and repairs. The department is fully staffed at 3 people. Matt is concerned about losing employees to MASS DOT. Nancy Grossman asked if there was a long-range plan for road repairs and what money was available for such projects.

   • 7:45: Facilities Budget Hearing

     General Discussion...
     Will Stratford raised the line item for heating oil due to price increases and doubled the electricity line item across the board for the same reason. Bethany Seeger, Finance Committee Member, appreciated budgeting for that now and not relying on a reserve fund transfer later.

2. Business

   • Comprehensive Plan Contract

   • Franklin County Digital Equity Project

   • Municipal electricity

   • performance reviews

     General Discussion...
     Performance reviews are being re-introduced.

   • Transfer station appointment

     MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Melissa Colbert: Motion: To appoint Johnathan Block, currently Transfer Station Attendant, as Transfer Station Supervisor. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

     Pass: Aye: Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert, Patricia Duffy.

   • Two Mile Rd. calming traffic calming measures

     General Discussion...
     Pat and Matt looked at Two Mile Rd. together and presented a plan for traffic calming measures with the goal being safety, empathy, and solutions. Matt would like to re-pave sections of the road in the spring then narrow the lanes with a painted bike lane and some reflectors. He is against speed bumps due to water issues and difficulty plowing. Other residents are also against speed bumps. A mirror may be put up for a blind hill on the road. Margie will request a traffic counter that records speed from FRCOG.

     MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Melissa Colbert: Motion: To pursue the road calming/safety measures as outlined and rescind the previous vote. Vote 3-0 in favor.

     Pass: Aye: Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert, Patricia Duffy.

3. Meeting Wrap-up

   • Next Meetings:
     1. Thu, Feb 16, at 7:30 PM "Ad Hoc Committee Meeting for the future of the Field Buildig" -- Town Hall
     2. Tue, Feb 21, at 6:00 PM "Select Board/Finance Committee" -- Town Hall
     3. Tue, Mar 7, at 6:00 PM "Select Board/Finance Committee" -- Town Hall
     4. Thu, Mar 16, at 7:30 PM "Ad Hoc Committee for the Future of the Field Building " -- Town Hall
     5. Tue, Mar 21, at 7:00 PM "Town-wide Budget Hearing (Select Bd./Finance Com.)" -- Town Hall
     6. Tue, Apr 4, at 7:00 PM "Select Board" -- Town Hall
   • Published! Meeting Closed at 8:40 PM.

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 Thursday, Mar 9, 2023

Posted to: Select Board on 2023-02-01 12:31:05 (updated 2023-02-01 14:02:13).