Select Board/Finance Committee
Town Hall/remote
A meeting of the Selectboard
The Selectboard is meeting in person and making this meeting available via Zoom for the convenience of the public. Since we are meeting in person, we will not be responsible for any technical difficulties, so if you would like to be sure of participating, please attend in person.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94460276391?pwd=N294R3hyQzlyMUtsZ1ZkMTBjL3BPdz09
Meeting ID: 944 6027 6391; Passcode: 650146
Meeting Agenda:
Protocols for Public Address to the Board: During meetings, the Selectboard will attempt to find a balance between hearing from members of the community and conducting required business. All public address is at the discretion of the Chair.
When speaking, please identify yourself by name or the company/institution you represent. Please make your comments are concise (less than 2 minutes); avoid repeat statements made by others; address your comments to the Board Chair.
Audience members may not interrupt a recognized speaker nor the discussion of the Board. Please be cordial and respectful of others.
The Selectboard will generally listen to comments rather than respond immediately. If a topic comes up that is not on the agenda yet further action is required by the Board, the Chair will add the matter, as appropriate, to a forthcoming agenda. Depending on the comment, the Board may, if they are able within the confines of the Open Meeting Law, respond with information as opposed to needing to deliberate on the matter.
This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law. The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.
Meeting of Selectboard
Members: (Quorum)
- Present: Tom Hankinson, Chair, at 7:00 PM
- Present: Jed Proujansky, at 7:00 PM
- Present: Patricia Duffy, at 7:00 PM
Also Present:
- Margie M.
- Lisa S. for the Select Board. For the Finance Committee: Bethany S.
- Phil C.
- Isaiah R.
- Nancy G.
- and Liz K. Also present: Rich N.
- Carol H.
- Brian E.
- Steve N.
- Silas B.
- and George B. for the Montague Reporter
Draft Minutes * * *
Meeting opened: 7:00 PM
Meeting closed: 9:39 PM
-
Meeting Preliminaries
-
Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).
No minutes to approve.
-
-
7-7:15 Public comment
-
Appointments (open to the public after initial conversation)
-
- During Public Comment Silas Ball reported that the Field Building Committee is functioning again and will report to the board at their next meeting. Tom H. reported the Massachusetts Federal Funds Partnership State Office said that this is a “dynamic time” and that they will try to get information out to municipalities. It was clear to Tom that the office was reluctant to make any projections beyond that day, 2/25/2025.
-
7:15: Council on Aging Budget Hearing
General Discussion...
The COA has requested a new employee for the COA to help seniors in town find the services and resources they need and help with long term needs (a navigator). Judi is interested in dementia outreach. The request is for 15/hours a week at $25/ hour for a total of $19,575. Some on the finance committee asked if the number of hours could be reduced. The Select Board and Finance Committee will consider the request against other budget requests. -
7:30: Fire Department Budget Hearing
General Discussion...
Amy presented three budgets for the Fire Department with 2.5%, 8.8% and 16% increase options. Amy said the drivers for the increase across the budgets are vehicle maintenance and increased use and cost of PPE. Training costs have also increased. The Select Board and Finance Committee will take the three budgets into consideration with all other budget requests. -
7:45: Transfer Station Budget Hearing
General Discussion...
Annette presented a 2.5% increased budget although it required some nipping and tucking across the board. The board discussed the possibility of putting a resident pile of salt and sand at the Transfer Station for residents and she was in favor. -
8:00: Complete Streets Draft plan review
General Discussion...
The team form the FRCOG brought a list of 17 possible projects for the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. The board reviewed them and ranked the first 3-5 in order of priority (they 3 did not match). Laurie will go back and refine the list for a final meeting in 2 weeks. She also reviewed how the program works with the town choosing one project to start with and then have $500,000 to work with for a rolling 4 years’ worth of projects. The program does not cover design costs. The next meeting is on March 11.
-
-
Business (public participation is at the discretion of the chair)
-
Approve minutes of February 11
General Discussion...
The minutes of February 11 were approved as written. -
Dodge truck sale
General Discussion...
Tabled to next meeting. -
One Stop expression of interest
General Discussion...
Tabled to next meeting. -
review special article requests and other budget questions
General Discussion...
Tabled to next meeting. -
Vote on filling finance committee vacancy
MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: (Phil C.) To appoint Liz Kiebel to the Finance Committee. Fin Com Vote: 4-0 in favor. Motion: (Pat D.) To appoint Liz Kiebel to the Finance Committee. Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.
-
-
Executive Session
To discuss strategy 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. Selectboard will reconvene in Open Session after the close of Executive Session.
0 Vote(s) taken, which Passed
0 Vote(s) taken, which Failed
Voted to leave Excutive Session -
Meeting Wrap-up
- Next Meetings:
- Tue, Mar 11, at 7:00 PM "Select Board/Finance Committee" -- Town Hall/remote
- Tue, Mar 25, at 7:00 PM "BUDGET HEARING Select Board/Finance Committee" -- Town Hall/remote
- Sat, May 3, at 9:00 AM "Annual Town Meeting" -- Town Hall/remote
- Next Meetings: