Selectboard

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

May 10, 2023

Town Hall Annex & Virtual Via GoToMeeting

Attending: Karen Cruise (KC), Robert Cumming (RC), Phil Gott (PG) Town Administrator Sherry Patch (SP)

Selectboard Re-Organization

RC nominated KC as Chair. PG 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: RC aye; PG aye; KC aye. Voted 3-0 KC nominated RC as Vice Chair and PG as Clerk. PG 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0

Approval of Minutes

KC moved to approve the minutes of 5/3/2023 as amended. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG abstained. Vote 2-0

Approval of Treasury Report

KC moved to approve Warrant # 23 as follows: RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0

Payroll $143,060.33

Accounts Payable $139,246.02

Light Department $121,331.73

Total: $403,638.08

Review of Draft Annual Town Meeting Warrant and Budget Discussion

The board reviewed the draft Annual Town Meeting Warrant. The following actions were taken:

Article 6. Unpaid bills ($29,793.27) from a prior year. KC moved to use Free Cash to pay bills from a prior year. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 7. Turnout Gear. KC moved to use ARPA funds ($30,000) for the purchase of Turnout Gear. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 8. Purchase Ambulance. No action taken. Hold for further information.

Article 9. Generator for Fuel Pump. No action taken. Hold for further information.

Article 10. Truck lift. KC moved to use ARPA funds ($13,000) to purchase a Truck Lift for the Highway Department. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 11. Plow Blades and Temperature Sensors. KC moved to use Free Cash ($40,000) to purchase Plow Blades and Temperature Sensors for the Highway Department. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 12. Mini Excavator. KC moved to use ARPA funds ( to purchase the mini excavator.

RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 13. Security Upgrades Thomas Prince School. . KC moved to use ARPA funds ($50,000) for Security Upgrades at the Thomas Prince School. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Article 14. Final Design and Construction Bid Documents Public Safety Building. KC moved to use the Sale of Town Owned Land Fund ($517,150) for Final Design and Construction Documents for the new Public Safety Building. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

PG stated that he would like an independent thorough review of the design to ensure that it meets requirements. PG stated that he is not sure that the jail cells are complaint. The board will get an independent review. Funding for the review will be paid utilizing ARPA funds.

Article 15. Lease Financing Cruiser and Backhoe. KC moved to authorize lease financing (first payments due in FY 25) for the Police Cruiser and Highway Backhoe. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0

Article 16. Easement HF Propco. LLC . Hold for legal review. Security Bond requirement.

KC moved to rescind the $250,000 ARPA allocation for PFAS and the $50,000 allocation for the Mass Works grant. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Discussion regarding the FY 24 Budget.

The board scheduled a Community Information Session for May 31st at 6:30 to discuss the Public Safety Building project and request funds for final design and construction bid documents. PG discussed how to present the budget . PG would like to see a budget summary sheet next year. The board discussed Chief Patriarca’ s request for two full time officers and administrative support. PG stated that the Chief wants Officers not a public safety building. KC stated that we need a public safety building. KC advised that two officers mean less overtime costs. PG stated that as long as voters are aware that they can whittle down. He would support letting voters have the option. RC stated that he likes two officers and that we need coverage and should let the voters decide. RC feels administrative support is not needed.

KC moved to support funding for one additional officer and administrative support and three additional nights coverage for the ambulance budget. RC 2nd The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

The board discussed having two officers on duty on certain days and hours of the week when busier (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). This would be the same coverage recommended for the ambulance.

Correspondence/Communications

KC moved to approve request Chief Patriarca Request to fly flag at Half Staff on May 15th in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Vote 3-0

Bid Awards

KC moved to award the contract for the Brook Station and Boylston Ave Resurfacing Project to Mass Broken Stone and to authorize the Town Administrator to execute the contract. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0.

Adjournment

KC moved to adjourn the meeting. RC 2nd. The following roll call vote was recorded: KC aye; RC aye, PG aye. Voted 3-0

The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry Patch

Town Administrator