Selectboard Minutes

Town of New Salem Selectboard

Meeting Minutes

 January 10, 2022

Held Virtually via Zoom

Convened: 7:00 pm

Present: Randy Gordon, Wayne Hachey, Hugh Mackay, Selectboard; Kathy Neal, Town Coordinator; Jen Potee, Karyn Briand, Board of Health; Lisa Finestone, Marley Ashburne, Anna Channing, Friends of the Library

Selectboard Reviewed & Signed the Following:

• Payroll & Vendor Warrants

Discussion Items

Request to Serve Wine at friends of Library “Reading Aloud for Grownups” Series

Lisa elaborated that the friends are not sure that they’ll be resuming in person events given Omicron, but in the event that they do they would like to serve wine. Randy noted that this has been approved in the past and hasn’t been an issue. Wayne concurred feeling that as long as the proper adherence to statute is followed there shouldn’t be a problem. Hugh reminded that there shouldn’t be any cost to this. Lisa responded there isn’t. They’ll accept donations, but don’t normally receive them for these kinds of programs. She then asked if this permission can be standing or if they have to ask for each event or year. Hugh reminded that in the past it’s been per event. That made sense to him just because of some liability potential and because different events may utilize the facilities differently. He also felt comfortable with approving multiple events if presented at the same time. So if there are 4 of these they can request approval for all 4. That’s basically how the 1794 Meetinghouse nonprofit does it. Randy concurred and suggested that the Friends could send in a request in writing with all their events. So if they wanted to do it yearly they could write up a request with the whole year or period they want to hold events and submit it. That would also excuse them from making an appearance to request approval.

Board of Health Update

Jen reported that she’s meeting with Chris Stoddard, the engineer. She’ll be meeting with him at Swift River Elementary. She’s informed the Superintendent who may also attend. Jen suggested any relevant information that people have in relation to this subject should be sent to Board of Health. She didn’t have anything further to add. Karyn noted that she didn’t have anything for this meeting, but certainly the Board of Health will meet soon and will discuss a number of relevant items.

ARPA Funds Discussion

Kathy provided a broad update. With the final rules coming out recently they’ve begun to do some actual information sharing and training. She felt that the change to allow a standard amount for towns for the length of the program of $10 million will help. So they’ve loosened up the rules. This doesn’t take effect until April 1, 2022, they have said if the towns pick something that’s in the new rules but not the old, they won’t enforce those old interim rules. So we have 4 categories to spend under. But the general government one has really opened up. Hugh asked if we have to meet a threshold for lost revenue. Kathy responded not any more. $10 million is the standard. It’s like the standard deduction on your taxes. You can use it, or you can use the other methods to detail it via lost revenue. But for small towns like New Salem, the standardized $10 million is more than adequate. Randy then went over some required reports for the expenditure of pandemic funds for towns. Kathy noted that we are exempted from some of the reporting requirements given our size. She expected our first report would not be very substantial at this stage of things. Wayne inquired about the pumper truck for the Fire Dept. Kathy responded it would be okay to do. Randy reminded it would use most if not all of the funds we have available. He felt it more prudent to keep funds for some other issues like the PFAS issues in town, generators for EMS, and last mile broadband. Our actual ARPA funds are around $300,000, and our wish list is more like $1 million. We also have a substantial amount of infrastructure that needs to be addressed. Randy then reminded those present that we are still in the information gathering stage of vetting proposed expenditures and we continue to wait on Department Heads as well.

Old Academy Building

Hugh provided a brief update. Things are still in flux due to schedules and weather. He still is working on having his professional friends who can provide some advice and insight to come look at the building.

FRCOG District Local Technical Assistance Project Requests

Randy elaborated on how this process has worked in the past on this annual task. Usually each member kind of indicates what they have preferences for and then the Selectboard kind of boils down to the top 3 items. The options cover things from climate change to community food assessments, pollinator habitat, economic development and housing, business and industry, municipal capacity building, inventorying abandoned properties with action, diversity training for municipal staff, continuing education workshops, wage classification studies, shared services, road way condition assessments, and a number of other items. Randy indicated a few preferences of his own like shared services and noted a few areas that might fit some interests expressed by members of the public. Wayne was in favor of climate change and energy items suggesting work with the Green Communities Committee. He recalled that for roads, we had a culvert assessment in recent past years. Still we should review it and possibly seek an update. He recalled around 20 percent of our culverts are in rough shape. Randy interjected to state he’d asked the Highway Chief for a report on the most pressing ones and hoped to have more information soon. Wayne agreed to assist with follow up on the culvert matter. Kathy then reminded that this isn’t due back until after the Selectboard’s next meeting. So there’s time to digest this and consider it. She’s also sent this out to various Department Heads and asked for their thoughts too. Lisa wearing her Tree Committee hat noted that the Deputy Tree Warden is doing an inventory of potential dangerous trees in town and that will bear an expense. Randy responded that might not fall under this topic. This is pretty much a list of priorities that they put out and we pick 3 of them. They can’t work on everything but try to assist best they can with the resources they have. Perhaps the climate change topic might help us with trees. But even if we express interest they might not be able to help. Regardless, it was generally agreed we should seek funds for tree work.

Grant Opportunities

Kathy reported that we have been working on a number of fronts including for Police and Fire. The best opportunity in her mind is the rural development fund. There may also be something under DEP’s umbrella that could help with PFAS. Wayne reminded that before we spend our own money we should pursue all options for grant funding or class action settlement in relation to PFAS. He then asked if the school is still expending funds on bottled water. Kathy wasn’t sure if they still were, but they were spending several hundred a month. Wayne suggested they buy safe reusable water bottles that could be given to school children rather than plastic bottles.

Minutes

The Selectboard considered the minutes for December 27, 2021. Wayne had not had an opportunity to read the minutes as he is traveling. He determined to abstain, but did not oppose adopting the minutes. Hugh had read the minutes and was comfortable with approving them. It was determined to proceed.

A motion was made by Hugh to accept the minutes of December 27, 2021 as written. Randy seconded and the motion passed by majority vote with Wayne abstaining.

Executive Session

A motion was made by Hugh Mackay to enter into Executive Session pursuant to MGL Chap. 30A, Section 21(3) regarding litigation as the towns position may be compromised if it was not held in executive session. Further that there be no intent not to return to ordinary session thereafter. Randy Gordon seconded the motion and it passed with Hugh Mackay, Randy Gordon, and Wayne Hachey voted in favor as well.

Executive Session entered into at 7:34 pm.

A motion to adjourn at 8:48 pm was made by Hugh. The motion was seconded by Wayne and passed without objection.

Respectfully Submitted

Jakob K. Hamm, Selectboard Clerk