Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall, 39 South Street, Hinsdale MA

​Posted at 1:40pm on 1/3/2022

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Call to Order

Review minutes from previous meeting

Review Accountants Report

Town Administrator Comments/Status – Mr. Graves

Status of school building project – Mr. Chivers

7 Town Advisory Updates – Ms. Conner

Sewer & Water Accounts Status – Ms. Rice

Contract Reviews and Payroll Questions

RV Park Proposal Inputs

ARPA Funds Status

Any other business not reasonably anticipated

Initial FY23 Budget Planning

Highway Worker & wage impacts

BOH potential costs for condemned dwelling

Audit Status

Public Comment

Adjourn

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FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES / January 6, 2022, at 6:30 pm

Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall, 39 South Street, Hinsdale MA

​Posted at 1:20pm on 2/7/2022

Present:                                   Absent                                      Other                                                                                                                                                 Shaun Galliher                        Jim Chivers                             Bob Graves, Town Administrator                                                                                                  
Mary Rice                                                                                  Larry Turner,  Fire Department
Russ Parks                                                                                Dick Scialabba, Select Board Chair (remote)
Chris Pike                                                                                  Paul Trova, Fire Department     
Bonnie Conner                                                                      
Heather Brown (remote)

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The meeting was opened at 6:30 pm. 
Larry Turner, representing the Fire Department, explained the need to purchase a new repeater for radio communication.  He was able to explain in detail that when the Dalton Dispatch center had to be closed due to Covid, the Berkshire County Dispatch took over temporarily.  This created an issue with the radio communication to the Fire Department and Police Department.  For this to work, even temporarily, they had to reconfigure the way the signal was received in Hinsdale. When they went to go back to what they had, the repeater didn't work.  Thus, they will need to purchase a new repeater. Currently, they have one on loan, but that is temporary.  A motion was made and seconded to approve expenditure of $7,500 to purchase the necessary equipment.  The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.  There are several accounts that this can be funded from but the Committee felt it imperative to get this equipment ordered as soon as possible.
Chairman Galliher asked why the cruisers have to be running constantly, that he understood that the new technology didn't require that they be running, sitting in front of the Station.  Larry explained that the vehicle has to be running to keep the battery charged for the repeater to work.  The issue may lie in the base station in the Police Department.  There will be a request on the ATM warrant to upgrade the Police Department base station.
A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the December 2, 2021 meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously with a roll call vote.
Chairman Galliher reviewed some questions on the Accountant's recent report as follows;
   Legal – Some of the increased cost is due to the RV park, and the proposal for a marijuana facility on Peru Road. 

   Town Administrator – Supplies were ordered in advance by Lynne before she left to insure they were available when needed.  Advertisements for vacancies, new website also drove costs up.
    Highway General Expense – some are related to license requirements for employees.  Most towns are now paying for CDL training in order to retain employees.
    Board of Health – increased work load and more hours, also legal issues with condemning a property in Town. Water testing at the Plunkett lake beach, to name a few.    
    Library Assistants Salary – Although currently on track, this should be monitored due to staff changes.
Bob Graves reported that we will need someone to step into Jim Sullivan's position on the Regional Transportation Board. He was working on the TIPS program concerning Peru Road.  Bob has received notification from the State that we are on the list for funding of a“supplemental project” on Peru Road.  Bob would like someone to attend the future meetings to make sure we stay as front runner for funding.  He will ask a few people that might be interested.  It is not clear what “supplemental” is but it might be that it qualifies because it is a State Highway, RT. 143.
Bob is also submitting paperwork for the Municipal  Vulnerability Preparation Designation, which will allow him access to other grants, possibly to address issues at the spillway at Plunkett Lake.
Bob reported that Boris is stepping down in his position as Assistant Collector.  Jennifer has reached out to ask that we wait to replace him until she can assess the situation and properly address the needs of that office.
Bob and the Committee discussed possibly eliminating the Transfer Station Bag Tag program. It is basically inconvenient to residents trying to get the tags, and the staff being available to issue them.  Although there is a benefit to having them, they are not actually paying substantially to the cost. We feel the residents may opt to pay a bit more for use of the facility and eliminate the bag tags altogether.  Also, for a period during 2020 they were suspended due to covid.  Bob will research this issue.  
We have no School Building Committee report at this meeting.
Bonnie Conner, 7 Town School Advisory Committee, said no meetings have been scheduled.
Mary Rice, Water Sewer Committee, will have more information for our next meeting as they are meeting next week.

The Committee discussed the proposed Northgate project and the consensus was that it is not necessary, at this point, to weigh in on it as a Committee.  All the information is not yet available for the Committee to properly address it. The Committee did discuss a possible room tax for this and other rental property in town, as this would be a valuable tax revenue.  The next meeting of the ZBA is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at the Nessacus Middle School and on Zoom at 6:30.  
Bob explained that moving forward with the Audit of the Police Department wage accounts may not be in the best interest of all involved.  The issues have been agreed upon and moving forward from here seems to be the best option, according to the Auditor.  A motion was made and seconded to approve the recommendation of the Auditor.  The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Bob reported that the Budget planning process is moving along and the Saturday meeting may be scheduled for March 5th or 12th.
Bob also reminded us that the landfill capping must be completed by October of 2022. He also said that the new construction at the old Camp Ashmere has not changed any use already there, and all permits were proper according to Paul Greene, Building Inspector.
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 7:59 pm. The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.  The next meeting of this Committee is February 3, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the downstairs Community room at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted, Mary A. Rice, Secretary