Select Board Meeting Minutes
Hinsdale Select Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 7:00 pm
Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall 39 South Street, Hinsdale MA
Present:
Earl Peck, Chairman Ray Huntoon, Selectman
Robert Graves, Town Administrator Clarissa Mitchell, Administrative Assistant
Absent: Bart Collins, Selectman
At 7:00 pm, Earl opened the meeting. The request for one-day alcohol for the annual firefighters' picnic will also have to be approved next week because Ray Huntoon serves as one of the engineers in the Fire Department, recusing himself from this vote. Since Bart was absent from the meeting, the previous meeting minutes will have to be approved sometime next week.
Next, Police Sergeant Elizabeth Zipp resigned as Animal Control Officer/Dog Officer. Officer Ian Curtiss would like to take the position. Earl Peck motioned to appoint Officer Curtiss as Animal Control Officer/Dog Officer; Ray Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye. The Conservation Commission recommended Ken Boudreau for an appointment. Chairman Peck motioned to appoint Ken Boudreau to Conservation; Ray Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye.
Following the appointments, Jessie Cooley from Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) gave a presentation on the Weatherization Remediation Assistance Program (WRAP) she is working on. Many households in Berkshire County have been deferred from free weatherization and heating system repair/replacement due to roadblocks in their homes, such as needed repairs, before getting assistance. The program is looking for supplemental funds. Some towns appropriate money for the WRAP program, and other Towns could do fundraising. Cooley asked that Hinsdale consider doing so.
Communications and Reports from Department Heads, Boards, and Chairs:
Shaun Galliher- Finance Committee:
Shaun noted that the Seven Town Advisory Board met to discuss the track at Wahconah Regional High School. It would cost between $750,000 to $1,000,000 to replace it. They had almost completed high school, and the track was not in the budget. The building committee will present to the school committee a possible capital project. The question is how to vote on the matter. A majority vote or town-by-town vote. The seven towns will have to be notified, and each town can decide whether or not to hold a Special Town Meeting. Nothing has been set aside for the track in the budget.
Dave Stuart-Beach Committee:
Dave Stuart wants a Beach Committee meeting to discuss the board's reorganization and a few things. He is suggesting next Wednesday, August 31st, at 6:30 pm.
Robert Graves- Town Administrator:
- The Middlefield Road project is going well and should be open to traffic in mid November.
- The transfer station capping project has started. Maxymillian will share a work schedule soon. They are stockpiling materials and will be doing between 750 and 900 truckloads. The plan is to get grass planted by the end of September or early October. The transfer station will be open during the project but may have to close when they get tarring.
- A company in Palmer, MA, will probably be the contractor for paving Peru Rd. They will be doing a test pit soon. The Town is responsible for getting all of the permits. MassDOT is doing paving, culverts, and guard rails. We gave them our street and stream data.
- There has been confusion over Creamery Rd. We first put out a notice saying it would be closed during repairs, and then we were told our alternate route instructions were wrong. After running it up the flagpole, the MassDOT project manager said we do not have to close the road.
Public Comment:
Laura Galliher asked where the kids will run this year since it was stated that the track is a liability, and Dave Stuart believes they will be running on it this year. Shaun Galliher said this would probably be the last year they will run on the track because it will not be recertified.
Bonnie Conner said the track was donated to the school and should have been re-coated every couple of years. Earl Peck said we should wait to get notified and then decide whether or not to hold a Special Town Meeting.
Meeting Adjournment: Earl Peck motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 pm, and Ray Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye.
Respectfully submitted,
Clarissa Mitchell
Ray Huntoon- SB Member