Select Board Meeting Minutes
Hinsdale Select Board
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 7:00 pm
Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall
39 South Street, Hinsdale MA
Present:
Earl Peck, Chairman
Bart Collins, Selectman
Ray Huntoon, Selectman
Clarissa Mitchell, Administrative Assistant
Absent: Robert Graves, Town Administrator
At 7:00 pm, Earl opened the meeting. Next, the Select Board needed to approve the previous meeting minutes from 8/24/22, 8/30/22, and 9/9/22. Bart Collins motioned to approve the meeting minutes, and Ray Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye.
Communications and Reports from Department Heads, Boards, and Chairs:
Dave Stuart- Plunkett Beach Committee:
The Beach Committee met on August 31st to reorganize the board and discuss the revitalization of the beach. Rich Kardasen is the secretary. The committee is meeting on September 21st to discuss more details regarding the old Lion’s Club building on the beach. Hopefully, we can get rid of it.
Rich Peters-School Committee:
Rich said he wanted to see if the track could be repaired. The track has not been resurfaced in about 20 years. Due to lack of maintenance, Berkshire Design noted many cracks and bald spots on the track. Resurfacing the track again is not recommended for the following reasons: exposed pavement would leave inconsistent adhesion; to obtain consistent adhesion, about 1” of asphalt would need to be scraped off; with the pavement cracked in many areas, the scraping equipment would most likely damage the remaining asphalt; and if that happens, we are tearing the whole track up anyway. The best course of action would be to remove the existing pavement and repave it, then apply a new surface to the newly paved track. The track project is estimated to cost about $750,000 (conservative estimate).
Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis noted that the track is used by the cross country team, track and field, gym class, and many community members. Collins states that a lot of Dalton residents use it. Shaun Galliher asked if there is an extended range maintenance plan, so we don’t fall into this problem again. Superintendent Blake-Davis said we do not have a plan in place yet.
Next on the agenda were two possible appointments. Marie Cole wanted to be appointed to Plunkett Beach Committee, and the board would have seven people if she were appointed. Bart Collins motioned to appoint Marie Cole to Plunkett Beach Committee; Ray Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye. Assistant Town Clerk Mary Lou Galliher wanted the Select Board to appoint Vivian Mason as an election worker. Collins motioned to appoint Vivian Mason as an election worker, and Huntoon seconded it. All said, Aye.
Any New Business Not Reasonably Anticipated Before Posting the Agenda
Douglas Olds wanted to know the status of the tanker truck to secure financing. The lease proposal expires in 30 days. The town approved raising about $57,000 as the first of ten annual payments at the Annual Town Meeting. Doug asked if we needed a Special Town Meeting for the tanker. Shaun Galliher noted that the Finance Committee never saw any concrete plans for purchasing a new tanker. He said now you have a plan and numbers that I can review. The Select Board said they would talk to legal about the tanker and for some clarity on the article that was passed. William Pike asked if KP Law approved the warrant before it was posted and if changes were made after the fact. The Select Board said legal approved it before it was posted, but they were not on the board when all of this was happening. Dick Scialabba and Ray Bolduc put the item on the warrant.
Public Comment
Shaun asked about painting Kittredge School, which has been brought up in previous meetings. Chairman Peck said he would have Bob reach out to Central Berkshire Regional School District.
Lastly, Chairman Peck motioned to table the discussion of town fees; Collins seconded it. All said, Aye. Bart brought up the matter of the 7:00 pm meeting time, and he asked if we could have the meetings earlier. The Select Board will discuss it at the next meeting.
Meeting Adjournment: Earl Peck motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 pm, and Bart Collins seconded it. All said, Aye.
Respectfully submitted,
Clarissa Mitchell
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Earl Peck- Chairman
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Bart Collins- SB Member
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Ray Huntoon- SB Member