Select Board

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Monday, August 14, 2023, 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm
Town Hall
A meeting of the Select Board

Selectboard Meeting - 5 Academy Hill Road, Conway - 6:00 p.m.
Meetings are now held every other Monday and are at this time accessible via Zoom.

Meeting of Select Board

Members: (Quorum)

• Present: Christopher Waldo, at 6:00 PM
• Present: Philip Kantor, Chair, at 6:00 PM
• Present: Erica Goleman, at 6:00 PM

Also Present:

• Deb Donaldson
• Lori Block
• George Forcier
• Laurie Lucier
• Veronique Blanchard and Adam Reed

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:03 PM

Meeting closed: 7:12 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Jul 31 - Select Board

1. Warrants

   • - Vote to approve the Accounts Payable Warrant W24-05 in the amount of $153,074.42, Payroll Warrant PW24-05 $104,015.21, and the Payroll Deduction Warrant PDW24-05 in the amount of $24,395.

     MOTION, moved by Erica Goleman, seconded by Christopher Waldo: .

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

2. Meetings Attended by Select Board Members

   • General Discussion...
     The Select Board attended the Deerfield Select Board meeting on August 9th to discuss the flooding and potentially pooling resources.

3. Public Comments. None

   • Public

     General Discussion...
     George Forcier and Laurie Block attended the meeting to discuss the flooding problems on Baptist Hill Road. The following was discussed.
     
     A walk around by the Selectboard for the area would be appreciated.
     
     A top priority would be to look at the existing drainage system that does not appear to be working properly.
     
     The flow of the water has shifted over the years. Stacking sandbags, to help the flow of water, could be an inexpensive short term solution.
     
     Laurie has been looking into areas of funding that may help private home owners fix and repair damages from the flooding. Some suggestions were Western Mass Community Foundation, FRCOG Conservation, Mass Historic Preservation, and other organizations that have an interest in helping the historic center of Conway.
     
     There are still citizens that can not mow their lawns at this time because the water in yards is lingering and mowers just sink in the mud.
     
     Long-term planning has to take place. Climate change is going to continue and the town needs to be ready for future storms. This will be a long term plan because the water on Baptist Hill will need to go somewhere and the town will need to protect the homes at the bottom of the hill from absorbing the run off.
     
     

4. Unfinished Business.

   • - Discussion and possible vote(s) regarding the July 2023 rain events on steps Town is taking to remediate town damages; obtain Town compensation; alleviate and address resident concerns; remediate Town infrastructure which worsened flood damages; assist private individuals and non profits in remediating damages; and obtain compensation for losses to private residences and property.

5. New Business

   • - Discussion and vote to sign Order of Taking for the Estate of Mary V. Boeh and the Salvation Army.

     MOTION, moved by Erica Goleman, seconded by Christopher Waldo: To sign documents regarding the Mary Boeh estate.

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

   • - Vote to appoint Edwin Zaniewski as a Traffic Control Officer.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: .

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

   • - Vote to appoint Deb Donaldson as representative to the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partership.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: .

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

   • - Vote to appoint John Pelletier as representative to the Franklin County Technical School.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: .

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

   • - George Forcier to discuss flooding issues on Upper Baptist Hill and surrounding area.

   • - Discussion and vote to sign contract with Pantermehls to remove trees from South River.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: To sign Pantemehls tree removal of the South River.

     Pass: Aye: Philip Kantor, Christopher Waldo, Erica Goleman.

6. Items Not Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of the Meeting

   • None.

7. Town Administrator update

8. Selectboard member comments/concerns

   • General Discussion...
     The Conway Pool will need to be discussed in the near future. Fields Hill Road washed into the pool which lead to its closing for the season. The handicap accessibility area was washed out and will have to be replaced. The Selectboard will have a formal discussion at the next meeting

9. Mail

10. Announcements

11. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Mon, Aug 28, at 5:45 PM "Select Board" -- Town Hall
      2. Tue, Sep 5, at 6:00 PM "Select Board" -- Town Hall
      3. Tue, Sep 12, at 6:00 PM "Select Board" -- Town Hall

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes approved on Monday, Aug 28, 2023