Select Board

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Monday, September 25, 2023, 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm
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:

• Janet Chayes
• Veronique Blanchard and Adam Reed

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:04 PM

Meeting closed: 7:12 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Aug 28 - Select Board

   • Minutes Approved: Tue, Sep 12 - Select Board

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Sep 18 - Select Board

1. Warrants

   • - Vote to approve the Accounts Payable Warrant W24-08 in the amount of $589,661.81; the Payroll Warrant PW24-08 in the amount of $138,654.53, and the Payroll Deduction Warrant PDW24-08 in the amount of $33,503.72.

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

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

2. Meetings Attended by Select Board Members

   • General Discussion...
     The Select Board attended the Assessors meeting on September 20, to approve the new tax rate.
     
     Chris met with Lee to discuss flooding issues.

3. Public Comments. None

   • Public

     General Discussion...
     The Select Board approves of maintaining a walking trail on the Bigelow property. The plan is to mow a walking path and highlight the native plants.

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 help obtain compensation for losses to private residences and property.

     MOTION, moved by Erica Goleman, seconded by Christopher Waldo: To approve and sign the contract with Stockman Associates for $1,900 for the required turtle sweep during the tree removal on the South River.

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

5. New Business

   • - Vote to appoint Katherine Clarke Waddell to the Open Space committee for a term ending 6/30/25.

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

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

   • - Discuss and vote on the proposed pollinator garden in Veteran’s Park.

     General Discussion...
     The pollinator garden was approved by the board at a previous meeting. The pollinators just wanted to update the board on some final plans for planting.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: To approve further plans for the Veteran's area plantings.

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

   • - Discussion and vote on letter to DPU.

     General Discussion...
     Bob Armstrong put together a letter to send to Boston supporting the DPU keep control of the aggregations in the hands of local select boards.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Christopher Waldo: To sign two letters in support of the DPU keeping the aggregation policies as they are.

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

   • - Discussion and vote on new traffic layout at transfer station.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: To allow for one way traffic around the different stations at the transfer station, including arrows painted on the asphalt, with the addition of an exit for those only bringing trash.

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

   • - Discussion on the price of business licenses for 2024.

     General Discussion...
     It was decided to keep the business licenses half off for the 2024 year.

     MOTION, moved by Philip Kantor, seconded by Erica Goleman: To keep the business licensed to 50% off for the 2024 year.

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

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

7. Town Administrator update

8. Selectboard member comments/concerns

   • General Discussion...
     There have been concerns regarding a new pickle ball court in the field off Shelburne Falls Road. The neighbors are worried about the noise that the sport creates.
     
     The courts at Frontier have been completed and are open to the public when the school is not using the facility.
     
     The Bardwells Ferry bridge was inspected by the state and the town will update its progress as the state sends updates.

9. Mail

10. Announcements

11. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Tue, Oct 10, at 6:00 PM "Select Board" -- CANCELLED
      2. Tue, Oct 17, at 6:00 PM "Select Board"
      3. Mon, Oct 23, at 6:00 PM "Select Board"

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, Oct 23, 2023