I have combined the Select Board meetings of October 11 and October 18. The meetings dealt with the recent storm and damage to the roads of Savoy.

Work has begun to fix the culvert on Chapel Road. A letter was sent to Chapel Road residents informing them of the work. Anyone using Chapel Road should be prepared for delays. The general public will have to wait if there is equipment in the road. Emile Mazur said ‘residents will have to be patient’.

The Transfer Station will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays. The hours of operation will remain the same as summer hours. The Select Board discussed Transfer Station stickers for vehicles. Also, proper bags must be used to dispose of trash. There are individuals who use only the recycle areas and dispose of their trash in store purchased bags that are not approved. This practice puts the attendant in a compromising position. He does not feel he should have to confront the individuals. Electronics have been placed in the metal bin, contaminating the bin. These materials must be removed before the container can be emptied.

The energy audit was completed on the Fire Station. When existing fixtures fail, the department will receive a rebate for replacing obsolete fixtures with proper, energy efficient fixtures. The heating system should be replaced when it breaks down. It was also recommended an ‘on demand thermostat’ be put in place. This will help to reduce cost of heating an unused building.
Chad Wagenknecht volunteered his time and truck to assist with road repair on Saturday, October 8, and Monday, October 10.

A letter has been written to the Bureau of Accountants requesting the town be allowed deficient spending to get money to the highway department to repair roads.

FEMA and MEMA were scheduled to visit the town Wednesday, October 19, to review the damage. These organizations have been in Western Massachusetts looking at damage and what will be the cost to the towns to get work completed. Savoy will have to pay for the materials and additional assistance to get the roads passable for the winter. Ray LaBonte said the town should be reimbursed 75% for these expenses. The question was brought up as to how the town would pay for these expenses. The Select Board has scheduled an 'emergency special town meeting' for November 14 at 7pm at the Fire Station. The townspeople will be asked to support the transfer of $100,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund Account to the Emergency Road Maintenance Account. Mr. LaBonte stated he does not think this amount will cover the repair of roads. There are 19 roads in need of repair. Mr. LaBonte stated that the roads will be 90% repaired when the road work is complete. Mr. Mazur said the Select Board would have to get a bank note to get the work completed. There is no way the highway department can be prepared to remove snow unless the roads are at least 90% repaired.

Fire Chief Krutiak has requested he be removed as the head of Civil Defense for Savoy. Mr. D’Alesandro asked Mr. Mazur if he could take over this position. Mr. Mazur said this would have to be looked into after the election in November. The position is appointed by the Select Board. Mr. D’Alesandro said he wants to set up an emergency plan. He felt that this storm showed the deficiencies in the town’s readiness to respond. Mr. D’Alesandro, also, thinks the highway department needs to have a plan that prioritizes work that needs to be done after a major storm.

'TREAT OR TREAT NIGHT' will be on Saturday, October 29, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. If you want to have kids stop at your house you must leave an outside light on. If you do do not have a light on, drivers of cars are asked not to stop or bother residents. Let's make this a safe Halloween for all the kids by following this simple request. by Brenda Smith