Select Board Meetings: The Select Board Meetings from March 21, March 28 and April 4 are combined.
Dan Wilk and Mrs. Nowicki met with the Select Board to discuss health insurance issues. Mr. Wilk said he had learned since the Town provides HMO insurance under Chapter 32b Section 16 of The General Laws of Massachusetts, a change to provide retired teacher’s with insurance would not have to go before the Town for approval. The lawyer for the Teacher’s Association and the Town agreed. Mr. Wilk said the Teacher’s Association does not have an insurance plan for retired teachers. Mrs. Nowicki said it would be easier to find replacements for retirees if the Town has an incentive such as an insurance plan.
Steve Wiseman from the Minuteman Company met with Emile Mazur to discuss holding an informational meeting for Savoy residents about the proposed windmill project in Savoy. The Select Board supported an informational meeting for the residents. A public informational meeting will be held at the Fire Station on Wednesday, May 10, at 7 PM.
Emile Mazur discussed budget proposals for the Annual Town Meeting. The Select Board agreed to take the $30,000 overrun from the Chapel Road Project (monies were received from the STRAP Grant) and put it back into the Stabilization Fund. The Stabilization Fund has approximately $60,000. Free Cash has $19,217 in the account. The Capital Improvement Account will receive $10,000. The excess of $9,217 is proposed to go into the Snow and Ice Account, which will increase the Account to $59,217. There will be a shortage of $3,000, which the Select Board is actively looking to fund.
Sue McGrath requested the Select Board change the day of the Annual Town Meeting and Town Elections to Wednesday. The State requires property taxes be paid May 1 and November 1. This state requirement requires Mrs. McGrath be at the Town Office to receive monies from the residents and interferes with the ATM and election when the May 1 is on a Tuesday. The Select Board agreed to have the Town Clerk research to see if the Town By-Law would need to be changed to have the ATM the second Wednesday of May, and the Town Election the third Wednesday of May.
The Select Board discussed proposing an article for the ATM to change the treasurer position from elected to appointed. Mr. Wagenknecht said there are qualified people in Town but no one wants to take on the job. "We need an individual who is willing to do the job." Beverly Cooper, appointed by the Select Board for one year, is currently filling the position. For the position to change from elected to appointed, the Select Board will put the issue before the townspeople on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. If approved, the Select Board will have to wait one full year before making an appointment.
After an active winter of plowing and keeping the roads safe for the community, the Highway Department is going to summer hours. They will be working 10 hour days, four days a week.
Not only is the Select Board working with the Fiance Committee to structure a budget, they are looking at issues that will have to be brought before the townspeople at the Special Town Meeting in June. by Brenda Smith