Leverett Town Seal

Massachusetts

Leverett

Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Town Clerk: (413) 548-9150
Tax Collector: (413) 548-9666
Assessor: (413) 548-4945
Town Hall Fax: (413) 548-1035
Contact Us
  • Text size
  • A
  • A
  • A
Previous Meeting Next Meeting

Select Board

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
9 Montague Rd.
A meeting of the Selectboard

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://www.gotomeet.me/townleverett/selectboard-meeting

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123

Access Code: 502-625-813

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 502 625 813
Or dial directly: 502625813@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##502625813

Meeting of Selectboard

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Tom Hankinson, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Julie Shively, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Melissa Colbert, at 7:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Present: Julie S.
  • Tom H.
  • Melissa C.
  • Margie M.
  • Lisa S. Several people were present remotely

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:00 PM

Meeting closed: 9:37 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Appointments

    • 7:00: Coop Beer/Wine License Hearing

      General Discussion...
      Sam Black, President of the Village Coop Board of Directors, presented an application for a new pourer’s license as the old one was rejected by the ABCC because there was a new manager. Abutters were notified by the applicant. There was no discussion.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To approve the Village Coop beer/wine pour license. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • 7:30: Dog Hearing

      General Discussion...
      The dog hearing was called to order at 7:40 pm by Tom H. Mike Hutchinson and Steve and Darcy Weller were present. Julie recused herself as she is a neighbor. Participants were sworn in. The Select Board had received a complaint from Roberta Bryant that several attempts by her to make the Hutchinson’s comply with the leash law were not working. Steve and Darcy, who live on North Leverett Rd., outlined the dates that they had returned the dog to the owner. One time, Steve said when he returned the dog he was assaulted by Mike. They are concerned that as the dog wanders down from Richardson Rd. she could be hit, especially on North Leverett Rd. where there is more, fast traffic. Additionally, they have met Karla H. walking along the power lines with the dog not leashed and not under voice control. Steve and Darcy walk their dog on a gentle leader leash. Mike acknowledged that the dog is supposed to be under their control but often is not. He said that as she has gotten older, she wanders more. He did not agree to keep her on leash while walking on the power lines which runs through property he owns.
      The board reminded Mike of the leash law and Melissa stated that she hoped that, as neighbors, they could mend their relationship as well.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To ask the Hutchinson’s to keep their dog under their control at all times. Vote: 2-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert. Abstain: Julie Shively.

    • 8:00: North Leverett Sawmill Discussion

      General Discussion...
      North Leverett Rd. Sawmill (also present: Don and Sara Robinson, Sue Mareneck, Susan Lynton, Sid Poritz, Eliot Carlisle.
      A letter has been received by the Kirley’s, owners of the sawmill and dam, stating that they would like to donate the mill to the town. The dam has been broken for several years and a recent attempt at selling it, fell through because the repairs needed were too extensive for the potential buyer. Amy Boyce, the would-be buyer, sent the town all of the research she had done on the dam. An estimate of $230,000 for repairs was included. Town Counsel does not recommend that the town take ownership of a dam due to liability. There are many reasons that the town would like the dam to be fixed and functional. A conversation about a public/private venture were discussed as was the use of CPA money. Richard N. is interested in hydro-power use of the mill and dam. Ultimately, it was decided that an ad-hoc committee should be formed with representation from many town boards and interested citizens. Sue M. will send a recruitment email and get back to the board.

    • 8:30: Police policies with Chief Minckler

      General Discussion...
      Chief Minckler brought in the police policies to be updated as per the new POST requirements. He reviewed and explained each one as he took questions.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To approve the new police policies as presented by Chief Minckler. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

  3. Business

    • 2021-22 Appointments including MLP

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Bob Weller to the MLP Board. Vote: 3-0 in favor.
      Motion: To approve of the list of 2021-22 appointments provided by Lisa Stratford. Vote: 3-0 in favor.
      .

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • Approve minutes of June 8, 2021

      General Discussion...
      The minutes of June 8 were approved as written.

    • ARPA funds use

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To use ARPA money to cover expenses related to the installation of the Amherst water line. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • COVID Issues - State of Emergency Declaration, remote enhancement ideas

      General Discussion...
      Margie said that there was approximately $40,000 left in the COVID funds and continued the conversation from the last meeting where people were interested in enhancements to the meeting room to accommodate remote participation. Julie was not in favor of altering the appearance of the historic meeting room. Margie wanted to make sure that any system installed did require her attention/troubleshooting during a meeting. Richard N., present remotely, invited people to his office at UMASS to see the system in use there as he said it is minimally invasive and operates easily. The board may ask Brian C. to go see the system Richard is talking about. There was a general conversation about if remote participation is temporary or an inevitable change due to COVID.

      MOTION, moved by Julie Shively, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion (Julie): A state of emergency no longer exists in Leverett. Vote: 3-0 in agreement.

      Pass: Aye: Julie Shively, Tom Hankinson, Melissa Colbert.

    • Employee appointment forms

      General Discussion...
      Employee appointment forms were signed.

    • Reserve request

      General Discussion...
      A reserve request for landfill monitoring was signed.

    • Sign CDBG final quarterly report

      General Discussion...
      The CDBG quarterly report was signed.

    • Sign contract with Blatazar

      General Discussion...
      The following people came to Town Hall to jointly sign the release forms for a water line from Amherst: Skip and Janice Fournier, Virginia Goodale and Mark Doubleday, Sue Pacheco, and Pat Duffy. Simultaneously the board signed the contract with Baltazar.

    • Sign street lights purchase agreement

      General Discussion...
      The purchase agreement for street lights was signed.

  4. Meeting Wrap-up

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 Thursday, Aug 5, 2021