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
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Select Board/Planning Board/School Committee

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm
Town Hall/remote
A meeting of the Selectboard

The Selectboard is meeting in person and making this meeting available via Zoom for the convenience of the public. Since we are meeting in person, we will not be responsible for any technical difficulties, so if you would like to be sure of participating, please attend in person.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94460276391?pwd=N294R3hyQzlyMUtsZ1ZkMTBjL3BPdz09

Meeting ID: 944 6027 6391; Passcode: 650146

Meeting Agenda:

Protocols for Public Address to the Board: During meetings, the Selectboard will attempt to find a balance between hearing from members of the community and conducting required business. All public address is at the discretion of the Chair.

When speaking, please identify yourself by name or the company/institution you represent. Please make your comments are concise (less than 2 minutes); avoid repeat statements made by others; address your comments to the Board Chair.

Audience members may not interrupt a recognized speaker nor the discussion of the Board. Please be cordial and respectful of others.

The Selectboard will generally listen to comments rather than respond immediately. If a topic comes up that is not on the agenda yet further action is required by the Board, the Chair will add the matter, as appropriate, to a forthcoming agenda. Depending on the comment, the Board may, if they are able within the confines of the Open Meeting Law, respond with information as opposed to needing to deliberate on the matter.

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law. The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Meeting of Selectboard

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Tom Hankinson, Chair, at 6:15 PM
  • Present: Jed Proujansky, at 6:15 PM
  • Present: Patricia Duffy, at 6:15 PM

Also Present:

  • : Tom H.
  • Pat D.
  • Jed P.
  • Margie M.
  • Lisa S.
  • Steve W.
  • Eva G.
  • Silas B.
  • Phil C.
  • Carol H.
  • Ben E.
  • Isaiah R.
  • George for the Montague Reporter

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:15 PM

Meeting closed: 8:20 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Executive Session

    To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. Selectboard will reconvene in Open Session after the close of Executive Session.

  3. 7-7:15 Public comment

    • - There were no comments from the public.

  4. Appointments (open to the public after initial conversation)

    • 7:15: Planning Board/new appointment

      General Discussion...
      The Planning Board recommended that Jacob Park be appointed to fill the vacancy left by Steve Freedman. Jacob has relevant experience and had written a letter of interest. The board wanted to make sure he understood that he may be considered an abutter to the Kitteridge property and may have to recuse himself from participating as a board member on that issue. The Planning Board supports his appointment as there are other issues they deal with for which he would be helpful.

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Jacob Park to the Planning Board. Vote: Hankinson, aye; Duffy, aye; Proujansky, aye; Von Wagner, aye; Keyes, aye; Nathhorst, aye.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

    • 7:30: Matt Boucher/check-in

      General Discussion...
      Matt Boucher reminded the board about the work the department completed for the 250th celebration including black topping Montague Rd. and the Safety Complex and Library parking lots. The department did some drainage projects and road maintenance. The line striping at the Safety Complex and Library were done by the Highway Dept. They are getting ready to loam and seed at the library. Matt also reported that a flow device for beavers will be installed at the 4-H forest.
      Matt has a student from the Franklin County Tech School starting to work with the department through the co-op program.

    • 7:45: School Committee/new appointment and check-in

      General Discussion...
      School Committee (also present: Jaya P.; Marne G.; and Christine D.)
      Jaya said the new school year is starting off very well. She is impressed with the new principal’s commitment. The food service and after-school accounts are still in the red and the town accountant and Union 28’s accountants’ numbers don’t match. Benefits for the wrong employee were coming out of the after-school account which may make up the difference. The Board asked for bi-weekly updates until it is resolved; it has been ongoing for years and they want it resolved.
      Jaya also reported that the MCAS scores for Leverett are in and they aren’t good. It could be due to the lack of support the staff received during the upheaval within the school last year. The board will only be concerned if low scores continue.

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Christine Dorantes to the School Committee. Hankinson, aye; Duffy, aye; Proujansky, aye; Plavin, aye; Genre, aye. .

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

    • 8:00: Update on Rattlesnake Gutter Restoration (Eva, Steve)

      General Discussion...
      The update from Steve and Eva was that they met with the ConCom and got a negative determination; so, they are all set with them. However, they have been informed the area is an endangered species habitat, so they will have to complete more paperwork for the department of Environmental Protection.
      Their application for the Community Preservation Commission is ready.
      The only snag is that one member of the Planning Board would like a vote from the Select Board stating that work on the gutter is needed because of a natural disaster. The zoning bylaws have specific overlay district for the gutter. Ken Kahn, former Planning Board member who wrote the Rattlesnake Gutter overlay bylaw explained that the intent was for any maintenance to be 1000’ back from the road front to prohibit building that close, not to prevent maintenance on what was once the road. The board was reluctant to take this vote because they didn’t have enough information.
      The Select Board suggested that the Planning Board take a vote of support since one the member isn’t a majority.

  5. Business (public participation is at the discretion of the chair)

    • Approve minutes of September 10 meeting

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To accept the minutes of the September 10 meeting as written.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

    • Con Com Agent appointment

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Isabella Yaeger to the ConCom Agent position at $25/hour for 7-10 hours/week pending a physical. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

    • Discuss Select Board meeting time

      General Discussion...
      The board discussed and polled the audience about changing the time of their meetings to 6:00 pm. There was not support. The Select Board meetings will continue to be held at 7:00 pm

    • Make schedule for meeting with other department heads

      General Discussion...
      Lisa will email Scott; Hannah; Annette and Brian to see if they can attend one of the next few meetings for a department update.

    • Police Officer appointment

    • Review support letters for: - Rattlesnake Gutter CPA; Northern Rail; FRGCOG HUD grant; Trust CPA application; 2 Town Hall CPA applications

      General Discussion...
      Other letters of support were signed including one for the CPA application to move and restore the weights and measures and to restore the town hall front painting.

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To authorize Margie to sign the support letter for the Northern Rail on their behalf. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To authorize Margie to sign the letter of support for the FRCOG HUD Grant on their behalf. Vote: 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

  6. Mail (mail is not read or discussed during meetings. Copies are available by request)

    • - Jacob Park candidate statement; FERCO: Great River Hydro; Eversource: Nature Natives; most recent landfill water and gas testing results

  7. 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 Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025