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Leverett
Massachusetts
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

Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 7:30 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, at 7:30 PM
  • Present: Jed Proujansky, at 7:30 PM
  • Present: Patricia Duffy, Chair, at 7:30 PM

Also Present:

  • Present: Pat D.
  • Jed P. and Tom H. Also attending: Margie M.
  • Richard Natthorst
  • George Drake and several other staff and residents both in person and online for various parts of the meeting.

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:30 PM

Meeting closed: 8:35 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. 7-7:15 Public comment

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

    • 7:15: Pat Fiero, Susan Lynton, N. Leverett Sawmill group - State capital project/bond request

      General Discussion...
      Pat Fiero and Susan Lynton attended to explain that the FONLS have applied to the state legislature for an Environmental Bond Bill Earmark project to repair the mill pond at the corner of Cave Hill and North Leverett Roads next to the Sawmill. The request is for $448,568 in state funds. Pat and Susan outlined the benefits of the mill pond, including a fire water supply. The Board said that the Town does not have any conflicting projects. Pat and Susan asked for a support letter from the Board.

      MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Jed Proujansky: Motion made to write a letter of support for the FONLS funding request for a state Earmark. Voted 3-0 in favor.

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

    • 7:30: Fire Chief Vacancy

      General Discussion...
      Amy Rice, many firefighters, Police Chief and Highway Supt were present. Amy went through the options for hiring a new fire chief. The Selectboard received a letter from the Firefighter’s Association supporting the internal candidate. The Board decided to reach out to qualified applicants not yet interviewed and ask if they can/will take the position if offered for the salary available and to the interview ones that say yes and the internal candidate.

    • 8:00: COA: creation of an Ad-hoc committee

      General Discussion...
      Judi Fonsh and Tom Wolff attended to ask the Board to create an ad hoc committee to reach out to at-need seniors in town. They would like the committee to include Barbara Bodzin and Johanna Hall (who both attended the meeting remotely) and members of the fire and police departments as the departments that respond to incidents and find residents who need support. These departments have confidentiality rules that they must follow so will not be able to share names or addresses. The Board offered to support the effort as they could and to consider appointing residents that the COA proposes.

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

    • Approve minutes of August 12 and 26

      MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Jed Proujansky: Motion to approve the minutes to August 12 and 26. Voted 3-0 in favor.

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

    • Dudleyville Project: award bid

      General Discussion...
      Richard attended to discuss this topic. Six bids were received and a letter of review from the engineers, Tighe and Bond. Ludlow Construction, Inc. is the low bidder. The engineers have reviewed the references and have previous experience with them. Matt also noted that he knows them and knows they have a good reputation.

      MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Jed Proujansky: Motion made to award the Dudleyville Road Drainage Construction project to Ludlow Construction, Inc, as the low bidder for the bid price of $718,100. Voted 3-0 in favor.

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

    • Field Building Assessment Update

      General Discussion...
      Margie explained that the consultant that the Field Building Committee wants to hire to do the assessment does not have any professional insurance and needs the Selectboard’s approval to execute a contract. Margie will send the Board members the consultant’s credentials and the scope of work for them to review and consider.

    • Health Insurance Research Vote

      General Discussion...
      Health insurance research vote – none taken

    • Library accessible project bid and change order on signatory authorization

      MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Jed Proujansky: Motion made to award the library walkway construction project with both alternates to Omasta Landscaping as the low bidder for the alternates for the bid price of $367,853 with the understanding that the Friends of the Library will contribute the $17,853 needed to fulfill the contract. Voted 3-0 in favor.

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

      MOTION, moved by Tom Hankinson, seconded by Jed Proujansky: Motion made to authorize Hannah Paessel to approve change orders during the Library walkway construction project. Voted 3-0 in favor.

      .

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

    • Sign Mass Tech Collaborative Grant Contract

      General Discussion...
      The Grant contract with Mass Technology Collaborative was signed.

  5. 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, Nov 19, 2025