Notes from the Select Board (SB), June 9, Hybrid meeting

• Patrick White, Chair
• Jamie Minacci
• Chuck Cardillo
• Michael Canales, Town Administrator
• Anita Schwerner
• Roxanne McCaffrey
• John Hart

1. April 28 minutes approved as written
2. Chesterwood — request for one-day alcohol license for an event on June 11 — approved
3. White asked for comments/questions from public
   1. Schwerner congratulated Minacci on her win, thanked McCaffrey for her service and comment to White that she appreciated having public comments first on agenda. She had two questions: will harvester be on lake soon? Answer: have to deal with water chestnuts (an invasive) first. Will the second room for Zoom meeting be set up soon? Answer: not until there is a need due to more than one meeting scheduled
   2. Report from Lucy Prashker and Peter Taylor from the Regional School District Planning Board and Peter Dillon, Superintendent
   3. The purpose of establishing the Board was to consider merging 8 towns into one school district.
   4. Meeting since March 2020, this is second annual update
   5. Spent $300,000 on consultants and experts to date and may need more money
   6. Report to date suggested merging, and keeping all elementary/junior high schools in place and in use and building one regional high school on GB grounds
   7. The Board voted to adopt the recommendation 16 — 6 (24-member board; 3 from each of 8 towns)
   8. Taylor talked about outreach to 8 towns — approval from each necessary
   9. Details online @ 8towns.org
4. Christine Rasmussen has been the SB representative to BRPC and made a report. Her particular interests were: education, mental health, affordable housing
   1. 31% of renters could not buy
   2. 50% of seniors are burdened by housing costs
   3. White said there was an increase from 4 – 6% in the occupancy tax. That money goes to Commonwealth and then an amount is returned to locality. However, the Commonwealth does not share how much they collect, from whom, and by what formula they return it to us. White would like them to share information for planning purposes
5. Canales reports:
1. Treatment of trees in Ice Glen underway
2. No progress on Swap Shop because materials and products (like prefab building) are unavailable. Town has the money and manpower but no materials
3. McCaffrey wanted to know if the old building could be used for pets? Canales said, No, the ramp would still not be up to code and would have to be replaced even for dogs
4. Hart wanted to know where new building would go. Canakes said, to the left of entrance in cleared space
6. Town web site — low bid was Civic Plus ($9700)
   1. White wanted to see demo
   2. Intent is for info to come to residents rather than residents going to web site
   3. Plan suggested by Civic Plus just like what Lenox has
7. White repeated that Town Counsel should be present when applicants bring lawyers so board/commission members are not getting legal opinions from applicants' attorneys but are getting advice from Town's attorney. Canales worried about cost containment
8. What followed was the very long list of appointments done annually to different committees, commissions, and boards as well as the SB rep. to each. SU will post completed list when available.

Meeting adjourned

Photo: Lionel Delevingne