2025-11-17 Selectboard Minutes

Selectboard Members Present: Brian Snell, Chair; Alan Genovese, Vice-Chair; Keith Ross, Clerk
Others Present: David Young, Town Coordinator; Diana Noble, Assistant to the Town Coordinator; Janice Kurkoski, Buildings and Energy Committee; Bruce Kilhart; Heather Berlin, Town Secretary

1. Call To Order – Snell called the meeting to order at 6:00pm
2. Appearances
   1. Janice Kurkoski, Buildings and Energy Committee  – Janice Kurkoski updated the Board regarding progress with the Green Communities Climate Leader grant program. The Board is seeking an individual or entity who will report and administer the town’s conservation and decarbonization efforts under the Green Community Climate Leader program. It was decided that the Selectboard should be listed in collaboration with the Building and Energy Committee. The Board discussed the possibility of hiring a consultant and/or involving local college students. Board members suggested that Kurkoski write an article for the town newsletter to solicit interest from the public. 
   2. Diana Noble, Assistant to the Town Coordinator and Finance Committee Chair – Noble, Genovese, and community member, Bruce Kilhart, attended a meeting of the Highway Commission. The meeting concerned payment issues for road work done on Orange Road in the spring of 2024. According to Noble’s report of the Highway Commission meeting, this project was intended to be fully paid for by a Mass Works grant, but only $90,000 of the expected $240,000 was paid before the grant expired in August. The contracted company failed to submit timely invoices, but recently sent an invoice requesting $215,000 in payment. Tracy Styles, Highway Commission Clerk, reportedly worked hard to chase the appropriate invoices. The Selectboard agreed to have their attorney review the situation and provide both legal and political guidance on how to proceed, with Genovese tasked to gather more information from the Highway Commission and present it at the next Selectboard meeting. Noble repeatedly praised the input of community member, Andrea Woods. The Board emphasized the importance that Tracy Styles document similar communications in the future with follow-up emails or memos. 
3. Chapter 268 Section 20C and 20D Ethics disclosures or exemptions – Young requested an ethics exemption for Todd Weed, our part-time plumber, to allow him to be paid $630 to sell the town a fabricated metal stand and cover for a heat pump. This enabled us to purchase enough equipment for complete installation.
   • Snell MOVED to approve ethics exemption for Todd Weed to have a $630 interest in a contract for a prefabricated metal stand and cover for heat pumps. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
4. Minutes of previous meeting – Genovese requests that the author’s name and the phrase “respectfully submitted by” be added.
   • Ross MOVED to accept the minutes from November 3rd, 2025. Snell SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
5. Citizens’ concerns and suggestions for future agenda items – None
6. Discussions and reports
   1. Town Coordinator Report: 
      1. Health Insurance – Young reported about the Massachusetts Health Care Exchange for premium-based insurance with no back-end exposure. Our current plan is with the Hampshire Employment Group. Young noted that the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) offers a competitive option priced around $700-600 for individuals. Young continues to advocate that we hold onto our current insurance for now. Snell emphasises the importance of keeping taxpayers informed. Young notes upcoming deadlines in December if we choose to switch to the GIC. Selectboard decided that we will not make any changes to our insurance at this time. 
      2. CHARTER SPECTRUM’s failure to serve all despite assurances and marketing claims. – No updates. 
      3. Unitarian church funds – The town will be receiving about $100,000 in funds from the Unitarian church this month, to be deposited in a separate account. We currently have liability insurance. Next steps: Young to organize a Selectboard visit to the building.
      4. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS – Young has asked real estate attorney, Babette Krolick, who is a Brooklyn resident, and has a second residence in Warwick, to serve as staff of the ZBA. John Gagliani was recently appointed as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
   2. Assistant Coordinator Report – Noble reported on a DESE listening session about potential changes to Chapter 70 School funding formula, recently held at Greenfield High School. The Board made a consensus to draft a letter to senators supporting changes to the formula, with Noble taking the lead. Noble shared a letter from Warwick School Superintendent Carole Learned-Miller with recommendations. 
   3. Six Town Regionalization Planning Board Update – Genovese reported that the Planning Board is moving forward with a proposed Six Town Regional District to be presented as a ballot question in all six towns. The Selectboard discussed a possible path to withdraw Warwick from the agreement. Genovese maintains that Warwick’s involvement in the proposed six town district is in our long-term best interest. Ross also expressed support for the proposal. Snell opposes the proposal. Genovese, as Chair and Warwick representative on the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board, asked the Selectboard to endorse a ballot question that would enable the proposal to pass, even if Warwick votes no, as long as all 5 towns aside from Warwick vote yes. Snell and Young expressed concerns, and Snell urged that we need to have a vote by the spring.
      • Genovese MOVED to express the Selectboard’s endorsement of a ballot question for the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board proposal. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. Genovese – aye, Ross – aye, Snell – abstained.
7. Actions
   1. Town Secretary Appointment Heather Berlin – The Selectboard appointed Heather Berlin as Town Secretary at a rate of $25 per hour, with a six-month review scheduled. The Board expressed satisfaction with her qualifications and background. Next Steps: Berlin will let the Board know if she is unable to attend meetings, and if so, minutes will be completed using a recording.
      • Genovese MOVED to appoint Heather Berlin to Town Secretary position. Snell SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
8. Approval of administrative actions taken – none
9. Items unanticipated at time of posting – none

Snell MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:14pm. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
The next meeting will be Monday, December 1, 2025.