Elise Diemand

The primary focus of the meeting was the ongoing discussion regarding the status and necessary funding for the Wilberham Middle School, which was unified with another school ten years prior and is now considered insufficient. Key discussion points included the estimated $16 million in necessary repairs (based on a 2015 estimate), which exceeds the town of Wilberham's capital expense responsibility threshold of $30,000 per the lease agreement. The board is considering withdrawing an application for the Accelerated Repair Program, which only covers specific repairs like windows and doors, to instead apply for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) CORE Program. The CORE application process could lead to recommendations for gut refurbishment or a new building project, which would likely be a regionally owned project. Attendees discussed the educational limitations of the current building, noting it was designed as a junior high with large group instruction spaces and lacks accommodations for modern education needs and special education requirements, citing its dark interiors and lack of windows in the cafeteria as examples. Support from both towns is considered crucial for a successful CORE application.

The meeting focused heavily on the Water District Discussion, including the history of groundwater contamination from the town's salt pile and current remediation efforts. Discussions covered the potential cost savings of hooking affected homes directly into the main water line to negate the need for heating a storage tank, and updates on the expansion project, which is on target for completion in the Spring. The board also reviewed the Selectboard budget, noting cost decreases in volume claims and planning for FY2027 requests. Other budgetary discussions included seeking a credit from National Grid related to the Lucy Renewables project and addressing billing issues. Furthermore, the board unanimously declined to participate in discussions regarding facilities management of HWRSD schools, pending a draft proposal from the Wilbraham Finance Committee. Agenda items for the upcoming Town Meeting Warrant included a revision for the North Road Property acquisition and a proposed donation of 18-20 acres from Harold Green. The Selectboard approved a permit for The Cookie Fairy residential kitchen establishment. The Town Administrator provided updates on IT proposals for audio/visual systems and security camera installations.

Key discussion topics included program updates such as issues with a Girls Basketball team, the success of the Safe Sitter class, and the construction and readiness of the golf simulator for rentals starting February 2nd. Programming for the February vacation week, involving Futsal and Mad Science, was detailed, along with discussions about upcoming adult art classes and music programs like 'Tunes and Tots'. The Facilities Update covered communications regarding climate control accessibility issues with the thermostat, leading to plans for a Memorandum of Agreement concerning Parks & Recreation use of the Town Hall, and scheduling a meeting to discuss maintenance project requests and custodial responsibilities. General business focused on Summer Program registration starting in March, staffing updates for the summer season, and discussions around promoting a counselor to a site coordinator role. New Business included preliminary discussions on the summer program staff budget and updating bylaws and performance review finalization dates.

The meeting included a Public Hearing regarding Early Voting for local elections, where the Board agreed with the Town Clerk and Board of Registrars to not offer early voting options for the May local elections. Discussions also covered increasing the consumer cost for Level 3 EV charging stations at the Senior Center to offset rising electricity costs. A review of the Selectboard/Board of Health FY27 budget took place, detailing line items such as salaries, health insurance increases, legal expenses, and anticipated changes for various departments. The Board also discussed the need to formalize written Memorandums of Agreement regarding the utilization of the Town Hall between the Selectboard, Library, and Park and Recreation Department. Finally, the Board identified goals for the upcoming period, including budget oversight and the transition to the New Town Hall, and approved a Septic Hauler permit for Harmony Environmental Incorporated.

The meeting involved discussion and deliberation regarding a property parcel intended for town purchase, specifically addressing parking for Mount Vision and a rear connection. A member needed to recuse themselves from voting due to a conflict of interest involving estate planning matters. The discussion centered on a revised land arrangement due to engineering difficulties with the original driveway plan, which led to seeking approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals for using a substandard lot. There was a detailed explanation of shifting a conservation restriction area to accommodate the new driveway location away from vegetated wetlands, noting that the total acreage under restriction (eight acres) remained the same, but the excluded area changed. The board discussed the process of amending the conservation restriction and whether an updated plan reflecting the final conservation area would be required before a final vote, as the current discussion was preliminary. Separately, a representative from Little Garden presented their proposal to open a childcare center at the former Mercury Swim Institute location, detailing their operational plan for 20 children, including providing breakfast and snacks, fencing for safety, and prioritizing enrollment from local schools in Hamden and East Saw Meadow. The proposal indicated a need for a special permit and approval from the Planning Board before proceeding with licensing.