HEATH — Annual Town Meeting voters approved all 25 articles Saturday, including revisions to town zoning bylaws, two nonbinding articles put forward by citizen’s petition and a fiscal year 2022 budget with an 8 percent increase that includes money to maintain the former elementary school building.
Approximately 110 voters gathered at 9 a.m. under a tent at the former Heath Elementary School at 18 Jacobs Road. While all articles ultimately passed, the meeting lasted nearly four hours with discussion on multiple articles.
The approved operating budget for fiscal year 2022 totals $1,444,770, compared to this year’s $1,339,912. On top of the town’s operating budget, payments to the Mohawk Trail Regional School District of $932,725 and to Franklin County Technical School of $66,235 were approved in subsequent articles, and would bring the town’s total expenses to $2,443,730.
Heath School Committee representative Budge Litchfield said the district worked hard to maintain “a modest overall budget increase of 3.65 percent.” The total town assessments went up just under 2 percent, “which is quite remarkable,” he said.
Litchfield referenced budget highlights, which included reinstated staffing for music programs, professional development work and more. The most pertinent highlight for Heath voters, he said, is the town’s operating assessment was declining.
“Our operating assessment is down 5.27 percent,” Litchfield said. “This is reflective of a drop in our minimum contribution, as well as a slight decline in the number of students that are used to calculate this formula. So you have a budget that is raising modestly, and two changes for Heath that lead to an operating assessment decrease.”
Last year, he said, the town had a roughly 14 percent increase in its assessment. Fellow School Committee representative Barbara Rode took the microphone and noted that area students had recently returned to in-person learning. She said the Budget Subcommittee and full School Committee unanimously supported the proposed budget.
“With a decrease in operating expenses, and increase in services, this is an incredible budget so I’m really proud to approve it,” Rode said.
Article 14 saw voters approve the Mohawk Trail Regional School District borrowing a sum of up to $665,000 for work at the school. This will include replacement of the heating boiler control system, resealing parking lots, and replacing the fire alarm control panel and related sensors. Heath’s portion for this district borrowing is approximately $55,600.
A notable increase in the town’s own operating expenses was budget line item 38 associated with Article 3, for costs to maintain the former elementary school building. Maintenance of the building is set at $40,000, up from $500 this fiscal year.
After the closure of Heath Elementary School in 2017, the Mohawk Trail Regional School District paid the town $240,000 to support maintenance of the building for a time. Outgoing Selectboard member Gloria Cronin Fisher said the town started this year with roughly $53,000 left from this payment, and explained the reason the line item increased so dramatically this year is because that money is expected to run out within the year.
While Finance Committee members originally supported the $40,000 line item for maintenance, subsequent conversations saw mixed opinions and members did not recommend the amount at Town Meeting as some individuals felt closer $30,000 would be acceptable.
Discussion also focused on potential plans to expand the school’s kitchen to be a commercial kitchen, and to rent or lease the space to local farmers who cook, wedding venues, or other businesses and individuals as a revenue opportunity for the town.
According to town officials, Health Agent Randy Crochier had inspected the school building’s kitchen, along with two Realtors, and said it would be “low-hanging fruit for generating income for the town” to rent out a commercial kitchen and would not require many updates. The town has been contacted by Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, who said there are few opportunities for local farmers who may be interested in such a service, and have offered to advertise the kitchen.
Brian DeVriese said he and fellow Selectboard members felt $30,000 for maintenance would be cutting costs too close, and the larger figure would provide a buffer. A resident made a motion to amend this budget line item to $30,000, but the change failed 55 to 58, and the item was ultimately approved at $40,000.
At the end of the warrant were two nonbinding articles, 23 and 24, which addressed issues that are not within Town Meeting’s legal purview. Article 24 asked that it be required for town offices to be located in Heath Center. However, because the Selectboard is technically the owner of town buildings, their use is determined by the board and not Town Meeting voters. One resident proposed attendees could still vote and provide a “sense of the meeting,” and while it would not force action it would communicate to the Selectboard what town residents preferred.
Town Coordinator/Town Clerk Hilma Sumner guessed this petition was spurred by discussion of potentially moving certain town offices to the former school building. Residents said keeping town offices in “the heart of Heath” would maintain a stronger sense of community and focus on the history of the area. Another resident expressed concerns that moving offices to the school building could make them ineligible for federal funding intended for municipal buildings.
Newly elected Selectboard member Sue Lively spoke against the article. She argued that it is not the town buildings of the historic center, but rather the town employees, elected officials and voters at Annual Town Meeting that are the “heart of Heath.” Lively said she felt the article’s requested action was a “short-sighted attempt” to protect a piece of history, and “doesn’t deserve” a call to vote.
Ultimately, attendees voiced support for keeping offices in Heath Center, 50 to 44.
The other nonbinding article, Article 23, formally requested the Selectboard prioritize compliance with accessibility codes at town buildings and saw voters voice unanimous support.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.